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If Warsaw's school board has its way, the state will waive the requirement for students to make up school days missed because of this winter's snow.
The board Monday night directed school superintendent Dr. Lee Harman to draft a letter to send to state representatives and the governor asking for a waiver on makeup days.
"We're now at five days (to make up) and it's only early January," said board member Charles Sauder.
He asked the board to communicate with government representatives "so we won't be going to school through the fourth of July."
Up to Monday, Harman said, Warsaw Community Schools had lost five instructional days. With two makeup days built into the school calendar, and the ability to use Presidents' Day as a makeup day, the additional days would be added on to the end of the school year in June, he said.
Board member Brad Brail asked if the reason to waive makeup days was other than that June school days would cut into vacation time.
Harman said the late makeup days also would hamper teachers' ability to attend summer school.
Four new school board members were sworn in Monday: Brad Brail, Larry Chamberlain, Cathy Folk and Roy Szymanski.
The board also was reorganized, with Craig Allebach elected as board president, Sauder as vice president and Szymanski as secretary.
In other business, the board:
• Approved maintenance director Greg Schroeder's request to advertise for bids for installing air conditioning systems in Claypool, Madison and Washington elementary schools this summer. Schroeder said the bids will be submitted to the board for approval at their March 9 meeting.
• Approved transportation director Della Swain's request to buy five 66-passenger buses from Midwest Transit and one 84-passenger bus from Kerlin Bus Sales. The total for all six buses, after including trade-ins, is $315,457.
• Appointed Scott Nicholls to the Winona Lake Park Board to replace Quentin Rupe, who died last year. Nicholls' appointment was recommended by the Winona Lake Town Council.
• Heard a report from Harman that total school enrollment as of Monday was 6,265, down 74 students from this time last year.
Because of weather conditions, Monday's school board meeting did not include some routine reports, which will be given in the February meeting.
The board will meet next at 7 p.m. Feb. 8 in the administration building.
