Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE -ÊWawasee School Superintendent Mark Stock presented the school board with a process for discussion of the current North Webster Elementary site Tuesday.
Stock said concerned residents of North Webster and persons interested in the property are already stopping in his office to ask about the building's future.
In October 1999, the school board will hold a factual meeting on the school for the interested public. The meeting will include a 20-minute slide show on the building with discussion on the finances of the building. It will conclude with a 30-minute tour of the facilities.
A public forum for input from patrons will be held in November 1999 under the plan. A month later, the administration will review the public input and a report will be prepared for the board.
The plan allows for two options in February 2000. Option one will occur if there is clear direction and allows the board to announce future intentions of the school. Option two allows the board to establish a task force to study the issue of the school if there is no clear direction.
In March 2000, a public announcement will be made of the process. Patrons can express interest in joining the task force. The board will select three North Webster patrons, one Syracuse patron and one Milford school patron to be on the task force. The task force will be co-chaired by the assistant superintendent and the director of finance. The board will prioritize criteria for the decision-making.
"If there is clear direction, the task force may be a moot point," said Stock.
In April 2000, the task force would hold its own public forum and in May 2000 will hear serious proposals from organizations interested in the site. They would make their report in July 2000.
From August 2000 to August 2001, the board will deliberate and make a decision on the building. In 2002, the new North Webster elementary will be ready for occupancy.
"This is the best thinking we came up with," said Stock.
Board president Jeff Wells said, "I think one thing we want to make sure is that this is a tentative process."
