The board voted to approve the teacher appreciation grant distribution.

In other business, the board voted to accept the bid from MidWest Transit Equipment for two new IC/Collins 78-passenger school buses for $86,876 each. The new buses will have stop arm cameras. Stop arm cameras are on the buses ordered the previous two years as well. MidWest will allow $6,200 for a trade in allowance for bus No. 8 and $5,200 for bus No. 27.

School board president Todd Miller presented retiring member Jim Bergens with a plaque of appreciation for his years of service to the West Central School Corporation.

The board approved the Christmas Concert and Art Show for Sunday, Dec. 16, at 2 p.m.

The board approved the following resolution as presented: ”Be it resolved that the members of the Board of School Trustees hereby approve of the necessary transfers so that all accounts have a zero or positive balance for the year of 2018. Be it further resolved that funds are hereby encumbered from the 2018 accounts for use in 2019.

The board also approved a resolution to transfer amounts from the education fund to the operations fund.

 

Personnel

The board voted to accept the following resignations, as presented:

  • Kelly Kranz – Bus Driver
  • Lori Fort –Cafeteria
  • Patrick Culp – Middle/High School Principal

The board voted to approve employment for the following, as presented:

  • E. Anne Ketchen – Maternity Leave
  • Lacey Hendress – Elementary Teacher
  • Teri Schmicker - Cafeteria

Leave requests were approved for Laura Stout and Lacie Allison.

Approval was given to a conference request for School Safety Training with Dan Zylstra, Wes Allen, Marilyn Bernal and Laura Stout attending.

 

Superintendent's Report

Superintendent Don Street shared Budget Notice 1782 with the board. The 2019 tax rate will be .6000 per $100 assessed valuation. This is a small increase of .0318 from 2018. West Central School Corporation is in the bottom 10 percent of tax rates for school corporations. Ninety percent or more of the school corporations in the state have a higher tax rate.

  • The board reviewed an anonymous teacher survey that provided the qualities teachers believe to be seen in the next middle/high school principal.
  • Street reported that the wind turbine has been down because NIPSCO has been conducting work at the substation. The maintenance company will be conducting a gearbox oil change. The board discussed industrial wind turbines.
  • The cafeteria shared information from the semester.
  • An area collection of school calendars were shared and most schools on the survey have very similar start dates, vacations, and ending dates.
  • The Indiana School Boards Association will be conducting a board member academy in the near future across the state.

 

Principal Reports

Elementary school principal Dan Zylstrainformed the board that Friday, Dec. 7 is the annual Donuts with Dad festivities. The theme this year is “Super Dad” and students are encouraged to wear capes for the occasion.

The K-3 Christmas program is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 6 p.m., in the elementary school gym. The 4-6 choir will also sing, and later in the month they will make an afternoon trip to a nursing home in Monticello to share their talents.

The first grade students have been going to Parkview Haven to read with residents every month. Their next trip is Dec. 14. The elementary school thanks Parkview Haven for hosting and Cam Amsler for driving the bus for all these trips.

The last day of the grading period is Dec. 21; classrooms will have their Christmas parties on this day as well.

The West Central cafeteria was honored with distinction from the USDA Team Nutrition and the Indiana Department for its healthy menu options and excellent service.

Staff has used their professional development time to continue honing their techniques for social-emotional learning.

 

Middle/high school principal Patrick Culpreported the West Central Fine Arts program is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 16. Artwork from high school students will be displayed in the cafeteria. The art show winners will be announced at 1:55 p.m., before the concert starts. Starting at 2:00 P.M., the West Central band and choir will begin in the high school gym.

High school students are preparing for the ISTEP+ testing in December. For the next two years, ISTEP+ will be the graduation exam for high school students. In grades 4-8, the state is preparing the ILEARN tests. Students in grades 4-8 will be taking the ILEARN test in the spring.

The end of first semester is Dec. 21, with the second semester starting on Monday, Jan. 7.

 

Executive Sessions

The school board held two executive sessions on Dec. 6. The first was to discuss strategy with respect to the receipt of information about and the interviewing of prospective employees”

The second session was to "discuss a job performance evaluation of individual employee(s), apart from the budget process.”

  
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Local News Briefs

‘Story Trail’ to open May 17 on Winamac park walking path

The Pulaski County Public Library Foundation will hold a grand opening Saturday of its new Story Trail along the walking trail in the Winamac Town Park.

The public is invited to attend a special opening celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., May 17 marking the official launch of the Story Trail. The celebration will feature games, music, ice cream, and fun for all ages.

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.

PMH seeks community input identifying health needs of local communities

Survey deadline May 17

WINAMAC - Pulaski Memorial Hospital has announced the launch of its 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment, a comprehensive initiative aimed at identifying and addressing the most pressing health needs of our local communities.

“Community feedback is essential” said Hospital CEO Steve Jarosinski. ”PMH will be gathering input from residents, local organizations, community leaders, and even other area healthcare professionals to better understand the health challenges and opportunities across the region.”

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. 

  

Indiana News

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.

Gov. Braun signs HB1144

INDIANAPOLIS (May 6) – Indiana Gov. Mike Braun has signed HB1144 which will make some adjustments in the state’s court systems.

Pulaski Superior Court and seven other rural courts have been spared from closure, following revisions made late last month to the proposed bill approved by both the state house and senate April 24 in the Indiana General Assembly.

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

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.

Marlatt, Vanderkleed join IBA 40-Year Club

FRANCESVILLE - Alliance Bank has recently recognized Kimberly Marlatt and Lori Vanderkleed with membership into the 40-Year Club of the Indiana Bankers Association (IBA).

The club recognizes banking professionals who have completed 40 years or more of service to the Indiana banking community. Inductees are given IBA keepsakes and letters of congratulations.