Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - Wawasee Community School Corp. held its public hearing Tuesday, Sept. 8 on a proposed 2027 budget of about $48 million, while Chief Financial Officer Brandon Penrod warned nearly $600,000 in property tax cap losses will largely erase growth in the district’s operating levy.
Penrod said Wawasee’s maximum operations levy can grow 7.73% to about $9.27 million, but an estimated $596,800 in tax credits would reduce what the district actually collects to roughly the current $8.6 million level.
“The school’s going to have to make that work with roughly the same amount of money in ’27 that they did in ’26,” Penrod said.
Superintendent Kent Myers said the concern is compounded by rising insurance, fuel and other costs.
The district also presented its 2027-29 capital plan and 2027-31 bus replacement plan. Penrod said the bus schedule authorizes possible replacements but does not require purchases. Formal budget adoption is expected in October.
Penrod also presented a possible $1.5 million general obligation bond for capital expenses such as roofs, maintenance, buses, technology and equipment. No action was taken. If the board proceeds, preliminary resolutions could come in October, followed by hearings and additional approvals in November.
During patron comments, Curt Hursey urged the board not to discontinue the work sessions it began last fall, arguing they helped rebuild community trust and provide another venue for public discussion. There are currently no more Wawasee School Board work sessions scheduled for the calendar year.
“I'd really think hard before we cancel those,” Hursey said. “It gives us an opportunity to feel involved ... I'm missing my son's football game to be here.”
Assistant Superintendent Michelle Walden reported 92% of Wawasee third-graders passed IREAD, compared with a state rate of about 89%. Sixty-six percent of second-graders passed early, compared with about 62% statewide, meaning those students will not have to retake the assessment in third grade.
“We’re excited for that,” Walden said, noting the state goal is a 95% third-grade pass rate.
Myers also asked the board to consider joining litigation alleging social media companies intentionally target young users in ways that can negatively affect students. The board will be asked to vote in October. Myers said there would be no upfront cost to join.
“A lot of the discipline referrals that came to me during the school day were as a result of social media issues in the evenings,” Myers said, adding stronger “guardrails” could provide another layer of protection for students.
The board heard a first reading of NEOLA policy updates, including a proposal to stop employees from transporting students in private vehicles and require district-owned transportation instead.
“We came to the conclusion that there just isn’t a reason that we would put a student in a private vehicle,” Walden said.
The board also approved a Ball State University teacher residency agreement despite the loss of state grant funding that previously provided $11,000 to the resident and $3,000 to the host teacher.
“She decided she still wanted to do it because of the opportunity,” Walden said. The resident may substitute two days per week.
Trustees accepted a $39,000 Dekko Foundation grant and related INCompassing Education contract for writing instruction professional development. Instructional coach Mary Brower said teachers will meet six times during the year to learn and test research-based writing strategies.
“Their support isn’t just providing us with professional development,” Brower said, “it’s investing in our teachers.”
The board also approved an Edmentum/MajorClarity contract to help seventh-graders explore career pathways and complete required graduation plans, along with a revised facilities rental agreement. The new schedule generally charges community, nonprofit and outside groups $50 per hour plus staffing costs, while school-affiliated groups may use facilities without a rental fee.
“We definitely want to be welcoming to the community,” Kristin Bonner said of the new Performing Arts Center, “but we also want to be responsible stewards of the building that we have.”
Wawasee School Board next meets 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13 at the Wawasee Professional Learning Center, 801 S. Sycamore St., Syracuse.
