Little robots flipped, skipped and scurried on a table during a demonstration for Warsaw Community Schools Corp. board members.

Robotics coach Davy Hudson presented her son Ben Hudson, Marissa Schramm, John Phillips and Joshua Lyle, all Eisenhower Elementary school students, to the board Monday.

The kids told how the robotics club teaches educational standards and gave a demonstration of the little machines.

They and several classmates from Washington, Lincoln, and Madison elementaries participated in Lego Robotics competitions at the local and national level. They meet five hours a week for eight weeks, but Hudson said they usually spend more time than is required.

Hudson said Zimmer, DePuy and Medtronic engineers participate in the program and the companies pay for supplies and travel to competitions.

Robotics is open to children ages 9 to 15 years old. Although there are programs available, there is no correlating activity at the high school.

Three citizens came forward asking questions answered by superintendent David McGuire. Angela fulton had heard a rumor theat Astroturf would be installed in the new football stadium, a question Mcguire answered with a firm "No."

She also asked about all-day kindergarten, a proposal made by Gov. Joe Kernan in his recent State of the State address.

McGuire said the corporation is unable to finance such a plan, that the state reimbursement is $1,500 per student.

"I don't see how we could afford it," he said.

All-day kindergarten is voluntary.

Fulton said she had a map indicating where Silver lake students will go "and there is not one empty room. If they do go to full day kindergarten, you won't have the space. It's not that far off. What would you do then?"

She asked if there was a study regarding the future needs of the schools, and McGuire said there wasn't.

"We have to work on it," he said. "We're doing what we're doing (closing three schools) for financial needs.

Valerie Rowland said Jefferson and Lincoln elementaries, classes McGuire said was paid for with Title I funds. He said when that financing has ended, the all-day kindergarten will end.

Rick Skooley asked why closing three schools is good for children.

McGuire said the topic had been gone over again and again, it was either close schools or cut programs, and the closings are for financial reasons.

Skooley asked what would happen to the buildings.

Mcguire said the building's fate hadn't been discussed with the board yet but they would be offered to the townships, to the town or offered a public auction.

Skooley predicted the current board members would be voted out at the next opportunity, "hopefully real soon, so we can get the schools reopened."

Board member Ron Yeiter asked when the teachers would know about their next placements.

McGuire said theat decision was a month ahead of schedule and they would be advised by next week.

"We should not have to eliminate any teachers," he said.

In other business the board:

• Thanked Biomet, the Biomet Foundation, Betty Clover, Farmers State Bank, Lake City Bank, national City Bank, Maple Leaf Farms and the Gilsinger Implement Co. for their donations toward the Leesburg Elementary sign.

• Heard the Dekko Foundation presented a grant award of $2,698 to Warsaw Community High School instructor Joanna Allison for the purchase of a visual presenter and LCD projector.

• Heard WCS chief financial officer Rande Thorpe will be honored as Region Two's "W004 School Business Official of the Year" by the Indiana Association of School Business Officials at their May 13 annual meeting.

• Heard student enrollment, as of Jan. 8, is 6,475 students. The figures, with 2003 numbers in parenthesis are: 146 (137) at Atwood, 143 (160) at Claypool, 525 (516) at Eisenhower; 600 (612) at Harrison, 310 (301) at Jefferson; 457 (464) at Leesburg, 441 (425) at Lincoln, 447 (445) at Madison, 149 (150) at Silver Lake, 406 (409) at Washington, 478 (447) at Edgewood, 455 (546) at Lakeview; 1,773 (1,779) at the high school; 34 (33) at the Alternative Learning Center.

• Approved Jon Cook as a WCHS science teacher; Tiffany Alberts as the seventh grade girls' basketball coach at Lakeview; Darrell Carr Jr. as the wrestling coach at Edgewood; the resignation of Paul Boyd as the girl's varsity track coach at WCHS; Nina Williams; the resignation as the boys' track coach at Silver Lake; and maternity leave for Carmen Elliott, speech/language pathologist, from Jan. 7 to March 15.

• Approved the 2004 - 2005 school calendar with school beginning Aug. 19 and ending May 30, 2005.

• Approved renaming "Career Art" "Studio Art" and a three year waiver for the non-standard course. [[In-content Ad]]