Latest news with #GoshenCommunitySchools
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City partners with Goshen Schools to offer swimming this summer
GOSHEN — Public swimming will be available at Goshen Community Schools' indoor pool this summer while the Shanklin Park pool remains closed. From now through Aug. 1, residents can attend open swim and Red Cross-certified swim lessons at the Goshen Community Schools Aquatic Center, 1216 S. Indiana Ave. The indoor pool will serve as the city's main swim site after the closure of Shanklin Pool. 'Our city and schools always step up when the community needs us,' Mayor Gina Leichty said in the announcement from the city. 'While we don't yet know the fate of Shanklin Pool, we remain committed to working together in the best interest of our residents. Especially our kids.' The city paused the $12 million pool rehab project earlier this year thanks to uncertainty over the impact of funding cuts included in Indiana's new two-year budget and in Senate Bill 1. Goshen had completed design work and secured local support, but elected officials chose to delay construction until they better understood how the legislation will affect city finances. In the meantime, the Parks Department prioritized swim access for youth and families through the partnership with GCS, according to information from the city. Open swim runs Monday through Friday from 1 to 3 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Aquatic Center will not be available for open swim on June 7, June 19-20 and June 30 and on July 1-6, July 11-12 and July 18-26. Certified instructors will lead swim lessons Monday through Friday from 3:15 to 6 p.m. Sessions cost $55 and follow American Red Cross standards. Classes are available for beginners ages 5 and older, and for parents with children ages 1 to 5. Residents can register online at The site also allows daily pass purchases and waiver submission for youth ages 14 to 17 to attend without an adult, though a fee applies to all credit card purchases. Daily admission is $5 and children age 2 and under swim free. The city will not offer season passes in 2025. For more information, call Goshen Parks and Recreation at 574-534-2901. In addition to indoor swim options, the City of Goshen offers three free splash pads open daily through the summer. All three operate every day from noon to 8 p.m., May 25 through Aug. 25, weather permitting. Walnut Park Splash Pad is located on the city's north side at East Oakridge Avenue between Fifth and Sixth streets, Pringle Park Splash Pad is on West Lincoln Avenue between Greene Road and Indiana Avenue and Rieth Park Splash Pad is on 13th Street between Iowa and Illinois streets on the south side. City leaders around three years ago started looking at replacing Shanklin Pool, which was originally built in 1969. They settled on an overhaul plan that includes replacing the aging pool and support buildings that are beyond their functional lifespan with a modern facility. The design includes a beach entry, water slides, toddler bay, basketball goal, shaded lounging areas and cabanas. Construction was set to begin this year, but city council followed Leichty's recommendation in March and voted to pause the $14 million bond process and shift focus to fundraising and grant-writing.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trial continued for last of Goshen School Board candidates involved in mailer scheme
GOSHEN — One candidate accused of fraudulent filing in the 2022 Goshen Community Schools election race may yet be going to trial for the charges. Andrea M. Johnson's jury trial scheduled for May 12, was continued in Elkhart County Superior Court 3 on Wednesday. Of the five individuals charged in the election fraud scandal, Johnson is the only one to not plead guilty. Johnson is also the only one who has not previously held public office. Sitting Goshen School Board members, at the time, Roger Nafziger, Jose Elizalde, Allan Kauffman and Mario Garber, along with candidate Johnson first faced election fraud charges from the Elkhart County Election Board due to improperly tracking funds after a mailer was released from their election campaigns back in October 2022. During an Elkhart County Election Board hearing April 27, 2023, Kauffman, who also happened to be Elizalde's campaign chairman, said he was approached by retired school teacher Sue Neeb because of concerns she had about 2022 Primary Election school board candidates Rob Roeder, Ryan Glick and Linda Hartman. At the time, Kauffman would not offer the name of the former educator for the same reasons the educator wished to remain anonymous. The teacher told Kauffman she was concerned about the future of local education should Purple for Parents-endorsed candidates Roeder, Glick, and Hartman gain elected office. At the time, Kauffman said the teacher wished to remain anonymous to prevent backlash to her husband's business. The teacher helped gather funds summing up to $11,770, which Kauffman distributed them between the four election candidates, whose campaign finance committees paid Maple Leaf Printing for the cost of the mailer. The campaigns listed Kauffman as the donor on campaign finance forms, which the election board later discovered was technically untrue as they were gathered by Neeb. Per election law, any person who donates more than $100 toward a campaign should be listed on finance forms. The Elkhart County Election Board found that Neeb had collected funds from a total of 32 individuals and, while she did keep some records, election law dictates that donors offer name, address, occupation, date, and dollar amount for all donations — and Neeb did not collect all of the necessary information. Back in December 2022, during election board proceedings, Johnson said she was concerned from the beginning that she'd made a mistake in her first-ever campaign and went to the clerk on several occasions with questions. 'I actually filed my very first report late because I was in my car going over things and didn't realize it had to be in 'by noon,' so it was in at like 12:30 or something like that,' she said. 