Lake High School has been notified by Kohl’s that it is indeed one of 20 schools nationwide to have won $500,000.

The Kohl’s Cares contest, announced in August, had schools competing for votes in the online Facebook contest. The top 20 vote-getters would receive $500,000 a piece through Kohl's Cares®, the company’s philanthropic program that supports children's health and education.

Kohl’s is awarding a total of $10 million in celebration of the program’s 10th anniversary. The contest, which ended Sept. 3, brought in 10 million votes. Lake was the top vote-getter, garnering enough votes on the last day to take the school from 21st place all the way to number one.

Jeff Carpenter, Lake Treasurer, said Lee Herman, Lake Principal, did receive word that the school was in the top 20.

“Lee said he had to fill out some paperwork for the contest,” Carpenter said. “He said Kohl’s would be sending out the check by the end of October.”

Although he is reserving his excitement until the check is in his hands, Carpenter said the donation would be welcomed.

“This is absolutely good for us,” Carpenter said. “We are excited but I am a treasurer and I do not get excited until I see the money.”

The Lake administration has been in negotiations for months with its insurer, Traveler’s Insurance, over the amount of money the district will receive after the June 5 tornado decimated the high school and caused damage to the elementary and junior high buildings as well as the athletic field.

“Negotiations with the insurance company were a struggle,” he said. “The insurance company wanted to save money on the claim and rebuild onto the original 1953 building. Their contention was that part of the building was not damaged by the tornado.

“Our issue was ‘why would you want a school designed in 1953 to serve you now?” he continued. “Once you cobble a building together, piecemeal it, what issues are you going to have 10 years down the road? Roofs leaking, electrical issues? The insurance company can write the check and walk away and a couple of years later we would have issues. No one wanted to be in that position down the road.”

According to Carpenter, the district will now receive a total settlement of $30 million.

“We will get $19.1 million for the high school and the rest will cover damage to the middle and elementary schools, contents for the schools, the field, and the cost to set up shop at Owens Community College,” Carpenter explained. “This has just been exhausting for everybody involved. Now we can focus on getting the new school designed and continue our most important work of delivering a great education to our students.”

Carpenter said the district does not have a complete estimate for the rebuilding of the high school as yet.

“We are in the process of drawing up the plans now,” he said. “We think that we are going to be ok with the insurance settlement and the $4.9 million commitment from the Ohio School Facilities Commission.”

Demolition is scheduled to begin next week, Carpenter said adding, “That will be a big moment.” Lake has hired O’Rourke Wrecking Company, of Cincinnati, for the demolition.

Design plans are being drafted by The Collaborative, Inc., of Toledo and Rudolph Libbe, Inc, of Walbridge, will serve as the general contractor.

“I have heard the demolition will take 35 to 45 days to complete,” Carpenter said. “Rudolph Libbe believes they can get started building in February or March of next year with the goal of opening the high school in September of 2012.”

Carpenter said the district does not have firm plans for the use of the Kohl’s cash as yet.

“We do not have plans at this stage of the game,” he said. “I would imagine that we would use it for the rebuilding in some shape or from. It could go towards actual mortar and bricks or we could use it for classroom supplies or for technology. We just have not gone that far yet.”

Although Kohl’s has not formally announced the winning schools as yet, Vicki Shamion, Kohl's senior vice president, public relations and community relations, said in a written statement that the top 20 schools have been notified.

“Kohl’s congratulates all participants in the $10 million Kohl’s Cares Contest,” Shamion said. “We are very excited to give 20 schools $500,000 each. Voting for the contest ended at 11:59pm (CDT) on Friday, September 3, 2010. A third-party partner verified contest votes per the contest’s official rules and has contacted the top 20 vote-getting schools. Those schools’ votes and each school’s proposed programs are currently being verified by the third-party partner to ensure school submissions and budgets comply with contest terms and conditions. Once completely verified, all winners will be announced. Until that time, we are not commenting on the winning schools.”

Kohl’s is expected to officially announce the winning schools by the end of September.

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