LIGONIER â Parents with students in West Nobleâs dual language program voiced their displeasure with the administrationâs decision to cancel the program for next year. A group of 15-20 parents and other adults attended Mondayâs school board meeting to plead for the programâs reinstatement.
A letter was sent home to parents April 19, which explained the districtâs decision to cancel the program because of the lack of staff.
Parent Justin Blotkamp said the dual language program is âeducation at its finestâ and that he was disappointed the program was going away. He said the program is important in a community as diverse as Ligonier and can help students facing language challenges as they move to the high school. Blotkamp said his wife was a teacher at the high school.
LIGONIER â West Noble School Corporation will apply for a Common School Loan to upgrade its technology. School board members agreed to the application at Mondayâs meeting.
Technology director Mike Burke said that three phases of infrastructure improvements will happen if the loan application is approved. An aging main server in the data center will be replaced at an estimated cost of $59,000; 70 desktop computers at West Noble Middle School will be replaced at an estimated cost of $913 each; and new Chromebooks with licensing fees will be purchased for all 180 teachers at an estimated Cost of $80,000.
Schools may apply for a Common School Loan twice a year, and may receive funds equal to $100 per student. There is no guarantee that the districtâs application would be approved. Superintendent Galen Mast said West Noble has received a Common School Loan twice.
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LIGONIER â School leaders are keeping an eye on the Indiana General Assembly as legislators consider two key topics: school choice expansion through education savings accounts, and how this springâs ILEARN standardized testing will operate.
West Noble superintendent Galen Mast said the days carved out for testing would be better spent in instruction and helping students. All students, including those who have been in virtual learning, will be required to take ILEARN in person at school.
âWe want accountability but we want those days for instruction,â he said.
Schools were âheld harmlessâ from the effects of 2020âs test scores because of the pandemicâs disruption of familiesâ lives and student learning. So far the legislature hasnât taken the same action this year.