WCS Gives Report On Options For Elementary Schools
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Silver Lake and Atwood elementary schools would be closed under recommendations of a study undertaken by Warsaw Community Schools.
A new school would be built in Prairie Township and Silver Lake students would be sent to a renovated Claypool Elementary under the proposal.
The long-awaited report drew few comments from the public when WCS Superintendent Dr. Lee Harman presented options for strategic planning Monday.
Drawing recommendations from a demographics study assessing enrollment trends in 1998, a Community Based Planning Project held two years ago and a recent facilities study, Harman explained the best way to provide educational equity is to maintain eight, instead of nine elementary schools, each with a population of about 450 students.
"Combining enrollments from smaller schools to make larger schools can result in the need for less teaching staff, less administrative staff and more effective utilization of support services," he said in Edgewood Middle School where the Warsaw School Corporation meeting was held.
There are significant imbalances in school enrollments, varying from 120 to 400 students.
Pointing out that smaller schools cost more per pupil to operate, Harman outlined two elementary school restructuring options within the next three years.
Proposed was a new three-section Atwood School in Prairie Township, costing $13,165,000, to be situated in the area's population center.
The second option is remodeling Claypool Elementary as a three-section school consolidating Silver Lake students into the facility, at a construction cost of $9 million.
Estimated improvement costs to Atwood, Claypool, Jefferson and Silver Lake elementary schools as they now stand totaled $9.7 million with educational equity costing another $20.1 million.
The superintendent explained the state provides strict guidelines for how public schools operate financially.
He said six funds are established and maintained by schools as a part of the budgeting process: general fund, transportation fund, debt service fund, bus replacement fund, capital projects fund and preschool special education fund.
Revenues cannot be transferred from one fund to another and the general fund is at maximum levy. Most of the other funds can be increased through higher taxation.
Expenses previously paid through state agencies have been shifted to the local district over the last few years.
For example, in 1995 the district paid nothing to the teachers' retirement fund. Now they pay more than $350,000 and the money comes from the general fund. Ninety percent of the general fund budget pays salaries and fringe benefits, Harman said.
The Warsaw district, because of its high assessed valuation, receives $239 less per student, $4498.70, than the state average of $4,737.08. If the district received the state average it would mean another $1.5 million per year.
"We do not have the economic means to achieve small class sizes across the school district, nor will we be able to do so in the future if current conditions continue," Harman said, noting sixth grade class sizes run from 15 to 31 students.
Schools are allowed to have a debt ratio of 40 percent. WCS' debt is at 5 percent. Harman outlined several capital improvement projects that would still keep the debt ratio under 15 percent.
The state provides a facility appeal process allowing school corporations to increase general fund revenues for certain kinds of new construction. If approved, the general fund could be increased to cover added costs associated with interior instructional space, such as new schools and additions to schools.
Because the high school uses Fisher Field and the auditorium at Lakeview Middle School for athletic activities and performing arts programs and students must travel to the facility, several options were presented to utilize the high school property.
The idea of a stadium, including track and support areas was presented at a cost of $5.28 million; improving the weight room and adding a wrestling room addition at a cost of $1.91 million and additional outside improvements at a cost of $3.55 million were proposed.
Costs for a 1,200 seat auditorium were given as $7.515 million.
A performing arts addition was proposed, if private donations would support it, as a project to be considered far in the future.
Harman noted Ivy Tech College rents 20 percent of Lakeview Middle School, an arrangement that will end soon. Alternative Learning Center students will attend classes there instead.
Two dates were set for public work sessions, Nov. 5 and Dec. 10, to work on these issues. Advocacy groups were limited to three per meeting with a 10 minute speaking time. Individuals would be limited to two or three minutes.
Interested parties may contact the administrative office to become part of the work session agenda. Board president Craig Allebach said more sessions will be scheduled as necessary.
The six members of the public who spoke asked for clarification of certain items. After answering their questions, Harman said the Strategic Planning Options for WCS Facilities will be posted on the Web site Tuesday and copies are available in the superintendent's office.
In other business the board:
• Heard from Dr. Dave McGuire, assistant superintendent, regarding language arts programs in the elementary and middle schools. McGuire said the curriculum for reading and writing will be presented to the board for approval this spring.
• Approved advertisement of bids for eight new school busses in accordance with the replacement program.
• Heard the eighth education summit is set for Nov. 13 at 2517 Restaurant in Warsaw.
Approved personnel recommendations, including instructional contracts with Leif Hall, Miriam Kline, Julie Moore, Melissa Blackford, Erica Pickart and Anne Schramm. Janae Young was approved as the freshmen cheerleading coach at WCHS. Resignations were accepted from Amanda Taylor and Brenn Dahms. Maternity leave was granted to Staci Smith from approximately Jan 13 to Feb. 11.
The Warsaw Community School Corporation board of trustees are Craig Allebach, president, Larry Chamberlin, Roy Symanski, Chuck Sanders, Jim Folk and Braid Brail. Cathy Folk was absent. The board meets the second Monday of each month. [[In-content Ad]]
Silver Lake and Atwood elementary schools would be closed under recommendations of a study undertaken by Warsaw Community Schools.
