Published: August 11, 2009 10:45 pm      

School to discuss renovation project

Maconaquah will hear recommendation from community committee

BUNKER HILL — A committee of those for and against Maconaquah’s defeated renovation project will make a recommendation to the school board about what it should do to take care of building needs at a work session today.

The board will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Maconaquah administration building.

Superintendent Debra Jones said because it is a work session, the board cannot vote on any recommendation.

In June, the board’s proposed $19 million project was defeated in a referendum. It included renovations and upgrades to both Maconaquah High School and Maconaquah Middle School.

At a work session in July, board president Brian Troyer formed the committee to determine what parts of the project and how expensive of a project the community would support.

The group includes board members Richard Wood, Tim Miller and Greg Bevington, opposition members Pat Maiben, David Betzner and J.B. Ladd, and supporters Loren Hayes, Marcia Minear and Lew Little.

School attorney Seamus Boyce said if the board proposes another project $10 million or greater, it is subject to the same referendum process it just went through. A project between $2 million and $10 million would be subject to a remonstrance petition process, if there is opposition. Any project less than $2 million per building, he said, would not be subject to either process.

Thomas Peterson, an attorney with Ice Miller LLP, Indianapolis, said for 2009 and 2010, schools have an opportunity to receive zero interest loans through the qualified school construction bond program, part of the federal stimulus package.

He said if Maconaquah’s board decides on a project, its application could be ready to submit within a few days. He added that the board could submit one project in 2009 and another in 2010.

In other business, Jones will present information about a medical care advancement program at Maconaquah High School.

She said Kim Mossberg, the school’s athletic trainer from Howard Regional Health System, will mentor students interested in being physical therapists or college athletic trainers.

The students will shadow Mossberg during athletic practices, learning how to be athletic trainers.

Jones said Mossberg anticipates she will have two or three students participating, and there is no cost to the students.

• Danielle Rush is the Kokomo Tribune education reporter. She can be reached at (765) 454-8585 or danielle.rush@kokomotribune.com.