Friday, January 12, 2024
SHS Reports Strong Non-Waiver Graduation Rate
Shelbyville Central Schools board members pose for a photo after Wednesday’s meeting to commemorate School Board Appreciation Month. SCS board members are (L to R) David Finkel, Dr. James Rees, Mike Turner, Amanda Bunton, Dr. Katherine Garringer, Curt Johnson and Troy Merrick. Officers elected during the meeting were Merrick, president; Turner, vice president; and Bunton, secretary. | photo by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
A state change last year in graduation requirements meant a need for attention to detail. Shelbyville High School administrators were up for the task.
“Mrs. Dawson came in last year and, in early discussions with her, she really focused and was intent on making sure students were graduating and having all those boxes checked,” Kathleen Miltz, Shelbyville Central Schools assistant superintendent, said of the SHS principal.
The result was a 92% non-waiver graduation rate, beating out the likes of Westfield (91.9%), New Palestine (91%), Roncalli (88%), Mount Vernon (88%), Noblesville (87%), Pendleton Heights (85%) and Greenfield Central (82%).
Miltz, who called the performance “commendable,” noted it was a dramatic increase from 2022 and explained to the SCS board that the “non-waiver” number has been an increasingly important focal point for state legislative and education leaders. Waivers are available for students who don’t meet postsecondary readiness competency requirements, but a new law last year caps the percentage of waivers a school can use, starting with the 2024 graduation cohort.
In a statement, Indiana Secretary of Education Dr. Katie Jenner said, “As a state, we have worked very hard to reduce our waiver rate and keep our focus on ensuring students graduate with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in life and their career.”
Miltz explained that students must earn sufficient credits, learn and demonstrate employability skills and exhibit postsecondary-ready competencies. “Basically, three boxes have to be checked now for a diploma in Indiana,” she said.
SCS was second in the category in Shelby County, with Shelby Eastern Schools earning the highest non-waiver rates in the county. Miltz pointed out, however, that Morristown’s 44 and Waldron’s 34 graduates were much smaller than the SHS cohort of 250.
Another highlight in the recently released state data is Shelbyville’s 83.3% graduation rate among students with a Special Education designation, a number higher than many comparable schools, including schools such as Noblesville (63%).
“Anytime we’re above a couple of Hamilton County schools, there’s something to be said,” SCS superintendent Dr. Matt Vance said. “I’m very proud of our high school students and staff.”
NOTEBOOK:
Annoyed with the long-term forecast? The annual Shelby County luncheon in Florida is set for Wednesday, February 7, at Beef O’Brady’s in Punta Gorda. Questions and RSVP to ppallikan@yahoo.com.
Shelby County Democrat Party vice-chair Joanne Bowen is stepping down. The local party will hold a meeting of precinct committeemen in February to choose a successor.
Thefts were reported in the 300 block of W. Franklin St. and 300 block of Colescott St., Shelbyville.
NATIONAL NEWS: Just six companies in the United States control 80 percent of branded hotels, and two companies have been circling one another — Choice Hotels and Wyndham — and threatening to bring that down to five companies. Choice, which owns Radisson, Quality Inn and Econolodge brands, is attempting a hostile takeover after a merger proposal went nowhere. The hotel industry has experienced lots of consolidation — Wyndham already owns Ramada, La Quinta, Days Inn, Super 8, and Howard Johnson — and the worry is that even more consolidation will be bad not just for consumers who will have less competition if one successor company controls 20 percent of the hotel market, but also for the actual people who own and run the hotels. The business is a bit odd, with individual owners having hotels and then franchising out the brand from one of these massive corporations. Those franchisees are extremely skittish about this merger, where 16,500 hotels and 46 brands will be run by a single entity. (Boondogle / Numlock)
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This Day in Shelby County History
2014: The Shelby County Recycling District reported a significant decrease in compliance cases involving discarded tires. Director Lisa Carpenter cited the community clean-up dates as contributing to the decrease.
2004: Although Johnson and Decatur counties experienced job losses in 2003, Shelby County had held its ground. Shelby County Development Corporation officials had helped find a buyer for the KCL building, saving 30 jobs, and 30 jobs had been added when Shares Inc. bought Wellman Automotive Parts. Triumph Controls had also opened shop in Shelbyville.
1994: Thirty-one members of the Shelbyville Middle School Student Council traveled to Indianapolis to help preserve history. The council members presented a $1,000 check to Lt. Gov. Frank O’Bannon to buy a step in the Indiana Soldiers and Sailors Monument. SMS counselor Carol Wiley and teachers Roland Stine and Bill Owens were the student council sponsors. SMS received step No. 171 to commemorate the 171 years that Shelbyville had been a city.
1984: Kermitt Money was reappointed County Historian for Shelby County. The unpaid position was cosponsored by the Indiana Historical Bureau and the Indiana Historical Society.
Movies on at Cinema 3 were “Return of the Jedi,” “Scarface” and “Hot Dog: The Movie!”
1974: U.S. Air Force Capt. Samuel Roberts was presented the Distinguished Flying Cross at a ceremony in California. Roberts was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Roberts, 819 S. Harrison St., Shelbyville, and a 1963 SHS graduate.
Police closed the case of a knifing incident at Shelbyville High School, deeming it an accident. Jimmie Pruett had sustained a laceration in his leg in “horse play” with Greg Covalt, Chief Robert Williams said.
1964: A Johnson County man escaped possible serious injury when his car was struck by a freight train at the same dangerous Fairland crossing which had been the scene of many serious crashes in the past. The New York Central train crashed into the rear of the car at the unmarked southeast crossing in Fairland, but the driver of the car was not injured. The man later said he was unfamiliar with the town and it took him several seconds to understand why a woman in a nearby car, identified as Mrs. Stogsdill, was waving her arms at him.
1954: The city’s new fire truck made its first run, to a home owned by James Brown Sr., 46 Grissom Lane. Brown had been attempting to apply heat to his frozen pipes when the wall caught on fire.
Clifford Louden was named custodian of the School Administration Building and Carnegie Public Library, taking over for Otis Thompson, who was retiring. Louden previously served as superintendent of the Shelby County Home.
1944: Sixteen Shelby County men returned to Fort Benjamin Harrison to start Army training. The men, many of them pre-Pearl Harbor fathers, had been on furlough. The Rev. A.M. Hamilton, pastor of the Vine Street Methodist church, presented the group with fountain pens. Comprising the group were Lawrence McCarty, Gerald Shadley, Maurice McNeely, Mearl Kohler, Kenneth Boesiger, Melvin Gifford, Don Wendling, Melvin Wainscott, Kenneth Kettler, Charles Stader, Cecil Rogers, Robert Karmire, William Records, Francis Forsythe, William Porter and Earl Walton.
1934: A U.S. Army observation blimp passed over Shelbyville at 1 p.m., The Republican reported.
“Three Little Pigs,” Disney’s technicolor cartoon, was booked for a three-day showing at the Strand Theatre. “For the first time in its existence, the Strand is distributing special posters publicizing this added feature (technicolor)…” The Republican reported.
1924: George Blackburn and his son, Raymond, purchased the Broadway Restaurant, 18 East Broadway, from Sam Knisley. The planned to move the restaurant to the space formerly occupied by the Otto Clothing Co. on South Harrison St.
Bernard Eckstein, foreman at the D.L. Conrey furniture factory, lost three fingers in a work accident.
Alburtus, “the miracle man” performing at the Strand, drew large audiences while performing in downtown stores. “The downpour of rain seemed to help,” The Republican noted.
1914: London High School defeated Acton in basketball, 43-14. “The London boys showed Acton the fine points of the game,” The Republican said.
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