Wawasee School Board finance officer Dr. Brandon Penrod gives a financial report at the board’s first Work Meeting, with in-depth explanations of how school finances are raised and allocated. Photos by Maksym Hart.

By Maksym Hart
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — The Wawasee Community School Board held its first-ever public work session Monday evening, Oct. 6, at the Wawasee Professional Learning Center, a nearly three-and-a-half-hour meeting focused on transparency, budget mechanics, and upcoming capital projects.

Vice President Andy Cripe, presiding in the absence of board president Don Bokhart, opened the session by describing it as “an effort to be overly transparent,” allowing patrons to observe how board members reach decisions.

“This is meant to let you guys see the information we get, the thoughts that go into our deliberations,” Cripe said. “It’s not going to be perfect, but we’ll get better at showing the research that guides our decisions.”

Cripe emphasized the work session model was designed to make future regular meetings more efficient.

“We anticipate those meetings being much shorter, because we’ll already have discussed most of the items here,” he said, noting that several Indiana school boards have adopted similar formats.

Transparency And Patron Feedback

Public comments opened the meeting, with resident Rob Chalk commending the board for taking “a step toward greater transparency” and encouraging members to continue improving public access to information.

Wawasee School Board Vice President Andy Cripe led discussion at the board’s first Work Meeting Monday, Oct. 6, as President Don Bokhart was not available.

Patron Lissa Krull echoed Chalk’s comments. She commended the board for initiating work meetings and called for more detailed documentation of capital projects and bus replacement plans, saying accountability “isn’t a threat, it’s the foundation for healthy public institutions.”

Chalk also questioned discrepancies in the district’s state-required bus replacement plan, asking whether buses listed for purchase in 2026 had already been bought in previous years.

Superintendent Dr. Steve Troyer and Chief Financial Officer Dr. Brandon Penrod acknowledged inconsistencies in past postings, confirming that notice of the earlier plan had been missing from the website.

Penrod said the administration was working with its third transportation director in less than a year to reconcile past records.

“We met with Mrs. Krull last week,” Penrod said. “That was my mistake for not putting the plan online. We’re working to get more accurate figures.”

Deep Dive Into Budget Mechanics

Much of the evening centered on Penrod’s detailed financial report, which walked the board through the district’s 2026 budget resolution, capital projects plan, and bus replacement schedule. He explained how assessed valuation estimates from the county affect advertised tax rates and levies under state law.

Using a series of examples, Penrod outlined how the Department of Local Government Finance’s process “automatically assumes you’ll spend every dollar” of a fund’s budget unless actual expenditures are provided later.

Patron Rob Chalk, who has appeared at previous Wawasee School Board meetings, talks with board members about transparency and finances.

This creates inflated figures that must be corrected during the so-called 1782 period, when districts can appeal for lower levies.

Cripe pressed Penrod to clarify how artificially high estimates are adjusted before tax bills reach residents. “We ask for more because they’ve reduced the assessed value, but how do we make sure it corrects itself?” Cripe asked.

Penrod assured him that final levies are capped by growth limits and state oversight.

“The process balances itself out,” Penrod said. “It’s been consistent for four years.”

The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, at the Wawasee Professional Learning Center, 801 S. Sycamore St., Syracuse, where the 2026 budget and project resolutions are expected to be up for approval.