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(11/01/13 2:28am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Monroe County Community School Corporation has been named a Riley Corporation by the James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children for its donations in the past year.“This last year we had 289 school corporations and 603 schools participate in the Kids Caring and Sharing philanthropy program,” said Kate Burnett, regional communications coordinator for Riley Hospital. “Collectively, they raised $1.3 million for Riley. It’s very impressive.”Susan Miles, kids caring and sharing officer with the Riley Children’s Foundation, said the relationship between Indiana schools and the hospital goes back about 30 years.“Schools and the Indiana Association of School Principals have been involved in fundraising for Riley since the early days,” Miles said. “Riley has been the charity of choice for a long time, but in the past five years we’ve started to recognize corporations in particular.”Corporations are recognized as a Riley Corporation or a Miracle Corporation.“Riley Corporations either get every school in the corporation to participate and donate, or they raise enough money with the schools that do participate so that donations equal $1 per student,” Miles said. “Miracle Corporations do both.”MCCSC was named a Riley Corporation because, though not every school participated, donations from Bloomington High School North and Bloomington High School South covered the amount from schools that didn’t participate.Miles said the schools’ successes are due to their Riley Dance Marathons.The first IU Dance Marathon was organized in 1991 in honor of Ryan White.In 1984, 13-year-old White contracted HIV from a blood transfusion.He was expelled from his middle school in Kokomo because of it. He died in 1990 just before graduating high school and going on to IU.“Since then, over 50 schools participate in dance marathons in Indiana,” Miles said. “Donations that aren’t designated go to support research at Riley, which is a priority. MCCSC’s money goes to fighting infectious diseases.”Burnett said school participation has increased over time, and she’s excited so many are getting involved.“This year we had 17 Miracle Corporations and over 50 Riley Corporations,” Burnett said. “We’d like to see the list keep on growing.”Miles said the success of the schools is due to the students who participate.“It really is an amazing program,” she said. “The kids really get engaged with the families who are involved. They connect with them. They all have such warm and generous hearts.”Follow reporter Stephen Kroll on Twitter @stephenkroll1.
(10/30/13 2:02am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz filed a lawsuit against the State Board of Education Oct. 22. Board members allegedly violated Indiana’s Open Door Law by meeting in secret to discuss A-F school grades being evaluated by the Indiana Legislative Services Agency and not Ritz’s own administration.“The letter that the members of the board sent to Republican Legislative Leadership asking that LSA take over A-F grading was done without public notice, approval or even public opportunity to comment,” Ritz said in a statement. “I have always believed that fair, open and transparent decision-making is best. It is disappointing to learn that the board took action in a different manner,” she said.On Oct. 25, members of the board Troy Albert, David Freitas, Sarah O’Brien and Tony Walker issued a letter to Superintendent Ritz asking she call off the lawsuit. They said no such secret meeting took place and that Ritz is failing to respect the board’s authority.“Superintendent, you have said repeatedly that you have worked to communicate openly with us,” the letter said.The members expressed their frustration in Ritz not returning emails and her lack of communication.“However, in the interest of our students — the future of our state — we are ready to set that aside and start over,” they said. The Open Door Law states says government meetings must be open to the public to observe and notice must be given beforehand. Ritz filed suit saying that neither occurred in this meeting. She also said her department has been working hard to get the scores out in a timely manner, but setbacks have occurred with ISTEP re-scoring.“Because Indiana has such a high-stakes testing system, one changed score can affect not just a student or school, but multiple schools,” she said. “My administration has consistently provided this needed data to schools and will continue to do so openly and as fast as possible.”Indiana Public Access Counselor Luke Britt said Ritz did not consult him before moving forward with the lawsuit, which would be standard protocol to determine exactly what was violated.“One theory I’ve heard, which I don’t know the accuracy to, is that Superintendent Ritz might have been part of the meeting but then left,” Britt said. “Because the superintendent did not go through my office, she can’t collect any of the civil fees for the suit, which could be $500 per violation. At this point, the court could only admonish the board.”Britt also said Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller has filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit because if it proceeds, Zoeller’s office would technically be required to represent both sides.Both sides of the suit have called the others’ actions reprehensible.“When I was sworn into office, I took an oath to uphold the laws of the State of Indiana,” Ritz said. “I take this oath very seriously, and I was dismayed to learn that other members of the State Board have not complied with the requirements of the law.” Ritz said though she respects the board’s authority, she believes they over-stepped their bounds.Members of the board are still hoping Ritz backs off.“On Thursday in your press conference you stated, ‘I look forward to continuing to work to improve education for all Indiana students in a fair, transparent and collaborative manner,’” the board members said. “We share that goal, but actions speak louder than words.“If you truly want to work in a collaborative manner, then we ask that you drop this lawsuit, put politics aside and come to the table ready to put the interests of students, teachers and schools first.”Follow reporter Stephen Kroll on Twitter @stephenkroll1.
