education - Brownsburg Community Schools

BCSC Parents’ Academy
Bullying, Anger and Tears...
Oh, My!
Thursday, October 16, 6:30 p.m.
White Lick Elementary School
Cafeteria
Please join us for a conversation
with Pamela Larkey, counselor at
White Lick Elementary School, who
will present an overview of the
Olweus Bullying Prevention Program
currently used in BCSC schools. She
will focus specifically on what parents
need to look for if their child is being
victimized and what to do if their child
is the bully.
Call 852-5726 for more information
or to register.
Refreshments will be served and
childcare is provided.
BCSC Going Paperless
The BCSC is committed to the conservation
of resources and will be converting all
school newsletters, as well as Corporation
publications to a paperless format by January
2009. Publications will be received in your
email account by subscription only and will
offer links for more detailed information.
Inside
2 • Superintendent’s Message
• Yankee Candle Sale
3 • New Administrators
• Staff Demographics
• Student Demographics
4 • News and Events
Contact Us
BCSC Administration Building
444 E. Tilden Dr.
Brownsburg, IN 46112
317.852.5726
fax -371.852.1015
www.brownsburg.k12.in.us
SPOTLIGHT
on
education
Volume 22, No.2
October/November
2008
A Publication of The Brownsburg Community School Corporation (BCSC)
BHS Students Excel in Academics
Three BHS students have the distinction of being in
the top one percent of 1.5 million high school juniors who
took the 2007 PSAT (Preliminary SAT). National Merit
Semifinalists (pictured at right) Joelle Camillo, Rebecca
Cox, and Christine Thompson will be notified in the spring
if they are among the 8,200 high school seniors to be
offered National Merit Scholarships totalling $35 million.
Semifinalists are the highest scoring entrants in each
state, and to be considered for a National Merit ® Scholarship, Semifinalists must advance
to Finalist standing by meeting high academic standards.
In addition to these outstanding students, BHS can also boast the highest 2008 SAT
scores in Hendricks County. Total scores, including Critical Reading, Math and Writing;
are as follows for all County school corporations: Brownsburg, 1556; Plainfield, 1531;
Avon 1510; Mill Creek, 1488; Danville, 1484; Tri West, 1411.
For more detailed information on SAT and ACT results go to http://www.doe.in.gov/
reed/newsr/2008/08-August/SAT.html (or open the Spotlight online and click the link.)
Good News or Bad?
Delay in Property Tax Payments Affects Cash Flow
There are two basic tenets with respect to property taxes: no one likes to pay property
taxes, and the only good tax is the one someone else must pay.
Given that basic philosophy, the news is mixed regarding the school property taxes for
2008. For some, it’s good news that the property tax payment normally due May 10 each
year has still not been billed for 2008. The assessed values for August of 2007 and payable
in 2008 property taxes, were not received until August of 2008. Since the value of taxable
properties was not determined on time, the new tax rates could not be determined on time,
which means the May tax payment will not be due until November. To compound the
lateness, the taxes that would normally be due in November, will not be paid until after the
end of 2008. While that may help the individual on property tax payments, there is a down
side for taxpayers.
Having 2008 property taxes due and payable in 2009 creates other issues. The difficulties
with payments due in the next year are twofold and both will result in increased cost for
taxpayers.
First, late payments will cause additional revenue delays for local governments (including
schools) which will create the need for cash flow loans with interest. Because of late
property tax payment schedules, the BCSC has borrowed $6,991,897 to meet cash flow
needs. A recent decision to make the second 2008 property tax not due until 2009 will cause
substantial additional need for cash flow loans and the expense of interest on those loans;
again, for all local governments.
The second issue for taxpayers created by the late payment is the loss of a planned
income tax deduction. By not making the second 2008 payment until 2009, the income tax
deduction for property tax payments will not be available for many homeowners and businesses.
While some taxpayers may choose to make the second payment before the end of
2008, many may not have that choice, delaying the deduction for a year.
There is additional good news about 2008 property taxes, in spite of delayed tax payments.
For the first time in many years the school property tax rate decreased by 15.36
cents (7.7%) from the 2007 property tax rate. If a property’s assessed value did not in-
See Taxes page 4

Superintendent’s Message
Kathleen Corbin
BCSC Superintendent
The Spotlight is published by the Brownsburg
Community School Corporation
444 E. Tilden Drive
Brownsburg, Indiana 46112
Telephone: 317.852.5726
Board of School Trustees
David Ayers, President
Kim Armstrong, Vice President
Kim R. Lucas, Secretary
James Murphy, member
Richard Sutton, member
Administration
Kathleen Corbin, Superintendent
Jan Viars, Associate Superintendent
Marvin Ward, Business Manager
John Voigt, Director of Facilities
Perhaps
more than ever
in my tenure, I
feel a need to
speak from the
heart. Change is
all around us,
and our answer
to her call will
affect our future in profound ways.
