The Lake Elementary construction site. (Debbie Rogers | Sentinel-Tribune)
By Debbie Rogers
MILLBURY — The new Lake Elementary school is ahead of schedule.
“We’re still trending about two weeks ahead of schedule,”’ said Dave Shaffer, maintenance director, at the June Lake Local Schools Board of Education meeting.
“It’s going well. Most of the utilities have already been moved. The foundations are put in, so we’ve already gotten past a lot of the unknowns that are underground.”
Lake Elementary Principal Mandy Wilburn said a fun surprise was found recently at the school.
“Our custodians have been purging and cleaning and organizing,” Wilburn said. “They found the dedication ceremony (information) for the current elementary school in 1961.
“Some of the budgets from the ’60s are fun to look at.”
The bond was $740,000, and the cost of the 1961 building was $409,127. The new elementary is expected to cost $36 million.
The board will keep that information for the dedication ceremony of the new school, which is expected to be ready for the 2024-25 school year.
Lake voters in November 2021 approved a 6-mill levy that includes 2.7 mills for the new school and 3.3 mills to pay off the middle school bond.
The new two-story elementary will be 110,000 square feet and have 53 classrooms, compared to the current 32.
Also at the meeting, the board:
• Heard from the new athletic director Nicole Schmeltz that some sports will be livestreamed in the coming school year.
• Approved the resignation of Sargon Babona, middle school math teacher.
• Approved a change in position for John Nissen, from bus mechanic to bus mechanic/fleet coordinator. His annual salary increased from $60,008 to $73,802.
• Approved a contract extension for Stephanie Franke, middle school principal. Her annual salary increased from $80,332 to $82,734.
• Approved a contract extension for Trudy Foster, transportation director, who shares the job with Northwood schools. Her annual salary increased from $89,596 to $92,275.
• Again tabled several co-curricular items, which are for changes in the funding schedule. These items were also on the May board agenda.
• Approved school fees for the 2023-24 school year. Wilburn said that last year they tried to significantly reduce fees, so the 2023-24 fees are about the same.
High School Principal Lee Herman also said that the fees there are the same.
• Hired Ashley Frye, eight grade language arts; Adranne Blaze, middle school building sub; and Amy Vorst, middle school dean of students.
• Approved the resignation of Sargon Babona, middle school math teacher.
• Heard Jodi Takats, director of curriculum and special education, thank the village of Walbridge for hosting a Summer Soar end party at the pool; 250 people attended.
• Went into an executive session to discuss compensation of an employee. No action was taken.
