SYRACUSE - Wawasee Schools has turned piles of data into easily accessible information, Superintendent Dr. Mark Stock said Tuesday during the regular school board meeting.

"What I'm excited about this year is that we're actually using most of the data," data technician Robert Cockburn said. "We're getting it into the hands of the teachers."

Previously, individual data collected from ISTEP tests and district-wide assessments was stored in each student's file. A teacher's ability to see patterns or deficiencies in multiple students was limited because of how widespread the information was.

Now that information is charted in easy-to-read graphs. Teachers can look at a three-year summary of how their students did on various tests. This information also is broken down to show how students did in accomplishing particular learning goals and in achieving academic benchmarks set by the district.

The result, Cockburn said, is that teachers can now see how both they and their students are doing. For example, if there is a major deficiency in many students over a three-year period, the teacher will see the need to modify instruction on benchmarks in the area where skills are lacking.

The data also is beneficial to students, as it charts individual progress throughout the years as well.

Right now, the data technician job is a temporary position that will end with the 2005-2006 school year. Stock said the position is important enough that they may explore the possibility of making it permanent.

In other business, the board:

• Discussed the recommended 2006 project updates. Most are maintenance issues, like roof replacements at both Syracuse and Milford schools. Included in the recommendations was one to replace the high school's press box. Stock described replacing the current "hazard" with a two-story, enclosed manufactured building. If approved, the project will be bid out.

• Heard from board Vice President Mary Lou Dixon that a high school senior, Tony Pawlicki, won the local Veterans of Foreign Wars "Voice of Democracy" audio essay contest and will compete at the state level.

Pawlicki's essay, which focuses on Article V of the constitution, calls for a penalty against those that desecrate the American flag. Dixon said the speech is "a very interesting thing that he has put together."

Winners of the contest are eligible for prizes ranging from a trip to Washington D.C. to a $25,000 college scholarship.

• Accepted a $1,000 donation from Knights of Columbus for Milford School and a $750 donation from Syracuse Lions Club for the Academic Superbowl.

• Approved the employment of five new staff members, the resignation of two, and the retirements of five.

New employees are Lana Dowell, high school guidance secretary; Tiffany Oglesbee, temporary high school English as a Second Language paraprofessional; Tracy Henn, temporary title 1 paraprofessional at Syracuse School; Lynn Atwood, remediation paraprofessional at Syracuse school; and Nakole Weber as a bus driver for Syracuse school.

Resignations for Carol Bragg, Wawasee Middle School custodian, and Katie Millar, Title I paraprofessional at Syracuse Elementary, were accepted.

Retirements announced were Randy Aalbregtse, high school social studies teacher; Dena Chapman, school psychologist; Linda Harkleroad, high school English teacher; Jane Modesitt, Syracuse Elementary special education teacher; and Garry Ringler, high school dean of students.

Stock said there could be more retirees yet this year.

Wawasee School Board members are Dallas Winchester, president; Mary Lou Dixon, vice president; Marion Acton, George Gilbert and Brian Dawes. [[In-content Ad]]