On May 5, voters will have an opportunity to provide a vote in favor of the rebuilding of Lincoln Elementary and the remodeling of Edgewood Middle School and Washington Elementary.

According to Hoffert, plans to rebuild and restore the three schools have been in the works for several years.

“We are not looking so much at what are the wants, but what are the dire needs inside of Warsaw Community Schools,” stated Hoffert. “We were able to look at community feedback from last year and look at what are really our priority schools.”

Overhead view of Lincoln Elementary. (All photos provided by WCS)

Lincoln Elementary

The problems at Lincoln Elementary are vast. Lincoln, though equipped with great staff and students, is currently a leg behind other schools in the district. Built in 1959, Lincoln was designed for its time — a time far past. Working on an electric system meant for the 50s, Lincoln is unable to be equipped with technology and teachers must utilize power cords due to two-prong outlets throughout the building.

From leaking ceilings to bathrooms closed off due to gasses built up underneath, Lincoln’s problems are not only disruptive but alarming. The name “stinkin’ Lincoln,” fondly coined by former McKinley students who walked to Lincoln, has become a reality for students who must sit in classrooms rife with the smell of bathroom plumbing.

“Lincoln has a reason to be called ‘stinkin’ Lincoln’ today,” stated Hoffert. “The reason why is that we have trapped sewer gas underneath classroom bathrooms. A number of the bathrooms have been capped off and used as a storage unit. When you do that you run out of facilities and stalls for students there. There is an overwhelming stench in classrooms. Is that the kind of learning environment we want students in?”

The school is a major safety concern. Heavy ceiling tiles, made from asbestos, fall down throughout the school and has left one teacher hospitalized with a concussion after being struck by one. The tiles can fall anywhere from 10 feet to 30 feet depending where you are in the building. In addition, its design as a “walk-to-school” has left students walking alongside cars waiting for parent pick up on Warsaw streets.

Overcrowding has forced classes into three trailers outside of the school, a major safety concern in a time filled with custody issues and shootings.

Falling, asbestos filled ceiling tiles has caused one teacher to be sent to the ER with a concussion.

“When we look at safety and security inside of Warsaw Community Schools, this is probably one of our biggest concerns right now. We have so many custody issues going on and it makes it very scary to have students go back and forth,” stated Hoffert on detached trailers. “Inside of these trailers we could have something and we wouldn’t know about it for a good hour.”

Due to the appearance of Lincoln, Hoffert noted Lincoln has the highest transfers out of any school in the district. This problem he believes will be resolved once the school is redesigned as a four-section school.

Due to the numerous problems at Lincoln, Hoffert noted the building is past the point of fiscal return. To update Lincoln, Hoffert explained it would cost more to renovate than to simply tear down and begin again.

[Editor’s note: This article is part one of a four part story discussing the details of the Warsaw Community School Corporation Building Referendum.]

[To read about the other projects in the Facility Plan see: WCS Presents Facility Plan: Washington Elementary, WCS Presents Facility Plan: Edgewood Middle School]