'I went back in and checked again and then I was told that there were no other forms until the end of the year when everything would be closed out. It's my fault that I did not look. I just had no idea that there was an amount that I would have to file before the end of the year and so I apologize.' She added that when she learned about the CFA-11 form, she emailed it late at night before the election along with a letter explaining, in hopes that she wouldn't be in violation. She also told the board that she didn't know the funds weren't Kauffman's. As a newbie to campaigning, she said she was just happy to be included but made it clear to the group that she didn't have the money to help fund the mailer with the others, and was told that Kauffman would cover it and she believed the funds came directly from him. Election board members ultimately issued penalties to nearly 40 people involved in the election campaign finance fraud in April 2023, ranging from $150 to $250, following months of proceedings. Neeb was fined $2,000, while the candidates were referred to the prosecutor's office for formal proceedings. Each of the accused faced a charge of filing a fraudulent report, a Level 6 felony, and accepting a contribution made in another's name, a Class B misdemeanor. Kauffman had the same charges but had five counts of the Class B misdemeanor instead of the one. Nafziger, Elizalde and Garber, remain sitting school board members although all were sentenced within the last year, having pleaded guilty to Count 1 — filing a fraudulent report, a Level 6 felony. Their second counts of accepting a contribution made in another's name, a Class B misdemeanor were dismissed, and their felony charges were treated as misdemeanors per the plea agreements. The same plea deal was offered to all but Kauffman; The deal offered to the other members of the election fraud scandal was to plead guilty to the felony and be sentenced to 365 days at the Elkhart County Jail, suspended on reporting probation, with probation to be terminated after one weekend of a community-oriented work program. Former Goshen mayor Allan Kauffman resigned from the school board in February 2024, citing health concerns. The health concerns were also a contributing factor to his sentence. Despite being categorized by the state as the ringleader of the controversy, Kauffman pleaded guilty in open court on Friday and was sentenced on all counts without a plea deal. He was sentenced on Count 1, filing a fraudulent report, a Level 6 felony, to one year at the Elkhart County Correctional Facility suspended on reporting probation; Counts 2 through 6, all reckless contribution to a campaign, a Class B misdemeanor, to 180 days at the Elkhart County Jail suspended on one year of reporting probation, all to be served concurrently. On Wednesday, Johnson's attorney told the court that they're still in discovery, with new and additional information received, they're not yet ready to go to trial over the matter. Her attorney, Phillip Miller said the defense team is also considering taking deposition from Kauffman, but could not do so until his case was resolved. Last Friday, he was sentenced. The state said they are also still in the discovery process. Elkhart County Circuit Court Judge Teresa Cataldo agreed to continue the jury trial. A status conference is scheduled for Aug. 13. DANIEL STARCHER A man accused of stealing a car out of Michigan pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in Elkhart Circuit Court on Wednesday. Police attempted to perform a traffic stop at C.R. 17 and Beck Drive on the stolen blue Ford F-150 at 2:03 p.m. Feb. 26 that fled the scene. While fleeing, the truck was struck after disregarding a lighted red signal at the intersection of C.R. 17 and Beck Drive. The vehicle was determined to be stolen out of Three Rivers, Michigan, after the owner left the truck running at a gas station. Police claimed Daniel Starcher, who was also involved in the crash, had stolen it and brought it home to pick up his dog before the crash. Starcher admitted to stealing the truck. Starcher pleaded guilty on Wednesday to Count 2, resisting law enforcement, a Level 6 felony. For his plea, Count 1, auto theft, a Level 6 felony, will be dismissed. Sentencing is scheduled for May 28. CRISTIAN A. ANDRADE-PALACIOS A man pleaded guilty to a drunk driving crash that resulted in multiple injuries during Wednesday's court proceedings in Elkhart County Circuit Court. Elkhart County deputies responded to the call for a crash at 4:14 p.m. June 17, 2023, where a 2014 Mercedes Benz driven by Cristian A. Andrade-Palacios had struck a 2020 Jeep Wrangler. Police say Lillian Coffman had been driving southeast on Ind. 119 east of C.R. 9 in the Jeep when Andrade-Palacios in the Mercedes entered oncoming traffic to pass a vehicle in front of him heading north and caused a head-on collision with Coffman's vehicle. Witnesses said traffic was slowed due to a tractor on the road. Coffman suffered several fractures to her hand and remained without proper use of her hand into at least January 2024, was unable to write or type properly, and that gripping the steering wheel was also difficult. In addition, an infant in Andrade-Palacios' vehicle suffered a broken leg that required surgery. After the crash, police conducted field sobriety tests on him and Andrade-Palacios' consented to a blood test showing a 0.214 blood alcohol content. Andrade-Palacios' said he'd had three or four beers prior to the drive that lead up to the crash. Andrade-Palacios pleaded guilty to both counts of causing serious bodily injury while operating a vehicle while intoxicated, both Level 5 felonies. Sentence is scheduled for May 28.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Yahoo
Man who threatened school online sentenced
