The impact of Indiana’s voucher program on funding of public schools is an ongoing debate in the state, and across the nation where similar programs exist. To read the article referenced by Superintendent Rowe visit: www.indystar.com/story/news/investigations/2024/09/04/voucher-earning-limit-sta40000-a-year-today-the-same-family-could-qualify-while-making-222000-a-year/74042543007/

Also in her superintendent’s report, Rowe shared the sentiment that “it’s been a great start to the new school year.” Teachers participated in 6+1 Traits of Writing during the Aug. 23 professional development early release day. In addition, she shared information about the school corporation’s current CD investment, and provided updated information by the school’s architect firm Moake Park Group concerning some slight design adjustments to the current project renderings.

During board member feedback Mandy Sharpe and Dr. Rowe talked briefly about a presentation given by representatives Ed Charbonneau and Kendell Culp at the White County 4-H building recently about property tax impacts.

The school board held a public hearing for the proposed 2025 budget to allow public input on the 2025 budget, capital projects plan and bus replacement plan. Hearing no public comment, the board closed the budget hearing.

The board announced Student of the Month honors for Wyatt Chodzinski representing the middle/high school Avery Hershman from the elementary school.

During the public comment period attention was given to the impact of F-grades on athletic eligibility by Mr. Bunger. Mr. Nielsen informed the board about IHSAA changes as it relates to girls wrestling.

 

Personnel items

The school board approved the following employment recommendations, as presented (with the exception of item #50 to await further information):

  1. Corina Hoge - Custodian
  2. Deborah Lamble - Instructional Assistant
  3. Robin Ashley - Mentor Teacher for Brandon Stevens
  4. Hillary Durie - Mentor Teacher for Natalie Kennedy
  5. Lindsay Hopkins - Mentor Teacher for Samantha Garlach
  6. Lisa Zeyen - Mentor Teacher for Bill Brunker
  7. Terri Ray - Mentor Teacher for Ben Gudas
  8. Devin Green - Mentor Teacher for Allison McCormick
  9. Kellis Gutwein - Unit Leader Kdg
  10. Marilyn Bernal - Unit Leader Ist Grade
  11. Joy Schlatter - Unit Leader 2nd Grade
  12. Terri Ray - Unit Leader 3rd Grade
  13. Devin Green - Unit Leader 4th Grade
  14. Sarah Buche - Unit Leader 5th Grade
  15. Kathy Minnick - Unit Leader 6th Grade
  16. Lindsay Hopkins - Unit Leader K-6 Specials, Special Education, Counseling
  17. Leanna Nielsen - Elementary Yearbook
  18. Samantha Heims - Elementary Club-Lego
  19. Amber Leman - High School Student Council
  20. Susan Ames - MS/HS Yearbook
  21. Greg Buschman - Math Department Chair
  22. Hillary Durie - English Department Chair
  23. Marc Hall - Social Studies Department Chair
  24. Sara Strus - Science Department Chair
  25. Amber Leman - Special Education Department Chair
  26. Stephen Sholey - Fine Arts Department Chair
  27. Sara Strus - PBIS
  28. Stephen Sholey - Band Director
  29. Bill Brunker - Vocal Director
  30. Shaw Haselby - FFA
  31. Hillary Durie - National Honor Society
  32. Hillary Durie - National Junior Honor Society
  33. Stephanie Thilges - FCCLA
  34. Jennifer Mellon - FCA
  35. Lisa Zeyen - High School Art Club
  36. Sara Strus - Middle School Student Council
  37. Marc Hall - Academic Super Bowl Coordinator
  38. Marc Hall - Academic Super Bowl Social Studies
  39. Desiree Supremo - Academic Super Bowl Science
  40. Hillary Durie - Academic Super Bowl English
  41. Rebecca Reed - Senior Sponsor
  42. Jennifer Johns - Senior Assistant Sponsor
  43. Tonya Wall - Junior Sponsor
  44. Shelby Powell - Junior Assistant Sponsor
  45. Rebecca Reed - Middle/High School Play
  46. Hillary Durie - Middle/High School Play
  47. Corey Howat - Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach
  48. Brittany Baker - 5th Grade Volleyball Coach
  49. Nate Williams - Varsity Boys Assistant Wrestling Coach
  50. Nate Williams - Varsity Wrestling Coach (Girls)
  51. David Allen - Varsity Head Baseball Coach
  52. Tyler Napier - Middle School Head Track Coach
  53. Kellis Gutwein - Middle School Assistant Track Coach
  54. Susan Ames - High School Cheer Coach
  55. Alexis Beiswanger-Middle School Cheer Coach
  56. Kenneth Nielsen - Varsity Wrestling Coach (Boys)
  57. Jared Gudeman - Volunteer Assistant Middle School Football Coach
  58. Travis Rodriguez - Volunteer Assistant Middle School Football Coach
  59. Kellis Gutwein - Volunteer Assistant High School Cheer Coach
  60. Kristi Laxton - CSS-Clarification of days worked
  61. Amanda Shedrow - CSS-Clarification of days worked
  62. Kay Allen - Study Tables Bus Driver
  63. Sarah Buche - Robotics-Elementary

