School officials meet, discuss Knoy operations

Representatives from 17 western Indiana school systems met at Knoy Learning Center in Cloverdale High School Friday. Representatives included: Dr. Carolyn B. Milner, Sonny Stoltz, Dr. Kirk Freeman, Nicki Manion, Michael Nees and Toni Tomlinson of Knoy; special guests Chelsie Mann of 21st Century Community Learning Centers and Becky Reich of Apangea Learning; Jason Chew of North Putnam; Mary Ragan of Eastern Green; Jeff Eslinger of Rockville; Christi McBride of Spencer-Owen Community School Corporation; David Dean of Bloomfield; Jeff Bell of Clay City; Randy Corn and Russ Hessler of Greencastle; Kieth Pucket, Dan Bain and Becky Brothers of South Putnam; Rolland Abraham of Shakamak; Lee Ann Engelhardt of White River Valley; Yolanda Goodpaster of Monroiva; Beth Wernz and Max Hoke of Eminence; and Time Rayle of Northview. Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGAN

CLOVERDALE -- Principals and designees from 17 high schools encompassing six counties in western Indiana met Friday at Knoy Resource Center at Cloverdale High School to solidify procedures and operations for Western Indiana Knoy Learning Centers.

The initiative is one of 52 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grants awarded through the Indiana Department of Education in 2010.

The morning meeting included presentations from Cloverdale Superintendent Dr. Carolyn B. Milner, Cloverdale High School Principal and Western Indiana Knoy Assistant Director Sonny Stoltz, Western Indiana Knoy Program Director Dr. Kirk Freeman, Western Indiana Knoy Curriculum Coordinator Nicki Manion, Implementation Specialist-Indiana Apangea Learning Becky Reich and Chelsea Mann, 21st CCLC, Office of Integrated Services, Indiana Department of Education.

Other Putnam County representatives at the meeting including North Putnam Assistant Principal Jason Chew, Greencastle Principal Randy Corn, Greencastle Assistant Principal Russ Hessler, South Putnam Principal Kieth Puckett, South Putnam Assistant Principal Dan Bain and South Putnam Guidance Counselor Becky Brothers.

The innovative program is designed to address the "drop-out cycle" in the first unified attempt to truly meet the needs of non-traditional students. Western Indiana Knoy Learning Centers will utilize technology, expertise and experience of participating schools to assist students who struggle to obtain their high school diploma.

The program holds the promise of increasing graduation rates for participating schools with the long-term goal of a more skilled and educated workforce for the state of Indiana.

For more information regarding the program, including specific contact information for participating schools, call the Knoy Resource Center at 795-2495, ext. 5563.