(10/29/13 3:37am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Diane Hanks has been an educator as far back as she can remember.“Teaching began for me as a young girl,” Hanks said. “I was the third oldest of six, and I would often teach my younger siblings.”Her career in education will continue in a new role as Talent and Diversity Specialist for the Monroe County Community School Corporation. Growing up in South Carolina, Hanks said she saw many people go into blue-collar careers and knew that wasn’t for her.“I didn’t want to wake up at 40 or 50 doing something I didn’t want to do,” she said.So, after high school, she went to Northeastern University, got a degree in teaching, and a few years later moved to Bloomington to start working with MCCSC.“I started as a substitute teacher, then worked part-time at North and Tri-North,” she said. “After about a year I was asked to be assistant principal at Tri-North."“I loved working with children who had problems, who were struggling, and helping them reach their full potential," she said.Hanks was at Tri-North for 16 years. The school board hired her to be the talent and diversity specialist for MCCSC on Oct. 22, and she will be working full time in this new role.This comes after she was passed over for principal of Tri-North Aug. 27 when the board selected assistant principal Craig Fisher.“Of course I was disappointed I didn’t get the job,” Hanks said.After the decision, the school board received public outcry that Hanks wasn’t selected. Some said it had to do with her race.“There was concern for the diversity of MCCSC staff, which is primarily white,” Hanks said.A new role was created at MCCSC to handle this issue. Hanks will maintain her assistant principal salary of $76,913.47.“MCCSC is open to input, and the outgrowth of the public’s concern was what led us to create this new position,” said Beverly Smith, MCCSC School and Community Services director.Hanks’ job deals with finding and focusing on ways to promote talent of all kinds in the school system, and she will make sure all the schools are more diverse.“We are moving to a globalized world, and our schools haven’t kept up with that pace,” Hanks said. “We want to find out from the community what they think a diverse school is. We want the community to play a big role.”Hanks will work to create a strategic diversity plan for MCCSC and present it to the board for approval.“I want the plan to be thoughtful, transparent and be able to stand the test of time,” Hanks said. “I want our schools to become more culturally relevant so that it doesn’t matter which school you go to. You’ll feel welcome at all.”Smith said MCCSC is open to input from different sources in the community.“With diversity work, it is good when change is driven from the outside,” she said. “It should be organic and shouldn’t just be top-down.”Hanks said she will miss parts of working at Tri-North.“I’ll miss working with students every day. I’ll miss the hustle and bustle,” she said.However, she said she is confident her new work will improve MCCSC greatly.“It’s not going to be easy or happen overnight,” she said. “But I hope everyone will look at it and see that improving diversity is good for the community.”Follow reporter Stephen Kroll on Twitter @stephenkroll1.
(10/22/13 8:29pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz filed suit against 10 members of the State Board of Education Tuesday for violations of the state Open Door Law. The lawsuit alleges members of the board violated Indiana’s Open Door Law by taking action in secret by drafting, or directing the drafting of, a letter they sent to President Pro Tempore David Long and Speaker Brian Bosma dated Oct. 16, 2013, according to a press release from the Indiana Department of Education.The lawsuit alleges board members violated Indiana’s Open Door Law when they took action requesting Long and Bosma appoint Indiana’s Legislative Services Agency to perform calculations to determine the 2012-2013 A-F grades for Indiana schools. The suit also states no public notice was issued for a meeting that allowed for the action, and Ritz was not aware of the action until after it was taken, according to the release. “When I was sworn in to office, I took an oath to uphold the laws of the State of Indiana,” Ritz said in a press release. “I take this oath very seriously and I was dismayed to learn that other members of the State Board have not complied with the requirements of the law. While I respect the commitment and expertise of members of the board individually, I feel they have over-stepped their bounds.” The case was filed in Marion Circuit Court Tuesday. The IDOE is using in-house counsel for the suit. “Since my inauguration, I have worked tirelessly to communicate openly with the Board and the public,” Ritz said in the release. “I do not take this action lightly, but my obligations as elected state Superintendent require it. I look forward to continuing to work to improve education for all Indiana students in a fair, transparent and collaborative manner.” — Matt Stefanski
(10/17/13 3:29am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Ivy Tech Community College’s Ivy Arts for Kids program offers various art courses throughout the year for students in preschool to age 16.“The program began when Ivy Tech took stewardship of the John Waldron Arts Center,” said Jeffery Allen, executive director of Ivy Tech’s Center for Lifelong Learning. “The program has been going on for about three years.”Currently, Ivy Tech offers five courses for students.“We currently have ceramics, painting and drawing courses, which each meet six times,” Allen said. Allen said the courses are taught by working professional artists who are also teachers.“We have multiple sessions in a year, as a counter to our robust summer program,” he said. “We know schedules can be hectic, so we try to start after school has begun, and we try to end before the holiday madness.”Allen said the courses change each session.“We change the courses from term to term, and they fluctuate in popularity,” he said. “Elementary-level courses are the most popular. We have a course, Ceramics for Two, for parents and their young children that is sold out.”Students can sign up for classes online, over the phone or at Ivy Tech. The current courses cost between $119 and $165. Though Ivy Tech offers this program, Allen said in no way is this meant to replace the curriculum taught in school.Beverly Smith, director of community and school services at MCCSC, said the program and Ivy Tech in general are positive .“Ivy Tech has been a great partner academically, with programs like Career Pathways and our Early College Program,” Smith said. Allen said he hopes many more students take advantage of the program in the future.“It’s meant to help you find your skills, find your voice and make something you care about,” he said.Follow reporter Stephen Kroll on Twitter @stephenkroll1.
