Posted on February 10, 2017
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation’s plans to revamp their bus routes cleared a procedural hurdle during Monday’s Starke County Commissioners meeting.
They agreed to let school officials use the county’s geographic information system data free of charge. School officials are looking to make their routes as efficient as possible in an effort to reduce expenses.
Friday, February 10, 2017
Starke County Community Foundation Revamps Grant Deadlines
Posted on February 10, 2017
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The Starke County Community Foundation has removed deadlines from most of its grant applications in an effort to make funds for community projects more accessible.
Applications are available online at www.nicf.org or at the Starke County Community Foundation office in the North Judson-San Pierre Middle School building at 950 Campbell Drive.
Community Education Grants are offered to schools or teachers in the Knox, North Judson-San Pierre and Oregon-Davis school systems, with a maximum award of $500 per school system.
SCCF also has two Field of Interest grant opportunities – one for Indiana history and one for alternative agriculture projects. The Maude Brown and Henry F. Schricker Endowment provides support to all Starke County fourth-grade or above students for projects regarding Indiana history and social studies. The Robert ‘Boom Boom’ Baker Alternative Agriculture Grant awards dollars to programs or projects that encourage or support alternative agriculture within Starke County.
Several Community Support Grants will be given this year as well. Awards range from several hundred to several thousand dollars and are given to organizations that provide support throughout the community.
SCCF Director of Development Sarah Origer says the new system is designed to be more convenient for those who need funding earlier in the year.
Starke United Fund Grants will still be administered as they have been in the fast. They are a partnership between Starke United and the Community Foundation that was created to provide a more efficient way to assist Starke County’s charitable agencies. The maximum grant request per agency is $3,500, and applications are due by May 5, 2017.
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The Starke County Community Foundation has removed deadlines from most of its grant applications in an effort to make funds for community projects more accessible.
Applications are available online at www.nicf.org or at the Starke County Community Foundation office in the North Judson-San Pierre Middle School building at 950 Campbell Drive.
Community Education Grants are offered to schools or teachers in the Knox, North Judson-San Pierre and Oregon-Davis school systems, with a maximum award of $500 per school system.
SCCF also has two Field of Interest grant opportunities – one for Indiana history and one for alternative agriculture projects. The Maude Brown and Henry F. Schricker Endowment provides support to all Starke County fourth-grade or above students for projects regarding Indiana history and social studies. The Robert ‘Boom Boom’ Baker Alternative Agriculture Grant awards dollars to programs or projects that encourage or support alternative agriculture within Starke County.
Several Community Support Grants will be given this year as well. Awards range from several hundred to several thousand dollars and are given to organizations that provide support throughout the community.
SCCF Director of Development Sarah Origer says the new system is designed to be more convenient for those who need funding earlier in the year.
Starke United Fund Grants will still be administered as they have been in the fast. They are a partnership between Starke United and the Community Foundation that was created to provide a more efficient way to assist Starke County’s charitable agencies. The maximum grant request per agency is $3,500, and applications are due by May 5, 2017.
Thursday, February 9, 2017
N.J.-S.P. Adds Agriculture Vocational Class Block
Posted on February 9, 2017
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation is launching a new vocational program for area students in the fall. Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin says N.J.-S.P. has sent students to Knox and Plymouth for various vocational programs over the years.
“It’s not about competition. In my mind it’s not about seeing how many buses you can send into the next district. It’s about how can these small schools with declining enrollment, with declining population – how can we offer quality education for all of our students, and the vocational programs are perfect for that.”
Zupin says N.J.-S.P.’s vocational offering is an extension of one of the corporation’s most popular areas of elective study.
“We are offering ag courses and industrial arts classes in the area of woods and small engines at North Judson-San Pierre. So if Knox students interested in agriculture or woods or small engines, if they are interested they need to talk to their guidance counselor and see about enrolling in this block of time.”
Zupin adds N.J.-S.P. is looking at a total of 14 students for the fall program launch. She notes it may take a little while for the new offering to catch on with students from other corporations.
“Right now the norm is that Knox offers those vocational courses. This is kind of a new thought process in that you can travel over to North Judson. We’ve had students in the past do that. They came over for one period. Now we’re offering it. To me it’s just more cost effective and time effective having that block of time.”
Students are in the process of scheduling fall classes now, so Zupin says it’s too early to say how much interest there is in the program from outside the school district.
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation is launching a new vocational program for area students in the fall. Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin says N.J.-S.P. has sent students to Knox and Plymouth for various vocational programs over the years.
