Wawasee Supermileage Team Recognized; Land Purchase Eyed

May 10, 2017 at 7:31 p.m.

By JUDE STRIEBY-RASKA-

SYRACUSE – Wawasee Superintendent Dr. Tom Edington presented certificates of merit to teacher Allen Coblentz to give to the students of the Wawasee High School Supermileage Team, which placed third and 13th out of 86 teams at the 2017 Shell Eco-Marathon in Detroit.

This gained the team a prize of $1,500 for future projects.

The presentation was made at Tuesday’s school board meeting.

Edington also recognized Larry Fletcher, who has helped the team throughout the years. Coblentz seconded this sentiment.

“I appreciate Mr. Fletcher and his help and his effort over the years,” said Coblentz. “He’s such a servant to the kids and such a great example, and I’ve just enjoyed having his help these last years.”

Edington reported having discussions with the Eagles about an additional purchase of land along CR 1500, which he recommends the school purchase.

Finally, he recognized bus driver Jim Rhodes for his quick thinking during the recent bus crash on Ind. 13.

“I knew it was going to be a wreck either way,” said Rhodes. “It was either going to be head-on or a glancing blow.”

He was able to position the bus to where it did not tip over.

Rhodes has been driving a school bus since he was 21.

The school board thanked him both for his service and also his calmness after the accident, which helped keep the kids calm.

Edington reported the following donations: $1,285 and $500 from the Knights of Columbus for Wawasee High School German Club and the Academic Hall of Fame Donation; $500 from The Papers Inc. for the Academic Hall of Fame; $200 worth of mulch from Knepp Sand and Stone for the Milford School courtyard; and a donation of a bench and two planters from Polywood that are valued at $987. Finally, the Kimberly and Steven Conrad scholarship gained $3,200 from the recent Wear Jeans to Work week.

Deb Connett reported about the Wawasee Middle School Culture Club. She spoke about their recent ventures into studying Mexico, Italy and Japan last year, and for the bicentennial the tribes of Papakeechie, Wawasee and other local Native American cultures from Indiana.

The club presented Edington with a Wawasee map the students made to hang in his office.

Assistant Superintendent Joy Goshert reported ISTEP passed with minimal testing irregularities and the results are expected in June.

Goshert then presented the plan for eLearning on inclement weather days for the 2017-18 school year. She noted that the school is looking at building a website explaining the specifics so that parents are able to understand everything. She also gave an update on Wawasee Community School System’s planning and application process.

Wawasee High School Principal Kim Nguyen presented his program recommendations for the 2017-18 Wawasee High School year. He recommended hiring a full-time teacher/coordinator to handle the Apex Building along with the current paraprofessional. He noted that the position would be better filled by someone who is a teacher but also a communicator, since they would need to communicate with guidance, the CT office and possibly the Crossing if they are still in the area.

He noted that the ECO challenge has 60 students signed up, and noted that around half of those who sign up finishes.

Nguyen also introduced the Gone Boarding program, which integrates IT and fabrication into a low-level shop class. He hopes to make it more of a freshman class to be taken only in one trimester.

Also on the agenda is the creation of an accredited testing facility to give a 12-week class that ends with a welding certification. The classes would be for high school students and local community members, with the potential to partner with local businesses who need this certification for their workers.

He also recommended turning the music teacher into a full-time band director.

And finally, after explaining that study hall time seems not to be utilized well, he recommended taking away study hall and extending Wawasee Warrior time from 30 to 45 minutes. This can happen by decreasing all class periods throughout the day by 2 minutes.

Syracuse Elementary School Principal Eric Speicher announced he is looking for a full-time physical education teacher. He said the moving plans from the old elementary school to the new school will start July 5 with a crew of adults and high school students hired for the month.

Director of Personnel and Legal Services James Flecker spoke about the North Webster Elementary School improvements. Flecker noted that glass doors are going to be created so that there is no easy access straight into the school, bus repeaters are going to be installed for radio signals, as well as bus fencing. New classroom carpet will be installed as well as upgrades to technology, the media center and robotics. Finally, the water heater and the gym roof will be replaced.

The following are recommendations for support services/certified personnel, as well as resignations:

• Christine Winters, recommended for employment by Eric Speicher as the Syracuse Elementary School secretary.

• Kristin Bonner, recommended employment by Kim Nguyen as a Wawasee High School English/language arts teacher.

• Mary Myers, recommended for employment by Mike Snavley as a Wawasee Community School corporation bus driver for route 36.

• William Quinn, recommended for employment by Mike Snavley as a Wawasee Community School corporation bus driver for route 6.

• Janet Bowser, recommended for employment by Mike Snavley as a Wawasee Community School bus paraprofessional.

• Elizabeth Grayckowski, recommended for transfer by Kim Nguyen from a three-hour to a 4-1/2-hour per-day Wawasee High School cafeteria worker.

• Jason Mark, submitted letter of resignation effective May 1, 2017.

• Corryn Short, Deb Gaby, Adolph Hathaway, Josh Ekovich and Taylor Burkhart submitted letters of resignation, effective as of the end of the school year.

