SYRACUSE - The subject of administrative contracts was brought up again at Tuesday's Wawasee school board meeting, and this time the board unanimously approved the contract extensions with little fanfare.

Earlier in the spring, the board outraged many local patrons when they did not approve contact extensions for all school administrators.

In addition to the contract extensions, Superintendent Dr. Mark Stock also recommended shuffling some of the principals to different schools due to the retirement of Syracuse Principal Sue Rathke and Assistant Superintendent Russ Mikel moving to become superintendent at Bremen.

Stock recommended moving Jim Gardner to Syracuse Elementary; promoting Kris Woodard from assistant principal at Milford to principal at North Webster; transferring Joy Swartzentruber from principal at Wawasee Middle School to assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction; and will post the positions at Wawasee Middle and Milford open for applications. The board passed the recommendation.

In other items, the board approved the donation of several items to the various schools. Wawasee building traders will receive a 2005 vehicle in order to help secure tools at their job sites. The Milford PTO made a donation of $3,240 in merchandise to the school as well as $4,700 for a playground in memory of Todd Fiscus.

The board heard reports on the advanced reading and math programs in the K-8 grade levels and board members said they were pleased with the results these programs are achieving.

The board also approved the textbook rental fees for the next school year. Textbook rental will go up an average of $5.53 per student in grades K-8. Figures were not available for the high school. [[In-content Ad]]