WCS Hires PAC Director
October 23, 2018 at 5:02 p.m.
WCS Hires PAC Director
By -
By unanimous approval last night, the board approved providing authority to select a criterion designer for the cafeteria for 2019.
After the meeting, Superintendent Dr. David Hoffer explained the board’s action.
“This actually goes clear back to last year because, if you remember, we approved a cafeteria project but it came in over bid last year. So we are going to be sending it back out to bid this time, and this time we are going to do it as a design build project,” he said.
If they do a design build, Hoffert said they have to have a criteria designer. “What they do is they put the criteria in place for the specifics and then you send it out to bid. This is just step one inside that process,” he said.
Last year, he said Warsaw Schools did a traditional design bid build project, but the bids came in really high.
“Because we had budgeted a little bit over a million dollars for the cafeteria project, and again, it came in way high because of labor shortage and increasing prices. So what we’re doing is we’re sending it out to bid again, but we’re using a different accepted method. Design bid was what we used for the Edgewood, Lincoln and Washington projects,” he said.
“So, again, you use a criterion designer and then you do a (request for proposals) and a (request for quotes) and then they send that in, and then you have the (technical review committee) that picks that and makes a recommendation to the board,” Hoffert said.
The timetable has a quick turnaround, with the deadline for choosing a criterion designer being January.
Before the board approved the personnel report, Hoffert announced Jay Michaels as the new Warsaw PAC director, which was effective Oct. 2 with the board’s approval.
The previous PAC director, Phil Kuhn, left in June.
Michaels began his career as a radio personality and worked in several different capacities on and off-air for stations such as WRSW in Warsaw. He has been an on-air personality, program director and operations manager at several radio organizations, according to the news release Hoffert read.
In October 2016, Michaels accepted a position as the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts executive director. There he has assisted in the management of staff, the development of a strategic plan, the booking of events and concerts and managing the budget and sponsorships for the center.
Hoffert noted Michaels will continue his work with Wagon Wheel.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Jay Michaels as our performing arts center director. His experience in multiple marketing and performing arts venues will be a great asset to our school corporation. We are also excited for the continued partnership his employment will encourage with the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts and other local arts agencies,” Hoffert said.
Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts Board President Deborah Bishop is quoted in the news release as saying, “We are excited to see Jay in this position. He’ll do a great job in his new role. Both the staff at the PAC and at Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts are so talented and qualified that it brings endless opportunities of collaboration in the future. His new role will provide a multitude of new experiences for the arts in our community.”
Earlier in the meeting, Warsaw Community High School Principal Troy Akers told the board about the donation from Zimmer Biomet. He introduced WCHS chemistry teacher Mark Riege and Brion Mimnaugh from Zimmer Biomet.
Riege was a chemist at a Goshen company for a number of years. Last year, the high school had a science opening and Riege filled that position.
“It leads into why we’re here tonight because any great chemist wants to know where all the greatest resources are. Look no further than Zimmer Biomet,” Akers said.
Mimnaugh has children at Harrison Elementary and Lakeview Middle schools.
“They had collaborated, and the collaboration started at the end of last year when we were trying to better equip our science labs. And what better way to do that than to have a wonderful community resource here,” Akers said.
Riege said he’s always looking for ways to bring things in. That led to Zimmer Biomet donating some science lab equipment so students can now make their own solutions in chemistry class, which enhances their education.
“It was a great opportunity for getting to know some folks over there and also to really equip our lab well. So I just really appreciate Zimmer Biomet being able to donate those things for us,” Riege said.
Mimnaugh said he was happy to help the schools. Hoffert presented Mimnaugh with a certificate of appreciation, and the school board approved the donation.
In other business, the board:
• Approved the 2019 budget as presented at the July meeting. It totals $82 million.
• Heard that for the first time, WCS will have a three-day Thanksgiving break instead of a two-day break. It is Nov. 21-23.
• Heard enrollment at Warsaw Schools is 6,926 students, though some are not full-time students.
• Heard the next school board public work session is at 4 p.m. Nov. 13, and the regular meeting is at 7 p.m. Nov. 19.
