School City of Whiting

09/04/2026

We are excited to introduce the third new member of the James J. Buckley Wall of Fame Committee!

Please join us in welcoming Paul Honeycutt to the committee! We are grateful for his willingness to serve and help us continue the proud tradition of recognizing individuals who have made a lasting impact on the School City of Whiting and the Whiting community.

Biography:
Paul Honeycutt proudly graduated from Whiting High School in 2002 and has been connected to the Whiting community since his family moved there in 1986. During his time living in Whiting, Honeycutt was involved with Whiting Little League as a player and a coach, and while at WHS, Honeycutt enjoyed many of the extracurriculars that the school offered, such as Baseball, Booster Club, Spanish Club, and Student Council, to name a few.

After receiving the great education and experience that Nathan Hale, WMS and WHS provided, Honeycutt attended Calumet College of St. Joseph in Whiting, where he graduated in 2007 with a degree in English and Professional Writing with a journalism concentration. While at CCSJ, Honeycutt played baseball for four years and was a member of the first-ever four-year graduating class in the program’s history. He also served on CCSJ’s student newspaper, The Shavings, as a sportswriter for four years and as Co-Editor-in-Chief for two years.

Honeycutt went on to work as a freelance sportswriter for the Northwest Indiana Times for 16 years and is currently a contributor to the Indiana Preps Sports Network, where he covers high school athletics throughout the northern part of the state, particularly in The Region. His writing combines game reporting with personal stories that highlight the people, traditions, and history behind Northwest Indiana sports.

In his 20 years of covering Region sports, Honeycutt has written extensively about Whiting athletics, with his work demonstrating a strong connection to the Whiting community and a passion for preserving and promoting its sports history, including reflections on former Whiting football coach Jeff Cain and coverage of significant moments in the Oilers’ football program.

In addition to covering Region sports, Honeycutt works as a VP Quality Manager at a law firm and as a sales associate and safety trainer at his local Home Depot. Honeycutt also currently volunteers with his local Little League, Plainfield Athletic Club, where he functions as the league’s Safety Officer and Commissioner of two of the league’s divisions, as he was recognized by Little League International as part of the LL Community Heroes program and nominated for the 2026-2027 Community Hero of the Year.

As a coach, writer, and volunteer, Honeycutt is also incredibly honored and humbled to serve on the James J. Buckley Wall of Committee to recognize and memorialize the contributions people have made to Whiting and its outstanding community.

One District! One Commitment!
All Oilers! All In! 💚🤍

09/03/2026

🌟 James J. Buckley Wall of Fame Committee Spotlight 🌟

We are excited to introduce the second member of our newly formed James J. Buckley Wall of Fame Committee—Brett Jennings!

Brett’s connection to Whiting and his commitment to our community make him a great addition to this important committee. He will join our other committee members in helping recognize and celebrate the individuals whose accomplishments, service, and dedication have made a lasting impact on the School City of Whiting and the Oiler community.

Short Biography:
Brett Jennings is a proud 1998 graduate of Whiting High School whose connection to the school and community continued long after graduation. He returned to WHS as an educator and spent 20 years teaching and coaching football, basketball, and baseball before moving on in 2022. He now teaches at Crown Point High School.

Brett’s service to Whiting has also extended beyond the classroom and athletic field. He served for five years on the Board of Directors of the Vic Sahagun Scholarship Fund, helping the organization award more than $20,000 in scholarships to Whiting High School student-athletes.

He currently chairs the committee for the Diane Jennings Memorial Scholarship, which was established in memory of his mother. The scholarship has awarded nearly $7,000 to deserving female seniors at Whiting High School, continuing Diane’s legacy through support for young women in the Whiting community.

In addition to his work in education, Brett broadcasts high school and college football for Heartland Sports and ESPN+. As an educator, coach, broadcaster, and community volunteer, he is honored to serve on the Whiting High School Hall of Fame Committee and help recognize those who have contributed to the school’s proud history and tradition.

Please join us in welcoming Brett Jennings to the James J. Buckley Wall of Fame Committee! ALL OILERS! ALL IN!

💚 Honoring Our Past. Inspiring Our Future.

09/02/2026

🌟 James J. Buckley Wall of Fame Committee Spotlight 🌟

We are proud to recognize John Lovasko as one of five new members of the James J. Buckley Wall of Fame Committee!

The James J. Buckley Wall of Fame celebrates the individuals who have helped shape the proud history and tradition of the School City of Whiting and our community.

We appreciate John for volunteering his time and talents to help continue this special tradition and ensure the accomplishments of outstanding Oilers are recognized and remembered for generations to come. ALL OILERS! ALL IN!

Biography:

John Lovasko is a lifelong member of the Whiting community and a proud graduate of Whiting High School, Class of 1976. For 50 years, John owned and operated Lovasko Studio/Memory Makers Inc., proudly serving generations of Whiting families and schools. He was also the official school photographer for Whiting High School for many years.

John and his wife, Jean Lovasko, raised three children—Jonathon, Emelie, and Mollie—all of whom are proud graduates of Whiting High School. Jean also proudly served the Whiting community, working in the Whiting High School library for 15 years.

