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Congresswoman Erin Houchin (IN-09), along with Committee on Education and the Workforce Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (NC-05), has formally requested that the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) review special education services for children with disabilities enrolled in private schools to determine possible under-identification. This effort aims to address significant gaps in the identification and provision of services mandated for students under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

“Children with disabilities deserve access to the resources and support they need, regardless of the type of school they attend,” said Congresswoman Houchin. “It is unacceptable that students in private schools may be overlooked, leaving them without the assistance provided by federal law.”

Under IDEA, local educational agencies are required to evaluate all children with disabilities within their jurisdiction, including those enrolled by their parents in private schools. However, research suggests that only 3 percent of private school students are identified as having disabilities under IDEA—far below the 6 to 9 percent estimated need and significantly lower than the 13 percent identification rate for public school students.

“These discrepancies suggest widespread issues that must be addressed,” added Congresswoman Houchin. “Through this review, we can ensure that children with disabilities in private schools are no longer left behind and receive the support they need, regardless of their educational setting.”

Congresswoman Houchin remains committed to advocating for students with disabilities and their families, ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed.

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By Morgan Humphrey, SHS Student Writer

Salem Community Schools is one of many Indiana schools implementing regulations for teachers to help students with anxiety through social-emotional learning programs. In terms of bringing these regulations to Salem, there are certain guidelines that are being followed.

“Salem is currently implementing approved programming from the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE),” said Superintendent Jill Mires, adding that the second step is a program Salem purchased using Title IV funds which focuses on the development of coping skills and emotional awareness.

“This program also has lessons that focus on bully awareness and drug education,” she said.

Salem is planning professional development for all grade levels on the Zones of Regulation, which is approved by the IDOE. Teachers, students and families will learn about these zones.

“There are four types of zones, these zones will help students better understand and manage their emotions, energy, and responses,” she said. “It divides feelings and states of alertness into four color-coded zones, each representing a different type of emotion and level of energy.”

The zones are:

Blue Zone- This zone includes feelings like sadness, tiredness, or boredom, and times when we are feeling low.

Green Zone- This is the ‘ready to learn’ zone, where students feel calm, focused, and in control. It's an ideal zone for learning and positive interactions.

Yellow Zone- In this zone, students can feel excitement, frustration or worry. Students might need strategies to stay balanced.

Red Zone- This zone is for anger, panic, or elation. This zone is for students to take a step back, calm down and regain control.

When asked if teachers have to go through a certain training, Mires said, “Indiana has developed Social-Emotional Learning Competencies, similar to the standards we might hear teachers discuss for math and English. These competencies encourage practices in self-management, emotional regulation, and relationship skills, which teachers can integrate into classroom activities.”

Teachers can collaborate with school counselors or mental health professionals for support.

“These new regulations can benefit both teachers and students by helping them recognize our feelings and learn coping mechanisms to move between zones as needed,” she said. “This can help students and teachers build friendships, and improve overall well-being.”

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By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

If you never participated in the Polar Purge this could be your year! Presented by Special Olympics as a fundraiser with 19,000 members state wide, this is the 26th year of the Polar Plunge and is the largest money raising event for the organization. Their sayings are “Be Bold, Get Cold,” and “Freezin’ for a Reason.” Meeting at Deam Lake, groups and individuals step down into the water and splash around in the 194-acre ice-cold bath. Each individual must raise at least $99 to join in the fun; the state goal is one million dollars. Individuals can still make virtual donations even if the plunge is not for you. To register and donate, Click Here!

Some groups that accept new members include Hannah's Frozen Friends or the Washington Co. Chillers group. But feel free to start any group you want!

Aptly named the “world’s coolest field trip,” the first event is at Borden High School on Friday February 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. The plunge begins at 10:30 a.m. at Deam Lake and is open to students.

The community plunge is Saturday, February 15 with registration from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and the Polar Plunge beginning at noon. After the plunge is the Splash Bash at 1:00 p.m. Plungers must be 12 years old the day of the event day to enter the water. Those under the age of 18 must have a signature from parent or guardian. Questions can be emailed to Scott Furnish at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. There are several sites in the state holding this event, however Deam Lake is closest to Salem and is located at 1217 Deam Lake Road, Borden.

In 2024, the group raised $136,000, and the total that took the plunge ended up being 337 individuals and 28 groups. The groups that collected the most money were Hannah’s Frozen friends and SOIN Clark and Floyd Counties Polar Bears tied at $26,000.

Last year, even members of the Washington County Sheriff’s Department joined in and they collected $2,300 for the event! Total people that took the plunge from Washington County was 34 and in total raised $14,050. Register and donate today to have a great time supporting a great cause!

