State reps recognize North Daviess

State Rep. Bruce Borders (R-Jasonville), along with State Rep. Mark Messmer (R-Jasper), hope more school districts take the approach to education and technology that the North Daviess School District has in recent years.

The state reps recently praised the school corporation for its technological and educational influence on students and the community.

Reps. Borders and Messmer introduced a concurrent resolution in the Indiana House honoring North Daviess Community Schools for successfully bringing technology to homes in economically deprived areas and making students better-prepared through innovative use of technology in the classroom.

"North Daviess is an example of a small, rural school that competes with -- and often surpasses -- the bigger schools in urban areas," Rep. Borders said in a news release issued to the Greene County Daily World. "And not only that, they've done such a great job that their use of technology has become a model for other schools."

Rep. Messmer noted: "Teachers need to be proactive and engaged, the way teachers at North Daviess schools are. Teachers need to be aware of what's going on in the world but also aware of where their students' abilities and needs are."

North Daviess School Board President Darin Holder said it was an honor for the school corporation to be recognized by the Indiana General Assembly.

"It is fantastic to see Reps. Messmer and Borders recognize the tremendous efforts of our students, staff and administration," Holder explained. "They wanted to share our story and accomplishments with the entire Indiana House of Representatives."

Todd Whitlock, technology coordinator at North Daviess Community Schools, also praised the accomplishments of North Daviess students.

"We are closing the digital divide," Whitlock said. "When the student graduates after having been at ND for four years, they leave with the laptop and all the content created. That concept is unheard of."

Rep. Messmer hopes other schools will take notice of what's happening at North Daviess.

"It is our hope that this kind of innovation will spread," Rep. Messmer said. "Indiana is a leading-edge state."

Exemptions for Purple Heart recipients

All Indiana Purple Heart recipients would be eligible for tuition and fee exemptions at state educational institutions if a bill passed unanimously Thursday by the Indiana House of Representatives gains final approval by Gov. Mitch Daniels.

Rep. Borders co-sponsored the bill in the House.

Last year, the Indiana General Assembly created a law allowing Purple Heart recipients, who served on active duty after Sept. 10, 2001, to apply for the tuition and fee exemption. Senate Bill 39 will expand those eligible for the exemption to include all veterans who have received a Purple Heart.

The exemption has been available to the children of these veterans for many years, and they will retain eligibility under Senate Bill 39.

"These men and women have made big sacrifices to support our freedoms," Rep. Borders said. "And, in turn, we need to support them and their families for their outstanding service. Even though we can never do enough for our veterans, this bill, hopefully, will show them how much we appreciate everything they've done for our country."

If Gov. Daniels signs the bill into law, it will become effective July 1, 2009.

Those interested in tracking this and other bills that have survived the journey to the governor's desk can visit http://www.in.gov/gov/billwatch.htm.