Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 134, Number 34, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 23 August 2012 — Page 3

Elkhart County Ttaffic Safety Partnership Joins national crackdown to reduce impaired driving fatalities

ELKHART —The Elkhart County Traffic Safety Partnership is joining with law enforcement throughout the nation for the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign which began Aug. 17 and runs through Sept. 3. The strong, nationwide impaired driving crackdown will include highvisibility enforcement, highprofile events, and will be supported by national paid advertising, creating a comprehensive campaign to curb alcohol impaired driving in August and through the Labor Day holiday weekend. The Elkhart County Traffic Safety Partnership, comprised of many departments in Elkhart County, will be aggressively looking for impaired drivers during the crackdown and will arrest anyone caught driving impaired.

Evaluated, cont. from front

87 percent passage for language arts and math. Nappanee Elementary students racked up scores at 84 and 82 percent for language arts and math respectively in grade three, with fourth graders ending at 75 and 85 percent for the same two subjects. Fifth graders accomplished a 91 percent passing rate in language arts and 95 percent in math. At North Wood Middle School, students in grades six through eight also turned in an admirable slate of numbers. Sixth graders had 89 percent of their students passing in language arts and 91 percent similarly for math. For grade seven, 89 percent of the class sailed through the language arts section, with 90 percent capturing passing scores in math. At the eighth grade level, 82 percent of the scholars crossed the passing threshold for language arts and 86 percent earned a pass in math. While the board was happy to leam of the exemplary student performances, there was some question as to why certain scores seemed to fall on the lower end of the passing scale. Bennett said that there were some instances reported of online testing glitches, particularly connectivity problems and "timing out" at errant moments. He added that they've been in touch with appropriate contacts at the state level to notify them of these occurrences, and there is a possibility that the scores could” be modified to reflect those incidences. Bennett also offered high praise for the teachers and support staff, noting that it was largely due to their intensive preparation and dedication to student improvement that such scores could be achieved. He explained that the role of instructional assistants has been refined somewhat in recent years, in that they are not necessarily bound

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It is illegal in all 50 States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 grams per deciliter. Despite these laws, in 2010 more than 10,000 people died in crashes in which a driver or motorcycle rider was impaired. "On average there is one alcohol impaired drivingrelated fatality every 51 minutes across America," said Sheriff Brad Rogers. "But this tragic loss of life can be reduced if we get impaired drivers off our roadways. Research has shown that high-visibility enforcement like the 'Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over' campaign reduces alcoholimpaired driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent. By joining this nationwide effort, we will make Elkhart County's roadways safer for everyone throughout the

to working solely with assigned teachers, but are given specialized time with individuals and groups of students as the needs arise. Evaluating Wa-Nee educators Also featured among the subjects for discussion was an issue that was met with a bit more trepidation the eventual institution of a statewide program that is designed to recognize educator performance with regard to their classroom responsibilities and skills. By the 2015-16 academic year, those assessment indicators will be commensurate with Wa-Nee teacher salaries as well. The program is known as the RISE Evaluation and Development System and was developed by committees under the |urisdiction of the Indiana Department of Education. Many of Indiana's schools have already, or will soon be, adopting many of the guidelines set forth on how to conduct annual evaluations of all certified school employees Superintendent Joe Sabo talked with members of the board about this new approach and how it will be gradually introduced

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Labor Day period." During the Labor Day weekend in 2010,147 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes involving drivers or motorcycle riders with BACs of .08 or higher. Of those fatalities, 80 percent occurred from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m. Among 18- to 34-year-old drivers killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes during the 2010 Labor Day weekend, 54 percent were alcoholimpaired. "Obviously we want to remind everyone that it is illegal to drive impaired, and we hope the campaign will remind people that if they plan on drinking, to never get behind the wheel," said Sheriff Rogers. "But if someone does choose to drive impaired, we will arrest them. No warnings. No excuses." According to the Elkhart

