Claypool Elementary To Be Reopened
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Yes, Claypool Elementary School will be reopened, the Warsaw Community School Board announced Monday night.
The question is still when.
But along with reopening Claypool, the school board also discussed the need to renovate other elementary schools, plus build a new school in the northern part of the school district.
Property taxes likely will go up so the board talked about doing all the work at once so there's only one hit on the tax rates instead of multiple increases.
The reason given for the work? Overcrowding in the school corporation. Leesburg Elementary has one classroom in a shower, and Harrison and Madison will need additional sections of grades to house students.
Monday's special meeting opened with incoming Superintendent Dr. Rob Haworth reporting on the results of a survey on Claypool and the cost to reopen the school.
The survey was sent out to families living in the Claypool and Silver Lake schools area. Of the 251 sent out, 167 were returned. Eighty-five (34 percent) of the 167 indicated an interest in their student attending Claypool. By grade level, those interested in returning or starting at Claypool included four in preschool; 17 in kindergarten; 12 in first grade; 16 in second grade; 18 in third grade; nine in fourth grade; and nine in fifth grade.
If Claypool becomes a one-section K-6 school, additional new staff would include a principal, 6.5 teachers, two administrative assistants, 1.6 custodians, a librarian, six food service workers and seven athletic coaches (basketball, volleyball, soccer and track). The low estimate for salaries would be $395,837, with a high estimate of $596,802. Benefits would be an additional $118,768 to $232,556. Haworth said there would be no cost for transportation because he said he feels under this model, it would not be affected. Food services would be brought in to the school.
If Claypool became a two-section K-4 school, staffing salaries would range from a total of $488,082 to $755,373, with benefits ranging from a total of $146,707 to $289,813.
Under this model, Haworth said, if only those survey respondents interested in Claypool attended, there wouldn't be enough students. Other students would have to be pulled in. Transportation costs would be less than $12,000.
The third model was for Claypool to become a three-section K-2 school. There would be no athletic teams. Salary total would range from $468,530 to $695,961, with benefits ranging from $129,994 to $255,363.
Also, for either of the models, Claypool would require a special needs teacher and an English as a Second Language assistant, with total salaries ranging from $41,722 to $69,527 and benefits from $11,548 to $23,375.
Haworth said if only the students went to Claypool who responded to the survey, it would not warrant the teachers following the students from their current schools to Claypool.
But staffing wouldn't be the only costs. Start-up costs would include a fire sprinkler system/alarm for $1,000-$2,500; intercom/clock system, $600 to $5,125; ceiling tile, $10,000 to $15,000; air quality test, $2,000-$3,000; HVAC, $600-$1,200; gym cleanup/refinish, $4,000-$18,750; general cleanup, $10,000-$45,000; fixtures and bulbs, $5,850-$7,000; and phone system, $5,000-$25,000.
Then there's the new equipment costs, which includes technology, classrooms, general office, library, audio visual, nurse, custodial, food service and athletics. The total is estimated at $422,620. Haworth said costs could be reduced if equipment from other schools was used at Claypool.
Energy cost for Claypool would range from $37,000 to $50,000, with transportation costs ranging up to $72,200.
Financially, Haworth said the general fund cash balance has ranged from $2,255,014 in 2003 to $4,530,873 in 1998. He said it's important for the school corporation to decide what is a healthy cash balance. He said he thinks it's at least three payrolls.
Other costs to the school corporation include increased staffing at other schools, funding cuts, and an increase in costs to such items as special needs. The property tax relief cap discussed by the state may have an impact on the school corporation but they are uncertain as to how right now. Haworth said summer school funding could be cut, but board member Tammy Dalton objected to that, saying that summer school is too important.
To help make the school board more aware of the overcrowding at Warsaw schools, the board plans to tour the elementary facilities May 12. Two days of strategic planning are scheduled for June.
Another option Haworth suggested to the board was to make Claypool a K-8 school. In the future, the middle schools, especially Edgewood, may experience overcrowding and making Claypool a K-8 school may alleviate some of that future problem.
Dan Robinson, board vice president, asked if Claypool wasn't opened if Warsaw Schools would still need additional staff.
Haworth said yes.
Randy Polston, Harrison principal, said his school has enough fourth-graders for a four-section school but it's only a three-section school now.
