001All right. Time is It's ready to get started here. It's summer. Less focus. All right. All right. All right. It's 5:30. Welcome. Thank you, everybody. I swear it's just a lighter mood when summer time. Hey, welcome to the Wawasee Community School Corporation Board of School Trustees regular meeting June 9th, 2026. Uh thank you for being here. Um we're going to just jump right in. Um Mr. Myers, let's go. >> Yeah, if we could stand for the Pledge of Allegiance to start. I pledge allegiance to the >> of the United States of America. >> I'm sorry. We have a special guest ready to do that. Let's go over here. We don't want you to lose your opportunity. This is Amelia Freeborn Freeborn child. Go. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of
002America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> If we could have Mrs. Stephanie Reichert. >> Let's bow our heads. Uh dear Lord, as we enter into summer, I I to pray safety over everyone in our community and school corporation. I pray for the students that they are given the opportunity to enjoy summer and simply be children. As they do, I ask that you place a hedge of protection around them and bless them with summer filled with fun, and joy, and safety. I pray for our teachers as they begin their summer break. May this be a season of rest. Allow them time to recharge and enjoy their families and find peace after a year of pouring so much into our students. I pray
003for our school leadership, especially as some step into new leadership roles. Grant them wisdom and guidance in every decision they make. May you keep them or may you May they keep you at the forefront and always consider what is best for our students and community. Help us as adults to remember that you've entrusted us with the privilege and responsibility of leading and influencing children. May our choices reflect our care for our students and our families and our community. Let our actions demonstrate integrity and compassion. Thank you for the many blessings you've poured onto our community. I pray that all we do and say, your glory shines above all else. May we be the light that points others to you. Amen. >> Amen. Thank you. Well, good evening, everyone. It's great to have everyone here. We're
004wonderful wonderful opportunity to start with our good news. We have a lot of good news today. So, get ready. I am excited to be here again as your new superintendent. My official start date is tomorrow, but here we are today. So, thank you for allowing me to to share the good news with you. As I am learning names, I will do my best to to pronounce your names correctly. Please forgive me if I if I don't. First, we have three students here tonight. And if those students would please come up here while I talk about you, we have Bo, Sydney, and Amelia. If you would come on up here. So, the ILEARN and the National Math Stars are proud to announce that four Wawasee Community School students qualified to apply for the National Math Stars
005program. These students scored in the top 2% of third grade students in math in Indiana. Top 2%. Based on their ILEARN assessment data. Let's give THEM A HAND. >> [applause] >> CONGRATULATIONS TO BO BEASLEY of Syracuse Elementary, Sydney Beer of of Milford Elementary, Amelia Greipentrog of Milford Elementary, and also uh Cass Toler from North Webster uh Elementary who could not be here tonight. Uh we have some uh medals and a certificate. So, again, let's give them a round of applause. >> [applause] >> Okay, you're good. >> All right. job, guys. >> One more picture, please. Great. Congratulations. Good job. [applause] We are also thankful tonight to uh to accept uh that we received three grants from the Kosciusko Endowment Youth Services. Milford Schools receives $400 to use for educational purposes for for students, while Wawasee
006High School uh received $500 for the EL program to support EL students. Thank you to Amanda Fry um Wa- um Wawasee High School EL para for taking the time to apply for those funds. And uh Wawasee Middle School received $1,000 for positive behavior reinforcement incentives. A big thank you to KEYS for those grants. Let's Let's thank them for >> [applause] >> Another good news is Tony Poleky, our our uh our Wawasee director of bands, was named the Syracuse Wawasee Chamber um Educator of the Year. Uh he's done a lot to uh to to support our bands uh over the last few years, and Tony isn't here tonight, but let's let's thank him for for that work and congratulate him. Thank you to the Syracuse Wawasee Chamber of Commerce for this recognition as well. Joining us
007tonight, if we could have our track uh track folks come on up here. So, we have five uh students that recently com- uh were state qualifiers. Uh we also have coa- uh Coach Pinyon, Coach Whitrick, and Coach Slaybaugh. Uh Mia Hodgson was a sectional champion in the 1600 and um advanced to regionals and then qualified for state for state finals. Mia finished her track high school track and season with a 30th place at the state competition. So, congratulations. >> [applause] >> The boys 4 by 800 relay of JD Stoffel, Ivan Wykoff, Wykoff, Mason Worrell and Jude Rhodes were also sectional champions. They finished fourth at the regionals and their and their time was fast enough to advance them to the state championship. So, congratulations for >> [applause] >> So, coaches, I don't know if you'd
