From left are Rebecca Linnemeier, Wawasee school board president; Suzy Lucas, first grade teacher at Milford School; Heidi Shock, kindergarten teacher at Milford School; Dennis Pinkerton, president of Milford Lions Club; Lavone Miller, Milford Lions; and Steve Weisser, Milford Lions treasurer. Milford Lions Club made a donation of $2,500 for the outdoor classroom initiative at Milford School during the school board meeting Tuesday, Dec. 8.

SYRACUSE — During the regular monthly meeting of the Wawasee school board Tuesday, Dec. 8, in Syracuse, the board heard a very brief update on the status of the construction of the new Syracuse Elementary School on Kern Road. Bob Lahrman, director of support services, gave the update.

Lahrman noted some of the footing and wall work for two sections of the school should be completed soon. About 75 percent of the water line work is completed, most of the storm sewer work is finished and portions of driveways are completed.

Mild fall weather has allowed for work to progress further than expected, given the history of winter often arriving earlier in northern Indiana.

In other business, Joy Goshert, director of instruction and curriculum for the Wawasee school district, said notification was received from the Indiana Department of Education ISTEP+ results for 2014-15 will be released publicly later than originally expected. She noted the state received almost triple the number of rescore requests compared to past years, thereby delaying release dates for test results.

Now the projected released date is Jan. 6 to parents and teachers. As a result, accountability letter grades issued to schools by the state will be delayed until later in January, if not February, Goshert noted.

Other agenda items included:

• Milford School held a “parents and pies” program for fourth-graders that was successful, noted Dr. Tom Edington, Wawasee superintendent.

• A robotics tournament at Wawasee Middle School Nov. 21 was a success and WMS is sending two teams to the state tournament.

• The school board approved the donation of a boat motor from the Wawasee Property Owners Association for use in the marine and powersports program of the Wawasee Area Career and Technical Cooperative.

• Milford Lions Club presented a check for $2,500 as a donation to the outdoor classroom initiative at Milford School. Other donations were received in the amount of $1,000 from an anonymous donor and a $500 grant from the Indiana Teachers Retirement Foundation.

• Among the personnel recommendations approved by the board was the hiring of James Flecker as director of personnel and legal services for the 2016 calendar year. Flecker, also the attorney for the school corporation, will work in the central office and no new general fund money will be needed as he is filling an open position.

• Cindy Hilgenberg was approved by the board to be reappointed to the North Webster Library Board.

• Approval was given to purchase six new school buses (four large ones and two mini buses) at a total cost of $455,116.

• Approval was given for an overnight trip for a Wawasee High School Spanish class to Chicago and also for the super mileage cars team of WHS to go to Detroit for a few days in late April 2016.

• The board approved changing the workers compensation insurance policy to Northern Lakes Insurance of Syracuse at an annual cost of $154,320, down about $7,000 from a year ago.

• Dr. Edington acknowledge Tami Spangle, sixth-grade math teacher at Wawasee Middle School, organized efforts in October for a fundraiser for the Relay for Life of the American Cancer Society, raising $707 from staff members.

• And the board approved moving the advanced weight training class of the high school to a morning time slot.