Valparaiso Community Schools

Valparaiso Community Schools teachers are set to get a pay raise. The proposed teacher contract for the 2022-2023 school year raises the starting salary for new teachers to $51,000, a $4,000 increase. Returning teachers would get a $4,500 raise, plus a one-percent, referendum-funded retention stipend at the end of this semester and another $500 stipend next June.

The Valparaiso City Council adopted the 2023 budgets for the city and Valparaiso Community Schools Monday.

The Valparaiso School Board's first Black member has found herself at the center of a political battle in the Center Township trustee race. The township board's appointment of Erika Watkins to the school board last year was cited as a poor decision in materials from Casey Schmidt's campaign, according to residents. Schmidt currently serves as Valparaiso City Council president.

Valparaiso Community Schools is asking for more money next year. The school district plans to request a $92.2 million budget for 2023, an increase of almost $7 million from this year. Much of that would cover increased costs in salaries, insurance and benefits, according to chief financial officer Jim Holifield.

Schools have been able to feed more students during the pandemic, thanks to a federal waiver providing free meals. Now, that's coming to an end, and that has some school officials concerned.

Valparaiso High School students will soon be able to earn school credit for community service. The school board last week officially added community service to the list of courses offered through the Valparaiso Alternative Learning Experience or VALE.

Valparaiso's outgoing school board president is being recognized as a steady hand and a financial "wizard." Karl Cender attended his final board meeting Thursday, after 12 years of service.

Valparaiso's school superintendent is set to remain with the district for at least three more years. The school board finalized a new contract Tuesday with Superintendent Dr. Jim McCall. It keeps him with Valparaiso Community Schools through June 2025, with the possibility for automatic extensions through June 2030.

The Valparaiso School Board is looking to extend the superintendent's contract.

Valparaiso's former mayor will soon be joining the city's school board. Jon Costas was unanimously appointed to the school board by the city council Tuesday.