Northwest Indiana Discussion

Here are the highlights of the meeting:

All board members were present.

Special Presentation:

Hammond High Staff had a presentation of the technology plan for the school. The building will be upgraded to expand the wireless system, and extra electrical upgrades will be added for the newest electronics. The new upgrades will allow the use of 1,000 separate computers to use the wireless system, and the new charging units. New computer labs are also being added, in addition to the tablets that will be available to the students, starting next school year. A grant of $1.5 million is paying for the upgrades, both in infrastructure and technology.
Hammond High has brought the attendance rate up past the benchmark, and the graduation rate has gone up to 66.84%.

Unfinished Business:

The new Health Clinic proposed for Hammond High has secured additional funding. there will be more updates on this at future meeetings.

Reports:

The State House of Representatives sent a letter to the SCH, urging them to join other school corporations in a class action lawsuit against the school vouchers. The School Board, in a majority vote, opted to join the legal action against the vouchers.

Calender:

There will be a Special School Board Meeting on Wednesday, December 21, 2011 5:30pm 41 Williams Street. There will be a regular School Board Meeting on Monday January 9, 2012 6pm 41 Williams Street. there will be a Public Work Session on Wednesday January 11, 2012 at 5:30pm at 41 Williams Street.

New Business:

Tax anticipation warrants were authorized by a vote this evening.

Public Expression, 2nd Session(No Speakers in 1st)

Mr. Raymond Fletcher talked about the negative impact that vouchers aqre having on the public school systems.

An announcement was made about HHS Senior Alexandra Kaminski being named Academic All-Star by the Region Sports Network.

My Take:

Hammond High is coming back, finally !!! If we could just get more parents involved, it could be the top notch school it once was, again. I hope the Health Clinic at Hammond High opens soon. There is a great need in the community.

The greatest threat to the public schools, IMO, is NOT the vouchers, it is the charter schools.

Congratulations again, to my daughter !!! I am very proud to be your Mom !!!