Warsaw Hears More Specifics About School Building Project
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
The school board met to hear more specifics about the plans for the new Madison and Leesburg elementary schools and the renovated and improved Jefferson and Claypool schools.[[In-content Ad]]"The purpose is to give an update of where we're at, where we're going," said Jamie Lake, KovertHawkins architects.
On May 21, 2007, the school board approved moving forward with building new Leesburg and Madison elementary schools, and expanding and renovating Jefferson and Claypool schools for a total bond issue of $59.16 million.
Lake told the school board Monday that KovertHawkins is getting more specific with the plans and renderings. They also have been responding to the economy in their planning. However, Lake said, it does seem like they've had a little reprieve with the projects KovertHawkins has been working on the last couple of weeks. Lake said he thinks Warsaw Schools is in a good position right now.
Dan Robinson, school board vice president, told Lake one guy told him there could be a reduction in steel prices from fall to spring. Lake said a drop in steel prices could have a dramatic effect on the building costs.
The conceptual drawings for Madison and Leesburg schools, Lake said, is at about 90 percent completed as of Monday. Jefferson is at about 60 percent, while Claypool is at about 40 to 50 percent finished.
"We're using every dollar out there," said Lake. He said they are right on budget and don't have a lot of leeway. He said they do feel comfortable with the budget, but it's not been easy.
Lake then reviewed each building. Renderings for each school eventually will be placed in the current schools, Lake said. Claypool renderings will be put up somewhere in the Claypool community.
The new Madison School will be built along CRs 300N and 150W, Warsaw, while the new Leesburg will be along Armstrong and Baseline roads, Leesburg. Plans for the new Madison and Leesburg schools are the same, but just flipped in different directions.
Madison's new location will not be in the city limits currently. With the building construction, CR 300N and a road right of way will need widened and improved. Lake said Mayor Ernie Wiggins said there would be Tax Increment Financing monies available to help with the widening of the right of way. Deb Wiggins, school board member, said before the road work goes out for bidding, they need to make sure there's an agreement and understanding that the school corporation won't have to bear the full cost of the widening of the right of way. Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott said there are plans to meet with the mayor and discuss the issue.
Leesburg School's new site is unique, Lake said, in that it has a designated wetlands on site. He said it's going to be a really pretty area out there, and a great setting.
By the Leesburg School building is a playground softscape, a playground hardscape and then a detention pond that drains into the wetlands. School Board President Ron Yeiter asked Lake if there was going to be a barrier between the playground area and the detention pond. Lake said they didn't want to put in a great barrier, but will have a low-key barrier.
Work at Jefferson School will be a challenging project, Lake said. Besides renovating the 1970s wing of the current building, Lake said, they will tear down the 1950s portion and build a two-story building in its place. Three sections will be on the first floor, including grades first and second, with grades third through sixth on the second floor. The renovated '70s building will include special education, kindergarten and shared classrooms such as art and music.
Jefferson Principal Denny Duncan, Lake said, has worked out the logistics of how classes will keep going during construction. Most classes will be held at Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church or Grace College. Moderate and severe special education students will move to Eisenhower Elementary.
"We've been successful at relocating many, many of the kids," said Lake. Beginning with the upcoming spring semester, there will be no kitchen available at Jefferson, he said, and food will be brought in.
Chuck Sauders, board member, asked Lake how wide the hallways at Jefferson will be. Lake said they will be 10 feet and will allow for lockers for all students in grades 1-6.
Claypool has a lot of land to work with, Lake said. The plans for Claypool are similar to Jefferson in its layout, he said. Kindergarten and first grade and English as a Second Language primary are in one area so the littlest students are together. Restrooms in the area will be renovated to the small kids' height.
The gymnasium will be refurbished and the stage upgraded. Grades 3-6 will be on the second floor of the expanded school.
Sauders asked how many students would be on the second floor, with 22 students per classroom. Lake estimated there would be about 240 students, and there are 16 bathroom stalls. Sauders said the number of bathroom stalls looks short. Lake said it's more than state code and twice what is currently available at the school.
"Code doesn't have all those kids lining up to pee," Sauders said.
Terry Sims, Madison teacher and teachers union representative, said the number of drinking fountains sound more like an issue than the restrooms. Lake said all the classrooms will have drinking fountains in them.
School board member Delores Hearn asked what will be done about mold build-up in the area. Lake said the old ventilation system will be removed and new roof top units put in. The school also will be reroofed and recarpeted, and the ceiling tile will be replaced. The new units then will have a healthy indoor environment to start off with, Lake said.
The biggest issue with Claypool School, Lake said he saw, is that the school is a stuffy building because it's been unused for four years.
Claypool's exterior will look somewhat reminiscent of Silver Lake School, Lake said. Claypool will pick up the accents familiar to Silver Lake, but won't look like a 1930s building. It will pay homage to Silver Lake School since students from Silver Lake will be attending Claypool once it opens.
The tentative timeline for the project includes releasing the bidding for Leesburg and Madison Nov. 3; releasing the bidding for Jefferson and Claypool Nov. 17; receiving construction bids for Leesburg and Madison Dec. 2; receiving construction bids for Jefferson and Claypool Dec. 16; school board awards construction contracts in January; construction begins in February; and Jefferson and Claypool open Aug. 1, 2010, with Leesburg and Madison opening Aug. 1, 2011.
