Board would support a split

BERNE — South Adams Schools would support splitting its former elementary school property into multiple parcels, if it has a viable potential buyer.
South Adams School Board on Tuesday said it would apply for a variance to split its 4.8 acres on the northwest corner of the intersection of Church Avenue (U.S. 27) and Main Street (Ind. 218). But board members emphasized they want to have a purchase agreement and down payment before doing so.
The board also discussed ongoing plans for a manufacturing academy and potential changes as new state academic standards are put in place.
South Adams has been looking to sell its former elementary school property after opening a single campus for the corporation in 2009, but most who have inquired in the property have not been interested in purchasing the full 4.8 acres. Superintendent Scott Litwiller inquired about the possibility of dividing the land into multiple parcels, but because it is zoned C1P (planned commercial) the board of zoning appeals would either have to rezone the property or grant a variance in order to do so.
Board members voted unanimously to apply for a variance, but only after a purchase agreement is in place.
Litwiller also updated the board on discussions about the creation of an advanced manufacturing academy through a partnership with other schools, including those in Adams, Wells and Jay counties, noting that the group did not receive an innovation grant that would have brought $400,000 to South Adams. That money would have paid for equipment, but could not have been used for construction.
The schools are continuing to look at other funding options, including the possibility of applying for another innovation grant in the future. Adams Wells Manufacturing Alliance has pledged $6,000 to begin architectural planning for such a facility, which could be added on to the current machine shop or created in a separate new building.
Michelle Clauser, director of Title I and curriculum, discussed the situation with testing in conjunction with new state academic standards. She said there is a lot of uncertainty following the state’s move away from Common Core and the subsequent requirement that Indiana create a new test to replace ISTEP+ for the 2014-15 school year in order to keep nearly $200 million in Title I funding.
Clauser said while the situation seems to be ever-evolving, and could change again following today’s meeting of the Indiana State Board of Education, she is confident the South Adams staff will handle any new system well.
“Our teachers work so hard here,” she said. “The bottom line is they know what needs to be taught, and they know their kids. When you have those two things together, you can’t go wrong.”
In other business, board members Arlene Amstutz, John Mann, Ray Gill, John Buckingham, Amy Orr, Landon Patterson and Julie Mansfield:
•Received updates from director of building and maintenance Dave Vorhees about several construction projects. The roof replacement project over the pool and administrative offices is on schedule to be done by Aug. 8. A safety fence will be built around the auto shop in August, and the tentative deadline for bids for construction of a new bus wash bay is Sept. 8.
•Discussed South Adams’ social media policy, which has been a topic they have been looking at throughout the year. Litwiller emphasized that any changes to the policy will take time to develop. Board policies currently allow use of social media as a communication or marketing tool with prior approval from Litwiller.
•Reviewed the property tax report for the first half of 2014. South Adams has collected $958,335 in property tax revenue, which has brought its debt service fund into the black. The fund had a balance of about $976,000 on June 30 after being more than $37,000 in the hole in January.
•Discussed a possible partnership with Adams County Community Foundation that would make all donations to the school tax deductible. They plan to vote on a proposed agreement at their August meeting.
•Approved a school resource officer agreement with the Town of Geneva for the 2014-15 school year. The agreement calls for Geneva to provide an officer to spend 40 hours per week in South Adams Schools at a cost not to exceed $42,953.50, which includes salary and benefits.
•Set textbook rental fees for the 2014-15 school year. They are as follows: kindergarten - $72.62; first grade - $129.24; second grade - $119.89; third grade - $104.36; fourth grade - $96.42; fifth grade - $95.07; sixth grade - $121.28 ($132.36 band); seventh through 12th grade - $220 to $330 depending on student’s schedule.
•Hired teachers Valerie Yoder (Title I), Ashley Light (high school special education) and Lana Shoaf (high school English), and transferred teachers Jen White (to Title I and III from sixth grade English) and Jeannine Wurster (to sixth grade English from fifth grade). South Adams currently has openings for two bus aides, two 19-hour library aides, an elementary school special ed aide, a fifth grade teacher, a high school science teacher, an assistant boys soccer coach, a middle school cheer coach and a middle school football coach.
•Accepted the resignations of high school English teacher Seth Sprunger, high school science teacher Myron Schwartz and middle school football coach Phil Provost. Sprunger plans to continue coaching the SAHS girls golf team.
•Created the new position of Migrant Education Field Specialist through the Migrant Education Regional Center.
•Set a work session to discuss the 2015 budget for 5:30 p.m. Aug. 5.
•Approved overnight field trips for the cross country team to travel to Chain O’ Lakes Park in Albion Aug. 5 through 8 for its annual camp and to the Culver Academy Invitational Sept. 26 and 27.
•Accepted a donation of $100 from M & M Market to the baseball team.

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