• Teresa Zurcher and Pamela Unruh submitted their letters of retirement, effective at the end of the school year.



SYRACUSE – Wawasee Superintendent Dr. Tom Edington presented certificates of merit to teacher Allen Coblentz to give to the students of the Wawasee High School Supermileage Team, which placed third and 13th out of 86 teams at the 2017 Shell Eco-Marathon in Detroit.

This gained the team a prize of $1,500 for future projects.

The presentation was made at Tuesday’s school board meeting.

Edington also recognized Larry Fletcher, who has helped the team throughout the years. Coblentz seconded this sentiment.

“I appreciate Mr. Fletcher and his help and his effort over the years,” said Coblentz. “He’s such a servant to the kids and such a great example, and I’ve just enjoyed having his help these last years.”

Edington reported having discussions with the Eagles about an additional purchase of land along CR 1500, which he recommends the school purchase.

Finally, he recognized bus driver Jim Rhodes for his quick thinking during the recent bus crash on Ind. 13.

“I knew it was going to be a wreck either way,” said Rhodes. “It was either going to be head-on or a glancing blow.”

He was able to position the bus to where it did not tip over.

Rhodes has been driving a school bus since he was 21.

The school board thanked him both for his service and also his calmness after the accident, which helped keep the kids calm.

Edington reported the following donations: $1,285 and $500 from the Knights of Columbus for Wawasee High School German Club and the Academic Hall of Fame Donation; $500 from The Papers Inc. for the Academic Hall of Fame; $200 worth of mulch from Knepp Sand and Stone for the Milford School courtyard; and a donation of a bench and two planters from Polywood that are valued at $987. Finally, the Kimberly and Steven Conrad scholarship gained $3,200 from the recent Wear Jeans to Work week.

Deb Connett reported about the Wawasee Middle School Culture Club. She spoke about their recent ventures into studying Mexico, Italy and Japan last year, and for the bicentennial the tribes of Papakeechie, Wawasee and other local Native American cultures from Indiana.

The club presented Edington with a Wawasee map the students made to hang in his office.

Assistant Superintendent Joy Goshert reported ISTEP passed with minimal testing irregularities and the results are expected in June.

Goshert then presented the plan for eLearning on inclement weather days for the 2017-18 school year. She noted that the school is looking at building a website explaining the specifics so that parents are able to understand everything. She also gave an update on Wawasee Community School System’s planning and application process.

Wawasee High School Principal Kim Nguyen presented his program recommendations for the 2017-18 Wawasee High School year. He recommended hiring a full-time teacher/coordinator to handle the Apex Building along with the current paraprofessional. He noted that the position would be better filled by someone who is a teacher but also a communicator, since they would need to communicate with guidance, the CT office and possibly the Crossing if they are still in the area.

He noted that the ECO challenge has 60 students signed up, and noted that around half of those who sign up finishes.

Nguyen also introduced the Gone Boarding program, which integrates IT and fabrication into a low-level shop class. He hopes to make it more of a freshman class to be taken only in one trimester.

Also on the agenda is the creation of an accredited testing facility to give a 12-week class that ends with a welding certification. The classes would be for high school students and local community members, with the potential to partner with local businesses who need this certification for their workers.

He also recommended turning the music teacher into a full-time band director.

And finally, after explaining that study hall time seems not to be utilized well, he recommended taking away study hall and extending Wawasee Warrior time from 30 to 45 minutes. This can happen by decreasing all class periods throughout the day by 2 minutes.

Syracuse Elementary School Principal Eric Speicher announced he is looking for a full-time physical education teacher. He said the moving plans from the old elementary school to the new school will start July 5 with a crew of adults and high school students hired for the month.

Director of Personnel and Legal Services James Flecker spoke about the North Webster Elementary School improvements. Flecker noted that glass doors are going to be created so that there is no easy access straight into the school, bus repeaters are going to be installed for radio signals, as well as bus fencing. New classroom carpet will be installed as well as upgrades to technology, the media center and robotics. Finally, the water heater and the gym roof will be replaced.

The following are recommendations for support services/certified personnel, as well as resignations:

• Christine Winters, recommended for employment by Eric Speicher as the Syracuse Elementary School secretary.

• Kristin Bonner, recommended employment by Kim Nguyen as a Wawasee High School English/language arts teacher.

• Mary Myers, recommended for employment by Mike Snavley as a Wawasee Community School corporation bus driver for route 36.

• William Quinn, recommended for employment by Mike Snavley as a Wawasee Community School corporation bus driver for route 6.

• Janet Bowser, recommended for employment by Mike Snavley as a Wawasee Community School bus paraprofessional.

• Elizabeth Grayckowski, recommended for transfer by Kim Nguyen from a three-hour to a 4-1/2-hour per-day Wawasee High School cafeteria worker.

• Jason Mark, submitted letter of resignation effective May 1, 2017.

• Corryn Short, Deb Gaby, Adolph Hathaway, Josh Ekovich and Taylor Burkhart submitted letters of resignation, effective as of the end of the school year.

• Teresa Zurcher and Pamela Unruh submitted their letters of retirement, effective at the end of the school year.



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