SYRACUSE - With all Wawasee school board members present Tuesday, the board meeting was highlighted by the announcement of a $131,000 grant from the Department of Education for a new mentoring program for at-risk middle school students.

Working with Marsha Streby from the Bowen Center, the grant was developed and will be a model. Ms. Swartzentruber explained the Bowen Center would handle the entire financial end and work closely with Wawasee Middle School to begin a mentoring program that will match community volunteers with at-risk students.

Students and their mentors will meet weekly during the school day. The objective is for the student to have fewer incident/discipline referrals, decrease the number of unexcused absences and demonstrate improvement in math and English/language arts. The mentors will undergo a criminal background check and have training in how to mentor.

Only four Indiana schools received the grant, and Wawasee is the only rural school to receive it. A program coordinator and case manager will be hired to manage the program. The original goal is to match 30 students one-on-one with mentors from the community. As for the reason for the grant, Swartenzertruber said, "Maybe we can make a difference."

The PTFO presented Wawasee Middle School with a check for $8,400 to be used for equipment and other needed materials. The Women of Today group, represented by Holly Tuttle, presented each elementary and middle school with a check for $600 to be used for needy families. The Wawasee Auto Mechanics class received the donation of a 1987 pickup truck from NAPA.

The Spanish teacher, Mr. Jagger, told the board of the plans under way for students in the Spanish Club to tour Spain. The tour would not be during school time and no school funds will be expended. The students are raising the money for the trip. A meeting with families will be held Oct. 21 at 7 p.m.

Mr. Mikel shared the alternative school program with the members of the Study Council for the 14th District. Mikel, a member of the United Way Vision Council, is heading the United Way drive, and there are prizes being offered for employees making donations. Mikel is still working on two grants, Title IV and Title II.

The alternative school had 22 students in September, 19 males and three female. Unacceptable behavior accounted for 61 percent of the reasons, with fighting at 26 percent, drug use at 11 percent and the other 2 percent a variety of causes. The average length of suspension was two days.

Discussion was held on the Bureau of Motor Vehicles handbook, which states students under age 18 who are expelled or quit school will loose their drivers' licenses. Mr. Acton said there is no consequence if the school does not notify the BMV. The board will investigate the issue and determine if they must or should comply. [[In-content Ad]]