In Brownsburg schools we often talk
about the three R’s. Rigor, Relevance and
Relationships. We have focused for
several years on two of those concepts -
Rigor and Relationships. Rigor is our
enthusiasm, our focused energy, and our
sincere commitment to assuring that
every child stretches in core academics
classes ... truly exercises those cognitive
muscles, and achieves more every year.
And we’ve made excellent progress
in the area of Relationships. In
Brownsburg we get it. We cannot teach
children until we have relationships with
children. We cannot include parents until
they trust that we have their child’s best
interest at heart. Only then is the triangle
of successful learning - teacher, child,
and parent possible.
But our third R is Relevance. It is far
harder to grasp, partly because the target
is moving rapidly. But I truly believe that
educators must address Relevance firmly,
effectively, and swiftly.
Relevance requires a good answer to
the student’s question, “Why am I doing
this? What does this course or class or
activity have to do with my life? My
Editor: Donna Petraits, Director of Communications
If you have information about Brownsburg alumni, staff
or students contact 317.852.5726 or
dpetraits@brownsburg.k12.in.us
Printing: D&E Printing
Relevancy is key to 21st Century classrooms
goals? The world in which I live?” And
here’s the toughest Relevancy question of
all ... “Is this teacher in this classroom the
best way for me to learn what I need to
learn about this subject?”
Today’s children are awash in
alternative sources of information. They
can dive deeply into any subject they care
about. They can secure information at
their own pace. They can read the blogs
or attend the webinars of experts, and
they can share ideas through chat rooms,
blogs and webcams. It’s fast, exciting,
and from their viewpoint, highly relevant.
How do schools compare? How do
Educators must address
relevance firmly,
effectively, and swiftly.
educators fit into that reality, because it is
assuredly the new reality when you
consider that the fastest growing demographic
for new technology users is
children aged five to seven.
For many kinds of information, there
are more efficient delivery methods than
we utilize today. A year of on-line
classroom instruction costs $1,800. A
year of traditionally delivered instruction
costs from $8,000 to $16,000. The
Internet is steadily replacing a host of
information sources including traditional
newspapers, and unless we strive
immediately and effectively for relevance
in our classrooms, technology will and
should replace many of the facilities and
programs we now hold dear.
Some fear that the school of the
future will feature remote talking heads
speaking into rooms filled with computer
screens. Certainly some education will be
automated, but robots will never inspire a
genuine love of art, or science, or a craft
that can earn a lifetime of income.
Robots will never touch a child’s heart
and show why personal skill development
is the most relevant of all education. It
will be skilled teachers - and personal
examples - that help children understand
teamwork, leadership skills, ethical
behavior, the power of a positive attitude
toward learning; and the absolute necessity
of being a contributor in the community
and the world.
Indeed, there will always be vital roles
for teachers to play in education. And
rather than fear we’re losing children to
technology; educators must join them
there, understand what goes on there, and
convert that into living, breathing, relevant
learning experiences.
I’ve had a wonderful career. I had the
opportunity to be a part of America’s
previous renaissance of education when a
small metal sphere called Sputnik galvanized
a movement in education unlike
anything ever imagined. The renaissance
of which we are now a part will be
greater, and more profound, because it
addresses an America in the midst of
enormous technological change, and it
addresses an America that must find
ways to recapture its fervor and leadership
in education.
The window of opportunity is open
now, and this is our call to action.
Brownsburg Education Foundation
Annual Yankee Candle Sale
Candle orders are due by October 13
Pickup is November 18 and 19
at Harris Academy.
Orders must be directly placed with a BEF volunteer or student.
Visit www.brownsburg.k12.in.us/foundation then go to the bottom of the page to
click on the catalog link to view products.
Proceeds from the sale of candles and other Yankee Candle products directly
benefit children of the Brownsburg Community School Corporation by providing
grants to teachers for innovative educational programs and projects,scholarships
for graduating seniors, and funds for educational materials and programs
throughout the school system.
For additional information contact the BEF at 317-852-5726, ext. 1755.
2
Higher Achievement - Together

Administrators Bring a Variety of Experience
Community Outreach Liaison
Ron comes from Warren Twp.
Schools where he taught Special
Education, served as an athletic
director and also coached. An Indy
Westside native, he is a graduate
of Ben Davis High School, and recently
received his administrative
license from Butler University.
