No Comments at Public Hearing for Warsaw Superintendent
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
Tuesday evening the board met to discuss and hear from the public about the proposed contract for Hoffert as the new superintendent. The contract, which will be effective July 1 through June 30, 2017, totals $148,723 annually with benefits.
However, no one from the public attended the meeting to speak either for or against the contract. The board will have a special meeting at 4 p.m. May 27 to approve the contract, but the board is not required at that meeting to take any public comments. According to board attorney Timothy S. Shelly, of Warrick & Boyn LLP, Elkhart, Tuesday’s meeting was the public’s chance to comment on it.
Hoffert will replace Dr. Craig Hintz, who is retiring as of June 30. Hintz was approved as superintendent April 27, 2009. Hintz announced Hoffert as WCS’s assistant superintendent at a Dec. 16 board meeting. He was just the chief academic officer at that point. His promotion to assistant superintendent became effective Jan. 1.
During the meeting, the board also reviewed several bids and contracts. They will be voted on at the board’s regular meeting Monday at 7 p.m.
Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott presented a quote for $4,985.34 for a varsity baseball field sound system from Sweetwater in Fort Wayne. He said Sweetwater was the higher recommendation, but Athletic Director Dave Anson is going to check out another sound system at NorthWood High School. If that sound system meets the needs at Warsaw Community High School, Scott said Anson may shift the recommendation.
Anson got three or four bids for the sound system, Scott said.
He said the current sound system at the baseball field has issues. Director of Buildings and Grounds Greg Schroeder said it’s old and outdated. It’s been sitting in the press box for a number of summers and winters and it’s really showing its age, he said.
Schroeder then reviewed the contract awards for gym floor maintenance.
For gym floor maintenance for all buildings except the high school, Schroeder is recommending a bid from Authentic Hardwood Floors for $28,855.60. At the high school only, the bid for gym floor maintenance is from Hammel Floor Service for $13,365. Schroeder said Authentic’s bid went down about $2,300 from last year, while Hammel’s went up about $2,800.
“I think the prices are in order and the work is necessary,” Schroeder said.
Another annual process is asphalt maintenance, he said. Every parking lot in the school district is on a three-year cycle, which helps spread the cost out. This year, the asphalt at Edgewood Middle School and WCHS is up for maintenance.
The bid from Ranger Materials is $57,312.
This winter Warsaw Community Schools spent about $400,000 on snow removal. Board President Jennifer Tandy asked if the asphalt maintenance could be put off this year since the snow removal cost will have a big impact on the Capital Projects Fund.
“If we don’t keep up with them, they will be costlier to fix later,” Scott replied.
Schroeder, Scott and Hoffert concluded the meeting with a presentation on converting the old board room at the administration building to a human resources space. Projected costs for the renovations would not exceed $120,000.
The human resources department is currently in the basement of the building. The old board room is on the first floor to the right of the front entrance.
Scott said modifications to the building were looked at some time ago with Scearce Rudisel Architects.
Hoffert said the position of human resources director has been posted for three months. There is some safety concern with having that department in the basement, and the HR department is a good resource for WCS’s employees.
He said the HR department is critical to bringing the best employees in and keeping them at WCS. If modifications can be made to the front office, Hoffert said it could be made warm and inviting to prospective and current employees.
Scott said for now they were just seeking the board’s approval to go back to the architects and take another look at making the modifications.
Schroeder said the $120,000 figure was the architect’s previous estimate based on drawings that were made.
Jay Baumgartner, board member, asked about the space in the administration building. Scott replied all the spaces are occupied except one open office in the basement.
“We continue to hunt for every inch,” he said.
Delores Hearn, board member, expressed concern with modifying the administration building when Lincoln Elementary School needs replaced. Board Secretary Randy Polston agreed, saying he was at Lincoln Tuesday and talking to a teacher about the issues at that building.
