Residents have another chance to weigh in on the Tri-Township Consolidated School Corporation’s high school relocation project tonight. The school board will hold a public hearing related to the lease-rental process for the Wanatah School addition.
That’s where the ownership of the property is transferred to a legally-separate building corporation and leased back by the school, with the rent covering the cost of the bond payment. It’s typically used to let schools and other government entities borrow more money than a general obligation bond would allow. The school board will also take comments on an additional appropriation essentially granting permission to spend the $2.7 million in bond proceeds.
The addition would allow Tri-Township to move high school classes from LaCrosse to Wanatah and close the historic LaCrosse School after the upcoming school year. However, the plan is to keep using the attached Tiger Den gym.
Superintendent Kelly Shepherd says a recent scan of the gym’s roof found no moisture issues, while the floors at both schools’ gyms are scheduled to be refinished this summer. “But we are looking at a company and getting on their schedule for a year out, to completely redo the gym floors, sand them completely down, maybe some new designs,” Shepherd adds.
Tonight’s Tri-Township School Board meeting starts at 6:00 at the Wanatah School.
