THE PAPER February 15, 2012
Proudly Serving Wabash County Since 1977
IPFW study: Wabash County boasts highest graduation rate in Northeast Indiana by Danielle Swan DSmith@thepaperofwabash.com
In a recent study conducted by the Community Research Institute of Indiana University - Purdue University Fort Wayne, Wabash County was listed as having a 92.9 percent high school graduation rate for the 2011 graduating class. This percentage ranked the highest of the 10 counties that make up the Northeast Indiana region (Adams, Allen, Dekalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells and Whitley). Each of the three main school districts in Wabash County has enacted their own procedures and tactics, which have successfully resulted in increased graduation rates. Wabash City S c h o o l s Superintendent Jason
Callahan reports that the faculty and staff of his district have adopted an attitude that they will do “whatever it takes” to get kids through high school and on to postsecondary education. He feels that this attitude has also contributed to the fact that, in 2011, Wabash City Schools had the highest number of Core 40 diplomas in its history. “In 2010, we finally had more Core 40’s than general diplomas and last year we had 70 percent of our diplomas at Core 40,” he said. “I attribute that to the fact that we’re trying to get our kids to look beyond just graduating high school. There’s not a lot out there, even with a high school diploma. They are going to have to go on and get a postsecondary diploma or a
degree or certification.” Callahan reported that they are requiring that every senior apply to college and make a college visit. Also, every Wabash City Schools student is taking Ivy Tech’s entrance exam, the Compass Test. “For a lot of kids, they have never been to a college campus and they don’t know what that looks like and I think once you get them there and get them thinking about it, they realize ‘Wow I can do this, this is a reality,” he said. “We’re trying to remove as many barriers as possible so that our kids will go on to postsecondary education.” Callahan plans to expand some of this college-readiness programming into the younger grades, even as young as elemen-
tary students, as well. “We are at a very exciting time in education because we can revolutionize the workforce, and we have to because the workforce used to be industry, especially in the Midwest, and for industry you didn’t have to have that postsecondary education. You could step out of high school or you didn’t even have to finish and you could get by and now you’re just not able to survive that way so I think we’re redefining Northeast Indiana and how exciting is it that in that revolutionizing, we are the leaders. Wabash is #1. I think that’s pretty exciting all the way around,” Callahan said. During the past three years, Metropolitan School District (MSD) of Wabash County has
devised two programs to increase graduation, Behavior Intervention (or Action) Teams and Positive Intervention and Behavior Support, which are designed to reach students on both ends of the spectrum. “Both of these programs focus on intervening with students,” Dr. Sandra Weaver, superintendent of MSD of Wabash County. “It may be assisting them if there is a grade issue or a problem behavior. However, it is also to encourage them if grades are good and/or if behavior is outstanding and leading to graduation. We are checking on areas where there are problems and intervening and also checking and letting students know when we think they are doing wonderful
work.” Weaver and her staff also work to encourage students to stay focused on graduation using various simple methods including hanging banners in the school entryways and holding assemblies to explain to students the benefits of postsecondary education, financial and otherwise. “I meet with the seniors every year at the opening week of school to ask them questions and talk about the ticket to the next step,” Weaver said. MSD is also working to expose students to the idea of college at an earlier age, even as young as Kindergarten, by having teachers display a sign sharing where they attended college. “This is so that they know we all went to
college and they can start having conversations with us about college,” she said. MSD, like the other Wabash County districts, continues to look at technology and explore the options that it provides for students. “We’re going to talk a lot about what we can do with technology to help our students compete globally. No longer can our students count on the family farm or a factory as their source for income right after graduation and we have to prepare them to go on to college and I think that’s difficult for a rural community to hear so we want to educate parents and the community about that as well,” Weaver said. As for Manchester Community Schools, (continued on page 6)
May Primary ballot takes shape as Feb. 10 filing deadline passes ISP and Wabash County Coroner
investigate death at Wabash County Jail
Curless
Ridenour
by Brent Swan Seven local candidates formally announced their intent to run in the upcoming May Primary Election prior to the Feb. 10 deadline. All candidates filed as Republicans and will attempt to fill three at-large seats within the Wabash County Council. Those choosing to file for Wabash County Council included: Roxy Roser, Bill Gerding, Valerie Wilcox Altman, Mike Ridenour, Daryl J. Evans, Randy Curless
Gerding
Evans
THE INDIANA STATE POLICE and Wabash County Coroner’s Office are investigating the death of an inmate, Shawn Anderson, 35, on Feb. 13. During a routine cell check, jail officers were alerted to the situation and found Anderson unresponsive in the holding cell. (photo by Brent Swan)
Roser
Ruppel
Wilcox
and Bill Ruppel. Curless and Evans are incumbents. Ted Little, who has served the Wabash County Council since 1985, opted not to run in the
2012 primary. One other county position will be contested: the race for Wabash County Coroner. The position is currently held by
Republican Carol Whitesel, who re-filed by the Feb. 10 deadline. Also seeking the position are former coroners Marilyn (continued on page 6)
Index Classifieds ....................29-31
Weekly Reports ............14-15
D&E..............................20-21
Community News ....7-8,10-11
On the morning of Feb. 13, an inmate in the Wabash County Jail was found hanging in the holding cell. The inmate, Shawn Anderson, 35, was arrested at approximately 3:20 a.m. on charges of domestic battery and battery, and was being held in the holding cell at the jail.
A jail officer was in the process of a routine cell check and was alerted by another inmate of the situation. Jail officers performed CPR until other emergency personnel from the Wabash Fire Department arrived. Anderson was taken to the Wabash County Hospital and was pro-
In Memoriam Rev. Roy Burkhart, 90 Richard Johnson, 80 Max Key, 84
Joyce Keyes, 84 Teddy McClure, 71 Susie McVoy, 47 John Penrod, 80
nounced dead at approximately 7:35 a.m. The Indiana State Police and the Wabash County Coroner’s Office are handling the investigation. An autopsy was scheduled for 2 p.m. on Feb. 14. Further information will be released as it becomes available.
Vol. 34, No. 48 Tammie Thomas, 43 Grover Whitaker, 76 Alvin Wiley, 78
PO Box 603, Wabash, IN 46992 (260) 563-8326