Public Gives Input On School Building Project
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
At Monday's public hearing, she said she rarely heard any negative comments about the project - until last night. Last night she said she heard the most negative comments of any meeting.
Too many times, Dalton said, she heard from the community that the building project needs to be done. She said she didn't want it to stop now. She doesn't want taxes to go up either, but stopping the process now would be a detriment.[[In-content Ad]]Monday, the school board approved moving forward with Step 1 of Option A by a vote of 6 to 1, with Delores Hearn opposed.
During Monday's hearing, the public was given time to comment about the project. Of the approximate 60 people in attendance, only about 14 took to the podium.
Steve Koontz said he grew up in the Warsaw Schools area and has two daughters at Jefferson Elementary.
"It's time for Jefferson to have an overhaul, it needs it," said Koontz. Taxes will go up, Jefferson will change, he said, but he's for the project. "I'm glad to see something happening."
Winona Lake Town Councilman Jerry Clevenger said Jefferson School is the same as it was when his children attended there. Winona Lake needs a local school that will meet the needs of the growing Winona Lake community.
Rick Keever said he has lived in the Madison School area since 1978. His understanding, he said, is that Madison will be moved to a new location. He also said he thinks the Madison staff have done a good job of meeting the needs of its blue-collar neighborhood.
"I'd hate to see you fix something that isn't broken," he said of moving Madison.
Kim Komdeur, Leesburg School PTO president, said she spoke to 200 parents this week. There are many people excited to see the building project happening, she said. All of Warsaw's schools are overcrowded.
"Being in that building as much as I am, I know it goes beyond that," she said. She said she is "very much in favor" of the building project.
Becky Thomas said tax dollars are a concern of many. No one wants large tax bills. She blamed Warsaw's current overcrowding problem on the closing of the three elementary schools in 2004 and that no one listened to those opposed to the closing. Because of that, Warsaw has no choice in building new schools.
"I do not feel this school board has a choice," Thomas said. "They did not create this problem, but are faced with fixing it."
Dr. David Haines has lived 36 years in Warsaw. He said he came to Warsaw for one reason. "You have a very good school system. It's a very good place to raise children, a very good place to raise grandchildren," he said.
One of three farmers present at the meeting, Gordon Vanator said he didn't envy the job the school board had, but the closing of the three elementary schools started the whole problem. He said he didn't think they had to wait until after the renovations to open Claypool, he said he thought it could be opened now.
The building project and the increased taxes will have a real impact on "our retired people so beware of that, please," Vanator said.
Linda Berger said while the renovation isn't good, she said some of the kids in the Warsaw Schools are in better condition buildings than when she went to Etna Green High School.
"My husband and I are about taxed out," she said. She said she had to go to work recently to help pay their bills.
"To me, this is a no-brainer," said Barb Smolen, who spoke in favor of the project. "I don't see why it has taken us this long to get to this point. It's time to move forward."
Hearn said the success of Warsaw Schools can be attributed to more than the bricks and mortar. She said the impact to the taxpayers needs to be projected over a more equitable time period.
Ron Yeiter, school board president, said for every two years they wait, the expenses will just compound. He said Warsaw can just band-aid the problem, or do something to get the schools back in order.
Board Vice President Dan Robinson asked what the additional impact of more staff will be to the costs of the project. Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott estimated an additional million dollars.
Robinson said he was torn about the project because it is needed but not in favor of the tax impact. He said he felt like he was in a situation where he had no choice, and he didn't like to be in those kind of situations.
"By not moving forward," said school board member Deb Wiggins, "we are not standing still, we're moving backward."
At Monday's public hearing, she said she rarely heard any negative comments about the project - until last night. Last night she said she heard the most negative comments of any meeting.
Too many times, Dalton said, she heard from the community that the building project needs to be done. She said she didn't want it to stop now. She doesn't want taxes to go up either, but stopping the process now would be a detriment.[[In-content Ad]]Monday, the school board approved moving forward with Step 1 of Option A by a vote of 6 to 1, with Delores Hearn opposed.
During Monday's hearing, the public was given time to comment about the project. Of the approximate 60 people in attendance, only about 14 took to the podium.
Steve Koontz said he grew up in the Warsaw Schools area and has two daughters at Jefferson Elementary.
"It's time for Jefferson to have an overhaul, it needs it," said Koontz. Taxes will go up, Jefferson will change, he said, but he's for the project. "I'm glad to see something happening."
Winona Lake Town Councilman Jerry Clevenger said Jefferson School is the same as it was when his children attended there. Winona Lake needs a local school that will meet the needs of the growing Winona Lake community.
Rick Keever said he has lived in the Madison School area since 1978. His understanding, he said, is that Madison will be moved to a new location. He also said he thinks the Madison staff have done a good job of meeting the needs of its blue-collar neighborhood.
"I'd hate to see you fix something that isn't broken," he said of moving Madison.
Kim Komdeur, Leesburg School PTO president, said she spoke to 200 parents this week. There are many people excited to see the building project happening, she said. All of Warsaw's schools are overcrowded.
"Being in that building as much as I am, I know it goes beyond that," she said. She said she is "very much in favor" of the building project.
Becky Thomas said tax dollars are a concern of many. No one wants large tax bills. She blamed Warsaw's current overcrowding problem on the closing of the three elementary schools in 2004 and that no one listened to those opposed to the closing. Because of that, Warsaw has no choice in building new schools.
"I do not feel this school board has a choice," Thomas said. "They did not create this problem, but are faced with fixing it."
Dr. David Haines has lived 36 years in Warsaw. He said he came to Warsaw for one reason. "You have a very good school system. It's a very good place to raise children, a very good place to raise grandchildren," he said.
One of three farmers present at the meeting, Gordon Vanator said he didn't envy the job the school board had, but the closing of the three elementary schools started the whole problem. He said he didn't think they had to wait until after the renovations to open Claypool, he said he thought it could be opened now.
The building project and the increased taxes will have a real impact on "our retired people so beware of that, please," Vanator said.
Linda Berger said while the renovation isn't good, she said some of the kids in the Warsaw Schools are in better condition buildings than when she went to Etna Green High School.
"My husband and I are about taxed out," she said. She said she had to go to work recently to help pay their bills.
"To me, this is a no-brainer," said Barb Smolen, who spoke in favor of the project. "I don't see why it has taken us this long to get to this point. It's time to move forward."
Hearn said the success of Warsaw Schools can be attributed to more than the bricks and mortar. She said the impact to the taxpayers needs to be projected over a more equitable time period.
Ron Yeiter, school board president, said for every two years they wait, the expenses will just compound. He said Warsaw can just band-aid the problem, or do something to get the schools back in order.
Board Vice President Dan Robinson asked what the additional impact of more staff will be to the costs of the project. Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott estimated an additional million dollars.
Robinson said he was torn about the project because it is needed but not in favor of the tax impact. He said he felt like he was in a situation where he had no choice, and he didn't like to be in those kind of situations.
"By not moving forward," said school board member Deb Wiggins, "we are not standing still, we're moving backward."
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