WARSAW — The Warsaw Community Schools Board of Trustees learned about sharks and shark dissection from Leesburg Elementary School third-graders during its regular meeting Monday, May 16.

The students and their teachers showed off their Shark Week projects and told the board how they were able to fit sharks into their curriculum, including math to learn the area and perimeter of a shark shape; writing to compose haikus and acrostics about sharks, reading to perform a shark scavenger hunt and science to learn about shark anatomy.

Students showed the board preserved specimens from their shark dissection project at the end of the unit. They also told about their trip to the Indianapolis Zoo, where they learned more about sharks, including how to properly pet a trained one.

Next up was WCS Coordinator of Library Services Wendy Kovach and team of librarians from different schools in the district, giving the annual library report. They explained how they are incorporating technology into learning, including digital learning and technology at the elementary level, a 1:1 iPad initiative at the middle school level and the transformation of the library into a learning commons at the high school level.

Things like 3D printing, Twitter sessions, Skype and webinars have all added to the learning experience. The librarians also demonstrated how iPads work for things like learning and test taking and the board took a mock quiz on iPads as their results showed up live on a screen. This feature allows teachers to track which students are having difficulties and how many are finished taking the quiz.

At the high school, the library has been divided into three types of areas, including “caves” for individual learning and research; “campfires” for learning from teachers, other students and visitors; and “watering holes” for peer-to-peer learning, group study and collaboration.

The board also met its new chief financial officer, Brandon Penrod, and the newest addition to the assistant principal team, Ben Barkey. Both thanked the board for the opportunity to work at WCS. Penrod plans to turn in his resignation at his current place of work Tuesday, May 17. Barkey has worked for WCS for 14 years in various capacities.

Along with the consent items, the final textbook rental fees were approved. Totals for elementary-level textbook rental will be as follows:

• Kindergarten, $114
• First grade, $149
• Second grade, $141
• Third grade, $134
• Fourth grade, $140
• Fifth grade, $202
• Sixth grade, $183

Middle school and high school fees will vary by class. Devices will be $47.42 each for grades 7 and 8 and $59.75 for grades 9 and 10.

Other News:

• The board announced Washington Elementary School Tad Nieter received a $250 GenerationON Indiana grant from the Indiana Association of School Principals and the Indiana Middle Level Association to use for the “Hope Center” classroom project.
• The next board work session is set for 4 p.m. Monday, June 14.
• The next regular school board meeting is at 7 p.m. Monday, June 20.