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The school board met to hear more specifics about the plans for the new Madison and Leesburg elementary schools and the renovated and improved Jefferson and Claypool schools.[[In-content Ad]]"The purpose is to give an update of where we're at, where we're going," said Jamie Lake, KovertHawkins architects.
On May 21, 2007, the school board approved moving forward with building new Leesburg and Madison elementary schools, and expanding and renovating Jefferson and Claypool schools for a total bond issue of $59.16 million.
Lake told the school board Monday that KovertHawkins is getting more specific with the plans and renderings. They also have been responding to the economy in their planning. However, Lake said, it does seem like they've had a little reprieve with the projects KovertHawkins has been working on the last couple of weeks. Lake said he thinks Warsaw Schools is in a good position right now.
Dan Robinson, school board vice president, told Lake one guy told him there could be a reduction in steel prices from fall to spring. Lake said a drop in steel prices could have a dramatic effect on the building costs.
The conceptual drawings for Madison and Leesburg schools, Lake said, is at about 90 percent completed as of Monday. Jefferson is at about 60 percent, while Claypool is at about 40 to 50 percent finished.
"We're using every dollar out there," said Lake. He said they are right on budget and don't have a lot of leeway. He said they do feel comfortable with the budget, but it's not been easy.
Lake then reviewed each building. Renderings for each school eventually will be placed in the current schools, Lake said. Claypool renderings will be put up somewhere in the Claypool community.
The new Madison School will be built along CRs 300N and 150W, Warsaw, while the new Leesburg will be along Armstrong and Baseline roads, Leesburg. Plans for the new Madison and Leesburg schools are the same, but just flipped in different directions.
Madison's new location will not be in the city limits currently. With the building construction, CR 300N and a road right of way will need widened and improved. Lake said Mayor Ernie Wiggins said there would be Tax Increment Financing monies available to help with the widening of the right of way. Deb Wiggins, school board member, said before the road work goes out for bidding, they need to make sure there's an agreement and understanding that the school corporation won't have to bear the full cost of the widening of the right of way. Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott said there are plans to meet with the mayor and discuss the issue.
Leesburg School's new site is unique, Lake said, in that it has a designated wetlands on site. He said it's going to be a really pretty area out there, and a great setting.
By the Leesburg School building is a playground softscape, a playground hardscape and then a detention pond that drains into the wetlands. School Board President Ron Yeiter asked Lake if there was going to be a barrier between the playground area and the detention pond. Lake said they didn't want to put in a great barrier, but will have a low-key barrier.
Work at Jefferson School will be a challenging project, Lake said. Besides renovating the 1970s wing of the current building, Lake said, they will tear down the 1950s portion and build a two-story building in its place. Three sections will be on the first floor, including grades first and second, with grades third through sixth on the second floor. The renovated '70s building will include special education, kindergarten and shared classrooms such as art and music.
Jefferson Principal Denny Duncan, Lake said, has worked out the logistics of how classes will keep going during construction. Most classes will be held at Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church or Grace College. Moderate and severe special education students will move to Eisenhower Elementary.
"We've been successful at relocating many, many of the kids," said Lake. Beginning with the upcoming spring semester, there will be no kitchen available at Jefferson, he said, and food will be brought in.
Chuck Sauders, board member, asked Lake how wide the hallways at Jefferson will be. Lake said they will be 10 feet and will allow for lockers for all students in grades 1-6.
Claypool has a lot of land to work with, Lake said. The plans for Claypool are similar to Jefferson in its layout, he said. Kindergarten and first grade and English as a Second Language primary are in one area so the littlest students are together. Restrooms in the area will be renovated to the small kids' height.
The gymnasium will be refurbished and the stage upgraded. Grades 3-6 will be on the second floor of the expanded school.
Sauders asked how many students would be on the second floor, with 22 students per classroom. Lake estimated there would be about 240 students, and there are 16 bathroom stalls. Sauders said the number of bathroom stalls looks short. Lake said it's more than state code and twice what is currently available at the school.
"Code doesn't have all those kids lining up to pee," Sauders said.
Terry Sims, Madison teacher and teachers union representative, said the number of drinking fountains sound more like an issue than the restrooms. Lake said all the classrooms will have drinking fountains in them.
School board member Delores Hearn asked what will be done about mold build-up in the area. Lake said the old ventilation system will be removed and new roof top units put in. The school also will be reroofed and recarpeted, and the ceiling tile will be replaced. The new units then will have a healthy indoor environment to start off with, Lake said.
The biggest issue with Claypool School, Lake said he saw, is that the school is a stuffy building because it's been unused for four years.
Claypool's exterior will look somewhat reminiscent of Silver Lake School, Lake said. Claypool will pick up the accents familiar to Silver Lake, but won't look like a 1930s building. It will pay homage to Silver Lake School since students from Silver Lake will be attending Claypool once it opens.
The tentative timeline for the project includes releasing the bidding for Leesburg and Madison Nov. 3; releasing the bidding for Jefferson and Claypool Nov. 17; receiving construction bids for Leesburg and Madison Dec. 2; receiving construction bids for Jefferson and Claypool Dec. 16; school board awards construction contracts in January; construction begins in February; and Jefferson and Claypool open Aug. 1, 2010, with Leesburg and Madison opening Aug. 1, 2011.
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