008like to say anything at this point. >> Well, I hope we'll be seeing the same guys up there. We have three juniors and a freshman, so maybe next year we'll be able to have the same thing here. >> Yeah, sounds great. Thank you again. Let's congratulate them for their [applause] job. Well, as you know, Wawasee graduation took place this past Sunday and June 7th, the class of 2026 included 192 graduates. There were 41 with academic honors, 20 with technical honors, 22 with both academic and technical honors, 93 core 40, four alternate, six general and one certificate of completion. Four students graduated early as juniors and and five foreign exchange students were recognized. 41 members of the class of 2026 are being inducted to the Wawasee academic Hall of Fame. This was the 58th class to
009cross the graduation stage at Wawasee and we are proud of their accomplishments over the last 13 years. So, let's give them a hug. >> [applause] >> This is a little bittersweet for me as a new superintendent coming in, but I'm going to congratulate our retirees, and I unfortunately didn't have the opportunity to to work with all of you, but I want to congratulate you on for your on on the time that you have given to our children over the over the years here at Wawasee and elsewhere. So, we have some members that are able to be here. If you could head up front here when your name is is read. Uh Deborah Connett. Diane Deb Deb was a Wawasee Community Schools for 13 years as a media specialist at Wawasee Middle School. Diana Allen. Diana
010is retiring after 37 years of teaching. All of those were at North Webster. Heather DeSommer has 22 years with Wawasee High School or Wawasee Community Schools. Heather was a teacher in a few different subjects and grades at Wawasee Middle along with a corporation librarian. Lori Dixon is retiring after 30 years at Wawasee from Wawasee schools, all at Wawasee Middle School. Lori taught English, social studies, and computer science. Kim Jones. Kim Kim has taught 26 years at Wawasee Community Schools splitting her years at North Webster Elementary and Syracuse Elementary teaching fourth grade and PE. Carrie Murphy. Carrie is retiring after 40 years of teaching, all at Wawasee High School. Carrie taught all kinds of business classes and was involved in DECA with DECA. Chris Christine Knoll is retiring after 13 years at Wawasee. Chris taught English
011language arts for 10 years and three years of facts at Wawasee Middle School. Susan Scheid. Susan is retiring after 22 years at Wawasee Community Schools as a speech and language pathologist for our students. Brenda Stiver Brenda has been a Wawasee at Wawasee schools for 28 years. All 28 were spent at Syracuse Elementary teaching arts. Kevin Taylor Kevin is leaving Wawasee after 33 years. Kevin has taught social studies for 14 years and 19 years in the guidance department at Wawasee High School. Lori Thomas Lori leaves after 30 years with with Wawasee Community Schools. All of those years were spent at North Webster Elementary. And Amy Miller. Amy was a 31 year teacher at Wawasee High School. Sadly, Amy passed away in May from an extended illness. She was a beloved teacher and a coach and will
012be missed by the Wawasee community. Let's give our retirees a uh >> [applause] [applause] >> What what amazes me as I read that was how many years of education were totaled in that, especially here at Wawasee. So, what a commitment to Wawasee. So, thank you again, teachers, for that. And finally, I have some donations that we've received from the following people or organizations. We want to thank our community for supporting our our schools in a variety of ways. We have Wawasee Alumni Association has generously donated 3 3,124 dollars for football travel bags, 2,350 for boys basketball camp, 950 for strength training t-shirts, 2,000 for cross country camp, and 2,600 for cheerleading camp. Wawasee Athletics received a 750 dollar donation from for the baseball program from the from Syracuse Glass, 250 dollars from Quality Engineered Services
013for the boys basketball program, and 950 dollars from the Knights of Columbus 6323. Orthowax donated 2,879 dollars and 95 cents for CTE for STEM program for STEM projects. A total of 850 dollars was received for Wawasee High School Teacher Appreciation Meals. Thank you to Titus Funeral Homes, Rebecca and and Frank and Rebecca Levenson, and Julie and Ryan Stuckman for your donations. The Angel Fund also received 863 dollars from our American Legion Riders 253. Um this donation will help with unpaid lunch balances, which is always wonderful. Thank you all to those to those donations as those they will definitely support our students. Thank you. Okay, guys, do I have a motion to approve the good news as presented? >> I'll make a motion to approve the um uh good news items. >> I'll a >> Second.
