Warsaw School Board made changes to its officers and meeting dates Tuesday during a special meeting.
The meeting began with board attorney Max Reed swearing in Deb Wiggins, Dan Robinson and Kent Adams. Wiggins and Robinson were re-elected to the board in November, and Adams was elected to the board after beating Chuck Sauders in the general election.Wiggins was elected by the board yesterday to serve as president for 2009. Ron Yeiter had served as president for the past four years.
"Before I do anything, I want to thank Ron for serving as president (for four years)," Wiggins said.
Robinson was named vice president of the board again, with Delores Hearn serving as secretary. Gene England served as secretary in 2008.
At the start of the year, the school board decides the day and time to have its monthly meetings. For the past several years, Wiggins said Tuesday, the school board discussed moving the board meeting from the third Monday of every month because that is the same night the Warsaw City Council meets.
Hearn said she would like to see the day changed. Because of other commitments, board member Tammy Dalton said, "I'm in favor of leaving it as it is."
"What about that fourth Monday (of the month)? Is that a problem?" Adams asked. He said it would still be at 7 p.m.
Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott said he saw no problem with claims and payroll in moving the board meeting from the third Monday of every month to the fourth.
The school board unanimously agreed to have their monthly meetings at 7 p.m. on the fourth Monday of every month. The next regular school board meeting will be at 7 p.m. Jan. 26.
Also approved by the board, because of changes in Indiana code, was the position of executive secretary to the governing board, and the resolution of the board of school trustees.
The resolution is approved annually during the board's organizational meeting. Minor changes to the resolution have been incorporated.
The resolution names Erica Purvis as treasurer of Warsaw Community Schools, and Kay Kelly as executive secretary to the board. It sets the copy fee for records obtained through Kelly for 2009 as 10 cents per page. The officers and members of the board of finance are the same as the school board.
Compensation for 2009 for school board members "shall be in accordance with Indiana statutes and board policy 110," according to the resolution. Currently, each board member receives a basic annual compensation of $2,000. A per diem is allowed for each meeting, special meeting or executive meeting board members attend, up to $2,000. A board member may not make more than $4,000 annually.
Lake City Bank is the cash management provider for 2009, and Reed is the board attorney. The Times-Union is designated for the year for the advertisement of legal notices to the public.
In a separate action, the school board appointed Jean Shively as the deputy treasurer for Warsaw Community Schools.
Robinson told the board that he attended the pre-bid meeting for the Madison and Leesburg school projects the other day. At the pre-bid meeting, Jamie Lake, of Kovert Hawkins, the architectural firm for the project, presented project information to potential contractors and suppliers. Robinson said 66 contractors and suppliers attended, with more interested.
The meeting, Robinson said, was well done and the project was laid out well. Lake did a great job, he said.
"I have to say that because the construction industry as a whole doesn't hold architects in high regard, but he did a great job," Robinson said.
He also reported that the bid date was moved from Jan. 13 to Jan. 20. The reason for the date change was because IPFW is bidding a $30 million project on Jan. 13 and it would be better for Warsaw's project to move their bidding date.
"I told him I thought (the date change) was a good idea," said Robinson.
Scott said the bid date for the Jefferson and Claypool elementary school improvement projects also will be moved back.
Yeiter reported he served on the Warsaw Redevelopment Commission with Lowell Owens. Lowell and his wife Susan died over the weekend in a plane accident in Tennessee. Yeiter said Owens contributed to a variety of projects in the community. He said he sends out his condolences to the Owens family, and Lowell and Susan will be missed.