“It’s not about competition. In my mind it’s not about seeing how many buses you can send into the next district. It’s about how can these small schools with declining enrollment, with declining population – how can we offer quality education for all of our students, and the vocational programs are perfect for that.”
Zupin says N.J.-S.P.’s vocational offering is an extension of one of the corporation’s most popular areas of elective study.
“We are offering ag courses and industrial arts classes in the area of woods and small engines at North Judson-San Pierre. So if Knox students interested in agriculture or woods or small engines, if they are interested they need to talk to their guidance counselor and see about enrolling in this block of time.”
Zupin adds N.J.-S.P. is looking at a total of 14 students for the fall program launch. She notes it may take a little while for the new offering to catch on with students from other corporations.
“Right now the norm is that Knox offers those vocational courses. This is kind of a new thought process in that you can travel over to North Judson. We’ve had students in the past do that. They came over for one period. Now we’re offering it. To me it’s just more cost effective and time effective having that block of time.”
Students are in the process of scheduling fall classes now, so Zupin says it’s too early to say how much interest there is in the program from outside the school district.
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Starke County Fares Well in State Road Safety Rankings
Posted on February 8, 2017
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
Starke County’s roads are among the safest in the state based on crash data. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the county commissioners Monday the statistics are based on the number of miles driven.
“They did an index of the collisions for every county, one being the worst and 92 being the best. We are 88.”
Ritzler adds the report looks at numerous categories of collisions, including deer, those caused by unsafe intersections and those related to speed.
Ritzler adds the county’s aggressive seasonal brush cutting efforts help to significantly reduce the number of wrecks. He says each of the crew members will receive a commendation for their work.
“They don’t like cutting brush, but one of the biggest things about roadway safety is the cutting of brush, especially with deer coming out into the roadways and sight distance,” he said.
Ritzler also told the commissioners he reviews crash data each month.
“Anything that’s potentially road related or condition related, I go out to the site to see if there’s anything, if there is a sight distance, to see if there is something we can do. It’s on the county right of way, so we do do that every month. I think that makes a difference as well.”
Ritzler also tracks anything that may have been related to roadway conditions.
“The last couple months there were 60 collisions and only a couple of them were roadway condition related. So one thing I do do also is if it’s an icy or slick roadway, I check our GPS to see if our guy put the salt-sand down there at some time. Even when you put the salt-sand down, as you know, the roads are still slick. A lot of times it’s just someone going too fast, but at least we can prove that we put the material down. That GPS is very helpful in that and continues to be.”
Ritzler adds the state’s rankings are based on data from 2015, which is similar to 2016’s figures.
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
Starke County’s roads are among the safest in the state based on crash data. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the county commissioners Monday the statistics are based on the number of miles driven.
“They did an index of the collisions for every county, one being the worst and 92 being the best. We are 88.”
Ritzler adds the report looks at numerous categories of collisions, including deer, those caused by unsafe intersections and those related to speed.
Ritzler adds the county’s aggressive seasonal brush cutting efforts help to significantly reduce the number of wrecks. He says each of the crew members will receive a commendation for their work.
“They don’t like cutting brush, but one of the biggest things about roadway safety is the cutting of brush, especially with deer coming out into the roadways and sight distance,” he said.
Ritzler also told the commissioners he reviews crash data each month.
“Anything that’s potentially road related or condition related, I go out to the site to see if there’s anything, if there is a sight distance, to see if there is something we can do. It’s on the county right of way, so we do do that every month. I think that makes a difference as well.”
Ritzler also tracks anything that may have been related to roadway conditions.
“The last couple months there were 60 collisions and only a couple of them were roadway condition related. So one thing I do do also is if it’s an icy or slick roadway, I check our GPS to see if our guy put the salt-sand down there at some time. Even when you put the salt-sand down, as you know, the roads are still slick. A lot of times it’s just someone going too fast, but at least we can prove that we put the material down. That GPS is very helpful in that and continues to be.”
Ritzler adds the state’s rankings are based on data from 2015, which is similar to 2016’s figures.
N.J.-S.P. Superintendent Touts Corporation’s Strengths
Posted on February 8, 2017
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation is promoting its strengths as part of its strategic plan implementation. Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin says one recurring theme from both current students and alumni is the close-knit nature of the community.
“They like that the teachers know them and know their strengths and their areas of needs. ‘They know me, so they know how to help me. I know who to go to when I need something.’ That is an advantage of a small school. It’s an advantage of a community that’s tight knit and is like a family, and that is like this community.”
