By Carol Anders Staff Writer
LAKEVILLE — The majority of the discussion and votes taken at the Union-North School Board meeting Tuesday night concerned the next steps to begin the proposed $19.6 million building project.
The board is planning to renovate both LaVille Elementary and Jr-Sr. High School and construct a new middle school for grades 5-8.

One of the first orders of business at the meeting was to hold a pubic hearing to consider the feasibility of using year-round school instead of constructing additional classrooms.
The hearing was prompted by the requirements of the Department of Local Government Financing (DLGF).
LaVille Jr.-Sr. High School Assistant Principal Chuck Phillips reviewed the way in which other school systems have incorporated year-round programs.
“Year-round does not mean that students go more than the 180-185 days,” Phillips said. He explained one type of “single track” method has students coming to school for the first 45 days and then having 15 days off. He said the pattern is continued until students have attended the required number of days as set by the state. He said this method is most widely used in schools that are K-12.
Currently the Rochester Schools are using a single track schedule, according to Phillips. He said others use a 60/20 day or a 90/30 day schedule.
Phillips also briefed the board on how multi-track systems are formulated. He said the method is used widely in California and that there are 17 schools in Indiana using a multi-track system, and with multi-track, approximately one-fourth of the school population is out on a 45/15 day or 60/15 day schedule.
“There are weird situations going on with teacher contracts such as those in art, physical education, band special education and home economics,” he said. “At one time or another, every student will have to be in those classes.”
According to Phillips, this would mean the need for some teachers to work more than the usual 185 days.
Phillips also said busing issues would come into play using a multi-track system.
He said, “Busing could mean segregation based on economic standards.”
He said the biggest problem would be family time if children were on different tracks.
Superintendent Larry Phillips spoke of the need to be self-contained and cited the current practice of busing some special needs students to different school systems.
Chuck Phillips also said building maintenance would be a problem.
A second public hearing on the matter has been set for July 8 at the regular school board meeting.
The board members present also voted unanimously to approve a resolution to form the Union-North School Building Corporation and a resolution to consider the proposed form of a lease.
A public hearing on the proposed form of the lease will be held on July 8.
By a vote of 4-0, the board also authorized the proposed construction management contract with the Skillman Corporation. The board also voted unanimously to authorize the construction manager to begin Phase I under the contract.
Skillman will begin the schematic design portion of the project. The DLGF requires this phase to be complete before they consider the project.
Superintendent Larry Phillips said there were two portions of the contract with the Skillman Corporation that had been agreed upon. He said that no asbestos or other hazardous materials could be used in the buildings. He also indicated that the construction company would be responsible for criminal background checks on anyone working on the grounds. The checks must be completed and submitted to the schools prior to anyone being allowed to work at the sites.