N-B Links: County schools have high graduation rates

Once again, the county’s public high schools’ graduation rates exceeded the state average, with more than 90 percent of students finishing their high school careers with diplomas.

But principals say the formula to calculate the rate doesn’t completely reflect reality.

Learn more in the Thursday, April 17, News-Banner, and to study other schools' graduation rates — and local graduation rates among different demographics — click here.

Northern Wells board OKs contract for resource officer

Northern Wells school board members Tuesday unanimously approved a contract paying $51,728.50 for a school resource officer.

The SRO will come from the Wells County Sheriff's Department and be responsible to the sheriff, but the contract does specify 21 duties and responsibilities for the position:

A. To be an extension of the school administration and principal’s office for assignments consistent with this Agreement.
B. To be a visible, active law enforcement figure on campus dealing with law enforcement matters and school code violations originating on school grounds.
C. To act as the designee of the campus administrator in maintaining the physical plant of the assigned campus to provide a safe environment as to law enforcement matters and school code violations. This includes building(s), grounds, parking lot(s), lockers and other public school property.
D. To provide a classroom resource for law education using materials approved by school officials.
E. To be a resource for students to enable them to be associated with a law enforcement figure and role model in the students’ environment.
F. To be a resource for teachers, parents, and students for conferences on an individual basis dealing with individual problems or questions, particularly in the area of substance control.
G. To make appearances before site councils, parent groups, and other groups associated with the campus and as a speaker on a variety of requested topics, particularly drug and alcohol abuse.
H. To document activities of the SRO on and off campus and compile monthly reports to be provided to the WCSD and to the principal of the assigned school.
I. The SRO will be involved in school discipline, when it pertains to preventing a disruption that would, if ignored, place students, faculty and staff at risk of harm, and then the SRO will resolve the problem to preserve the school climate.
J. In all cases of school discipline, the school administration will determine any consequences or punishment of negative student behavior.
K. The SRO will follow and conform to the NWCS policies and procedures that do not conflict with the established policies and procedures of the WCSD.
L. The SRO shall take law enforcement actions as necessary and advisable under the circumstances involved in any situation occurring at the schools served by the SRO, and, as soon as practical, if not prohibited by confidentiality provisions of state law, the SRO shall notify the principal of the school to which the SRO is assigned of any law enforcement activity undertaken or ongoing on the schools’ campuses.
M. At the principal’s request, the SRO shall take appropriate law enforcement action against intruders, trespassers, and unwanted unauthorized individuals who may appear at school related functions.
N. The SRO will share information with the administrator about persons and conditions that pertain to campus safety concerns.
O. The SRO will be familiar with helpful community agencies, such as mental health clinics, drug treatment centers, etc., that offer assistance to dependency and delinquencyprone youths and their families. Referrals will be made when necessary.
P. The SRO, if requested by the principal, assistant principal, or the guidance counselor of their respective school, shall attend parent/faculty meetings and student staffing, in order to solicit support and understanding of the SRO Program from the faculty and parents and to promote awareness of the law enforcement function.
Q. The SRO and the principal will develop plans and strategies to prevent and/or minimize dangerous situations which might result in student unrest.
R. The SRO will coordinate all of his/her activities with the principal and staff members concerned and will seek permission, guidance, and advice prior to enacting any programs within the school.
S. The SRO may be asked to provide community wide crime prevention presentations that include, but are not limited to:
Drugs and the law - Adult and juvenile;
Alcohol and the law - Adult and juvenile;
Sexual assault prevention;
Safety programs - Adult and juvenile;
Assistance in other crime prevention programs as assigned.
T. The SROs will wear approved department uniform, formal business attire or business casual with appropriate logos and name badges depending on the time of school year, the type of school activity or program, and the requests of the school and/or the WCSD. The Wells County Sheriff and the principal shall jointly set expectations and resolve any disputes in this area.
U. The SROs will wear their department authorized duty weapons in accordance with WCSD department policy.

Learn more in the Wednesday, April 16, News-Banner.

N-B Video: When pigs and pupils collide

Students from the county’s four public schools and Bethlehem Lutheran visited seven stations at the 4-H Park during Purdue Extension office's annual Ag Day to learn about the agricultural industry and outdoor safety, including water safety and all-terrain vehicle safety. 

Students also learned about cows and dairy products, tractors and soil conservation.

And at one station, students could meet a piglet, but the critter didn't seem to enjoy it quite as much as the students.

N-B Links: Board delays BHES expansion

By a 4-1 vote Monday, Bluffton-Harrison school board members decided to wait until at least May 5 before further discussing an elementary school expansion.

But they also scheduled a special meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, April 28, to vote to replace the school’s heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system and the roof over the first-grade wing.

Before both meetings, though, B-H administrators want the public to review both the possible costs and scope of the projects, and they've created specific websites and videos with more information. Click here, for instance, to see the tax impact of the HVAC work, and click here to watch videos advocating for an expanded elementary school.

Learn more in the Tuesday, April 15, News-Banner.

Electrical short ignites fire on 250N

An electrical short started a small fire in a bedroom at 2724E-250N Saturday evening after a busy 24 hours for the Bluffton Fire Department.

Resident Andrea Claghorn reported the flames and smoke at 10:04 p.m. She said her television lost power at first, and then her dog started barking.

When she let her dog outside, it ran to the southeast corner of the house; Claghorn followed the animal and saw the fire, that had burned through the wood from the interior and had broken through the outside wall.

Learn more about the fire — and a busy 24 hours for the fire department — in the Monday, April 14, News-Banner, and learn more about electrical fire prevention in the video below and by clicking here.

Ossian Elementary celebrates spring

Ossian Elementary students held their annual spring program Thursday with dancing, oversized flowers, and songs about baseball, raindrops and even weeds during the nearly hour-long program, held both at 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. (Photos by Chet Baumgartner)

ISP warns of dangers of meth trash as weather warms

The Indiana State Police Meth Suppression Section has issued the following release to caution Hoosiers about the dangers of meth trash as the weather warms:

With favorable spring weather coming our way, people are taking advantage by walking, jogging and bike riding on our local roadways. The potential exists that some people may come across trash left behind by those who have manufactured methamphetamine (meth). The Indiana State Police Meth Suppression Section wants to remind citizens that this trash may contain chemicals that are toxic, flammable, corrosive, and acidic. The combination of these chemicals could cause an explosion, fire or burns if they come into direct contact with the skin.

The Indiana State Police Meth Suppression Section, have identified some points for the public to keep in mind.

• Meth cooks are using a variety of containers to manufacture their product. A popular container is the one and a half gallon gas can. These cans appear to be new and have been found along the roadside by unknowing people who believe that they have found a new gas can and end up with a working meth lab.

• Other Items to be aware of include battery casings, Ziploc style bags, empty blister packs, and containers (pop-bottles, jars, etc.) that contain a granular material. They may or may not have a tube extending out of the top depending on whether it is a hydrochloric gas generator (HCL) or a one pot reaction. Both of these are extremely hazardous.

• Be aware of any type of cylinder found in an odd place (middle of a field, ditch line, wooded area) that has a modified valve. The valve will typically be modified in some way and will have a bright blue color to it. These cylinders are used to store or transport anhydrous ammonia, which is an extremely dangerous gas when direct contact or inhalation has occurred.

If someone comes across this type of trash, they should not handle it. Instead, contact the local Indiana State Police Post, information for which can be found here.

Any questions or concerns about meth can be directed to the Meth Suppression Section at (877) 855-METH or online at www.meth.in.gov.