Abundant Artistic and Athletic Achievements Overshadow Investigations and Audits

LARWILL-After two weather-related reschedules, Whitko’s January School Board meeting finally took place. Though the clocks on the walls of the lecture room at WCA were still absent, the wall TVs displayed the evening’s agenda, complete with a ticker across the bottom that ran the 148-word long statement that specifically outlines all the allowances for the presiding officer’s ability to prohibit public comment. An executive session proceeded the meeting (at 5:30) to discuss “individuals over whom the governing body has jurisdiction,” but further information was not provided publicly.

Photo byMelany Love

Students of the month for each of the buildings were recognized.

Photo by(screenshot from official YouTube coverage)

• Ryan Rose, Whitko Senior High, nominated by teacher Dan Coil, for his leadership skills
• Hannah Bingham, Whitko Junior High, nominated by teacher Dan Coil, for being a task-oriented, hard worker
• Kavon Hurd, Whitko Career Academy, nominated by teachers Don Stone and Chris Neeley, for his dedication and perseverance in moving from a status of six credits behind to one of graduating early
• Alainna Arnett, South Whitley Elementary, nominated by teacher Abigail Norman, for her positive attitude, helpfulness, and great example
• Zoie Bingley, Pierceton Elementary, nominated by teacher Laura Cassidy, for her kind heart, integrity, and growth mindset
• (Clay Jenkins, December Little Cat of the Month, was not present again to accept his award)
• Navy Arnold, Little Cats Early Learning Academy, nominated by Sieara Arnett, for her growth and improvement in less crying

In great news from around the district, Whitko’s Early Learning Academy received a $180,360 grant from the Indiana Employee Sponsored Childcare Initiative. As the only state-licensed childcare facility associated with a public school in Indiana, Little Cats received this grant after a rigorous and scrutinizing evaluation. 

Several students from the art department and band were recognized for their awards won. Cloe Thompson, Hannah Moore, Justine Ocken, and Carli Reeser won nine Scholastic Art awards in the 2024 Regional Scholastic Art Contest in Fort Wayne. Additionally, Justine Ocken was chosen as Northeastern REMC’s Artist of the Year and will have a place in their 2024 calendar.

Whitko Art students and their worksPhoto byWhitko Facebook page

Juniors Bailey Wolfe and Jillian Culp are competing as co-candidates in the 2024 Northeastern Indiana Visionaries of the Year campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Indiana, an issue close to both of their hearts.

Wrestler Landon Smith was undefeated in his weight class at the Goshen Invitational. Two of the female wrestlers, Kaylee Clark and Olivia Pender advanced to the Indiana High School Girls Semistate Competition. Wrestler Lucas Wagner qualified for Regionals. Basketball players Kloe Krieg and Kyler Krull recently joined the “1000 Point Club.”

Solo & Ensemble, an annual small group and individual instrumental music contest where entrants gain valuable feedback, was last weekend, and of the fourteen individuals and groups who entered at the hardest judging level, two groups and three individuals earned a gold rating. The Clarinet Trio of Ethan Huber, Bastien Love, and Micah Slabach, the Saxophone Quartet of Maggie Clark, Bastien Love, and Jose and Juan Macias, and soloists Reid Deneve (baritone), Alayna Kreps (trumpet), and Bastien Love (clarinet) will continue on to state. Across all judging difficulties, students earned eighteen gold, ten silver, and two bronze ratings.

School Board Member Georgia Tenney received the Kosciusko County Woman of the Year Award from the Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce. She serves as a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Pierceton & Washington County Library Board, and the Pierceton Christmas Committee, and she works for the Pierceton Food Bank.

School Board Member Georgia Tenney, "Woman of the Year."Photo byMelany Love (screenshot from official YouTube coverage)

Curriculum/TAP Director Chris Evans did not present; his name was listed as a “Discontinuation” on the Business Reports and Consent Agenda/Personnel--Employment Actions portion of the agenda. Jamie Paino, Director of Alternative Services, was also missing, as she is on administrative leave while an investigation is being done. 

