The Pilot News - Revised building plan for Union-North

The proposed structure would house grades 5-8. Hebard pointed out several other changes including the sharing of a parking lot with the proposed new school and the existing elementary school. He said the change will allow parents to drop off students at the intermediate school and then loop around to the elementary school. He said parent traffic would be separated from school bus lanes.
Hebard said they have taken advantage of the eight- to ten-foot slope on the property for the new building. He said there would be ramps incorporated. He said the proposed “auditeria” (combined auditorium and cafeteria) will include a stage area. They are also considering a mezzanine seating area that would hold 600 spectators.
Hebard said the design allows for future expansion.
He also pointed out how deliveries to the kitchen and maintenance areas would be handled.
Additions to the elementary school that would mean discontinuing the use of portable classrooms were also discussed. Hebard said, “We could keep the portables in use during the construction.” He also shared their vision of keeping the pavilion area intact.
He said there would be minimal impact with the exception of a couple of trees that would have to be moved. He said, “We have worked with the kindergarten teachers. They are excited about the design.”
The designs incorporate security entrances at the existing LaVille Elementary and Jr.-Sr. High School Building and in the proposed new structure.
Board member Don Berger asked what they could do to eliminate flat roofs on the new building. Berger said, “Can we build something that’s not going to be a pain in the future?”
Hebard responded saying, “We don’t put nightmare roofs on our buildings." He said that leaks are usually the result of flashing problems.
The overall design shows a proposed road cut on U.S. 31 south of the existing school entrances. Hebard said they have had no communication with INDOT (Indiana Department of Transport-ation) concerning the matter. He said, “It would have been premature.”
In other matters, LaVille Technology Director Mike Sumpter informed the board that Lenox computer labs for the English Department that were purchased from a $70,000 grant have been up and running for over a month. He said, “We are the only school in the area to get a specific type of software to work.” He gave credit for the software running to a former Laville student, Mike Ols. Sumpter said that Ols has started his own company, Ols Tech Solutions, that is located in Lakeville.
Sumpter called the new labs “cutting edge design.”
With the addition of the new labs, the school now has 670 computers, according to Sumpter. He said when the intermediate school is opened the number would increase by 150.
Laville Jr.-Sr. High School Principal John Arnett made a request on behalf of teacher Lynn Barden. Arnett said the environmental area at the school is “out of control.” Barden is asking for donations of several specific types of herbicides. A complete list of those needed is available at the school office.
Arnett said, “We had a kind of rough opening on the first day of school.” According to Arnett, in the beginning of the day there were no lights and they had to work for quite a while in the dark. He said later they had lights, but that the computers were not working. Later in the meeting, it was noted that AEP blew a transformer in the area.
Superintendent Larry Phil-lips informed the board that a new legislative rules this year means that school budget hearings have been moved back by two months. He said the hearings will be on December 20.
The board voted unanimously to allow the use of emergency funds from the Capital Improvement Fund for the purchase of a locator for finding utility lines on the property and in the buildings.
Monies were also approved for a new booster heater in the high school cafeteria to bring the water temperature in the dishwasher up to code. Phillips said they were asking for an amount not to exceed $12,000.