The Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation has learned that its graduation rate for its five high schools’ four-year cohort is continuing its upward trajectory and now exceeds 87 percent for May 2010 graduates.

“We are very pleased with the significant increase in the overall graduation rate. I commend our students, parents, faculty, staff, and community partners for this effort,” said Superintendent Vince Bertram. “This is very positive news; however, I will not be satisfied until we graduate every child with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed beyond high school. We will remain diligent in our improvement efforts. “

Some of the new initiatives in the EVSC for high school students during the 2009-2010 school year include: the one-to-one laptop computer initiative providing all high school students their own netbook as an educational tool used in and outside the classrooms; introduction of the Virtual Academy where online coursework can be used to recover credits, accelerate education, or integrated into the regular classroom experience. More than 400 credits were recovered by high school students in summer school through the EVSC Virtual Academy. The EVSC recently implemented a data warehouse which allows teachers and administrators access to student performance information. This information is used to modify instruction to better meet the individual learning needs of students. Data teams at each school have received professional development to learn how to use information, and to modify instruction and bring about positive change.

This year, the EVSC opened the Academy for Innovative Studies for students in grades 6-12, which also houses The Learning Center. This school replaces Henry Reis Alternative High School and Christa McAuliffe Alternative Middle School, which closed. “Many students need more than the traditional four years of high school in order to complete their degree,” Bertram said. “This school, with its individualized programs and innovative classes, helps to engage students and meet their needs.” The EVSC’s four-year graduation rate, which includes students enrolled at Henry Reis, The Learning Center, and some students last listed as having attended Christa McAuliffe, is 84 percent.

“The commitment of our teachers, counselors, staff and administrators, is helping our students to make strides,” said David Dimmett, chief academic officer. “We are pleased with the increase in graduation rate, and now as we strive to meet the state’s goal of 90 percent, we also want to see an increase in graduates going on to successful, post-secondary education experiences.” The Southwest Indiana College Access Network (SICAN), housed at the EVSC’s Center for Family, School, and Community Partnerships, helps first-generation college goers learn what it will take to go to college and how to get there. Since its inception in 2008, it has provided direct service to 187 students.

All EVSC high schools exceeded the 80% graduation threshold with Reitz leading the way with a 96% graduation rate. Bosse showed the most improvement raising from 68.3% in 2008 to 85% in 2010.

Vincennes University, Indiana University East, and the Indiana University School of Continuing Studies have formed a partnership to increase baccalaureate education opportunities for students at the Vincennes University Jasper Campus. Indiana University East will offer online bachelor’s degree completion programs to VU Jasper Campus students who have completed or will complete applicable associate degrees.

“VU is proud to partner with IU East to offer greater access to a wide range of baccalaureate degrees for Jasper area residents. Partnerships such as this will help Indiana economically as the state pursues the goal of improving access to higher education for Hoosiers,” said Vincennes University President Dick Helton.

Administrators from the institutions made the announcement today (November 30) at the VU Jasper Campus at an event celebrating the new partnership. Helton, VU Jasper Campus Dean Alan Johnson, Indiana University Vice President for Engagement Bill Stephan, Indiana University East Chancellor Nasser Paydar, and IU General Studies Degree Program Director Daniel Bopp all spoke at the event.

“This partnership agreement between VU and IU came about as a result of requests from local residents,” Johnson said. “It presents an excellent opportunity for VUJC students and others in the community to have direct access to Indiana University degrees. It’s been energizing to work with a major institution that is so responsive to the needs in our region.”

Stephan said that Indiana University is responding to the needs of the Jasper area.

“Indiana University is committed to exploring new means and methods by which we can enable Hoosiers to pursue baccalaureate degrees,” Stephan said. “By offering IU curriculum online to students at the Vincennes University Jasper Campus, we are responding to community need and helping to further ensure that Jasper remains economically competitive in a knowledge-based global economy.”

The Indiana University East programs are offered online and include the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts in English – Technical and Professional Writing, Bachelor of Arts/Science in Communication Studies, and Bachelor of Arts in Natural Science and Mathematics – concentration in Mathematics. The IU School of Continuing Studies will offer the Bachelor of General Studies degree, which can be completed with online and/or independent study courses. Students in these programs will earn an Indiana University degree.

