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SYRACUSE - Three recent donations to Wawasee Schools totaled more than $40,000.
The Wawasee School Board accepted the donations at its board meeting Tuesday.
The largest donation came in the form of playground equipment to Syracuse Elementary School, including a four-bay swing set, dome arched climber, Triple Twist, three sets of Spicas, a large play structure and a set of junior soccer goals.
Organizations donating money for the playground equipment included PTO, $13,000; individuals and businesses, $7,500; and Dekko Foundation grant, $16,666.
School superintendent Dr. Mark Stock told the school board that Tracy Hand helped spearhead the donations. She was very active in seeking sources for the playground equipment, he said.
"We appreciate everyone's donations. It's very helpful," board president Brian Dawes said. He gave a special thanks to Hand for her work.
Another donation came from State Farm Insurance Co. for $3,750. The donation was made to support the new small group instruction for teaching algebra.
Wawasee's industrial technology and art departments received a new sandblaster valued at $1,409.42. Charles Haffner and the Syracuse Lions Club donated $1,200 toward the equipment.
In another matter, Stock presented the board with the administrators' three-year package for the corporation's goals. Those goals include improved reading, improved math, a focus on writing and making the public aware of Public Law 221.
Dawes said the goals were on the right track, but at the end of the day, the school corporation needs a way to measure their success.
He also said he's never seen a government program that can get parents involved and students more interested. To accomplish the school corporation's goals, students and parents will need to get involved in education.
Also, the school board:
• Approved the 2004 budget that totals $30,840,160, including: general fund, $19,741,764; debt service fund, $4,871,727; capital projects fund, $3,847,216; transportation fund, $1,745,510; bus replacement fund, $324,915; special education preschool fund, $68,750; and total retirement/severance bond debt service fund, $240,278.
• Heard the ISTEP and Graduation Qualifying Exam begins Sept. 16.
• Approved Brian Waltz' overnight field trip request for the high school journalism group to Franklin College and a trip to Washington, D.C., in November.
Wawasee school board members are president, Brian Dawes; vice president, Dallas Winchester; secretary, Marion Acton; Jeff Wells; and Mary Lou Dixon.
They meet at 7 p.m. in the administration building on the second Tuesday of every month.
