Warsaw Community Schools

Board Spotlights

Unified Sports

Maria Demopoulos introduced the Board to the impact of Unified Sports. Unified Sports teams include students with and without disabilities working together as teammates, promoting inclusion.

Flag Football Coach Ryan Bricker described the program as meaningful for everyone involved which includes players, partners, coaches and even spectators. He shared how the relationships formed during the season went far beyond the field.

Track and Field Coach Stavrani Christos shared similar observations, noting the sense of purpose Unified Sports brings to student-athletes.

Jason Slabach, parent of two Unified participants, shared that Unified Sports has had a major impact on both of his sons. He said it has been one of the best opportunities they’ve had in their time at Warsaw Schools. Athlete Ben Slabach shared that he’s made strong friendships through Unified Flag Football. He also introduced a fun tradition he started, giving each teammate a shark nickname. He calls himself “King Shark.”

Eva Demopoulos, a four-year partner and "Saw Shark," talked about the positive effect Unified Sports has had on her, describing how friendships built on the team have extended into social activities beyond school, like movie outings. Beau Goshert, “Beau Shark,” said he enjoys helping and that being part of Unified Sports makes him feel like he’s making a difference.

Both the Unified Flag Football and Unified Track & Field teams had about 5 athletes and 25 partners this season. Board members thanked the students, families, and coaches for sharing their experiences and for building a welcoming culture at WCS. 

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LEGO League Robotics – Jefferson Elementary

The Board also recognized the Jefferson Elementary First LEGO League Team, the Legendary Spartans, for their outstanding performance this season.

Coaches Jennifer Long introduced the team and shared highlights from this year’s archaeology-themed challenge. The team earned the Core Values Award at the Regional Competition, advancing them to Semi-State. At the Semi-State Competition this past weekend, the team earned a solid 235 points, and while they did not advance to the state level, they had a great season and Long praised their efforts. 

The Board congratulated the team on their success and for representing Jefferson Elementary and WCS with pride.

Team members: Jackson Watson, Connor Couture, Caiden Beeler, Simon Getty, Dallas Condict, Connor Terpstra, Owen Hagenbuch
Coaches: Jim Terpstra, Jennifer Long

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Lakeview Phase 1 Overview

Performance Services presented an update on Phase 1 of the Lakeview Middle School construction project, which came in on budget.  This phase focuses on key infrastructure upgrades designed to improve building efficiency, safety and long-term operations.

The work includes:

• Gym wall upgrades to improve structural integrity
• Roof work, including deck inspection, added insulation, replacement, and long-term energy efficiency enhancements
• Tunnel repairs (housing much of Lakeview’s piping and electrical systems)
• Construction of a new indoor maintenance room to relocate rooftop mechanical units, improving protection and accessibility
• Relocation of the district’s walk-in freezer from Lakeview to Edgewood, where it will connect to a proper loading dock

The freezer relocation will be the first major step, scheduled for spring, and will help open up space for the maintenance room project. Most of the remaining construction, including roofing, gym, and structural steel work, is scheduled for summer to minimize disruption to learning. However, some isolated work, such as piping repairs in the tunnel, can begin during the school year.