The board voted to approve the Capital Projects Plan and Resolution, the Bus Replacement Plan and Resolution, the Neutrality Resolution, and the Authorization to Modify the Budgets Resolution.

In other busines, the elementary school, middle school, and high school submitted their School Improvement Plans as required by the state department of education.  After discussion, the board voted to approve each plan as submitted.

Foster reported on the following:

  • Project Update: Friday, Oct. 5 was a punch list walkthrough. There are items yet to be finished and/or redone before the project is complete. Foster covered the items. Lights are due on or about Oct. 31. The generator is due about the first of December. 
  • Strategic Planning: The committee has met three times so far. A lot of work is going into the plan, with the committee having two three-hour sessions so far. The last session will be Nov. 5 and then the document will be submitted to the board in December. 
  • The ISBA Fall Regional Meeting will be Nov. 7 in Plymouth.
  • Foster gave a financial report for the period ending Sept. 30. All funds have positive balances.

Spotlight on EPES – Chromebooks/ILEARN Assessment: Elementary school principal Jill Collins shared that Chromebooks have been implemented into the elementary school curriculum. Shannon Burgess and students shared what they have, and are, learning on their new Chromebooks. Elementary school teachers, Kellsy Sass and Cathleen Cunningham shared, from their perspective, the implementation and what great teaching tools the Chromebooks are. The ILEARN assessments are completely online, so having the Chromebooks is a great tool for the students to help prepare for this test.  
 
Personnel:

Sharon Cotner, food Service, submitted her resignation. Bryn Zellers was recommended for the position. 

Terry Skinner, bus driver, submitted his resignation. He has been with EPCS since August 1998.  He will drive until fall break. 

The board approved the personnel items as submitted. 

 

Principal reports:

Elementary school principal Jill Collins reported on the following: Parent/Teacher Conferences are Oct. 10 and 11; “Pop Tarts and Police,” is a new program starting October 26th. Local police officers will visit with students creating a bond and letting students know they are available. Oct. 26 is the PTA Halloween Dance. Donuts with Dad was Friday, Oct. 5 and was well attended. The first Vex Robotics competition is Oct. 27. Fifth grade will be going to Tippecanoe River Sate Park on Oct. 31. The first convocation of the year, centered on being the best you can be, will be on Nov. 5. The PTA is sponsoring a pizza night at Tippy’s on Nov. 5. The Veteran’s Day Program will be Nov. 9.

High School principal Rick DeFries reported on the following: Karen Butler, new media specialist and warrior academy teacher, is promoting the library.  September was Banned Book Month. To promote this, Ms. Butler wrapped banned books (from years ago) in white and had students read them to see why they were banned. Murder Mystery Month is this month.  A $1500 grant from McDonald’s was awarded to the high school.  The first band and choir concert will be Oct. 9. The fall play will be Oct. 27, 28, and 29. Football and volleyball are finishing their seasons. Cross Country is going to the CMA regional. Soccer made it to the sectional this year with a lot of fan support.

 

Board Comment: Students and parents were thanked for sharing their Chromebooks with the board. The Strategic Planning Committee was thanked for their work. The work on the School Improvement Plans was commended.

 

 

  
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Local News Briefs

County Memorial Day Service May 26

The annual county Memorial Day Service will begin at 11 a.m., Monday (May 26), in front of the courthouse, Winamac.

The event is organized by the Winamac American Legion Post 71 and VFW Post 1728. Guest speaker will be Captain Casey Stephens. Dr. Robert Klitzman will serve as master of ceremonies.

Indiana Election Division to perform voter list maintenance

In the absence of an election in 2025, the Indiana Election Division will perform routine voter list maintenance in an effort to maintain accurate voter rolls, reports Pulaski County Clerk JoLynn Behny.

 Beginning mid-May, registered voters with an “active” voter status will receive the first in a series of two postcards to verify the registered voter’s correct address. If the information on the post card is correct, the registered voter does not need to take any action.

I-65 to have overnight lane closures near State Road 14

 JASPER COUNTY - Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Rieth-Riley Construction will have overnight lane closures on I-65 from mile marker 217 to 223 (between SR 10 and SR 114) beginning on or after Monday, May 12.

I-65 will be reduced to one lane in the area where work is occurring during the overnight hours of approximately 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. Work will be ongoing through mid-October.

