BATESVILLE —  “It’s a pretty big deal” for the Batesville High School Academic Team to win the state championship”  in the interdisciplinary subject area, superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts told Batesville Community School Corp. trustees May 21.

“We had a tremendous run in the state competition,” he reported. The Indiana Academic Super Bowl was May 5 at Purdue University. After regional competitions, three teams within the Academic Team qualified for the Super Bowl. The school’s science team captured third place and its fine arts team was the state runner-up.

According to the superintendent, “This is probably our best finish ever.” Analyzing Class II results (based on school population), “Nobody else finished as well as we did in three different subject areas. If there had been an overall state champion (in each class), it would have been Batesville High School.”

Spanish teacher Cindy Julcarima, who serves as team adviser along with Batesville attorney John Kellerman, said  fine arts teammates were given the  theme  Colonial and Revolutionary America. “They spent hours researching with really a high level of motivation and intellectual curiosity.”

Kellerman grinned and explained, “It’s easy (to win) when you have the horses.” BCSC President Chris Lowery added, “You’ve got to have the right managers and trainers, too. The two of you helped them to be better students.”

Kellerman emphasized, “There’s no excuse” not to have the same winning record  next year. He urged other students to participate on teams.

BCSC students triumphed academically on a different test. At 95.5 percent, 149 out of 156 Batesville Primary School third-graders passed IREAD-3, the state’s new standardized exam. Roberts said those who failed have more chances to take the test this summer after remediation. “We’ll look forward to working with those students ... and getting them to be successful.”

The Batesville Intermediate School renovation and addition is progressing. Most classroom casework in the two-story wing has been installed, Bruns-Gutzwiller project manager Tony Gutzwiller  said. He gave a shoutout to principal Dr. Jere Schoettmer and teachers, who moved items to new cabinets over the May 19-20 weekend. Flooring arrived May 18 and already was added to some rooms. About 90 percent of the landscaping is finished. “By the end of June we will be substantially completed.”

With students no longer attending school, he predicted starting May 24 “we’re going to be tearing apart a lot of stuff” to renovate the school’s oldest sections, built in 1957.

Bruns-Gutzwiller President Tom Bruns recalled, “Last year at this time, we were taking bids. In 11 and a half months, a lot has been accomplished.”

Citizens will be able to tour the school during an open house Sunday, July 29, from 1-3 p.m.

Debbie Blank can be contacted at 812-934-4343, Ext. 113; or debbie.blank@ batesvilleheraldtribune.com.