WCS May Re-Open Claypool School
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Claypool Elementary School likely will be reopened - the question, though, is when.
Warsaw Community Schools board of trustees held a special meeting Monday to discuss the Claypool situation.
Board member Chuck Sauders opened the meeting Monday with a motion that would have opened Claypool this fall with contingencies. His motion failed by a vote of 1 to 6.
School board members had concerns and questions about Sauders' motion. His motion was made in consultation with Eisenhower principal Chris Gensinger and Washington principal Tom Ray.
Under the motion, CES would have opened this fall upon enrollment of at least an 18:1 student to teacher ratio, grades kindergarten through sixth grade. With this option, however, there could be no negative impact on present class sizes at Washington or Eisenhower schools. Parents in the previous Claypool and Silver Lake schools would have been required to enroll for Claypool by April 28. On June 1, if the required enrollment ratio was achieved, Claypool would be opened this fall. If the necessary numbers were not there, Claypool would be opened after the remodeling is finished, at which time K-6 students in the Claypool and Silver Lake areas would be required to enroll at Claypool.
During discussion of the motion, Gensinger said he had calls from some families saying they would prefer to keep their children at Eisenhower at this point instead of moving back to Claypool. The question is if there would be enough students to open Claypool. By having an early enrollment for this spring, it would provide the school corporation with an idea of enrollment before they got the school ready for the fall.
Ron Yeiter, school board president, said there might be more interest in Claypool for the lower grades. Gensinger said spring enrollment would help the board know. Also, if Claypool was only opened for grades K-4, by the time those students got to middle school, they would have transferred about four times. Gensinger said he'd prefer Claypool to be for grades K-6 because of longevity.
If a parent were to sign their student up for Claypool, that would commit that child to the school, Gensinger said. Yeiter said if the board is asking families to make a commitment to Claypool, the board should commit to expanding Claypool.
Deb Wiggins wanted more flexibility on improving Claypool based on the numbers from the early enrollment. Sauders said his motion commits the school corporation to remodeling Claypool. The school board, he said, needs to step forward and move ahead with Claypool. Due to overcrowding at Warsaw Schools, the school board can't wait another two years.
Silver Lake and Claypool both will not fit into one school, board member Gene England said. He said he preferred Claypool to be for K-4 for now. "I can't see going K-6, there's just not enough room," he said.
Dalton said her concern was the time frame. If pre-registration deadline is by May, she said they'd have the summer to staff, budget, clean and furnish Claypool. "I don't feel that gives us enough time," she said.
Along with the furnishings and equipment, Gensinger said the library books also are gone. The library would have to be restocked. Later in the meeting, the school board was told the books and equipment followed the students to the other schools when Claypool, Silver Lake and Atwood were closed a few years ago.
Sauders said he knows the deadline is tight, but if the school board doesn't do something, August will be here in no time and Claypool won't be open.
"I agree with you, time is short. But that's why I think it's decision time for Claypool," Sauders said.
Board member Deb Wiggins said Sauders' motion doesn't get them "physically" ahead. If the board wants to open Claypool, Wiggins said they need to do the student count and preparations simultaneously.
"If you are definitely going to use Claypool school," said Gensinger, "what harm is it in getting it ready?"
"How are we funding this?" Cathy Folk, board member, said. Warsaw still has the high school project and the estimated cost to refurbish Claypool is $1 million. The $1 million is an estimate by KovertHawkins architects, Jeffersonville. That doesn't include staffing costs. "My question is, how are we funding this?"
Along with the projected $1 million cost to open Claypool, Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott said staffing costs would include an assumption of nine teachers for $71,000 each (including benefits) and support staff cost of $315,000 for a three-section school. The support staff would include a principal, two secretaries, two janitors, a nurse and a librarian.
Hal Kovert, of KovertHawkins architects, said they took a look at the physical condition of Claypool and found it in good condition for a building that's been closed for a couple of years. A list was compiled of things that need to be done, with the biggest area being food service as Claypool has no kitchen equipment. The other items on the list include just "clean-up type of things" that can be done by in-house staff.
Scott said the 2006 budget is already set and "there's not much room there."
Sauders said if Claypool was opened, one of the high school assistant principals could be borrowed half the time at Claypool. Assistant Superintendent Sandra Hess said, "My understanding is she'd like to hire an additional (assistant) rather than give one up."
