Warsaw Schools To Receive $50K Grant; District Needs Bus Drivers
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
During the board’s public work session Tuesday, Director of Maintenance Greg Schroeder told the board he was “pleased to announce” the school corporation was a recipient of a $50,000 matching grant through the Secured School Safety Grant Program.
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence on Nov. 1 announced more than $9 million in grant funding to local schools and corporations through the program. The Indiana Secured School Safety Board approved the grants. The program is a dedicated state grant fund that provides matching grants to school corporations, charter schools or coalitions of school corporations.
A school corporation or charter school with an average daily membership of at least 1,000 students may receive only one matching grant each year of up to $50,000. School corporations of fewer than 1,000 students may receive a matching grant of up to $35,000.
Schroeder told the board all four school districts in the Kosciusko County coalition received a grant. The districts include Tippecanoe Valley, Warsaw, Wawasee and Whitko.
He also said there are three areas that the grants can be used for, which include employing a school resource officer, conducting a threat assessment or purchasing equipment to restrict access to the school or expediting the notification of first responders.
Schroeder said WCS has needs for restricting access to schools so that’s what it’s going to use its grant dollars for. Not all of Warsaw’s schools are on equal footing in that regard, he said.
He also talked about how the Kosciusko County School Safety Commission has brought together a lot of people, including the four school districts and local law enforcement, to discuss common needs and the direction of school safety.
Superintendent Dr. Craig Hintz told the board they will be asked to approve the grant at its 7 p.m. meeting Monday.
In another matter, while discussing the personnel report, board member Jay Baumgartner asked if WCS had enough bus drivers since he knows it’s been a problem in the past.
Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott said there are three open routes right now. The situation of getting good drivers is not a unique problem the school corporation faces, he said. On average, he continued, 10 people show interest but only two or three end up going through the process and become certified to drive. Also, in the past year, he noted they lost a few good bus drivers.
“It’s a challenge to get people to drive for us,” he noted.
Dan Metzger, board member, asked if drivers had to already have their CDL or if the school corporation trained them. Scott replied that the school district would guide them through the steps, but they don’t start earning pay until they’re on the payroll.
Metzger said he knows a lot of companies are looking for good drivers. Those companies will provide training and the vehicle for a person to test in to get their license. He suggested it may be something WCS may want to look into.
Randy Polston, board member, said elementary basketball games have started later than in previous years. He asked if that was because of the bus driver shortage.
Scott replied that it has impacted that. Even the high school has adjusted some of its start times to address the shortage of drivers.
Polston stated, “There is concern out there because of how late they’re getting over.”
Hintz said if there is an opportunity to switch game times back, they would do so.[[In-content Ad]]
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During the board’s public work session Tuesday, Director of Maintenance Greg Schroeder told the board he was “pleased to announce” the school corporation was a recipient of a $50,000 matching grant through the Secured School Safety Grant Program.
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence on Nov. 1 announced more than $9 million in grant funding to local schools and corporations through the program. The Indiana Secured School Safety Board approved the grants. The program is a dedicated state grant fund that provides matching grants to school corporations, charter schools or coalitions of school corporations.
A school corporation or charter school with an average daily membership of at least 1,000 students may receive only one matching grant each year of up to $50,000. School corporations of fewer than 1,000 students may receive a matching grant of up to $35,000.
Schroeder told the board all four school districts in the Kosciusko County coalition received a grant. The districts include Tippecanoe Valley, Warsaw, Wawasee and Whitko.
He also said there are three areas that the grants can be used for, which include employing a school resource officer, conducting a threat assessment or purchasing equipment to restrict access to the school or expediting the notification of first responders.
Schroeder said WCS has needs for restricting access to schools so that’s what it’s going to use its grant dollars for. Not all of Warsaw’s schools are on equal footing in that regard, he said.
He also talked about how the Kosciusko County School Safety Commission has brought together a lot of people, including the four school districts and local law enforcement, to discuss common needs and the direction of school safety.
Superintendent Dr. Craig Hintz told the board they will be asked to approve the grant at its 7 p.m. meeting Monday.
In another matter, while discussing the personnel report, board member Jay Baumgartner asked if WCS had enough bus drivers since he knows it’s been a problem in the past.
Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott said there are three open routes right now. The situation of getting good drivers is not a unique problem the school corporation faces, he said. On average, he continued, 10 people show interest but only two or three end up going through the process and become certified to drive. Also, in the past year, he noted they lost a few good bus drivers.
“It’s a challenge to get people to drive for us,” he noted.
Dan Metzger, board member, asked if drivers had to already have their CDL or if the school corporation trained them. Scott replied that the school district would guide them through the steps, but they don’t start earning pay until they’re on the payroll.
Metzger said he knows a lot of companies are looking for good drivers. Those companies will provide training and the vehicle for a person to test in to get their license. He suggested it may be something WCS may want to look into.
Randy Polston, board member, said elementary basketball games have started later than in previous years. He asked if that was because of the bus driver shortage.
Scott replied that it has impacted that. Even the high school has adjusted some of its start times to address the shortage of drivers.
Polston stated, “There is concern out there because of how late they’re getting over.”
Hintz said if there is an opportunity to switch game times back, they would do so.[[In-content Ad]]
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