Polar Plunge 2

Polar Plunge 3 Washington Co. Chillers Polar Plunge 4

Polar Plunge 5 Group from Prosser.

Polar Plunge 6

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By Monika Spaulding, Writer

Helping students find the right career path is just one of the many jobs Salem High School counselor Jennifer Martin is tasked with.

“All students are required to graduate with a pathway,” she said. “Lots of people think of the CTE pathways, but that is only one option for a student to earn a pathway.” Martin said there are several ways students can achieve this:

Receive an Academic or Technical Honor Diploma
Receive a qualifying score on the SAT (480 (English) and 530 (Math))
Receive a qualifying score on the ACT (18 English, 22 Math, 22 Reading, 23 Science)
Receive a 31 on the ASVAB (now only applies to students that enlist in the military)
Industry certification (has to be on the DWD list). (Some of our Prosser students receive this. Some of our students go to the local nursing home and get their CNA)
Federally recognized apprenticeship (we don't have this in high school)
CTE Concentrator (our Prosser students all qualify this way if their grades at Prosser are C- or higher. We have some students that take these classes on PLATO (6 classes with a C- or higher). This is the last option if they don't meet the "Box 3" requirements another way)
AP/Dual Credit- Students need a C- or higher in 3 dual credit/AP courses. One of the 3 courses has to be in a core content area (English, math, science, social studies)
Locally created pathway. We now have the Fine Arts/Journalism Pathway
Waiver- we have not had any students issued a Pathway Waiver- 100% of our students complete a pathway.

“Many of our students complete more than one of the options in Box 3,” she said, adding that the majority of SHS graduates graduate with option 1, 2, and/or 8. The second most popular pathway route is option 7.

“We have five CTE pathways through the classroom and eight CTE pathways through PLATO and several at Prosser,” Martin explained. The multiple pathways are a state requirement, which encourages students to focus on a future career path.

“The new high school diploma requirements starting with the Class of 2029 are even more focused on a career path,” she said. “If a student starts on one CTE path and then changes his/her mind, it is almost impossible to change to another one because of the number of courses that are required.”

Martin said while it is good for a student to work toward a career, she prefers they have the option to explore several options.

“Very few people are actually in a career they thought they would be when in high school,” she said.

A career (CTE) pathway is a series of courses that are required to prepare a student to enter the workplace. This often will include dual credit and/or industry certifications while in high school.

“I would like to work with the hospital/medical providers and have a health science pathway for our students,” Martin said. “It would also be nice to have a construction pathway.”

Equus, the school’s aviation partner, will be adding aviation mechanics soon and that will be a good option for students as well.

Martin said some of the course work has to be dual credit, so the teacher has to be dual credit certified.

“You need someone to teach the course(s),” she said. “You also have to have enough students interested in the course to be able to offer it. Depending on the course, you may need equipment and tools. We would like to expand the manufacturing pathway, but we do not have the manpower to teach it.”

Salem students start looking at pathways in 8th grade and they need to establish one as a sophomore in order to get all of the classes taken if they are looking into a CTE pathway.

“I feel we have a solid group of CTE options and Prosser is a great option for some of our students,” said Martin. “Our dual credit options are numerous, so all students could meet Box 3 with the dual credit pathway.”

SHS counselors continue to stay on top of the changing educational requirements in the state to make sure students are prepared for their next step after high school.

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By Morgan Humphrey, SHS Student Writer

Books & Braids Salon is coming to Bradie Shrum Elementary. Kala Ponder, one of the elementary school counselors, is the sponsor. This club was created as an outreach group program for all BSE students in two ways.

“The first reason was to guide fifth-grade girls into leadership roles that are impactful to their community,” said Ponder. “The second reason was to make students feel good about coming to school.

“If we can help parents in the morning with their child’s hair, or offer a braid to make a girl smile, we are going to try our best to accomplish that!” Ponder added.

Open from 7:45-8:15 a.m., students have the opportunity to tell their teachers they would like to book a salon appointment. There will be individual time slots, so all attention will go to the student in the chair. Any girl at the elementary school can book an appointment.

The Girls Coalition helped jump-start the project. Along with various donors in the community.

“Thanks to the organization and community partners, the Lunch Brunch girls joined forces with the Girls Coalition and came up with the idea to braid hair in the morning and even read a book while it happens,” said Ponder. The salon will be located in Bradie Shrum's library.

The Girls Coalition will meet a total of six times and are already on day four. If the salon has a successful turnout, more dates will become available for students in the future.

“I want the girls to gear up for middle school and start thinking about giving back to their community,” concluded Ponder.