Board Work Session Recap (Tuesday, May 12)
Student Spotlight: Middle School Band Program
The Board recognized the accomplishments of the Middle School Band Program during the Student Spotlight.
Mr. Peloza provided a recap of the year with some exciting highlights including the prestigious ISSMA All-Music Award, an honor awarded to programs that receive Gold or Silver ratings in every ISSMA organizational event category, including Solo & Ensemble, Jazz, and Concert Band.
Throughout the year, students participated in every available competition and performance opportunity, representing Warsaw Schools with excellence. In addition to ISSMA events, students performed holiday music at elementary schools during the Christmas season and joined the high school band for a football halftime performance.
Program highlights included:
- Lakeview and Edgewood earned the ISSMA All-Music Award
- Advanced Band receiving a Gold Rating with Distinction at Organizational Festival
- Edgewood and Lakeview Jazz Bands earning Gold ratings from all three judges at ISSMA Jazz Contest
- Students Chloe Ousley, Caroline Gudorf, Greta Loebs, and Noah Huff receiving Outstanding Soloist recognitions
Students recognized included Bentlie Zellers, Brenna Overman, Paige Barlow, Blake Barlow, Canton Rapp, Saul Harmon, Natalie Corbin, Chloe Ousley, Noah Huff, Raegan Demange, and Landon Miller. The Board congratulated the students and Mr. Peloza for their outstanding representation of WCS throughout the year.
Academic Spotlight: Professional Development
Aimee Lunsford, Chief Academic Officer, provided the Board with an update regarding WCS’s professional development for elementary teachers and staff to strengthen literacy instruction (through targeted professional development in writing and assessment practices).
Professional learning opportunities have centered around improving writing and literacy instruction, aligning assessment practices and strengthening teachers’ understanding of effective literacy strategies to support student achievement. Mrs. Lunsford also shared how staff collaboration and ongoing professional development are helping build a more cohesive instructional framework across elementary schools.
Aimee Lunsford also shared data demonstrating the level of coaching support provided to teachers throughout the school year, including:
- 4 direct instructional professional development sessions
- 105 building professional development sessions
- 89 modeling sessions
- 42 mini coaching cycles
- 39 full coaching cycles
- 14 side-by-side support opportunities
- 19 weeks of support totaling more than 775 hours
Additional Board Agenda Items
Additional agenda items included:
- Review of the May 2026 Personnel Report presented by Steven Boyer, CFO
- Consideration of out-of-state travel requests
- Presentation of monthly financial reports
- Review of donations and grants received by the district
- A facilities and construction update presented by Jim LeMasters