Portage schools hammering out labor pacts

PORTAGE | Contracts with all Portage Township Schools employee groups should be wrapped up by the first of the year or shortly thereafter.

One Region unveils Qualify of Life Indicators Report

MERRILLVILLE | Several hundred stakeholders gathered Tuesday at the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza for the official unveiling of the 2012 Quality of Life Indicators Report issued by One Region.

Portage school officials laud test scores

PORTAGE | Portage students didn't do what was expected of them in the latest rounds of achievement testing.

Portage schools are beating the odds

PORTAGE | Portage Township Schools Superintendent Ric Frataccia turned the monthly Greater Portage Chamber of Commerce luncheon Thursday into a classroom.

Portage Township Schools board rehires workman's comp company

PORTAGE | Portage Township Schools board members approved a contract with JWF Specialty Co. of Indianapolis to continue to act as the district's third-party administrator for its workman's compensation insurance.

Summer here but spring green's fees stay in Valpo

VALPARAISO | It's been a good year for Valparaiso's golf courses, and the park board agreed to send a big "thank you" to golfers by voting to keep the spring rates through the summer.

Portage district creates dean of students positions for middle schools

PORTAGE | The Portage Township School Board on Monday approved the creation of dean of students positions at the district's two middle schools.

Portage schools consider starting teen court

PORTAGE | Officials at Portage Township Schools will consider initiating a teen court for high school students facing expulsion.

Portage schools approve full-day kindergarten

PORTAGE | Portage Township Schools will offer next year's kindergarten class as a full-day experience.

IT will not be outsourced

PORTAGE | The instructional technology department for Portage Township Schools will undergo revamping, but it will not be outsourced.

Portage schools purchase laptops

PORTAGE | The Portage Township School Board this week approved the purchase of 1,560 laptop computers to be used by students in the classroom.

Schools hope to stretch computer dollars

PORTAGE | Portage Township Schools officials are trying to stretch their dollars as far as possible to get computers into the hands of students.

Local educators disappointed with first round in school voucher suit

Some local public school educators are disappointed with what they called the "first round" of a school voucher legal bout.

Valpo amphitheater naming rights announced

VALPARAISO | To promote what Porter hospital CEO Jonathan Nalli called a "well-thy" lifestyle, the hospital has partnered with the city on the naming rights for the new Central Park Plaza amphitheater.

Local school leaders focus on evaluations

HOBART | As local school districts prepare for new evaluation instruments for teachers and principals, nearly 200 school leaders are participating in a workshop on effective supervision.