WCS Eyes Improvements Without Tax Hikes
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Planning for the future will be the focus of the Warsaw school board next month when it decides how to handle long-term financing for future projects - without increasing property taxes.
"Those who don't learn from the past are doomed to repeat it," said school superintendent Dr. Lee Harman in reminding the board of dramatic tax rate increases because of major changes.
Harman said Warsaw Community Schools isn't looking at any major building projects, but will need to "keep flexible for handling facilities," he said.
WCS business manager Rande Thorpe said, "Our goal is to make sure we have facilities that meet the educational needs of our students."
He said projects that will need to be considered include air conditioning for Lakeview Middle School, a new heating and air conditioning system for Edgewood Middle School, adding on to the Alternative Learning Center to handle increased growth and demand, and addressing the need for an auditorium at Warsaw Community High School.
Jim Elizondo of the City Securities Corp. said many of WCS' future needs can be financed without increasing the tax rate.
"The key is no cost to the taxpayer," he said.
Projects could be funded as the school corporation's debt is paid off in the next few years, he said.
"What we're talking about is simply paying as you go," he said.
Harman also proposed having an independent company perform a new demographic study of the school district to assess future needs.
The board will decide next month whether the demographic study should be done on a school-by-school basis or on population trends for the district as a whole.
In other business, the board watched a demonstration from Leesburg Elementary's drama club and commended the school's volunteer program. During December and January, volunteers have averaged 11 hours per day helping students at the school.
Harman said the WCS enrollment as of Feb. 9 was 6,351 total students in the school corporation. Last year at this time there were 6,271 students.
The school board meets in the administration building at 7 p.m. the second Monday of each month.
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Photo by Gary Gerard, Times-Union [[In-content Ad]]
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Planning for the future will be the focus of the Warsaw school board next month when it decides how to handle long-term financing for future projects - without increasing property taxes.
"Those who don't learn from the past are doomed to repeat it," said school superintendent Dr. Lee Harman in reminding the board of dramatic tax rate increases because of major changes.
Harman said Warsaw Community Schools isn't looking at any major building projects, but will need to "keep flexible for handling facilities," he said.
WCS business manager Rande Thorpe said, "Our goal is to make sure we have facilities that meet the educational needs of our students."
He said projects that will need to be considered include air conditioning for Lakeview Middle School, a new heating and air conditioning system for Edgewood Middle School, adding on to the Alternative Learning Center to handle increased growth and demand, and addressing the need for an auditorium at Warsaw Community High School.
Jim Elizondo of the City Securities Corp. said many of WCS' future needs can be financed without increasing the tax rate.
"The key is no cost to the taxpayer," he said.
Projects could be funded as the school corporation's debt is paid off in the next few years, he said.
"What we're talking about is simply paying as you go," he said.
Harman also proposed having an independent company perform a new demographic study of the school district to assess future needs.
The board will decide next month whether the demographic study should be done on a school-by-school basis or on population trends for the district as a whole.
In other business, the board watched a demonstration from Leesburg Elementary's drama club and commended the school's volunteer program. During December and January, volunteers have averaged 11 hours per day helping students at the school.
Harman said the WCS enrollment as of Feb. 9 was 6,351 total students in the school corporation. Last year at this time there were 6,271 students.
The school board meets in the administration building at 7 p.m. the second Monday of each month.
Webster Award
Photo by Gary Gerard, Times-Union [[In-content Ad]]