SA to purchase mobile center

BERNE — A quick grant process has led to the purchase of a new mobile classroom.
South Adams School board on Tuesday approved the purchase of a Migrant Education Mobile Learning Center from Smith Trailer Sales in Monroe at a cost of $25,695. The facility will be paid for through a 2013 Materials Refresh Grant, which the school district learned was available less than a month ago.
The mobile learning center will be used to serve the migrant worker population, ages preschool through 21, at the Red Gold processing facility in Geneva.
Susie Amstutz, a teacher at South Adams and director of the migrant worker education program, presented the idea of purchasing the mobile classroom to the board. All costs, including the purchase of 25 iPads, a projector, a white board and salaries for staff, are included in the grant.
“I think it sounds fantastic,” said John Mann before he and fellow board members Landon Patterson, Ray Gill, Arlene Amstutz, John Buckingham and Julie Mansfield voted to approve the purchase.
Board member Amy Orr was absent from the meeting.
Amstutz learned about the possibility of obtaining the Materials Refresh Grant on July 9. She turned in a grant application two-and-a-half weeks later and received approval for the funding prior to meeting with the board Tuesday.
She presented two possible purchasing options to the board, the second of which was from OBS in Canton, Ohio, at a cost of $174,825. Smith said it could have the custom-built learning center completed in 10 to 12 weeks, which leaves open the possibility of using the new facility this fall, while OBS had a time table of six to eight months.
The learning center, which will measure 31 feet by 8 feet (silde-out areas will extend the width to 12 feet), will have space for 12 students. There will also be an awning to allow for an “outdoor classroom”, as well as a small library.
When in use, the learning center will be parked along a fence near the migrant worker housing on the south side of Red Gold.
Originally Amstutz was approached with the possibility of renting a mobile facility from Ball State University, but “I started thinking we would really benefit from one here at South Adams,” she said.
The migrant education program is currently housed in Red Gold’s activity center.
South Adams plans to use the mobile learning center to serve the migrant worker population from August through October with the possibility of other school corporations or organizations utilizing it earlier in the summer.
“We’re hoping it will be used somewhere else … during the tasseling season in June and July,” said Scott Litwiller, superintendent of South Adams Schools. “Hopefully from June through October it’s being used, even if it won’t be being used here.”
In other business Tuesday, the board:
•Approved the hiring of Heather Mayer as a special education aide to work mainly with elementary students, Ashley Biberstine (migrant summer school instructor), Kara Lehman (migrant summer school instructor), Derek Mills (assistant boys soccer coach), Phil Provost (middle school football coach), Hail Miller (volunteer assistant auxiliary corps coach), Mitch Simon (volunteer assistant girls soccer coach), Dustin Cressman (volunteer assistant football coach).
It also approved Aimee Buckland as the special class representative and Kristie Brown as the title representative for the elementary school.
•Head Litwiller speak about the formation of a Wellness Advisory Council to support and enhance student health and wellness.
Food service director Katie Redwine and Litwiller will help lead the council. Litwiller asked board members to consider being part of the group.[[In-content Ad]]