More than 70 Wawasee area residents assembled Wednesday evening at Calvary United Methodist to hear about plans for a new elementary school in Syracuse.

Dr. Tom Edington, superintendent of Wawasee Community School Corporation, presented the details in the second installment of the Calvary Community Series sponsored by the church.

“We have a plan for our school district,” Edington began. “We hope a (school) building will last for 80 years, depending on several factors. With five schools and an 80-year cycle, we look to build a new school every 16 years, either by wholly or partially replacing buildings.”

Syracuse Elementary, portions of which are more than 60 years old, is the first school slated for replacement.

Construction plans are tailored to meet the shifting demands of local demographics and culture. Instead of having a central courtyard, such as exists at the present elementary school, the new structure is designed with “six spokes” radiating from a central hub with each spoke accommodating one grade level (K through fifth grade).

The new school will have four classrooms for each grade, instead of the six in the current location. District enrollment peaked in 1995 with 3,652 students. This year 3,154 attend Wawasee schools.

The new school will be located along Kern Road on a 15-acre parcel including the former high school football field and wooded acreage. The town of Syracuse has agreed to provide the utilities.

Edington highlighted the tax savings for the new construction. “When the school is done the tax rate will be lower,” he said, explaining current debt obligation will be extinguished in 2017 and the new debt will accrue at a lower interest rate.

The location is optimal, according to Edington. “We could have a sidewalk to the high school,” he said, “and the railroad is planning to put in a crossing at Oak Street.”

There is “nothing presently wrong” with the current Syracuse Elementary building. “It has a really nice big gym and we plan to retain that building,” said Edington. “The present building is in good shape including energy and safety features. There is extra room for extra programs.” Potential uses include housing the alternative high school program, providing space for Rock Solid daily and summer activities and setting up an arts center. The school board will discuss further options.

But the present facility’s cafeteria can only accommodate one grade level at a time, unduly extending the lunch hour during the day. The new school will feed two grades per lunch session.

After his presentation, Edington took questions from the audience about bus service, nutrition guidelines throughout the district, later start times for the schools and efforts to return Indiana to central time.

The evening’s program concluded with a meet-and-greet session in the church’s dining area. Exhibitors included Destiny Rescue, Calvary programs, Alzheimer’s Association caregiver support group, Teen Parents Succeeding, Syracuse Food Pantry, Syracuse Parks and Recreation and Habitat for Humanity.

The next installment of the three-part series will take place at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 24, at Calvary United Methodist, 801 S. Huntington St., Syracuse. For more information, call (574) 457-3778 or visit www.syracusecalvaryumc.org.