Sale of property remains an issue

BERNE — Sale of the former school property at Indiana 218 and U.S. 27 continues to be a challenge for South Adams Schools.
In February, the school board agreed to list the property with BND Commercial of Fort Wayne for a 12-month period, rather than month-by-month, in hopes of finding a developer for the 4.81-acre site.
But superintendent Scott Litwiller told the board Tuesday that Dave Stemen of BND has had no new prospects within the past month. Discussion continues with two potential developers, but Stemen has indicated that both the size and the price of the property continue to be an obstacle.
Stemen had proposed late last year that the school corporation continue to hold the real estate while it is being developed, but Litwiller said Monday that school board attorney Tim Baker still doesn’t have a clear answer on the legality of that course of action.
Baker and Indiana School Boards Association attorney Lisa Tanselle are attempting to find a school corporation that has taken that route.
Board members directed Umbagh and Associates to begin the initial process of refinancing the school’s 2008 mortgage bonds at a lower interest rate. That action came after a presentation by Curt Pletcher of the certified public accounting firm.
The board also approved an increase in school lunch prices for 2016-17 to come into compliance with the Department of Education and the national school lunch program.
Next year’s elementary school lunch price will be $1.95, middle school and high school will be $2.05, adult lunches will be $2.95, reduced lunches will be 40 cents, breakfast will be $1.25, reduced breakfast will be 30 cents, adult breakfast will be $1.50, and milk will be 40 cents.
In other business, the board:
•Recognized band director Curt Amstutz for receiving a Lilly Endowment Teacher Creativity Fellowship for his project “Music that Soars: Taking Music to New Heights.”
•Approved trading in a Cincinnati CNC lathe in order to purchase additional tooling for a new Haas CNC lathe that was purchased through a $52,000 Skill-Up grant from the Department of Workforce Development.
•Hired Kevin McClung as boys’ golf coach and Tori Fox as girls’ volunteer assistant softball coach.
•Accepted the retirement of extra-curricular treasurer Sandy Fluekiger.
•Approved a leave of absence by Pat Gaerke.