The board voted approval to the following leave requests, as presented:

  • Tammy Toosley – Aug. 29-30
  • Linda Hunter – Sept. 3,
  • Jenni Beason (CSS) – Oct. 22-23

 

Action items

The school board voted to approve a motion to allow an overnight trip for the West Central FFA to attend the national convention Oct. 23-25.

Approval was given to the request from the Francesville First Baptist Church for a bus rental, as presented.

The board approved a Sunday performance request for the West Central Drama department production for Oct. 20.

The board approved the West Central Schools ECA SA-5 Report,

The board voted to approve the 2025 Senior Class Trip to Orlando, Florida scheduled for April 29-May 3.

Approval was given to the adjustment to adult breakfast prices, as presented.

A request from the West Central Youth League Football for “Use of Facilities” was approved.

A revision to the West Central Middle/High School Handbook was approved by the board.

Approval was given to the Community Foundation of Pulaski County bus rental request. The Community Foundation was also given approval for a facilities rental for Nov. 22.

The school board voted to approve the McGriff Insurance renewal, as presented, in a 6-1 vote, with board member Kyle McTeigue casting the nay vote.

The board voted to reaffirm the corporation’s current Teacher Appreciation Grant, as presented.

 

Principal reports:

Elementary school principal Toni Blaszczyk shared the school days have been “filled with a flurry of activities.” The certified staff was bustling with professional development sessions, gearing up for an exciting new school year.

The school is anticipating Grandparent's Day Sept. 12-13 for preschool, followed by Sept. 26 for the elementary school with “a buzz of excitement in the air.”

The principal also reported the elementary school is “thrilled about the upcoming NED SHOW, marking our first assembly of the year. It promises to be a whole lot of fun.”

Middle/high school principal Mike Carlson said the school has had a good start to the year.

The first early release focus was on writing. A few select middle school teachers met beforehand. More work will be done on refining writing skills and writing across all disciplines.

An exemplary behavior report was received from an official from the Winamac Volleyball Invite for all 12 teams commenting on a phenomenal job of sportsmanship from student-athletes, coaches, and fans.

Beginning of the year benchmarking is currently underway for reading and math in grades 7-10.

The school has opted in this year to ILEARN Checkpoints. There will be three checkpoints based on identified standards throughout the year before the summative test in the spring. Staff and students are preparing for the first checkpoint that opens soon. With midterms upcoming, study tables will begin again on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

 

Executive Session

The school board met in an executive session after the regular meeting, in accordance with state law, to discuss a job performance evaluation of individual employees.

  
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Local News Briefs

Chamber's autumn RiverFest event Oct. 5 in Winamac

WINAMAC – The Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce will sponsor its third annual RiverFest from 3 to 6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 5 at the Winamac Town Park.

