From left are board members Jeremy Mullins, President Heather Reichenbach and Dan Metzger.

WARSAW — The board of school trustees for Warsaw Community Schools packed two meetings into one session Monday night, July 23, in what could be considered some of the last meetings before buses arrive with students in the fall for the next school year.

The board conducted a work session that consisted of a mix between 2019 budget details as well as welcoming of new personnel and championing of existing programs.

New assistant principal
The board welcomed incoming Assistant Principal Matthew Barrett. He was introduced to the board by Warsaw Community High School Principal Troy Akers.

“Matthew was hired to replace Angela Huffman as assistant principal, said Akers. “Angela has moved out of the district. Matthew will be the lead for the Class of 2022. This would be our incoming freshman class.”

Akers said Barrett comes to the school corporation from Lawrence Township in Indianapolis where he was a middle school science teacher and department leader.

School nursing program
The board also heard a presentation from Nurse Coordinator Tracey Akers who applauded the efforts of the district’s nurses and stressed the importance of these staff members to the school corporation’s overall goals.

Nurse Coordinator Tracey Akers

“The Indiana Department of Education extremely values school nurses,” she said. Akers told the board that four of the district’s 12 nurses have left and that she would be filling those positions before the school year begins.

“They’ve been great, working hard together as a group,” she continued. “We always try to share each other’s stories so that we can learn from each other.”

Akers profiled three of the school corporation’s nurses — Julie Reed, Jeanine DeGeeter and Amy Grill. Reed, the nurse for Claypool Elementary School, was highlighted for creating a clothing store where needy children can shop for clothes free of charge. Students who use the program are also encouraged to bring clothes in that they no longer can wear in an effort to help them learn to pay it forward. DeGeeter, Harrison Elementary School’s nurse, introduced a program called Heimlich Heroes, where specially-made dolls are used to teach students how to deliver the well-known technique in cases of someone choking. Akers profiled the efforts of Grill, nurse for Jefferson Elementary School who facilitated efforts that made it possible for a disabled student to participate in trick or treat.

Akers said her nursing staff had more than 56,000 visits from students and staff during the previous school year. “That includes any type of illness, injury or occurrence.” In each visit, nurses strive to care for the student with a hope of being able to return the student to the classroom. In about three percent of the cases, students are sent home, Akers said.

Preliminary proposed budget
Chief Financial Officer Brandon Penrod explained the preliminary proposed budget for 2019, which totals $82,021,335. Of that proposed budget, $44,905,627 is proposed for the education fund and $23,444,486 is proposed for operations. The remainder of the budget comes from the corporation’s debt service, referendum fund and pension debt. Penrod said that as is the case each year, the corporation advertises high in anticipation of cuts.

In other business, the board:

• Heard about four grants either received by the school corporation or requested. The grants include $50,000 for school safety; $50,000 for Duel Language Immersion, a Title IV grant of $61,022.47; and a Title I grant of $862,055.14 is projected.
• Heard about a four-acre parcel of land currently being pursued by the school corporation near Claypool Elementary School.
• Reminded parents who are having trouble registering their children online to seek help at the school corporation’s administration office during regular business hours.
• Heard a report from Dr. David Hoffert that the school corporation is seeking several math teachers as the district currently has a shortage of two math teachers.