Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - Dekko Foundation awarded Wawasee Community School Corp. $16,352.03 for the Alternative to Suspension and Expulsion Program.
According to a memorandum to the school board, Dekko Foundation representatives made a site visit to explore the program and its features in more detail and depth "and could see the commitment of the school board, corporation administration and other personnel to positive alternatives for students."
The grant money will be used to purchase 12 additional computers to run both math and language arts skills development programs; additional books, so students can continue with their Accelerated Reading Program during the suspension/expulsion; and a television monitor and VCR/CD player for both parent and student group sessions.
In the program, students suspended out of school will be required to be at the program site for at least a half day instead of receiving "free vacation days" and getting behind in their school work.
A letter from Dekko Foundation Program Officer Kimberly B. Schroeder states, in part, "Thank you for offering a positive alternative experience for students. The Alternative to Suspension Program should be commended for offering students choices while putting them in charge of their own learning and providing them with tools for future success."
The Wawasee Community School Corp. Board of Trustees Tuesday accepted the Dekko monies unanimously.
Two more donations also were approved by the board.
Omar Kropf, Doug Schrock, Steve and Jeannie Ross, The Brickhouse, Ev and Billie Ganz, two anonymous donors and the Tennis Parent Organization donated seven tennis player benches for the tennis facility at the high school. Each is valued at $311, with a total gift value of $3,110.
Wal-Mart made a second contribution to the theater department at Wawasee High School of $250.
In other business, the school board:
• Heard three of Wawasee High School's Academic Super Bowl teams - social studies, fine arts and interdisciplinary - were state runner-up finalists.
"These are great kids and what they accomplished I think is quite remarkable," said Beth Hursh, sponsor.
• Heard a team of students from WHS placed third in their class at the Indiana Math Science and Technology Association's mileage competition at Raceway Park, Indianapolis. Two of the students and sponsor Allen Coblentz presented the car they built for the competition to the school board.
The car averaged 711 miles per gallon. Thirty-five teams competed in that class. The project was totally community supported and no school funds were used.
• Approved the 2004-05 (first student day, Aug. 17; commencement June 3) and 2005-06 (first student day, Aug. 17; commencement June 2) school calendars.
• Adopted the kindergarten through grade eight math textbooks.
Members of the Wawasee School Board are president Dallas Winchester, vice president Mary Louise Dixon, secretary Marion Acton, Brian Dawes and George Gilbert. They regularly meet at 7 p.m. in the administration building on the second Tuesday of every month.
