Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - Wawasee High School will have a new dean of students next year, after the school board Tuesday unanimously approved a local man for the job.
Steve Perek, a former physical education teacher at Wawasee, was hired for the 2006-2007 school year at a salary of $65,000 for a 210-day contract.
Currently, he works at the Wawasee Academy.
According to a school board memo, Perek has filled in this year as dean when the current dean was absent and he also assisted in school-event supervision.
Perek recently received his high school administrator's license and he holds a master's degree.
In other business, Wawasee School Board heard the annual K-12 Career Awareness Plan and a report over the high school's vocational programs.
According to program director Phil Metcalf, the programs are growing and some vocational programs are even accepting more students than anticipated.
Metcalf reported the school's student-tracking data shows that after five years out of school, 58 percent of students who participated in vocational studies are working in a field related to their area of study.
The board honored students for achievement.
For participating in the Indianapolis Mileage Competition, students John Adams, Chris Anderson, Jason Beer, Justin Everts, Mike Gunderson, Greg Millar, Ryan Newcomer, Ryan Ort, Mike Reuter, Reed Smith and Ryan Trojan were honored.
The students designed and built their own cars and won fifth place, out of 36, with their Modified car, which got about 600 miles per gallon in gasoline.
Students at the meeting thanked Rinker Boats and Explorer Van for their help in providing materials for the cars.
Students honored for their participation in Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy were Lindsey Drent, Erin Weybright and Kristen Zeigler. The students were part of a 25-person organization made up of students from area high schools who periodically meet to learn about county operations.
Kosciusko Endowment Youth Services participants Martha Craig, Glenn McLaughlin, Joel Hogle and Jayna Wiengarden were honored. The students served as part of an area youth council in charge of a $15,000 endowment that awards grants to community organizations.
Middle school students who were part of the Academic Superbowl state championship were honored. The students placed first in the state in science and third in math.
Wawasee's June meeting date currently is undecided. Notification of the date will be posted in local media and at the school's administration office as soon as it is determined.
