Property to be listed

BERNE — South Adams Schools will list a property at Indiana 218 and U.S. 27 with BND Commercial of Fort Wayne for the next 12 months.
Board members agreed to the one-year listing agreement Tuesday at the recommendation of superintendent Scott Litwiller.
The real estate listing agreement had been on a month-by-month basis, but BND’s Dave Stemen approached the board in December saying he believes his chances for attracting a developer for the site would improve if he had the commitment of a full year listing.
Development of the 4.81 acre site of the former Berne Elementary School and playground is a sensitive topic because it’s at a key intersection and directly across the street from Meunsterberg Plaza and the city’s clocktower.
Tuesday’s action was not unanimous. Board member Mitch Sprunger, who has expressed qualms about a longer real estate listing, dissented.
Litwiller told the board he is still awaiting a legal opinion from attorney Tim Baker on another proposal that Stemen floated in December.
Stemen had suggested that an arrangement be considered under which the school corporation would retain ownership of the land until the build-out of any development is completed. Such an approach would reduce a developer’s initial investment and debt load during construction. The board has taken no action on that idea while waiting for a legal opinion.
“Hopefully we’ll have an answer in a month,” said Litwiller.
South Adams’ student count Feb. 1 showed average daily enrollment at 1,210. That’s down from 1,255 in the fall, but the decline was expected because 51 migrant/seasonal students have left and three students graduated in December.
“This year we pretty well held steady,” Litwiller said.
The superintendent also reviewed the 2016 certified budget received from the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance. The final approved budget totals $14,117,457, with $4,117,710 coming from local property taxes and a property tax rate of $1.0164 per $100 in assessed valuation.
On Litwiller’s recommendation, the board approved teacher performance stipends of about $300 to $325 each for effective and highly effective teachers to be paid from a state teacher performance grant. The board also approved the same stipend to be paid to administrators Jason Arnold, Michelle Clouser, Trent Lehman, Shellie Miller and Jeff Rich from the general fund.
In other business, the board:
•Hired Lois Bailey, Laura Bergman, Kristie Brown, J.D. Keller, Louann Reinhard, Andy Sommer, Sandy Sprunger, Jeff Bradtmiller, Gwen Habegger, Lisa Sheets, Cindy Sprunger, Jeannine Wurster, Julie Baumer and Susie Amstutz as after-school tutors.
•Approved an October 2016 cruise to Belize, Honduras and Mexico by three to six biology students under the supervision of teacher Josh Roby.
•Approved on second reading several policy changes to bring them into compliance with changes in state and federal laws.
•Reiterated its approval of the use of capital projects funds to pay utility expenses. Litwiller expects $100,000 to be used between now and June 30. The budget had allowed for up to $193,147 to be used in that manner.
•Learned that Curt Pletcher of the accounting firm Umbaugh and Associates will be at the March 8 board meeting to discuss options related to the possible refinancing of 2008 mortgage bonds.
•Accepted donations of $550 from Rediger Farms, $400 from Don Myers Plumbing and Heating and $700 from Smith Brothers for youth basketball uniforms. The board also accepted a $100 donation from Jeff’s Plumbing for decorations at a “Pink Out” event at a girls’ basketball game.
•Approved leaves for Matt Bauman, Dawn Wanner, Morgan Mitchell and Jen White.
•Accepted the resignation of Art Booth, effective at the end of the school year. Booth was instrumental in establishing the high school’s fire and rescue program.
•Approved Matt Summersett as volunteer middle school wrestling coach, Caleb Wurster as volunteer middle school swimming coach, Brad Buckingham as baseball coach, Craig McKean as assistant baseball coach, Brandon Alberson as junior varsity baseball coach, Chad Mitchell as junior varsity assistant baseball coach, Jim Buckingham and Jordan Steiner as volunteer baseball coaches, Clint Anderson as track coach, Jeff Lehman, Logan Steiner and Steve Rausch as assistant track coaches, Danette Von Gunten as middle school track coach, J.D. Keller and Brandon Willis as middle school assistant track coaches, Drew Taylor and Chris Stutzman as volunteer assistant track coaches, Jessie O’Dell as softball coach, Lack Taing and Phil Provost as assistant softball coaches, Alyssa Bluhm as volunteer assistant softball coaches, Kyle Sprunger as girls tennis coach, Josh Sprunger as assistant girls tennis coach and Kassy Lurcher as volunteer assistant girls tennis coach.