“This agreement demonstrates the power of partnership,” Paydar said. “Increasing baccalaureate attainment is integral to the economic development of the state. Through this partnership, our universities will make bachelor’s degrees accessible to more students.”

All applicable associate degrees at Vincennes University will transfer to IU East with all credits being accepted. IU East and the IU School of Continuing Studies will provide academic advising to Vincennes University students, including having events at the Jasper Campus to assist prospective transfer students through the application and enrollment process. Students will also be eligible for scholarship opportunities through IU East, based on their academic achievements.

“Under this agreement, the IU School of Continuing Studies will continue its 35-year history of delivering undergraduate distance education courses – now completely online and specifically to meet degree completion needs of Indiana citizens in the southwestern portion of the state,” said IU School of Continuing Studies Dean Daniel Callison.

For more information, students can contact Indiana University East Director of Distance Education Tom Avery at 800-959-EAST ext. 300 or thavery@iue.edu, or visit www.iue.edu/finish. For more information on the General Studies Degree program, students can contact the IU School of Continuing Studies at 800-334-1011 or http://scs.indiana.edu.

An open house, including refreshments, will take place on the Vincennes University Jasper Campus in the New Classroom Building, room 128, on Thursday, December 9 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Students can make appointments to speak with IU academic advisor Jim Johnson prior to December 9 by calling 800-334-1011. Students are encouraged to bring transcripts for any college courses completed. Everyone is welcome.

The New York Times is reporting today that there is a renewed interest in the hospitality industry by private equity firms. As the over 50% fall in the valuations of hotels has been widely documented and as the deal flow in the hospitality industry ground to a halt, Evansville’s aspirations to attract an investor/developer to build a Convention Hotel adjacent to the new Arena and the Centre was frozen in its tracks.

The recent Initial Public Offering of the Hyatt Hotels Corporation that raised substantial levels of cash may prove to be the salvation of the Downtown Evansville project as at least one of the bidders on the Hotel, Woodruff Hospitality is on record as having discussions with Hyatt. In down times “cash is king” and Hyatt has the resources available should Evansville prove to be a worthy market for one of their flagship lines. Hyatt’s cash position coupled with the appetite for lodging deals by private equity may just be the catalyst needed to resurrect the Evansville Convention Hotel from its coma.

The City County Observer stands by its previous articles on the costs to develop a 220 room Downtown Hotel along with the valuation analysis that has been previously published. We are encouraged that value is once again being recognized in the hospitality industry and anxiously await the opening of the bids by Browning, Woodruff, and White.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/business/05hotel.html?pagewanted=1&hpw

The 2010 elections are a full month behind us, the conditions that led to the “throw the bums out” attitude are still firmly in place and thoughts are turning to next year’s election cycle. 2011 is one of those years that will provide the people of Evansville with the opportunity to choose the people who will govern them for the next four years.

The issues on which people will be making their decisions in the 2011 election for Evansville City Council will be much the same as they have been in years past such as economic development, the state of the City, the will of the people toward incumbents, infrastructure, current projects and quality of life. There are also issues that have been suppressed in past elections that are very likely to be factors in the decision process in 2011.

In the 2007 City elections there was a strong incumbent Mayor in Jonathan Weinzapfel that had both weak opposition and long coattails. As Mayor Weinzapfel has not announced his intentions to seek the office of Mayor for a third time and will be seeing a strong challenge in the Democratic primary from Vanderburgh County Treasurer Rick Davis, the strong coattail effects that Team Weinzapfel had in 2007 will not be a factor in 2011. The City County Observer’s ward by ward and at large projections are as follows.

Ward 1: Incumbent Republican City Councilman Dan McGinn will see little if any opposition in either the primary or the general election and will be re-elected to his seat.

Ward 2: Incumbent Councilwoman Missy Mosby has already been challenged in the primary by Evansville Fireman Patrick McBride. Both candidates have already started the fundraising process and are expected to have a heated and expensive primary where Councilwoman Mosby will have to defend her devotion to Mayor Weinzapfel’s recently unpopular positions. There are no announced Republicans yet but the Mole Nation tells us that businessman E. L. Walters and recent Vanderburgh County Council candidate Bill Kramer have expressed both interests and intentions privately to seek the Republican nomination. We expect strong contests in both primaries and in the general election. The winner will most likely be determined by the mood of the voters and the condition of the economy in the fall of 2011.

