Latest news with #DunelandSchoolCorporation
Chicago Tribune
03-06-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Duneland voters may see school referendum renewal earlier because of state law change
The Duneland School Corporation might ask the voters this November to renew an operating referendum because of a change recently enacted by the state legislature. Superintendent Chip Pettit during Monday's school board meeting emphasized that he hasn't decided what he will recommend. The board will make the final decision. Duneland officials are still analyzing the potential financial impact of Senate Enrolled Act 1 on the school budget. The wide-ranging bill includes provisions that cap how much local governments and school districts can realize from an increase in property values in coming years. Voters in 2019 approved the 7-year referendum, which provided $8.8 million annually to supplement the school corporation's educational programs. The levy is currently calculated at 22 cents per $1,000 of property valuation. The funds generated make up 10% of the 2025 budget, which was $89 million. Originally, Pettit said it was likely that he was going to ask Duneland voters to renew the operating referendum in the May 2026 primary. But one of the changes with Senate Enrolled Act 1 is that school districts can no longer put an operating referendum up for a vote in a primary. Referendums now must appear on the November general election ballot. 'As a result, once specifics to how Senate Enrolled Act 1 will impact the Duneland community and school corporation (are known), I may ask the Board to consider placing the referendum on the ballot in November 2025,' Pettit said. If the renewal doesn't appear in November 2025, it would have to be on the November 2026 ballot. The Duneland School Corporation would like to know if the operating referendum is renewed because it would 'provide cost certainty for budget development in 2027 and beyond,' Pettit said. 'With our current referendum funds lasting through 2026, I believe it would be difficult to ask the Board to approve a budget in the fall of 2026, for 2027, without knowing whether referendum funding is available,' Pettit said. About half of the school corporation's budget comes from property taxes collected within the Duneland School Corporation while the state provides the remaining amount. 'We are currently working with our financial advisors to sort out the projected impact of SEA (Senate Enrolled Act) 1,' Pettit said. Pettit said one certainty is that inflation in the past few years has been significant, causing operating costs for the school corporation to increase. 'If tax revenue decreases, the budget cannot support the same or an increased level of expenses, which means that reductions and cost-cutting measures must be taken,' Pettit said. School Board President Brandon Kroft, during his presentation on the recent Indiana legislative session, noted that Senate Enrolled Act 287 eventually settled on keeping the vote for school board members to the general election. The change is that candidates for the school board can declare a political party affiliation or choose to say they are independent or make no party declaration at all. School board elections before had been non-partisan.
Chicago Tribune
13-05-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Chesterton council appoints members for new sustainability commission
Six people were appointed Monday by the Town Council to serve on Chesterton's newly formed Sustainability Commission that is charged with examining environmental solutions for the community. Chesterton is following a trend of communities establishing an environmental commission. The neighboring Town of Porter has had an Environmental Sustainability Commission operating for about a year and Valparaiso recently formed its own Environmental Advisory Board. Those appointed for two-year terms are Emily Bretl, Matt Carter and Joshua Van Nevel. Angela Grady and Michael Spinar will serve one-year terms. Athena Lafata, an 8th grader at Westchester Middle School, is the Duneland School Corporation representative who will serve a year on the board. Athena is the daughter of Councilman Dane Lafata, D-3. Councilwoman Erin Collins, D-2, who spearheaded the implementation of the commission, said that Athena was the lone applicant for the student position on the board. Collins said the person chosen to serve as the 18-to 25-year-old representative on the board couldn't commit, so the town is reopening the application process for that position. Those who qualify are asked to submit an application by June 2. The town will make the appointment at the June 9 meeting. State Sen. Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton, spoke briefly to the Town Council about the recent state legislative session. The Express Care at the Franciscan Emergency Center in Chesterton will be allowed to reopen because of a clause that Pol was able to get into House Bill 1004. 'It's a significant win for Chesterton and the surrounding communities,' Collins said. Franciscan Health had closed the Urgent Care facility on Dec. 31, 2024, due to a state law change in 2023 that made it cost prohibitive. The emergency room has remained open. Pol said that the aim of the 2023 law was to reduce healthcare costs in the state. He said that The Express Care in Chesterton became caught in a coding issue for federal reimbursement under that law, which led to the closing. Pol said he was able to get a clause into House Bill 1004 that exempted The Express Care in Chesterton. Senate Bill 1, which contained property tax reforms, will have an effect on local government and school budgets. Pol said that local governments in Porter County were already frugal. He said that communities will have to 'sharpen their pencils' when it comes to budgeting because of Senate Bill 1. There are similar concerns for the school districts, including the Duneland School Corporation, Pol said. Councilman James Ton, R-1, compared the situation to 'driving a car without enough oil in the engine.' The council plans to have a public hearing soon concerning the rental of the Tilden building at 360 Lincoln Street in Porter for use by the fire department during the renovation of the Fire Station. The Tilden building — which is currently empty — had been used as a pet supply store. Fire Chief Sean O'Donnell said the fire trucks and operations could be moved there during the renovation project. Town Council on Monday night had its meeting at the Baugher Center, which is owned by the Westchester Public Library. A dedication ceremony for the Town Hall/fire station remodeling project is set for 10 a.m. Friday at 8th Street and Broadway.
