Beth Rumsey, Staff Writer

Jerry Firestone, Triangle Design, and Robert Gehlrich, Emcor Construction Services, presented the final results of the feasibility study for the elementary and middle school projects at the regular meeting of the Milan School Board on Monday, December 15. According to Firestone, a consulting firm was contacted concerning funding for the projects at the request of Interim Superintendent Gene Pitts.

It was noted that the elementary project could be divided into two parts, the energy savings project and the traditional process project. As explained by Gehlrich, the energy savings portion of the project could be funded differently than the traditional process project.

Gehlrich also stated that the energy savings project estimate was $1,146,449 and the traditional project estimate was $1,535,954. The consulting firm analyzed the current debt of the corporation and how to fund the projects without a high increase in the tax rates. It was noted that any energy savings projects would not affect the tax base.

Firestone noted that the energy savings are guaranteed by the company hired to oversee the project, or held liable if there were no energy savings realized. He also stated that there would be no changes in the projects once approved.

The middle school project will address the need for a cafeteria and serving kitchen, which could cost approximately $1 million, or expanding the existing kitchen and cafeteria at the high school costing as much as $700,000.

Interim Superintendent Pitts noted that there are concerns over the eating arrangements at the middle school and the problems with the elementary school roof. Board president Tim Tuttle stated that even though the projects look good, the board needs to be cautious in these current economic times. He noted that all of the information in the feasibility studies will be carefully considered.

Linda Baker, parent of a special needs child, told the board of her appreciation for high school teacher Todd Yates. Baker noted that for the first time her daughter gave a speech in her ninth grade geography class. She thanked Yates for having high expectations for his students and asking them to do the best work they can.

Senior Shelby Zornes, daughter of Todd and Sherri Zornes, was recognized as an IHSAA Role Model by Cathy May, Ripley County Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Coalition. May noted that it is extremely important to keep children away from cigarettes, and that approximately 85% of smokers start before leaving high school.

In other business:

• The contract with Lykins Contracting to repair a water leak at the middle/high schools was unanimously approved.

• The request to have middle and high school students to participate in the Indiana University alcohol, tobacco, and drug survey was unanimously approved. The schools have participated in this survey in the past, according to Pitts.

• The following field trip requests were unanimously approved: FFA to the National Farm Machinery/Tractor Pulls on February 13 and the second grade field trip to the Krohn Conservatory on May 11.

• Fund raising requests approved were the 5-8 grades to sell frozen cookie dough from February 27 through March 16; middle school PTO to sell trash bags from January 16-30; and the request by Milton Teer to hold a softball clinic on February 28. The motion carried 4-0-1, with Randy Kirk abstaining.

• The high school/middle school online lunch program monitoring system will not take place due to misinformation to the cafeteria manager by an overzealous salesman.

• The following personnel recommendations were unanimously approved: Jeffery Sharp as volunteer football coach; David Voss as 8th grade girls basketball coach; Tom Ahaus as volunteer assistant coach for 7th and 8th grade girls basketball; and Michelle Heinrich and Jeremy Ison as volunteer assistants for the 5th and 6th grade girls basketball teams.

All board members were in attendance along with Attorney Larry Eaton to advise. The next meeting will be held on Monday, January 19 at 7 p.m.