Warsaw Schools Building Project Will Continue
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
"The project is continuing on schedule in the same path and direction," Lake said.
Haworth publicly announced his resignation at the July 7 meeting, effective July 31. He will be taking a vice presidency position with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics in Kansas City, Mo., and will be in charge of the Champions of Character Initiative.
Haworth was named Warsaw's superintendent on Feb. 20, 2006, replacing interim superintendent Ralph Bailey, who was hired after the resignation of Dr. Dave McGuire.
Lake said Kovert Hawkins is excited to be working with Warsaw Schools, and they wish Haworth good luck at his new job.
In a joint partnership with WCS, Lake said Kovert Hawkins will be occupying the blue building across the street from the administration building. The building will be renovated, and Kovert Hawkins will pay WCS rent for the building. By using that building, Lake said Kovert Hawkins' presence will be heightened during construction of the building project.
From inception to completion, Lake said a building project usually lasts about five years. Superintendents usually stay at a school, on average, about three years, Lake said, so a change in administration is nothing new for Kovert Hawkins.
At the end of the 2003-04 school year, Atwood, Silver Lake and Claypool elementary schools were closed. Since then, students at those schools have been transported to other schools, contributing to overcrowding problems.
After more than two dozen public meetings, with a lot of public input, on May 21, 2007, the school board approved moving forward with Step 1 of Option A. Step 1 includes building new Leesburg and Madison elementary schools, and expanding and renovating Jefferson and Claypool schools. The total bond issue originally was slated for $65 million, but was approved at $59.16 by State Tax Control Board Commissioner Cheryl Musgrave in December.
The new Madison school will be at the intersection of CRs 150W and 300N. The new Leesburg school will be east of Baseline Road and south of Armstrong Road in Leesburg, across from the fire station.
Toward the end of the meeting, during public comments, Gordon Vanator said he and many others were very concerned about the building project. His main objections were the tax impact, the locations of the new schools and the issue of Claypool not being opened yet. He said it was "ridiculous" that Claypool wasn't opened yet.
Before the meeting, Lake told Vanator that the renovation and opening of Claypool was in the process, but Vanator told the school board, "It's not good enough for me."
As of Monday, Warsaw Schools still doesn't have its 2008 budget approved. However, Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott presented the school board with the schedule for the preparation of the 2009 WCS budget.
On Aug. 18, Scott will ask the school board for permission to advertise the budget. The first public hearing on the budget will be Sept. 2, with the budget adopted Sept. 15.
Per Scott's request, the school board also approved establishing a Rainy Day Fund. Scott said the fund is for unplanned and unforeseen costs, such as rising gas prices. With the fund established, the board also approved transferring $2.4 million to the fund prior to Dec. 31.
The last two years, textbook rental fees have been virtually flat, said Scott. The 2008-09 charges will see an increase. Fees will be $54 for kindergarten; $123, first grade; $128, second grade; $143, third grade; $125, fourth grade; $147, fifth grade; and $156 for sixth grade. Middle and high school fees depend on the courses a student takes. The school board approved the fees.
Scott said when parents register their children for school this fall, the school corporation likely will see an increase in the number of parents who apply for free and reduced lunches and textbook assistance.
Meal prices have not increased since 2004, Scott said. That also will change for the 2008-09 school year. Prices for lunches will increase 15 cents. Elementary school lunches will be $2, while secondary lunches will be $2.25. The board approved the 15-cent increases.
In other business, the school board announced:
n The school board filing period begins July 23 and ends Aug. 22 at noon. Districts 3 (Dan Robinson), 4 (Chuck Sauders) and 6 (Deb Wiggins) will be on the ballot for the fall election.
n Approved an anonymous donation of about $2,500 to help sponsor the English and biology educational Arrowhead County Program for all freshman students; a $760 donation from Jeannie Smith and Cargill Animal Nutrition for the Warsaw FFA program; and a $850 donation from Biomet for the girls tennis team, the bowling club and the Super Mileage competition.
n Heard a curriculum report on Balanced Literacy Framework from Chris Gensinger. Gensinger is the kindergarten through sixth-grade curriculum director for Warsaw Schools, while Tom Kline is the curriculum director for grades 7-12.
With the Balanced Literacy Framework, Gensinger said, Warsaw Schools purchased more books so the cost of textbook rentals went up by about $20.
n Approved a Project Achieve Grant application for $87,690.
n Approved a Migrant Education Grant application for $150,000.
n Approved a Title I annual grant for three Warsaw schools.
n Approved the Step 1 student trip to Washington, D.C., for the presidential inauguration in January.
History teacher David Hoffert said about 30 students will take the trip. A charter bus already has been reserved, and a hotel reduced the cost for the one-night stay for the group. About four to five chaperones will go on the trip.
Hoffert has applied for grants to fund the trip, which he said is being planned on a shoestring budget.
