NEW: School board approves lease of Columbian School to library

Posted: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 12:00 am

Peter Adelsen Staff Writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments

The Kokomo-Center Township Schools' Board of Trustees approved a lease of one of its former school buildings Monday at its special meeting at the Administrative Service Center.

The board approved Kokomo-Howard County Public Library's request to lease Columbian School during its remodeling of the main branch. The lease would be a $1 per month in rent for the duration of the agreement, Superintendent Chris Himsel said. The library would be responsible for the building's utilities, custodial costs and general maintenance. School board president Joe Dunbar and board secretary Wayne Luttrell abstained from the vote.

Library board president Susan Luttrell, who was at the meeting, was appreciative to the school board approving the lease.

"The (library) board appreciates that," Luttrell said. "I don't know if the public knows about how many thousands of dollars of taxpayer money that is going to be saved by this agreement, so we appreciate that."

The library was not alone in bids for leasing a former school building. St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church also attempted to lease Columbian School. However, the board rejected the offer because the bid of $1 per month was not near the 90 percent of appraised value as stated in Indiana statute because it is not a government entity. Himsel added that this offer was not in the best interest of our taxpayers.

In other news

The September board-meeting day was moved from Sept. 14 to Sept. 16 due to a conflict.

The board approved permission to apply and accept the Head Start Continuation Grant for Howard, Miami and Tipton counties in the amount of $2,235,004.

The board also approved permission to apply and accept the Title III Grant in the amount of $13,000. The grant serves the needs of English language learners in migrant students. It is funded by the United States Department of Education and is administered by the Indiana Department of Education.

The board approved permission to apply and accept if awarded the Indiana Department of Education High Ability Grant for 2009-2010 in the amount of $54,676. The purpose of the grant is to meet the needs of the high ability students in kindergarten through 12th grade, assistant superintendent Linda Thompson said.

The board also approved a resolution of support for Christopher Himsel and commendation for his outstanding work as superintendent of schools.

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