014>> All opposed. I'll Anyone in favor signify by saying aye. >> Aye. >> Opposed? Ayes have it. Sorry about that. I been doing this I don't know what happened there. Okay, time for patron comments. I'm just going to go on. I think we're good there. Okay. All right, we're now we're into um reports. So, superintendent report. >> Yes. Um as I mentioned um tomorrow is my first day and so I'm very excited about that. Uh I I would say that I have I I I I feel like I've been working for the last couple of weeks, which is probably true as well. And and you know what? I have been had the opportunity to meet a lot of people during that time. And everyone has been so welcoming. Uh it's been fabulous to be able
015to get into building. Uh it was important to me that I got into buildings when we had kids. And so I was able to walk through each of our buildings uh the the final Thursday of our school year. And so meet some staff, to be able to see kids. Uh I was able to attend an awards ceremony at North North Webster um and and a variety of other things. Uh also went to a baseball sectional, graduation, uh helped interview for for uh principals. Uh just um a lot of opportunity to meet different people in in the district. And it's again, everyone has been so welcoming. So, thank you for that. >> Great. Thank you. Okay. You guys got anything? Keep going. Okay. We are now on to group action items. Um we've had a chance
016to review these. They've been in our board packet. Um so, I'm going to move forward. Do you guys have any questions on any of the grouped action items? Okay. Uh I'd like a motion to approve the grouped action items as presented. >> I make a motion. >> Have a second? >> Second. >> All signify your approval by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed? Eyes have it. Motion carries. >> If I if I could have a moment, I would like to make an introduction. As was just passed through our through our personnel certified personnel recommendations this evening, I'd like to highlight that we hire that we are hiring our new principal at Syracuse Elementary. Nicole, if you'd come stand up here with me. Nicole Veit is our next principal at Syracuse Elementary. Mrs. Veit was a
017principal in for 2 years in DeKalb Central and most recently the last 10 years at Southwest Southwest Allen Whispering Meadows Elementary School. So, we are excited to for her to bring her experience and to Syracuse. We welcome her to to Wawasee. Her first official day will be the 27th, but we're going to get her in here earlier because I know she she's chomping at the bit to meet people and and to to get ready and get going. So, we want to welcome Nicole to >> [applause] >> Thank you so much. Thank you for your approval this evening. Thank you for your trust in me to lead Syracuse Elementary. I am so excited to become a part of the Wawasee community. So, thank you also for your trust and your commitment. I look forward to getting
018to know so many familiar faces, getting to know the students and the staff at Syracuse and many of you. So, thank you Thank you much. It takes a community to support our schools and so thank you all for being here, and thank you for this chance. >> [applause] >> Okay, additional action items. Mr. Dr. Penrod, financial report, please. >> Good evening. Uh, excuse [clears throat] me. So, we have the uh financial report, and tonight uh this is in your board packet, as well as the uh public-facing board packet that's on the website. Uh we start with our appropriation, which is our authority to spend in May. Uh here at the end of May, excuse me, the uh education fund net appropriation uh $21,923,978.11. Uh the month-to-date expended at $1,722,476.21. The year-to-date expended at $9,451,475.89. That
019leaves the unexpended balance at $12,472,502.22. We have outstanding encumbrances in the Ed Fund of $218,382.31. So, the unencumbered balance then is $12,254,119.91. And that's 44.11% expended, uh approximately 8% more than it was last month, and again, we're trying to trying to keep that in the 8% per month, and so we're um so, this particular month was a was a good one as far as the percentage of the budget spent. The debt service fund had no month-to-date expended, the year-to-date expended at one uh $1,800. Our unexpended balance then at $14,201,625. The unencumbered balance, the same thing, and so the percent encumbered is uh 0.01%. I do expect that we will see a lot of um invoices in June for our June 30 payments that are um due then to the trustee bank or back to the
020bond orders on July 15th. And so, you'll We'll those um going out of our bank in June, so when we report in July, you'll see that. The operations fund net appropriation at 11,240,661.70. The month-to-date expended there at 665,913.74. The year-to-date expended at 3,990,033.25. The unexpended balance 7,250,628.45. Outstanding encumbrance in the operations fund at 310,245.24. Leaving the unencumbered balance at 6,940,383.21. Percent encumbered there at 38.26% and the rainy day fund had no activity, so all of the appropriation still remains at $750,000. Before we move to the fund report, any questions on appropriation? And then the fund report is the cash on hand, as you recall. So our beginning of the month balance in the education fund at 2,829,204.32. Month-to-date revenue at a million 837,822.78. Most of that, as you know, comes from the state tuition support.