Director of Health Services
Macey has spent most of her nursing
career at Hendricks Regional
Health; the past 15 years as a
House Administrator. A graduate
of Bloom Township HS in Chicago
Heights, she received her BS in
Nursing from IUPUI.
Assistant Athletic Director
Dave is beginning year 20 with the
BCSC, and was previously the athletic
trainer. A native of Straughn,
Indiana, he has attended Ball State
University for both undergraduate
and Masters programs, as well as
Miami University in Ohio. Dave and
his wife Kat live in Brownsburg.
Ron McGowan
Macey Ward
Dave Jessup
Fabrice Decaudin
Jeff Hubble
Shawn Wooden
Assistant Principal White Lick
A Greenwood native, Fab spent
the past six years teaching at Deer
Run Elementary in Pike Twp.
where he was, most recently, the
summer school principal He received
his administrative license
from IU in 2007.
Principal at West Middle
Jeff began his career teaching math
in Indianapolis Public Schools. He
was an administrator in IPS and
Wayne Township schools for 16
years. A Plainfield HS graduate,
Jeff attended IUPUI and Butler
University. He lives in Clermont.
West Middle Dean of Students
A graduate of Warren Central HS,
Shawn taught social studies in
Lawrence Township before returning
to Warren as an administrator.
He attended Purdue, IUPUI and
Butler University. He lives in
Zionsville.
New Teachers Reach Beyond Midwest
The BCSC welcomed 69 new teachers
for the 2008-2009 school year. They
represent a broad range of life experience
and training and come from locations far
from Indiana.
For example: Of the 41 colleges and
universities this group has attended, 23 are
out of state - from California to Florida -
and six are out of the USA - four in China,
one in Scotland and one in Spain.
Some have even taught in exotic places
like Great Britain, Costa Rica, Hong Kong,
Spain, France, Turkey and China.
In addition, four teachers were married
during the summer (one even had two
weddings - one in the US and one in Scotland),
two former Brownsburg teachers
returned to the BCSC, another new
teacher came to the classroom from five
years in television, and a former Frankfort
administrator decided a BCSC classroom
was where she wanted to be.
Assistant to the Principal Delaware
Trail
This is Allison’s 11th year with the
BCSC. She is from Plainfield, attended
IUPUI and is currently participating
in the iLEAD program at
the University of Indianapolis to
complete her administrative license.
Allison Moyes
Seth Vaught
Assistant Principal at Cardinal
Seth has also spent 11 years with
the BCSC teaching grades 2 and
6. A Seattle native, he spent his
high school years at Western
Boone, complete his undergraduate
degree at Ball State, and
earned his administrator’s license
at Butler University.
Student and Staff Growth Adds Diversity and Opportunity
A walk down any school hallway is proof
enough that the face of Brownsburg is
changing. As our student body becomes
more diverse, it creates opportunities to share
and appreciate the cultures and experiences
of others.
Recognizing the importance of a staff
that reflects the diversity of its student population,
the BCSC has increased its recruitment
efforts to reach a broader pool of employees.
Efforts such as local job fairs,
50
40
30
20
10
0
18
23
BCSC Minority Staff Counts
(as of August of each year)
11
18
8
14
0%
2008-09 2007-08 2006-07 2006 2005-06 2005
2
6
partnering with other school corporations, and
stepping up recruiting efforts at historically
black colleges and universities, have all
helped to increase the number of minority
employees over the past four years. The
number of minority graduates entering education
careers, however, is decreasing, which
creates greater competition for the most
qualified candidates.
As of August 15, 4.2 percent of BCSC
employees represent minorities, while 17 per-
Certified
Classified
7%
6%
5%
4%
3%
2%
1%
BCSC Minority Student Population 2008/2009
Black
7%
Multi-racial
Hispanic
4%
Asian/
Pacific Islander
3%
Am.Indian/
2% Alaskan
1%
531 262 198 144 93
Black Multi-racial Hispanic Asian/Pacific Am.Indian/Alaskan
Is.
Higher Achievement - Together
Celina Fox, Dana Pacey, Hayley Barger, and Julia Rock
enjoy the New Teacher Breakfast at Brown Elementary.
cent of our students are minorities. The
charts below illustrate the growth of minority
staff over the past five years and the racial
diversity of the over 7,000 students in
Brownsburg schools.
Of interest in the area of cultural and ethnic
diversity, is that almost 350 of our students
speak 39 different languages. As one
might guess, Spanish is the most prevalent,
but would you guess the second is Punjabi?
Vietnamese, Gujarati and Tigrinya round out
the top five. There are also
several Asian, Middle Eastern,
and African languages
and dialects in addition to the
more common European
languages.
