Valpo school board names new band director

VALPARAISO | Valparaiso High School will have a new director of bands this fall for only the third time since 1958.

Legislature meets into the night to complete its work

INDIANAPOLIS | Following four months of proposing, reviewing, bargaining, deal-making and voting, state lawmakers settled on final versions of legislation Friday for most of the remaining issues of the 2013 session of the Indiana General Assembly.

Valparaiso School Board chided again for improper meeting notice

VALPARAISO | For the second time in about eight months, the Valparaiso School Board received a mild rebuke from the state's public access counselor for violating the open meetings law.

Middle school student arrested after bringing knife to school

VALPARAISO | A student at Thomas Jefferson Middle School was arrested Friday after school officials learned he had brought a knife to school.

House panel OKs plan to strip funds from Porter Co. auditor

INDIANAPOLIS | Porter County Auditor Bob Wichlinski would lose access to nearly all the money generated by his crackdown on homestead tax credit abusers under legislation approved by a House committee Thursday.

Valparaiso Schools reaffirms Berta as leader

VALPARAISO | Valparaiso School Board President Mark Maassel began Tuesday night’s meeting with a moment of silence to remember the lives lost in Newtown, Conn.

Local districts review security measures

School districts across Northwest Indiana are reassessing their security plans in the wake of the massacre of 26 children and adults Friday at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

Valpo to sponsor a new South Shore poster

VALPARAISO | A new South Shore commuter rail poster featuring Valparaiso's new Central Park Plaza will be created as a marketing, promotional and, city officials hope, moneymaking tool in 2013.

Holocaust survivor speaks to students about tragedy, forgiveness

VALPARAISO | Eva Mozes Kor sat on a stage in front of hundreds of area eighth-graders who gathered at Valparaiso High School on Friday morning, telling them how she summoned the will to live through the Holocaust.

Wine tasting event to help Valpo Schools Foundation

VALPARAISO | A charity wine tasting event this month will benefit the Valpo Schools Foundation.

Valpo Schools see no need, yet, to seek tax increase

VALPARAISO | Valparaiso Community School Corp. Superintendent Mike Berta said, while the district is set to receive increased funding next year for full-day kindergarten, he remains concerned about a portion of the district's budget funded by the state.

Valpo schools urged to foster public dialogue

VALPARAISO | In its first meeting of the new school year, Valparaiso School Board members were asked to reshape their public participation policy to rebuild trust with the community.

New leaders of Valpo schools dealing fiscal challenges

VALPARAISO | It's been a tough couple of years for the Valparaiso Community School Corp. The school's general fund took a hit as a result of state funding formula inequities and cuts at the state level.

Berta, Doane to guide Valparaiso schools through rebuilding

VALPARAISO | After one month and six days of retirement, former Portage schools chief Mike Berta will be back on the job Tuesday as interim superintendent of the Valparaiso Community Schools.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Sign petition to support elected Valpo School Board

Of the 293 school corporations in Indiana, 281 have elected school boards. Of the remaining 12 districts, Valparaiso Community Schools is the largest with an appointed board.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Valpo parents deserve an accountable school board

One myth consistently put forward when discussing the merits of an appointed versus elected school board is that an elected board would introduce politics into the educational process. It is not a question of politics, but more a question of accountability.

Valpo schools fencing plan greatly reduced

VALPARAISO | New fencing will soon be constructed outside a number of Valparaiso's school buildings, but nowhere near the amount originally proposed.

Public gets look at superintendent contract stipulations

VALPARAISO | The Valparaiso Community School Board became the first in the state to comply with a newly enacted law by publicly announcing the compensation parameters for a new interim superintendent.

School board to set terms for interim superintendent

VALPARAISO | School Board members will meet Thursday to discuss terms of employment for an interim superintendent.

Valpo School Board reinstates some cut positions

VALPARAISO | With revenue projections looking slightly better than expected, Valparaiso School Board members reinstated a number of positions lost in a recent round of budget cuts, including 19 instructional aides.