SATURDAY, SEP TEMBER 19, 2020 • KOKOMO TR I BUNE PROGRESS EDI T ION
13
FROM STAFF REPORTS
W
estern School Corpora-
tion [WSC] has seen its
fair share of goals
realized. While some growth
and changes had been meticu-
lously planned from the get-go,
change and adaptation was also
brought on by unimaginable
outside forces.
CHANGING WITH
THE TIMES
A major project undertaken
by WSC this year was multiple
renovations and upgrades at all
buildings totaling $4,319,907.
The primary and intermedi-
ate schools will each be adding
two classrooms for a total of four
new classrooms and are receiv-
ing new LED lights with motion
sensors to replace the old setup.
Western Superintendent Randy
McCracken said the new lights
would save thousands in energy
costs as time goes by over the
years.
The new classrooms are a
welcome addition, McCracken
said, noting some teachers have
had to share classrooms or teach
in spaces which weren’t originally
intended to be used in that way.
The new classes will also help
rearrange the layout of classes to
bring students together.
“Right now, we have kinder-
garten and first-grade teachers
clear down in our old wing
instead of being with the rest
of their group,” he said. “They
can do a better job teaming ...
working together and talking.”
A major undertaking in
process is the reworking of
many bathrooms throughout all
the WSC schools.
During a tour of the buildings,
McCracken said rust had been
an issue in clogging some of the
sinks. New sinks, walls, stalls
and urinals will be installed
for full bathroom makeovers in
some areas, some of which are
receiving their first major work.
Others bathrooms are only in
need of cosmetic upgrades.
In a surprising moment,
workers found an old bike seat in
one of the bathroom walls while
tearing out a wall.
With cafeterias being a major
part of every student’s day,
WSC is also heavily investing
in upgrading them in the high
school and middle school.
Previously having three sets
of doors to separate where food
is received, lunch in the high
school will now be served in a
more open concept cafeteria with
doors like garage doors to close
off the area when not in use.
“We’ll actually get kids
through the serving line a lot
quicker than what we’ve done
in the past, and give them more
options and food choices,”
McCracken said, adding that all
new chairs and tables would be
part of the cafeteria.
One of the other additions for
the high school will be an area
for students to grab snacks, such
as muffins and coffee in the high
school commons. The area will
provide something for students
to eat in the morning and also to
those who stay after for athletics
or to study.
The middle school cafeteria is
another area undergoing a major
change. The front wall is being
removed to create more space by
extending out into the hallway
in front of it, creating somewhat
of a commons area.
The nurse’s area will be
expanded in the middle school
and some of the school’s roof
will be replaced.
MARCHING TO
THEIR OWN DRUM
The Western Marching
Panthers were also successful,
being crowned the champion
of their class during the 2019
ISSMA state band championship
in November. This was Western’s
17th state championship. The
band performed a piece entitled
“I am” designed to express how
view themselves and their self-
worth.
“At first it we weren’t aware
of what it meant but through-
out the season everyone really
understood it was about them-
selves and that we are enough. I
think that’s what really pushed
us to where we ended up,” drum
major Faith Bradley said later
that night after the team won. “I
would say that we had a goal, we
went out there, we gave it our all
… and have the best run we’ve
had so far.
“My whole body was shaking.
I was nervous, I was excited, it
was indescribable.”
PANDEMIC
ADJUSTMENTS
For the 2020-21 school year,
WSC was able to implement a
remote learning program to fit
the needs of a variety of students
due to the concerns raised by
COVID-19.
In the Western Remote
Distance Learning (WRDL)
program students in grades K-12
have options for learning from
home. The live remote option
allows students in grades K-8 to
log into their learning platforms
during the normal school hours
and interact with their peers
and teacher through live Zoom
sessions.
Student in grade six through
12 who need a more flexible
schedule due to parent work
schedules, Wi-Fi access or
other circumstances can access
learning materials through pre-
recorded lessons or through
a program called Edmentum.
These flexible options have
allowed families to continue
to be a part of the Western
community while still receiv-
ing rigorous instruction and
support.
“Our teachers and staff are
continuing to do an amazing
job in the variety of educational
settings that we have this year,
and as we continue to face
the challenges of COVID-19,”
McCracken said in an email.
The corporation also installed
upgraded wireless access points
throughout the district utiliz-
ing federal E-Rate dollars. The
new access points are cloud
based and are the latest WiFi6
technology which allows for
more devices and faster speeds.
All 181 access points across the
district were upgraded which
will protect the 1:1 environment
for years to come.
“We also purchased Zoom, the
video conferencing application
for all K-12 teachers to be able to
host meetings, record lessons and
allow interaction with students
for remote learning,” McCracken
said. “This has also allowed our
administrators and teachers to
participate in meetings where
otherwise they would not be
able to with the social distancing
measures in place.”
WESTERN CHANGING WITH THE TIMES
FROM CAFETERIAS TO LIGHTING TO VIRTUAL LEARNING, SCHOOLS SEE UPGRADES
In this file photo from May 2020,
Western School Corporation Superintendent Randy McCracken
talks about the construction projects going on at his schools. The high school east entry will get a
new breakfast bar.
