Daily Archives: July 8, 2009

Ball State OKs New Charter School in Chesterton

Posted on by
Reply

Ball State has authorized a new public charter school in Chesterton that will open in fall 2010.

President Jo Ann M. Gora has approved the sponsorship of Discovery Charter School after further review of the proposal, including additional community input, and receiving a recommendation from the Office of Charter Schools.

Discovery Charter School will serve grades K-6 with a projected initial enrollment of 273 and will add a grade each year until it reaches grades K-8. Students will learn to become better stewards of their environment and community and will engage in educational experiences through an integrated place-based and environmentally based curriculum.

In 2001, the Indiana General Assembly approved legislation allowing four-year public universities, public school districts and the mayor of Indianapolis to sponsor charter schools. Ball State is the only university authorizing charter schools in Indiana.

The university sponsors 28 public charter schools currently in operation across Indiana, with four scheduled to open in 2009 and four more in 2010.

As a public charter schools authorizer, Ball State does not run the schools but reserves the right to rescind a charter if a school fails to meet performance standards.

CEO Confidence Shoots Up in Q2

Posted on by
1

The Conference Board Measure of CEO Confidence, which had increased in the first quarter of 2009, surged in the second quarter. The Measure improved to 55, up from 30 last quarter (a reading of more than 50 points reflects more positive than negative responses). The survey includes about 100 business leaders in a wide range of industries.

“CEOs are considerably more optimistic than last time about the short-term outlook, however, their assessment of current conditions, while also improved, suggests the economy remains weak,” says Lynn Franco, Director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center. “Among those expecting an increase in profits over the next year, the majority see cost reductions as the primary driver.”

CEOs’ assessment of current economic conditions was considerably less pessimistic. Now, 32 percent claim conditions have improved compared to six months ago, up from zero percent last quarter. In assessing their own industries, business leaders were also much less negative. Now, 24 percent claim conditions are better, up from just one percent in the first quarter.
Continue reading →

News & Notes: NIPSCO Rate Hike Hearing Set

Posted on by
Reply

NIPSCO will hold another public hearing on its proposed 15.6% residential rate hike July 15 in Michigan City, IN. NIPSCO says the increase is needed to cover rising fuel and transportation costs; opponents, including many local municipalities, argue that economically battered residents can’t afford it.

Gary, IN, made some incremental progress in getting its bus agency off of the Federal Transportation Administration’s high risk list.

Two developers are competing to build new retail and housing space near Valparaiso University.

The St. Joseph County Library ranks seventh in the nation among libraries serving a population between 100,000 and 249,999.

The City of Mishawaka said yesterday that it would eliminate 35 positions and consolidate some operations as a result of financial pressures.

The State of Indiana is threatening to lower the boom on LaPorte County Auditor Craig Hinchman if he doesn’t certify the county’s 2006 property tax reassessments by the end of the week.