The event will feature  30-plus vendors, food, crafts and music (open mic style), plus a River Ball Race at 5 p.m.

U.S. 35 to have short-term closures

PULASKI/STARKE COUNTIES - Indiana Department of Transportation maintenance crews will conduct seal coating operations resulting in two road closures on U.S. 35 beginning on or after Monday, Sept. 23.

U.S. 35 will first be closed during daytime work hours between SR 14 and the west junction of SR 10 for approximately three days on or after Sept. 23. The official detour for this closure will follow SR 10, U.S. 421 and SR 14.

County health department to hold respiratory vaccine clinic Oct. 15

The Pulaski County Health Department will hold a respiratory vaccine clinic from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 15 at Parkview Haven in Francesville.

Public health nurse Stephen Stephen Newcomer reports the flu vaccine will be available at the clinic. Also a limited supply of COVID, RSV and pneumonia vaccines will be offered.

Warrior Up after-school program continues at Winamac FUMC

WINAMAC – The Warrior Up Kids Club after-school program is continuing for the 2024-25 school year at the Winamac First United Methodist Church.

 The program offers bus transportation from the Winamac schools, snacks, homework help, some life-skills lessons, crafts and additional activities.

S-P Habitat plans open house for new project Sept. 28

Starke-Pulaski Habitat for Humanity will hold an open house for its latest project, the John and Melissa May family home, at 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 28.

The house is located at 614 S. Burson St., Winamac, along side the Panhandle Pathway. The public is welcome to attend to congratulate the May family.

HVRM to run diesel, steam ‘Pumpkin and Twilight Trains’ in October

NORTH JUDSON - The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum will run Pumpkin Trains every Saturday in October in historic North Judson at the junction of four former railroads.

A diorama of the Erie, Chesapeake & Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York Central railroads is on display in the admission-free museum, along with one of the largest collections of working railroad signals, a restored World War II Pullman Troop Car, and all types of rolling stock, engines and memorabilia of a by-gone era.

PCPL September activities, programs listed

The Pulaski County Public Library has listed its programs and activities for September. They include Grandparents Day story time, Yoga classes, avoiding financial fraud, a banned book discussion and celebrating Bluey’s birthday.

For more information on any program, call the library at 574-946-3432 or visit the library’s website at www.pulaskicounty.lib.in.us.

  

Indiana News

Free soil sampling program available for Indiana farmers

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 23) — The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) and partners throughout the state have worked with the Gulf Hypoxia Program (GHP) to develop a no-cost program with a focus on increasing the knowledge and use of soil sampling as a nutrient management practice to benefit farm operations.

The program, titled Indiana’s Mississippi River Basin Soil Sampling Program, is open now for applicants through Nov. 1.

OCRA announces new training, capacity-building program for rural communities

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 19) – Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs have announced the opening of the new Rural Empowerment and Development (RED) program.

The program is a capacity-building and planning initiative created in partnership with Ball State University’s Indiana Communities Institute. 

Holcomb visits in Ukraine with President Zelenskyy

Photos added

KYIV, Ukraine (Sept. 5) – Gov. Eric Holcomb is in Kyiv Thursday to focus on subnational diplomacy that will positively impact future economic, academic and cultural two-way partnerships between Indiana and Ukraine.

This trip marks the first time a U.S. governor has traveled to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

Culp, Jordan: Applications now open for 2025 Statehouse internships

STATEHOUSE (Aug. 29) – Applications to intern with Indiana House Republicans for the 2025 legislative session are now open, according to State Reps. Kendell Culp (R-Rensselaer) and Jack Jordan (R-Bremen). 

Culp said the Indiana House of Representatives offers a spring semester internship at the Statehouse in Indianapolis during the legislative session, which will start in January and conclude in April. House interns earn $900 biweekly and work full time, Monday through Friday.