021Month-to-date expenses at a million 722,476.21. Our beginning of the year balance at a 2,810,330.65. Revenue year-to-date at 9,585,696. 13 and the year-to-date expenses at 9,451,475.89. Leaving our current balance at 2,944,550.89. The debt service fund beginning of the month balance was unchanged still at a million 962,727.64. Month-to-date revenue at 24,468.23. The expenses, like I said, not none yet and again in July or in June we will have all of our expenses. The beginning of the year balance a million 964,527.64. The revenue for is the same in that year year-to-date expenses at $1,800 like we saw up in the appropriation report as well. So, our current balance at $1,097,195.87. We'll see all of our property tax come in. That's a property tax fund. So, we'll see all of our spring settlement come in in June and then
022basically turn around and get paid out in June as well. On the operations fund, the beginning of the month was $2,048,633.02. Month-to-date revenue at $29,429.32. Month-to-date expenses at $665,913.74. The beginning of year balance at $5,340, $652,92. Year-to-date revenue at $68,411.01. And year-to-date expenses at $3,996,915.33. Our current balance there at $1,412,148.60. Again, property tax funded fund. And so, when we see revenue in June from the spring settlement, that balance will will increase quite a bit. And then finally, the rainy day fund beginning of the month balance at $2,463,703.10. The month-to-date revenue at $1.10. Month-to-date expenses were none. Beginning of the year balance obviously unchanged at $2,463,231.91. Year-to-date revenue at $472.29. No expenses. And the current balance is $2,463,704.20. And so, that completes our fund report. And again, any questions, I'd be happy to answer. >> What
023is the $1 What is the $1 there? >> So, yeah, that's a little odd. So, if you remember the there was an there was a resolution to close an old fund last meeting I believe it was where we took a a minute amount of money and moved it out of that fund into the rainy day fund. That minute amount of money, I don't remember what it was off the top of my head, but that minute amount of money generated some interest prior to us moving them out. And so, that $1.10 is the interest from the It must have been It must have been $471.19. So, that $471.19 got moved, but prior to getting moved, it generated $1.10 interest. Thank you. >> Uh we are on to item 8B. Oh, do I need a motion on
024each one of those? Okay. Do I have a motion to approve the financial report? >> I'll move to approve the financial report. >> Have a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor signal signified by saying I. I. Opposed nay. Motion carries. Now we are on to item 8B. >> Yes, thank you. We have a an opportunity to consider [clears throat] some CTE equipment purchase. We we are um working with a seller to provide uh some equipment that we will use in our CTE programming. This is uh These are items that we will use that are like new items, but at a fraction of the cost of what we would be spending if we were going out and for new. So, would would like you to consider this purchase today. >> Just want to glance
025at this report. >> Does anyone have questions on that? Okay. Do I have a motion to approve item 8B, consider CTE equipment purchase agreement? Have a motion? >> I'll make the motion. >> Second. >> All those in favor signify signify by saying I. >> I. >> Motion carries. Now we are on to 8C health insurance plan document. >> There were some There were some some wording and some phrases in the current plan document that was open to interpretation. And so to eliminate any confusion, we are asking that the board approve a new plan document to to specify exactly when teachers are are are staying or how long they're staying on the plan even if they're changing districts. And then also how long teachers stay on the plan before moving to retiree status. And so the
026majority of the language is very similar such as you know the when employee coverage terminates. One would be the plan date is terminated obviously so that's similar and that kind of thing. The part that we're really really focusing on is the last day of the calendar month in which the covered employee ceases to be one of the eligible classes. This includes termination of active employees or employment of the covered employee. And then we're going to see the Cobra continuation options later in the document except as outlined below. And so this is the part that was kind of open to interpretation that we're trying to eliminate. eliminate the interpretation. Teachers who Teachers who will remain on the plan until September September 30th of the same year. An employee that is eligible to retire will remain on
027the plan until September 30th of the same year and then change to retiree status. So basically what's that What what are we What are we meaning here What are we looking to do? If a teacher leaves um in May or early June at the end of the school year, they've satisfied their part of their contract. So they've worked their 100 183 days I believe it is. And so that the school then during negotiations said they would pay X amount of dollars toward the either family or single plan or single and spouse or single and dependents. If they cut off if they're if their last day is May 20th and they cut off May 31st, they they fulfilled their part of the contract. We've not fulfilled ours by giving that that uh I say subsidy, I
