FORT WAYNE – Holland Elementary School is making plans for a memorial to honor Aliahna Lemmon, who was killed shortly before Christmas.The Fort Wayne Community Schools board approved two construction contracts Monday night and both came in under budget.
The board approved a $631,900 contract with Shawnee Construction and Engineering Inc. to renovate a part of Wayne High School to transform two classrooms and one science area to become part of the New Tech High School unit. The total project, including supplies, was budgeted at $2 million and FWCS is saving $770,000 said Chief Financial Officer Kathy Friend.
This project is the second phase of the project and will allow Wayne to serve 100 additional students in New Tech. The district added the project-based, technology-driven learning program to Wayne this year and has already spent $2 million to renovate a portion of the high school to house 100 freshmen.
FWCS was approved to receive what was supposed to be an interest-free bond as part of President Obama’s stimulus package but the district had difficulty finding an investor so it had to take a 1.8 percent interest rate, Friend said. The district will pay for the project through its debt service fund, which is supported by property tax revenue.
The money saved can be used for the third phase of the project, Friend said. Phase two is scheduled to be completed by August.
The board also approved a $761,300 contract with Dahm Brothers Inc. to replace portions of the roof and repair the roof deck at Northrop High School. The project, paid for out of the capital projects fund, was budgeted at $1 million and the savings allowed FWCS to expand the area being repaired, Friend said.
In other business, the school board approved moving Matthew Stinson, assistant principal at Shawnee Middle School, to principal at Lane Middle School. The board also approved moving South Side High School athletic director, Jerry Amstutz, to a classroom position.