A new school would be built in Prairie Township and Silver Lake students would be sent to a renovated Claypool Elementary under the proposal.
The long-awaited report drew few comments from the public when WCS Superintendent Dr. Lee Harman presented options for strategic planning Monday.
Drawing recommendations from a demographics study assessing enrollment trends in 1998, a Community Based Planning Project held two years ago and a recent facilities study, Harman explained the best way to provide educational equity is to maintain eight, instead of nine elementary schools, each with a population of about 450 students.
"Combining enrollments from smaller schools to make larger schools can result in the need for less teaching staff, less administrative staff and more effective utilization of support services," he said in Edgewood Middle School where the Warsaw School Corporation meeting was held.
There are significant imbalances in school enrollments, varying from 120 to 400 students.
Pointing out that smaller schools cost more per pupil to operate, Harman outlined two elementary school restructuring options within the next three years.
Proposed was a new three-section Atwood School in Prairie Township, costing $13,165,000, to be situated in the area's population center.
The second option is remodeling Claypool Elementary as a three-section school consolidating Silver Lake students into the facility, at a construction cost of $9 million.
Estimated improvement costs to Atwood, Claypool, Jefferson and Silver Lake elementary schools as they now stand totaled $9.7 million with educational equity costing another $20.1 million.
The superintendent explained the state provides strict guidelines for how public schools operate financially.
He said six funds are established and maintained by schools as a part of the budgeting process: general fund, transportation fund, debt service fund, bus replacement fund, capital projects fund and preschool special education fund.
Revenues cannot be transferred from one fund to another and the general fund is at maximum levy. Most of the other funds can be increased through higher taxation.
Expenses previously paid through state agencies have been shifted to the local district over the last few years.
For example, in 1995 the district paid nothing to the teachers' retirement fund. Now they pay more than $350,000 and the money comes from the general fund. Ninety percent of the general fund budget pays salaries and fringe benefits, Harman said.
The Warsaw district, because of its high assessed valuation, receives $239 less per student, $4498.70, than the state average of $4,737.08. If the district received the state average it would mean another $1.5 million per year.
"We do not have the economic means to achieve small class sizes across the school district, nor will we be able to do so in the future if current conditions continue," Harman said, noting sixth grade class sizes run from 15 to 31 students.
Schools are allowed to have a debt ratio of 40 percent. WCS' debt is at 5 percent. Harman outlined several capital improvement projects that would still keep the debt ratio under 15 percent.
The state provides a facility appeal process allowing school corporations to increase general fund revenues for certain kinds of new construction. If approved, the general fund could be increased to cover added costs associated with interior instructional space, such as new schools and additions to schools.
Because the high school uses Fisher Field and the auditorium at Lakeview Middle School for athletic activities and performing arts programs and students must travel to the facility, several options were presented to utilize the high school property.
The idea of a stadium, including track and support areas was presented at a cost of $5.28 million; improving the weight room and adding a wrestling room addition at a cost of $1.91 million and additional outside improvements at a cost of $3.55 million were proposed.
Costs for a 1,200 seat auditorium were given as $7.515 million.
A performing arts addition was proposed, if private donations would support it, as a project to be considered far in the future.
Harman noted Ivy Tech College rents 20 percent of Lakeview Middle School, an arrangement that will end soon. Alternative Learning Center students will attend classes there instead.
Two dates were set for public work sessions, Nov. 5 and Dec. 10, to work on these issues. Advocacy groups were limited to three per meeting with a 10 minute speaking time. Individuals would be limited to two or three minutes.
Interested parties may contact the administrative office to become part of the work session agenda. Board president Craig Allebach said more sessions will be scheduled as necessary.
The six members of the public who spoke asked for clarification of certain items. After answering their questions, Harman said the Strategic Planning Options for WCS Facilities will be posted on the Web site Tuesday and copies are available in the superintendent's office.
In other business the board:
• Heard from Dr. Dave McGuire, assistant superintendent, regarding language arts programs in the elementary and middle schools. McGuire said the curriculum for reading and writing will be presented to the board for approval this spring.
• Approved advertisement of bids for eight new school busses in accordance with the replacement program.
• Heard the eighth education summit is set for Nov. 13 at 2517 Restaurant in Warsaw.
Approved personnel recommendations, including instructional contracts with Leif Hall, Miriam Kline, Julie Moore, Melissa Blackford, Erica Pickart and Anne Schramm. Janae Young was approved as the freshmen cheerleading coach at WCHS. Resignations were accepted from Amanda Taylor and Brenn Dahms. Maternity leave was granted to Staci Smith from approximately Jan 13 to Feb. 11.
The Warsaw Community School Corporation board of trustees are Craig Allebach, president, Larry Chamberlin, Roy Symanski, Chuck Sanders, Jim Folk and Braid Brail. Cathy Folk was absent. The board meets the second Monday of each month. [[In-content Ad]]