Valparaiso Community Schools

The Valparaiso School Board has finalized the 2023-2024 teacher contract. It raises the starting salary to $53,100, a $2,100 increase. Returning teachers get a $2,800 raise, plus a one-percent, referendum-funded retention stipend at the end of this semester.

Valparaiso Community Schools teachers can expect another pay raise this year.

Valparaiso Community Schools is adding propane school buses to its fleet. The school board Thursday approved the purchase of four propane buses from MacAllister Power Systems for $593,196 or $587,196 after trade-in.

Valparaiso Community Schools may soon be adding propane school buses to its fleet. Chief Financial Officer Jim Holifield discussed the possibility during the school board's hearing on the bus replacement plan last week.

Energy savings projects are moving forward at Valparaiso Community Schools. The school board Thursday approved various agreements for a $5.8 million guaranteed savings contract.

Leaders at Valparaiso Community Schools are welcoming the elimination of textbook rental fees, as part of the state budget. Chief Financial Officer Jim Holifield says the fee often surprised families moving to Indiana from other states.

Valparaiso Community Schools is already seeing success with its special education restructuring. Currently, special ed teachers are employed by the Porter County Education Services cooperative. Starting this fall, they'll be employed directly by the school districts where they work.

Valparaiso High School's career and technical education offerings are proving to be popular.

Valparaiso residents have just a few more days to apply for a seat on the school board. Applications are due at noon on Friday, April 21.

Valparaiso's elementary schools will share a dedicated school resource officer. The Valparaiso Board of Works finalized a memorandum of understanding last week, following the school board's approval the week before.