into the corporation's standards. He said that while there are still no plans to weigh teacher evaluations alongside rates of pay for another three years, it would be wise to begin using the state guidelines ahead of that time, to make the process more uniform to the state's recommendations. Sabo said that Wa-Nee administrators are taking advice and suggestions from Concord's district, as they have already begun to segue into the newer program, also. RISE has four specific categories, or what is termed "teacher effectiveness rubric domains," through which teachers receive methods of scoring based upon additional subpoints under each domain. The four categories include Planning, Instruction, Leadership, and Core Professionalism. Ideally, teachers would score in the three to four range on a four-point scale. When this format was brought forth as an introductory topic of discussion among Wa-Nee teachers this past spring, Sabo noted that most of the educators seem to still be adjusting to the concept. Admittedly, the board appeared a bit hesitant to

County Sheriffs Department, violators face jail time, loss of their driver licenses, and steep financial consequences such as higher insurance rates, attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work, and the potential loss of job. When family, friends and co-workers find out, violators also often face tremendous personal embarrassment. "Driving impaired is simply not worth the risk. So don't take the chance," Sheriff Rogers said. "Remember, we will be out in force and we will be watching, so 'Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over."’ For more information, visit the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" Campaign Headquarters at www.nhtsa. gov/drivesober online.

render their full endorsement as well. Questions were raised as to how low standardized test scores could impact a teacher's performance, and what to do about teachers who might register an evaluation of merely one or two. Sabo was reassuring in addressing the concjerns, saying, "There are still some questions to be resolved. 1 fully anticipate that there'll be some tweaking." Sabo also observed that many of the high standards being presented as a statewide blueprint are already well instituted, often over and above that norm, during Wa-Nee hirings and evaluations. For those who might wish to gain a better understanding of what these new consultation procedures would entail, there is a website at www.riseindiana.org, which delves into the processes in further detail. Several other matters were brought before the board for their perusal, and those issues will be featured in separate articles to be published in a future edition of the Advance Seu't.

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Advance News • Thursday. August 23, 2012 •

DEATH NOTICES

Linda K. Burkey Aug. 13. 2012 WAKARUSA Linda K. Burkey, 57, of Wakarusa, died Monday, Aug 13 at 12:08 a m., at Elkhart General Hospital. She is survived by her husband, James Burkey; daughter, Elizabeth Burkey of South Bend; son, Jon Burkey of Wakarusa; mother, Lena Carpenter of Goshen; brothers, Bob (Grace) Carpenter of Millersburg, Randy (Peg) Carpenter of Fishers, Kirb Carpenter of Goshen; and mother-in-law, Lydia Mae Burkey of Wakarusa. Visitation was Thursday, Aug. 16, at Nappanee Missionary Church Chapel from 2 to 4 and 5 to 8 p.m. and one hour prior to the 10 a.m. service Friday, at the Nappanee Missionary Church. Burial followed at Rock Run Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Kenya Baby Center or to the Gideon's International. Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home, Nappanee, assisted the family with .arrangements. Online condolences may be shared at www. tlyfh.com. Jay Earl Yoder Aug. 15. 2012 NEW PARIS Jay Earl Yoder, 88, formerly of New Paris, died at 7:42 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012 at Greencroft Healthcare. She is survived by five children: Paul Yoder, Nappanee, Sue (George) Sprague, New Paris, Lamar (Betty) Yoder, Ft. Wayne, Valeta Yoder, Nappanee, and Victor (Carrie) Yoder, South Bend; nine grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; a sister, Helen Gochnauer, Gorin, Mo.; and a brother, Allen (Lynn) Yoder, Clemmons, N.C. Visitation was at Milford Chapel (321 E. Beer Rd.), Friday, Aug. 17, 3 to 8 p.m. Funeral services took place at 10 a.m. Saturday at Milford Chapel. Burial followed in Baintertown Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Greencroft Foundation. Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home, Nappanee, assisted the family with arrangements.

POLICE NOTES

ARREST • Constance M. Marks, 43, Wakarusa, was arrested Aug. 15 by the Marshall County Sheriff's Department for operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol level of .15 percent or more and operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person.

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