Wawasee school board officers will remain the same for 2017 as they were in 2016. Seated is Rebecca Linnemeier, president. Standing are Mike Wilson, left, secretary, and Rob Fisher, vice president.

SYRACUSE — During a special meeting of the Wawasee school board Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, in Syracuse, the board approved the 2017-18 school corporation calendar.

Approval was given pending approval of an application to the Indiana Department of Education for the virtual option for inclement weather days. IDOE allows school corporations the option of not using snow days if they meet several criteria such as having internet access away from school buildings, students having access to teachers and being able to show continuity of work among other criteria.

Wawasee began using mobile electronic devices during the current school year. Joy Goshert, assistant superintendent, said students would be able to access teachers on either social media or more likely through Google Classroom. For those students who don’t have internet access at home, the state allows up to 10 days for assignments to be turned in.

“We are not forging our own path here,” Goshert said, noting some other school corporations have already been using the virtual option for inclement weather days. No snow makeup days were built in to the 2017-18 calendar, but if for some reason IDOE does not approve Wawasee’s application, the days will be added on to the end of the year and graduation day for the high school would be adjusted accordingly.

Goshert also noted practice runs for the virtual option would be done later this school year so students will get a feel for what will happen during inclement weather days. Other details have yet to be worked out, such as how two-hour delays would be covered. Also, adjustments would need to be made to accommodate the other two high schools in the Pathways career and technical cooperative, Fairfield and Columbia City.

The 2017-18 school year will start Aug. 17, about a week later than this school year, due to the new Syracuse Elementary School opening and to allow a little more time for summer construction projects to be completed. And there will be one extra day during Christmas break because Christmas falls on a Monday in 2017.

Also during Tuesday’s meeting, it was the annual board reorganization required each year by the state. Rebecca Linnemeier will remain as board president, Rob Fisher will remain as vice president and Mike Wilson will remain as secretary. Amanda Jackson will again be the recording secretary for board meetings and James Flecker will remain as board attorney.

Board meetings will be held at 5:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month with the exception of April, which will be the third Tuesday, and meetings are typically held in the Warrior Room of Wawasee High School. Board members will receive $2,000 plus $100 per regular meetings and $60 for special meetings paid quarterly and capped at $6,000 total.

Mary Lou Dixon and Don Bokhart will serve on the board of finances. All board members will be part of the career/technical advisors council. Dr. Tom Edington, Jim Evans, Don Ritter, Goshert and Flecker will be allowed to open sealed bids and receive quotes for school business. And Evans and Sandy Hollar will be treasurer and deputy treasurer respectively.

Flecker gave the oath of office to Bokhart and Wilson, who each were reelected in 2016 to serve on the school board.