(Corrected from the printed edition.)

By KEVIN NEVERS

The 2009-10 academic year of the Duneland School Corporation (DSC) is likely to be, in essence, a carbon copy of that of the rest of the school corporations in Porter County.

At its meeting Monday night, the Duneland School Board voted 5-0 to approve the proposed calendar on first reading.

The four important dates:

•Aug. 19: the start date of students.

•Dec. 18, the last day of school before Christmas break; Jan. 4, the first day of school after Christmas break.

•The last full week in March: spring break.

The calendar has two days built into it for snow: April 2, Good Friday, and April 5. That is, Good Friday will only be a holiday if there is no snow cancellation to make up.

The calendar totals 180 student days and 185 staff days.

Retirement

In other business, the board said farewell to long-time English and social studies teacher Carolann Biel, who has taught in the DSC for 26 years and this year completed her 40th year in teaching. Biel was active in speech and debate as well and will be missed.

This year teachers with a combined 314 years of service to the DSC have retired and a total of 355 years in the profession.

New Hires

Meanwhile, the board voted 5-0 to approve the following new hires:

•Melissa Jewitt, English, CHS, half-time to full-time.

•Julie Broadway, social studies, CHS, half-time to full-time.

•Danielle Konopasek, guidance counselor, CHS. Graduate of Ball State University and Indiana University in South Bend.

•Daniel Paff, science, CHS. Graduate of Western Michigan University. He will also coach wrestling.

•Bryan Nallenweg, social studies, CHS. A 2004 CHS graduate, a graduate of Indiana University, and the son of Director of Athletics Gary Nallenweg. He will also coach.

•Sarah Gaff, National Honor Society Sponsor, CHS.

•Laura Duda, 1st grade, Yost. A CHS graduate and a graduate of Purdue University North Central.

•Brienne Justak, 1st grade, Liberty. A graduate of Butler University, she comes from the East Chicago district.

•Dalila Center, 6th grade, Westchester Intermediate. A graduate of Carthage College.

•Julie Christensen, 1st grade, Yost, removed from temporary contract to permanent.

•Jason Cook, English, CHS. A graduate of Valparaiso High School and Purdue University.

As part of the same vote, the board also approved the following transfers:

•Martha Hiestand, 1st grade at Jackson to 2nd grade at Liberty.

•Julie Christian, 1st grade at Brummitt to kindergarten at Yost.

•Glenn Swanson, CHS guidance, and Michele Dailey, guidance/administrative assistant to CHS guidance, will switch positions.

•Julie Roytan, Duneland Alternative Learning Center to CHS guidance.

Re-scheduled July Meeting

Members also voted 5-0 to change next month’s regularly scheduled meeting from 6 p.m. July 7 to 6 p.m. July 14.

Super’s Comments

Superintendent Dirk Baer took an opportunity at the end of the meeting to wish everyone well at the end of the 2007-08 school year, to remind motorists that kids will be out and about during the day after Friday and to be cautious, and to voice his hope that commencement at 7 p.m. Friday will be outdoors (although the forecast isn’t favorable).

Baer also noted that, unless the federal government takes some action soon to bring down the price of gasoline, school districts across the country will be forced “too find some creative solutions” to spiking fuel costs. He said that the DSC spends $28,000 every two weeks right now on fuel. Baer also remarked that the decision some years ago to go to an all-diesel fleet looked good when diesel was costing around $1 less than regular gasoline. “But now diesel is more expensive than normal gas.”

Posted 6/3/2008