Jerry Rolfson, senior architect at Performance Services, presented an update to the school board about renovations at Warsaw Community High School. InkFreeNews photo by Liz Shepherd.

By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Warsaw Community Schools’ Board of Trustees discussed upcoming renovations at the high school, as well as recent COVID-19 statistics, during a regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 25.

Jerry Rolfson, senior architect at Performance Services, Indianapolis, presented an update to the school board about the engineering firm’s plan for renovations at Warsaw Community High School. Performance Services has had about 20 to 30 discussions thus far with WCS administration on the planning process. The goal is for the construction to begin in summer 2022.

The overall project goals at WCHS include: creating a distinct main entry; revitalizing the media center; establishing student common areas and STEM labs; improving interior parts of the school to prevent congested intersections; renovations of Warsaw Area Career Center’s second floor; improving science labs; expanding fine arts areas; updating classrooms and corridors; making mechanical and infrastructure improvements; developing a new athletic department secure entry; and expanding bathrooms and renovating gym locker rooms.

Performance Services is currently planning on reorienting the high school’s main entryway within the half-circle on the east side of the building. WCHS’s administrative offices would also be moved adjacent to the front door.

“(There will be) an element that will link the front door all the way through the center of the building to the gym,” said Rolfson. “That will really help facilitate movement through the school because right now, there’s an awful lot of traffic that has to wrap around the building. We really think that will be an asset for the building overall.”

Plans also include creating a large Project Lead The Way lab and moving the media center adjacent to the cafeteria.

Preliminary cost estimates for the renovations are between $28.9 million and $30.2 million.

“The work that we do in the summer will be mostly prepping to begin construction in courtyard areas,” Rolfson said. “It will be deconstruction, creating pathways, removing materials and beginning foundations. It’s a phased project and we’ll have to do it incrementally because we’re working around existing spaces.”

Performance Services hopes to be done with the entire design and pricing process by February 2022. The firm is working toward a March 2022 presentation for approval to move to the construction phase.

COVID-19 Statistics

WCS Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert and Chief Technology and Analytics Officer Kyle Carter gave an update on the school district’s COVID-19 statistics. Both noted that case numbers have been trending downward in the county and within the schools.

The school board voted to require mask-wearing for students and staff during the school day in a special September board meeting. This move was in response to an executive order from Gov. Eric Holcomb that relaxes quarantine policies for schools that require masks.

On the Indiana Department of Health two-metric and advisory level maps, Kosciusko County has been in the “orange” category for several weeks, with the most recent positivity rate being 11.5%. Since last week, several counties in central and southern Indiana have moved to the “yellow” category. Once Kosciusko turns “yellow” and stays in that category for two weeks, mask-wearing will become optional at WCS.

“We’ve been fairly static over the last three or four weeks,” said Carter. “Generally we’ve been hovering around 20 to mid-20s of positive cases reported throughout all our schools. Our contact tracing numbers are really low because of the mandate. The one thing we can’t control are quarantines as a result of exposure outside of the school setting.”

Hoffert said when Kosciusko County turns “yellow,” per the current executive order from the governor, quarantines could happen more frequently.

“Right now, if a student is sitting in a classroom wearing a mask, according to the governor’s executive order, they do not have to quarantine unless they are showing symptoms,” said Hoffert.

Notification System

Director of Communications Amanda Scroggs presented an update on the school district’s notification system. As of Oct. 25, WCS has transitioned to a new notification system.

Delay and cancellation notifications will be communicated exclusively through the school’s app, social media pages, websites and text messages. No phone calls or e-mails will be sent to parents and guardians on a morning of a weather delay or cancellation. In special circumstances when a weather delay or cancellation is called the evening before the next school day, Hoffert will also send out a phone call.

WCS administration requests parents and guardians complete a Google Form to set preferences. Completion of this form will allow parents and guardians to customize how they receive and interact with school notifications. The form, along with instructions on updating contact information on Powerschool and downloading the free school app, can be accessed on the school’s website.

Budget Adoption

WCS’ Board of Trustees also adopted the school district’s 2022 budget. The budget totals $87,229,325, with $48,307,000 in the education fund; $23,250,000 in the operations fund; $11,088,325 in the debt service fund; $2,884,000 in the referendum fund; and $1.7 million in the rainy day fund.

The board’s next work session is at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9, at the school district’s central office. The board’s next regular meeting is at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 15, at Jefferson Elementary School.