Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - A family that owns property Wawasee School Corp. is considering as a building site is not interested in selling.
Wawasee School Board first conducted studies more than seven years ago to determine whether to build a new North Webster Elementary or to renovate the existing school.
During the last five years, the board conducted more serious studies into the issue, Wawasee Superintendent Mark Stock said.
"The board has been deciding all along whether they want to build a new building or renovate," Stock said.
"At this point," he said, "it looks like the prices are going to be similar."
If the board decides to build a new school, Stock said, they wanted a site already determined.
"What the board has done, they have been through a rating process. We have looked at six different sites. They've gone through a process and directed for me to look at the (Mid-Lake Farms) property," said Stock.
Stock said if the Katherine (Warner) White family who owns the property does not want the property to be considered as a possible site for a new North Webster elementary school, then the board will discuss that at their next meeting.
Mid-Lake Farms has been settled and maintained by the Katharine (Warner) White family for the last 162 years. It is the last remaining portion of a land tract settled by Henderson Warner in 1837. Originally, the property reached from the shores of Lake Webster to Lake James (now Little Tippy), according to information provided by the White family.
In the information they provided, the White family said, "We encourage the Wawasee School Board to consider other property that would satisfy their goals while remaining sensitive to the valued history of the North Webster community."
The current North Webster school is landlocked by Ind. 13. The main concern for the school board, Stock said, was North Webster elementary students are in an environment where conditions are sub-par.
Other issues, like transportation and costs, have also been studied.
"They really thoroughly studied this," Stock said. "The board is committed to doing something about this.
"There is no deadline. I know the board's wishes are to have something by spring."
