BELLVILLE — Clear Fork School Board members approved a resolution regarding the location of two proposed elementary buildings during Thursday night’s meeting.
The decision is expected to provide clarity for voters who will decide the fate of those buildings in the March primary.
“We can build on the Bellville site,” Superintendent Janice Wyckoff declared.
After months of engineering studies and consideration of four properties, the Clear Fork school district determined which properties should be the site of the new elementary schools.
The proposed Bellville elementary school would be built on the School Street property. The Butler elementary school would be located on the College Street property.
“The exact location on those properties is yet to be determined,” Wyckoff stated.
The resolution specifically means that property purchased over a decade ago, known as “Hamilton Hills,” will not be the site of the new school in Bellville. The property has been a point of contention in the past. The district retains possession of the Hamilton Hills property, described by Wyckoff as “an asset,” but she said no plans have been made regarding the property.
Josh Predovich, project manager for SHP Leading Design, an architecture firm assisting the district in planning for the future projects, updated the board on soil issues. Predovich described boring samples from the existing Bellville elementary site made in 1997, when an addition to the elementary building was considered.
The sub-surface investigation revealed some sand and gravel in the 20 foot and 30 foot test borings. Predovich said it was the consideration of engineers that this will not affect the construction project currently proposed.
One reason is the location of proposed new elementary school would be on a different part of the property. Also, recent soil samples on the proposed location within the property have “proper load bearing capability.”
Later, members of the Clear Fork FFA presented a demonstration of parliamentary procedures for board members. The FFA chapter took over the board members chairs for a mock demonstration. The six-student team deliberated several items of business swiftly that included discussion on the elementary school building project.
In other news, the board approved naming Clear Fork’s baseball facility as “Legion Field,” Carl Gonzalez said he considers the move a “small token” considering the American Legion’s contributions to the district.