"It's a great opportunity for kids," said Tammy Dalton, school board member.[[In-content Ad]]
"The project is continuing on schedule in the same path and direction," Lake said.
Haworth publicly announced his resignation at the July 7 meeting, effective July 31. He will be taking a vice presidency position with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics in Kansas City, Mo., and will be in charge of the Champions of Character Initiative.
Haworth was named Warsaw's superintendent on Feb. 20, 2006, replacing interim superintendent Ralph Bailey, who was hired after the resignation of Dr. Dave McGuire.
Lake said Kovert Hawkins is excited to be working with Warsaw Schools, and they wish Haworth good luck at his new job.
In a joint partnership with WCS, Lake said Kovert Hawkins will be occupying the blue building across the street from the administration building. The building will be renovated, and Kovert Hawkins will pay WCS rent for the building. By using that building, Lake said Kovert Hawkins' presence will be heightened during construction of the building project.
From inception to completion, Lake said a building project usually lasts about five years. Superintendents usually stay at a school, on average, about three years, Lake said, so a change in administration is nothing new for Kovert Hawkins.
At the end of the 2003-04 school year, Atwood, Silver Lake and Claypool elementary schools were closed. Since then, students at those schools have been transported to other schools, contributing to overcrowding problems.
After more than two dozen public meetings, with a lot of public input, on May 21, 2007, the school board approved moving forward with Step 1 of Option A. Step 1 includes building new Leesburg and Madison elementary schools, and expanding and renovating Jefferson and Claypool schools. The total bond issue originally was slated for $65 million, but was approved at $59.16 by State Tax Control Board Commissioner Cheryl Musgrave in December.
The new Madison school will be at the intersection of CRs 150W and 300N. The new Leesburg school will be east of Baseline Road and south of Armstrong Road in Leesburg, across from the fire station.
Toward the end of the meeting, during public comments, Gordon Vanator said he and many others were very concerned about the building project. His main objections were the tax impact, the locations of the new schools and the issue of Claypool not being opened yet. He said it was "ridiculous" that Claypool wasn't opened yet.
Before the meeting, Lake told Vanator that the renovation and opening of Claypool was in the process, but Vanator told the school board, "It's not good enough for me."
As of Monday, Warsaw Schools still doesn't have its 2008 budget approved. However, Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott presented the school board with the schedule for the preparation of the 2009 WCS budget.
On Aug. 18, Scott will ask the school board for permission to advertise the budget. The first public hearing on the budget will be Sept. 2, with the budget adopted Sept. 15.
Per Scott's request, the school board also approved establishing a Rainy Day Fund. Scott said the fund is for unplanned and unforeseen costs, such as rising gas prices. With the fund established, the board also approved transferring $2.4 million to the fund prior to Dec. 31.
The last two years, textbook rental fees have been virtually flat, said Scott. The 2008-09 charges will see an increase. Fees will be $54 for kindergarten; $123, first grade; $128, second grade; $143, third grade; $125, fourth grade; $147, fifth grade; and $156 for sixth grade. Middle and high school fees depend on the courses a student takes. The school board approved the fees.
Scott said when parents register their children for school this fall, the school corporation likely will see an increase in the number of parents who apply for free and reduced lunches and textbook assistance.
Meal prices have not increased since 2004, Scott said. That also will change for the 2008-09 school year. Prices for lunches will increase 15 cents. Elementary school lunches will be $2, while secondary lunches will be $2.25. The board approved the 15-cent increases.
In other business, the school board announced:
n The school board filing period begins July 23 and ends Aug. 22 at noon. Districts 3 (Dan Robinson), 4 (Chuck Sauders) and 6 (Deb Wiggins) will be on the ballot for the fall election.
n Approved an anonymous donation of about $2,500 to help sponsor the English and biology educational Arrowhead County Program for all freshman students; a $760 donation from Jeannie Smith and Cargill Animal Nutrition for the Warsaw FFA program; and a $850 donation from Biomet for the girls tennis team, the bowling club and the Super Mileage competition.
n Heard a curriculum report on Balanced Literacy Framework from Chris Gensinger. Gensinger is the kindergarten through sixth-grade curriculum director for Warsaw Schools, while Tom Kline is the curriculum director for grades 7-12.
With the Balanced Literacy Framework, Gensinger said, Warsaw Schools purchased more books so the cost of textbook rentals went up by about $20.
n Approved a Project Achieve Grant application for $87,690.
n Approved a Migrant Education Grant application for $150,000.
n Approved a Title I annual grant for three Warsaw schools.
n Approved the Step 1 student trip to Washington, D.C., for the presidential inauguration in January.
History teacher David Hoffert said about 30 students will take the trip. A charter bus already has been reserved, and a hotel reduced the cost for the one-night stay for the group. About four to five chaperones will go on the trip.
Hoffert has applied for grants to fund the trip, which he said is being planned on a shoestring budget.
"It's a great opportunity for kids," said Tammy Dalton, school board member.[[In-content Ad]]
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