Jennifer Phillips, back left,  was approved as the replacement for Dr. Sandra Weaver as the director of special services, who will retire at the end of the school year. Shown are Jennifer and Jeff Phillips with their children, in front from left, Radley, Wyatt and Lincoln Phillips.

SYRACUSE — A few supporters of Jon Everingham, now the former Wawasee High School boys basketball coach, spoke during the regular monthly meeting of the school board Tuesday afternoon, April 16. The meeting was held in the media center of Wawasee Middle School.

Jack Beer (Everingham’s father-in-law), Derek Coy, Randy Smith and Andy Cripe all spoke in support of Everingham. His contract to coach boys basketball expired and he was not offered a new contract, though apparently there was some confusion about his status.

Dr. Tom Edington, Wawasee Community School Corporation superintendent, issued the following statement Wednesday morning, April 17:

“The Wawasee School Corporation Board of School Trustees met on Tuesday, April 16, for its monthly transaction of school business. Several school patrons spoke in support of the basketball program and head coach. It was not until after the meeting that I discovered some of the visitors did not know that the decision to not renew Mr. Everingham’s coaching contract for the 2019-2020 school year had already been determined.

“Mr. Everingham also serves Wawasee as career and technical director, an ever-expanding part of opportunities we are adding for students to make good livings in our community. After a careful review, I determined that administering the career/technical program and head coaching boys basketball were not in the best interests of either program and your school district.

“Please contact me at [email protected] with your thoughts as we work together for the education of our 3,000 community youth.”

In other business, the board heard a brief report about the high ability program from Lisa Ernsberger, coordinator of the program. This used to be known as the gifted student program and includes students who test at a certain level, starting with English and language arts and math.

They take accelerated classes and more college level courses in high school, including advanced placement courses. Ernsberger said she received a competitive grant three years ago and a focus has been placed on academics, social and emotional skills.

Also during the meeting, the board heard positive comments from Mark Lewinski, who said teachers and administrators made a tremendous impact on his son, who was born in Vietnam and came to the United States in eighth grade not being able to speak any English. He went from a struggling student to straight A’s and now being able to graduate from high school and going to college to study mechanical engineering.

Other agenda items included:

• The board approved several retirement requests including John Blunk, Keith Bollman, Charlotte Jessie, Brenda MacOwan, Mike MacOwan, Mike Malcolm, Connie Meadows, Deb Minear, Nancy Rehling, Leona Shelton, Ed Waltz and Dr. Sandra Weaver.

• Jennifer Phillips was approved as the replacement for Dr. Weaver as the director of special services, who will retire at the end of the school year.

• An empty lot in the Country Cove subdivision off Syracuse-Webster Road near the high school was approved as the site for the 2019-20 building trades project.

• For the first time since Dan Bauer has taught culinary arts at the high school, all of his students passed the ServSafe exam, a national test given by the National Restaurant Association.

• The high school auto mechanics class received a donation of a 2001 Honda Odyssey mini van from Chad and Dawn Hoffert.

• Ten ice fishing spuds were donated by Wirco Inc. to the Warrior Fishing Club.

• Rogers Electro-Matics made a donation to North Webster Elementary to be used toward unpaid lunch balances.

• High school wrestlers who qualified for the state tournament were recognized, including Braxton Alexander, state runner-up in the 138-pound weight class.

• Several out of state or overnight trips were approved by the board, including the high school super mileage car team to England in early July.

• Collective Sun was approved to replace Stearns Bank to finance the solar project.