Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - Mark Stock was named interim superintendent of Wawasee Schools by the school board Tuesday, effective immediately.
Stock, corporation director of technology and instruction, came to Wawasee from the Whitko Schools. He replaces Henry Smith, who resigned Aug. 27.
Stock most recently formed a systemwide committee to oversee assessment, curriculum and teaching. He also tracked ISTEP results, and instituted a new remediation program, which takes effect this school year.
"We look forward to working with Mark," said board president Carol Swartzendruber.
She said the board will look for a person to assume the permanent position, and invited the community's input. "Hiring a superintendent is our most important charge, and we are committed to doing this search thoroughly," she said. She invited the community to write "what you'd like to see."
The 37-minute meeting was brisk, with an executive session looming over the proceedings. The board was to meet with Frank Bush, executive director of the Indiana School Board Association following the regular meeting to discuss requirements and qualifications for the superintendent's position.
The board unanimously approved leaves of absence totaling 13 days for high school math teacher Phil Metcalf. Metcalf is chairman of the Indiana Professional Standards Board, which has been working on licensing standards for teachers. Metcalf submitted a proposal to the board requesting nine days for monthly meetings and four days for professional conferences and presentations.
"The classroom is my major priority," said Metcalf, thanking the board for allowing this time to wrap up his state committee work.
In other business, the board:
• Heard items from a report on ISTEP results from Stock. He presented them with an extensive collection of information for every school and a history of scores. Data will be sent to principals and teachers to examine.
Although most scores from the test administered to third-, sixth- and eighth-graders were above the state mean, Stock commented, "This state struggles a little bit on the national scene."
The Indiana Statewide Test of Educational Progress will be administered between Sept. 24 and Oct. 4.
The next regular meeting of the Wawasee School Board will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 8 at the Wawasee High School board room.
