From left, are Warsaw Community Schools’ Chief Financial Officer April Fitterling and Chief Technology and Analytics Officer Kyle Carter. InkFreeNews photo by Liz Shepherd.

By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Warsaw Community Schools’ Board of Trustees, as a whole, have reached the Commendable level of the Indiana School Boards Association Exemplary Governance Awards Program for 2021.

Individually, Board Members Mike Coon and Randy Polston also reached the Commendable level of ISBA’s EGA program for 2021.

According to ISBA’s website, for individual levels, “the Commendable level for EGA recognizes a member’s commendable efforts by demonstrating a desire for advancing the principles of good governance … through participation in training, seminars, and/or conferences.”

Commendable board recognition requires that a majority of a board’s members attain EGA Level One or higher.

“I think this board is more than commendable, they’re outstanding,” said Board President Heather Reichenbach. “There’s so much work beyond the board meetings as far as preparation and committing yourselves to being aware of what’s going on in the corporation. This is just another way to acknowledge that you take your role seriously in the community and representing the community.”

Reichenbach was also recognized by the district’s human resources department for her work both at Madison Elementary School and on the board. She has contributed 10 years of continuous service to WCS.

In other business, the board heard updates from Warsaw Community High School’s student environmental club about events at the high school and recent wins in regional and state competitions.

On April 27, 10 WCHS students competed at the state envirothon competition. The senior team placed first in the written portion of the exam, including a perfect score in aquatic ecology. Their oral project on “Establishing Native Groundcover on the Hoosier Landfill” placed third. In the overall competition, the senior team placed second in the state.

Coco Grandon, president of WCHS’s environment club, said one of the club’s first initiatives was helping students learn about what materials are recyclable.

WCS Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert also reminded the public that free meals through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program will no longer be available, as the program will expire on July 1. The federal program, which was established in March 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, allowed for all public school students to receive free meals.

Chief Technology and Analytics Officer Kyle Carter said parents can fill out application forms on Warsaw Community Schools’ website requesting free or reduced school lunches for students beginning July 1. Paper forms are available, but the approval process takes longer.

The board’s next regular meeting is at 7 p.m. Monday, May 16, at Edgewood Middle School.