Shown is a rendering of what Milford Elementary School will look like when completed. Construction on the new school is expected to begin either later this week or early next week and be completed in time for the start of the 2026-2027 school year. Graphic provided by Wawasee Community School Corporation.

By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — Wawasee Community Schools’ building projects at Wawasee High School and Milford Elementary School are proceeding on time and under budget.

Wawasee High School

The high school build project is proceeding on time with phase I of the project already complete. Last spring, the social studies circle was torn down to make room for the new performing arts center. Three new classrooms were then built into what was known as the “surge” area inside Wawasee High School.

“It was done so well,” said Emily Worrell, director of communications and marketing for the school corporation. In addition to the new classrooms being completed by the time school started in August, the new concrete pad for the PAC was also done.

Worrell said bidding for phase II and III has just been completed and are expected to be approved by the school board during its regular meeting Tuesday, Oct. 8. Currently, the high school build project is approximately $250,000 under budget.

Worrell noted the build project has instituted a new drive pattern in the school parking lot for students, staff and parents. Worrell said everyone involved have done an amazing job making the necessary adjustments.

Going into winter sports season, Worrell said the parking pattern will not be new to those who attended any fall sports activity.

One major change is access to “the Brickyard” has been closed off. Door No. 1 or the main door of the high school will be the main access point for all sports this winter.

Phase II, which will be the construction of the PAC, is estimated to be completed in time for school to start in August 2026.

Once the PAC is complete and the band, orchestra choir and performing arts are moved into that space, phase III will commence, which is renovating the band/orchestra/choir space for the new career technical education space.

In this space will be the nursing program and a new state-of-the-art kitchen for the culinary arts and other CTE programs. The CTE building will then be renovated for the alternative school, which is currently housed in trailers located just south of the high school. Worrell said once that is done, the trailers will be removed and the space may be used for additional parking. Phase III is expected to be done by August 2026.

Work on the performing arts center at Wawasee High School is expected to start soon after the school board approves the budget at its Oct. 8 meeting. The project is expected to be completed in time for the 2026-2027 school year. Graphic provided by Wawasee Community Schools.

Milford School

The Milford School project is completely bid and approved by the school board. Construction is expected to start later this week or early next week.

Worrell said the final bids came in at $34.1 million, which is under the estimated $35 million for the project.

The project is expected to be completed by summer of 2026.

The project involves building a new school, which will have three sections for each grade level.

“Milford is really booming right now, so we’re gearing the elementary school that way,” Worrell said, noting new housing is being built in Milford.

The new school will be built where the baseball fields are currently located. Once the new building is complete, the old one will be torn down.

Worrell said there will be a big traffic change at Milford School once the new school is complete. It’s hoped the new traffic pattern will eliminate parents being backed up to SR 15 for student pickup.

Worrell explained the two projects each had a separate architect and contractor.

“We have been very blessed with the availability of funds without raising tax dollars,” Worrell said noting both projects are tax neutral. “Not all school corporations have the opportunity to invest in their kids like this.”

There has been some grumbling in the community regarding a rise in assessed property value. Worrell explained while the assessed value of a home may have gone up, the tax levy for the school corporation has not. It is still .5399 or 54 cents per $100.

Worrell explained if a property’s assessed value goes up, the tax rate doesn’t rise with it, just the value of the home changes.

“All of these projects have come from managing our debt and our income really well, Worrell said.

Funds raised through property tax funds are used by school corporations for operations costs, such as utilities, building maintenance, custodians, build projects and more.

None of the funds goes toward teachers’ salaries. That money comes from the state and is based on student enrollment.