Wawasee Board Approves $2.2 Million Property Purchase
Posted
Mark Howe-mhowe@timesuniononline.com
SYRACUSE – Wawasee School Board approved the purchase of a property that could be the future home of its central office, Pathways classes and more at the board’s special meeting Tuesday afternoon.
The property, at 801 S. Sycamore St., Syracuse, was formerly Precision Automotive. The 10.5-acre property has three buildings, two of which are connected to each other. The estimated cost of the property is $2.2 million.
James Flecker, director of personnel and legal services for the school corporation, said the corporation cannot legally bid more than the average of two assessments done on the property. From there, Flecker said the board would likely develop a five-year plan to figure out what programs and personnel were going to go where, but it was likely some Pathways programs would wind up at the new property.
“It’s not just Wawasee students taking those courses; it’s students from Fairfield, Columbia City and West Noble, too,” Flecker said. “We could open a new facility this fall and hear ‘we need more space.’”
The money for the purchase comes from a bond that was approved by voters in 2017.
In other business, the board:
• Approved a contract with Parkview Ortho Performance Center for athletic training services.
• Approved several personnel changes, including accepting the retirement of Byron Ozwald, who was head custodian at Wawasee High School for 24 years and worked for the corporation 35 years. Ozwald will retire effective Sept. 28.
• Approved a new math curriculum, “Ready Indiana Math.”
• Received a $35,000 grant from the K21 Health Foundation for heart monitors in physical education classes. The grant request was submitted by Mercedes Pratt, a physical education teacher at Milford School.
• Recognized Wawasee High School’s robotics and supermileage teams for earning the right to compete at an international level.
• Heard that the Wawasee band program raised $5,000 at a recent mattress fundraiser.
The next Wawasee school board meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. July 10.
