Board Recap
Combined Board Meeting | July 15, 2025
Spotlight on Community Partnership: Agaitas Presentation
The Board was pleased to welcome Ryan and Neena Burgher for a presentation highlighting the work of Agaitas, which has served our community since 2012. Agaitas provides sports camps and athletic development with an emphasis on leadership and personal growth for students throughout Kosciusko County.
Program Highlights:
Camps include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, pickleball, rugby, soccer, and specialized programming through Joe’s Kids.
Students from every WCS building participate annually.
11 pop-up camps expand access throughout the county.
Over 400 former campers now serve as volunteers, promoting leadership and mentorship.
The soccer camp alone hosted 400 campers and 100 student volunteers.
This year also marked the launch of the Agaitas Leadership Academy, providing students with leadership opportunities through event planning, conference participation, camp leadership, and reflective practices. Neena Burgher’s Warsaw Area Career Center (WACC) class further enhances student learning through marketing, communication, fundraising, and event planning coursework.
The presentation concluded with a recap video featuring camp highlights and reflections from student volunteers.
Health & Wellness Update: 2024-2025 School Nurse Report
Kennedy Wagner provided an overview of the district-wide health services offered by WCS nurses. Her report detailed the essential work performed daily by the nursing staff, including:
Chronic health condition management
Medication administration
First aid and emergency care
Health screenings and preventative services
Mental health support and referrals
Student wellness education and outreach
and many others!
Our nurses support the health, safety, and well-being of all WCS students and staff. Kennedy's report also highlighted key trends, accomplishments, and areas of focus for the coming school year.
Professional Development: PLC Conference Reflections
Tracy Horrell provided reflections from the Professional Learning Communities (PLC) Conference attended in June. The conference offered valuable insights into best practices for effective professional learning communities.
Whole grade-level teams, new teachers and district administrators participated, gaining a deeper understanding of WCS’s established practices and expectations. The conference served as both a professional development opportunity and a chance for team-building, collaboration, and alignment ahead of the new school year. These shared learning experiences will directly support WCS’s continued focus on collaboration, student achievement, and continuous improvement.
Leadership Updates: Administrative Changes for 2025-2026
Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert and Mr. Steven Boyer announced key leadership updates for the 2025-2026 school year:
Kristi Lucht has been named Principal of Claypool Elementary. A Warsaw native and WCHS graduate, Kristi brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to building connections with staff, students, and families. She is dedicated to fostering academic excellence while strengthening ties with the Claypool and Silver Lake communities.
Steven Boyer will now serve as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) while continuing in his role as Director of Human Resources. His extensive background in education, HR, and finance leadership positions him well to lead these dual roles.
As part of this restructuring:
Danielle Raber, currently Corporation Treasurer, will transition to Director of Finance.
Tracy Beiler will move from HR Generalist to HR Manager.
These changes create greater efficiencies while maintaining strong leadership in both finance and human resources. Dr. Hoffert expressed appreciation for the talents and commitment of these leaders, noting that each has deep roots within WCS and a shared dedication to positively impacting students, staff, and the community.
Facilities Update: Lakeview Middle School Planning
Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert also provided the Board with an overview of the current evaluation of Lakeview Middle School’s facilities. His presentation highlighted the history of the building, which opened in 1962 as a high school and transitioned to a middle school in the early 1990s. While the structure remains solid, it faces necessary infrastructure updates including ADA compliance, roofing, HVAC, and other long-term maintenance needs. Options under consideration for the future of Lakeview include:
Building a new middle school at a different location
Renovating the current facility
Consolidating middle school facilities at either Edgewood or Lakeview
Dr. Hoffert emphasized the importance of these discussions as part of WCS’s long-term commitment to efficiency, fiscal responsibility, and meeting the evolving educational needs of the community. A projected timeline for next steps in the process would begin in the summer of 2026, with plans to address infrastructure, energy efficiency and facility improvements across the district.