SYRACUSE - Discussion about Wawasee's search for a new superintendent opened the Wawasee School Board meeting Tuesday.
Dave Palmer and Ruth Engle, Wawasee Community Educators Association, asked how much community input has been allowed into the search process.
"The plan right now, as I understand it, is that the staff and administrators have met," said outgoing superintendent Dr. Mark Stock. "They have put together a set of questions and characteristics that they will look for. Mr. Kline will be reviewing this, and there is a process involved."
This process will use the services of the University Search Team of Indiana. Search team members come from Indiana State, Indiana University, Ball State and Purdue University. There is one professor from each of these universities. Brochures and other information is sent to perspective applicants, who then send their resumes to the search team. Once these are received, based on the information regarding what the local district wants in a superintendent, a list of suitable candidates will be put together. At that point, the interview process can start. The interviews are extensive and the process is structured. The board offered assurances to members of the association that community input will be welcomed.
The position of superintendent will be advertised through the Indiana School Board Association to almost every school corporation in the state. It will be posted in the placement offices of the aforementioned universities.
It was stressed that the main focus of the University Search Team is to help local school boards hire superintendents. There is no fee for this service, and the team helps the local board with the final interview process as well.
Stock has taken the time to develop an informational brochure for perspective superintendents. He included specifics relation to Wawasee itself.
Stock and interim superintendent Richard Kline have been meeting regularly to include information that will not only benefit Stock's replacement, but the entire Wawasee staff and school board.
"We are trying to plan for a smooth transition," said Stock in reference to this work. "We've put together a baseline for all meetings that are set, and included a board agenda."
All of this is only a small part of the recruitment brochure that will be sent out.
School Board President Dallas Winchester then presented Stock with a plaque.
"We'd like to present you with something to show our appreciation," Winchester said. "It reads, 'In appreciation to Dr. Mark Stock for 12 years of outstanding service, dedication and loyalty to the Wawasee School Corporation.' This is on behalf of not only the board, but from the teachers and administrators and everyone you've dealt with."
"I just want to say a couple things," Stock said. "One is that this has been the most personally and professionally rewarding.experience that I've ever had. I've grown more as an individual working with this corporation. This corporation puts kids first. This is the only superintendency I've ever applied for and the only one I've ever wanted. I guess that if there's any legacy I've left, it's that I think everybody should learn to treat kids right, and put kids first, and be a teacher at heart. I do hope I've done that."
The board also accepted the resignations of Mike Hedman, Milford fifth-grade teacher, effective June 19; Kristi Monesmith, Wawasee High School language arts, effective the end of the 2007-2008 school year; and Elizabeth Chapin, WHS Spanish teacher, effective June 28.
Amanda Tonagel, WHS social studies, has been approved to extend her leave of absence to include the entire 2007-2008 school year.
The board has approved the employment of the following individuals: Amy Wilson, eighth-grade math, Wawasee Middle School; Amy Kuhn, half-day first grade teacher at North Webster; Greg Urednick, WHS science teacher; David Grossnickle, WHS science teacher; Angela Trump, special education teacher, North Webster School; Cheryl Van Laeken, Milford fifth grade; Todd Lucas, temporary contract to teach second grade, Syracuse School; Brian Bowser, fourth grade, Syracuse, temporary; Janell Eltzroth as half-day Reading Recovery teacher at Syracuse School.
Personnel transfers include Gretchen Willaman from a half-day kindergarten teacher to full-day second grade at North Webster School; Christi Overman from a half-day first grade teacher to half day kindergarten at North Webster.
In other business:
n The board appointed Ann Schlabach to the Milford Library Board.
n New teacher orientation is set for Aug. 7-10, in the Wawasee High School Media Center. There are 26 new teachers in the corporation this year.
n The board discussed moving the mileage reimbursement rate to match the current Indiana Revenue Service rate. The school rate is 44.5 cents per mile, and the IRS rate is 48.5 cents per mile. What this would mean in actual cost was not known at this time, and will be acted upon during the next meeting.
Wawasee Community School Corporation Board members are Winchester, Mary Louise Dixon, George Gilbert, Becky Linnemeier and Mike Wilson.
