MILLBURY – A multi-use athletic structure, paid for by the Lake Athletic Boosters, will be open this fall
just in time for soccer season.
The Lake Board of Education at Tuesday’s meeting gave final approval to the $221,000 building, which will
be 2,200 square feet.
The project shows the evolution of the boosters, said board member Eric Hirzel, who served on a committee
for the project. Traditionally, the boosters have paid for "cloth" or mainly uniforms for
athletes.
"The boosters organization has done a better job of fundraising. Their role has expanded. They’ve
bought equipment. Now we’re looking at a building," he said.
"That’s going to be something we’ll all be proud of. And the best part is it comes through
fundraising."
The facility will have concessions, bathrooms, a covered shelter area, storage space and a press box
surrounded by windows on the second floor.
The new building will allow Lake to host track invitationals and soccer tournaments, Hirzel said.
The boosters secured a loan for the project through Genoa bank, he said. The group will put down $80,000
to $90,000 on the loan and pay it off over 10 to 15 years.
"It’s going to be very doable for the boosters," Hirzel said.
Contractor Brad Delventhal said the building will be "maintenance-free" with its masonary
walls. He said the utilities will be tied into the middle school through a trench.
"It’s going to be a sweet project," he said.
More financial help for the building will come through the sale of blocks that will be set into the walls
of the buildings. They can be purchased for $150, $250 and $500 and engraved with any message, Hirzel
said.
Board member Margene Akenberger, who is also on the boosters, said the project has been in the works for
two years.
"It’s really great to see it become a reality here," she said.
Also at the meeting, the board:
¥ Accepted resignations from Gordon Moore, assistant high school principal, and Angela Blank,
elementary/middle school music teacher.
¥ Hired Kathy Schulak as elementary/middle school music teacher; Brandi Birr as elementary guidance
counselor; and James Bartosky as high school social studies teacher.
¥ Accepted the Chartwells Food Service bid for 2009-13. The administrative cost is $32,000 and the
management fee is $11,500. The total after $17,500 in discounts and rebates is $25,845.
¥ Heard Treasurer Jeff Carpenter say the district will be receiving $120,000 additional money from
federal stimulus funds for Title 1, which provides reading and math assistance to elementary students.
This year, Lake spent $318,000 on Title 1 and received $198,000 in funding. Carpenter said of the
$120,000, half must be spent on new programming.
¥ Heard a family complain about the new policy changing the entry date of kindergartners. The board in
March moved the entrance date of kindergartners from a Sept. 30 fifth birthday to Aug. 1. The family
said the policy will hurt their child, who has already spent two years in preschool. They said the
policy should have been effective next year so families could plan better. They also asked the board to
overturn Superintendent Jim Witt’s decision not to allow the child to attend Lake kindergarten, which is
all-day, for the 2009-10 year. Board President Tim Krugh said there would be a board decision on or
before the next meeting on July 15.
¥ Went into an executive session to discuss employment of personnel.