By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
Howard Hall thanked the school district Monday night for its decision to let Central Middle School auditorium be the site this summer of a youth fine arts program.
He invited board members to see their production in August.
May 3 board candidate Corinne Hoyt questioned why the new middle school has eight tennis courts "without a middle school tennis team in place."
Crandall said, "That was a decision made after the bond issue was approved and we went into the development phase. One of the reasons Fanning/Howey was selected as the architectural firm, I think it was 1996 when the board interviewed four firms, largely because the board was impressed with the way it worked with the staff and the board to develop whatever plan of the facility they came up with.
Hoyt also requested the number of science rooms (two in each wing, four total); computer rooms (one); and industrial arts rooms (one).
Dowagiac District Library Director Evelyn Holzwarth updated the school board on the district library formed in September 2003. Voters approved millage to support it in March 2004. "The first year was a very tight budget, with nearly 50 percent of our funds still coming from the City of Dowagiac," she said.
Revenues amounted to $169,492. Holzwarth started July 26. The books and materials budget increased to $25,000 this year. A community services coordinator was hired. Public computers have been replaced.