PCPL lists activities, programs for May

The Pulaski County Public Library has listed its programs and activities for May. They include restorative yoga classes, adult canvas painting, and the opening celebration of the Story Trail at the park.

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. 

Stop signs to be added to two county intersections

The Pulaski County Highway Department will add stop signs Monday (April 28) to two county road intersections – one in southeast Rich Grove Township, and the second in northwest Monroe Township.

The new stop signs were approved April 14 in an ordinance adopted by the county commissioners.

  

Indiana News

Mitch Frazier, AgriNovus Indiana president and CEO, to step down

INDIANAPOLIS (May 16) - AgriNovus Indiana announced Friday it is launching a search for a new chief executive officer following the resignation of its current CEO Mitch Frazier who will depart from the organization June 6.

Frazier, who has served as president and CEO of AgriNovus since June 2020, will become president of IBJ Media Corporation June 16.

61 Pulaski County students earn Ivy Tech degrees, certificates

KOKOMO (May 9) - Ivy Tech Community College Kokomo Service Area, which includes campuses and instructional sites in Kokomo, Loganspor and Peru, celebrated the Class of 2025 with three commencement ceremonies Friday, May 9.

The events, divided by schools, honored 1,128 students who are expected to have completed work on 1,432 degrees and certificates by the end of the Fall 2024 and Spring and Summer 2025 terms.

Northwest Indiana Forum hosts legislative wrap-up

CHESTERTON (May 2) – The Northwest Indiana Forum welcomed over 90 members for its annual Legislative Wrap-Up event Friday featuring bipartisan legislators from Northwest Indiana.

An engaging and informative panel discussion with the six key state lawmakers reflected on the 2025 Indiana General Assembly session and its impact on the region.

Pulaski County March unemployment rate drops to 3.1%

Pulaski County's unemployment rate dropped to 3.1 percent in March, down from 4.3 percent in February, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development reported Monday, (April 21). The rate was 3.7 percent a year ago.

The county had 6,586 employed persons in a labor force of 6,795 in March. In February those numbers were 6,533 of 6,830. A year ago the numbers were 6,302 of 6.546.

 

Indiana Health News

Measles outbreak in 29 states continues to be of concern

The U.S Center for Disease Control continues to monitor the growing outbreak of measles in the U.S. which is approaching 1,000 cases in 29 states.

Eight cases have were reported in the Indiana last month, all in Allen County. No additional cases have been reported in the state since that time.

  

Post News

Missing Winamac teen found safe

WINAMAC - The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office reports the 14-year-old juvenile who was reported missing earlier this week has been located safe and reunited with her family.

The teen, Summer Campbell, 14, a freshman at Winamac Community High School had been missing since early Sunday morning (May 11), Officers followed multiple leads in over five days, both in and out of state.

PCELN works to build infrastructure for quality childcare in Pulaski County

Pulaski County Early Learning Network (PCELN) is working to ensure families in Pulaski County have access to affordable, quality childcare.

The network notes that many different groups in the county community must come together to address this critical need. Access to high-quality early childhood education means that children are more likely to build a foundation for success in school and life.

West Central School Board honored by Indiana School Boards Association

FRANCESVILLE - The West Central School Corporation School Board has been recognized by the Indiana School Boards Association (ISBA) with an Exemplary Governance Award (EGA) for calendar year 2024 for demonstrating an outstanding commitment to student success and professional learning.

Only 124 school boards in the State of Indiana earned awards through the EGA program this year.

Economic Summit addresses county's financial health, state budget

'Making a place where we choose to live'
With a major restoration of the county courthouse nearing completion and a host of additional business and community projects under development, the mood was upbeat at the annual Pulaski County Economic Development Summit Tuesday (April 29). The event is hosted by the Pulaski County Community Development Commission.

CDC executive director Nathan Origer gave updates on projects and county economics, while keynote speaker Stephanie Wells, president of the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute, reviewed legislation from this year's session of the Indiana General Assembly.

BraunAbility to expand Winamac facilities with new product line

WINAMAC - BraunAbility has announced a $3.8 million investment in its Winamac operations to support production of the new BraunAbility Ram ProMaster.

This funding will cover land acquisition, land work, fencing, drainage and building improvements. Construction, utilizing local contractors, will continue through Spring 2026.