N.J.-S.P. Officials Looking to Legislature for Education Reform

Published: December 3, 2014
By: Mary Perren, WKVI

A combination of declining enrollment, cuts in state funding and unfunded service mandates has North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation officials facing some difficult choices. They’ve already had to cut $800,000 from their budget this school year. Superintendent Lynn Johnson says eight staff members have been notified they will not have jobs after the school year ends. She says the corporation is looking to the Indiana General Assembly for meaningful education reform when the legislature convenes in January.

“I would like for them to fully fund kindergarten, and a simple thing is to make kindergarten mandatory. It is not right now. Increase funding to special education. Those children deserve the services they get, but it is not cheap,” Johnson said during a public forum last night at the high school.

Johnson noted funding for special education has not increased in 12 years. She also said the legislature needs to devote more money toward technology upgrades in the public schools. N.J.-S.P. recently spent a significant amount of money on upgrades in order to accommodate the online standardized testing the state now mandates.

Johnson said state lawmakers also need to consider the important contributions teachers make. She said they are valuable, not to mention necessary.

Johnson and corporation business manager/treasurer Guy Richie spoke candidly about the challenges facing schools across the state during last night’s public forum. Johnson says additional, deep cuts to both curricular and extracurricular activities will be necessary unless the legislature acts.

Attendees were urged to sign a petition in support of the types of reforms Johnson mentioned and to contact state Sen. Ed Charbonneau Senator.Charbonneau@iga.in.gov and Rep. Doug Gutwein h16@iga.in.gov. More information, including the PowerPoint presentation from the presentation, will be shared on the corporation’s website http://www.njsp.k12.in.us/. Johnson encourages anyone with questions to contact her office. WKVI will also air the entire presentation on Sunday, Dec. 7 at noon CST on Kankakee Valley Viewpoints.

Move to New North Judson Town Office Delayed

Move to New North Judson Town Office Delayed

Published: December 3, 2014
By: Mitch Columbe, WKVI

The North Judson Town Council received an update on the new location of the town offices this week. The First Farmers Bank and Trust building on Lane Street was donated to the town back in August where it has been under reconstruction. The work on the building has created a delay in the move. The plan was to be moved in to the new town hall by the end of the year.

North Judson Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry said the remodeling has taken a bit longer than expected. She says they will hopefully be moved in within the first quarter of 2015. The building will house the water department, clerk treasurer’s office and serve as meeting space for the town council.

BMV Reinstatement Program Available until Dec. 31

Published: December 3, 2014
By: Anita Goodan, WKVI

Suspended drivers have until Dec. 31 to take advantage of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles’ Reinstatement Relief Program. The Reinstatement Relief Program allows suspended drivers to pay temporarily reduced reinstatement fees and earn reinstatement, as long as all other legal requirements are met.

Don Snemis, Commissioner of the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, said the program offers a 50 percent discount on reinstatement fees before July 1, 2013 for operating without insurance. Customers may be responsible for providing proof of insurance, completing a driver safety program, paying court fees, or successfully passing a driver’s license written knowledge exam, driving skills exam or vision screening.

The program was initiated in July of this year and more than 10,800 customers have paid back over $2.2 million in reinstatement fees.

Reinstatement fees cannot be paid at license branches. Customers must create a myBMV.com account to check eligibility.

More information on the BMV’s Reinstatement Relief Program may be found at www.in.gov/bmv/3212.htm.

Check Out Our New Web Page

Here is a simple way to make reindeer cookies. Buy some ready made gingerbread men at the store, turn them upside down and then decorate them as reindeer.

Check out the new page on our website called Christmas Goodies, Games And Crafts for more simple ideas.

Quote of the month - December 2014

12/4/2014 Is Your Last Chance To Sign Up For Parent's Night Out.

A special event for the kids so mom and dad can do some Christmas shopping.  From 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. there will be movies, crafts, games and snacks provided in the library activities room.  YOU MUST SIGN UP BY DECEMBER 4TH.

For more information or to sign up please contact Kelsie Purcell at 574-896-2841, email her at purcellkelsienjwt@gmail.com, or stop in at the library.

