Warsaw School Corp. May Seek Facilities Assessment
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott told the board that during its work session March 20, the board had a great discussion on what to do going forward.
Things at Warsaw Schools have changed over the last few years, and now the school district is looking for an entity to help it with its buildings, traffic flow around the buildings and a variety of other reasons, Scott said. A long-range facility study will help provide good information for the school board as it moves forward, he said.
In 2006, the school board commissioned a study of school corporation facilities that resulted in recommendations for the future, according to information provided. That included the initial step of the plan to build two new replacement elementary schools (Leesburg and Madison), and the renovation of Claypool and Jefferson elementary schools. The 2006 study by Kovert Hawkins also included additional steps for improvements to WCS’s existing facilities.
During public comments Monday, WCS administration office secretary Linda Russell said hiring someone from outside to do long-range facility studies is pricey and WCS has been down that road before. If one is done, she felt 10 years would be a good amount of time for that.
Dan Metzger, board secretary, asked the board how does it think the school system will be in 20 years. The study should have some kind of baseline.
“We’re building on plans started several years ago, we’re not starting totally new,” Metzger said.
Scott said that whatever firm is selected, it will look at where Warsaw Schools has been as well as future growth.
Board member Deb Wiggins said if another firm is selected, they would have to build on what Kovert Hawkins did in 2006.
Dan Robinson, board member, said if you look at how things have changed over the years, a lot of it has to do with technology. It looks like schools will eventually go to computers instead of textbooks. He said the use of technology begs the question if schools are headed to having no classrooms at all.
By approving the Request For Proposal, Board Vice President Matt Dick pointed out that the board was not approving for any money to be spent on a facilities study now.
Hintz reported the March monthly enrollment report reflects a school corporation enrollment of 7,003 students, an increase of about 200 students since the same time last school year.
He said an increase in enrollment at schools by that much doesn’t happen that often. He attributed WCS’s growth to its new full-day kindergarten program, new world language offerings and other programs.
“We’re going for 7,200 students next year,” Hintz said.
In other business, the board approved playground fencing at Leesburg and Madison schools by Custom Fence of Warsaw. The cost for the Leesburg fence is $21,500, and the cost for the Madison fence is $20,400.
An increase to lunch prices for the 2012-13 school year was tabled for further information until the April 30 board meeting.
Effective July 1, 2011, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 requires School Food Authorities participating in the National School Lunch Program to provide the same level of support for lunches served to students who are not eligible for free or reduced price lunches.
For school year 2012-13, School Food Authorities are required to adjust their average price or provide additional non-federal funds to the non-profit school food service account. The amount of increase per meal will be calculated using 2 percent plus a 2.18 percent rate of inflation, or a total of 4.18 percent.
The recommendation by Director of Food and Nutrition Marci Franks for the 2012-13 school year was to increase all full-pay student lunch prices, level one, by 10 cents; increase secondary full-pay student lunch prices, level two, by 10 cents; increase adult lunch prices, level one, by 10 cents; and increase adult lunch prices, level two, by 20 cents.
At the February school board meeting, Madison Elementary School parent Dana Koors asked the school corporation to restore the second recess time for elementary students. She presented a long list of reasons why recess is a good thing for students, and she was joined in the audience by about two dozen other patrons.
Monday, Hintz said the administration is still looking at the issue. Surveys were sent out to principals and teachers, and they will be examined. Hintz said more information for the board was forthcoming.
Under recognitions, the board recognized Wildman Business Group for donating $10,000 to the Warsaw Community Schools Poverty Partnership: Enriching the Lives of Others. The funds provided through this partnership will provide transportation for students who would have no other means to be able to engage in before- and after-school activities.
The donation will be given at a rate of $2,000 per year over a five-year period beginning Aug. 1.[[In-content Ad]]
Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott told the board that during its work session March 20, the board had a great discussion on what to do going forward.
Things at Warsaw Schools have changed over the last few years, and now the school district is looking for an entity to help it with its buildings, traffic flow around the buildings and a variety of other reasons, Scott said. A long-range facility study will help provide good information for the school board as it moves forward, he said.
In 2006, the school board commissioned a study of school corporation facilities that resulted in recommendations for the future, according to information provided. That included the initial step of the plan to build two new replacement elementary schools (Leesburg and Madison), and the renovation of Claypool and Jefferson elementary schools. The 2006 study by Kovert Hawkins also included additional steps for improvements to WCS’s existing facilities.
During public comments Monday, WCS administration office secretary Linda Russell said hiring someone from outside to do long-range facility studies is pricey and WCS has been down that road before. If one is done, she felt 10 years would be a good amount of time for that.
Dan Metzger, board secretary, asked the board how does it think the school system will be in 20 years. The study should have some kind of baseline.
“We’re building on plans started several years ago, we’re not starting totally new,” Metzger said.
Scott said that whatever firm is selected, it will look at where Warsaw Schools has been as well as future growth.
Board member Deb Wiggins said if another firm is selected, they would have to build on what Kovert Hawkins did in 2006.
Dan Robinson, board member, said if you look at how things have changed over the years, a lot of it has to do with technology. It looks like schools will eventually go to computers instead of textbooks. He said the use of technology begs the question if schools are headed to having no classrooms at all.
By approving the Request For Proposal, Board Vice President Matt Dick pointed out that the board was not approving for any money to be spent on a facilities study now.
Hintz reported the March monthly enrollment report reflects a school corporation enrollment of 7,003 students, an increase of about 200 students since the same time last school year.
He said an increase in enrollment at schools by that much doesn’t happen that often. He attributed WCS’s growth to its new full-day kindergarten program, new world language offerings and other programs.
“We’re going for 7,200 students next year,” Hintz said.
In other business, the board approved playground fencing at Leesburg and Madison schools by Custom Fence of Warsaw. The cost for the Leesburg fence is $21,500, and the cost for the Madison fence is $20,400.
An increase to lunch prices for the 2012-13 school year was tabled for further information until the April 30 board meeting.
Effective July 1, 2011, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 requires School Food Authorities participating in the National School Lunch Program to provide the same level of support for lunches served to students who are not eligible for free or reduced price lunches.
For school year 2012-13, School Food Authorities are required to adjust their average price or provide additional non-federal funds to the non-profit school food service account. The amount of increase per meal will be calculated using 2 percent plus a 2.18 percent rate of inflation, or a total of 4.18 percent.
The recommendation by Director of Food and Nutrition Marci Franks for the 2012-13 school year was to increase all full-pay student lunch prices, level one, by 10 cents; increase secondary full-pay student lunch prices, level two, by 10 cents; increase adult lunch prices, level one, by 10 cents; and increase adult lunch prices, level two, by 20 cents.
At the February school board meeting, Madison Elementary School parent Dana Koors asked the school corporation to restore the second recess time for elementary students. She presented a long list of reasons why recess is a good thing for students, and she was joined in the audience by about two dozen other patrons.
Monday, Hintz said the administration is still looking at the issue. Surveys were sent out to principals and teachers, and they will be examined. Hintz said more information for the board was forthcoming.
Under recognitions, the board recognized Wildman Business Group for donating $10,000 to the Warsaw Community Schools Poverty Partnership: Enriching the Lives of Others. The funds provided through this partnership will provide transportation for students who would have no other means to be able to engage in before- and after-school activities.
The donation will be given at a rate of $2,000 per year over a five-year period beginning Aug. 1.[[In-content Ad]]
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