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Warsaw School Board now has an alternate plan to consider for the renovation of Silver Lake Elementary School.
Gregory A. Kil, of Kil Architecture Planning, South Bend, submitted his plan to the school board Thursday for renovating the school.
Kil's proposal is for $3.57 million; the renovation costs proposed by The Odle McGuire & Shook Corp., hired by the school board to assess the school, are $6.24 million. Kil was hired by Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana and by the Save Our School group of Silver Lake.
Part of Kil's plan includes adding a 10,000-square-foot addition to the school; OMS proposed an 18,000-square-foot addition. The addition would house a handicapped-accessible elevator, administrative offices, science lab, special education rooms and handicapped-accessible restrooms.
Kil also differed from OMS in renovation costs for the existing building. For example, OMS' report said the gymnasium floor "is nearing the end of its useful life." They recommended replacing the floor for $70,000. Kil, however, told the board the floor "is in very fine shape, the finish is good. It needs to be on a regular maintenance schedule, but it doesn't need to be replaced."
Kil said his costs were lower because he was working with the existing building, such as classroom doors that swing in instead of out, and keeping the existing radiator system and temperature controls.
"The building is in very, very solid shape and has been well-maintained," he said. He also said he thinks the building would last another 30 to 50 years.
Dr. Lee Harman, superintendent of Warsaw schools, questioned Kil about the difference in square footage between his and the OMS proposals (a difference of 8,000 square feet in the addition, Kil said), the classroom doors and occupancy level of classrooms (which won't change, Kil said) and handicapped accessible restrooms, which would be in the addition.
He also questioned Kil on his and his firm's experience with school projects, and Kil described projects he has been involved in, both with his current firm and before he had his own business.
Kil also said he would not be surprised to see something between his and OMS' costs. "The question is, are you in control of that? Yes, you are in control of that," he said.
The board also heard a presentation by Warsaw Community High School faculty about the need for a performing arts center that would include the auditorium; classroom space; rehearsal rooms; storage areas; rooms for band, choir and orchestra; dressing rooms; and music technology classrooms.
Dana McAfee, WCHS English and drama teacher, said, "We are talking about classrooms that are used daily as part of the curriculum." She urged the board to build the auditorium and performing arts center at the same time - "Don't make the same mistakes."
McAfee was referring to the fact that the high school was built in the late 1980s with no auditorium. She also alluded to Harman's previous proposal that the auditorium be built in the program now under consideration, and the performing arts center would be built later, with funds raised from the community and not with school corporation funds.
After individuals spoke, board members were given a chance to make comments or ask questions. Roy Szymanski said he supports building a new three-section school in Atwood; renovating Silver Lake Elementary; and building the auditorium, performing arts center, weight room and outdoor facilities and track.
Larry Chamberlain said he is "eager to move forward," and Charles Sauders, who previously said he is in favor of renovating Silver Lake Elementary, said, "An auditorium without a performing arts center would be like a body without a soul. ... Let's keep body and soul together."
No comment was made by board members Cathy Folk or James Folk, who have not yet spoken publicly on any of the issues under consideration.