(10/15/13 3:23am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As a result of the government shutdown at the beginning of October, some federal workers throughout the United States have been furloughed and some federal areas, such as national parks, have been closed. However, the shutdown will not affect the Monroe County Community School Corporation in significant ways.“When the government shutdown occurred, we suffered very minimal impact,” said Beverly Smith, MCCSC director of school and community services. “We’re very grateful for that.”However, there are some tasks the shutdown has prevented MCCSC from doing.“Our E-Verify system is down,” Smith said. “It runs in conjunction with I-9 forms to make our workers legally eligible to work in the U.S. We have to register our people through it. It was shut down, but we were told to load the information now, and it will be stored.”The other issue with the government shutdown is the movement of money to the schools.“Any federal grants we are in the process of writing or renewing have no aid,” Smith said. “If we have questions or need advice, there is no access to help.”Apart from these minor problems, Smith said MCCSC is operating at normal functionality.Should the shutdown become long-term, Smith said it is unclear what all will be affected, but MCCSC will be all right.“I believe a long-term shutdown is something we will have to monitor as the days move forward,” she said.Still, Smith said MCCSC hopes the shutdown will not last long.“Hopefully, Congress will come to a resolution soon,” she said.— Stephen Kroll
(10/10/13 3:53am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Monroe County Community School Corporation is raising awareness for its anti-bullying programs during October, bullying prevention month. MCCSC Director of Student Services Becky Rose said it is tough to define how many cases of bullying occur.“We definitely have incidents in all 22 of our buildings,” she said. “It’s an issue for every school corporation.”Rose said bullying is a multi-dimensional interaction, and MCCSC sees all sides of it.“Males tend to bully each other more outwardly and physically,” she said. “Girls tend to exhibit more relational aggression, just leave each other out.”Cyber bullying is also a reality at MCCSC.“A lot of people talk about cyber bullying and think it’s on the rise,” Rose said. “But honestly, we’re seeing it’s as prevalent or less so than face-to-face bullying. It’s still an issue, but not as much as some people believe.”In MCCSC’s 2010-11 Comprehensive Health Issues Committee survey on Health Education and Wellness, faculty and staff were asked about many aspects of schooling, including bullying. According to the survey, 47.3 percent of faculty and staff said bullying is reported to them only once or twice a year, with 24.9 percent of staff members hearing incidents two to three times a month, and 15.2 percent never hearing anything. The three most common types of bullying reported were verbal, rumors and exclusion. Physical bullying is fifth on the list.According to the survey, 75 percent of faculty and staff said they are familiar with the resources they can use to address bullying prevention and intervention.Rose said MCCSC has started programs on bullying awareness and prevention.Bullying prevention programs are different for each level of school.“In elementary school we use an evidence-based curriculum called Second Steps,” Rose said. Rose said all schools have a social worker who can coordinate prevention activities, and MCCSC teaches students to be an “upstander” for their peers. “At middle school, we have a mix-it-up day, where we have kids sit with different groups at lunch to raise their awareness about cliques,” Rose said.“In high school we use tutorial homeroom times to show students clips of bullying and discuss them.”Rose said she believes the first step to stopping bullying is acknowledging it exists.“I don’t feel like bullying has increased strongly over the years, but society has definitely become more aware of it,” she said.“That can make it seem like bullying has increased, but it’s a good thing. Society sees it as an issue that needs to be addressed, and giving it more attention is key in preventing it.”— Stephen Kroll