Zupin adds N.J.-S.P. also has an excellent agriculture/industrial arts program. It includes wood classes, which many schools have dropped.
N.J.-S.P. also offers 16 girls and boys varsity sports, along with both remediation and high-ability courses. Zupin says both are available, despite staffing reductions.
Additionally, Zupin says N.J.-S.P. has offered online credit recovery for several years. Also she says the corporation’s dual credit courses, for which students can earn high school and college credit, are taught by teachers. Many corporations offer dual credit courses online.
Zupin adds the strategic planning committee’s first goal is to make sure residents of the corporation know about the good things happening at N.J.-S.P.
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation is promoting its strengths as part of its strategic plan implementation. Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin says one recurring theme from both current students and alumni is the close-knit nature of the community.
“They like that the teachers know them and know their strengths and their areas of needs. ‘They know me, so they know how to help me. I know who to go to when I need something.’ That is an advantage of a small school. It’s an advantage of a community that’s tight knit and is like a family, and that is like this community.”
Zupin adds N.J.-S.P. also has an excellent agriculture/industrial arts program. It includes wood classes, which many schools have dropped.
N.J.-S.P. also offers 16 girls and boys varsity sports, along with both remediation and high-ability courses. Zupin says both are available, despite staffing reductions.
Additionally, Zupin says N.J.-S.P. has offered online credit recovery for several years. Also she says the corporation’s dual credit courses, for which students can earn high school and college credit, are taught by teachers. Many corporations offer dual credit courses online.
Zupin adds the strategic planning committee’s first goal is to make sure residents of the corporation know about the good things happening at N.J.-S.P.
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
N.J.-S.P. Strategic Planning Group Works to Market Corporation
Posted on February 7, 2017
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The North Judson-San Pierre strategic planning group is focusing on promoting the good things that are happening within the school corporation. Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin says the new logo and slogan are a part of that process.
“We also want to get some media, video, some advertisements about the good things that we do here at North Judson-San Pierre. That will take us to the end of the school year,” she said.
At that point Zupin says the committee will evaluate and decide on a plan for next year. For now she adds the immediate priority is to make sure the community knows what’s happening at N.J.-S.P.
“Oftentimes I guess as a staff we assume that people know what we do, and the kids will go home and tell. Well, they don’t go home and tell everything. It’s our job to let the community know that.”
Zupin says the immediate goal is to reach out to residents of the school district and make sure they know about programs, curriculum and course offerings. She says that needs to be done before N.J.-S.P. starts marketing to a broader audience.
The strategic planning group recently adopted the slogan “The Bluejay Way – Who We Are, Where We Go, What We Do.” Zupin says it’s about showing respect at all times, being responsible for our actions and academics and hopefully realizing achievement as a result.
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The North Judson-San Pierre strategic planning group is focusing on promoting the good things that are happening within the school corporation. Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin says the new logo and slogan are a part of that process.
“We also want to get some media, video, some advertisements about the good things that we do here at North Judson-San Pierre. That will take us to the end of the school year,” she said.
At that point Zupin says the committee will evaluate and decide on a plan for next year. For now she adds the immediate priority is to make sure the community knows what’s happening at N.J.-S.P.
“Oftentimes I guess as a staff we assume that people know what we do, and the kids will go home and tell. Well, they don’t go home and tell everything. It’s our job to let the community know that.”
Zupin says the immediate goal is to reach out to residents of the school district and make sure they know about programs, curriculum and course offerings. She says that needs to be done before N.J.-S.P. starts marketing to a broader audience.
The strategic planning group recently adopted the slogan “The Bluejay Way – Who We Are, Where We Go, What We Do.” Zupin says it’s about showing respect at all times, being responsible for our actions and academics and hopefully realizing achievement as a result.
Free Mammograms Available for Local Women
Posted on February 7, 2017
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
Women in Starke and LaPorte Counties who are uninsured or underinsured will have access to mammograms, thanks to a recent grant. The Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust awarded $18,000 to the Healthcare Foundation of LaPorte Breast Cancer Project.
The Foundation has been working since 2005 to educate women about the importance of early detection. It provides screening mammograms and mammography services to uninsured women who meet American Cancer Society High Risk criteria or are at least 40 years old. Women should contact their LaPorte or Starke County physician’s office and mention the mammogram voucher program to see if they qualify.
The Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust funds its grants through the sale of the state’s Breast Cancer Awareness license plates. Since they were first offered in 2002, the program has provided nearly $4 million in grants for breast cancer screening programs across the state.