GOSHEN — A man who admitted to posting online threats against Goshen schools received a two-year sentence. Andre Smith, 18, was sentenced Wednesday to two years in the Indiana Department of Corrections with 380 days suspended to probation. He will receive credit for 175 days spent in custody since his arrest. He must also write a letter of apology to the school. Smith pleaded guilty in February to one count of intimidation as a Level 6 felony. A second count of intimidation was dismissed. Smith was arrested shortly after the Sept. 18 incident, which police said caused close to 80 percent of Goshen Community Schools students to miss classes that day. The school remained open despite the threats, which were posted on Facebook at around midnight. A post on the 'Nosy Neighbors of Michiana' Facebook group stated, 'Goshen high school students be ready' followed by several gun and devil face emojis. Another said 'My friend will take care of GPD also be ready boys in blue.' Investigators arrested smith, with the help of the Indiana State Police, after connecting him to the Facebook account that posted the threats. He told them he made the threats because he wanted to 'scare people that were mean to others,' according to police.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Yahoo
18-year-old admits to school threat
GOSHEN — A Goshen man has pleaded guilty to posting online threats against the school. Andre Smith, 18, on Wednesday pleaded guilty to intimidation as a Level 6 felony. He was charged with two counts of intimidation after his arrest in September. He entered the plea in Elkhart County Circuit Court ahead of a jury trial set for March 10. Judge Michael Christofeno accepted his plea and set sentencing for March 12. Smith was arrested Sept. 18 while Goshen police were investigating a threat against Goshen Community Schools posted online at around midnight. The posts on the 'Nosy Neighbors of Michiana' Facebook group stated, 'Goshen high school students be ready' followed by several gun and devil face emojis, and 'My friend will take care of GPD also be ready boys in blue.' Classes remained open that day though after-school activities and athletic practices were canceled. Police said only 21 percent of students attended school following the threat. The Indiana State Police became involved in the investigation and obtained a search warrant to get more information about the account which posted the threat. They learned that the user's given date of birth was July 15, 2006, and GPS data indicated that the user was near the Winchester Trails community. Comcast Internet provided police with the user's IP address and account information. The service provider said the user was Smith, who lived at 149 Winchester Trails, according to police. Police confirmed Smith's name and address and executed a warrant at his residence shortly before 5 p.m. with help from the Elkhart County Regional SWAT unit. Smith was arrested and brought to the police department for questioning. Smith admitted to creating the Facebook account and posting the threats against the school, according to police. He said he wanted to 'scare people that were mean to others' and used a pentagram profile picture to appear scarier.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Goshen School Board centers in on impactful legislation
GOSHEN — Goshen Community Schools is among the many districts keeping a close eye on the Indiana Statehouse during the legislative session. Two board members commented on bills making the rounds at the Statehouse during the Goshen Community Schools Board of Trustees meeting on Monday night, and district Superintendent Jim DuBois also noted that he's keeping watch on Indiana Senate Bill 1: Property Tax Relief The bill would make changes to homestead deductions, reduce property tax caps, and decrease spending on schools and other taxing entities. The plan would reduce taxes to Indiana schools by about $1.9 million, according to the state's Office of Fiscal and Management Analysis' Legislative Services Agency. DuBois said if approved, the estimates for Goshen Community Schools show the district losing up to $3.8 million in 2026, up to $4.6 million 2027 and up to $5.4 million in 2028. OTHER BOARD ITEMS Assistant Principal Jon Everingham, who is also serving as Career and Technical Education director for the district, discussed with the school board a project he's begun in order to evaluate the needs for pathway programming through high school. Everingham is working on a Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment that he hopes will allow him to present a proposal moving forward to the board before spring break. The CLNA looks at career center options offered across the region in order to determine what programs could be of most benefit to Goshen High School students. DuBois also said they've been in conversations about opening up a body shop to teach mechanics, but they need a comprehensive plan before they can move forward with any further pathways plans. • GCS Chief Financial Officer Bob Evans said summer projects this year will include replacement of parts of HVAC systems at Goshen Junior High School and Goshen High School; a small concession building for athletics and track reconstruction at the junior high; adding air conditioning to the high school gym, redoing the band parking lot, and a new press box, bleachers, and dugouts for the high school soccer field; courtyard renovation and classroom door replacements at Model Elementary School; and repair of a section of the roof at Waterford Elementary School. • Goshen Community Schools Foundation still has no representative from the school board. • Goshen High School Band Director Tom Cox was honored for receiving the Dr. William P. Foster Project Community Development Award North Central Division. • Tageeya Galeb was recognized for becoming a 2024 Elkhart County Lilly Endowment Community Scholar; Kendall Scott for making the Football Academic All-State Team; Ivon Rescalvo for competing in the Girls Wrestling State Competition and receiving seventh place in her weight class; Elsa Alstrom-Brookhyser for being accepted into the Indiana Junior All State Orchestra; and Miguel Aguilar Vargas, Emily Smith and Haleigh McKee for being accepted into the IMEA (Indiana Music Educators Association) Honor Band.