(10/07/13 2:52am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Bloomington High School North organized the Monroe County College Fair Oct. 3 to help students prepare for their futures. School counselor and fair coordinator Mary Priester said the fair included a total of 75 schools, trade schools and organizations.“Usually the fair is held at the Convention Center,” Priester said. “It has been tough pulling all the strings together at the end. I’ve had last-minute cancellations and last-minute registrations. We’ve got schools from Kentucky, Michigan, even Penn State.”The fair was open to all students, parents and others interested in expanding their education. Priester said they had students coming in from several surrounding counties.When the doors to the gym opened at 6:30 p.m., families shuffled in, winding down rows of tables lined with pamphlets. Schools including IU, IU-Purdue University Indianapolis and Purdue University were there, but so were representatives from the Army and the Navy and even ACT prep courses.Mitchell High School senior Alyssa Gardner and her mother Deanna Gardner came to the fair to see what options colleges had for Alyssa’s interest in physical therapy.“I’ve already seen IU and Evansville, but I came to expand my options,” Alyssa said.Her mother said they’re feeling the pressure of finding a school.“We feel like we’re behind on looking for colleges,” Deanna said. “This is a good place to ask questions.”Students from BHSN, including senior J.P. Morrison, helped organize the fair.“I helped set up, hand out food and answer questions,” Morrison said.He also said he was looking a little at schools.“Purdue’s here, and they’re a pretty good school,” he said. “I still don’t know where I’m going yet. I’m working on that.”Schools and groups tried attracting students in multiple ways. Some had iPads showcasing videos of campus life. Others gave away free pens and flash drives. The Navy was handing out mini plush footballs.Brittany Monasterio was running the table for Indiana Wesleyan University.“It’s my first week here,” Monasterio said. “We have many counselors and go out to events as often as we can.”Monasterio’s particular area is southern Indiana, southern Ohio and Maryland. She said she believes these college fairs are important.“It’s good to get personal, one-on-one interaction with students,” she said.Just then, Mitchell High School senior Haley Doty approached the table.“Hi, what kind of major are you interested in?” Monasterio asked. “Education,” Doty replied.“Great, that’s one of our bigger programs,” Monasterio said, handing her a flyer.Monasterio made more than 30 such connections. The fair continued until 8:30 p.m., when families shuffled back out into the night. The Gardner family said the fair was a success for them.“I saw a lot of colleges that I liked,” Alyssa said. “We talked to the Army. I never thought we would do that,” Deanna said. “We brought an empty backpack and now it’s full of flyers.”Follow reporter Stephen Kroll on Twitter @stephenkroll1.
(10/04/13 1:26am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>More than 2,000 iPads equipped with locking mechanisms restricting access to games and social media were recently distributed to students at Center Grove High School in Greenwood, Ind. But within a day, those locks didn’t matter.Jason Taylor, director of information services for Monroe County Community School Corporation, explained how the Center Grove students hacked the technology.“Currently, you manage iPads by placing configuration profiles on them,” Taylor said. “The user of the iPad is allowed to remove that profile. This is what happened at Center Grove. At the time, using iOS6, Center Grove could not guarantee that student activity would be monitored through their web filter. With iOS7, this changes and we can place a global setting to force traffic from the iPad to our web filter.”MCCSC has a similar technology program with its Digital Learning Initiative, one aspect of which is providing all students with access to iPads. Taylor said it is possible a similar situation could arise at MCCSC, but that there are ways the schools can mitigate this.“If a student ‘hacks’ or removes the configuration profile, we can find out immediately and notify the building principal,” he said. “The corporation-issued apps would also be removed and the student would only have the base apps installed on the iPad, which would make it very hard to participate in class.”Taylor said there have already been a few isolated incidents of similar hacking at MCCSC.“We have only had a few students remove the profile, which was quickly identified and re-installed,” he said.However, Taylor said the problem is not merely the battle between students hacking and schools increasing security. What is more important is teaching responsible technology usage to students, he said.“I do not believe that increasing the security is the solution,” Taylor said. “We work hard to teach our students to use the devices in a responsible manner. We know that once they leave our network and are not using our devices they will have unlimited access, and we want to teach them to be responsible and protect their privacy.”Taylor said schools can only do so much, and after the bell rings, it’s up to the students to use the iPads safely and responsibly.“When we do send devices home next year, we just want to make sure that we are providing a basic level of filtering that is required of public schools,” he said.Follow reporter Stephen Kroll on Twitter @stephenkroll1.
