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Erica Techo
Forest Oaks Elementary School principal Sasha Baker, council member Juanita Champion, Chelsea Park Elementary principal J. Campisi-Snider, Chelsea High School assistant principal Matt Stephens and Mayor Earl Niven at the May 3 Chelsea City Council meeting.
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Erica Techo
Council member Juanita Champion (right) presents Forest Oaks Elementary School principal Sasha Baker with the city's $20,000 contribution.
In the last 16 years, the city of Chelsea has contributed over $2 million to local schools. At the May 3 Chelsea City Council meeting, the council brought that contribution up to $2,475,606.
Each year, the council presents each Chelsea school with $20,000. At the May 3 meeting, Forest Oaks Elementary School principal Sasha Baker, Chelsea Park Elementary principal J. Campisi-Snider and Chelsea High School assistant principal Matt Stephens were present to receive checks, and the checks will be presented to Mt Laurel Elementary and Chelsea Intermediate at a later date.
“If you’ve taught like Juanita, June [Niven] and I have, you know that every dollar in education counts,” Niven said during pre-council.
Niven said two popular questions from people considering a move to Chelsea are about the city’s schools and the available resources for children.
“I think that the city of Chelsea can answer those both and stand proud in what we do,” Niven said.
Niven and council member Juanita Champion are both former school teachers and presented the checks to the present administrators.
All three administrators thanked the city for their contributions to local schools.
“Everybody needs to know for the past 10 years that I have received this check, when you multiply 10 years times $20,000, whoa. It’s really helped us a lot,” Campisis-Snider said. “So I wanted to thank the people of Chelsea, and the mayor of Chelsea.”
Baker also thanked the council and the city for their partnership with the school. The city has given around $877,000 to Forest Oaks Elementary, including paying $500,000 for a gym at the school and paying $300,000 to complete Hornet Drive.
“As new students come into our school, they say, ‘Oh yes, we’ve had the opportunity to play in your gym,’” Baker said. “It already makes them feel like they’re a part of this community, and that’s a very unique partnership to have.”
During pre-council for the meeting, the council discusses the Chelsea Sports Complex and surrounding property. Niven said construction has started on the concession stand at the sports complex, and the water pump and hookups should be installed in the next few weeks.
He added that there are plans to install waterlines to the well at the sports complex just in case they are needed.
“We hope that our well never runs dry,” Niven said. “…If for whatever reason the well ever runs dry, we’re ready to go with city water.”
He also said the sports complex likely will not be ready to host games until fall baseball.
Also at the meeting:
- Scott Weygand talked to the council about the recent Fire at the Foothills chili and BBQ cookoff. He thanked the city for its partnership, noting that the city’s donation to the competition helps make the event a nationally sanctioned event. The event drew competitors from across the state and judges from across the country, Weygand said. Chelsea Kiwanis raised about $3,800, and the fire department raised about $200 for Hero’s Fire Safety Program. Chelsea Fire and Rescue Chief Wayne Shirley also thanked everyone who came out to the cook-off.
- Shirley noted the fire department’s partnership with Chelsea schools, where the department provides defibrillators to remain at the school and defibrillators to travel with sports teams and the band. He thanked the administrators for their assistance.
- Niven announced a Library Movie Day which will be held at the Chelsea Community Center over the summer. Starting Tuesday, June 7, there will be a movie each Tuesday through July 26. The movie will screen from 1-3 p.m., and popcorn will be provided. The first movie will be Woodlawn on June 7.
- The council approved an annexation request submitted by Kimberly J. Freeman and Janet Taylor. The request was for a 3.01 acre property at 130 Stirrup Cup Cover.
- The council received an ordinance to for a rezoning request for a 36 acre property located at Highway 280 and Highway 440. The rezoning request was recommended by the Chelsea Planning Commission. A public hearing for the request will be held at the council’s first meeting in June.
- The council approved to pay the city’s bills.
The next city council meeting will be Tuesday, May 17. Pre-council will start at 5:30 p.m., and the council meeting will start at 6 p.m.
