SYRACUSE - The Wawasee Community School Corp. announced Tuesday that the first day of classes for the 2006-2007 school year will be Aug. 17.

According to Superintendent Dr. Mark Stock, the registration process was streamlined and more efficient this year.Ê"We tried to shorten the process," he said.Ê"The feedback that we've gotten so far is that it's much quicker.ÊI've asked for further comments on our blog site www.wawasee.blogspot.com"

Stock said opening day for faculty and staff will be Aug. 16.ÊAny board member who wants to attend opening day with staff is invited to do so.

Stock noted that although all certified teaching positions are not yet filled, only a couple openings remain, and he did not anticipate any problems finding the right personnel.

The board approved the following individuals for employment with the district:ÊMaria Waltz as a one-year temporary English as a Second Language paraprofessional at Syracuse Middle School;Ê Charles Cuvillier, one-year temporary ESL paraprofessional at Wawasee High School;ÊTodd Lucus, temporary fourth-grade teacher at Syracuse, Aug. 16 to Dec. 19; and Danielle Wells as temporary special education teacher at Wawasee High School, Aug. 16 to Nov. 13.

The third reading of the Student Wellness Policy was given. In part, the policy is in place to "... provide students access to nutritious food and beverages; provide opportunities for physical activity and developmentally appropriate exercise; and require that all meals served by the school corporation meet the federal nutritional guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture."

According to board policy regarding third readings, since there are no revisions, the Student Wellness Policy was adopted.

It also was noted that Indiana law requires a school district to have a Wellness Council to oversee this policy.ÊThe council has yet to be named at this time. Board member George Gilbert volunteered to serve on the council.

The board approved the payment of claims totaling $40,726.71 for North Webster Elementary School. This was payment for roofing, painting, plumbing, tree service work and materials.

The annual report for the Alternative School was presented to the board by its director, Sharon Sigler.Ê"Achievement was what was important," she said.Ê"When the students were there at the end of the year, they were there with a positive attitude, and they had a goal.ÊThat was a big change for us, and we enjoyed the end of the year."ÊShe said 30 students graduated from the program this past year, with 120 students earning credits.

Sigler said the purpose of the Alternative School program is to help students become productive citizens.Ê "We felt that we either had to force them to face the real world, or get busy," she said.Ê"We did that.ÊWe gave them until the end of the grading period to finish a credit so they could stay.ÊIf they didn't, they were gone."

One incentive for students enrolled in the Alternative School program is that failure to attend classes after enrollment can result in the loss of their driver's license.

"The school system doesn't pull the license," said Stock.Ê"The BMV does that.ÊWe have to submit their names by law to the BMV.ÊState law requires us to turn their names in."

The financial report for Wawasee Community School Corp. for the month ending July 31, 2006: Beginning balance (all funds) - $19,007,913; receipts - $1,641,512; disbursements - $3,461,189.39; end balance (all funds) - $17,188,236. The report was approved by the board.ÊIn addition, the board also approved $80,000 for the special education pre-school fund.

Stock presented the board with class-size conditions for Milford third grade.ÊThere are two third-grade sections, with 26 and 27 students, respectfully.ÊA teacher's assistant will be placed to help work with smaller groups.

North Webster third grade will be getting another teacher.ÊThere are higher class sizes consisting of four sections with 28, 27, 27 and 26 students, respectfully.

Director of Curriculum and Instruction Joy Swartzentruber addressed the board regarding teacher orientation. "We have 10 teachers enrolled in this," she said.Ê "It's been going well."

She also offered an update on the Harmony Student Management System, which is a computer software program that allows for better consistency with student records.

"We still have some things to work through with it," she said. "We need to make sure things are entered correctly and ready to go.ÊIt's an issue of making sure we have the system in all five buildings.ÊI really do believe this is a great program for us."

Swartzentruber also presented the year-end Alternative Suspension/Expulsion Program report.ÊThis is a program targeted to students in grades six through eight who are under suspension or expulsion.

To be considered for this program, a student "...must be under an out-of-school suspension for one day ..." and who "...may present a danger to self or others."

The goals of the program are to develop least restrictive options for students under suspension or expulsion; work toward mastery of state standards; identify mental health and/or social skill needs of students; promote positive parent involvement; and develop and build support systems for students.

In other business:

• Indiana School Board Association meeting is scheduled for Sept. 25-26.

• There will be a special board work session, tentatively scheduled for Sept. 19.

• A budget hearing is set for Aug. 22.

• Stock has been invited by the American Association of School Administrators to be a guest lecturer at the organization's national conference in February in New Orleans.

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