Claypool resident Gordon Vanator said it only makes sense to use the buildings to capacity. The school board is going to have to make tough decisions that not everyone will be happy with, but they'll adjust. Claypool needs to be opened, and "If it increases taxes, so be it," he said.
Chuck Sauders, board member, said he wanted to make a decision Monday. Claypool is a nice facility and it's just gathering dust. "Closing Claypool was a poor decision," he said.
Board member Deb Wiggins said she understands the Claypool building is out there and there is an overcrowding problem, but she wants to make sure that a high educational level is maintained.
Dalton said with school starting in August, she could not really see Claypool reopening this fall, but maybe the 2007-08 school year. It would be more feasible then instead of rushing into opening Claypool.
After a woman expressed concern about getting a K-6 school into Claypool, Sauders said they couldn't fit into there unless the school board took a big step and started remodeling the school to add on to it. He'd like Claypool to be a three-section school. Warsaw has an overcrowding problem and the "old rusty checkbook may need to be opened up," he said.
Warsaw Community High School Principal Dr. Jennifer Brumfield also encouraged the school board to hold off reopening Claypool until the board can look at the entire picture. Warsaw Schools is growing. WCHS gained 80 students last fall they didn't expect and gain three new students every week. "We have more students now than we've ever had before," she said.
"I know what I want to do," said Robinson, "but if the money is not there, we can talk until we're blue in the face."
Board member Cathy Folk said they can't open Claypool and not determine what it will be, a one, two or three section school. The northern part of the school corporation still has its overcrowding problem and it's not being addressed.
Haworth said he recommended one bond issue to address Warsaw's overcrowding right. If the school corporation does a bond issue, the tax rate will increase. If Warsaw wants its schools to be the best, the best facilities must be provided.
"What we need," said Sauders, "is one gigantic building problem. It's not going to be easy."
Wiggins said she would love to make a decision, but she said she felt she was ill prepared to make that decision Monday. It was agreed Claypool will be reopened, but the board made no decision. However, the school board approved for Robert L. Boyd, Indiana University associate professor, to do a demographic study of Warsaw Schools for $6,500. [[In-content Ad]]
Yes, Claypool Elementary School will be reopened, the Warsaw Community School Board announced Monday night.
The question is still when.
But along with reopening Claypool, the school board also discussed the need to renovate other elementary schools, plus build a new school in the northern part of the school district.
Property taxes likely will go up so the board talked about doing all the work at once so there's only one hit on the tax rates instead of multiple increases.
The reason given for the work? Overcrowding in the school corporation. Leesburg Elementary has one classroom in a shower, and Harrison and Madison will need additional sections of grades to house students.
Monday's special meeting opened with incoming Superintendent Dr. Rob Haworth reporting on the results of a survey on Claypool and the cost to reopen the school.
The survey was sent out to families living in the Claypool and Silver Lake schools area. Of the 251 sent out, 167 were returned. Eighty-five (34 percent) of the 167 indicated an interest in their student attending Claypool. By grade level, those interested in returning or starting at Claypool included four in preschool; 17 in kindergarten; 12 in first grade; 16 in second grade; 18 in third grade; nine in fourth grade; and nine in fifth grade.
If Claypool becomes a one-section K-6 school, additional new staff would include a principal, 6.5 teachers, two administrative assistants, 1.6 custodians, a librarian, six food service workers and seven athletic coaches (basketball, volleyball, soccer and track). The low estimate for salaries would be $395,837, with a high estimate of $596,802. Benefits would be an additional $118,768 to $232,556. Haworth said there would be no cost for transportation because he said he feels under this model, it would not be affected. Food services would be brought in to the school.
If Claypool became a two-section K-4 school, staffing salaries would range from a total of $488,082 to $755,373, with benefits ranging from a total of $146,707 to $289,813.
Under this model, Haworth said, if only those survey respondents interested in Claypool attended, there wouldn't be enough students. Other students would have to be pulled in. Transportation costs would be less than $12,000.
The third model was for Claypool to become a three-section K-2 school. There would be no athletic teams. Salary total would range from $468,530 to $695,961, with benefits ranging from $129,994 to $255,363.
Also, for either of the models, Claypool would require a special needs teacher and an English as a Second Language assistant, with total salaries ranging from $41,722 to $69,527 and benefits from $11,548 to $23,375.
