School exploring new cafeteria

Wednesday, 25 January 2012 8:45

by Katie Wagner

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A new cafeteria is in the plans for Smith-Green Community Schools.

Dick Moake of Moake Park Group presented the SGCS Board of School Trustees with a building project plan based on the goals reported in the SGCS Strategic Plan at Monday night’s meeting.

Moake explained that of the 27 items on the list from the Strategic Planning Committee Report, he and his team, with input from school officials, prioritized what “must” be done, what “ought” to be done and what could wait for the future and estimated a total cost of $6 million of work to be done in the next two to four years.

The number one issue based on the surveys conducted by the Strategic Planning Committee is the tight quarters of the current cafeteria and the fact that space drives the schedule for both buildings. For that reason, Moake proposed renovating the existing cafeteria to include a new food service line and to add a separate elementary cafeteria that would include a warming and serving kitchen and seating area.

The new cafeteria would be located across from the current CES library and would displace three to four classrooms. Those classrooms would then be added onto another side of the building.

In addition to the cafeteria, Moake also proposed replacing half of the heating and air conditioning units in each building and using the parts from the old units to service the units that aren’t replaced. The other half of the units will be replaced within the next two to three years.

Besides these two projects, Moake also mentioned other projects, including redesigning the elementary entrance for security reasons, replacing outdated ceiling tiles in the senior high school, renovating several restrooms, making the auditorium stage handicap accessible, purchasing an emergency backup generator, replacing some windows in the elementary and possibly updating the CES playground.

Moake said the “must do” totals were between $2.7 to $3.6 million, however, the Strategic Plan stipulated that the corporation could not raise taxes to complete the project, and to be in compliance with the State Legislature, the project cannot exceed $2 million without entering into a petition and remonstrance period.

“Bottom line, these are needs,” said SGCS Superintendent Steve Darnell. “Wayne [Krider] is a master at fixing mechanical items, but some equipment is so outdated and needs replaced.”

Rod Wilson of City Securities Corporation presented a finance plan to pay for the proposed building project. Wilson recommended borrowing the money for a 15-20 year period since interest rates are at a record low and the longer time period will maintain flexibility for future projects.

SGCS Business Manager Todd Fleetwood said by doing a $2 million project every year for the next three years, tax rates won’t increase and the Board will have the flexibility to do projects that need to be done.

“I like to have debt paid off, but the cost of goods and interest rates will be higher in six years if we do a short loan period,” Fleetwood said. “Plus, we’ll see energy savings with new equipment, so the general fund will absorb funds based on energy efficiency.”

Fleetwood pointed out that past Boards have taken out loans for longer periods, such as the construction of the middle school in 1996, which is a 25-year loan, and a project in 2003, which is a 17-year loan.

Board President Cathy Petrie expressed concern over taking out a loan for such a long period of time and the impact it would have on future Boards.

“I know these projects need to be done, but I’m not sure I feel okay sitting in this seat and putting [the corporation] in debt so far into the future,” she said.

Board member Rick Trump explained that from a financial point of view the longer time period makes sense.

“There are so many projects that need to be done in the next three years, so it makes sense to spread it out over three years without raising taxes.”

Trump added that the HVAC and cafeteria projects should have been completed years ago, but the projects have been “just kicked down the road by other boards.”

By consensus, the Board authorized Moake Park to move forward with obtaining construction bids and City Securities Corporation to then obtain lease financing. Once bids come in, the Board will examine the prices and prioritize which projects should be completed at this time.

Moake and Wilson urged the Board to get the ball rolling on the project so that construction of the new elementary cafeteria can begin this summer while school is out of session.

With authorization by the Board, a project resolution hearing will be held sometime in February, followed by a lease hearing in March. Actual costs will be nailed down by April or May and construction can then begin in the summer.

“The timing is right,” Darnell said. “We need to think of what’s best for the kids.”

In other Board news:

• In a letter to the Board, CJSHS Principal Austin Couch reported that discrepancies were found in the fees for the 2011-12 school year that were calculated by the district’s PowerSchool program. State auditors requested that changes to fees be submitted to the School Board for approval. Assistant Principal Andrew Deming said Business Office staff members Jodi Royer and Sharon Byerley are working to make corrections and going through each individual student account by hand. Deming said most fee adjustments will be to the benefit of the student/family, though some students will be required to pay additional fees that will be due by Spring Break. Board member Tanya Young expressed concern over charging additional fees of families, but Deming assured her that most increases were just dollars and cents. The Board unanimously approved the fees as presented.

• CES Principal Shellie Miller informed the Board that the Town of Churubusco agreed to pay Town Marshal Chad Fulkerson to work as a School Resource Officer (SRO) for one day each week if the district agreed to cover two other days of the week. As per the agreement, if an emergency arises, Fulkerson will need to leave to fulfill his duties with the Town. Miller said Fulkerson is busy at the school from 7:45 a.m. until 3:30 p.m and works in all areas of the schools, forging partnerships and bonds in both buildings. Town Council President Frank Kessler was present at the meeting and said, “We’re pleased to enter into this partnership, and we see a lot of benefits. Hopefully it will work itself out.”

• CJSHS recognized Jim Folland as Teacher of the Month. According to CJSHS Principal Austin Couch, “Jim is a leader amongst his colleagues and is always willing to help in any fashion he can.” According to fellow science teacher Laura Foss, “Jim is a great person to work with, always very understanding and helpful. Also, he puts a lot of his time into his classroom, the students and this corporation.” Folland has taught science courses and coached baseball for the past nine years at CJSHS and is also the treasurer for New Era.

• Senior Josh LeFever was named as the “Spotlight on Success,” though he was away playing in a basketball game and could not attend the meeting. LeFever was recognized for his success as a student athlete. He is ranked 15th in his class and is a three-sport athlete who was named to the Region 3 All-Star football team last fall.

• School Board members unanimously approved the following new Baseball hires: Jeff Howell and Clint Davis as Assistant/J.V. Coaches and Monte Gerig, Lee DeTurk and Andy McManama as volunteer assistant coaches. The Board approved the following new Softball hires with a vote of 4-1, with Mike Sturgis voting against it: Keith Heffelfinger and Mark Bankson as Assistant Coaches, Patrice Bankson and Dave Pearson as Assistant/J.V. Coaches and Todd Ramsey as a volunteer assistant coach.

The Board approved overnight field trip requests for New Era to travel to Illinois to participate in a show choir invitational and for fifth grade students to travel to Camp Potawotami in South Milford.

• Jeni Cripe and the CHS Aerobics class plan to host a Zumbathon on February 4 to raise money to buy equipment for class use. The Board approved the fundraiser.

The next regular scheduled Board meeting will be Monday, February 6 at 7 p.m. in the Board Room of the Administrative Building.

by Katie Wagner

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

A new cafeteria is in the plans for Smith-Green Community Schools. Dick Moake of Moake Park Group presented the SGCS Board of School Trustees with a building project plan based on the goals reported in the SGCS Strategic Plan at Monday night’s meeting.