Warsaw Schools Hires WPD Chief As Safety, Security Director
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Warsaw's police chief now has a second job - as safety and security director for Warsaw Community Schools.
Steve Foster, recently appointed as chief of the Warsaw Police Department, will begin his duties immediately. The Warsaw school board approved the position Monday.
Dr. Lee Harman, school superintendent, said Monday that the school corporation has been proactive for several years on the issue of school safety.
"It's going to continue to grow in importance and complexity. We need outside expertise and experience," he said.
The part-time position will require the equivalent of one day a week, he said, and will pay $10,000 per year. The board said it anticipates state grant funds to help cover the salary.
Foster has advised the schools in the past on safety and security issues.
The board approved the position of safety and security director, with board member Dan Robinson voting against the proposal and board president Craig Allebach, former police chief, abstaining.
The board also approved final revisions for several policies, including the athletic code of conduct, requirements for graduation, co- and extracurricular code of conduct and academic dishonesty.
For the athletic code, a first violation of the drug and alcohol policy will result in a 365-day suspension from "scheduled competitions" but will allow the student to attend practices and travel with the team.
A second offense will result in a second 365-day suspension from the date of the second offense along with 50 hours of service within the school corporation.
A third violation will end the student's athletic career at WCS.
Students who participate in co- and extracurricular activities will be subject to the same penalties as athletes.
Graduation requirements at Warsaw Community High School were increased from 38 credits to 42, with the additional four credits being required in science, social studies or math.
Paul Crousore, WCHS principal, said with block scheduling, a student usually earns 16 credits per year, or 64 in four years.
The recommended 42 credits is the minimum a student can accumulate and still graduate.
The academic dishonesty policy has three parts. If a student cheats or copies in class or plagiarizes, he receives no credit for the paper or project.
If he buys or sells a paper, he gets no credit for the paper or project and could be suspended. The number of days' suspension would be at the administrator's discretion.
Students who steal a paper or a test answer key on the first offense receive no credit for the paper or test and one to three days' suspension; second offense, no credit and three to 10 days' suspension; and third offense, request for expulsion.
The academic dishonesty penalties are based on recommendations from the Indiana School Board Association attorney.
In other business:
• Technology director Dennis VanDuyne reported that, by fall, networking of all school buildings should be complete, but individual classroom computers may not yet be hooked up.
VanDuyne also said that of the more than 2,000 computers in the school system, 66 percent are more than five years old. He added that maintaining the growing number of services being offered will be an increasing challenge.
• Business manager Rande Thorpe said the proposed 2000 budget will be advertised beginning July 21, with a public hearing on the budget scheduled for Aug. 9. A special meeting is set for Aug. 23 to adopt the budget.
• Harman reported that total WCS enrollment at the end of the school year was 6,221 students, approximately 40 less than last year at this time.
The school board meets at 7 p.m. in the administration building on the second Monday of each month. [[In-content Ad]]
Warsaw's police chief now has a second job - as safety and security director for Warsaw Community Schools.
Steve Foster, recently appointed as chief of the Warsaw Police Department, will begin his duties immediately. The Warsaw school board approved the position Monday.
Dr. Lee Harman, school superintendent, said Monday that the school corporation has been proactive for several years on the issue of school safety.
"It's going to continue to grow in importance and complexity. We need outside expertise and experience," he said.
The part-time position will require the equivalent of one day a week, he said, and will pay $10,000 per year. The board said it anticipates state grant funds to help cover the salary.
Foster has advised the schools in the past on safety and security issues.
The board approved the position of safety and security director, with board member Dan Robinson voting against the proposal and board president Craig Allebach, former police chief, abstaining.
The board also approved final revisions for several policies, including the athletic code of conduct, requirements for graduation, co- and extracurricular code of conduct and academic dishonesty.
For the athletic code, a first violation of the drug and alcohol policy will result in a 365-day suspension from "scheduled competitions" but will allow the student to attend practices and travel with the team.
A second offense will result in a second 365-day suspension from the date of the second offense along with 50 hours of service within the school corporation.
A third violation will end the student's athletic career at WCS.
Students who participate in co- and extracurricular activities will be subject to the same penalties as athletes.
Graduation requirements at Warsaw Community High School were increased from 38 credits to 42, with the additional four credits being required in science, social studies or math.
Paul Crousore, WCHS principal, said with block scheduling, a student usually earns 16 credits per year, or 64 in four years.
The recommended 42 credits is the minimum a student can accumulate and still graduate.
The academic dishonesty policy has three parts. If a student cheats or copies in class or plagiarizes, he receives no credit for the paper or project.
If he buys or sells a paper, he gets no credit for the paper or project and could be suspended. The number of days' suspension would be at the administrator's discretion.
Students who steal a paper or a test answer key on the first offense receive no credit for the paper or test and one to three days' suspension; second offense, no credit and three to 10 days' suspension; and third offense, request for expulsion.
The academic dishonesty penalties are based on recommendations from the Indiana School Board Association attorney.
In other business:
• Technology director Dennis VanDuyne reported that, by fall, networking of all school buildings should be complete, but individual classroom computers may not yet be hooked up.
VanDuyne also said that of the more than 2,000 computers in the school system, 66 percent are more than five years old. He added that maintaining the growing number of services being offered will be an increasing challenge.
• Business manager Rande Thorpe said the proposed 2000 budget will be advertised beginning July 21, with a public hearing on the budget scheduled for Aug. 9. A special meeting is set for Aug. 23 to adopt the budget.
• Harman reported that total WCS enrollment at the end of the school year was 6,221 students, approximately 40 less than last year at this time.
The school board meets at 7 p.m. in the administration building on the second Monday of each month. [[In-content Ad]]