Engineers with Barton-Coe-Vilamaa present facility studies on each of the corporation’s school buildings. Photos provided by Wawasee Community School Corp.

By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — The final meeting of the Wawasee Community Engagement Committee on March 25 was to develop suggestions using the information provided over the previous four sessions – finances, educational programs, facilities and demographics.

“The process is as important as the outcome,” stated Dr. James Halik, who facilitated the meetings. He charged the group with a list of things to remember when arriving at suggestions to the board.

• Instruction must drive construction.
• Safety must be a priority.
• Focus on the immediate needs first.
• Strive for curriculum and program equity.
• Benefits of consolidating facilities.
• Curb appeal as related to brand.
• The four groups, divided by suits of a deck of cards, met for several hours before presenting their suggestions to the group.

The four presentations were compiled into an executive summary by Halik to be presented at the Wawasee Community School Board meeting April 18.

Halik presented an 18 page executive summary to the board. This summary included the district vision and mission statements, purpose and process, a list of the task force members and their attendance record along with the charge of the committee. Additionally, the summary included things the committee enjoyed, what they thought was missing and general comments.

“It was evident after hearing all four break-out groups share their report that four areas needed immediate consideration,” noted Halik. “During the independent group conversations ideas for all levels (elementary, middle and high school) evolved and reported back to the entire committee of which has become part of the written record. Each group appointed a spokesperson who presented to the entire committee, they were instructed to not prioritize their options,” stated Halik.

The four most important focus areas were broken down to: most discussed, frequently discussed somewhat discussed and additional consideration.

Wawasee Community School Corp. Superintendent Dr. Steve Troyer explains the purpose behind the formation of the Community Engagement Committee and the presentations they will be hearing over five meetings.

The most discussed was: Combine Milford Middle School with Wawasee Middle School and renovate or construct a new Milford Elementary School; new fieldhouse that could be shared by the school and community, renovate or construct a new competitive swimming pool and new performing arts center. During the group discussions it was noted the PAC should include band, theater, kitchen, culinary arts and choir spaces and be available for public use.

Among the frequently discussed items was updating the Wawasee Middle School planetarium, expand STEAM/STEM/robotics/CTE/AP programs and classroom space, evaluate alternative learning facilities and develop a marketing/communication strategy.

Several groups suggested changing the middle school formation to seventh to eighth grade and keeping sixth-graders at the elementary schools.

It was also suggested the corporation look into the possibility of utilizing the space at Milford School to provide nontechnology opportunities such as what Fairfield Schools did at Millersburg Elementary.

Other suggestions included expanding the entrances to Syracuse and Wawasee high schools; add more parking at North Webster, Syracuse and Milford; adjust the boundaries for Syracuse Elementary; expand preschool areas at Milford and Syracuse; and add outdoor classrooms.

Several groups suggested a solution be found to improve the parent pick-up/drop-off procedures at Wawasee Middle School, including having a stoplight added on SR 13.

There were also suggestions of expanding the nurse’s office. Several suggestions were made to renovate the C-wing and have additional space for CTE programs.

There were a number of areas where only one of the four groups brought up topics. These included reutilize and renovate specific storage space areas, putting turf on the baseball and softball fields, school facelifts and district-wide radio system for emergencies.

Dr. James Halik, Ph.D. president of Compass-Keynote Consulting LLC., talks to the members of the Wawasee Community School Corporation Community Engagement Committee, on the challenges ahead of them and the expectations. Photo provided by Wawasee Community School Corp.

Numerous other suggestions were made specific to each school. Most included adding conference rooms closer to front offices and upgrading bathrooms.

One group did suggest a marketing department be created to oversee scheduling of new performing arts and athletics facilities and a quarterly meeting of administration and school principals to discuss building concerns and issues.

Among the participants comments in the committee evaluations were: free talk in groups, school funding, building tours and presentations of all topics. Specific comments included: “All voices were heard and all communities were well represented;” “Valuable information shared to prepare for conversations;” “I enjoyed the engagement with individual community members;” and “Seeing the true facts and figures.”

Among the “missing” things committee members noted was time to discuss and debrief each of the topics among the group, staff attrition, input from younger generations and more time. Specific comments were “I wish we could have heard ideas from others before the last session,” “Investment or bond project example, step by step, year by year of another school district;” “… I felt like some administrators were eavesdropping and will use it against employees;” and “I wish we could have a study done on our pools, similar to the architects (facility study).”

To see the full summary, click here.

A spokesman for one of the four groups gives a presentation on the suggestions his group made.