(10/01/13 3:27am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Childs Elementary School has been named a National Blue Ribbon School by the Department of Education for a second time.“Obviously, we’re very excited to be awarded at the national level,” Childs Principal Chris Finley said.The National Blue Ribbon School’s award honors elementary, middle and high schools where students perform at high levels or show significant improvement in achievement, a Monroe County Community School Corporation press release said. The award has been presented for the past 31 years, with almost 7,500 schools being recognized. This year, Childs was one of 286 schools honored across the nation, and one of 12 in Indiana.MCCSC Superintendent Judith DeMuth congratulated Childs on the achievement.“We salute the Childs Elementary faculty and staff on being renamed a Blue Ribbon School,” DeMuth said in the press release. “Congratulations to each and every one of you along with our students and parents for your continued hard work to ensure excellence in teaching, learning and student performance.”The Blue Ribbon awards are given out every five years. Childs received its first award in 2007.“It’s based on the last five years of achievement data,” Finley said.Finley said the Department of Education first selected Childs as a candidate. After being nominated, the school filled out an application explaining their methods and achievements. The selection process ended with Childs being chosen as a Blue Ribbon school.“The fact that for the past decade we’ve been a Blue Ribbon school is a testament to the hard work of our teachers and students,” Finley said. “We just keep doing what we’re doing, keep on that course. We have a veteran staff and a super community that really values education.”The Blue Ribbon award is given out for excellence in performance, but Finley said he thinks a few distinct factors helped Childs receive the award.“We have a very low faculty turnover,” he said. “And what we do with our literacy program is special. We teach problem solving for learning across the curriculum. When it comes down to it, our kids are great test takers because they can read and figure out any problem.”While Childs is the only school in MCCSC to achieve the award, Finley said he believes more schools in the district could win in coming years.“We have great teachers throughout our district,” he said. “I think everyone could achieve this.”The Blue Ribbon schools will be recognized at a ceremony Nov. 18-19 in Washington, D.C. Finley said Childs is already looking to five years down the road.“Winning the next award is certainly our goal,” he said. “That’s what we’ll keep going for.”— Stephen Kroll
(09/27/13 3:42am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Ball State University is considering backing a new charter school in Bloomington, and the Monroe County Community School Corporation is against it.The Green Meadows Charter School would serve students K-8, and its website says “its academic focus is on environmental sustainability and social justice.” The school curriculum would be based on the Waldorf method of teaching, which is designed to educate students in a well-rounded manner focused on individual improvements with a de-emphasis on quantitative testing.MCCSC representatives said they are not excited about the prospect of a new school in Bloomington.“All public monies should be used to support only public schools,” MCCSC Superintendent Judith DeMuth said in a statement. “With money to public schools being diminished to all-time lows and the demands of public schools growing, a charter school taking funds is not necessary.”Tim Thrasher, director of business operations at MCCSC, also released a statement breaking down how much money MCCSC could lose.“Losing 200 students to a charter school would result in a decrease in 2014 funding of $1,083,000, or the equivalent of the salaries and benefits for 22 teachers with a master’s degree and 2 years of teaching experience,” Thrasher said in the statement.“The loss of 200 students will be spread throughout the MCCSC, a few students in each room, so it will not be possible to reduce the number of teachers to match the loss in funding without increasing the pupil-teacher ratio throughout the school corporation or reducing expenditures in other areas that could have an extremely detrimental impact on instruction," she said.DeMuth also called into question Ball State’s performance in similar ventures. Earlier this year, Ball State closed seven charter schools it oversaw across Indiana.“It is our understanding that Ball State recently chartered the same proprietors in an Indianapolis Charter school,” she said. “That Charter was closed last year as those quality and student performance indicators were not to the level that were to be met to keep the school open. Ball State made an investment in these alleged proprietors’ failures and eventually vacated the charter, closing the school.”DeMuth also said a new school is not needed in Bloomington.“The Monroe County Community School Corporation provides quality education for all children,” she said. “Look at our data — students show continued upward growth — again for all students, Special Education, Title I, advanced, highly motivated students of all colors and ethnicities.”Thrasher said the school will do no good for Bloomington and its approval is not in the best interests of MCCSC students.DeMuth urged residents to believe in MCCSC.“I would add that MCCSC has enough schools to support all students in a fiscally sound manner,” she said. “If an investment is going to be made by our taxpayers, make an investment in MCCSC success, not the opposite record this alleged proprietor has shown.”Ball State will be collecting public comment on Green Meadows until Oct. 1, at which point it will move forward with its decision.Comments can be sent to mrsiler@bsu.edu.Follow reporter Stephen Kroll on Twitter @stephenkroll1.
