Latest news with #DunelandSchoolBoard
Chicago Tribune
06-05-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Duneland School Corporation first in Northwest Indiana for AED certification
The Duneland School Corporation has become the first district in Northwest Indiana to have all of its school buildings with employees who are certified to administer an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) for a cardiac emergency. Assistant Superintendent Robert McDermott told the Duneland School Board Monday that Project ADAM granted the certification after training was completed with the five elementary and two intermediate schools. Chesterton High School received its Project ADAM certification last fall. The program is named after Adam Lemel, who collapsed and died while playing basketball in 1999 in Whitefish Bay, a Milwaukee suburb. Adam's life might have been saved if those helping him had an AED available. Duneland knows the value of an AED as there have been 10 cases in the past three years where the equipment was used in a cardiac emergency, McDermott said. 'In many cases, the difference between life and death comes down to having the right equipment in place and people who are ready and trained to use it,' McDermott said. McDermott said he was so impressed with the program that he asked Chesterton High School nurse Brittany Smith if she would supervise the Project ADAM certification for the other seven school buildings. To become certified, each school must have a detailed cardiac emergency response plan, personnel must be trained, and the AEDs have to be properly maintained and placed in an accessible location. A drill is also observed before the certification is granted. The Duneland board presented Smith with an award, recognizing her effort in obtaining the Project ADAM certification for all of the district's schools. 'Her commitment, passion and leadership have made our schools safer places for students, staff and visitors alike and will save lives,' McDermott said. The Duneland School Board also awarded a contract to Gough, Inc. for $415,000 to do site preparation at the Bailly, Brummitt, Liberty and Jackson Elementary schools before new playground equipment is installed. Superintendent Chip Pettit said that the playground equipment is anticipated to cost $500,000 at each site for a total of $2 million. Pettit said the equipment will be purchased through a cooperative to ensure that the district gets the lowest and best price. The Duneland School Corporation has budgeted $2.5 million out of a general obligation bond to pay for the project. That $14.3 million bond will also finance the construction of a soccer stadium complex and replacing carpet at Chesterton High School. Duneland Schools will also purchase two I.C. Collins buses for $365,326. The two 54-passenger buses are equipped with lifts for special needs students. The buses will also be equipped with cameras and 10 specially integrated seats. Lynn Kwilasz, Duneland's assistant superintendent/chief financial officer, said that the purchase of the two buses is within the school corporation's budget of $397,400. She also said new buses that were ordered in 2023 and last year finally arrived at the end of March. The board also honored George Fox, a special education teacher of science and math at Chesterton High School, as the Secondary Teacher of the Year and Russ Hardsock, a third-grade teacher at Yost Elementary School, as the Elementary School Teacher of the Year. Chesterton Police Officer Shauna Jesse, who is a school resource officer at Chesterton High School, was chosen as the School District's Employee of the Year. Jesse couldn't attend the school board meeting. Each of the award winners received a check for $500 and are eligible for statewide recognition.
Chicago Tribune
04-03-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Duneland School Board awards $4.86 million in contracts for soccer facilities
Construction will start this spring at Chesterton High School on the new soccer stadium and complementary facilities after the Duneland School Board Monday awarded $4,862,283 in contracts. The new complex will include widening the present soccer field and erecting stands to accommodate 1,000 spectators. Chesterton High School has had to play their matches at the football stadium because the soccer field was too narrow. There will also be lights, a scoreboard, restrooms and a new locker room for the soccer teams, which will also be used by the lacrosse and tennis teams. In addition, a new practice field will also be developed next to the soccer stadium. For years the boys teams have had to practice at Dogwood Park because there wasn't enough room for the boys and girls soccer teams at the high school. Gough, Inc. received the largest of the contracts at $2.7 million for the sitework and installation of artificial turf. The Pangere Corp. will be paid $1,042,983 for the general trades contract. ACMS Group was awarded $784,900 for electrical and technology work while Mechanical Concepts will install the plumbing and HVAC for $334,400. Duneland Schools Superintendent Chip Pettit said he was 'very happy' with how the process turned out. Pettit said the key was competitive bidding involving a number of quality contractors for all parts of the project. If construction proceeds well, the hope is that the new facilities will be ready by Aug. 1 before soccer season begins, Pettit said. The Duneland School Corporation is paying for the new soccer stadium and adjoining improvements with a $14.39 million general obligation bond, which will also fund other capital improvement projects. In other business, School Board President Brandon Kroft said that school board members and the administration are actively following the current Indiana legislative session, which includes the proposed Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 1001. The bills deal with the state budget and property tax reforms. Kroft said the concern of many is that there will be a major impact on the school funding for all, including Duneland. 'There are important hearings on both bills this week and we are hopeful the language of these bills will continue to evolve such that Duneland will not see the major loss of funding that would occur had these bills become law in their original form,' Kroft said, Kroft said he's hoping for more clarity by the time of the April meeting. The school board also: *Approved a new class 'Computing Foundations for a Digital Age,' which will be a required class for freshman students starting in 2025-26. The course is part of the state of Indiana's new diploma requirements. *Approved a new work-based learning course for at-risk 11th and 12th graders enrolled in the Duneland Rise Academy. The course and program will be carried out in conjunction with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. The program also offers mentorship for those who intend to enter the workplace after high school. The mentorship can continue a year after high school. *Re-appointed Kathryn Cochran to a four-year term on the Westchester Public Library Board of Trustees. The school board has three appointments for the seven-member Library Board of Trustees.
