Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
LARWILL - Biennially, Whitko School Corp. presents a "Friend of Education" award.
Monday, the Whitko School Board presented parent Rhonda Jones with the 2004 award. She was nominated by Gina Borton of South Whitley Elementary School.
Dr. Jeff Hendrix, Whitko superintendent, said they asked the faculty and staff to nominate someone who has been supportive of Whitko schools, and this year that person was Jones.
"We can't say enough, Rhonda, about how much you've done for education," said school board president Dave Tranter. He told her she has gone above and beyond expectations.
During the meeting, the board also heard a presentation by the Whitko Middle School Clean World Association.
CWA President Garrett Webb told the board that CWA members log 80 to 120 hours per year, with most of those hours being working in the greenhouse. This year, they had 2,000 more plants to take care of than last year.
"We were watering, watering, watering," Webb said.
The plants were then taken to the Columbia City Farmers' Market to be sold.
"We did quite well with that," he said. What plants weren't sold at the market were sold to students and staff at the middle school for Mothers' Day.
Each year, the CWA also cleans up a park.
"This year we went to Whitley County Foundation and cleaned that up," said Webb. "It turned out really nice."
Annually, the CWA also conducts a food drive for local food pantries. Webb said they had their best year yet, collecting more than 3,000 products.
To attend the CWA summer retreat, which most members look forward to, Webb said members had to log at least 33 hours to attend.
Lastly, the CWA participated in "Light the Night," raising money to help fight leukemia.
In other business, the school board:
• Heard the South Whitley Elementary School PTO raised approximately $1,500 at its spring carnival.
• Heard the Pierceton Elementary School PTO was able to give more than $10,000 to the school and teachers this year.
• Recognized valedictorian Anthony Hull and salutatorian Emily Crist.
• Recognized Indiana Electric Consumer contest first place finisher Bronwen Greenfield, WHS senior.
• Approved the employment of Don Zawlocki as the boys' golf coach at WHS and Donna Weber as the varsity cheer coach (she was the freshman coach).
• Heard the SWES spring concert is Wednesday at 7 p.m.
• Heard the WMS choir/band concert is Thursday at 6 p.m.
• Heard the WMS sixth- and seventh-grade awards are May 25 and the eighth-grade recognition is June 1.
• Heard the WHS academic awards program is May 26 at 8:30 a.m.; the baccalaureate is May 27 at 6:30 p.m.; the commencement is May 28 at 7:30 p.m.; and the last student day is June 2.
• Accepted $25 from the Kosciusko County Extension Office to purchase agriculture-related books for the Pierceton Elementary School library.
School board members are Dave Tranter, E. Marie Trump, Hal Trump, Pete Mitchell and Michael Braddock. Their regular meetings are at 7:30 p.m. on the third Monday of every month.