(09/26/13 3:48am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress-Plus scores were released, showing students in Indiana have improved their ability in mathematics and English/language arts.The scores, which were released Sept. 18, show Indiana students in grades 3-8 have improved in both portions statewide, with 82.7 percent passing the mathematics portion and 79.5 percent passing the English/language arts portion. This is an increase from last year, where 81.2 percent passed the math portion and 79.4 percent passed language.“First, I want to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of Indiana students, parents, educators, administrators and the employees of the Department of Education for their efforts during the administration of this test,” said Glenda Ritz, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction, in a press release. “Despite considerable difficulties, our students improved their overall performance yet again and deserve our congratulations.”Monroe County Community School Corporation performed above the state average, with 84.5 percent of students passing the math portion and 82.3 percent passing the language portion. Overall, 77.3 percent of students passed both sections.Despite being above the state average, MCCSC scores dropped from last year, where 84.8 percent passed math and 83.4 percent passed language. Overall, passing went down as well from 77.6 percent in 2012.Students also took a science portion of the exam, which is based on new standards adopted in 2010. The Department of Education anticipates the scores will be released in October.— Stephen Kroll
(09/20/13 3:22am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Monroe County Community School Corporation has teamed up with the Monroe County Public Library to give students greater electronic access to books and research.“About a year ago we began talking to MCCSC about how they wanted to access our electronic resources,” Josh Wolf, manager of children’s services for MCPL, said.Director of MCPL Sara Laughlin said this partnership is focused around MCCSC’sDigital Learning Initiative and the integration of iPads into their education system.“Homework and schoolwork are changing,” Laughlin said. “It used to be that if you needed to study or do a report, you had to come down to the library and check out half a dozen books. Now there’s a better way: the Internet.”The program starts with each student receiving a library card that can be used not only when they go to MCPL, but also to access the library’s e-books online.“The students can go to their school’s website, type in their number and the library website is one portal choice,” Wolf said.Laughlin said MCPL has taken cues from other school-library partnerships across the nation.“Since the library card number is 14 digits, we’re planning on linking each student’s account with their lunch number,” she said. “Everyone can remember their lunch number.”Laughlin said electronic resources have many benefits for students of all ages.“Across the age spectrum, K-12, needs are very different,” she said.“Electronic content for elementary students is wonderful. We have storybooks where you can actually turn the pages, they can be read to you. It’s all great.”Wolf said there are many other electronic resources available.“We have interactive games, enhanced picture books through the kids’ website TumbleBook, all sorts of things,” he said.Laughlin said MCPL has had a long-standing partnership with MCCSC, from supporting a summer school program for kids struggling in reading to mutual training for teachers and librarians. She said she hopes this electronic partnership can be expanded as well.“We’ve switched paradigms in this partnership from e-access to all the things we could do together,” Laughlin said.One new potential partnership comes with the creation of the MCPL Digital Creativity Center. The center, which Laughlin said they will hopefully start building by the end of the year, will provide media creation software and computers for the public.“We used to buy books for the whole community,” she said. “Now that could shift to software.”Whatever future partnerships MCCSC and MCPL have, Laughlin said they will involve these new technologies.“The great thing about electronic copies are you can’t lose them,” she said. “An electronic book is never overdue.”
(09/19/13 4:26am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Football coaches working with children ages 6-14 in Indiana might soon need new education and certificates if a proposed bill passes when the General Assembly’s next session begins in January. Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle, is sponsoring the bill that would require all youth football coaches using public fields to have additional training in relation to head injuries and concussions.Using the “Heads Up Football” online coaching class through USA Football, the United States governing body for the sport at youth and amateur levels, coaches would focus on proper tackling techniques, recognition of concussions, proper response to concussions and proper equipment fitting.During a statehouse news conference, Holdman said he’s optimistic his colleagues will approve the legislation.“When legislators have an opportunity to really look at this, what the issues are, what it can do for player safety and our youth, we think there won’t be any question they’ll endorse it,” he said.Concussions and brain injuries related to playing football are increasing in national concern. Just last month, the NFL reached a $756 million settlement with more than 4,500 former players who proved they developed dementia or other concussion-related health issues from injuries sustained on the field.“‘Heads Up Football” is a comprehensive approach to teaching a better and safer way to play football,” Steve Alic, USA Football communications director, said.Alic said it will launch on the youth level at the beginning of 2013, Alic said 2,800 leagues in all 50 states have voluntarily adopted the program. That accounts for 25 percent of the country’s entire football community, he said. Currently, 34 high schools across 10 states are participating in a pilot program, which will be available to all high schools in 2014.What is important about “Heads Up Football” and Holdman’s bill is it establishes high national standards and a standard of behavior in football programs, Alic said. It puts child safety first. “We are unaware of any legislation of this kind,” Alic said. “Indiana would be leading the cause for a safer football environment.”Endorsed by the NFL and many college-level programs, including the Big Ten, the standards set for “Heads Up Football” were influenced by both medical and football experts. Richard Dullaghan, a football coach with 47 years of experience, was one of many who spoke before the Indiana General Assembly’s Commission on Education Sept. 13 to give insight from current football programs.“We can teach the game better,” Dullaghan said. “We are teaching the game better. USA Football has the secret, and it is good, and it is something that is only going to get better.”Follow reporter Jake Wright on Twitter @fljwright.