John is honored to serve as vice president of the Buckley Whiting Hall of Fame, of which he is also a proud member. Having spent his entire life in Whiting, John is grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community he has always called home and to help recognize and celebrate the outstanding individuals who have made Whiting a special place to live, work, and raise a family.

Stay tuned for the 2nd new committee member!

09/01/2026

🏐 OILER VOLLEYBALL VICTORY! 💚🤍

It was great to attend the Varsity Volleyball match yesterday as our Lady Oilers took on Lake Station and came away with an impressive 3-set victory!

More importantly, our student-athletes represented the School City of Whiting with pride, effort, and sportsmanship. That is what being an Oiler is all about!

Congratulations to our players and coaches on a great win. Keep working, keep competing, and continue getting better every day!

We are proud of you! 💚🤍

All Oilers! All In!
One District! One Commitment! 🏐

08/31/2026

📚 Understanding Indiana’s Expansion of School Vouchers -

Please read the article! Link below.

Beginning with the 2026–27 school year, Indiana’s Choice Scholarship Program is now available to all families, regardless of income. These vouchers use state dollars to help pay tuition at participating private and parochial schools.

Why does this matter to public schools?

Indiana public schools rely heavily on state funding tied to student enrollment. When students leave a public school and use a voucher to attend a private school, funding follows that student, creating additional financial pressure on public school districts.

It is also important to remember a fundamental responsibility of public education: public schools serve all students. We do not get to select the students who walk through our doors. Regardless of a student's academic needs, disability, family circumstances, or the level of support they may require, our responsibility is to welcome them, support them, and work every day to provide a high-quality educational experience.

At the same time, public schools must continue maintaining staff, programs, transportation, facilities, safety, special education services, technology, and other essential services—even as funding becomes increasingly challenging.

This is another important piece of the conversation about why Indiana public schools are facing difficult financial decisions and why many are asking their communities for additional support.

https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2026/08/21/braun-touts-start-of-universal-school-choice-in-indiana/

All Oilers! All In! 💚🤍

Indiana's K-12 school voucher program reached a new milestone when students returned this month: All Hoosier students are now eligible for the state's publicly-funded choice scholarship to offset the cost of private tuition, regardless of family income.

08/31/2026

🍎 School Meal Price Update for 2026–2027 🍎

Oiler Families,

We want to make sure all families are aware that school breakfast and lunch prices have increased for the 2026–2027 school year. Please see the updated prices below:

I am sorry if we did not communicate this clearly with all families before school started.

🥣 Breakfast
• High School: $1.90
• Middle School: $1.85
• Elementary School: $1.80

🍽️ Lunch
• High School: $3.25
• Middle School: $3.15
• Elementary School: $2.85

Reduced-Price Meals – All Schools
• Breakfast: $0.30
• Lunch: $0.40

The updated prices are also available on our cafeteria menus and with our free and reduced meal information.

Thank you for helping us make sure all of our Oiler families are informed!

💚🤍 One District! One Commitment!

08/31/2026

This is "School City of Whiting - Common Questions About Referendums" by CIESC Media Services on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

08/31/2026

Parents/Guardians please see email below in Flyer:

08/29/2026

For informational purposes only:

We know there have been many questions and concerns regarding the School City of Whiting’s upcoming Operating Referendum.

We want our community to have clear and accurate information about why the referendum is needed, what it will support, and what it means for the future of our schools.

🎥 Please take a few minutes to watch this informational video about the Operating Referendum and learn more about how it will help us continue providing our students with the programs, resources, and highly effective staff they deserve.

Thank you to our Whiting families and community members for taking the time to stay informed and engaged.

https://vimeo.com/1210578530

💚 !

This is "School City of Whiting - Common Questions About Referendums" by CIESC Media Services on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

08/27/2026

# # 📰 WHY ARE SO MANY INDIANA PUBLIC SCHOOLS SEEKING REFERENDUMS?

Across Indiana, public school districts are preparing for **referendums in November 2026**. Why?

A major reason is **Senate Enrolled Act 1 (SEA 1).**

# # # WHAT IS SEA 1?

SEA 1 was passed by the Indiana General Assembly in 2025 as a property-tax relief measure. While the legislation provides savings for property owners, it also **reduces the amount of property-tax revenue available to many local governments and public school districts.**

For schools, that means **less local revenue to support the same students, staff, programs, buildings, and services.**

# # # WHY DOES THIS MATTER?

Public schools still have the responsibility of providing students with a safe, high-quality education. The costs of transportation, utilities, insurance, technology, staffing, building maintenance, safety and security, and educational programs do not disappear when revenue is reduced.

That creates a difficult reality:

**Less revenue + continued costs = difficult decisions for public schools.**

# # # WHY A REFERENDUM?

A referendum gives **local voters the opportunity to decide** whether to provide additional local funding for their public schools.

Depending on the type of referendum, those dollars can help districts maintain educational programs and staffing or address important facility, safety, technology, and infrastructure needs.

# # # WHITING IS NOT ALONE

Right now over 30 Indiana public school districts are running a referendum campaign for the November of 2026 elections.

As we move forward, we will continue sharing information so our Whiting community understands the challenges facing Indiana public schools and what they mean for Whiting.

**One District! One Commitment!**

**All Oilers! All In! 💚🤍**