Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE — Wawasee Community Board of School Trustees highlighted recent achievements, transparency and a districtwide culture initiative during its regular meeting Tuesday.
Network Administrator Matthew McNeil was recognized for earning his Certified Educational Technology Leader certification, an advanced credential acknowledging leadership in educational technology.
Representatives from the Indiana Chief Technology Officer Council presented him with a commemorative award at the meeting.
“Matt’s dedication to excellence shines through in achieving this certification,” said Jeremy Miller, director of technology at Middlebury Community Schools.
In her public comments, community member Lissa Krull voiced concerns about transparency and communication from the administration, noting difficulty accessing agendas and that night’s livestream.
“As of 3 p.m. today, I saw no information about the livestreaming of this meeting on Parent Square, the Facebook page or the new Wawasee website per the Tuesday, July 1 law,” she said.
Krull expressed appreciation for a recent two-hour discussion with Wawasee High School Principal Geoff Walmer after receiving no follow-up after last month’s meeting, but called for broader improvement.
“Our conversation was very productive. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to transparency and communication,” she said.
Superintendent Dr. Steve Troyer publicly apologized for the delayed follow-up and committed to further dialogue.
“I was the one who was supposed to contact you and did not see that note after the board meeting,” he said. “So we’ll get in touch and see if we can’t schedule a time to get together.”
“Thank you,” Krull replied.
Troyer then introduced “The Warrior Experience,” a new districtwide service and culture framework designed to unify how students, staff, families and visitors experience the school system.
Based on feedback from over 400 community members, the initiative outlines five key behaviors: “Welcome Like a Warrior,” ”Connect as a Community,” “Leading with Positivity,” “Respond Like It Matters” and “Be the Warrior Difference.”
“This is not next year’s theme ... or a feel-good campaign,” Troyer said. “It is the culture that will define us moving forward.”
Training sessions, handbooks and onboarding programs will integrate the Warrior experience across all employee groups and new students.
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Shelly Wilfong also presented the learning report, sharing updates on summer training and a shift to the Acadiance dyslexia screener for K-2 students.
She also previewed an upcoming curriculum adoption for sixth- through eighth-grade English and language arts, which will be up for formal approval in August.
In construction news, updated drone footage showed progress at the new Milford School building. Exterior work on the building is nearly complete, with interior construction beginning soon.
Other Items
Troyer presented several pieces of “good news” early in the meeting, including major grants and recognitions:
Wawasee was one of 76 school districts awarded a Digital Learning Grant this year from the Indiana Department of Education, aimed at enhancing virtual learning and AI literacy.
The district also received a $35,000 Dekko Foundation grant to support its Lead Learners program.
The board approved a two-year, nearly $500,000 Polywood Academy grant agreement from the Don Wood Foundation to expand the Wawasee Area Career and Technical Cooperative’s advanced manufacturing program. Most of the funds will go toward a large CNC machine to enhance student training in partnership with local industry leaders.
The board also celebrated Wawasee Middle School’s fundraising efforts, which generated over $5,200 to support student Angie Chavez as she undergoes cancer treatment.
The next meeting of the Wawasee Community Board of School Trustees will be 5:30 p.m. Aug. 12 at Wawasee Professional Learning Center, 801 S. Sycamore St.