State presents Pulaski County farms with Hoosier Homestead awards

STATEHOUSE (Aug. 16) – Indiana recently honored local farms owned and operated by the same family for at least 100 years with Hoosier Homestead awards. In Pulaski County, the Bergdolt Farm, in operation since 1899, received a centennial award, and the Heater Farm, in operation since 1872, received the sesquicentennial award. (The Heaters also received a second award for their Fulton County Farm.)

Recognized for their families’ longstanding commitment to agriculture, 103 Indiana farm families were presented the Hoosier Homestead Award at the Indiana State Fair from Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Don Lamb.

Indiana COVID-19 News

CDC releases fall/winter outlook for respiratory illnesses

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 10) - The Indiana Department of Health reported Sept. 10 that COVID-like illness emergency department visits numbered 399 from Aug. 28 - Sept. 3, down 80 from its previous weekly report.

State COVID-19 hospital admissions (Sept. 1-7) totaled 34, up 5 from the week before. The state reported one death in the seven-day period (reflects confirmed COVID deaths reported to IDH).

  

Post News

Mellon honored with state’s Golden Hoosier Award

INDIANAPOLIS – Charles Mellon of Francesville was presented with a Golden Hoosier Award by Indiana Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch Tuesday (Sept. 24), at the Statehouse in Indianapolis. He was among 18 people from across the state to receive the award.

The Golden Hoosier Award was established to acknowledge and recognize outstanding seniors for their lifetime of service to their communities. Sponsored by Indiana Lieutenant Governor in collaboration and partnership with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, the award is the highest honor bestowed on a senior in Indiana.

Nov. 5, 2024 General Election: Who's on my ballot?

Who will be on your 2024 Pulaski County general election ballot?

A list of all candidates to be considered by Pulaski County voters is presented here, along with website links for the national and state candidates to give voters an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the office seekers and their platforms.

Voter registration ends Monday, Oct. 7; and Early Voting begins Tuesday, Oct. 8 in Indiana. Information for voters may be found at Secretary of State: Voter Information

Fall Festival announces contest winners

Francesville, the “Small Town with a Big Heart” put on a giant festival this past weekend (Sept. 20-22) jam-packed with family fun.

The 56th annual Francesville Fall Festival featured “Tag Art” dinosaurs, carnival rides, a Harvest Dance, contests, games, arts, crafts and a variety of ventdors. A sampling of photos from the event appears on the PulaskiPost Facebook page.

FSSA Employer Sponsored Childcare Fund grant supports Pulaski County

In March of 2024, Pulaski County received $750,000 from the Employer-Sponsored Child Care Fund grant through the Family and Social Services Administration’s Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (FSSA).

This child care fund grant is a $25 million program that provides seed funding for employers and local communities to expand employer subsidized child care benefits to address growing local child care needs. The program, established with federal funding, was designed to increase child care access and support for working Hoosier families.

West Central School Board, Superintendent discuss impact of state voucher program on public school funding

FRANCESVILLE – West Central School Corporation Superintendent Dr. Cathy Rowe referenced, at the September school board meeting, a recent article in the IndyStar that drew attention to a report on state’s school choice (vouchers) program drawing taxpayer monies away from Indiana public schools.

She told the board that what started out as a $15.5 million price tag school choice program in 2011, has ballooned to over $300 million most recently, and is forecast to cost $600 million this year. For West Central, the loss in state funding is estimated to be $277,730 annually, with impact felt each year as additional funding is allocated to vouchers.

EPCS receives state funding boost for safety upgrades

STATEHOUSE (Sept. 17) – Eastern Pulaski Community Schools recently received more than $39,000 for safety upgrades through the state's Secured School Safety Grant Program.

The SSSG program was created in 2013 and codified by Indiana Code 10-21. The legislation was established to increase the safety of Indiana schools. The SSSG program is a dedicated state fund that provides matching grants to school corporations, accredited non-public schools, charter schools and coalitions of school corporations.