Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
BOURBON - The Triton School Board will present a scaled-down plan Feb. 19 at a third public forum on the board's proposed facility improvement project for Triton Junior/Senior High School.
The downsized plan excludes a new activity gymnasium included in the original plan as well as an upgrade of the building's doors and interior finishes. Schools superintendent Ted Chittum said dropping the gym from the plan raises the cost of the new wrestling and locker rooms to be added to the building, but lowers the total project cost by more than $2 million, from $15,995,444 to $13,655,000.
The new tax impact for the pay-off of the project, estimated by H.J. Umbaugh & Associates, falls to 18 cents from 24 cents per $100 at current interest rates and to 21 cents from 28 cents per $100 at maximum interest rates.
Board members approved the change at a work session Monday. Board member Steve Feldman said that at the first two public hearings on the project, the board encountered resistance to the project and believed the issue was causing division in the community.
"The gym seems to be the big thing they're against," said Feldman. "Most agree the other things are needed."
Feldman said the board opted to compromise to avoid divisions seen in other districts undergoing remonstrances against proposed building plans.
"We see Warsaw and Plymouth, and neither side here wants to go that way," he said. "I think, if it came down to it, we still could have won in a remonstrance, but it would have really divided the community and we don't want that."
He said the board has been getting a favorable response to the new reduced plan from those opposed to the original proposal.
Following the work session, school board members and staff held an open house at TJSHS. Area residents toured the 36-year-old building in groups of three or four and posed their questions to school board members, teachers and other school staff.
Lori McClellan, Dawn Slein and Allan Whittaker, science teachers at TJSHS, were among the teachers present to answer questions about their department. Lab space, adequate numbers of electric outlets and adequate ventilation were some of the major needs expressed. The teachers said that under the school board's current plan, which includes the addition of three science labs, their classrooms would become more effective and safer. They also said the extra space would allow their classes to do lab activities not possible in their current classrooms.
Shop teacher Sam Davis said that though the building plan would convert his shop area into a 2D/3D art lab, he supports it because it will provide students with skills more relevant to today's work environment.
"The world changes," he said, "and this will provide kids with the skills they need."
The Feb. 19 public forum will be held at 7 p.m. in the TJSHS library. The 1028 hearing, in which the board will decide whether or not to proceed with the proposed building plan, will be held Feb. 26.
