Problems with the new Warsaw Community High School soccer fields and Warsaw Schools' grading program were brought to the forefront Monday night.

"We have a major problem with our grade program," said WCHS teacher Jim LeMasters. "It's a major concern."

Warsaw Schools uses CenterPoint software for grades and student data. The school purchased CenterPoint about six months ago for approximately $100,000.

LeMasters said it's a major step backward. Ralph Bailey, interim superintendent, said other schools reportedly are having problems with the software too. LeMasters said it's not intuitive and is very difficult to use.

The old system, Assistant Superintendent Sandra Hess said, was out-dated and the school corporation knew it needed to upgrade. She said they also knew they wanted to incorporate the grading system into the new student data system. "It has been a true issue with us," she said. They will continue to monitor the problem, with surveys to be taken in two, four and six months.

Bailey said he thought they were getting close to working the bugs out and they can't change mid-stream.

Dan Robinson said if his company had as many problems as software companies do, they'd be sued like crazy. LeMasters said the software doesn't seem like it was used or designed by teachers. For the amount the school corporation paid for the software, LeMasters said, it seems they ought to be getting more out of it.

"They promised a lot in the package," said Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott.

Robinson asked if there was any pressure they could put on the company to get the problems addressed. Hess said they are working with two other school corporations to try to get CenterPoint to fix the problems. Robinson suggested getting together with the other schools having problems to threaten a class-action lawsuit. "Put some real pressure on them," he said.

Madison Elementary teacher Terry Sims said many teachers are keeping grades in an old-fashioned grade book as well as in the new system to be safe.

The software problem will be monitored.

Warsaw Community High School Soccer Coach Scott Bauer told the board that if Warsaw wants to host postseason soccer tournaments, the new fields need to be enlarged.

Currently, there are going to be three fields - varsity, junior varsity and a practice field. The varsity and JV fields are both 110 by 65 feet. Bauer said the Indiana High School Athletic Association considers fields 120 by 75 feet first for post-season tournaments.

He told the board that in 2001, he attended a school board meeting and the new soccer field dimensions were discussed at 120 by 75 feet. On Feb. 4, 2003, the size was emphasized again. The soccer fields also were to include things such as locker rooms, but since 2003 those were scaled back. However, the size of the soccer fields were reduced to 110 by 65 without any consultation.

"There are reasons for the size of the field," Bauer said.

He said he, players and parents have tried very hard to raise the level of soccer at WCHS. The state will never let WCHS hold post-season tournaments without a field 120 by 75 feet.

Dean Illingworth, architect with Schmidt Associates, Indianapolis, said the contractor put in more asphalt near the soccer fields than was asked for in the project. The space to make the soccer fields wider is there and it is being coordinated with CCI, the construction company on the high school project. Illingworth said the extra asphalt will have to be removed.

Dr. Jennifer Brumfield, WCHS principal, said she supported Bauer coming to the board with the problem. The size of the field was overlooked. But with a project of this magnitude, mistakes happen, she said. [[In-content Ad]]