Warsaw School Board approved the Winona Lake residential TIF district during its meeting Monday.
The Winona Lake Redevelopment Commission approved a resolution to create a residential TIF (tax increment finance) district during its Oct. 7 meeting. The area encapsulates a number of new developments that will be going in south of Stonehenge Golf Course, at the former Raccoon Run golf course and other areas in Winona Lake, including the area north of Heritage Lakes and along Pierceton Road to Miller Field.
The residential TIF district, which would last 25 years, would collect new property taxes on new construction in the town.
There was no discussion about the district Monday before the vote, but the board did discuss it last week at their work session.
A second vote approved the memorandum of understanding. During the school board meeting Nov. 10, the school board was presented a MOU of how the TIF district would operate.
The residential TIF district will go before the Winona Lake Town Council today, as the school board asked the town of Winona Lake to be added to the contract.
Also during Monday’s meeting, the school board approved stipends and support staff raises for 2021.
Chief Financial Officer April Fitterling said Warsaw Community Schools teachers have their two-year contract and will see their increases at the end of the school year.
The support staff is a little different, though, Fitterling said. They are up for their increases starting Jan. 1.
Fitterling presented a 2% increase for all support staff and a 2.5% increase for all custodial and transportation staff. An increase for food service staff was also presented, but the percentage wasn’t stated during the meeting.
A $300 stipend for all WCS support staff was presented to the school board.
Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert read a community letter that was sent out last week in regards to the surge in COVID-19 cases.
“The ability to keep Warsaw Community Schools open depends on our amazing workforce. We depend on teachers, transportation staff, custodians, food service personnel, nurses, support staff, substitutes and paraprofessionals daily,” part of the letter stated. It also stated the goal of WCS is to stay open and that in-person learning “is the best option for our community.”
Hoffert said he cannot stress enough that if WCS’ schools are to remain open, WCS needs an open system of communication and cooperation.
WCS’ support staff “is probably the most critical area to help with that, along with the contact tracing that has to happen,” Hoffert said.
“We understand that this can be an inconvenience to families,” Hoffert said, noting that even though the precautions can be an inconvenience to the community, they are done to help keep the schools stay open safely.