Hintz commented that some staff have a hard time with the stairs at the administration building since it doesn’t have an elevator. Some avoid the stairs by going out the basement side door and walking to the front door on the first floor.[[In-content Ad]]
Tuesday evening the board met to discuss and hear from the public about the proposed contract for Hoffert as the new superintendent. The contract, which will be effective July 1 through June 30, 2017, totals $148,723 annually with benefits.
However, no one from the public attended the meeting to speak either for or against the contract. The board will have a special meeting at 4 p.m. May 27 to approve the contract, but the board is not required at that meeting to take any public comments. According to board attorney Timothy S. Shelly, of Warrick & Boyn LLP, Elkhart, Tuesday’s meeting was the public’s chance to comment on it.
Hoffert will replace Dr. Craig Hintz, who is retiring as of June 30. Hintz was approved as superintendent April 27, 2009. Hintz announced Hoffert as WCS’s assistant superintendent at a Dec. 16 board meeting. He was just the chief academic officer at that point. His promotion to assistant superintendent became effective Jan. 1.
During the meeting, the board also reviewed several bids and contracts. They will be voted on at the board’s regular meeting Monday at 7 p.m.
Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott presented a quote for $4,985.34 for a varsity baseball field sound system from Sweetwater in Fort Wayne. He said Sweetwater was the higher recommendation, but Athletic Director Dave Anson is going to check out another sound system at NorthWood High School. If that sound system meets the needs at Warsaw Community High School, Scott said Anson may shift the recommendation.
Anson got three or four bids for the sound system, Scott said.
He said the current sound system at the baseball field has issues. Director of Buildings and Grounds Greg Schroeder said it’s old and outdated. It’s been sitting in the press box for a number of summers and winters and it’s really showing its age, he said.
Schroeder then reviewed the contract awards for gym floor maintenance.
For gym floor maintenance for all buildings except the high school, Schroeder is recommending a bid from Authentic Hardwood Floors for $28,855.60. At the high school only, the bid for gym floor maintenance is from Hammel Floor Service for $13,365. Schroeder said Authentic’s bid went down about $2,300 from last year, while Hammel’s went up about $2,800.
“I think the prices are in order and the work is necessary,” Schroeder said.
Another annual process is asphalt maintenance, he said. Every parking lot in the school district is on a three-year cycle, which helps spread the cost out. This year, the asphalt at Edgewood Middle School and WCHS is up for maintenance.
The bid from Ranger Materials is $57,312.
This winter Warsaw Community Schools spent about $400,000 on snow removal. Board President Jennifer Tandy asked if the asphalt maintenance could be put off this year since the snow removal cost will have a big impact on the Capital Projects Fund.
“If we don’t keep up with them, they will be costlier to fix later,” Scott replied.
Schroeder, Scott and Hoffert concluded the meeting with a presentation on converting the old board room at the administration building to a human resources space. Projected costs for the renovations would not exceed $120,000.
The human resources department is currently in the basement of the building. The old board room is on the first floor to the right of the front entrance.
Scott said modifications to the building were looked at some time ago with Scearce Rudisel Architects.
Hoffert said the position of human resources director has been posted for three months. There is some safety concern with having that department in the basement, and the HR department is a good resource for WCS’s employees.
He said the HR department is critical to bringing the best employees in and keeping them at WCS. If modifications can be made to the front office, Hoffert said it could be made warm and inviting to prospective and current employees.
Scott said for now they were just seeking the board’s approval to go back to the architects and take another look at making the modifications.
Schroeder said the $120,000 figure was the architect’s previous estimate based on drawings that were made.
Jay Baumgartner, board member, asked about the space in the administration building. Scott replied all the spaces are occupied except one open office in the basement.
“We continue to hunt for every inch,” he said.
Delores Hearn, board member, expressed concern with modifying the administration building when Lincoln Elementary School needs replaced. Board Secretary Randy Polston agreed, saying he was at Lincoln Tuesday and talking to a teacher about the issues at that building.
Hintz commented that some staff have a hard time with the stairs at the administration building since it doesn’t have an elevator. Some avoid the stairs by going out the basement side door and walking to the front door on the first floor.[[In-content Ad]]
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