South Adams makes counter offer

Biggs Indiana Properties LLC of Decatur has until 5 p.m. Friday to respond to a counteroffer from the South Adams School Board on the purchase price of former school property at U.S. 27 and Indiana 218 in Berne.

Biggs and an Iowa-based convenience store company had both submitted offers on the land, which was the former site of an elementary school and playground, but board members Tuesday leaned toward the Adams County offer.

The high offer — $500,000 — came from Casey’s Marketing Co., which operates convenience stores throughout the Midwest. Biggs made an offer of $375,000 accompanied by a $75,000 commitment from the Berne Community Development Corporation for a total of $450,000.

Though superintendent Scott Litwiller recommended accepting the initial Biggs offer, that proposal was defeated by a 4-3 vote, with board members Arlene Amstutz, Amy Orr, John Mann and Landon Patterson in opposition.

Litwiller then proposed making a counter offer to Biggs seeking $475,000. That won approval on a 6-1 vote with board member Julie Mansfield dissenting. No plans for how Biggs might develop the property have been made public.

While preparing to sell one piece of property, the board also approved a purchase agreement to acquire two acres of land adjacent to the “school block” from Tim and Michele LeFever for $21,000.

The board was unanimous in approving the scope and budget of the high school renovation project and expects to review proposals from design-build firms on Feb. 1.

The project is expected to cost less than $2 million and will focus on the media center at the high school and surrounding classrooms.

In other business, the board:

•Heard a review of inclement weather policies by Litwiller. South Adams has the option of using two-hour and three-hour delays, though it has yet to use the three-hour option since it was implemented in December 2014. The initial decision to delay or cancel school is made by 6:30 a.m. If a two-hour delay is called, a decision about whether classes will be held will be made by 8:30 a.m. If a three-hour delay is called, a final decision on cancellation will come no later than 9:30 a.m.

•Approved a 2017-18 school calendar that calls for the first student day on Aug. 14, fall break from Oct. 25 to 27, winter break from Dec. 21 to Jan. 2, spring break from March 26 to 30, and the last student day May 23. With few exceptions, the calendar coincides with those adopted by nearby corporations, including Jay Schools, to help accommodate students who travel between schools for classes.

•Approved a contract with Bixler Insurance for workers’ compensation coverage at a cost of $117,541 through Selective Insurance Company.

•Accepted the resignations of middle school wrestling coach Drew Taylor and boys golf coach Kevin McClung.

•Approved leaves of absence for Sandy Mertz and Kristi Cressman.

•Hired Alanna Drennen as a part-time aide, Kaylea Kongar as a full-time aide, Jesse Gaskill as middle school wrestling coach, Steve Tatman as drama director, Curt Amstutz as musical producer, Jennifer Thomson as vocal director, Karen Moser as accompanist, Danna Kistler as costumer and Trish Moser as choreographer.

•Approved a field trip request by Dots in Blue Water. A group of about 28 students and 10 adults are planning to travel to Haiti in June 2017.

•Re-appointed Andrew Briggs to the Adams Public Library Board.