Surprise Note: Some wannabe Moles have mentioned the name of recently defeated by two votes for Knight Township Trustee Jim Braker as a person who is considering a run for the Evansville City Council from Ward 2 as a Republican.

Ward 3: The Mole Nation tells us that appointed City Councilwoman Wendy Bredhold is not planning to run to keep her seat. We are also informed that appointed at large City Councilman Don Walker will seek to retain a seat on the City Council in Ward 3 where he lives. Both of these appointed members of the current Evansville City Council will be fighting an uphill battle due to the unpopular nature of their recent votes against the resolution to oppose spending the innkeeper’s tax money on the $18 Million Roberts Stadium ballfields project. Mole #3 tells us that Evansville City Clerk Alberta Matlock is considering a run for the Democratic nomination. We expect that Alberta will make a strong candidate if she runs and will succeed in winning the Democratic nomination. On the Republican side, a couple of the neighborhood leaders of the opposition to the Roberts Stadium ballfields project have been mentioned as potential Republican candidates. The opposition leaders most often mentioned are Sherman Stevens and Sylvia Neimeyer both of which have been well prepared, articulate, diligent, and vocal in their opposition to the project and for their passion for their neighborhood.

Ward 4: This ward belongs to long term City Councilwoman Connie Robinson. If Connie wants this seat it is hers to keep, if she is as has been rumored ready to take life a little easier, then it will be hers to designate. A lifetime of service has its privileges and Councilwoman Robinson has earned the respect of the people of the 4th Ward. The former leader of the Goosetown Homeowners Association Fred Cook has announced his intention to run and will make a great candidate if he chooses to do so.

Ward 5: Incumbent City Councilman John Friend has not only been the subject of speculation as a candidate for Mayor of Evansville, he is the target of both fellow Democrats in the primary and of at least one Republican in the general election. Susan Harp who lost by only 11 votes in the 2007 Republican primary and Sally Herron are poised to take each other on in the Republican primary, and unless the political climate changes will be the catalyst that retires Councilman Friend from his seat.

Ward 6: City Council President B. J. Watts has not announced his intentions yet, but Al Lindsey is reportedly chomping at the bit to challenge all comers for this seat. In the event that Councilman Watts decides against running it has been rumored that his father-in-law and Westside political dynasty member David Mosby will step in and challenge Lindsey. The City County Observer expects that Al Lindsey will dispense with either potential challengers in the primary and will meet only token opposition in the general election.

At-Large: Democratic but independent thinking City Councilman Dr. Dan Adams will be the leader of the pack of whatever group forms to seek the three at large seats on the Council. We also project that long time and hardworking City Councilman Curt John will decide not to seek re-election and will retire from public office with his Deanship of local politics and his reputation intact. As 2011, barring an economic miracle will be a repeat of 2010 in voter attitude, we are projecting that Republican Party Chairman Wayne Parke will take advantage of this and field some strong at large candidates. We are further projecting that these to be recruited candidates will capture at least one of the at-large seats.

Overall, we expect that 2011 will be a heated year in Evansville electoral politics. The general discontentment of 2010 will carry over and will lead to an Evansville City Council that will be balanced from a party perspective for the first time in over half a century.

The City County Observer projects that the makeup of the Evansville City Council that will be seated with a new Mayor on January 1, 2012 will be 5 to 4 either way. The party with the one vote majority will not matter at all because at least two projected winners are quite independent and deliberative in their thinking. On January 1, 2012 the time of the secure partisan voting bloc will end. That is a very positive projection for the people of Evansville.

In the race for City Clerk, Mole #69 tells us that Susan Kirk may just challenge Alberta Matlock for that position unless of course Matlock is fighting it out for a City Council seat.

Stay tuned next week for the City County Observers projections for the Mayor of Evansville race. IS IT TRUE that Rick Davis had a cast of about 35 volunteers brave the cold on his first door to door campaign on Saturday.

Clare & Company was formed by Leslie Cox in 2010 for the purpose of providing upscale children’s clothing to the families of the Evansville region. As a consignment store that specializes in upscale and always in demand labels like Ralph Lauren, Gymboree, Carter’s, and Oshkosh, Leslie is able to offer the highest quality in children’s clothing at affordable prices to Tri-State families. Leslie chose the quaint location of Downtown Newburgh to pursue her dream. Her inviting shop is located at #10 West Jennings Street just across the street from Cafe’ Aruzu.

