WCS OKs Bids For Secure Entrance At Student Activity Center; STEM Academy Gets Donation
March 13, 2019 at 4:33 p.m.
WCS OKs Bids For Secure Entrance At Student Activity Center; STEM Academy Gets Donation
By David [email protected]
The entrance replaces the Warsaw Community Schools employee health clinic that was originally designed to be a part of the SAC, though the school corporation is retaining its clinic at MedStat.
Chief Financial Officer April Fitterling asked for the bids to be voted on and awarded Tuesday. “That way we can send out the contracts to the individual contractors on the project and they can get started.”
The board approved them 5-0, with two board members not present. The approved total for the secured entrance is $1,711,611.
The approximately 65,000-square-foot SAC will include athletic and academic spaces and is expected to be completed by July.
WCS Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert explained after the meeting: “Originally, we talked about doing it designed as a health clinic. As we looked at that and we looked at some of our short-term needs, we’re actually changing that to make sure that there’s a grand entryway into the Career Center and it’ll have a safe and secure entryway and vestibule much like our elementary and other schools, and even our main entry at the high school. But as we looked at the security of that, we felt like that was a larger priority to start off with right now.”
He said the off-site clinic will continue and the school corporation will look at other places to put that.
“It’s using the same shell, it’s using the same design. ... We had already advertised and already had those pieces in place. But as we looked at it and began talking with them, we just felt like this was a better entryway and specific use of that area,” Hoffert said.
He said Wiegand Construction is still doing the project.
Later in the meeting, Director of Buildings and Grounds Jim LeMasters reported the SAC is moving along smoothly. He said more people are there working with the break in the weather, and by the end of this week there will be painting, ceiling work and other progress.
He also reported that the pricing on the WCHS cafeteria improvement and expansion project came in Tuesday at $1.168 million, under the price that was set for it at $1.2 million.
“There’s a couple of alternates we can talk about later, but that’s good news,” LeMasters said.
Earlier in the meeting, Michelle Peterson from Via Credit Union presented a “giant” check for $2,500 to Washington STEM Academy.
Principal Tom Ray and the school board recognized Via for helping sponsor the Junior Robotics League at Washington. Peterson said it was a great way for the credit union to get to know the school and community and they were very impressed with Washington.
A learning showcase is scheduled at the Warsaw school at 5:30 p.m. March 27. STEM Coach David Burden said second grade is working on a weather unit and their demonstrations will showcase how wild weather exists in the area. Third-graders’ showcases will highlight movement in general.
Ray told the board that Washington and the Central Administration Office – since they share the same ground – were named a wildlife habitat.
“I know that the area out there looks like weeds right now, but they’re really, all these flowers that we’ve been growing all around the school, the retention area, those are native wild flowers that we’ve been cultivating, the students have been planting,” Ray said.
Students from the school showed board members pictures of the native plants.
Burden said everything the board members saw in the photos is part of Washington’s curriculum and conservation efforts.
He also explained that the beehives the school has yielded over 4 gallons of honey, which was used as a fundraiser to resupply new hives and the beekeeper so the beehive could be sustained. Students were also able to try the honey.
Finally, LeMasters told the board the Eisenhower Elementary School playground community build is scheduled for May 17-18, with Harrison Elementary’s set for June 21-22. There will be jobs for everyone who comes out to volunteer.
LeMasters said anyone who wants to volunteer may contact him or the principal of one of the schools.
The entrance replaces the Warsaw Community Schools employee health clinic that was originally designed to be a part of the SAC, though the school corporation is retaining its clinic at MedStat.
Chief Financial Officer April Fitterling asked for the bids to be voted on and awarded Tuesday. “That way we can send out the contracts to the individual contractors on the project and they can get started.”
The board approved them 5-0, with two board members not present. The approved total for the secured entrance is $1,711,611.
The approximately 65,000-square-foot SAC will include athletic and academic spaces and is expected to be completed by July.
WCS Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert explained after the meeting: “Originally, we talked about doing it designed as a health clinic. As we looked at that and we looked at some of our short-term needs, we’re actually changing that to make sure that there’s a grand entryway into the Career Center and it’ll have a safe and secure entryway and vestibule much like our elementary and other schools, and even our main entry at the high school. But as we looked at the security of that, we felt like that was a larger priority to start off with right now.”
He said the off-site clinic will continue and the school corporation will look at other places to put that.
“It’s using the same shell, it’s using the same design. ... We had already advertised and already had those pieces in place. But as we looked at it and began talking with them, we just felt like this was a better entryway and specific use of that area,” Hoffert said.
He said Wiegand Construction is still doing the project.
Later in the meeting, Director of Buildings and Grounds Jim LeMasters reported the SAC is moving along smoothly. He said more people are there working with the break in the weather, and by the end of this week there will be painting, ceiling work and other progress.
He also reported that the pricing on the WCHS cafeteria improvement and expansion project came in Tuesday at $1.168 million, under the price that was set for it at $1.2 million.
“There’s a couple of alternates we can talk about later, but that’s good news,” LeMasters said.
Earlier in the meeting, Michelle Peterson from Via Credit Union presented a “giant” check for $2,500 to Washington STEM Academy.
Principal Tom Ray and the school board recognized Via for helping sponsor the Junior Robotics League at Washington. Peterson said it was a great way for the credit union to get to know the school and community and they were very impressed with Washington.
A learning showcase is scheduled at the Warsaw school at 5:30 p.m. March 27. STEM Coach David Burden said second grade is working on a weather unit and their demonstrations will showcase how wild weather exists in the area. Third-graders’ showcases will highlight movement in general.
Ray told the board that Washington and the Central Administration Office – since they share the same ground – were named a wildlife habitat.
“I know that the area out there looks like weeds right now, but they’re really, all these flowers that we’ve been growing all around the school, the retention area, those are native wild flowers that we’ve been cultivating, the students have been planting,” Ray said.
Students from the school showed board members pictures of the native plants.
Burden said everything the board members saw in the photos is part of Washington’s curriculum and conservation efforts.
He also explained that the beehives the school has yielded over 4 gallons of honey, which was used as a fundraiser to resupply new hives and the beekeeper so the beehive could be sustained. Students were also able to try the honey.
Finally, LeMasters told the board the Eisenhower Elementary School playground community build is scheduled for May 17-18, with Harrison Elementary’s set for June 21-22. There will be jobs for everyone who comes out to volunteer.
LeMasters said anyone who wants to volunteer may contact him or the principal of one of the schools.
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