Highlights of Master Teacher Contract

A new contract between the Wawasee Community Educators Association and the Wawasee Community School Corporation was approved in April.

Highlights of the agreement include:

• The contract is in effect from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011.
• The agreement is for a 0% salary increase for 2010-11.
• Salary and up to two language items will be negotiated annually.
• Parent-Teacher conference language was included for 2010-11.

In addition, a retirement incentive plan for teachers was adopted by the school board.

In these trying economic times, both the teachers and school board worked well together to find common ground for a new contract.

Update on Budget Reductions

On Tuesday, May 18, 2010, the Wawasee Board of School Trustees voted on budget reductions for the 2010-2011 school year. This budget reduction PowerPoint shows the reductions that have been put in place.

Budget Reductions Update

The following PowerPoint contains information that is currently under consideration for budget reductions for the 2010-2011 school year. This PowerPoint is updated from ones previously posted. Your comments are appreciated.

Budget Reductions PowerPoint April 2010

No School on Monday, April 26, 2010

There is no school on Monday, April 26, 2010, for Wawasee Community Schools. This was a scheduled snow make up day that was not needed.

ISTEP+ multiple-choice testing for grades 3-8 begins on Tuesday, April 27, 2010.

Budget Reduction Measures 2010 PowerPoint

The following PowerPoint was shared with the Wawasee Board of School Trustees at their March 9, 2010, board meeting.

PowerPoint of Budget Reduction Measures 2010

More Information About Budget Reductions

Thanks for the suggestion in the budget reduction posting about answering rumors and questions.
Someone asked about a breakdown of employees by building. I don't have that information this weekend. We will work to make that information available.
Comments were made about transferring money from other tax funds to general fund. The short answer is that we can't. We are not able to transfer funds from capital projects, transportation, bus replacement, or debt payment funds, which you pay as property tax, into general fund. The state pays general fund to us from sales and income tax. (We can move a small percentage of capital project funding into general fund to help with utilities and property insurance.) These rules are set by the state, and we obey them.
Several new laws were proposed this legislative session allowing schools more flexibility in transferring between various funds. Those proposals are being held up by politics in Indianapolis. In any event, we didn't make this years' budget for Wawasee with extra money to transfer around if given the opportunity.
Wawasee established a Rainy Day fund long ago. I grew when certain facility projects didn't cost as much as estimated. The extra money went into Rainy Day fund. By the end of this summer, we will have spent over $800,000 from Rainy Day during the past three years. If we have no budget cuts and spend 1.3 million from the fund each of the next two years, the Rainy Day fund would be gone. Future needs for a cushion would remain, with nothing available for 5, or 25, years down the road.
Our budget reduction proposals have no plans for children to walk to school, to cut extra-curricular opportunities or sports, or to put 30 children in an elementary classroom. We'll continue to study options to save money with minimal disruption to programs and opportunities for the children of the Wawasee community.
I am asking the school board to approve a study of our district to look at good efficiencies we may be missing.
Blog questions were asked about why Milford seemed to take the hardest hit with reductions. The answer is that Milford has the lowest seniority elementary teachers in the school district. They are reduced first. WCSC is a large district with three elementary schools. If teachers are needed from elsewhere, they may be transferred from other buildings. Elementary teachers are being discussed because we didn't have secondary teachers on the reduction list. We already knew about some secondary teacher retirements, so some reductions could already be made, if needed. The reduction list is subject to change as we move through the process, with retirements known and decisions made, over the next several months.
Why would WCSC consider facility work when economic times are tough? That is a good question. The big answer is that the high school is 42 years old and needs a new roof, good and energy efficient heating units in 1/2 of the building, safety items addressed, and other items on our future building list. We can take advantage of zero/low interest through the federal stimulus program, without changing our tax rate. We'll be providing construction jobs, which turn around and help pay for our schools. Also, construction costs have gone backwards the past couple of years. The energy savings will pay off now and in the future, safer schools are better for all of us, and a new shop area has been needed for a long time.
Overall, WCSC is looking at our economic situation with the goals of minimizing reduction of services to the students and layoffs to employees. All employee groups share in cuts. Classified employee hour reductions will equal 5% of total classified hours, teacher reductions equal 2% of total teachers, and administrator reductions equal 14% of total administrators.

