crier
munster high school
vol 49/issue 7 Dec. 5, 2014 MHScrier.com
8808 Columbia Ave. Munster, IN 46321
Saturday 38/25
Sunday 37/30
Upcoming n
Advanced Speech showcase: 6 p.m. Monday in auditorium
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Choir holiday concert: 7 p.m. Tuesday in auditorium
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Boys’ Basketball against Morton: 7 p.m. tomorrow at home Students participate in mixed martial arts page 15
Cafeteria staff discusses job requirements; interaction with students, co-workers page 7
We The People team prepares for tate competition page 4
Virtual learning reality may become
District considers eLearning for inclement weather Erin Gallagher Sports Editor After a brutal winter and several snow make-up days added to the 2013-2014 school year, Munster investigates the idea of virtual learning, better known as eLearning. If implemented, eLearning days would replace make-up days at the end of the year, according to Mr. Kurt Popovich, systems administrator. “Nobody wants to go to school longer than planned,” Mr. Popovich said. Forty Indiana schools experimented with the idea of virtual learning on inclement weather days, according to Mrs. Therese Dristas, systems technology mentor. eLearning at Munster would consist of a teacher assigning homework through Moodle when school is canceled due to the weather. Teachers would need to be available to students through a chat room, forum or email periodically throughout the day, according to Mrs. Dristas. eLearning has not yet been implemented because it would violate the Collective Bargaining Agreement, which requires 185 work days for teachers each school year.
photo illustration by Peyton Puckett
WITH FROSTED WINDOWPANES, LEARNING GOES ON If implemented at Munster, eLearning would allow students to access assignments through Moodle on school days canceled due to severe weather, eliminating the need for snow make-up days. As a requirement of eLearning, the district must demonstrate internet access for all students. Additionally, teachers must inform students of learning targets by 9 a.m. and be virtually reachable by parents and teachers during school hours to facilitate instruction, according to the Indiana Department of Education Website.
The Collective Bargaining Agreement will remain in effect through June 30, 2015. Until then, administration continues to explore the idea of eLearning, according to Mr. Steven Tripenfeldas, assistant superintendent. Mrs. Dristas plans on practicing the eLearning process at some time during the school year. During one period a day, classes would run through an online assignment that teachers might assign on an inclement weather day. “We want to see if students can succeed and ac-
complish tasks without direct teacher support,” Mr. Tripenfeldas said. If eLearning becomes policy for the 2015-2016 school year, students without home internet access can use the school a few days a week to finish their assignments from the canceled school day, according to Mr. Tripenfeldas. “The idea intrigues me. I like the idea of giving flexibility,” Mr. Tripenfeldas said, “But the real question is, ‘Can teachers provide meaningful work through eLearning?’”
Chamber of Commerce pushes for appointed position Meena Kandallu Copy Editor On Nov. 17, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce announced its effort to make the currently elected position of Superintendent of Public Instruction a position appointed by the governor. Mrs. Glenda Ritz currently holds the position, and if approved, the change would take effect at the end of her term in 2016. “I think it’s important to emphasize that this is not a new issue; we are renewing an old position. This has nothing to do with Superintendent Ritz or anyone else,” Mr. Kevin Brinegar, Indiana Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, said. “Both the Republican and Democratic parties have supported this in the past, and we have held this stance for over 25 years.” Making the switch from an elected Superintendent
of Public Instruction to an appointed Superintendent of Public Instruction would promote consistency in education and also among departments throughout the state, according to Mr. Brinegar. “We just believe philosophically that the Superintendent of Public Instruction should be an elected position just as every other department head in the state is appointed,” Mr. Brinegar said. Mr. Michael Gordon, government teacher, believes that the idea of an appointed Superintendent of Public Instruction, in itself, is not negative; however, the current situation may indicate a desire to “remove a person who’s looking to influence policy.” “It’s not necessarily better to have an appointed or elected Superintendent of Public Instruction. There is democratic legitimacy on both sides; ultimately either the Superintendent (of Public Instruction) or the Governor has to face re-election.” Mr. Gordon said, “but it
is problematic to do a bypass of the debate by removing persons who have legitimacy in the discussion.” According to Mr. Brinegar, however, an appointed Superintendent of Public Instruction is necessary because recent differing viewpoints at Board of Education meetings have impeded progress in discussing and creating policies. “We have a governor who supports accountability, parental choice, charter schools, and performance-based pay, and they’re all laws that the current Superintendent of Public Instruction doesn’t necessarily support or want to implement, so there’s an inherent conflict right there,” Mr. Brinegar said. “We think that the current situation is particularly dysfunctional, especially regarding the conduct at meetings of the state board of education. (It hasn’t) served the students, teachers or parents to have this kind of huge disagreement regarding education.”