SYRACUSE – At the Wawasee Community School Corp. board meeting Tuesday night, fourth grade students from Milford School announced they have raised $6,000 for Riley Children’s Hospital.
The students and teachers started an initiative for former West Noble teacher and Syracuse resident Diane Kehoe called Kehoe Kids. Kehoe left Milford School teacher Emily Worrell dozens of books to pass on her passion of reading.
Kehoe Kids aim to raise money and donate books to children at Riley’s. The classes will travel to Indianapolis in April to deliver whatever they raise. As of Tuesday, the students raised $6,000 and 3,000 books. On Friday, Kehoe Kids will hold a silent auction and raffle drawing at the annual Milford Fish and Tenderloin Fry from 4:30 to 7 p.m. to benefit their cause.
The board heard the climate audit report formed by Dr. Steve Yager and Mike Pettibone, both former Indiana public school superintendents. Yager and Pettibone took over an hour to explain their report, which highlighted what they found interesting in WCSC, what they appreciated and what they thought could help the system grow. The report was started last fall. Yager and Pettibone interviewed teachers, administrators, bus drivers, custodians and almost anyone who contributed to the schools.
The most talked about points were that members of the schools felt safe, students and parents were pleased with the programs offered and that the expectations for everyone are set high. Of the 122 people interviewed, many expressed concerns that Milford Middle School and Wawasee Middle School were not equal. They said that students do not have the same experiences or opportunities as those at the other school.
Other concerns from the report were the faulty technology system, which the board has already addressed, and communication between all employees. According to Pettibone, many employees expressed that they did not know what was going on in other parts of the district. He also said that an athletic director serving as a head coach was not efficient.
In other news, Syracuse Elementary is holding a maker fair Saturday for Kindergarten students from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. After prom activities at Wawasee High School have been cancelled. Construction on the new Syracuse Elementary School is continuing through the Winter weather.
