Major upgrades coming to Wawasee schools
Students, conducted by Kris Stump, performed on the drums for the audience, showing off their music skills and the kind of activities that can take place in the SES gym. Photo by Cassidy White.
By Cassidy White
InkFreeNews
WAWASEE — As last night’s Wawasee School Board meeting came to an end, Superintendent Steve Troyer gave his report focusing on the maintenance repairs, preventative measures and upgrades to equipment already begun in places such as Wawasee Middle School.
One of the projects was replacing end caps on the roof and windows at WMS. The project gives the appearance of a facelift to the facility. James Flecker, board attorney, said, “They estimate we get about 15-20 years out of these roof caps. With the green caps added on top, they said it [the roof] should last the life of the building.”
Not only do these upgrades provide a cosmetic uplift to the school, they are as practical as they are esthetic. For the upcoming 2022-23 school year, Troyer said the corporation can expect 27 total projects to be underway, including:
• Roof replacements.
• Pool upgrades for WHS and WMS.
• Upgrades to science and art rooms.
• Repairs to the Academy.
• Security upgrades.
• Rebuilding the well.
• Electrical repairs.
• An extended pickup lot at Syracuse Elementary.
All of these projects are being done to improve the overall maintenance of the schools and ensure they stay looking and functioning well for as long as possible.
He concluded that the five priorities for these plans are:
• Establish a 10-year Capital Projects Plan adopted by the school board and posted online.
• Place higher emphasis on preventative maintenance and recording warranties.
• Provide an easier help desk for staff maintenance issues.
• Create bulk orders and storage of frequently used maintenance items to reduce downtime and unpredictable costs.
• Provide skilled training for head custodians.
Superintendent Steve Troyer was invited to string a bow and try his hand at archery. Standing to his right is Oliver Bosenberg, a student at Syracuse Elementary. Photo by Cassidy White.
Eric Speicher, principal at Syracuse Elementary, gave the school report and celebrated Syracuse Elementary’s fifth year in the building, reminiscing about when he first looked at the building seven years ago. “This school needs to have a big gym.” Speicher said many events are held in the gym, and students love the space. Students, conducted by Kris Stump, performed on the drums for the audience, and six students with Kim Jones demonstrated their skill in archery, a sport that just came to the school this year.
In good news for the evening, WMS Principal Brent Berkeypile completed his training with the Indiana Principal Leadership Institute. Other news of interest:
• Indiana School Board honored Wawasee School Board and President Don Bokhart with EGA Awards.
• The WHS Academic Super Bowl team made it into the state’s Top 10 in Class 2.
• DECA received $2,000 from the Korenstra Family Foundation.
• Wawasee Schools received $12,000 through the Connectivity Grant.
• Zimmer-Biomet donated $1,000 to the robotics program.
• Wawasee FFA received $1,000 for scholarships.
• The Turn Around Award winners were announced, which included Zena and Zoey Schullerr, twin fifth-graders at Milford; Ayden Girouard, a fifth-grader at North Webster; James Hensley, a fifth-grader at Syracuse; Klayton Losher, an eighth-grader at Milford; Antonio “Tony” Hepler, an eighth-grader at WMS; and Courtney Cox — the only one not present due to conflicting activities — a 12th-grader at WHS.
A resolution for 13 $50 Amazon gift cards for students was approved.
Troyer spoke on a policy change for transfer students, which included giving consideration to students who had been out of school for at least 12 months after bringing a weapon to school. The policy was approved.
North Webster Public Library Board of Trustees member LuAnn Kissinger put in a letter of resignation, indicating her final day was May 4. A new appointment has not yet been confirmed.
Transfers approved:
• Tamela Goff from five-hour SES to SES cafeteria manager.
• Anna Mills from five-hour Wawasee High School custodian to five-hour Milford School custodian.
• Mariah Sainer from North Webster Early Learning Center paraprofessional to Syracuse Early Learning Center paraprofessional.
• Carrie Sturgill from WHS Early Learning Center paraprofessional to Milford Early Learning Center infant/toddler lead teacher.
It was announced new curriculum materials are to be adopted, moving to Get More Math through Cengage, National Geographic: Great Civilizations for grades six and seven and Nation Geographic: U.S. History American Stories Beginnings to 1877 for grade eight. Flecker assured this would be a cost-neutral move for book rentals, meaning there is no change in what parents will pay for books. The materials were approved.
A draft for the new Teacher Evaluation Plan was published and approved, outlining the new, more productive method Wawasee Schools will use to better evaluate its teaching staff and further understand the results.
Finally, an out-of-state overnight trip was approved for the boys basketball team to travel to Findlay, Ohio, to attend the Findlay Basketball Team Camp June 20 and 21.