(09/18/13 2:18am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With greater access to an assortment of technologies, the Monroe County Community School Corporation has decided to move its classrooms into the future.The Digital Learning Initiative is an MCCSC program that aims to provide all instructional staff members with iPads and to give students equitable access to iPads by 2015.“One year ago we had a meeting, and decided that a lot of our curriculum was heading towards technological integration,” said Jason Taylor, director of information services at MCCSC. “We chose the Apple iPad for its availability of content and creative apps, and for its battery life.”Taylor said the Digital Learning Initiative is meant for all of MCCSC, but currently only about half of the students have access.“We serve 11,000 students, but at first that was budgetarily impossible,” Taylor said. “So we divided up the iPad population by schools and are serving 5,500 students. We hope to serve the rest in the next couple years.”Taylor said with MCCSC facing budget cuts over the past years, it has been difficult to generate the funds required for the Initiative. “We sold bonds to raise revenue, and we’ve done a lot in our computer labs to reduce costs,” he said. “In the future, we’ll be able to retire some of our labs and reduce computer costs entirely.”Taylor said they allowed each building principal to make a decision with their allotment to best serve the instructional needs and goals of their school.The Digital Learning Initiative is meant to shift school technologies away from fixed computers and make it more mobile. In the process, it will also get rid of some textbook needs.“Most of the replacement will be the supplemental material; worksheets, practice problems,” Taylor said. “Classic novels are all free online, so we’ll be able to access those. In some subjects, the iPads will replace textbooks, so we’ll be able to trim that budget, as well. But especially in elementary school, kids still need a tangible book.”Taylor said there needs to be a professional staff for the Initiative.“We have a digital learning team of coaches who work with teachers to integrate the device into the classroom and the curriculum,” he said.Whatever the cost, Taylor said the Initiative is important because technology is the future of education.“The biggest impact the iPads are going to have are on collaboration and communication between students,” he said. “It’s going to drastically change group work. We know how technology is shaping society and the corporate world, and we want to prepare students for this change. I don’t think students working from home is very far away.”— Stephen Kroll
(09/18/13 2:14am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz has announced the finalists for the 2014 Teacher of the Year. “As a lifelong educator, I have always been impressed by the work the teachers do throughout Indiana day after day,” Ritz said in a press release.The finalists for the award are Plainfield High School’s Susan Ament, Homestead High School’s Sarah Shatto-Jones, New Augusta Public Academy South’s Lauren Kniola, South Side High School’s Emily Oberlin, Swanson Primary Center’s Susan Panzica, North Central High School’s Steven Perkins, Storer Elementary School’s Kelly Jean Scott, Richmond High School’s Denise Selm, Cumberland Road Elementary School’s Meg Strnat and Carmel Elementary School’s Renee White.“These teachers have demonstrated their dedication to their craft and their students, and I am honored to name them as finalists for Indiana Teacher of the Year,” Ritz said.The winner will be announced in October.— Sydney Murray
(09/13/13 3:59am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Indiana Public Retirement System Board of Trustees meets in Indianapolis today to discuss moving their start date from July 1 to Aug. 1, 2014, regarding recent changes implemented for retiring Hoosiers.The board previously voted on changes that will impact how much new retirees will be eligible to earn from their annuity savings accounts. Under the state’s current defined benefit pension plan, people who work a certain amount of years receive monthly payments by the state once they retire.Jeff Hutson, spokesman for the INPRS, said the state’s retirement system operates under a hybrid plan. This involves the use of an annuity savings account, where 3 percent of a member’s wages go.When a worker retires they must then decide what to do with their ASAmoney.Hutson said a person could annuitize it, roll it over into another investment or take a lump sum distribution to use for personal expenses.Only half of retirees in the state annuitize their money into monthly payments, but the state also takes into consideration how long a person is expected to live. This way, the INPRS knows how much they’re paying out and how much they will earn, Hutson said.Hutson said retirees are allowed to return a lump sum amount earned over their time working to their pension fund. This guarantees monthly payouts based on 7.5 percent of that lump sum.The changes implemented by the INPRS, however, would call for a lesser percentage.Although these changes could cost future-retiring employees, Hutson said they were necessary by the state.“Without these changes, we face a loss of up to 300 million dollars,” Hutson said.Hutson said the employees who will face the most repercussions from this are those in the public sector, primarily school teachers.Gail Zeheralis, director of government relations for the Indiana State Teachers Association, said this wouldn’t only affect teachers, but also employers who work in the school system, such as school bus drivers and cafeteria workers.The board of trustees is contemplating pushing the start date back in order to accommodate the school year. Because most state schools don’t dismiss for summer until June, moving the start to August would prevent teachers from having to retire earlier.The ISTA is currently working on plans to help accommodate those who plan on retiring in the near future.“Since the implementation date is not until next summer, we’re certainly going to work and try to provide some insight to the board’s changes,”Zeheralis said.Follow reporter Brett Frieman on Twitter @brttfrmn.