Wiggins called for the question on the motion and the only one who voted for it was Sauders. Dan Robinson, board member, said that until the board knows what the costs and budget will be, it didn't look to him as if they can pay for Claypool this year. He said he's frustrated on the issue as well. Everyone tells the board more space is needed, but the question is the budget.
Regardless of what the board does, in addition to other expenses, "we probably will have to increase our staff no matter what we do," said Bailey.
Wiggins made a motion to go ahead with the query about enrollment at Claypool and it was approved 6-1, with Folk opposed. Wiggins then made a motion for Scott, Bailey and other staff to provide to the school board a financial picture of opening Claypool this fall as either a K-4 or K-6 school. If not for this fall, then the soonest opening possible of Claypool. That motion was approved unanimously.
Sauders made a motion to give Bailey and Scott authority to get estimates, blue prints, etc. to remodel Claypool into a three-section school. Wiggins asked where the money to pay for that work would come from. Sauders asked Scott, who said he'd find it somewhere. Folk asked, "Are we going to look at any other sites before Claypool?" Sauders said they were taking one baby step at a time. His motion was approved 5-2, with Robinson and Folk opposed.
Robinson said he didn't believe the school board should be talking about interviewing architects now. "I don't think we are ready for that. We have too many questions right now," he said.
Folk said there were too many unanswered questions, such as the need to redistrict. "I think we need to take a look at the entire picture again," she said. She advocated for another demographic study of Warsaw Schools, which would be required anyhow by state law before any school project is started. Robinson made a motion to hire someone to conduct a demographic study for Warsaw Schools and that was approved unanimously.
Robinson later asked if there was any other remedies to get some additional fundings.
"Yes, there is," said Bailey. "A referendum."
The board decided to meet May 1 to discuss the enrollment sign-up total for Claypool Elementary and to look at the financial information to be prepared by Scott.
Madison Elementary Teacher Terry Sims said if the board thought dealing with the southern part of the district was difficult, wait until they begin looking at the northern part. "When you get to the northern portion of the district, this is going to be a piece of cake," he said.
Patron Bruce Ferguson asked if the school board had a timeline to deal with the overcrowding in the northern part of the district. Yeiter said when Dr. Robert Haworth comes on board as the new superintendent, he has some ideas on timeline and strategic ideas, but other than that, there is no timeline. Ferguson said the overcrowding is a crisis this fall. [[In-content Ad]]
Claypool Elementary School likely will be reopened - the question, though, is when.
Warsaw Community Schools board of trustees held a special meeting Monday to discuss the Claypool situation.
Board member Chuck Sauders opened the meeting Monday with a motion that would have opened Claypool this fall with contingencies. His motion failed by a vote of 1 to 6.
School board members had concerns and questions about Sauders' motion. His motion was made in consultation with Eisenhower principal Chris Gensinger and Washington principal Tom Ray.
Under the motion, CES would have opened this fall upon enrollment of at least an 18:1 student to teacher ratio, grades kindergarten through sixth grade. With this option, however, there could be no negative impact on present class sizes at Washington or Eisenhower schools. Parents in the previous Claypool and Silver Lake schools would have been required to enroll for Claypool by April 28. On June 1, if the required enrollment ratio was achieved, Claypool would be opened this fall. If the necessary numbers were not there, Claypool would be opened after the remodeling is finished, at which time K-6 students in the Claypool and Silver Lake areas would be required to enroll at Claypool.
During discussion of the motion, Gensinger said he had calls from some families saying they would prefer to keep their children at Eisenhower at this point instead of moving back to Claypool. The question is if there would be enough students to open Claypool. By having an early enrollment for this spring, it would provide the school corporation with an idea of enrollment before they got the school ready for the fall.
Ron Yeiter, school board president, said there might be more interest in Claypool for the lower grades. Gensinger said spring enrollment would help the board know. Also, if Claypool was only opened for grades K-4, by the time those students got to middle school, they would have transferred about four times. Gensinger said he'd prefer Claypool to be for grades K-6 because of longevity.
If a parent were to sign their student up for Claypool, that would commit that child to the school, Gensinger said. Yeiter said if the board is asking families to make a commitment to Claypool, the board should commit to expanding Claypool.
Deb Wiggins wanted more flexibility on improving Claypool based on the numbers from the early enrollment. Sauders said his motion commits the school corporation to remodeling Claypool. The school board, he said, needs to step forward and move ahead with Claypool. Due to overcrowding at Warsaw Schools, the school board can't wait another two years.
Silver Lake and Claypool both will not fit into one school, board member Gene England said. He said he preferred Claypool to be for K-4 for now. "I can't see going K-6, there's just not enough room," he said.
