SYRACUSE — Remote controlled robots “invaded” the Wawasee school board meeting. But only for a few minutes and for the purpose of a demonstration.

During the regular monthly meeting of the board Tuesday evening, May 10, in Syracuse the Wawasee High School Robotics Club, nicknamed Iron Pride, received recognition and also gave a brief demonstration on what their competitions during the school year consisted of.

Jed Wandland, robotics teacher at WHS and also the faculty advisor for the club, spoke to the board while the robots were maneuvered around the floor by a few members of the Robotics Club. Wandland noted the robots were programmed to be able to toss Nerf balls into a net from a certain distance. This was demonstrated during the board meeting, held in the Warrior Room of WHS.

Wawasee entered several teams in the state championships in Indianapolis in March with the best placing being 16th overall. Wandland said matches are about two minutes long and during the two minutes as many as 50 to 60 balls could possibly be tossed into the net.

There are currently 45 students in the Robotics Club and only five are seniors. Wandland said he expects even more growth next year and anticipates anywhere from 50 to 60 students to be in the club.

Robotics Club members receiving certificates of appreciation during the meeting included Luke Tyler, Braxton Oberg, Ivy Rehborg, Joe LeCount, Ethan Hays and Timothy Michaels. Conner Erlenwein was not able to attend the meeting.

In other business, the board heard an update from Bob Lahrman, director of support services, about the progress of the construction of the new Syracuse Elementary School. Locker room and mezzanine walls are completed. The north wall of unit C, which will be the office and media center complex, is 18 feet high and the overall height will be 31 feet.

Storm lines from the gym roof have been connected to the storm sewer system. Domestic water lines will be filled, chlorinated and tested. Concrete floors are poured in unit C and group restroom floors are poured in units B, D and E.

Material for the gym roof will be delivered this week. Masons will be starting the cafeteria walls soon and continuing with the high walls in unit C.

Lahrman noted some parts of construction are ahead of schedule and, remarkably, only 11 workdays have been lost since work began in September.

Also during Tuesday’s meeting, the board approved resolutions to establish the need for renovations at North Webster Elementary School. Due to refinancing bonds from 2005, there will be approximately $2 million available. Dr. Tom Edington, superintendent of Wawasee schools, noted specific details have yet to be worked out, but work could involve replacing some parts of the roof, replacing carpeting and improving the energy efficiency of the building by updating the boiler room and lighting.

“It’s better for us to use this money to pay for renovations of a building than to pay on the interest on the bond,” he said. A public hearing on the renovations is scheduled for the June 14 board meeting.

Work would not begin until the summer of 2017, but Edington noted there is a deadline to meet with refinancing the bond so the process must begin now.