SYRACUSE — During the regular monthly meeting of the Wawasee school board Tuesday evening, Sept. 13, in Syracuse the board heard a report from Joy Goshert, director of instruction and curriculum for the Wawasee Community School Corp. Part of her report involved an update on the 1:1 computer initiative where students and teachers were issued electronic devices for the 2016-17 school year.

Overall there has been a good start with the 1:1 initiative, she noted. There have been some problems with Smoothwall, the internet filtering system. Problems with settings have at times caused the internet to shut down. The problems have been addressed and some final tweaking remains, she added.

Instructional coaches in each of the Wawasee school buildings have been answering questions from teachers. Wednesday morning SMART Starts in each building have been dedicated to professional development involving technology integration in classrooms. Five-Star Technology Integration Services will have a team visiting Wawasee schools Sept. 19-20 to talk to students, teachers and administrators, as well as visit some classrooms.

Data will be organized and shared with Wawasee administrators so it can be used to develop a plan to make technology integration work better.

Dr. Tom Edington, Wawasee superintendent, said there has been a good response to insurance being offered as an option for parents to purchase for the 1:1 devices.

In other business, the board approved a change in policy for those students who receive an F in a class at Wawasee High School and then retake the class and earn a higher grade. Previously, if a higher grade was received on a retake the two grades would be averaged and then that would be entered on the student’s grade point average. Now the higher grade, not the average, will be entered on the GPA.

The change in policy only involves an F grade and a retake of a class. Current policy already allows for those who earn a D and get a higher grade on a retake to have the higher grade entered on their GPA.

Other agenda items included:

• The board approved an anonymous donation of $2,500 and a donation of $2,500 from The Papers Inc. for the primary outdoor classroom at Milford School.

• A grant of $1,000 was approved for the Milford School Parent Service Day.

• Kathy Myers, social studies and government teacher at Wawasee High School, attended an Indiana Supreme Court workshop Aug. 31. She was nominated by Kosciusko County Judge David Cates.

• The Bicentennial Torch Relay will have an exchange at Wawasee Middle School at approximately 11:45 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 29. Sisters Carolyn Baker and Cathy Lemberg will receive the torch then.

• About $10,500 has been raised for the Make an Impact project at Milford School where inspirational speaker Jen Bricker will visit the school either in December 2016 or March 2017.