Dalton said her concern was the time frame. If pre-registration deadline is by May, she said they'd have the summer to staff, budget, clean and furnish Claypool. "I don't feel that gives us enough time," she said.
Along with the furnishings and equipment, Gensinger said the library books also are gone. The library would have to be restocked. Later in the meeting, the school board was told the books and equipment followed the students to the other schools when Claypool, Silver Lake and Atwood were closed a few years ago.
Sauders said he knows the deadline is tight, but if the school board doesn't do something, August will be here in no time and Claypool won't be open.
"I agree with you, time is short. But that's why I think it's decision time for Claypool," Sauders said.
Board member Deb Wiggins said Sauders' motion doesn't get them "physically" ahead. If the board wants to open Claypool, Wiggins said they need to do the student count and preparations simultaneously.
"If you are definitely going to use Claypool school," said Gensinger, "what harm is it in getting it ready?"
"How are we funding this?" Cathy Folk, board member, said. Warsaw still has the high school project and the estimated cost to refurbish Claypool is $1 million. The $1 million is an estimate by KovertHawkins architects, Jeffersonville. That doesn't include staffing costs. "My question is, how are we funding this?"
Along with the projected $1 million cost to open Claypool, Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott said staffing costs would include an assumption of nine teachers for $71,000 each (including benefits) and support staff cost of $315,000 for a three-section school. The support staff would include a principal, two secretaries, two janitors, a nurse and a librarian.
Hal Kovert, of KovertHawkins architects, said they took a look at the physical condition of Claypool and found it in good condition for a building that's been closed for a couple of years. A list was compiled of things that need to be done, with the biggest area being food service as Claypool has no kitchen equipment. The other items on the list include just "clean-up type of things" that can be done by in-house staff.
Scott said the 2006 budget is already set and "there's not much room there."
Sauders said if Claypool was opened, one of the high school assistant principals could be borrowed half the time at Claypool. Assistant Superintendent Sandra Hess said, "My understanding is she'd like to hire an additional (assistant) rather than give one up."
Wiggins called for the question on the motion and the only one who voted for it was Sauders. Dan Robinson, board member, said that until the board knows what the costs and budget will be, it didn't look to him as if they can pay for Claypool this year. He said he's frustrated on the issue as well. Everyone tells the board more space is needed, but the question is the budget.
Regardless of what the board does, in addition to other expenses, "we probably will have to increase our staff no matter what we do," said Bailey.
Wiggins made a motion to go ahead with the query about enrollment at Claypool and it was approved 6-1, with Folk opposed. Wiggins then made a motion for Scott, Bailey and other staff to provide to the school board a financial picture of opening Claypool this fall as either a K-4 or K-6 school. If not for this fall, then the soonest opening possible of Claypool. That motion was approved unanimously.
Sauders made a motion to give Bailey and Scott authority to get estimates, blue prints, etc. to remodel Claypool into a three-section school. Wiggins asked where the money to pay for that work would come from. Sauders asked Scott, who said he'd find it somewhere. Folk asked, "Are we going to look at any other sites before Claypool?" Sauders said they were taking one baby step at a time. His motion was approved 5-2, with Robinson and Folk opposed.
Robinson said he didn't believe the school board should be talking about interviewing architects now. "I don't think we are ready for that. We have too many questions right now," he said.
Folk said there were too many unanswered questions, such as the need to redistrict. "I think we need to take a look at the entire picture again," she said. She advocated for another demographic study of Warsaw Schools, which would be required anyhow by state law before any school project is started. Robinson made a motion to hire someone to conduct a demographic study for Warsaw Schools and that was approved unanimously.
Robinson later asked if there was any other remedies to get some additional fundings.
"Yes, there is," said Bailey. "A referendum."
The board decided to meet May 1 to discuss the enrollment sign-up total for Claypool Elementary and to look at the financial information to be prepared by Scott.
Madison Elementary Teacher Terry Sims said if the board thought dealing with the southern part of the district was difficult, wait until they begin looking at the northern part. "When you get to the northern portion of the district, this is going to be a piece of cake," he said.
Patron Bruce Ferguson asked if the school board had a timeline to deal with the overcrowding in the northern part of the district. Yeiter said when Dr. Robert Haworth comes on board as the new superintendent, he has some ideas on timeline and strategic ideas, but other than that, there is no timeline. Ferguson said the overcrowding is a crisis this fall. [[In-content Ad]]