Warsaw Hears Input On Old School Buildings
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
The most prevalent themes from the suggestions, however, were to use the Leesburg property for youth development and Madison for educational services.
Before the board took public comments, Warsaw Community Schools Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott gave a presentation on the two properties.
Scott said the school board needs to determine the future of the properties because the bond funds for the building projects will be finalized soon. If the buildings are to be kept open, there's a need to address that too. Money has been set aside for demolition of the buildings if it's decided to do that, as well as for other considerations.
In 2004, the school board closed Silver Lake, Atwood and Claypool. In 2008, the board decided to reopen and renovate Claypool; build new Madison and Leesburg schools; and renovate and expand Jefferson Elementary. All four new schools were opened at the start of the 2010-11 school year.
The old Leesburg Elementary is 49,761 square feet plus two portable classrooms each with 1,056 square feet. There are 24 classrooms, and the school sits on 8.95 acres. The annual utility costs are $75,000.
Griffin Real Estate Services Inc., Fort Wayne, appraised Leesburg at $178,000.
During the start of the building project in 2007, the future possibilities for Leesburg were considered. Some of those suggestions have included removal of all the building but the gym and proximity; transfer of ownership; and retain ownership of playgrounds and ball fields for the Leesburg Lions Club.
The old Madison is 66,199 square feet and also has 24 classrooms. Unknown to most people is that Madison sits on 43.21 acres, but only 7.64 is useable and the rest is swampy area. The annual utility costs are $95,000.
The appraised value of the former Madison is $255,000.
Future possibilities of Madison previously discussed include relocating and expanding the Alternative Learning Center to Madison, creating an early childhood education program, partnering with the community non-profit organizations or selling it.
For both Leesburg and Madison, if they are sold, Scott said there is Indiana code which dictates the process. The buildings can go through a public bidding process or auction. There also can be a sale of real property for economic development.
"If you use the space for something other than educational, there's building codes that come into play and there's costs there," said Scott.
During discussion on Leesburg, Boys & Girls Club Director Cindi Knepper said, "We're about partnerships and collaborations. We don't like to be an island to ourselves."
She said she'd like to see something done at Leesburg for youth development. The Club's board is not just interested in the gym only, but more than that, in building a partnership at Leesburg.
Representing an area homeschool cooperative, Ami Pitt said the cooperative would be interested in making use of some of the Leesburg facilities. They only meet once a week, but would like to have a place where they don't have to move their equipment every week.
Representing the Leesburg Town Council, Tom Moore said he knew the school board's decision was not simple.
If the board can find a financially solvent purchaser, then by all means the board should sell the school property, he said.
"If you can not, please do not burden the community with a building like Silver Lake has. Tear it down," Moore said.
The Leesburg Town Board is interested in working with the school board on any plans they may have, he said.
Representing the Leesburg Lions Club and Plain Township Advisory Board, Bob Bishop said they want to preserve the baseball fields. The Lions want to use the facilities to help the youth. Bishop said the Lions would work with the school board any way they can.
Bill Trump, representing the Leesburg Summer Recreational League, said the league wants to back the Lions Club up any way they can. The league works with up to 300 kids at the ball fields each year, and they want to possibly build another field on the property.[[In-content Ad]]Bowen Center CEO Kurt Carlson was the first person to speak on the Madison property.
The Bowen Center has had a long-standing relationship with WCS, especially with the Alternative Learning Center. The Bowen Center is interested in leasing space at the former Madison. Moving the ALC to the old Madison would afford more space for the programs.
In addition, Carlson said, the Bowen Center could use the space for after-hours, truancy, summer, adult and autism programming as well as a training center.
WCS Assistant Director of Special Services Tony England, Director of Alternative Services Amy Sivley and Chief Accountability Officer and former Lakeview Middle School Principal Tom Kline also spoke in favor of moving the ALC to Madison.
Sivley said an ALC for middle school students could be housed at the former Madison. England said the space would help get students up to speed on skills and help students graduate. An early childhood center could be put into place at Madison.
The concern about Madison for Kevin Zachary, he said, was the financial cost for WCS using the former school for the ALC. He said a plan needs to be put into place.
He did suggest, however, the kitchen could be used to develop a culinary arts program. The gym also could be used for programs.
Cheryl Kann has lived next to Madison for the past 38 years. She didn't want to see Madison become a homeless shelter, but did like the idea of having adult day care center there. The gym also could be rented out to help make money to pay the costs.
Gary Parker said the school board needed to consider all the abandoned buildings already in Warsaw.
"If we're going to do something, let's do something," Parker said.
Nicki Lemon said Oak Grove Community Church was interested in using some of the space at Madison for worship.
Kay Mikel said the former Madison could be used for Kosciusko Literacy Services and Adult Basic Education.
After public comments, Board Vice President Dan Robinson said they heard many excellent suggestions.
"Obviously, we have a lot of educational and social needs in the community not being met or underserved," he said. "They're good ideas, but we can't avoid the cost concerns."
Robinson said the board is going to need to know what organizations want and how much space and how much can they contribute financially.
Deb Wiggins, school board president, instructed Scott and Superintendent Dr. Craig Hintz to put together the specifications on each organization's needs. After the specifications are figured out, the board will devise a timeline to make a decision on the schools.