Thanks, again, for taking the opportunity to forward budget reduction ideas on the blog. This is a difficult process for everyone. I appreciate the way you are saying things in a nice way, even though you may not like what is happening. That says something good about Wawasee.

Waiver for Loss of Instructional Time at WHS

The Indiana Department of Education has granted Wawasee Community School Corporation a waiver regarding the loss of instructional time for Wawasee High School's canceled day on February 26, 2010, due to the loss of power.

That day will not have to be made up.

School Delay - Friday, March 5, 2010

Wawasee Community Schools will 2-hour delay on Friday due to late arriving fog in areas of the school district.

Request for Public Input for Budget Reductions

Wawasee Community Schools is seeking input from the community for ways the school corporation can reduce the budget to meet the new funding formula from the State of Indiana. Parents and community members are invited to post constructive ideas on how the budget can be reduced with a minimal impact on student learning.

Comments are to be limited to 200 words. If you have additional comments, please e-mail them to TEdington@wawasee.k12.in.us. Suggestions will be accepted from March 2nd to March 17th.

There will also be time for public comments on March 9th at the beginning of the school board meeting. The meeting will be held at Wawasee High School in the lecture room and will start at 5 p.m.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Due to electrical problems, Wawasee High School is closed today, Friday, February 26, 2010. All other Wawasee schools are open today.

As long as power is restored during the day, the following will take place:

• the Career/Technical Open House from 4:30-6 p.m. in the Career/Technical Building on the high school campus
• the boys' basketball game at home against Tippy Valley at 6:15 p.m.

Changes in Immunization Requirements for Students

The following is information from our schools' nurses explaining changes in immunization requirements for students for the 2010-2011 school year:

During the 2009 legislative session, Indiana Code 20-34-4-2 was revised, requiring the Indiana State Department of Health to “adopt rules under IC4-22-2 to require school age children to receive additional immunizations against the following: Meningitis, Varicella (Chicken Pox), and Pertussis” (Whooping Cough). Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by the pertussis bacteria. Pertussis causes severe coughing fits. The pertussis booster (Tdap) is combined with tetanus toxoid.

Changes to the school immunization requirements for school year 2010-2011 are as follows:

a. All preschool and kindergarten students will be required to have 2 doses of varicella vaccine, given on or after the first birthday and separated by 3 months. For children entering preschool, kindergarten, and 1st grade, a signed statement by a healthcare provider, including date of disease, is required to document history of chickenpox.

b. All kindergarten students will be required to have 4 doses of polio vaccine, one of the required doses given on or after the fourth birthday, and at least 6 months after the previous dose.

c. All 6th - 12th grade students will be required to have 2 doses of varicella vaccine, given on or after the first birthday, and separated by age-appropriate intervals as defined by the CDC, or a history of chicken pox disease.

d. All 6th -12th grade students will be required to have 1 dose of tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) given on or after the 10th birthday.

e. All 6th -12th grade students will be required to have 1 dose of meningitis vaccine (MCV4)

These vaccines are available free at the Kosciusko County Immunization Clinic, located in the K21 Health Pavilion, 1515 Provident Drive, Suite 160, Warsaw. Hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 8:30 to 12:00pm and 1:15pm to 3:30 pm. Evening clinic hours are the 1st Monday of each month, 6:00pm-8:00pm. And at the Syracuse clinic at Lakeland Youth Center on the 2nd Thursday of each month, 2:00pm to 3:30pm. Varicella vaccine is not available at the Syracuse Clinic. No appointment is necessary. Take a copy of your child's immunization record with you.

The following websites have additional resources for families to obtain information about vaccines:

The Indiana Department of Health http://www.in.gov/isdh

The Centers for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines

Your assistance in vaccinating your student to meet the new Indiana State requirements is very appreciated. Please contact the school nurse in your students building with any updated vaccination dates.

