Warsaw School Board held a public hearing for its proposed 2024 budget Monday.
The proposed budget totals $100,297,061. The educational fund is $52,669,000. The operations fund is $26.5 million. The debt service fund is $16,544,061. The referendum fund is $2,884,000. The rainy day fund is $1.7 million.
Chief Financial Officer April Fitterling said there should be no impact on the tax rate.
There was no public comment. The budget will be adopted in October.
Earlier in the meeting, the board was updated on AP (Advanced Placement) and dual credit coursework.
Warsaw Community High School Principal Troy Akers talked about the AP test results from last school year the school administration received results for in July.
There were several students that received College Board - AP Scholar Awards.
There were six students who are now seniors that was recognized as an AP Scholar. To be an AP Scholar, the student has to score at least a 3 on at least three AP exams. Those students were Var Boba with an average of 2.75 on four exams, Abygail Herman with an average of 4 on three exams, Annalisa Hertzler with an average of 3 on three exams, Moly Kissling with an average of 4 on three exams, Claire Reichenbach with an average of 3 on five exams, Knox Ritter with a average of 3.67 on three exams and Patrick Stump with an average of 4 on four exams.
There were three students who were recognized as AP Scholar with Honors. Those students have to score at least a 3 on at least 4 AP exams and have a minimum of 3.25 on each test. Those students were Bronwyn Harrison, with an average of 3.25 on four exams, Doondeeshwar Patnala with an average of 4.5 on four exams and Elijah Zaugg with an average of 4 on four exams.
There were two students that were considered an AP Scholar with Distinction. Those students have to score at least a 3 on at least five AP exams. Those students were Raquel Brouwer with an average of 3.83 on six exams and Caleb Smith with an average of 4.2 on five exams.
Each student was asked to stand up to be recognized.
Akers also shared comparative numbers. In 2022, there were a total of 212 AP students, while there were 181 in 2023. In 2022, a total of 341 exams were taken, while 281 were taken in 2023. A total of 150 students scored at least a 3 in 2022 and 121 did so in 2023.
Akers also shared there is no AP U.S. History this year, the first time in over 25 years, due to there being a lack of students to take the course. In physics and chemistry, the school is still behind state and global averages, but they are working on it.
After Akers spoke, Ben Barkey, director and principal of Warsaw Area Career Center, talked about the school corporation’s dual credit opportunities.
He said WCS mostly partners with Vincennes University and Ivy Tech for dual credit courses.
Last year for engineering, technology and manufacturing dual credit courses, a total of 2,478 dual credits were earned and there were 24 dual credit classes available at the career center. In agriculture, there were 444 dual credits earned. In the medical science courses, there were four dual credit classes available at the WACC and 976 dual credits were earned. For business and computer science, there were 12 classes and 1,655 credits earned. For Family and Consumer Science courses, there were 11 dual credit courses available last year and 946 credits earned.
In other business, the board:
• Approved a four-year contract with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office for an additional school resource officer.
The Kosciusko County Commissioners approved the MOU on Aug. 15 and the Kosciusko County Council approved it Aug. 10 with WCS and Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation for an additional two school resource officers (SROs). Warsaw wants an additional SRO to help put officers into the elementary schools of Leesburg, Madison and Claypool. The other SRO would rotate between Tippecanoe Valley Middle School and Mentone and Akron elementary schools.
During the commissioner’s meeting Aug. 15, Sheriff Jim Smith said they’ve analyzed the total costs associated with making the increases, and after looking at the wage, retirement, benefits, insurance and the cost of a patrol vehicle - along with outfitting the vehicle - they estimated 80% portion that each school corporation would be responsible for is $110,081.97 per year. The 20% portion the county would be responsible for would be $27,521.46 per year for each deputy.
Smith said the MOU would be effective Oct. 1.
• Learned there has been 45 stop-arm violations so far. Last year about this time, Transportation Director Mark Fick said there were over 50.
Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert said Fick has put out education about stop-arm violations. Hoffert said “we receive a lot of unsolicited emails” wanting to tell on people because when they realize what’s going on with stop-arm violations, they get upset.
• Recognized Amy Hobbs, director of special services, as she will be retiring at the end of September. She said this is her 31st year at WCS.
• Approved the following donations: $2,000 from Lake City Dental Solutions for the Warsaw Community High School athletics/2023 football; $1,000 from the Pierceton Days Parade for the WCHS band; $1,500 from the Warsaw Educational Foundation, $500 from Tanzastar Warehouse LLC and $500 from Tri Kappa for the Warsaw Area Career Center’s workshop; $800 from Tri-Kappa for Pink Out Night; and $500 from The Vines at Nappanee for athletic advertising and promotions at the high school.
• Learned Homecoming is Sept. 29. There will be a homecoming dance from 8 to 10 p.m. Sept. 3 at the career center gym.