LSC makes 2024-25 start time recommendations tonight
Plus, West Lafayette ready to add seven alums and educators to its Wall of Pride. And a look at the senior speeches after Purdue closed out a Big Ten championship regular season
Thanks today for ongoing help from Based in Lafayette sponsor Long Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Lafayette, presenting .38 Special on June 27 at Loeb Stadium. Check below for ticket information. For tickets for that and other shows, go to longpac.org.
A few notes to start the week …
LSC START TIMES, MORE ON THE TABLE TONIGHT: The Lafayette School Corp. is expected to recommend a transportation plan that could alter school start times during the 2024-25 school year. It’s a subject that has been touchy – including a similar attempt a year ago that was scrapped because of objections from teachers and parents – with solutions floated in February that were greeted with no great enthusiasm.
The problem starts with LSC looking to solve a shortage of bus drivers that has persisted over the past few years, leading to daily late arrivals at some schools. An LSC task force of administrators, board members, teachers and parents met over the past year and presented two options to the school board during a February work session. Each on moves the district’s schools from a two-tier start and end of the school day to one with three sets of times.
Here were the options presented to the school board in February:
Option 1
Lafayette Jeff/Tecumseh Junior High: 7:30 a.m.-2:35 p.m.
Elementaries: 8:35 a.m.-3:10 p.m.
Sunnyside Intermediate: 9:05 a.m.-3:55 p.m.
Option 2
Lafayette Jeff/Tecumseh Junior High: 7:40 a.m.-2:45 p.m.
Elementaries: 8:30 a.m.-3:25 p.m.
Sunnyside Intermediate: 9:05 a.m.-4:05 p.m.
Current
Lafayette Jeff/Tecumseh Junior High: 8 a.m.-3:15 p.m.
Elementaries: 8:25 a.m.-2:45 p.m.
Sunnyside Intermediate: 8:05 a.m.-3:15 p.m.
LSC Superintendent Les Huddle said the task force was leaning to Option 1. A formal recommendation is on tonight’s agenda.
Here’s more about the start times and transportation questions for LSC, via a story from February in Based in Lafayette:
Among the other items up for consideration is a proposal to offer an Advanced Placement course in African American Studies at Lafayette Jefferson High School, similar to one rejected in Florida and Arkansas. Laurie Rinehart, LSC’s assistant superintendent for secondary curriculum and instruction, told the school board during a work session in February that Lafayette Jeff staff suggested the course and that 130 juniors and seniors said in a recent survey that they’d consider taking the yearlong course.
The course, developed during a two-year pilot by the College Board, takes in history, literature, geography, science and the arts to study migration – forced and voluntary – intersections of identity in race, ethnicity and class; expression through the arts; and how resistance and resilience were guiding themes in the African American experience.
The course has stirred up controversy in some states, including in Florida, where Gov. Ron DeSantis prohibited it over concerns that it promoted “indoctrination” of students in public schools.
If implemented, Lafayette Jeff would be among a handful of Indiana high schools offering the course – one Rinehart told school board members that faculty members hope will be a draw at a school where Black students make up 19% of the LSC district but only 5% of those taking AP courses.
For more, here’s a story from a recent Based in Lafayette edition:
If you go: The LSC school board meets at 7 p.m. Monday, March 11, at the Hiatt Administration Center, 2300 Cason St.
WEST LAFAYETTE WALL OF PRIDE NAMES NEXT CLASS: Seven new members of West Lafayette schools’ Wall of Pride will be introduced during events April 11-12, the West Lafayette Schools Education Foundation and the West Lafayette Alumni Association announced this week.
The West Side alumni and educators who will be inducted into the Wall of Pride include:
Orlena Nwokah Blanchard, class of 1990, founder and managing partner of Seven Elements Group, a marketing company.
Jonathan Hoggatt, class of 2001, senior director of hematology and immune therapeutics at Moderna Inc., a pharmaceutical and biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Ken Lohmann, class of 1977, marine biologist and Charles Postelle Distinguished Professor of Biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Mindy Fuchs Lokshin, class of 1980, founding chairperson, Parkinson Support Center of Northern Nevada; and clinical assistant professor, University of Nevada College of Medicine.
Bill Oesterle, class of 1983, co-founder and former CEO of Angie’s List. This award is being given posthumously.
Bob Deutsch, teacher and debate coach, West Lafayette Schools, 1965-2002.
William Floyd, former superintendent of West Lafayette Schools, 1945-1967. This award is being given posthumously.
The Wall of Pride honors alumni and educators for work and achievements in their chosen fields. They are nominated by fellow alumni, parents, West Lafayette students, faculty, staff and administrators, and citizens from the community. Nominations are reviewed and selected by a committee comprised of West Lafayette High School administrators, alumni and members of the West Lafayette Schools Education Foundation.
This year’s inductees will visit classrooms and will be introduced to students at a convocation on April 12 at West Lafayette Jr./Sr. High School.
AND FINALLY …: If you were home watching Purdue finish off a perfect home season at Mackey Arena, with an 78-70 win over Wisconsin, here’s a look at the sendoff they gave to the seniors after the game, including the moment they retired Zach Edey’s No. 15. Via Purdue Sports’ feed:
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Sound missing on Purdue senior day tube