Lake County school construction built on red ink

CROWN POINT | Lake County's public school districts are carrying $1.8 billion in debt on their books.

Longtime Merrillville school superintendent to retire June 30

MERRILLVILLE | Veteran school Superintendent Tony Lux on Tuesday announced his retirement from Merrillville Community School Corp. effective June 30.

iPads a hit with Merrillville students, parents

Editor's note: This story is part of an occasional series looking at technology in Northwest Indiana classrooms.

Merrillville High School could get a wind turbine, solar panels

MERRILLVILLE | If the Merrillville Community School Corp. wins a grant from the Indiana Office of Energy Development, it will be the first school district in the region to construct a wind turbine at its high school, creating projects on renewable energy sources for students and job opportun…

Work Keys certificates show students have needed job skills

MERRILLVILLE | As part of a special Senior Career Day, seniors at Merrillville High School recently were awarded Work Force Readiness Certificates that document reading for information and math application skills needed for entry-level jobs in business and industry.

M'ville schools to offer full-day kindergarten at no cost

MERRILLVILLE | Starting in the fall, full-day kindergarten will be available in Merrillville Community School Corp. at no cost to students.

M'ville schools offering dental program starting in summer

MERRILLVILLE | The Merrillville Community School Corp. will participate in the Indiana University School of Dentistry's Seal Indiana Program.

Students go green

MERRILLVILLE | Green was the color of the day Tuesday as second-graders from four Merrillville elementary schools earned a field trip to the town's Pruzin Park to celebrate nature and learn about recycling and the environment.

Indiana offers little regulation for home schooling

Indiana is one of 10 states with minimal regulations for students who are home-schooled, according to the nationally recognized Homeschool Legal Defense Association.

Home schooling withdrawal ended Gary boy's oversight

GARY | Christian Choate is believed to have died more than two years ago from sustained blunt force trauma to his body, internal bleeding and a skull fracture at the age 13.

Register children for kindergarten at Merrillville schools

MERRILLVILLE | Merrillville Community School Corp. has scheduled registration dates for 2011-12 kindergarten classes that begin in August.

Region racial divide blurring -- slowly

Alicia Rios grew up in the Harbor, surrounded by Mexicans and native Texans who shared her Hispanic heritage.

C.P., M'ville leaders envision growth

MERRILLVILLE | Potential economic development and achievements in education in Crown Point and Merrillville were highlighted on Wednesday during a program for Crossroads Regional Chamber of Commerce members.

House GOP budget hits local school funding hard

INDIANAPOLIS | Many Northwest Indiana schools would receive less state funding over the next two years under a Republican budget plan expected to be approved by a House committee Friday.

Township donates funds to M'ville schools

MERRILLVILLE | The Ross Township Board on Tuesday decided to donate $30,000 to the Merrillville Community School Corp.

Beginners' guitar class starts Feb. 14 at Merrillville High

MERRILLVILLE | A guitar class for beginners is offered by Merrillville Adult and Community Education.

GUEST COMMENTARY: School reform legislation is snake oil, illusion

New legislation under consideration this year by the Indiana Legislature is nothing more than snake oil intended to create the illusion of school reform without any verifiable degree of probability that school reform actually will be achieved.

Region superintendents, lawmakers skeptical of governor's education plans

INDIANAPOLIS | Gov. Mitch Daniels' education reform proposals announced Tuesday in his State of the State address did not get a ringing endorsement from Northwest Indiana school superintendents and state lawmakers.

Planetarium in Merrillville offers six shows beginning Jan. 14

MERRILLVILLE | The Merrillville Community Planetarium will present "Exploring the Sky" at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 14, 21, 28, 29 and Feb. 4 and 5 in Pierce Middle School, 199 E. 70th Ave.

EDITORIAL: Put statistics to work in racial debate

There is no shortage of efforts to address the race relations issue that Northwest Indiana must come to grips with. The Quality of Life Council spotlighted several of those initiatives at its Dec. 3 meeting.