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Proposed
community center to be topic of public forum
R-3
board also approves softball complex design
by
Kim Tiefenthaler
Landmark reporter
Platte
County R-3 School District Superintendent Dr. Mark Harpst
has announced that a school/community forum will address
the proposed community center project.
The forum, slated for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 4 at
the high school auditorium, will present information regarding
the proposed center, while answering questions and concerns
the public may have regarding the issue.
"The proposed community center affects the school
district, community and all of Platte County," said
Harpst. "It's important we get an understanding of
the support for the community center on school property."
The school district, in a collaborative effort with Platte
County and the YMCA, would be looking at contributing
some property in exchange for the students being able
to use the community center.
The 10-acre property surrounding the career center that's
in consideration is appraised at $1.4-2.4 million.
"For us to be involved with our students using the
property, we would have to be assured of an aquatic center,
multi-purpose complex and a walking/jogging track being
on the drawing board," stated Harpst. "What
we can provide for our students is our number one priority."
Even though the community center is still in the proposal
stage, Harpst stated that despite the outcome of the project,
the board is concerned with having another school on the
campus.
"I invite anyone to come up to the campus between
7:30-7:45 every morning and see the amount of traffic
at the campus and they'll understand my point," explained
Harpst. "We've gained 267 students at the high school
in the last ten years. Since the 1998-1999 school year,
our enrollment has increased from 509 students to 667
students this year."
In other business, the school board received a presentation
from the design engineer in charge of the baseball/softball
field complex. The school board approved design scheme
1.
In the approved scheme, the new softball field will be
adjacent to the present baseball field, with a new concession
stand/public restroom area, picnic area, a 500-person
seating area for both fields, separate press boxes for
each field and recessed dugouts.
The construction of the softball field and improvement
to the baseball field is possible by a collaborative effort
of Platte County, the City of Platte City, the Platte
City Athletic Association and the School District. Each
entity contributed $35,000, with the exception of the
Athletic Association, who will be matching with an in-kind
donation of labor.
Harpst stated, the project, estimated to cost $230,000,
will hope to be completed in time for next fall's games.
Harpst also presented the school board with a handout
comparing the top 10 area tax levies for 2001. Platte
County R-3 School District's total tax levy was $4.0916
per $100 of assessed valuation, the lowest of several
other school districts in the area.
"I'm proud as a superintendent that we can compete
with other school districts, yet we're doing it with much
less revenue," said Harpst.
The school district was recently recognized for its academic
and extracurricular activities within the conference.
For the first time since entering the conference four
years ago, Platte County R-3 School District was recognized
and honored for their efforts within the conference with
the presentation of the Supremacy Award for Midland Empire
Conference.
The next school board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday,
Oct. 16 at the Platte County R-3 School District Central
Office.
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