(09/13/13 3:28am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Indiana Senate Democratic Leader Tim Lanane, D-Anderson, announced a new plan to enroll children in early childhood education programs.“The payoff is clear,” Lanane said in a press release. “High-quality pre-K programs produce students who are more likely to graduate from high school, earn a higher income, own a home and less likely to require remediation or commit crimes. With thisinitiative, we can put all Hoosier children on the path toward success.”Lanane said it is important for children to learn certain skills early on, which can eventually lead to long-term economic development.The proposed legislation would give school corporations the opportunity to create their own programs in partnership with the Indiana Department of Education and with guidelines developed by the General Assembly.Lanane said in the press release it’s time to be proactive.“40 other states have recognized the value of high-quality early learning opportunities. By partnering with the Department of Education and incorporating community input, I believe we can rapidly put in place high-quality pre-K programs that meet unique community needs and maximize the return on investment,” Lanane said in the release.— Sydney Murray
(09/11/13 4:01am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Former Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett has been cleared of any wrongdoing in reference to claims he made grade adjustments for certain state schools last year, according to a report released by the state legislature Friday.The report investigated Bennett’s changes to the grading system, which were claimed to have been politically influenced to support Indianapolis charter school Christel House Academy. Christel DeHaan, a top donor to Bennett’s previous campaign, founded the school.State lawmakers requested the review after the Associated Press released emails between Bennett and his staff in July. The emails showed Bennett took special precautions to change Christel House Academy’s grade to an “A” after originally earning a “C.”“They need to understand that anything less than an A for Christel House compromises all of our accountability work,” Bennett said in an email last September to the Indiana chief of staff.Indiana Senate President Pro Tempore David Long, along with Republican Legislative Leader Brian Bosma, requested the report. In a press release from Long, he said he was pleased with the report, which was done by John Grew, executive director of State Relations and Policy Analysis at IU, and Bill Sheldrake, president and founder of Policy Analytics.In the release, Long said the report “will help immensely as the state begins work on a new A-F grading process.”According to the report, the adjustments made by the Bennett administrative were necessary to eliminate certain scores from the Christel House Academy’s grade. The report concluded Bennett had fairly applied the grade.According to the report, the grade change for Christel House Academy was plausible, and the treatment afforded to the school was consistently applied to other schools with similar circumstances. The report did, however, state that a significant portion of the education community did not understand or trust in the accuracy or fairness of Bennett’s tactics.Bennett, who resigned as Florida’s education commissioner last month, released a statement saying he felt the report vindicated him.“The report clearly shows that accusations of manipulation of the A-F system for a single school are false and malicious,” Bennett said in the statement. “You will remember that when the Department of Education released school grades last year, I said the process was imperfect and could be improved greatly. Still, it is a far better measurement and accountability tool for our schools than has ever been used in our state.”According to the Gradebook Blog from the Tampa Bay Times, Bennett said he resigned to avoid becoming a distraction to Florida Gov. Rick Scott and others pushing the education “reform” agenda in Florida. Although the report did not analyze Bennett’s political motives, it did call for a number of changes to the grading system. These adjustments include working more closely with lawmakers and the governor to explain changes to the grading system, bringing in more outside experts for advice and adding measures other than test scores to the formula. Terry Spradlin, director of Education Policy for the Center for Evaluation and Education Policy at IU, said the school grading system, which has been used by the state for the last two years, is still undergoing legislative review and awaiting new recommendation by the Indiana Department of Education.“The concern is that the current system is not transparent or effective at giving schools fair grades,” Spradlin said. “Because there’s now a misperception that the system is flawed, education leaders and policy makers feel that it at least needs to be reviewed.”Follow reporter Brett Frieman on Twitter @brttfrmn.
(09/10/13 2:33am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Leonard Springs Nature Park is organizing nature days for sixth grade students throughout the months of September and October. The first nature day is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today. Future days are Sept. 17, Sept. 24, Oct. 1, Oct. 22 and a rain date of Oct. 29.Students will learn about creeks, wetlands, forests and soils. Those ages 18 and older can volunteer to teach the students.Those interested in volunteering can visit bloomington.in.gov/parksvol.— Sydney Murray