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
25-04-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Porter County event provides connections for people with disabilities
A hard aspect for a parent having a child with a disability at first is feeling alone and wondering what to do. Jenny Hansen of Chesterton encountered that devastating situation 19 years ago when her son, Luke, was diagnosed three months after birth with a rare condition. Luke Hansen has three extra X chromosomes, making him one of only 150 known cases in the world. He has learning disabilities. 'As parents of a special needs child, it's hard. You have to fight for funding, you have to fight for resources,' Hansen said. Hansen learned that others were passionately engaged in the same battle on behalf of their children. About a dozen parents, along with the Duneland School Corporation's Exceptional Learning staff in 2018 organized the first disability resource fair in a small gym at Westchester Intermediate School. That annual event has now become the Porter County Disability Resource Fair. The sixth version of the fair was held at Chesterton High School Thursday evening with about 150 people in attendance. Ezra Burke, who is the Exceptional Learning Coordinator for the secondary level for Duneland School Corporation, remembers when he was approached by the parents who wanted to do something to make people aware of resources and enhance community connections. 'I certainly have become much more aware of all the needs that families have that I didn't realize they have,' Burke said. That first event had about 25 vendors. The fair has grown every year, except for the 2020 COVID-19 shutdown. It became more than a Duneland event as it now encompasses Porter County and moved to the larger venue of the Chesterton High School cafeteria. In Porter County, there are 5,000 children in the seven school districts who have been identified with a learning disability, said Sandy Bodnar of the Porter County Education Services. There were 51 vendors this year as the event's scope has grown to also embrace adults with disabilities. The vendors came from as far away as Chicago, Indianapolis and a college from Wisconsin that specializes in helping those with disabilities. In addition to agencies like Jacob's Ladder, which provides speech and occupational services, there were attorneys and a representative from the Social Security office there to address questions. 'The big focus is really to try to provide a gamut of opportunities for families to shop around,' Burke said. Hansen said she has noticed that more agencies and groups now approach them about coming to the fair. She said that another positive aspect is how the volunteer force comes together for the free event. This year, Luke Hansen, who is still in the Duneland school system, sat at the front table where he greeted attendees. One of the new vendors this year was Kyle's Legacy, an organization founded by the family of Kyle Polhemus, a Valparaiso resident who on March 14, 2020, died at age 19 from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. 'We were living a normal life and then bam,' said Ben Polhemus, Kyle's father. His son was diagnosed at age 2½ with the disease. After Kyle's death, Kyle's Legacy was formed to support others with disabilities and their families as they navigate new realities. Ben Polhemus said that they draw on their experiences — the connections and love from the community — to help others. Scott and Tonya Irwin of Valparaiso attended the fair for the first time Thursday. Tonya Irwin, 49, uses a motorized chair to get around. She is a disabled veteran who has problems with her knees and legs, along with anxiety issues. Scott Irwin, 52, walks with a cane because he has back issues. They were glad they made the trip as both found it useful to meet with a representative from the Social Security office. Tonya Irwin said she also was able to connect with someone from Disabled Veterans Services.