(Kokomo Tribune file photo)
EDUCATION
SPOTLIGHT
T
he Kokomo Board of
School Trustees continues
approving investments that
are making a difference in the
lives of Kokomo School Corpo-
ration students, staff and
patrons.
Recently this has come in the
form of pivoting the education
model, creating a safe play envi-
ronment and green energy.
ADAPTING AMID
A PANDEMIC
A major investment for the
2020-2021 school year came
this summer as Kokomo Schools
prepared for a new virtual option
for families. Corporation offi-
cials equipped approximately 70
classrooms [K-12] with advanced
camera systems funded through
federal grant dollars; as well as
providing professional devel-
opment for the new virtual
teachers.
This technology includes
cameras that follow virtual
teachers as the teachers move
around their classrooms. When
these virtual teachers present
new material, the cameras also
have the ability to zoom in and
focus on a whiteboard, digital
presentation board, or any desig-
nated classroom location, such as
a demonstration lab.
Utilizing this advanced tech-
nology, teachers also are able
to see their virtual students on
a 55-inch mounted TV screen
in the back of the classroom.
Microphones allow these virtual
students who have logged in
to join the live-streamed class
lessons to ask questions and
provide answers to the teacher,
who is physically in the class-
room.
This synchronous online
learning environment closely
replicates an in-person class-
room experience. Virtual
students, like their in-person
classmates, have the ability to
receive immediate feedback from
their teachers.
In a release, Kokomo High
School physics teacher Tom
Ferguson noted: “This advanced
camera system allows for better
classroom integration than
traditional video conferencing
technology. Virtual students have
the ability to interact with the
entire class at once through the
TV display.”
1830S LOG CABIN
RECONSTRUCTION
Another investment by
Kokomo Schools is the recon-
struction of an 1830s log cabin
that will allow the corporation
to double the capacity of the
Outdoor Education Program at
Boulevard STEM Elementary
School. Michael Bailey of the
Bailey Construction Company is
doing the historical restoration.
Since its inception in 2016, the
goal of the outdoor program has
been to promote learning in an
outdoor space where children
are not limited in their inquiry
and discovery by walls and a
ceiling.
These children use found
objects in the natural environ-
ment to replace traditional
things such as counting with
rocks and sticks; climbing trees
rather than climbing a slide;
observing a fish in the outdoor
lab pond rather than learning
about a fish in a book.
“We hear discussion nation-
ally about children who are
nature deficit because they
spend more time inside than
outside. But, that is not the case
at Kokomo Schools for these
outdoor students,” Assistant
Superintendent Dr. Dorothea
Irwin said.
“These 4- to 7-year-old
students go outside in the wind,
rain, and snow as they learn
early in life that ‘there is no bad
weather … just bad clothing.’
“Outdoor program par-
ticipants have shown problem
solving skills, as well as being
able to work in groups to
complete a job. These children
are engaged, animated and
excited about learning and
sharing on a daily basis.”
A PLACE TO PLAY
Pettit Park and Sycamore
elementary school students
are enjoying new playgrounds,
as well as walking tracks and
soccer fields at each facility. Also
at Sycamore, an arts classroom
is under construction.
Sycamore Principal LaShaya
Williams noted the students love
the options provided by the new
playground equipment, while
the physical education teacher is
using the new track and soccer
field on a daily basis.
“Play and the arts are impor-
tant components of our IB
framework that centers around
voice, choice and owner-
ship,” she said. “Also, the arts
room will enhance our trans-
disciplinary units of study at
Sycamore.”
At Pettit Park, the outdoor
recreational area also includes
a basketball court with several
baskets. Corporation offi-
cials are hoping to make these
outdoor facilities available to the
community after the school day
ends during daylight hours.
Pettit Park Principal Dr.
Lyndsi Smith noted that her
students are excited about the
outdoor recreation area.
“Physical activity is an impor-
tant element in brain, social, and
physical development. Our new
playground area is equipped
with a large variety of ways for
the students to practice physical
exercise,” she said.
“I also am happy that we
plan to make the outdoor area
accessible to the community
during after-school daylight
hours when we have a custodian
available. I know firsthand the
importance of a community
space to play, since as a child,
I lived across the street from
Pettit Park School. My sisters
and I made lifelong friends on
these grounds. I understand
the importance of our children
having a safe place to play.”
BRIGHT FUTURE
Kokomo School Corporation
is working with Johnson Melloh
Solutions to install solar panels
at Maple Crest STEM Middle
School and Wallace Elementary
School of Integrated Arts.
The project will produce an
annual energy cost savings of
more than $125,000 and more
than $4 million in gross savings
over 20 years. The project
offers curricular components
for Wallace and Maple Crest
as well, including the ability of
students and teachers at these
schools to monitor the produc-
tion of energy from the solar
panels as well as the associated
savings.
KOKOMO SCHOOLS INTRODUCE NEW PLAY AREAS, GO GREEN
Boulevard Elementary preschool kids
participate in an outdoor
class that takes them to a cabin situated behind Kokomo High
School. Here, Max King-Brown, Mariah Shepard and Skylar
Wheeler make animal prints with mud in the log cabin.
Kindergartners learn to play the violin
virtually and in-person during Sean Carey’s violin class at
Wallace Elementary School of Integrated Arts on September 4.
(Kokomo Tribune file photos)