12/2/2014 Meeting Scheduled Tonight to Discuss N.J.-S.P Future

Published: December 2, 2014

By: Mitch Columbe, WKVI

The North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation is holding a public meeting tonight at the high school auditorium. The Fight for Public Education presentation headlines the evening with what the future at N.J.-S.P. could be. A combination of declining revenue and enrollment over the last several years have resulted in drastic budget cuts. Superintendent Lynn Johnson says this makes it very difficult to maintain the same services and personnel that the school has always had. She says while cuts have already been made, more will be necessary.

“It’s getting to the point where you can only cut so much. It’s a difficult time for us. We want the community to be aware of some of the situations we are facing right now with our revenue,” said Johnson.

Johnson says enrollment has been on a steady decline for the past 13 years, but in 2012 they really took a hit and lost the small schools and restoration grants.

“The restoration grant was a way for small schools that were experiencing declining enrollment to average out that decrease. This saved us money. When they were eliminated we immediately lost $1 million in revenue,” said Johnson.

Johnson says today’s 6:30 p.m. meeting is an informational session for the community to understand what the corporation is facing. She adds several options will be laid out and looked at to better the future. Johnson noted while this has been a big challenge to tackle, the students are making tremendous progress that make the fight for public education at North Judson-San Pierre a must.

Pay it Forward on Giving Tuesday

Published: December 1, 2014
By: Mary Perren, WKVI
 
Get into the spirit of the holiday season tomorrow with Giving Tuesday. Starke County Youth Club Executive Director Irene Szakonyi says the local nonprofit has joined the movement.

“It really does inspire people to take action for their local community to give, whether it’s giving a gift of money, of time, of making a donation of another sort,”Szarconyi  said. “We really want to encourage and join what is now actually a global movement to give on Giving Tuesday, which is Dec. 2nd.”

Donations to the Starke County Youth Club can be made by phone, through the website www.theSCYC.org or by dropping a check in the mail. SCYC provides after school and summer enrichment programs for youngsters across the county.

“Even if Club isn’t their charity of choice, we still want them to give. Whether they’re making a donation to Community Services of Starke County, or getting together nonperishable food products for the food pantry, whether they’re giving to Moving Starke County Forward or any of the other fine organizations in this community, we would really just want to have a groundswell of giving on that Tuesday,” Szakonyi said.

“This is a moment to really think about giving back, to making your community a better place, and in particular to making sure that kids in our community have a safe place to go with lots of adults who care about them and really help prepare them for their futures. We want to get on this Giving Tuesday bandwagon, and we want to encourage other people, too.”

As part of the global Giving Tuesday movement, people are urged to take “unselfies” of their gifts and post them to social media with #GivingTuesday.

Beware of Health Insurance Marketplace Scams

Published: December 1, 2014
By: Mary Perren, WKVI

Applicants for health insurance coverage through the marketplace should be aware of scammers during this open enrollment period. Indiana Department of Insurance Commissioner Stephen W. Robertson says no one at Healthcare.gov needs credit card information in order to help you apply for insurance. This has happened to people who have called the toll-free number to sign up for coverage or ask questions about the plans offered in accordance with the Affordable Care Act. Robertson says scammers set up telephone numbers that are very similar to the Healthcare.gov number in hopes that someone will misdial.

Another variation of the scam offers you a $100 rebate voucher for a discount shopping program or a $100 Walmart gift card if you pay a nominal processing fee with a credit card. This is a scam designed to get your credit card information. No rebate vouchers or gift cards are offered in exchange for signing up for health insurance.

If you are applying for coverage on the Federal Marketplace, make sure you call 1-800-318-2596. If you prefer to apply online, visit www.healthcare.gov.

If you’ve been a victim of a scam, contact the Indiana Department of Insurance at 317-232-2385 or the Indiana Attorney General’s office at 317-232-6330.

Starke County is Part of New State Christmas Tradition

Published: December 1, 2014
By: Ed Hasnerl, WKVI

Starke County will be represented on the main Christmas tree on display in the Capitol Building in Indianapolis this holiday season. Each year First Lady Karen Pence hosts an event to light the large tree in the rotunda of the Capitol with hundreds of school children attending.

This year, the program has changed to provide multiple smaller trees, and one 12-foot tree provided by the Indiana Tree Growers Association. All the trees will be in the rotunda. The main tree will have a statewide theme.

All of the state’s 92 counties are expected to have an ornament displayed on the main tree. They will then be permanently used in future tree trim decorations. The Starke County Chamber of Commerce provided an ornament that recalls the county’s 150th birthday.