Presentations Praise Pupils, Practical Property Plans Prepared, Pay Raise Prevails

LARWILL-Monday’s school board meeting included recognition of each building’s Student of the Month, a presentation by the Ag department, and reports from the principals and directors. (Full agenda posted at article end)

Students of the month included:

• Whitko High School Student of the Month: Kylie Keirn, nominated by Principal Amy Evans
• Whitko Junior High School Student of the Month: Jacob Tuttle, nominated by Rochelle Leininger
• Whitko Career Academy Student of the Month: John Morgan, nominated by Jay Ocken
• South Whitley Elementary School Student of the Month: Dannaka Day, nominated by Jessica Long
• Pierceton Elementary School Student of the Month: Abel Miller, nominated by Angela Speicher
• Little Cat of the Month: Hayden Henson, nominated by Jamie Paino

The nominator in most instances shared personal praises of each student’s achievements including friendliness, helpfulness, and leadership (neither Abel Miller nor Angela Speicher were present, so his was presented by another staff member).

WCA Ag teachers Ken Johns and Emily Murphy gave a slideshow presentation outlining their goals to better utilize the existing land surrounding WCA. Through the efforts of Mr. Johns, Mr. Benedict, and Mr. Matt Dahms, the company CASE IH has expressed a willingness to offer WCA the opportunity to lease a tractor for $1 a year, with the school and chapter being responsible for insurance and maintenance. Further discussions will include the Athletic Director to determine the best options for both maintaining the course used by the Cross Country team and providing more opportunities for students. While nothing is currently “set in stone,” hopes are high for board approval so that the initial step of obtaining the tractor can proceed. Plans include test plots, a hay field, a growth area to provide food for the animals at WCA, a school garden, and a more efficient system of grounds maintenance than simple mowing.

Photo of screen during presentationPhoto byMelany Love

Board President Annette Arnold asked where the needed equipment would come from, and Johns replied that a local farmer had already approached with a willingness to help, but additionally auctions and other programs may be sources. Questions were asked about adult supervision, and Johns assured everyone that of course that would be the case. With the goal being education, teachers would be necessary to teach, and obviously Whitko would want to avoid potential liability issues. Arnold said the plans sounded exciting. Other discussion from Superintendent Tim Pavarnik and Board Vice-President Georgia Tenney also occurred, but the microphones for the board member table seemed less efficient at picking up audio than that of the microphone for presenters, and it was more difficult to hear.

Chris Evans, the Curriculum/Tap Director shared his optimism with the new reading curriculum’s results so far. Where scores had shown only 10% of students reading at or above appropriate levels, current scores have shown those numbers at 28.4%. Evans is currently working with the schools’ librarians to mark all library books according to the new reading level system so that students can easily find books at their level.

Jamie Paino, Director of Alternative Services, announced the progress of Whitko’s childcare program, including new licensure, growth (from 16 children to a capacity for 81), and well-underway renovations. She looks forward to improving awareness of the program by adding signage soon. The Whitko homeschool program currently has 48 students; Paino anticipates over a hundred students participating by the end of the year.

Both elementary school principals shared updates on their school’s experiences with the ARC curriculum, saying their school has conducted a great many assessments in the few months since implementation and that there have been small increases in reading scores in all grades. South Whitley Elementary Principal Joel Holsopple said although the curriculum is difficult and at times they want to quit, they are thankful for it and the progress being made.

Chris Benedict of WCA said that all of the deer stands that students made are already presold, and 8th graders have been working with a grant, which they applied for and presented.

Whitko Jr./Sr. High Principal Amy Evans announced a program with Manchester University that she hopes would allow students to begin college two years ahead, which might then also help get those graduated back into Whitko as new teachers after only leaving a couple of years prior. She also reminded everyone of the upcoming FAFSA night at Whitko on Nov. 27; FAFSA has changed recently so that students need to register while still in high school, so Whitko is offering help in completing forms. 

Athletic Director Barry Singrey offered recognition and thanks to all the parents for their improved support in sports and requested that more parents of younger kids get involved. He also shared the news of the installation of a new sound system in the gym.

The meeting’s agenda (as always) boasted a nearly 200-word “fine print” section dictating how public comment may be conducted, and the school’s new resource officer stood stoically in the back of the room. No one had any public comment.

The board voted on the approval of a raise in pay for non-certified staff that had been discussed in Nov. 8’s School Board Work Session (article here). Only School Board Member Lynn Studebaker voted against the pay raises. Unanimous votes were those opening PERF to school bus drivers and approving field trips, including the annual ones and an additional request by Antimony Fox for an April 1-5 trip to Gettysburg, PA and Washington DC for any interested students in 7-12 grade.

Upcoming events include the Jr./Sr. High School choir concert on Dec. 3 and the band concert on Dec. 14. The next School Board Work Session is Wed., Dec. 13 at 4pm in the WCA TAP room, and the next School Board meeting is Mon., Dec. 18 at 6:30pm in the WCA Lecture Room.

Photo byMelany Love

Photo byMelany Love