Latest news with #ChrisHimsel
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Beyond The Stands (Changes in Vigo Co. HS Athletics with Dr. Himsel)
Vigo County Superintendent Dr. Chris Himsel sits down with WTWO's Rick Semmler on Beyond The Stands for an in-depth conversation you won't want to miss. From Terre Haute North and South making the move to the Sagamore Conference in 2026–27, to what the future holds for both athletics and academics in the district, Dr. Himsel shares insights, updates, and a behind-the-scenes look at what's next. Watch the full episode above or tune in wherever you get your podcasts! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Tribune-Star Editorial: Community's biggest decision lies ahead — modernizing schools
The most consequential decision facing the Terre Haute and Vigo County community will be its investment in modernizing the local schools. A commitment must be made to provide the county's youngest residents 21st-century facilities in which to learn. By 2040, just 15 years from now, today's Vigo County School Corp. kindergartners will be in college, military service or the workforce. The county's existing high school structures would be nearly 70 or 80 years old by then, if still in use. West Vigo and especially Terre Haute North and Terre Haute South high schools already show their age and obsolescence. The average age of all VCSC schools is 43 years. None of the five middle schools were built in the 21st century. The newest elementary schools are now 21 years old. Gibraltar Design — an Indianapolis architectural firm studying the feasibility of options to address the school district's facility needs — says those needs are 'heavy' at North, South and West Vigo, as well as Woodrow Wilson and West Vigo middle schools, and DeVaney, Ouabache, Rio Grande and Sugar Grove elementaries. Gibraltar gave an update on the findings of its district-wide study, still ongoing, to the Vigo County School Board on Monday night. Some sort of action will have to occur. Vigo County kids deserve an education in an atmosphere that maximizes their education. Committing more funds into repairing the aging schools is becoming less cost effective. This latest VCSC facilities study, like the previous ones, will be valuable and merits broad public attention. The turf it covers is not smooth and easy. The Vigo County and Terre Haute population has remained static, and most significantly the family-age sector has not grown. As VCSC Superintendent Chris Himsel pointed out at Monday's meeting, the school district included 20,000 students in 1972. The K-through-12 enrollment's decline since then is expected to dwindle to about 12,500 in the next few years. Of course, the prime stumbling block — as always in any community — is funding. That element is complicated in the Hoosier state, given the property-tax caps put in place early in this century by the Legislature, limiting the traditional source of funds for school maintenance. The primary method for raising property-tax funds for a major school construction project is a public referendum, and the Indiana General Assembly is considering limits on when such referendums can occur. And, a 2022 facilities referendum on a $261-million project to rebuild and renovate the Vigo County high schools and West Vigo Middle School was resoundingly defeated by voters. That outcome raised questions about whether the county would ultimately end up with fewer than three high schools, once those buildings finally wore completely out. So, this new feasibility study will study options on how to handle upgrading the local schools at a time when enrollments are dropping. Meanwhile, a group of community elected officials and legislators are supporting a bill in the Legislature to create a local oversight board and facilitate the potential use of county funds for VCSC facility improvements. The aim would be to find funds for a facility upgrade without a tax increase or referendum. It is a tough needle to thread. But something must be done. As Himsel put it, the School Board and VCSC must 'make sure we meet the needs that our kids have and our teachers have, which is to upgrade facilities. We want to make sure our facilities enhance learning, and not detract from learning.' It is hard to tell what conclusions may be reached, but hard decisions are ahead.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
VCSC School Board offers update about facilities
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO-WAWV) — The Vigo County School Corporation Board of Trustees addresses several issues. One dealt with the an update regarding a facilities study. Superintendent Chris Himsel said there are corporation buildings that need improvement. Gibraltar, an Indianapolis architectural firm, has helped the corporation look at different ways to address the facility needs. Himsel says the board is nearing the point where some decisions will need to be made regarding facilities. He said we have a history of keeping the debt service rate and the overall tax rate pretty level, but the corporation still has lots of needs. 'We've also learned that the amount of money to keep our buildings updated, we don't have enough money to do that between the property tax caps and other things that we have to follow,' said Chris Himsel, superintendent VCSC. Himsel said all of the those things, plus a declining enrollment means the board will have to figure out a way to move forward. The board also discussed a book called 'The Hate You Give.' Several teachers spoke about the book before the board. Himsel the board passed a policy to review curriculum, and the book is being reviewed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Superintendent of VSCS appointed to Ivy Tech Campus Board of Trustees
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Ivy Tech Community College Terre Haute has appointed Chris Himsel, Ph.D., Superintendent of the Vigo County School Corporation (VCSC), to the Campus Board of Trustees. 'I am honored to join the Ivy Tech Terre Haute Campus Board of Trustees, and I look forward to continuing partnerships between K-12 and higher education,' Dr. Himsel said. 'Ivy Tech is an immeasurable asset in our community.' Himsel has held the position of Superintendent of VSCS since May 2023. Since then, Himsel has made a positive impact on education in Vigo County, according to Ivy Tech. Security, one of many updates at Vigo County School Board meeting 'Dr. Himsel's extensive background in education and community service makes him a tremendous asset to the Ivy Tech Terre Haute Campus Board of Trustees,' said Lea Anne Crooks, Ph.D., Chancellor of Ivy Tech Terre Haute. 'We look forward to the perspectives and expertise he will bring to the campus.' Later this year, Ivy Tech said, the partnership between Himsel and Ivy Tech will launch a summer camp program for Vigo County 7th graders. The initiative will introduce students to hands-on experiences that will align with career pathways available through dual credit classes and Ivy Tech programs. Ivy Tech hosts annual Healthcare Clash on the Wabash Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
