WCS Studies Sites for New Leesburg School
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jen [email protected]
Monday night, members of the Warsaw Community Schools Board of Trustees heard a presentation from Jamie Lake, Kovert Hawkins Architectural Firm, regarding the project.[[In-content Ad]]According to Lake, environmental issues with the current septic system could prevent the new school from being built on the existing site.
Since the existing site is constrictive, there are limited options for building the new school while keeping the current school running. Originally, the architects discussed building the new school directly behind the existing school, but that land is the leach field for the current septic system and the Indiana State Health Department will not allow building on that area.
Leesburg currently is in the process of building a sanitary sewer system, but it will not be finished until at least spring 2009. If the school waits until the sewer is finished, the new school will not be finished until 2012.
Monday night, Lake provided the board with information about possible alternative sites to build the new Leesburg Elementary School. Both sites discussed last night are near the Leesburg Fire Station off Armstrong Road.
"We made a promise to the residents (of Leesburg) that we will not move the school (out of Leesburg) and we don't intend to," Lake said.
The first option explained Monday is a 20-acre tract of land on the north side of Armstrong Road directly adjacent to the fire station; the second option is a larger property on the south side of Armstrong Road. The proposed school layout would fit on both tracts of land with plenty of room for playgrounds and a sports field.
If the school is moved to another site, the current building could be modified and possibly used as a community center.
Neither site has been tested, and Monday night's presentation was only a preliminary suggestion. Superintendent Dr. Robert Haworth said there will be a public forum for residents of Leesburg to discuss the options and make suggestions for possible building sites or other solutions Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. at the Leesburg gymnasium.
The school board also heard a presentation from Ralph Bailey and Bob Wede of Performance Services about a proposed energy savings project. The plan would guarantee energy savings with improved infrastructure in the school system.
With the project, the school could save up to $400,000 per year on the high school alone. Wede said the 10-year Capital Projects Fund Capital Lease would save $25,000 per year in the capital projects fund while improving the building's infrastructure.
The company designs and installs an energy-efficient system in the school, which allows the school to pay less money for energy costs. The money saved is shared between the school and Performance Services.
In this case, the project will focus on the natatorium, career center and the high school's energy consumption.
The school board approved a motion to take the next step with the project and advertise a request for proposal. After the ad is placed, the school board will decide if it wants to proceed with the project. The school system pays no money unless a project is implemented.
In other business, the board:
- Approved a motion to advertise for year 2008 model school buses. The school system plans to purchase six replacements buses this year.
- Approved the reorganizational plan for the central office as presented by Haworth. The plan includes a map of the positions proposed; however, no personnel recommendations were given for the positions Monday night.
- Heard about the current Warsaw Community Schools facility rentals. The board was given information about current rates and guidelines for the rental of the Performing Arts Center, the Edgewood and Lakeview stadiums and other WCS facilities.
- Heard a transportation report from Transportation Director Della Swain. In 2007, WCS buses traveled a total of 878,189 miles with 65 buses. The school system has 53 daily bus routes and uses about 16,000 gallons of premium diesel per month.
- Approved a motion to allow Alternative Learning Center Director Tony England to apply for a grant from Kosciusko County REMC's Operation Roundup. The grant will be used to fund non-budget items and enhance programming at Good Beginnings Preschool.
- Received a copy of the proposed 2008-09 school calendar. Copies of the calendar will be posted and are available at the administration office. The calendar will be voted on at the March 17 meeting.
- Heard from Wendy Wildman Long about the death of former WCS teacher Sherry Plummer Sunday night.
Long said, "Sherry, a Lakeview English teacher, was diagnosed with a brain tumor a year and a half ago. At Lakeview Middle School today, fellow teachers described Sherri as an inspiring teacher who wore her passion on her shirt sleeves. Her students felt the same way.
"In 1999, Sherry became our first unofficial ESL teacher, falling in love with her students. She became their American grandmother, inviting them to dinner in her home, teaching them manners, and then taking them to nice restaurants to show them how to become ladies and gentlemen, all on her own time and with her own money.
"Sherry visited every student's home and often had 100 percent parent participation at school meetings.
"My most recent memory of Sherry will be at Lakeview Middle School in December, where she came until the very end to volunteer her time in the ESL study hall. She wore a hat to cover her thinning chemo-distressed hair and smiled as she read students' essays and helped them with their grammar.
"Sherry has left a scholarship fund for one of her students, who is now in high school so that he can go tho college.
"Sherry was a tender heart with a tough spirit. On days when I am discouraged as an educator, I will be blessed by the memory of Sherri's passion for her profession and her belief that all students can succeed."
