superintendent Dr. Larry Veracco

Local school officials are still waiting to see the full impact of the new state budget. "There's a lot of questions that still need to be answered," Lake Central School Superintendent Dr. Larry Veracco told the school board Monday.

The Lake Central School Corporation is looking to move forward with some facility upgrades. Bibich Elementary School's 12-classroom addition was put on hold last year, after bids came in about 19 percent higher than budgeted.

Local school officials are concerned about the potential impact of property tax relief legislation.

Lake Central teachers are set to get a pay raise. The collective bargaining agreement approved by the school board Monday includes a $2,000 raise for teachers rated "effective" or "highly effective" and a minimum salary of $53,000 for new teachers.

Many Lake Central students can now have their comments to the school board kept out of official meeting records. The removal of rainbow flags and posters with the phrase "Black lives matter" prompted several students to speak out last month. Superintendent Dr. Larry Veracco notes that many of them were under 18.

The removal of rainbow flags and other messages from Lake Central classrooms is drawing backlash from students and parents.

The two Lake Central School Board members who are up for reelection were asked to weigh in on the contents of a classroom poster.

A new statewide tutoring program is set to launch next month, but some school leaders still have unanswered questions. Indiana Learns will provide $500 to $1,000 worth of tutoring help for fourth and fifth graders who are below proficiency on the ILEARN test and qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Helping students experiencing housing insecurity was the goal of a recent seminar for school administrators. Lake Central School Superintendent Dr. Larry Veracco says 133 school officials from 20 area districts gathered at Lake Central High School earlier this month for a McKinney-Vento Act workshop.

Middle and high school students facing crisis situations may soon have an easier time finding help. Starting next school year, public schools in Indiana will be required to print help lines and text information on student IDs.