Dr. Jim McCall

Valparaiso Community Schools is looking to recognize graduates who've gone on to serve in the armed forces. A Valparaiso High School "Military Hall of Honor" will be installed in the school's main hallway.

Restructuring of special education is moving forward at Valparaiso Community Schools. The school board Thursday officially hired 34 special ed teachers who already work in the district's schools but are technically employed by the Porter County Education Services cooperative.

Valparaiso school officials are reacting to the arrest of a suspect in a series of phone threats. Police announced Thursday that a 16-year-old Ohio boy had been taken into custody, in connection with three recent threats of violence against Valparaiso High School.

Valparaiso Community Schools is offering the use of its buses during potential emergencies. Superintendent Dr. Jim McCall says he's been working on a policy for months, but the recent incident in Warsaw highlighted its importance.

Changes could be coming to Porter County's special education services.

The Valparaiso School Board has finalized the 2022-2023 teacher contract.

Valparaiso Community Schools is touting its highest graduation rate in recent memory. The graduation rate for the 2021-2022 school year was 98.53 percent.

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.

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.