NORTH WEBSTER - For $1, the Wawasee Community School Corp. Board of School Trustees approved Tuesday selling the old North Webster Elementary School, Ind. 13, North Webster, to North Webster Community Center Inc.

NWCC Inc. is a new not-for-profit group recently formed by the town of North Webster. Jeff Morgan, North Webster councilman, presented the school board with a tattered one-dollar bill upon approval of the acquisition.

The Center took possession of the school Tuesday but the school corporation will continue to remove equipment and materials through Friday. The school corporation will continue to pay for utilities until the end of the month.

Wawasee Superintendent Mark Stock said it is a win-win situation for all. North Webster gets a building and the school corporation saves money by not having to pay demolition costs.

Board president Brian Dawes said there are good and bad things about the building but he hopes the community center can happen for the town.

"I'm really pleased," Dawes said, "and looking forward to the future."

In addition, the board approved having three other lots in North Webster appraised twice and getting those properties prepared for an auction.

School board attorney David Cates said, in addition to the school property, the corporation has two lots to the south of the school, one to two lots to the east and one across from the school. If the school corporation wants to sell them, he said, they would need to be appraised twice and then either sold at a public auction or by sealed bids. Bids must be at least 90 percent of the appraised value.

Dawes said the only properties they would auction now are the two lots beside the canvas shop where the buses typically park on North Street and the one lot across from the school. The 11 acres where the baseball diamonds are situated are not up for discussion at this time, he said.

Marion Acton, board member, said he thought an auction of the properties would be best because it will be quicker. Board member Carol Swartzendruber agreed and made the motion to appraise the three properties closest to the school twice and get them prepared for auction.

The motion was unanimously approved.

In other business, the school board:

• Accepted a $6,353 donation from IKON for the student scholarship fund.

• Approved an overnight trip request from Randy Warren to take the FFA soil judging team to compete in the national FFA Soil and Land Judging Contest in Oklahoma City, Okla., from May 5-11.

• Approved the advertising of sealed bids for the track renovation at Wawasee High School. Bids will be accepted until 2 p.m. March 7.

• Heard a report from assistant for curriculum and instruction Joy Swartzentruber.

She reported final selections for reading textbooks and language arts textbooks will be made at the end of February. The selections will be on display at the central office during March. At the April board meeting, the board will be asked to approve the selections.

• Heard an update on the progress of moving Wawasee High School from semester to trimester scheduling from principal Alan Frank.

• Held a hearing on additional appropriations.

• Approved the financial reports, minutes and claims.

Members of the Wawasee School Board are Jeff Wells, Carol Swartzendruber, Marion Acton, board president Brian Dawes and Dallas Winchester.

Their next meeting will be at Milford School at 7 p.m. March 12. [[In-content Ad]]