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
Women in Starke and LaPorte Counties who are uninsured or underinsured will have access to mammograms, thanks to a recent grant. The Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust awarded $18,000 to the Healthcare Foundation of LaPorte Breast Cancer Project.
The Foundation has been working since 2005 to educate women about the importance of early detection. It provides screening mammograms and mammography services to uninsured women who meet American Cancer Society High Risk criteria or are at least 40 years old. Women should contact their LaPorte or Starke County physician’s office and mention the mammogram voucher program to see if they qualify.
The Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust funds its grants through the sale of the state’s Breast Cancer Awareness license plates. Since they were first offered in 2002, the program has provided nearly $4 million in grants for breast cancer screening programs across the state.
Railroad Township Seeking County Permission to Use Radio Frequency
Posted on February 6, 2017
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The Starke County Commissioners are being asked to weigh in on an issue affecting the newly established Railroad Township Volunteer Fire Department. The township owns the radios firefighters use to communicate with one another and with dispatchers at the Starke County Sheriff’s Office. However, the San Pierre Fire Department holds the license for the radio frequency.
Railroad Township officials will speak to the commissioners during tonight’s 6 p.m. meeting about the issue. The new fire department was formally established after township trustee Mandy Thomason failed to reach a contract agreement with the San Pierre Fire Department after months of strained relations.
The Starke County Commissioners will also make appointments to the Knox Planning Commission and the CVC Board tonight. Consideration of a responsible bidding ordinance is also on the agenda, along with monthly reports from Starke County EMS and the Starke County Highway Department.
Tonight’s meeting will take place in the meeting room of the county annex building.
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The Starke County Commissioners are being asked to weigh in on an issue affecting the newly established Railroad Township Volunteer Fire Department. The township owns the radios firefighters use to communicate with one another and with dispatchers at the Starke County Sheriff’s Office. However, the San Pierre Fire Department holds the license for the radio frequency.
Railroad Township officials will speak to the commissioners during tonight’s 6 p.m. meeting about the issue. The new fire department was formally established after township trustee Mandy Thomason failed to reach a contract agreement with the San Pierre Fire Department after months of strained relations.
The Starke County Commissioners will also make appointments to the Knox Planning Commission and the CVC Board tonight. Consideration of a responsible bidding ordinance is also on the agenda, along with monthly reports from Starke County EMS and the Starke County Highway Department.
Tonight’s meeting will take place in the meeting room of the county annex building.
N.J.-S.P. Strategic Planning Committee Defines “The Bluejay Way”
Posted on February 6, 2017
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation has a new slogan officials hope will revive Bluejay pride in the community.
Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin says the strategic plan committee that has been meeting since September came up with “The Bluejay Way – Who We Are, Where We Go, What We Do.”
She says N.J.-S.P. has used the phrase “The Bluejay Way” for the past six or seven years as part of its identity.
“What that Bluejay Way is, we want to show respect at all times. We want to be responsible for our actions and our academics, and through that we hope to have achievement.”
Zupin says the strategic planning group elaborated the notion as part of their ongoing effort to market the school corporation.
“The ‘Who We Are, Where We Go, What We Do,’ I think that really is the pride factor. It’s the tradition. That I think really adds to ‘The Bluejay Way’ that was around for a few years.”
Winamac-based marketing consultant Brad Conn helped the committee with the slogan as well as the redesigned Bluejay logo. It’s featured on shirts, which are available for purchase at the junior-senior high school.
We’ll hear more from Dr. Zupin regarding N.J.-S.P.’s strategic plan throughout the week on WKVI.
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation has a new slogan officials hope will revive Bluejay pride in the community.
Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin says the strategic plan committee that has been meeting since September came up with “The Bluejay Way – Who We Are, Where We Go, What We Do.”
She says N.J.-S.P. has used the phrase “The Bluejay Way” for the past six or seven years as part of its identity.
“What that Bluejay Way is, we want to show respect at all times. We want to be responsible for our actions and our academics, and through that we hope to have achievement.”
Zupin says the strategic planning group elaborated the notion as part of their ongoing effort to market the school corporation.
“The ‘Who We Are, Where We Go, What We Do,’ I think that really is the pride factor. It’s the tradition. That I think really adds to ‘The Bluejay Way’ that was around for a few years.”
Winamac-based marketing consultant Brad Conn helped the committee with the slogan as well as the redesigned Bluejay logo. It’s featured on shirts, which are available for purchase at the junior-senior high school.
We’ll hear more from Dr. Zupin regarding N.J.-S.P.’s strategic plan throughout the week on WKVI.
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