A BCSC multi-cultural
arts festival and diversity
celebration in February of
2009 will be open to the
community. All events will
be in the new BHS Fine
Arts area.
3

Events &
News
Elementary Schools
10/6 Cardinal Open House 6:30 pm
10/7 Brown Open House 6:30 pm
10/7 Delaware Trail Open House 6:30 pm
10/9 Eagle Open House 6:30 pm
10/9 Reagan Open House 6 pm
10/9 White Lick Open House 6:30 pm
10/13 Body Safety Parent Info, Cardinal 7 pm
10/20 Reagan Fall Musical 6:30 pm
10/22 End of First Nine Weeks
10/23-24 Fall Break
10/31 Report Cards
11/2 Reagan Dedication 2 pm
11/3 Delaware Trail Fall Musical (Grades 2, 5) 6:30 & 7:30 pm
11/4 Delaware Trail Fall Musical (Grade 4) 6:30 pm
11/6 Cardinal Elementary Fall Musical 6:30 pm
11/6 White Lick Fall Musical 6:30 pm
11/7 Half day for students
11/10-14 Elementary Parent Conference Week
11/11 Brown Fall Musical/Art Show, grade 2 6:30 pm
11/11 Brown Fall Musical/Art Show, grade 5 7:30 pm
11/14 Parent Conferences; No School
11/24 Elementary Family Enrichment Night, Eagle 6:30 pm
11/27-28 Thanksgiving Break
Middle Schools
10/6 6th Grade Band Open Rehearsal, EMS 7 pm
10/13 6th Orchestra Open Rehearsal, EMS 7 pm
10/14 WMS Choir Concert 7:30 pm
10/22 End of First Nine Weeks
10/23-24 Fall Break
10/31 Report Cards
11/6 & 7 East Middle Musical 7:30 pm
11/7 Half day for students
11/13 Parent Conferences
11/14 Parent Conferences; No School
11/20 & 21 West Middle Musical 7:30 pm
11/27-28 Thanksgiving Break
Brownsburg High School
10/4 Homecoming Dance
10/8 Mr. Bulldog
10/21 Fall Choral Concert at WMS 6:30 and 8 p.m.
10/22 End of First Nine Weeks
10/23-24 Fall Break
10/31 Report Cards
11/14 No School
11/27-28 Thanksgiving Break
Community
10/4 BHS Alumni Banquet, BHS Cafeteria 6 pm
10/9 Challenger Community Mission to the Moon 6 pm
10/14 BCSC Broad-based Planning Committee 6:30 pm
10/16 Parents’ Academy, White Lick 6:30 pm
11/16-22 American Education Week
11/20 Educator for a Day
11/20 Parents’ Academy, East Middle 6:30 pm
Taxes continued from p.1
crease due to trending, the result of the lower
rate is a smaller property tax bill. Plus, as a
result of 2008 legislation, there is an additional
Homestead Property Tax Credit reduction
made by the state on property taxes due which
may result in reduced property tax bills for all
homeowners. Early estimates of the credit
have indicated 20 to 40 percent reductions of
property taxes for 2008 homesteads.
As the advertisements declare, “individual
results may vary” but actual tax payments
should be less for most homeowners. However,
2009 budgets will have additional demands
due to the late settlement of assessed values
and tax collections. Those additional demands
The Brownsburg Community School Corporation
cordially invites you to attend
The Dedication of Reagan Elementary School
4845 Bulldog Way
Brownsburg, Indiana 46112
Sunday, November 2, 2008
2 p.m.
Open House and Reception immediately following
potlight on Education
Brownsburg Community
School Corporation
444 East Tilden Drive
SBrownsburg, Indiana 46112
Postal Patron
will cause increases in 2009 taxes.
While the BCSC has developed 2009 budgets,
there are two additional issues: 1). Budgets
will not become final until the 2008 payable
2009 assessed values have been determined,
and since assessed values weren’t provided
in August of 2008 no schedule has been
provided for when values will be determined;
2). The 2009 budget faces a more demanding
property tax cap as determined last spring by
the General Assembly.
Additional concerns and questions surrounding
2009 tax and budget issues will be
addressed in future articles as November
elections and the 2009 Legislative season
unfolds.
Non Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Brownsburg, IN
Permit No. 57
PUBLIC NOTICE
In accordance with the US EPA’s AHERA Standard
(ref: 40 CFR 763.80), all information concerning
asbestos-containing materials in the
schools of Brownsburg Community School
Corporation is available for review and copying
by students, staff and guardians during
normal business hours.