TUESDAY July 30, 2013
Meet Me At The Gate Page A5 Artists share inspiration behind exhibit
Baseball Page B1 Sox’s Peavy braces for possible trade
Weather Cloudy today, with a slight chance of rain. High 79. Low 62. Rain possible Wednesday. High 81. Page A6
GOOD MORNING Lost kayakers rescued on river WINAMAC — An Indiana Conservation Officer rescued four kayakers who had become lost and stranded Saturday night on the Tippecanoe River, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources said. The kayakers made a 911 call requesting assistance at 10 p.m., the IDNR said. They were uninjured, but unable to continue down the river due to the darkness. Indiana Conservation Officer Jeff Richwine recognized the described landmark they were near, launched his boat and discovered the kayakers approximately one-half mile upstream from the state park canoe camp.
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ISTEP glitches downplayed Report: Problems had no measurable affects on scores INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Glitches that disrupted Indiana’s online standardized testing this spring had no measurable negative impact on scores, even though at least one-sixth of students taking the exam were kicked offline at some point, according to an independent review released Monday. Contractor CTB/McGraw
ISTEP Interruptions Percentage of students interrupted during ISTEP testing this spring: 25-35 % — East Noble 15-25 % — DeKalb Central, Westview 5-15 % — Central Noble, DeKalb Eastern, Garrett-Keyser-Butler, MSD Steuben County, Prairie Heights, West Noble 0-5 % — Fremont, Hamilton, Lakeland, Smith-Green SOURCE: INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Hill reported that nearly 80,000 students in third through eighth
Local schools write off results FROM STAFF REPORTS
Two DeKalb County school districts will give marginal weight, if any, to spring 2013 ISTEP score or school letter grade information that might negatively impact teacher evaluations. “We have to include the school grade as part of the evaluation system,” said DeKalb Eastern school district superintendent Jeff Stephens. “(The law) does not state how much
Indy bus crash survivors improve INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The most seriously injured survivor of the Indianapolis bus crash that killed three people has been moved out of an intensive care unit and two others have been released from the hospital. An Indiana University Health spokeswoman says the teenager who was in the Methodist Hospital ICU in critical condition is now listed in good condition. That teen is among three who remain hospitalized at Methodist and one at Riley Hospital for Children from Saturday’s crash.
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Index
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Classifieds.................................B7-B8 Life..................................................... A5 Obituaries......................................... A4 Opinion .............................................B4 Sports.........................................B1-B3 Weather............................................ A6 TV/Comics .......................................B6 Vol. 101 No. 208
SEE SCHOOLS, PAGE A6
SEE TESTING, PAGE A6
Donor’s school grade changed
Pianos on the Square
Doctor sentenced for sex offenses NILES, Mich. — A Niles, Mich.-area doctor who pleaded guilty to drugging a woman and committing criminal sexual conduct was sentenced to jail, probation and registering as a sex offender, according to news reports. The South Bend Tribune reports Paul R. Miluk, 55, pleaded guilty to attempted delivery of a controlled substance to commit criminal sexual conduct, fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct and false report of a felony and was sentenced to five years’ probation and 180 days in jail. He must also pay $3,294, which includes $480 in restitution. Miluk’s license to practice medicine was suspended earlier this month by the Michigan Licensing and Regulatory Affairs agency.
weight you have to give. We’ve given them marginal weight … even before this.” At the recommendation of superintendent Sherry Grate, earlier this month the DeKalb Central school board agreed the district will not use any spring 2013 ISTEP data or school letter grade information that might negatively affect a certified employee’s evaluation, due to computer problems with testing.
Emails show charter’s score led to overhaul
OCTAVIA LEHMAN
Keyboards arrive for summer exhibit Registered piano technician Brian Doepke tunes a baby grand piano on the west side of the DeKalb County Courthouse Monday. The piano is part of Pianos on the Square, a free, interactive, outdoor event featuring decorated pianos all over the county. The baby grand piano has been painted white and will be decorated by the nonprofit Auburn revitalization group ADAC, with Auburn’s revitaliza-
tion as the theme. Decorating of some of the pianos is complete, while work will progress on others as the exhibit continues through Sept. 15. Pianos on the Square will open with a free garden party Friday from 4-7 p.m. on the courthouse lawn. Free outdoor concerts and recitals and other piano-related programs will take place throughout the six-week event.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Former Indiana and current Florida schools chief Tony Bennett built his national star by promising to hold “failing” schools accountable. But when it appeared an Indianapolis charter school run by a prominent Republican donor might receive a poor grade, Bennett’s education team frantically overhauled his signature “A-F” school grading system to improve the school’s marks. Emails obtained by The Associated Press show Bennett and his staff scrambled last fall to ensure influential donor Christel DeHaan’s school received an “A,” despite poor test scores in algebra that initially earned it a “C.” “They need to understand that SEE GRADE, PAGE A6
Commissioners wonder who owns animal shelter BY AARON ORGAN aorgan@kpcmedia.com
AUBURN — DeKalb County commissioners are working to learn if the county is responsible for repairs to the DeKalb County Animal Shelter, which sustained a cracked ceiling last week. Last week the ceiling above the dog kennel burst open, the result of a slow leak in the roof of the building at 5221 U.S. 6, west of Butler. The compromised ceiling was cut away by a contractor, who told shelter officials a strong rain could have caved in the ceiling atop the 30 dogs that call the kennel home. Now, as the shelter works to find a roofer to make repairs, commissioners are working to determine who owns the property. The building previously was a state-owned highway rest stop. With it now used as an animal shelter, it’s not clear who owns the land or if a contract exists between the county and the shelter. The commissioners said the shelter pays no rent. If the county owns the building, it could be on the hook for the repairs. “I don’t want to be surprised with a bill once they decide
what they’re going to do,” said Commissioner Randy Deetz. “We’ve got to find out the facts. Do we own the building? We ought to be able to find that out,” said Commissioner Don Grogg. In other business Monday, the commissioners held a brief discussion about choosing someone to fill a vacant seat on the county’s Airport Authority board. The commissioners are working to seat a replacement for past president Jim Mason, who died last month. They have asked the authority’s board to submit suggestions to them. Commissioners are weighing the qualifications of at least nine residents, they said. The replacement must be a Democrat, because the authority board already has three Republicans. Deetz said he will be looking for a fiscal conservative. He said the board has been on a “spending spree” of late with projects such as a new vehicle purchase and rehabilitation of the airport terminal. He added that the new member should not be an “airport activist.” Grogg said he’ll be looking for a “pro-county” representative.
AP
Richard Mills, left, riding Willy, a Tennessee walking horse, and Ryan Rollins, riding Blondie, a Palomino, head west along the flood wall near the Falls of the Ohio in Clarksville on Saturday morning.
Hoosier riding horses’ rescue BY GARY POPP News and Tribune
CLARKSVILLE (AP) — Richard Mills is traveling nearly 2,500 miles across the country on horseback in an effort to raise awareness of senseless abuse of horses. The 58-year-old is the co-owner of Buck Creek Valley Animal Rescue in Elizabeth. The nonprofit organization gives a home to horses
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and other animals that have been beaten, starved or neglected. Mills, and his partner, Willy, a 6-year-old rescued Tennessee Walker, began their journey in Clarksville Saturday morning. The pair will travel alone along the same trail taken by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark more than 200 years ago. He told the News and Tribune SEE RESCUE, PAGE A6
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