Wawasee Community School Health Service Staff:
Allene Dewart, LPN - Milford School, 574-658-9444
Jane Venderly, RN - Syracuse Elementary, 574-457-4484
Pam Rensberger, RN - North Webster Elementary, 574-834-7644
Robin Huffman, RN - Wawasee Middle School, 574-457-8830
Myra Alexander, RN - Wawasee High School, 574-457-3147

February 11, 2010 School Delay

Wawasee Community Schools will delay the start of school on Thursday, February 11, for 2 hours due to road ice.

February 15, 2010 Snow Make-Up Day

Wawasee Community Schools will be in session on Monday, February 15, 2010. The day is a make-up day for Wednesday, February 10, when classes were canceled due to snow.

February 10, 2010 School Closing

Wawasee Community Schools will be closed on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 due to blowing and drifting snow.

2/9/2010: Wawasee Dismissing Students Early

Due to weather conditions, Wawasee Community Schools are dismissing students at 1 p.m. (1:20 p.m. at Wawasee Middle School) today, Tuesday, February 9, 2010.

All after school activities are canceled.

Wawasee varsity girls' basketball sectional game against Northwood at West Noble High School is now scheduled for Thursday, February 11, at 7:30 p.m.

Clarification for Monday, February 15, 2010

Monday, February 15, 2010, is a snow make-up day for the Wawasee Community School Corporation. If school is canceled any day during the week of and including February 9, 10, 11, and 12, classes will be in session on Monday, February 15.

Weather alerts have been issued for a possible snow storm this week. We wanted to clear up any questions about the use of Monday's make-up day. We will all keep an eye on the weather as we attempt to get in our required school days this winter.

Indiana's Cash for College Campaign

Indiana has initiated a Cash for College campaign made possible by the federal College Access Challenge Grant. According to information released by the Indiana Department of Education, "the campaign promotes practical, grade-specific steps for Hoosier students, all leading up to the state's March 10th deadline for filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)."

Information can be found at LearnMoreIndiana.org/CashforCollege. The website has information on College Goal Sunday on February 21, a free statewide event at 37 sites across Indiana to get help and file the FAFSA (http://www.collegegoalsunday.org/); on FAFSA Fridays on February 12 and 19 where you can get free information and chant online with financial aid experts; and on student goal setting for college for elementary, middle, and high school students.

School Delay - Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Wawasee Community Schools will begin Tuesday, January 19, with a 2-hour delay due to road ice.

Citizens' Checklist to Respond to Lower State Tuition Support Funding

On January 15, 2010, the Indiana State Board of Education sent the information below to superintendents, school board members, principals, and Indiana educators regarding the lowering of funding of state tuition support. For Wawasee Community School Corporation, this cut is in the amount of over one million dollars. The final amount is yet to be determined as Wawasee has not received final information from the state.

"On January 8, 2010, the State Board of Education formally adopted the attached Citizens’ Checklist to be utilized by local school communities as they move to make adjustments to respond to lower state tuition support funding as a result of the State’s declining revenues.

"The Citizens’ Checklist outlines a series of adjustments that all stakeholders in K-12 education should consider, discuss and implement in order to avoid or minimize any reduction in teaching staff that affects classroom instruction and learning.

"The checklist itemizes 22 adjustments and considerations in four broad categories that include monetary adjustments, program adjustments, adjustments that reduce the cost of staff without affecting instruction, and community reporting and accountability. Conversations at the local level should include participation of school board members, the district’s leadership team, teachers’ association, and the community.

"By distributing the Citizens’ Checklist throughout the local community, it is the intent of the State Board and Department of Education to stimulate meaningful and transparent dialogue that will be held in an open forum so that positive action can be taken and obstructions to solutions can be identified and addressed. Conducting open forums will allow local communities to find adjustments that do not affect student learning.

"The State Board and Department intend that the Citizens’ Checklist be a resource tool that all local school communities incorporate in the decision making process and that all local media use to track and inform the public of decisions, actions and impacts.

"It is understood that school boards, the district’s leadership team and teacher associations will retain the flexibility and autonomy to make monetary, programmatic, administrative and other decisions based on the district’s and school’s fiscal position but in the best interest of its students."

No School - Monday, Janauary 18, 2010

Wawasee Community School Corporation will not be in session on Monday, January 18, for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.