Christy Haupert of Pierceton Elementary shared updates about the Robotics Club and that teachers have reported a noticeable increase in students’ vocabularies. 

Joel Holsopple of South Whitley Elementary School expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to use the ARC reading program and how successful it has been. South Whitley is preparing for iLEARN and iREAD testing. 

Chris Benedict of WCA said freshmen will be choosing their paths next week. 

Amy Evans of Whitko Junior Senior High School expanded on the earlier mentions of successes of the sports and arts programs. She praised Mr. Malicki, pointing out that he does a great deal of unseen work in writing letters and things to ensure the kids are recognized for their achievements. The semi-formal date was changed to February 24 to alleviate a scheduling conflict with girls basketball sectionals. 

Athletic Director Barry Singrey praised the girls basketball team and their impressive 3 Rivers Conference Championship win; Whitko’s last such win was in 2008. He announced a tenderloin dinner that the boosters will be holding on February 16, from 4-6pm, before the boys basketball game. Boys Basketball Senior Night and Cheerleading Senior Night will be Feb. 17 before the start of the varsity game. The South Whitley and Pierceton Youth League baseball and softball programs will be merging into the “Wildcat Youth League” to aid in Whitko branding and make the registration process, costs, rules, etc. uniform between the programs.

Director of Operations Rhonda Snavely said despite the rough couple of weeks’ weather that things are going well. The newly hired and newly promoted are adjusting well, and Pierceton’s new head custodian already has ideas for improving the current systems. Longtime bus driver “Gale” is retiring after “around thirty years,” though she still plans to be a substitute bus driver.

Kari Walmer, Director of Special Services said they received a desktop audit as a result of their recent review and are compiling documentation.

Director of Technology Jason Cline shared a recent change in staffing and a current audit of hotspot usage. The technology department is adopting a ticket-submission system to better ensure resolution of issues through tracking, and has since closed 665 tickets, with 21 open.

Superintendent Tim Pivarnik discussed the beginning of the new construction at the Junior Senior High School. Pivarnik then mentioned the recent speaking out of the community on the subject of the leadership at Little Cats, saying, “We’ve always said that we not only listen, but we also hear what’s going on, when it comes our way. It’s come upon me to look into those issues…I looked into some of those and felt it warranted immediate action. With that, I informed the board that I was placing our Director of Alternative Programs Jamie Paino on administrative leave while I look into those issues.” Paino came under fire on a Facebook group called “Whitko Community Discussions 2.0” when former students and a former teacher at Little Cats began speaking out on January 13 with allegations of her working caretakers beyond their legal hours without compensation and overwhelming them with more children than they could handle (more on that here). 

Pivarnik assured those present that, “We take that early learning center very seriously. We take the safety and the well-being of our kids and our children in there very seriously,” and that fortunately while these issues are looked into, the dedicated staff will be able to step up, with Sieara Arnett accepting the position of Interim Assistant Director of Little Cats, as “She’s been running the place for a couple years now as the right-hand person to Ms. Paino.” Pivarnik says he’s already noticed a difference and spoke confidently of her ability.

During public comment, Kyle Myers, a Whitko parent, requested to speak on the subject of Whitko’s discrimination policy. Tamzin, a lawyer with him, presented on behalf of parent Ashley Saunders, by reading the school’s grievance policy aloud and in full from the school’s handbook (that video here). As nothing further was said, many speculate her presence has something to do with the executive session and/or problems with the school’s grievance policy.

Literacy stipends to K-3 teachers and teacher assistants, Marsha K. Keener’s reappointment to a four-year term on the Pierceton & Washington Township Public Library, and field trips were approved unanimously with no discussion or further descriptions.

The next School Board Work Session is Wednesday, February 14 at 4pm in the WCA TAP room, and the next regular School Board Meeting is Monday, February 26 at 6:30pm in the WCA lecture room.

Photo byMelany Love (compiled from official agenda)

Photo byMelany Love (compilation)