Haworth said if only the students went to Claypool who responded to the survey, it would not warrant the teachers following the students from their current schools to Claypool.
But staffing wouldn't be the only costs. Start-up costs would include a fire sprinkler system/alarm for $1,000-$2,500; intercom/clock system, $600 to $5,125; ceiling tile, $10,000 to $15,000; air quality test, $2,000-$3,000; HVAC, $600-$1,200; gym cleanup/refinish, $4,000-$18,750; general cleanup, $10,000-$45,000; fixtures and bulbs, $5,850-$7,000; and phone system, $5,000-$25,000.
Then there's the new equipment costs, which includes technology, classrooms, general office, library, audio visual, nurse, custodial, food service and athletics. The total is estimated at $422,620. Haworth said costs could be reduced if equipment from other schools was used at Claypool.
Energy cost for Claypool would range from $37,000 to $50,000, with transportation costs ranging up to $72,200.
Financially, Haworth said the general fund cash balance has ranged from $2,255,014 in 2003 to $4,530,873 in 1998. He said it's important for the school corporation to decide what is a healthy cash balance. He said he thinks it's at least three payrolls.
Other costs to the school corporation include increased staffing at other schools, funding cuts, and an increase in costs to such items as special needs. The property tax relief cap discussed by the state may have an impact on the school corporation but they are uncertain as to how right now. Haworth said summer school funding could be cut, but board member Tammy Dalton objected to that, saying that summer school is too important.
To help make the school board more aware of the overcrowding at Warsaw schools, the board plans to tour the elementary facilities May 12. Two days of strategic planning are scheduled for June.
Another option Haworth suggested to the board was to make Claypool a K-8 school. In the future, the middle schools, especially Edgewood, may experience overcrowding and making Claypool a K-8 school may alleviate some of that future problem.
Dan Robinson, board vice president, asked if Claypool wasn't opened if Warsaw Schools would still need additional staff.
Haworth said yes.
Randy Polston, Harrison principal, said his school has enough fourth-graders for a four-section school but it's only a three-section school now.
Claypool resident Gordon Vanator said it only makes sense to use the buildings to capacity. The school board is going to have to make tough decisions that not everyone will be happy with, but they'll adjust. Claypool needs to be opened, and "If it increases taxes, so be it," he said.
Chuck Sauders, board member, said he wanted to make a decision Monday. Claypool is a nice facility and it's just gathering dust. "Closing Claypool was a poor decision," he said.
Board member Deb Wiggins said she understands the Claypool building is out there and there is an overcrowding problem, but she wants to make sure that a high educational level is maintained.
Dalton said with school starting in August, she could not really see Claypool reopening this fall, but maybe the 2007-08 school year. It would be more feasible then instead of rushing into opening Claypool.
After a woman expressed concern about getting a K-6 school into Claypool, Sauders said they couldn't fit into there unless the school board took a big step and started remodeling the school to add on to it. He'd like Claypool to be a three-section school. Warsaw has an overcrowding problem and the "old rusty checkbook may need to be opened up," he said.
Warsaw Community High School Principal Dr. Jennifer Brumfield also encouraged the school board to hold off reopening Claypool until the board can look at the entire picture. Warsaw Schools is growing. WCHS gained 80 students last fall they didn't expect and gain three new students every week. "We have more students now than we've ever had before," she said.
"I know what I want to do," said Robinson, "but if the money is not there, we can talk until we're blue in the face."
Board member Cathy Folk said they can't open Claypool and not determine what it will be, a one, two or three section school. The northern part of the school corporation still has its overcrowding problem and it's not being addressed.
Haworth said he recommended one bond issue to address Warsaw's overcrowding right. If the school corporation does a bond issue, the tax rate will increase. If Warsaw wants its schools to be the best, the best facilities must be provided.
"What we need," said Sauders, "is one gigantic building problem. It's not going to be easy."
Wiggins said she would love to make a decision, but she said she felt she was ill prepared to make that decision Monday. It was agreed Claypool will be reopened, but the board made no decision. However, the school board approved for Robert L. Boyd, Indiana University associate professor, to do a demographic study of Warsaw Schools for $6,500. [[In-content Ad]]