Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Monday, the Warsaw Community School Board made decisions on two of the three vacant elementary school buildings.
The board approved handing over the Atwood Elementary School property to Prairie Township.
Of the four parcels Silver Lake Elementary School sits on, one already belongs to Lake Township, and two others were given to the township by the school board Monday. The actual school building sits on the fourth parcel. For that parcel, the school board is giving interested parties until Jan. 16 to come back to the school board with a proposal for taking over the building. Also, in case there is no plan for the building, the school board approved for two appraisals of the school building and to determine the costs of demolishing the building if necessary.
Kathy Lokatar, a Silver Lake patron, told the school board a man from Gas City contacted her in regards to applying for grants to keep the elementary school open as a community center, apartments or other means. Lokatar told the board she wanted more time to look into the grant process and see if it is feasible.
The board also received two letters in regards to Silver Lake keeping the school's land, but not the building, for the town.
The letter from Marlin J. Carr, Silver Lake Lions Club board member, said, in part, "The Lions club voted months ago to assist Lake Township as needed to keep the school grounds up. ... We also committed to assist with maintenance of the ball diamonds as well. In that decision, we also voted not to accept the school building."
A letter from Silver Lake Clerk-Treasurer Angela Glass said, in part, "... our small community is in need of retaining the land around the school. The Kerlin family, as I understand it, graciously donated the land to the Warsaw School Corp. I feel that it is only fitting that WSC do the same in return."
The building committee is still considering Claypool Elementary School and no recommendation to the school board has been made.
In other business, the school board:
• Approved eight of nine change orders presented for the Warsaw Community High School project totaling $45,034.02. The change order tabled for more information was for a relocated parking lot light for $8,273. Board member Dan Robinson questioned the location, cost and safety.
The heating, cooling and humidity of the high school also were discussed. Robinson said unless problems are reported, the construction company and maintenance department can't know of any problems. There was a humidity problem at WCHS, and with winter coming, there is concern that there may be a problem with keeping the high school warm.
• Approved naming the new football field at Warsaw Community High School "Fisher Field." The entire athletic complex will remain as "Tiger Athletic Complex." A dedication and reception will be held at the first home football game of the 2006 season.
• Announced the next WCS town hall meeting is Nov. 14 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Lakeview Middle School. Assistant Superintendent Sandra Hess said the public will be solicited for information on characteristics of what they want a new superintendent to have, and to discuss communication between the board and the public.
• Announced the Education Summit is Nov. 10 from 7 to 10:30 a.m. at 2517 Restaurant; the third annual Nontraditional Employment for Women Opportunities Workshop for sophomore girls is Nov. 8 from 8:50 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Carpenter and Millwright Training Center.
• Recognized Harrison Elementary School third grade teacher Katie Beehler for being nominated for the Disney Teacher of the Year award.
• Heard a report from Director of Special Services Tamra Ummel and Director of Elementary Curriculum and Special Services Deb Blatz on WCS' special services. A total of 923 students in Warsaw Schools have disabilities, from ages 3-21. Of those, 325 are learning disabled; 261 communication disordered; 130 mentally handicapped; 87 emotionally handicapped; 42 autistic; 23 other health impaired; 21 developmentally delayed; 12 physically handicapped; 10 multiple handicapped; 10 visually impaired; 10 hearing impaired; and 10 traumatic brain injury.
• Heard a buildings and grounds report on the 2004-05 school year from Greg Schroeder, maintenance department. During that year, the department received 4,212 total work orders, with 92 percent of them completed in-house and only 8 percent subcontracted out.
"All in all, the amount of work we are getting is on the increase," he said.
• Heard from interim Superintendent Ralph Bailey that as of Oct. 12, Warsaw Schools' student population is 6,880, up from 6,847 students Sept. 19 when Bailey last reported on total enrollment.
• Approved personnel recommendations, including the resignations of Kraig Bowers as a teacher with the agricultural program, Dan Wray as assistant freshman men's basketball coach; hiring of Nikki Wood as varsity women's softball coach at WCHS; and Alan Clark as math department chairperson at WCHS.
• Accepted Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse's landscaping of Washington Elementary School's courtyard, valued at approximately $1,000.
• Accepted Kosciusko 21st Century Foundation Inc.'s donation for the purchase of fitness equipment for the WCHS fitness center, valued at approximately $50,000.
Warsaw School Board members are Ronald Yeiter, Dan Robinson, Tammy Dalton, Deb Wiggins, Chuck Sauders, Gene England and Cathy Folk.
