Wawasee To Build New Webster Elementary
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
SYRACUSE -ÊInstead of renovating the old North Webster Elementary School, the Wawasee School Board decided Wednesday that building a new elementary school would be the best plan for the future.
If all goes according to plan, the facility will be located on 68 acres of land now owned by Joe Barrett and Richard Kistler, at the intersection of CR 750E and CR 600N. The school board will pay $322,092 for both properties.
The school board voted to pay $15,000 to the property owners for an option agreement.
A public hearing will be held June 29 at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium. A presentation will be given to the public and a final vote will be taken that night on what actions to take.
The school board also determined to make renovations at Syracuse Elementary, Wawasee High School and Milford Elementary School.
All board members supported a new North Webster Elementary as did the patrons at the meeting.
"I don't want to see my taxes raised," said Derk Kuhn, "but I don't want to see any students hurt (at the old North Webster Elementary school)."
Carol Swartzendruber, board member, said safety is her biggest concern.
Board president Jeff Wells said, "It's most prudent educationally and fiscally to build a new one."
"With the 60-plus acres, I think it would be the thing to do (to build a new one)," said board member Marion Acton. He said that while he thinks they could renovate the old school, with 60-plus acres available to them now, the property will allow for expansion in the future if necessary. He also said the 68 acres are at a good location.
As for new classrooms at Milford Elementary, Acton said, it is vital for parents to have a choice where their students attend school.
Dawes said the board will eventually need to address the question of a new middle school.
Swartzendruber agreed: "I support the middle school up to a certain size; it's needed. We need classrooms." She also said she personally does not want two large middle schools because large middle schools would defeat the purpose. Currently, she said the Milford Middle School has a good range of students.
This year, there are 275 students at Milford Middle School. Next year, the enrollment will be 268.
"If the students who lived in the geographic Milford district were in danger of being shut out about going to Milford," school superintendent Mark Stock said, "the board would have to discuss the word 'choice.'"
The tentative preliminary project financing budget was presented to the public at the board meeting. The costs include total impact of the given changes, including class space at Milford and a new North Webster Elementary school.
Total project size is estimated at $26,179,658 and includes land acquisition, soft costs and equipment. Average annual lease payment is expected to be about $2,322,229 at the current interest rate, and $2,655,576 at the maximum rate.
Total hard costs of the project are $20,812,500. Stock said the figure stems from $10,695,000 for a new North Webster Elementary, or $9,625,000 to renovate the old school. Renovations at Syracuse Elementary will be $3,445,000. Basic Milford renovations will cost $3,210,000, but additional classrooms will raise the cost to $3,955,000. High school renovations will cost $1,215,000.
One reason, Stock said, the school board may want to prepare for growth at the elementaries is because full-day kindergarten may become a reality in the future.
In other business, the school board honored several retirees.
Those retiring and their number of years with Wawasee schools include: Robert Ahrns, 33-1/2 years; Richard Welborn, 19-1/2; Diane Carmichael, 21; Jerry Johnson, 21; James Jorczak, 12; Carol Koble, 27; Joel Robbins, 30; George Vitaniemi, 28; Jane Wieczork, 27; Patricia Huber, 34; Robert Kitson, 36; Noreta Mort, 28; and Lera Reinholt, 34. [[In-content Ad]]
SYRACUSE -ÊInstead of renovating the old North Webster Elementary School, the Wawasee School Board decided Wednesday that building a new elementary school would be the best plan for the future.
If all goes according to plan, the facility will be located on 68 acres of land now owned by Joe Barrett and Richard Kistler, at the intersection of CR 750E and CR 600N. The school board will pay $322,092 for both properties.
The school board voted to pay $15,000 to the property owners for an option agreement.
A public hearing will be held June 29 at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium. A presentation will be given to the public and a final vote will be taken that night on what actions to take.
The school board also determined to make renovations at Syracuse Elementary, Wawasee High School and Milford Elementary School.
All board members supported a new North Webster Elementary as did the patrons at the meeting.
"I don't want to see my taxes raised," said Derk Kuhn, "but I don't want to see any students hurt (at the old North Webster Elementary school)."
Carol Swartzendruber, board member, said safety is her biggest concern.
Board president Jeff Wells said, "It's most prudent educationally and fiscally to build a new one."
"With the 60-plus acres, I think it would be the thing to do (to build a new one)," said board member Marion Acton. He said that while he thinks they could renovate the old school, with 60-plus acres available to them now, the property will allow for expansion in the future if necessary. He also said the 68 acres are at a good location.
As for new classrooms at Milford Elementary, Acton said, it is vital for parents to have a choice where their students attend school.
Dawes said the board will eventually need to address the question of a new middle school.
Swartzendruber agreed: "I support the middle school up to a certain size; it's needed. We need classrooms." She also said she personally does not want two large middle schools because large middle schools would defeat the purpose. Currently, she said the Milford Middle School has a good range of students.
This year, there are 275 students at Milford Middle School. Next year, the enrollment will be 268.
"If the students who lived in the geographic Milford district were in danger of being shut out about going to Milford," school superintendent Mark Stock said, "the board would have to discuss the word 'choice.'"
The tentative preliminary project financing budget was presented to the public at the board meeting. The costs include total impact of the given changes, including class space at Milford and a new North Webster Elementary school.
Total project size is estimated at $26,179,658 and includes land acquisition, soft costs and equipment. Average annual lease payment is expected to be about $2,322,229 at the current interest rate, and $2,655,576 at the maximum rate.
Total hard costs of the project are $20,812,500. Stock said the figure stems from $10,695,000 for a new North Webster Elementary, or $9,625,000 to renovate the old school. Renovations at Syracuse Elementary will be $3,445,000. Basic Milford renovations will cost $3,210,000, but additional classrooms will raise the cost to $3,955,000. High school renovations will cost $1,215,000.
One reason, Stock said, the school board may want to prepare for growth at the elementaries is because full-day kindergarten may become a reality in the future.
In other business, the school board honored several retirees.
Those retiring and their number of years with Wawasee schools include: Robert Ahrns, 33-1/2 years; Richard Welborn, 19-1/2; Diane Carmichael, 21; Jerry Johnson, 21; James Jorczak, 12; Carol Koble, 27; Joel Robbins, 30; George Vitaniemi, 28; Jane Wieczork, 27; Patricia Huber, 34; Robert Kitson, 36; Noreta Mort, 28; and Lera Reinholt, 34. [[In-content Ad]]