By HOLLY GASKILL
Construction on the new Norwell Middle School continues to go well, said Dylan Markley of Weigand Construction.
In the last month, crews have continued demolishing the existing mechanical room, drywalling the front office, installing exterior brick and substrate, and roofing the building. They’ve also continued to put in non-load-bearing walls, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing components.
Superintendent Mike Springer emphasized how fortunate the project has been.
“In the midst of things, we sometimes take these things for granted,” Springer said. “It’s a major project, and it’s going really well.”
Markley said they plan to continue existing work through the next month and start on block wall reinforcement, block walls in the existing school, complete roofing and install a partition track in the multi-purpose rooms.
Later during the meeting, the school board approved the sale of two spare buses to LifeWise Academy for $1 each.
Springer stated these buses cannot pass inspection due to expensive repairs, and LifeWise Academy had someone lined up to take care of the repairs.
Other updates included:
• $23,822.23 was raised for Riley Hospital for Children during the dance marathon.
• The approved Melinda Scheumann as education services director.
• Resignations were accepted from Lancaster Central Elementary first grade teacher Erin Newcomb, Norwell High School freshman basketball coach Frank Baute, LES teaching assistant Anah Branham, NMS eighth grade math teacher Hollie Parker, LES special education teacher Hailee Hormann, and Ossian Elementary School Bear Care staff members Kristina Riley and Caitlyn Lewis.
• The board approved the employment recommendations of Andrew Johnson as head coach for NHS boys soccer, Laura McConnell as LES guidance counselor, Rick Hoopingarner as NMS seventh grade girls basketball coach, Amy Simmerman as OES teaching assistant, Deb Dilley and Andrea Johnson as elementary summer IREAD-3 teachers, and James Feldheiser, Lexus Newton and Amy Donley as NHS summer school teachers. Kyle Bailey will also return to NHS summer ag, Ron Harnish to NHS summer ICE and Samuel Wells to NHS summer band.
• A $200 donation was accepted from the Hiday Automotive group for the NMS robotics club.
• NHS graduation is June 4.
holly@news-banner.com
