PulseJournal.com

What does an ABC check cost?

By Meagan Engle | Tuesday, October 7, 2008, 01:27 AM

I was a little surprised yesterday when my editor forwarded me an e-mail that said a school event would be offering “Games, snakes and punch…”

But a few seconds later I got another e-mail that clarified: “PTO will not be providing SNAKES at their Family Fun Night, but instead will provide SNACKS.”

The e-mail goes on to say the blunder is a perfect example of why we shouldn’t trust spell checkers.

Obviously, no one is perfect and mistakes happen (try as we might to avoid them.) But are today’s students learning enough spelling and grammar to get them through without an ABC check?

Do we rely too much on our computers?

Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment

Board meeting in private

By Meagan Engle | Monday, October 6, 2008, 05:04 PM

The Carlisle Board of Education has a special meeting set for tonight.

The board will be meeting in a private session for self evaluation.

Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment More: Carlisle Local Schools

Middletown is band of the week

By Meagan Engle | Saturday, October 4, 2008, 01:28 AM

All this coming week, you can hear the Middletown Marching Band on the Rebel 105.9.

The Middies were selected as band of the week.

You can hear them on “Wild” Walley Mornings, which airs from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., all week.

You can also listen online here.

Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment More: Middletown City Schools

Get your canned goods ready

By Meagan Engle | Friday, October 3, 2008, 03:05 PM

If stores can start putting Halloween candy out in September, then I figure it’s not too early for me to get this information to you.

Middletown High School students will be going trick or treating this year, but it’s not Snickers or Star Bursts they’ll be after.

For the fourth year, the Thespian group will be participating in a national “Trick or Treat so Kids Can Eat” program, according to the school district.

They’ll be dressing in costumers to collect food donations from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, to benefit the Salvation Army.

Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment More: Middletown City Schools

New school dedication

By Meagan Engle | Friday, October 3, 2008, 02:54 PM

Next week, community members will have a chance to get a look inside the newly constructed Mayfield Elementary School.

The official ribbon cutting ceremony is set for 1:45 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7.

The dedication will include music from Mayfield fifth-grade students and presentation of stepping stones from students, as well as words from the principal, school board president, superintendent, mayor of Middletown and State Sen. Gary Cates.

Mayfield Elementary School is located at 3325 Burbank Street.

Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment More: Middletown City Schools

Students register voters

By Meagan Engle | Thursday, October 2, 2008, 01:22 PM

Monday, Oct. 6, is the deadline to register to vote. If you’re not sure if you’re registered, you can check here.

Yesterday, I followed Central Academy students door to door around the old Central building as they attempted to registered voters.

No all the responses they got were friendly, but that didn’t stop these kids, who took it upon themselves to organize this project, not as an assignment or for extra credit.

Kashley Rishforth, Jacob Harpe, Angel Fox, Robert Watts, Izzi McGuire and Sommer Moreland - all fifth-, sixth- and seventh-graders - are learning about the election in school. Every day they read news articles and write a report with their opinions.

“It’s important to vote. More people should have their voice heard,” Jacob told me as we walked into a neighborhood. The 12-year-old said he has been trying to register people in his neighborhood, and so far had signed up one person.

Today, the students are taking the forms to the Butler County Board of Elections office.

Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment More: Middletown City Schools

No change for taxpayers

By Meagan Engle | Tuesday, September 30, 2008, 07:55 PM

The Franklin Board of Education possibly set the record for the shortest school board meeting ever today. The board’s special meeting started at 5:15 and ended at 5:19 p.m.

The board met to take care of a technical issue relating to their recent decision to adjust taxes.

Last month, the board requested 1.03 mills. The change will not affect taxpayers because taxpayers will the increase will be offset by a decrease in a county-wide MRDD, according to Franklin’s Treasurer Jana Bellamy.

The will change bring an additional $220,000 to the permanent improvement fund - money the district can only use on building improvements, buses, technology and any other item the district would use for five years or longer.

The board says the additional money in that fund will free up money currently being spent from the general fund on buildings. The newly freed money from the general fund will be used to provide programs that are no longer being offered to schools by the MRDD.

Board Vice President John Griffo asked that a spending plan be made before collecting begins in January, but other board members said the money will be spent on facility improvements that are already planned.

Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment More: Franklin City Schools