The most prevalent themes from the suggestions, however, were to use the Leesburg property for youth development and Madison for educational services.
Before the board took public comments, Warsaw Community Schools Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott gave a presentation on the two properties.
Scott said the school board needs to determine the future of the properties because the bond funds for the building projects will be finalized soon. If the buildings are to be kept open, there's a need to address that too. Money has been set aside for demolition of the buildings if it's decided to do that, as well as for other considerations.
In 2004, the school board closed Silver Lake, Atwood and Claypool. In 2008, the board decided to reopen and renovate Claypool; build new Madison and Leesburg schools; and renovate and expand Jefferson Elementary. All four new schools were opened at the start of the 2010-11 school year.
The old Leesburg Elementary is 49,761 square feet plus two portable classrooms each with 1,056 square feet. There are 24 classrooms, and the school sits on 8.95 acres. The annual utility costs are $75,000.
Griffin Real Estate Services Inc., Fort Wayne, appraised Leesburg at $178,000.
During the start of the building project in 2007, the future possibilities for Leesburg were considered. Some of those suggestions have included removal of all the building but the gym and proximity; transfer of ownership; and retain ownership of playgrounds and ball fields for the Leesburg Lions Club.
The old Madison is 66,199 square feet and also has 24 classrooms. Unknown to most people is that Madison sits on 43.21 acres, but only 7.64 is useable and the rest is swampy area. The annual utility costs are $95,000.
The appraised value of the former Madison is $255,000.
Future possibilities of Madison previously discussed include relocating and expanding the Alternative Learning Center to Madison, creating an early childhood education program, partnering with the community non-profit organizations or selling it.
For both Leesburg and Madison, if they are sold, Scott said there is Indiana code which dictates the process. The buildings can go through a public bidding process or auction. There also can be a sale of real property for economic development.
"If you use the space for something other than educational, there's building codes that come into play and there's costs there," said Scott.
During discussion on Leesburg, Boys & Girls Club Director Cindi Knepper said, "We're about partnerships and collaborations. We don't like to be an island to ourselves."
She said she'd like to see something done at Leesburg for youth development. The Club's board is not just interested in the gym only, but more than that, in building a partnership at Leesburg.
Representing an area homeschool cooperative, Ami Pitt said the cooperative would be interested in making use of some of the Leesburg facilities. They only meet once a week, but would like to have a place where they don't have to move their equipment every week.
Representing the Leesburg Town Council, Tom Moore said he knew the school board's decision was not simple.
If the board can find a financially solvent purchaser, then by all means the board should sell the school property, he said.
"If you can not, please do not burden the community with a building like Silver Lake has. Tear it down," Moore said.
The Leesburg Town Board is interested in working with the school board on any plans they may have, he said.
Representing the Leesburg Lions Club and Plain Township Advisory Board, Bob Bishop said they want to preserve the baseball fields. The Lions want to use the facilities to help the youth. Bishop said the Lions would work with the school board any way they can.
Bill Trump, representing the Leesburg Summer Recreational League, said the league wants to back the Lions Club up any way they can. The league works with up to 300 kids at the ball fields each year, and they want to possibly build another field on the property.[[In-content Ad]]Bowen Center CEO Kurt Carlson was the first person to speak on the Madison property.
The Bowen Center has had a long-standing relationship with WCS, especially with the Alternative Learning Center. The Bowen Center is interested in leasing space at the former Madison. Moving the ALC to the old Madison would afford more space for the programs.
In addition, Carlson said, the Bowen Center could use the space for after-hours, truancy, summer, adult and autism programming as well as a training center.
WCS Assistant Director of Special Services Tony England, Director of Alternative Services Amy Sivley and Chief Accountability Officer and former Lakeview Middle School Principal Tom Kline also spoke in favor of moving the ALC to Madison.
Sivley said an ALC for middle school students could be housed at the former Madison. England said the space would help get students up to speed on skills and help students graduate. An early childhood center could be put into place at Madison.
The concern about Madison for Kevin Zachary, he said, was the financial cost for WCS using the former school for the ALC. He said a plan needs to be put into place.
He did suggest, however, the kitchen could be used to develop a culinary arts program. The gym also could be used for programs.
Cheryl Kann has lived next to Madison for the past 38 years. She didn't want to see Madison become a homeless shelter, but did like the idea of having adult day care center there. The gym also could be rented out to help make money to pay the costs.
Gary Parker said the school board needed to consider all the abandoned buildings already in Warsaw.
"If we're going to do something, let's do something," Parker said.
Nicki Lemon said Oak Grove Community Church was interested in using some of the space at Madison for worship.
Kay Mikel said the former Madison could be used for Kosciusko Literacy Services and Adult Basic Education.
After public comments, Board Vice President Dan Robinson said they heard many excellent suggestions.
"Obviously, we have a lot of educational and social needs in the community not being met or underserved," he said. "They're good ideas, but we can't avoid the cost concerns."
Robinson said the board is going to need to know what organizations want and how much space and how much can they contribute financially.
Deb Wiggins, school board president, instructed Scott and Superintendent Dr. Craig Hintz to put together the specifications on each organization's needs. After the specifications are figured out, the board will devise a timeline to make a decision on the schools.
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