Board Asks For Major Renovations, Additions To High School

Plans for major additions and renovations to the existing Holden High School campus were unveiled at a special meeting of the R-III school board held Thursday at the high school’s library.

A detailed layout of the project was presented by Wade Lininger, a representative of Sam A. Winn & Associates Architects, P.C.  The price tag for the project if approved by voters in the November 7 election will be approximately $4.6 million.

Funding would be provided by a bond issue providing a modest 12-cent increase in the district’s operating levy, increasing from $3.31 to $3.43 (per $100 of assessed valuation); and a 37-cent hike in the debt service fund, raising it to $.67.  This would make the district’s total tax levy $4.10.

This would also give the district the capital necessary to fund the proposed teacher salary increase.

According to district superintendent Scott Slava, the board has the authority to raise the levy as high as $4.25 with a simple majority vote.  He and school board members, however, are seeking the backing and input from the Holden school district community.

According to board president Jeff Miller, “These plans for the high school additions and renovations are well thought-out.  I like the layout - it’s very forward thinking.  Now we need to involve the community to help guide us.”

Board member Pat Zvacek, as well as Mike Watterson, Rodger McConville and Susan Feeback all voiced their approval of involving the community in the decision-making process.

The plans call for an additional row of 13 classrooms on the northside of the existing school building.  The classroom additions would allow the school to eliminate the modular classrooms on the south side of the building and bring all students inside the main school.  Nearly 300 new parking spaces would be provided in the layout, doing away with the present parking places on the south side of the school, which create a confusing and potentially hazardous condition when buses are entering and leaving the school.  The parking slots would be used by not only the high school, but intermediate and elementary schools as well. 

Updated locker rooms and a new 250-seat capacity cafeteria facility will also be added.  The present kitchen would be converted to science classrooms.  Plans also call for an expanded media center which would allow the school to say up with state standards in that area. 

According to Lininger, the expansion of the high school would give the district the growth potential of up to 600 students.  The school has been running at full capacity for several years.

“This is a doable plan,” exclaimed Miller.  “Our board has done well to keep the levies low, but now we have a need.”

According to Slave, “Our district’s tax levies are prudent.  The board has held the line in the past, but there comes a time when you have to build.”

Miller summed it all up,”When you see the new building, like the intermediate school, and the kids in it, that’s what makes all the effort worthwhile.  The board is ready to go.”

The school board will hold two planning sessions, which are open to the public.  The first will be April 18 at 6 p.m. in the high school library.  They will follow up with a second on May 23, also at 6 p.m. in the high school library.

By Steve Sullins
Editor

Watterson, Zvacek Return To Holden R-III School Board

Michael Wakeman was elected mayor of Holden in Tuesday’s election. Wakeman defeated challenger Shane Hutchison, 302-77.

In the four-way race for two positions on the Holden R-III Board of Education, voters returned incumbents Michael Watterson and Pat Zvacek to the board. Watterson led the candidates with 457 votes followed by Zvacek with 375. Joseph Burnor, Jr. tallied 215 votes while Maria Buller had 209.

In the City of Holden council races, Veronica Burt defeated write-in challenger, Cecil Bloss in the only contested race in Ward I. Burt garnered 44 votes while 24 write-in votes were cast.

In other city wards, Brenda Stumpff, running uncontested in Ward I for a two-year term, garnered 69 votes. In Ward II, no one filed for the one year slot but 11 write-in votes were cast. Running unopposed in Ward II for a two-year term, Butch Shore tallied 59 votes. No one filed for the two-year term in Ward III although 16 write-in votes were cast. Michael Zumwalt tallied 90 votes, running unopposed in Ward IV.

In neighboring Kingsville, Ed Courtney talled seven votes for the north ward councilman while E.L. Pete Montgomery garnered three votes for the council slot in the Kingsville South Ward.

In the race for the Public Water Supply No. 2 District Board, Larry Brunner defeated James L. Nauser, 413 to 104.

Steve Flick won a two-way race in the Fire Protection District No. 2 Board contest, defeating James Nauser, 235 to 83.

All results are unofficial and write-in candidate tallies were not available at press time.

Spring is in the air and  Aaron and Lela Misenhelter, owners of Landscape Essentials, are opening their new business at the perfect time.  Located at the Highway 58 and Highway 50 junction in Centerview, the greenhouse and office will be opening within the next couple of weeks, although people can buy items in bulk already at the location.

The Misenhelters are excited about the new business (next to Heartland Farm and Lawn) and look forward to serving the community.  They have 10 years experience in landscaping and lawn care, doing everything from actual landscaping of new or existing homes, both residential and commercial landscaping to lawn fertilizing, building retaining walls, installing pavers, walkways, fish ponds, grade work, seed, straw, privacy fences, sprinkler systems and much more.

The greenhouse will stock bedding plants, annuals, vegetable and fruit plants.  Items one can buy in bulk are grass seed, peat moss, white marble, lime, gypsum, four types of mulch, bird seed, decorative rock, creek rock, pea gravel, any kind of gravel one might request to order,  and other items needed to make a home or garden a showplace.

The Misenhelters specialize in grade work and in hardscaping.  They offer free estimates on landscaping with delivery available and complete installation.

Landscape Essentials boasts retaining walls, pavers, decorative rock, flagstone, mulch, sand, dirt and a nursery.  Approximately 90 percent of the work they do consists of retaining walls, patios and paths.

Although if someone wanted their home landscaped with flowers, shrubs and trees, Aaron will hand sketch a blueprint to fit those needs so one will know what the project will look like when completed.

Landscape Essentials currently has jobs in progress in Clinton, Kansas City, Lake of the Ozarks and Richmond and can come to any area to help with landscape or lawn needs.

Anyone interested in learning more about Landscape Essentials may call 660-656-3555 or visit them at 87 NW 58 Highway in Centerview.  There will be a patio and retaining walls erected for display in front of the business office for people to be able to see the high quality of work they produce.  There are also photographs available for people to peruse and see the fine work that Landscape Essentials can do.

The Misenhelters welcome new customers to stop by and also enjoy servicing existing customers who continue to add to their yard displays each year.

“We have old-fashioned values, believe in honesty, hard work and a fair price.  We would like to invite everyone to stop by and visit; we always enjoy meeting new people,” said Aaron.  “This is already a very busy time for us, but we are really enjoying the work.”

The Misenhelters have lived in the Warrensburg area for 10 years.

By Dana Neubert
News Staff