Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
MENTONE -ÊOld and new were celebrated Sunday at the Mentone Elementary School dedication.
The new elementary school incorporates the entrance of the old school into the new building with new classrooms.
The dedication was kicked off with the Mentone Elementary fourth- and fifth-grade choir singing the school song and national anthem. Sue Pyle then gave the invocation.
Tippecanoe Valley Superintendent Dr. Karen Boling gave the welcoming remarks and introduced the guests.
"On behalf of the school board and administration, we appreciate you taking an afternoon to share with us," Boling said. She extended a special thanks to the staff who worked over the summer to get the school ready for the fall.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Suellen Reed gave the dedication speech.
"What you have done is preserved the best and expanded the rest," Reed told the crowd. She said the school has kept 12 classrooms but expanded to 28 so there will be room for 650 students. After taking a quick look around the building before the ceremony, she said facilities such as the media center and computer labs will serve the students well.
"You have a busy and active school here," she said. She concluded by wishing the school and students much success and said she hoped the students will leave the school with an eagerness to learn, a sense of what is right and the courage to pursue what is right.
Jack R. Fisher, Mentone principal, gave the statement of dedication, and George Clinton, project architect, presented the building. School board president Bruce Andrews accepted the building and was presented with "keys" to the building.
Indiana State Representative William Ruppel presented the elementary school with state flags and a U.S. flag.
Fisher unveiled a painting of the old school, painted by Marilyn Kruger. that will be displayed in the main lobby.
A reception was held in the cafeteria and tours were given. A video of the Mentone School was shown in the large group instruction room.
The building architects are R.W. Clinton & Associates, Richmond, with Skillman Corp. as the construction manager.
The Tippecanoe Valley board of trustees includes Andrews, Rod Eaton, Tom Weaver, Fred McSherry and Mark Wise. Diana Yarian, past board member, was also involved in the Mentone project.
