Have computer, will travel

Staff from the Bluffton-Harrison school district want to distribute personal computing devices, such as laptops, to each student as part of a technology initiative known as "1:1 technology implementation." To learn how others have distributed computers — and learn what devices are available — staff will soon travel to different schools that have implemented similar initiatives and the Apple Chicago headquarters.

To learn more, see the Tuesday, Jan. 24, News-Banner.

Thursday, Jan. 26

• 7:30 a.m. — Leave from Bluffton-Harrison Middle School (southwest parking lot)
• 9 a.m.-11 a.m. - Garrett-Keyser-Butler Schools
• 11 a.m.-12:45 — Travel/Complimentary Lunch at Flanagan’s Restaurant & Pub
• 12:45-2 p.m. — Woodside Middle School
• 2-3 p.m. — Return to Bluffton-Harrison Middle School

Monday, Jan. 30

• 7:55 a.m. — Leave from Bluffton-Harrison Middle School (southwest parking lot)
• 8:30-11:30 — Adams Central Community Schools
• 11:30-12:30 — Complimentary Lunch at The Brickhouse in Monroe
• 12:30-1 p.m. — Return to the district
• 1-3 p.m. — Meeting with Joseph Lee (Apple Sales Representative)

Tuesday, March 13

• 5 p.m. — Arrive in Chicago, IL

Wednesday, March 14

• 8 a.m.-3 p.m. — Apple Headquarters in Chicago, IL
• 3 p.m. — Approximate departure time for return drive to Bluffton

New coaches coming to Bluffton-Harrison

Members of the Bluffton-Harrison school board approved the following coaching recommendations during the Monday, Jan. 23, board meeting.

• Rick Mettler — Varsity Softball
• Jack Johnson — Assistant Softball Coach
• Quinn Curry — Assistant Softball Coach - JV (1/2)
• Travis Andrews — Assistant Softball Coach - JV (1/2)
• Rick Murray — Volunteer Assistant Softball Coach
• Jim Cobb — Volunteer Assistant Softball Coach
• * Brent Kunkel — Boys Varsity Track Coach
• * Josh Clark — Boys Varsity Assistant Track Coach
• Danielle Kunkel — Girls Varsity Assistant Track Coach
• Stephanie White — Girls Varsity Track Coach
• Brooke Newsome — MS Girls Assistant Track Coach
• Tyson Brooks — MS Boys Track Coach
• Laurie Baumgartner — MS Girls Track Coach and MS Boys Track Assistant Coach
• Brooke Newsome — MS Girls Track Assistant Coach
• * Todd Morgan — Varsity Baseball Coach
• * Kevin Powell — Reserve Baseball Coach (1/2)
• * Stacy Herrold — Reserve Baseball Coach 1/2)
• Boyd Penrod — Varsity Assistant Baseball Coach
• Kirby Pace — Volunteer Assistant Baseball Coach
• Adam King — Volunteer Assistant Baseball Coach
• Shane Dunwiddie — Varsity Girls Tennis Coach
• Robert Vanderkolk — Volunteer Assistant Girls Tennis Coach
• Kara Fiechter — Volunteer Assistant Girls Tennis Coach
• * Steve Abbett — Varsity Golf Coach
• Tim Abbett — Volunteer Assistant Golf Coach

* Denotes Faculty Member

N-B Video: New land, new home, new family

Zanesville couple Jason and Jesse White, after about 18 months of waiting, returned from Haiti Sunday with their newly adopted 2-year-old son, Levi. Both family members and friends gathered at Fort Wayne International Airport for the homecoming. Learn more in the Monday, Jan. 23, News-Banner. (Video and photos by Chet Baumgartner)

To learn more about international adoption, go to the Department of State's website at http://adoption.state.gov/.

N-B Video: Bluffton Christian school moves

Chad Clark, executive pastor of Bluffton Wesleyan Chapel, discusses why school officials moved their school to the former Community Christian Church on Washington Street. Learn more in the Saturday, Jan. 21, News-Banner. (Video by Dave Schultz)

N-B Video: BHS teacher receives Golden Apple

Bluffton High School language arts teacher Amanda Burman received the Golden Apple award from WPTA's Jennifer Blomquist for her work as a teacher, coach and dance director. Watch the presentation — and more — here. (Video by Chet Baumgartner)

N-B Video: Car slides of Ind. 124 because of winter weather

Video by Dave Schultz

Norwell renovations could increase taxes for district

Northern Wells school taxpayers will pay about 10 to 26 cents more per $100 in assessed valuation in 2013 if school board members and taxpayers support one of three school renovation packages discussed at the Tuesday, Jan. 17, meeting.

These rates — and their subsequent totals —vary depending on how the school board pays back the bonds.

If board members pursue the “traditional” option, a financial adviser said, they would pay off the bonds in level increments between 2013 and 2032, like a typical mortgage payment, which would increase the tax impact by about 17 cents in 2013 but ultimately result in a smaller total bill: $22,120,200.

But if board members pursue the “tailored” option, they would gradually increase how the renovations’ impact the tax rate through 2029 as the district retired previous debts.

See the graphs below for more details about the tax impact, and learn more about when school board members — and taxpayers — will decide in the Wednesday, Jan. 18, News-Banner.

$14.9 million renovation package — traditional

$14.9 million renovation package — tailored

$17.9 renovation package — traditional

$17.9 million package — tailored

$22.3 million package — traditional

$22.3 million package — tailored

Financial adviser Jim Elizondo of City Securities explains fully how the three proposed renovation projects for Norwell high and middle schools could impact district tax payers.