Pictured is Hilary Stouder (C), the new principal at Lincoln Elementary School, with her parents. Photo by Jackie Gorski, Times-Union.

By Jackie Gorski
Times-Union

WARAW — While Kennedy Wagner will take over as the nurse coordinator at Warsaw Community Schools, Tracey Akers will establish the Welcome Center for the school district.

The Warsaw Community Schools Welcome Center will be housed at the Health Services Pavilion, and Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert said it will officially open Aug. 1.

Akers said with the Welcome Center, she will work to see all new students to the district from first through 12th grades. The center will assess any health conditions the student may have and help connect the student to local providers for hearing and vision screenings. The center will also help update required immunizations for students and follow up as needed with students and families. She will also work with high school counselors to help students.

Akers said she has been wanting to open the Welcome Center after seeing Fort Wayne Community Schools had one.

Before talking about the Welcome Center, Akers introduced Wagner to the board. Wagner has been a nurse at Lincoln Elementary School since October.

Akers also told the board the importance of school nurses. She said school nurses help the school corporation in several ways, including with attendance rates through health promotion, disease prevention and management.

Nurses also help improve the general wellness of school staff.

Nurses also help save principals an hour a day; teachers, 20 minutes a day; and secretaries, 45 minutes a day by dealing with health issues, she said.

Akers said school nurses are responsible for a variety of things, including compliance with immunization requirements, case management of students with chronic health conditions, monitoring communicable diseases, identifying and treating accidents and injuries and educating students and staff on their own health and wellness.
During the 2023-24 school year, there were 59,435 visits districtwide for issues such as seizures, diabetes, asthma and vision exams, Akers said.

Later in the meeting, Hilary Stouder was approved by the board as the new principal at Lincoln Elementary School, replacing Aimee Lunsford, who is now chief academic officer.

Lunsford introduced Stouder Tuesday to the board.

Lunsford said Stouder has a passion for her work. She spent 20 years at Whitko Community Schools as a second-grade teacher, librarian, instructional coach and master teacher. For the past three years, she has been at Lincoln Elementary, serving as an interventionist and instructional coach.

Stouder said she student taught at Jefferson Elementary School. She said there was no other school like Lincoln and no other school system like Warsaw.

Also, the board held a preliminary determination hearing for general obligation bonds.

Chief Financial Officer April Fitterling said the maximum amount the school corporation is asking for is $5 million, but will have an exact amount when the assessed value rate is released in order to make sure there is no impact on tax rates.

Fitterling said possible projects include improvements for facilities and possibly athletic improvements and work would potentially start in summer 2025.

There were no public comments.

In other business, the board:

• Recognized the Warsaw Community High School girls rugby club as they won state.

Coach Trevor Cracknell said this is the fourth time the team has won state and the eighth time at state finals since the club began in 2003.

• Learned the first day back for students is Aug. 9.

• Learned Tools for School is July 31 at Lakeview Middle School.