Inklings April 2011

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INKLINGS April 29, 2011

Volume 75 Issue 7 • Crown Point High School • 1500 S. Main Street Crown Point, IN 46307 • inklings@cps.k12.in.us

Mother’s Day See how different students throughout CPHS honor their mothers on this day.

pg. 9

Lacrosse The hard hitting, fast paced sport has made it’s way to Crown Point. Find out how it got started.

the

IN know

pg. 13

Prom Drama During pre-prom season, there is much more to be discussed than dinner plans and the color of a dress. Stories of betrayal and problems that have occurred, from dresses that won’t zip to money crises that could ruin the entire experience, can be heard throughout the school.

Tradition of excellence

pg. 10

Community members volunteer to support school referendum

CPHS administrator earns Indianagram award Crown Point assistant principal Mark Gianfermi was named one of the 2010 District Assistant Principals of the Year, by the Indianagram, a publication of the Indiana Association of School Principals.

Senior named Lilly Scholarship winner

Senior Kelly Rostin was one of few students in Indiana to have earned the Lilly Endowment Scholarship. The Lilly Endowment Scholarship is a four year full tuition scholarship awarded for undergraduate study. This scholarship is awarded to 142 students, out of the 208 students that applied, throughout the state of Indiana. Since the beginning of the program The Lilly Endowment Scholarship has been awarded to 140 students in Lake County.

AP testing schedule AP testing will occur throughout the month of May. Check with your AP teachers or the Guidance Office for the designated date, time and testing site for your AP test.

The spring primary on May 3 is an event that will not soon be forgotten by the Crown Point community. The decision made on the ballot will mean the difference between the Crown Point Community School Corporation continuing its success and approximately 35 teachers being let go in order to offset the deficit caused by the school funding formula. “This is a historic, foreverchanging decision for the community in Crown Point,” School Superintendent Teresa Eineman said. “The magnitude of the decision is something few will understand unless they make the wrong decision. Ten years down the road, they’ll see negative change and say, ‘That’s where it began.’” The referendum tax levy on the ballot proposes that for seven years following the referendum, the Crown Point Community School Corporation may impose a property tax that does not exceed

Cap and gown distribution Seniors who have not already picked up their cap and gown can do so on Monday May 2. A maximum of four graduation tickets can be purchased at that time for $10 each. If all fees are paid, seniors have a $10 credit for tickets.

Photos By Mary-Katherine Lemon and Donnella Casillas ABOVE: Senior Andy VandenBerg places the newest yard sign in neighborhoods throughout the Crown Point community, to those who requested them to show support for the referendum. This is the second of two types of yard signs that can be seen throughout Crown Point. LEFT: Assistant principal Deb Cuffia makes phone calls to Crown Point residents, explaining the details of the referendum and answering any questions they may have, before the vote on the referendum on May 3.

By Lauren Cain/Kelly Rostin editor-in-chief and managing editor

21 cents on each $100 of assessed home value. For the average $200,000 home, this would mean an increase of $16 per month in property taxes. “Our fiscal responsibility to the taxpayers has been sound. We will no longer be in a position to continue on that path without additional funding,” School Board president Scott Angel said. Crown Point schools have been suffering fiscally from the 2008 Property Tax Reform, as well as the school funding formula. As a growing school, Crown Point has been a victim, according to

Eineman. The Crown Point School Corporation is number 322 out of the 349 school corporations in the state when it comes to funding. “We prepared for the worst. We made $4.5 million in reductions. Forty-two staff members, administrators, and employees were not replaced,” Eineman said. “To cut anymore is to do grave harm to our community and our schools.” The week of April 11, Reduction in Forces (RIF) notices were sent out to over 40 teachers in the corporation, as well as all support staff. These are simply

preliminary notifications that must be sent out 30 to 40 days prior to the board vote. Depending on if the referendum passes, some of these teachers may be called back to continue working in the corporation. “There’s no way to soften that (handing out RIF letters). It’s the most cruel, illogical, and unfair forced process upon the C.P. schools,” Eineman said. “It causes me great anguish that we are forced to put anyone through that, let alone our great teachers.”

continued on pg. 3

Countering the Concerns “ I don’t want to declare my political party.”

“They may take more money from us next year.”

“ The school should just cut teacher salaries.”

“My property taxes will go up way too much.”

• If you do not want to vote for any government officials, you can simply ask for the school board ballot and not declare a party.

• In the tax levy, it is stated that the property tax cannot exceed 21 cents for every $100 of assessed home value for the next seven years.

• $4.5 million has already been made in cuts and Crown Point teachers have taken a salary freeze, despite being paid far below state average.

• The tax is taken on the assessed value of your property after deductions are applied. Visit schoolsworthsaving.com for a property tax calculator.


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