SYRACUSE — Staff of the Milford Public Library were excited to hear students in the Wawasee Community School Corporation would be keeping their 1:1 devices during the summer months. Students will be able to use their devices to download electronic books and other items through the OverDrive digital service offered by the library.

During the regular monthly meeting of the Wawasee school board Tuesday evening, June 13, in Syracuse, Julie Frew, director of the Milford Library, gave a presentation about OverDrive. It is a free digital service that can be accessed from any type of electronic device and is used to download electronic books, audio books and much more.

Frew noted OverDrive speeds up the research process considerably and several types of subjects are available. There is also an app for it and all Wawasee students were provided the app on their 1:1 devices. It has become another way the Milford Library, as well as the North Webster and Syracuse libraries, can connect with Wawasee students and help them.

Use of OverDrive has increased within the last year and a goal is to give every teen and child in the Milford community access to it.

In other business, the board also heard a brief presentation about the unified track team. Wawasee had a unified track team for the first time this year. Unified track became a sport in Indiana during the 2013-14 school year and was formed by Special Olympics to give kids with intellectual disabilities, as well as those who can’t otherwise compete in sports, a chance to be a part of a team.

Cheyenne Blanchard coached the Wawasee unified track team this year. There were 14 kids on the team and they participated in three meets, none of which were hosted by Wawasee but the goal is to have at least one meet at Wawasee in 2018.

Team members run against those of their own ability level in each heat. They compete in the long jump, shot put and a few other events. Everyone scores a point of some type, unlike in regular track where only those who are the fastest in a heat score points.

Also during Tuesday’s meeting, retiring school corporation employees were honored and not all of them were able to attend the meeting. Retiring this year are Dave Palmer, teacher at Wawasee Middle School and the Academy; Teresa Zurcher, teacher at North Webster Elementary; Richard Vester, head custodian at Wawasee Middle School; Pat Eldridge, school secretary at Syracuse Elementary and who had been the longest serving employee in the corporation; Pam Unruh, CTE administrative assistant and who had been the deputy treasurer; Lorene Westphal, bus driver; Myra Alexander, nurse at Wawasee High School and corporation nurse; and Jane Vendrely, school nurse at Syracuse Elementary.

In other business, Dr. Tom Edington, superintendent, noted Kern Road at the intersection with CR 1300N is closed and work to install a 90-degree intersection should be completed by the end of June. Kern Road will also be repaved all the way to the entrance of the new Syracuse Elementary coming from 1300 North.

The board was also reminded the keys to the new Syracuse Elementary are to be turned over to the school corporation Wednesday, July 5.