Monday night, members of the Warsaw Community Schools Board of Trustees heard a presentation from Jamie Lake, Kovert Hawkins Architectural Firm, regarding the project.[[In-content Ad]]According to Lake, environmental issues with the current septic system could prevent the new school from being built on the existing site.
Since the existing site is constrictive, there are limited options for building the new school while keeping the current school running. Originally, the architects discussed building the new school directly behind the existing school, but that land is the leach field for the current septic system and the Indiana State Health Department will not allow building on that area.
Leesburg currently is in the process of building a sanitary sewer system, but it will not be finished until at least spring 2009. If the school waits until the sewer is finished, the new school will not be finished until 2012.
Monday night, Lake provided the board with information about possible alternative sites to build the new Leesburg Elementary School. Both sites discussed last night are near the Leesburg Fire Station off Armstrong Road.
"We made a promise to the residents (of Leesburg) that we will not move the school (out of Leesburg) and we don't intend to," Lake said.
The first option explained Monday is a 20-acre tract of land on the north side of Armstrong Road directly adjacent to the fire station; the second option is a larger property on the south side of Armstrong Road. The proposed school layout would fit on both tracts of land with plenty of room for playgrounds and a sports field.
If the school is moved to another site, the current building could be modified and possibly used as a community center.
Neither site has been tested, and Monday night's presentation was only a preliminary suggestion. Superintendent Dr. Robert Haworth said there will be a public forum for residents of Leesburg to discuss the options and make suggestions for possible building sites or other solutions Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. at the Leesburg gymnasium.
The school board also heard a presentation from Ralph Bailey and Bob Wede of Performance Services about a proposed energy savings project. The plan would guarantee energy savings with improved infrastructure in the school system.
With the project, the school could save up to $400,000 per year on the high school alone. Wede said the 10-year Capital Projects Fund Capital Lease would save $25,000 per year in the capital projects fund while improving the building's infrastructure.
The company designs and installs an energy-efficient system in the school, which allows the school to pay less money for energy costs. The money saved is shared between the school and Performance Services.
In this case, the project will focus on the natatorium, career center and the high school's energy consumption.
The school board approved a motion to take the next step with the project and advertise a request for proposal. After the ad is placed, the school board will decide if it wants to proceed with the project. The school system pays no money unless a project is implemented.
In other business, the board:
- Approved a motion to advertise for year 2008 model school buses. The school system plans to purchase six replacements buses this year.
- Approved the reorganizational plan for the central office as presented by Haworth. The plan includes a map of the positions proposed; however, no personnel recommendations were given for the positions Monday night.
- Heard about the current Warsaw Community Schools facility rentals. The board was given information about current rates and guidelines for the rental of the Performing Arts Center, the Edgewood and Lakeview stadiums and other WCS facilities.
- Heard a transportation report from Transportation Director Della Swain. In 2007, WCS buses traveled a total of 878,189 miles with 65 buses. The school system has 53 daily bus routes and uses about 16,000 gallons of premium diesel per month.
- Approved a motion to allow Alternative Learning Center Director Tony England to apply for a grant from Kosciusko County REMC's Operation Roundup. The grant will be used to fund non-budget items and enhance programming at Good Beginnings Preschool.
- Received a copy of the proposed 2008-09 school calendar. Copies of the calendar will be posted and are available at the administration office. The calendar will be voted on at the March 17 meeting.
- Heard from Wendy Wildman Long about the death of former WCS teacher Sherry Plummer Sunday night.
Long said, "Sherry, a Lakeview English teacher, was diagnosed with a brain tumor a year and a half ago. At Lakeview Middle School today, fellow teachers described Sherri as an inspiring teacher who wore her passion on her shirt sleeves. Her students felt the same way.
"In 1999, Sherry became our first unofficial ESL teacher, falling in love with her students. She became their American grandmother, inviting them to dinner in her home, teaching them manners, and then taking them to nice restaurants to show them how to become ladies and gentlemen, all on her own time and with her own money.
"Sherry visited every student's home and often had 100 percent parent participation at school meetings.
"My most recent memory of Sherry will be at Lakeview Middle School in December, where she came until the very end to volunteer her time in the ESL study hall. She wore a hat to cover her thinning chemo-distressed hair and smiled as she read students' essays and helped them with their grammar.
"Sherry has left a scholarship fund for one of her students, who is now in high school so that he can go tho college.
"Sherry was a tender heart with a tough spirit. On days when I am discouraged as an educator, I will be blessed by the memory of Sherri's passion for her profession and her belief that all students can succeed."
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