SYRACUSE — Wawasee School Board moved ahead with projects such as a new student activity center Tuesday and talked about donations and new curriculum for K-5 students.
Also discussed was the appointment of a new Syracuse-Turkey Creek Township Public Library board member and possible trips for Wawasee High School students in 2027 to places like Berlin, Prague and Budapest.
The regular meeting was preceded by a second public hearing - a state-mandated preliminary determination hearing for the construction of a new activity center - along with other proposed improvements for the school district. The hearing continued discussions from Feb. 4.
An activity center would provide more space for clubs, physical education and “programs that require specific but separated facilities,” explained Superintendent Dr. Steven Troyer. The space would be available for all grades.
Proposed features include basketball courts, a track, turf and other multiuse space.
Financial costs and the impact of the project were presented by Finance Officer Dr. Brandon Penrod. Penrod detailed the school corporation’s four-year running tax rate of $0.5399 per $100 of assessed value.
Tax rates for school districts are calculated by dividing its current and proposed debt service payments by the net assessed valuation of the school corporation. As old debts are paid off, new bonds can be sold to fund projects that improve the district.
The proposed projects, including the activity center, improvements and renovations such as a new generator and restoration of parking lot blacktop, would have their estimated $31 million cost funded by the selling of bonds and would not raise the tax rate in 2025. Tax rates for the corporation will decrease in 2026 if no new bonds are issued.
“These are maximum parameters,” Penrod said. “I would suspect many of these, particularly the interest costs and interest rate, would come down quite a bit. So (the cost estimates) are kind of a worst case scenario.”
Troyer estimated construction would begin in the summer, after an architect and contractor are secured. Other renovations would be done at the school corporation’s convenience.
The hearing was concluded with Board President Don Bokhart opening up the hearing for comment, of which there was none.
Later during the regular meeting, the board adopted resolutions explaining the projects and costs; the preliminary project total maximum bond amount, payment estimates, principle and tax levy; and an intent to reimburse.
After the hearing, the board opened its monthly meeting to discuss good news, learning reports and personnel recommendations.
Dr. Shelly Wilfong, assistant superintendent, led a presentation on learning reports, including the Standard Response Protocol discussed throughout the district during the professional learning day conducted the previous day. The SRP, a set of procedures for schoolwide situations such as threats, fires or natural disasters, was developed by the “I Love U Guys” Foundation. Ellen and John Michael Keyes started the foundation after their daughter, Emily, texted “I love u guys” shortly before passing away in a school shooting.
Also discussed was new K-5 English language arts curriculum materials. Because the school’s previous curriculum was not on the Indiana Department of Education vendor’s list, a group of five teachers met after school and narrowed the list of vendors to two. After both vendors were invited to present their curriculum, Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts was chosen.
Other topics mentioned in the meeting included:
• The yearly donation from Women of Today to all five Wawasee schools. Donations for 2024 were the organization’s highest yet, so $1,500 was donated instead of the usual $500-$800. Troyer commented that Women of Today events were some of his favorite to attend.
• Recognition of Julie Baird for 29 years of service to the corporation, 24 years as German teacher and five years as high school receptionist.
• Receipt of a $45,000 grant from Kosciusko County Community Foundation Infant and Toddler Care fund to Wawasee Early Learning Center.
• Recognition of WHS Choir at the Indiana State School Music’s Solo and Enssemble local competition, winning four gold and four silver medals from the eight events. They participated at the toughest level of the competition. Groups winning gold will go on to the Indianapolis competition on Feb. 22.
• Bill Lantz was appointed to the Syracuse-Turkey Creek Township Library Board.
• Overnight and out-of-state trips were discussed, including a request for a trip in the summer of 2027 to Berlin, Prague, Krakow and Budapest by WHS biology teacher Ashley Tenney. Tenney is currently preparing for a school trip to Korea and Japan in the summer of 2026, which is still accepting students and parents.
Other trips were approved for Key Club to Indianapolis Feb. 28-March 2; DECA, Orlando, Fla., April 25-30; and Super Mileage team to Lafayette, April 2-6, and Indianapolis, May 9-10.
The next meeting of the board will be 5:30 p.m. March 11.