WCS Board Has Public Hearing On Superintendent’s Contract
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Jackie Gorski-jgorski@timesuniononline.com
Warsaw School Board held a public hearing Tuesday on Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert’s contract.
He will be receiving a little less than the same percentage raise as stated in his contract. The raise will be 2.2%, which would mean he would make $165,000 per year if the contract is approved, said Board President Heather Reichenbach.
During the contract process, Hoffert is evaluated. During the evaluation process, he was rated highly effective, said Reichenbach, also stating he inspires others.
He is choosing to continue his tenure with WCS, said Reichenbach.
There were no comments from the public, according to Hoffert.
Hoffert said the contract will be discussed and voted on at future meetings.
The school board also approved a resolution to close Gateway Education Center by the end of the school year. Gateway, located on South Union Street, Warsaw, was the former Madison Elementary School until 2010. A new Madison was built on CR 300N, north of Walmart. Hoffert said the costs were too great to keep Gateway open.
The age of the building and the cost to upgrade the building were factors to close the building, said Jim LeMasters, director of facilities, operations and new construction.
To reroof Gateway would cost $950,000; to replace the single-pane windows would be $200,000; to take care of the HVAC and chillers and boilers improvements would cost $2 million; to upgrade the electrical panels and outlets and LED lights would cost $1 million; and to improve the equipment in the building would cost $1.5 million, LeMasters said. That puts the costs at over $5 million. Things like work on the parking lots weren’t put into the estimate.
“It’s time to consolidate to our other buildings and move on,” said LeMasters.
Hoffert also said STEM certification for Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Claypool elementary schools was discussed by the school board.
The certification through the Indiana Department of Education and is required to be considered a STEM school, Hoffert said. Washington has been certified for about five years, while Jefferson, Madison and Claypool are starting their certification process.
