Steps Taken To Save Silver Lake Elementary

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By Daniel [email protected]

In a special meeting of the Warsaw School Board Friday, motions were approved in hopes of saving the Silver Lake Elementary School buidling.

Three members, Delores Hearn, Chuck Sauders and Deb Wiggins, were absent from the meeting but the four members present were enough to make up a quorum.

The board was able to settle a signed contract with Ransbottom Trucking and Excavating.

Ransbottom released the school corporation from a contract for $63,992 to demolish the school which was closed at the end of the 2003-2004 school year.

The board agreed to pay Ransbottom $10,000 to gain release from the contract.

The board also agreed to transfer the land deed to Winona Arts, Restoration and Preservation, a non-profit corporation.

In turn, Winona Arts, Restoration and Preservation will then transfer ownership to Silver Lake Partners Inc., a for-profit limited liability company.

By law, the school corporation wasn't allowed to transfer the deed to a for-profit company.

The Silver Lake Town Council and Lake Township Board both signed a joint resolution supporting the transfer of the building.

"There's a chance that the school is going to be saved," said Linda Russell who spoke at the meeting. "For working so hard and so long, and especially to Mr. (Gene) England, who is my representative ... thank you."

England noted that it was good to finally get the building transferred because of repairs that need to be made to it.

School board President Ron Yeiter acknowledged Russell's thank you but noted there was still work to be done.

"We still have a way to go with getting Claypool open," said Yeiter. "The southern part of our community has been, not necessarily slighted, but overlooked, not to be critical."[[In-content Ad]]

In a special meeting of the Warsaw School Board Friday, motions were approved in hopes of saving the Silver Lake Elementary School buidling.

Three members, Delores Hearn, Chuck Sauders and Deb Wiggins, were absent from the meeting but the four members present were enough to make up a quorum.

The board was able to settle a signed contract with Ransbottom Trucking and Excavating.

Ransbottom released the school corporation from a contract for $63,992 to demolish the school which was closed at the end of the 2003-2004 school year.

The board agreed to pay Ransbottom $10,000 to gain release from the contract.

The board also agreed to transfer the land deed to Winona Arts, Restoration and Preservation, a non-profit corporation.

In turn, Winona Arts, Restoration and Preservation will then transfer ownership to Silver Lake Partners Inc., a for-profit limited liability company.

By law, the school corporation wasn't allowed to transfer the deed to a for-profit company.

The Silver Lake Town Council and Lake Township Board both signed a joint resolution supporting the transfer of the building.

"There's a chance that the school is going to be saved," said Linda Russell who spoke at the meeting. "For working so hard and so long, and especially to Mr. (Gene) England, who is my representative ... thank you."

England noted that it was good to finally get the building transferred because of repairs that need to be made to it.

School board President Ron Yeiter acknowledged Russell's thank you but noted there was still work to be done.

"We still have a way to go with getting Claypool open," said Yeiter. "The southern part of our community has been, not necessarily slighted, but overlooked, not to be critical."[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092

e-Edition


e-edition

Sign up


for our email newsletters

Weekly Top Stories

Sign up to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every Sunday

Daily Updates & Breaking News Alerts

Sign up to get our daily updates and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox daily

Latest Stories


Brother, Sister And Family Take Over The Lake House On Shores Of Winona
WINONA LAKE — The Lake House, in the Village at Winona, has new ownership and is run by a family that grew up on the shores of Winona Lake. The business is run by siblings Jack and Caroline Mayer, but also have a lot of support from their family.

Victor Santos Sentenced To 20 Years In 2022 Semi/Bus Crash
"I thought some of the boys were dead," said Michael Rigitano, coach to the St. Ignatius College Prep hockey team. "I didn't know how I would tell their parents.”

Airport, Zoning Ordinances Get OK By Warsaw Council On 1st Reading
An ordinance for a nearly $900,000 additional appropriation for airport projects was approved on first reading by the Warsaw Common Council Monday night.

Darrel Rensberger
Darrel Rensberger, 64, Warsaw, died Sunday, May 4, 2025.

Berta C. Gayheart
Berta C. Gayheart, 78, died Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Grace Village Retirement Community in Winona Lake.