In choosing the name Ms. Cox is showing her love for her two year old daughter Clare as well as for her childhood home of Rosiclare, Illinois, the charming town of 1,213 souls on the shores of the Ohio River where she was raised.

Leslie did not just jump into the competitive retail clothing world without acquiring valuable experience in the retail industry and doing some business planning. Ms. Cox left her home in the bucolic community of Rosiclare to become a cosmetic consultant at Sears. Her stint at Sears was followed by a climb up the corporate ladder and into J. C. Penney and finally into management of both the Home Department and the Clothing Departments of upscale retailers Dillard’s, Coldwater Creek, and Gordman’s where she learned the art of Visual Advertising.

While building her resume’ Ms. Cox did as many aspiring young people do and attended college. At college Leslie studied both human resource management and business. It was during this time that the entrepreneurship bug bit her. Clare & Company is the realization of her training, her dream, and her passion to help mothers (and even fathers) who want the best for their children on a budget. Her target market is parents that are “posh yet thrifty”. All of the inventory at Clare & Company comes from direct sellers and is thoroughly examined before cleaning for presentation on the showroom floor.

Leslie’s philosophy about entrepreneurship can be summed up by her statements that “Rome was not built in a day”, and “we much accept challenges to get anywhere in life”. With her contagious smile and her radiant personality, Leslie and her dream of Clare & Co. will be adding enduring charm with thrift to Downtown Newburgh.

Leslie’s dream for Clare & Co. is to offer lines of children;s clothing that will allow every child to be individual and unique. Yes, that word was every. Leslie lights up at the prospect of expanding her Newburgh store to other cities like Louisville, Indianapolis, and Paducah, KY. It seems like this lady from Rosiclare is on her way to realizing her unique version of the American dream.

IS IT TRUE that Mole #43 tells us that David Dunn and EVSC Superintendent Vince Bertrum may just be hatching a scheme to resurrect the ballfields onto the campuses of public high schools of Evansville?….that those five high schools will have their fields brought up to first class condition?…that we wonder just how much money will be spent to do this level of improvement?….that we are encouraged to see some innovative thinking going on around the project that will not die?

IS IT TRUE that recently defeated candidate for the Indiana House of Representatives, Mater Dei Coach Mike Goebel is being cultivated and encouraged to run for the Democratic nomination for the office of the Mayor of Evansville?

IS IT TRUE that there are now 708 days remaining in the two years that the EPA had given the City of Evansville to present an acceptable solution to the Combined Sewer Overflow problem?…..that this plan is an expensive and complex endeavor that needs immediate attention to avoid the embarrassment and expense of another round of fines?

IS IT TRUE we still wonder what the real status of the McCurdy Apartment/Condo project?…that at a time when the sound of hammers should be heard on a daily basis only the sound of pigeons and Indiana brown bats pierce the silence?….that we hope the sound of pipes bursting from freezing does not occur in this historically significant building?

IS IT TRUE we wonder how many of the notified Gage employees have re-applied for a new position with that politically and financially embattled not-for-profit organization?

IS IT TRUE we wonder who are the Board members of the Evansville Brownfield’s Corporation? ….that we also wonder about the day, time and place they meet? ….that we estimate that Evansville Brownfield’s own about 190 plus properties throughout the city?….that we wonder what criteria they use to get rid of these surplus properties?…that we wonder how it is that some buyers seem to be able to get assistance with buying properties and others can not?…that we wonder why the Director of the Metro Development, Tom Barnett’s public promise to invite the media and other members of the public to these meetings never happened? ….that we wonder exactly who appoints members to this board?…that we wonder if members of this organization’s board receive any payment for being on this secret board? ….that we hope the Evansville City Council will demand that Mr. Barnett opens these financial records and meetings to the public?

IS IT TRUE we wonder what is the mission of the Evansville Sports Corporation? ….that we wonder who are the members of its Board of Directors?…that we wonder who appointed the members to the Board?…that we wonder if board members receive any taxpayer monies to fund the functions of this not-for-profit entity?…that we finally wonder if this organization is one the groups to submit a “REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL” to the city to run the events activities at the new arena?