Warsaw School Board Hears Facility Study Update, Approves Strategic Plan
By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews
WARSAW — Warsaw Community Schools’ Board of Trustees heard an update on the district’s facility study during a meeting on Monday, Jan. 25.
WCS Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert presented the update, stating that based on the school corporation’s size, WCS should always be involved in some type of upgrade, renovation or maintenance project on a year-by-year basis.
WCS Chief Financial Officer April Fitterling said the school corporation is constantly looking forward with potential improvements.
“We want to make sure we’re taking care of our buildings in the long run,” said Fitterling. “We have constantly tried to maintain a level tax rate and that’s what we would do as we look to take on debt in 2022. We want to make sure we are stable while planning for the future.”
Fitterling said a Baker Tilly representative will be at one of the school board’s February meetings for further financial discussion on facility projects.
Hoffert noted Warsaw Community High School is nearly 30 years old. Priorities in the facility study for WCHS and Warsaw Area Career Center include safety and security, academic classrooms, internal flow and student learning spaces. Approximately 30 classrooms at the high school were renovated in 2020.
“We were able to jump in a little early and do that because of COVID while students were not there,” said Hoffert. “That sounds like a lot, but that’s not even a fourth of the classrooms that are in the high school.”
Classroom renovations included carpet, paint, lighting, ceiling, HVAC and electrical outlet updates.
Hoffert also discussed safety priorities, particularly at the high school.
“We have 54 doors at the high school,” said Hoffert. “In 1992, we wanted people coming in our building from every which way. It was a different time period.”
One priority is creating a main entryway for the high school.
“A majority of school safety is about access control,” said Dr. David Robertson, assistant superintendent of elementary education. “We’ve been able to over the years modify things at the elementary and middle schools; but the high school is a unique situation with all the doors. From a school safety perspective, this is absolutely a huge priority that we not make our school unwelcome, but be able to direct things a more constructive way.”
In other business, the school board also approved WCS’ five-year, four-pillar strategic plan. The plan was discussed in detail during the board’s January work session.
Mike Miller, Weigand Construction business development associate, was present at the school board meeting regarding a construction award for the WCS Tiger Recreation and Activity Center (TRAC). Weigand was the contractor for the project.
Miller said Weigand received a 2020 Excellence in Construction Award from the Michiana Builders’ Association, with the TRAC being one of three K-12 school projects that received an award. He said the TRAC won the award because of its construction type and uniqueness.
Fitterling also requested approval for several financial matters during the meeting. The board approved:
- The continuance of COVID-19 paydays until March 31.
- A retirement incentive for certified teachers that have worked at WCS for 10 years. Certified teachers who meet this criteria and submit a resignation letter between Feb. 1-28 would be eligible for a $25,000 retirement incentive. “We understand that the job market is going to be very strained when it comes to teachers,” said Hoffert. “Encouraging some of our teachers that are considering that retirement to make an early choice if they so choose will help us make sure we have an incredible teaching staff going forward.” Fitterling said financials allow for a maximum of 20 teachers to apply for this incentive; however, she said if more than 20 were interested, the financial department would go back to the drawing board.
- A $1,000 transportation sign-on bonus for new hire, full-time bus drivers. “They receive $500 after they get their license and another $500 after they drive 50 hours,” said Fitterling. “Drivers would have to sign an MOU (memorandum of understanding) that if they leave within one year of employment, they would owe the bonus back to the corporation.”
- Don Rollins as the criterion developer for the school corporation’s tennis court project. The board also approved a five-person technical review committee for the project.
The board’s next work session is at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, at the WCS central office. The next regular session is at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22, at Lincoln Elementary School.