Latest News
E-Editions
By unanimous approval last night, the board approved providing authority to select a criterion designer for the cafeteria for 2019.
After the meeting, Superintendent Dr. David Hoffer explained the board’s action.
“This actually goes clear back to last year because, if you remember, we approved a cafeteria project but it came in over bid last year. So we are going to be sending it back out to bid this time, and this time we are going to do it as a design build project,” he said.
If they do a design build, Hoffert said they have to have a criteria designer. “What they do is they put the criteria in place for the specifics and then you send it out to bid. This is just step one inside that process,” he said.
Last year, he said Warsaw Schools did a traditional design bid build project, but the bids came in really high.
“Because we had budgeted a little bit over a million dollars for the cafeteria project, and again, it came in way high because of labor shortage and increasing prices. So what we’re doing is we’re sending it out to bid again, but we’re using a different accepted method. Design bid was what we used for the Edgewood, Lincoln and Washington projects,” he said.
“So, again, you use a criterion designer and then you do a (request for proposals) and a (request for quotes) and then they send that in, and then you have the (technical review committee) that picks that and makes a recommendation to the board,” Hoffert said.
The timetable has a quick turnaround, with the deadline for choosing a criterion designer being January.
Before the board approved the personnel report, Hoffert announced Jay Michaels as the new Warsaw PAC director, which was effective Oct. 2 with the board’s approval.
The previous PAC director, Phil Kuhn, left in June.
Michaels began his career as a radio personality and worked in several different capacities on and off-air for stations such as WRSW in Warsaw. He has been an on-air personality, program director and operations manager at several radio organizations, according to the news release Hoffert read.
In October 2016, Michaels accepted a position as the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts executive director. There he has assisted in the management of staff, the development of a strategic plan, the booking of events and concerts and managing the budget and sponsorships for the center.
Hoffert noted Michaels will continue his work with Wagon Wheel.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Jay Michaels as our performing arts center director. His experience in multiple marketing and performing arts venues will be a great asset to our school corporation. We are also excited for the continued partnership his employment will encourage with the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts and other local arts agencies,” Hoffert said.
Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts Board President Deborah Bishop is quoted in the news release as saying, “We are excited to see Jay in this position. He’ll do a great job in his new role. Both the staff at the PAC and at Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts are so talented and qualified that it brings endless opportunities of collaboration in the future. His new role will provide a multitude of new experiences for the arts in our community.”
Earlier in the meeting, Warsaw Community High School Principal Troy Akers told the board about the donation from Zimmer Biomet. He introduced WCHS chemistry teacher Mark Riege and Brion Mimnaugh from Zimmer Biomet.
Riege was a chemist at a Goshen company for a number of years. Last year, the high school had a science opening and Riege filled that position.
“It leads into why we’re here tonight because any great chemist wants to know where all the greatest resources are. Look no further than Zimmer Biomet,” Akers said.
Mimnaugh has children at Harrison Elementary and Lakeview Middle schools.
“They had collaborated, and the collaboration started at the end of last year when we were trying to better equip our science labs. And what better way to do that than to have a wonderful community resource here,” Akers said.
Riege said he’s always looking for ways to bring things in. That led to Zimmer Biomet donating some science lab equipment so students can now make their own solutions in chemistry class, which enhances their education.
“It was a great opportunity for getting to know some folks over there and also to really equip our lab well. So I just really appreciate Zimmer Biomet being able to donate those things for us,” Riege said.
Mimnaugh said he was happy to help the schools. Hoffert presented Mimnaugh with a certificate of appreciation, and the school board approved the donation.
In other business, the board:
• Approved the 2019 budget as presented at the July meeting. It totals $82 million.
• Heard that for the first time, WCS will have a three-day Thanksgiving break instead of a two-day break. It is Nov. 21-23.
• Heard enrollment at Warsaw Schools is 6,926 students, though some are not full-time students.
• Heard the next school board public work session is at 4 p.m. Nov. 13, and the regular meeting is at 7 p.m. Nov. 19.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092