Whitko Project To Start In May

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer-

PIERCETON - Plans are to advertise bids for the Whitko High School renovation project March 1.

By mid-May, contractors should be on site to begin the vast project which will upgrade and improve the entire building, according to Dana Wannemacher of Barton Coe Vilamaa Architects.

During their meeting Monday, the Whitko School Board approved letting bids.

Board member Dave Tranter asked how excessive change orders could be avoided.

Wannemacher said the teachers and staff have been given every opportunity to make modifications to the plans and he did not foresee any major changes unless they would be structural in nature.

Transportation routes around the elementary school and high school were defined.

Security measures will include moving the cafeteria walls up to 7 feet, 4 inches with windows to allow light in above that height; entrance cameras and a buzzer system to gain entry after classes begin.

Plans are to clear the school of students as soon as the spring semester ends. Any summer courses will be held at the middle school, Larwill, so contractors can begin the major work.

The board also approved C.J. Schust, Fort Wayne, as contractor to replace about one-third of the South Whitley Elementary School building's roof. The cost will be $171,720.

The board also:

• Increased the corporation's mileage rate from 34 cents to 38 cents per mile, effective immediately.

• Heard the Indiana School Board Association has recognized the board of trustees as an exemplary board for the second consecutive year. The board will be honored at a fall regional meeting in October.

• Heard National FFA week is this week. The Feb. 18 FFA auction grossed $12,000, about three times what the group expected in proceeds. The auction was held to send FFA members to Scotland.

• Heard Whitko High School students will be honored Feb. 29 during an awards assembly in Fort Wayne. The art work of Amanda Christman, Jayanna Begley, Wendy Chalk, Audrey Fox, Lynette Holst, Christine Calhoun and Renae Banks is on display at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art this month.

• Heard a report from Michelle Ball on recent meetings held by the Whitko vision committee.

• Accepted the resignation of DeeDee Maggard, junior varsity softball coach at Whitko High School.

• Approved hiring Susan Chivington and Kay Gibson as WHS resource assistants; Sonja Keener and Jean Hopkins as substitute cooks; and Bret Bailey as an assistant wrestling coach at Whitko Middle School.

• Approved a leave of absence for Christina Nixon; a salary adjustment for Victoria Cornell and a list of substitute teachers.

• Reviewed building updates for all the schools.

• Approved various grants totaling $80,892.

• Approved DEYO/Stone Associates as the company to appraise the corporation's assets.

Whitko School Board members are Hal Trump, E. Marie Trump, Mike Braddock, Dave Tranter and Pete Mitchell. [[In-content Ad]]

PIERCETON - Plans are to advertise bids for the Whitko High School renovation project March 1.

By mid-May, contractors should be on site to begin the vast project which will upgrade and improve the entire building, according to Dana Wannemacher of Barton Coe Vilamaa Architects.

During their meeting Monday, the Whitko School Board approved letting bids.

Board member Dave Tranter asked how excessive change orders could be avoided.

Wannemacher said the teachers and staff have been given every opportunity to make modifications to the plans and he did not foresee any major changes unless they would be structural in nature.

Transportation routes around the elementary school and high school were defined.

Security measures will include moving the cafeteria walls up to 7 feet, 4 inches with windows to allow light in above that height; entrance cameras and a buzzer system to gain entry after classes begin.

Plans are to clear the school of students as soon as the spring semester ends. Any summer courses will be held at the middle school, Larwill, so contractors can begin the major work.

The board also approved C.J. Schust, Fort Wayne, as contractor to replace about one-third of the South Whitley Elementary School building's roof. The cost will be $171,720.

The board also:

• Increased the corporation's mileage rate from 34 cents to 38 cents per mile, effective immediately.

• Heard the Indiana School Board Association has recognized the board of trustees as an exemplary board for the second consecutive year. The board will be honored at a fall regional meeting in October.

• Heard National FFA week is this week. The Feb. 18 FFA auction grossed $12,000, about three times what the group expected in proceeds. The auction was held to send FFA members to Scotland.

• Heard Whitko High School students will be honored Feb. 29 during an awards assembly in Fort Wayne. The art work of Amanda Christman, Jayanna Begley, Wendy Chalk, Audrey Fox, Lynette Holst, Christine Calhoun and Renae Banks is on display at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art this month.

• Heard a report from Michelle Ball on recent meetings held by the Whitko vision committee.

• Accepted the resignation of DeeDee Maggard, junior varsity softball coach at Whitko High School.

• Approved hiring Susan Chivington and Kay Gibson as WHS resource assistants; Sonja Keener and Jean Hopkins as substitute cooks; and Bret Bailey as an assistant wrestling coach at Whitko Middle School.

• Approved a leave of absence for Christina Nixon; a salary adjustment for Victoria Cornell and a list of substitute teachers.

• Reviewed building updates for all the schools.

• Approved various grants totaling $80,892.

• Approved DEYO/Stone Associates as the company to appraise the corporation's assets.

Whitko School Board members are Hal Trump, E. Marie Trump, Mike Braddock, Dave Tranter and Pete Mitchell. [[In-content Ad]]

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