028don't mean subsidy in this in that case, but in that that benefit. And so in order to do that, in order to keep that benefit, we owe them 12 months of health care coverage for their for their working of the contract. And so that 12 months would be uh it would end September 30th cuz that's the end of the plan year. On the retiree side, they would stay on the active side until September 30th and then move to retiree. It doesn't really matter as far as um their coverage is or anything like that. All their coverage is going to stay the same. It's just a matter of uh bookkeeping. Like they would in most cases, not this case because we've got a uh deal for retirees of of um of retaining health coverage that we
029negotiated. But in other years where we don't have that, they'll just switch from active employee where we're deducting their paycheck to retiree where they're sending us they're sending us premiums. But their coverage rate is the same as a retiree. And so we're trying to take the ambiguity and the interpretation out of that, looking to keep everyone on till September 30th. >> Good. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Do I have a motion to approve the health insurance plan document clarifi- clarification language? I need a motion. >> I'll move to to um approve item 8C. >> I have a second. >> Second. >> All those in in favor signify by saying aye. >> Aye. >> Motion carries. Okay, we're on to 8D, out-of-state overnight trips. >> We have one uh requesting permission. Uh that's uh Wawasee coach
030Doug Slabaugh is is requesting permission for the boys and girls cross country teams to travel to Pokagon State Park July 22nd through 24th for their annual cross country camp. Uh Pokagon State Park and then Cola ending on both male and female chaperones will be supervising the trip. >> That's the only one. >> I have a motion to approve that trip. >> I make a motion. >> Second. >> All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Motion carries. >> All right, we're down to other items. >> Other items. >> Okay, I have another item. Other item. >> It's our fearless interim leader. >> Okay, the these these uh flowers won't do it, but um you did So, I knew Diane from high school. She was more than my guidance counselor. She was my
031like a teacher to me, but did you You didn't teach any of my classes, right? Yeah. Did I have your husband, though? >> I did. >> Anyway. >> No. >> German, Mr. Fraser. No. Anyway, um I always really [snorts] looked up to her. Um she was a really good for me. And so, the minute this whole thing happened, I um just asked um Mr. Shelley. Said he was No, she retired. Said, well, uh call her anyway, please. And uh anyway, so I was really excited. And then, as everybody got to know her, um I was really excited cuz I feel like I was right. And um it was really neat to see what somebody like with her leadership and demeanor and skill set and integrity can do. And I mean, I appreciated it a ton.
032And you just really really helped us through a tough time. It was awesome. So, it means more than you know. It was I think it means a lot to our community. And there's people in the community that don't even know how important it was that you what you did for us. So, I really appreciate that. >> I would echo everything you said. >> And >> I knew Dr. Woodworth. I was um teacher at Goshen Community Schools. Kind of a role reversal. She was my boss at Goshen, and now I became her boss here. Not I'm not really much of a boss here, but uh everything um uh just great job and um just mending some community things that really needed mending. You just did a great job with all of that. So, really thank you.
033Thank you. >> So, thank you. >> [applause] [cheering] >> While we're getting this picture, too, I I will say Diane has been instrumental in in in supporting the transition as well. Uh we have met and talked every day, I think, um as we uh to to support the transition uh for for me being here as a superintendent. So, I just want to say thank you as well. >> It's been my great pleasure. Everybody has been very welcoming. You know, I told somebody I think maybe a little bit of reluctance at first. And then I'm leaving with a full heart, so full of admiration for all I see. I really enjoyed being a part of it for just a little bit. And people here, they're great. They're a wonderful community with great schools. It's a real
034joy. So, thank you for welcoming me and for all of your support. Thank you all. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Okay. You guys got anything else? All right. Do I have a Oh, yeah. >> I had a great I had a great graduation yesterday. It's always a wonderful thing to see our students come across the stage. Just our future's in good hands. Every time I see them come across, I know that. >> Yeah, it was fun. It was good. All right. Do I have a motion to adjourn? >> Move to adjourn. >> Second. >> All those in favor signify by saying aye. >> Aye. >> Motion carries. Thank you, everybody. >> Thank you.