PIERCETON – Whitko Superintendent Steve Clason said that despite the state knowing some numbers were wrong or misleading, the annual performance report and graduation rates for schools were released earlier this month.
As reported in the Times-Union Feb. 7, the Indiana Department of Education released graduation statistics for 2011 and Whitko’s was at 80.7 compared to 90.6 in 2010.
Clason said that doesn’t provide the full picture at Whitko.
Last year was the first year Whitko was required by the state to take on kids from Pierceton Woods Academy.
Pierceton Woods Academy is a residential facility through Lifeline Youth and Family Services.
Clason said taking on Pierceton Woods Academy affected Whitko by about 7.5 points, and that without those Pierceton Woods Academy students the graduation rate would be closer to 88 percent.
Clason is headed to Indianapolis Wednesday to meet with state legislators, and he said one bill he is keeping his eye on is Senate Bill 283.
That bill would no longer force schools like Whitko to take on residential facilities in their school districts.
In all, Clason said he is tracking 30 bills in the legislature that could affect schools.
Another bill, Senate Bill 413, would put the state out of the textbook adoption cycle.
Clason said the school district is still waiting on concrete numbers of how much Title I money Whitko will receive. He said the figure has ranged from $330,000 to $410,000.
The school board adopted a calendar for 2012-2013.
The first day of school is scheduled for Aug. 15 and the last day, pending snow days, is scheduled for May 23.
The board also went through the first reading of board policy changes.
Sue Delorme was re-appointed to the Pierceton/Washington Township Public Library Board.
During school updates, South Whitley Elementary School Principal Bruce Hansen told the board that DARE classes start March 1.
Francine’s Friends Mobile Mammography will be on the school’s site March 19.
An open-house kindergarten tour and pre-registration will be April 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at SWES.
Full registration and roundup testing will be Aug. 3 from noon to 6 p.m. and Aug. 6 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Appointments for roundup testing can be made during the pre-registration April 18.
Pierceton Elementary’s Eric Speicher said his school continues to work on integrating technology into classrooms with iPads and laptops.
Speicher is also involved in a Muscular Dystrophy Association fundraiser this week as a “jailbird.”
Speicher also invited school board members to a Doughnuts for Dads event March 16 at 7:30 a.m.
Whitko Middle School Principal Jerry Klausing told the board there will be a talent show March 23 at 6:30 p.m.
An end-of-year awards show is scheduled for May 30 at 6 p.m.
Klausing said the school continues to offer tutoring Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Whitko HighâSchool Principal Parrish Kruger told the board parent-teacher conferences were held last week and that about 27 percent of parents showed up.
The next school board meeting is March 19 at 7:30 p.m. with an executive session at 6:30 p.m.
The Whitko School Board meets at the administration building on the campus of Pierceton Elementary School.
