Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - Jefferson Elementary School's Parent-Teacher Organization president Laurie Owen and principal Denny Duncan approached the town council Tuesday asking for support to retain an elementary school in town.
Owen said she hoped the board was familiar with the issues at the Warsaw Community School Corp.
"We want the school to stay in Winona Lake," she said, of a proposal by Superintendent Dr. Dave McGuire to close Jefferson, Silver Lake, Claypool and Atwood elementaries and replace them with two four-section schools. One proposal is to build a new Jefferson School on the Grace College practice soccer field area south of Pierceton Road.
Council member Jerry Clevenger said he wasn't sure if he knew all the details but suggested town coordinator Craig Allebach, the school board president, might.
"What I know I may not tell," Allebach said.
Duncan advised the board the other school would be developed in Claypool by adding onto the current elementary.
"Aren't small schools the best for students?" town attorney Jim Walmer asked.
Duncan agreed but said there are economic issues to consider.
"Why not save money and have one big theater room, bring all 600 kids there and have one teacher teach them, then?" the attorney asked, saying big schools are not in the best interests of individual students.
"I'd love to see us keep tiny little schools, but not at ratios of 28 to 35 students to one teacher," Duncan said. "Some of the intimacy, the personalization we have at Jefferson will mean a lot harder work at a larger school."
Councilman Jeff Carroll asked if the idea was to save money on utilities and services.
Duncan said school funding is divided into four funds but that he is no mathematician.
"If one wants to correlate logic and school funding, you're not going to find it," he said.
Clevenger advised Duncan the town council had little say in any school board decisions, but he agreed that having an elementary school in town was favorable, as did the other council members.
Frank Rhoades, representing the fair board, asked permission to begin the 4-H and Community Fair parade in Winona Lake again this year, which was approved. The route proceeds down Park Avenue to Warsaw and the fairground's grandstand.
Rhoades said the parade would begin at 4 p.m. July 20 and entries would be pre-judged this year, with awards given at the end.
In other business, the board:
• Heard from Jim LeMaster, who asked about mowing along the railroad track's bank. He reminded the council there was a plan at one time to seed the bank with crown vetch.
• Approved a change order request from Wessler and Associates as requested by G&G Hauling of $104,641, bringing the town's payments so far to $155,687.
Clerk-treasurer Retha Hicks said change order requests have exceeded 20 percent of the project costs, which will have to be explained to the State Board of Accounts.
The sewer rehabilitation job was quoted at $270,000 and now exceeds $330,000.
Hicks said she has requested written explanations from Wessler and has not heard back from the company.
Councilman Rolly Ortega volunteered councilman David Delp, who was absent, to act as an information gatherer.
• Approved rezoning of the Celebration United Methodist Church and Grossnickle properties, west of CR 250E, to residential.
• Heard from Allebach regarding the Lake City Greenway project. He said construction is still planned to begin this summer.
• Heard from town engineer Larry Long regarding a drainage project on Circle Court as requested by Jerry and Jan Nelson. The Nelsons approached the council May 15 about standing water in front of their house.
Long said elevations have been taken and he would begin to design a solution.
• Heard from Ortega that brush and yard waste pickup would be on Mondays and Tuesdays. The street department will not make individual runs to collect brush.
• Heard from town marshal Malcolm Gilbert, who said he has been writing code violation notices and asking residents to clean up their yards.
Town council members are Craig Snow, Jeff Carroll, Jerry Clevenger and Rolly Ortega. David Delp was absent.
