Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
LARWILL - Whitko Community School Corp. gained a new high school principal Monday, and its total student enrollment has dropped this year compared to last.
The school board unanimously approved Parrish Kruger as the Whitko High School principal, to begin Monday.
Whitko Superintendent Dr. Jeff Hendrix said parents, administrators, teachers and students screened more than 14 applicants for the job, narrowing down to three before Kruger was chosen. With school already in session, Kruger will have to "hit the ground running." Hendrix said, "We're just excited to have him on board."
Kruger received his bachelor's degree in secondary science from Ball State University in 1989 and his master's degree in secondary administration from Indiana University in 1998.
From 1990-92, he taught science at Western Brown High School, Mt. Orab, Ohio; taught science at Garrett junior-senior high school from 1992-98; and served as the assistant principal at West Noble High School, Ligonier, from 1998 to the present.
He and his wife Teri have two daughters, Bailey, age 7, and Riley, 4.
After the meeting, Kruger said what drew him to Whitko was "the size of Whitko is a perfect size school."
While at Southwood, he attended sporting events where Southwood played against Whitko and said he found Whitko students to be very good kids in a good school system.
His plans initially are to get to know the students and see what Whitko High School is all about. "I'm looking for positive things," Kruger said.
Kruger lives within two miles of the Whitko School district in Wilmot.
"If you take any job seriously, you are going to be a little nervous, but I feel I've been well prepared" and he said he sees being the WHS principal as a challenge.
Hendrix said Kruger brings with him a background in curriculum as he has worked in that area extensively at West Noble. Kruger has some innovative ideas on discipline and disciplinary programs. Hendrix said he thinks the staff will be happy to have Kruger aboard.
In other personnel items, the school board approved the discontinuation of Lance Hershberger as the head baseball coach and Don Zawlocki as the head boys' basketball coach, both at the high school.
Last school year, Whitko's total student enrollment was 1,995 students. This year, it's 1,980. Pierceton Elementary School dropped 16 students this year for a total of 461 students; South Whitley Elementary has one less student this year for a total of 447 students; the middle school gained two at 463; and the high school remained the same at 609 students.
The school board also:
• Recognized Whitko Middle School sixth-grader Zach Jones as one of the national 400 semifinalists from 41 states and Puerto Rico selected from 75,000 students in the Sixth Annual Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge. Monday, the field was to be narrowed down to the Final 40, who will compete for more than $100,000 worth of scholarships and special prizes as well as the title of "America's Top Young Scientist of the Year."
• Approved the purchase of two 2005 84-passenger Bluebird buses from Nix Bus Sales, with two trade-ins, for $139,330 and one 2005 handicapped Thomas bus from Kerlin Bus Sales with one trade-in for $59,801.
• Approved the high school graduation commencement for June 3 to allow for any make-up days needed at the end of the school year. Even if there are no snow days to be made up, graduation will be held June 3, a week after school lets out. Baccalaureate is May 26.
• Appointed Carolyn Buckmaster to the Indiana Cooperative Library Services Authority.
• Approved an anonymous donation of $2,500 to Pierceton Elementary School to help fund the A-OK program.
• Approved WMS principal Jerry Klausing, Hendrix and Kruger as school safety specialists for the 2004-05 school year.
