The Board of Trustees of Crothersville Community Schools has approved repair and upgrade projects for school facilities that could total up to $13.75 million.
Several meetings and two public hearings have been held resulting in the school board adopting a resolution to undertake a number of projects.
Those projects include upgrades to the school system’s HVAC systems, related heating, cooling and air handler upgrades, plumbing and electrical renovations, cafetorium sound system upgrades, fire alarm upgrades, parking lot repairs.
To pay for the repairs and upgrades, the school board seeks to sell bonds which will be repaid over 20 years through the school corporation’s Debt Service Fund. Currently the tax rate for that fund is about 55¢ per $100 of assessed valuation. The repairs to keep the schoolhouse functioning would increase that debt service rate by about a quarter to 78¢ per $100 starting in 2026.
Local school superintendent Dr. Chrystal Street explained that the projects are not for any school expansion or bricks and mortar construction. All of the projects are big ticket repairs and upgrades.
“The newest addition to the school (high school, auxiliary gym, and cafetorium) occurred in 2001. That’s more 20 years ago. Many of us have had to install new heating and cooling equipment in that period of time in our own homes. The school is no different,” she said. “Equipment wears out, new technologies make upgrades more efficient using less gas and electricity.”
She noted none of the projects add to the school’s size. No new classrooms or facilities. “We are just maintaining what we have, just like every prudent homeowner would do,” she said.
The HVAC work would replace and upgrade classrooms in the elementary, middle and high school, she said.
Taxpayers opposing the proposed school repairs and upgrades now have 30 days to file a petition seeking a referendum be placed on an election ballot. According to Indiana Code, in order to have the referendum process apply there would have to be a petition filed 500 property owners or registered voters, or 5% of registered voters in the school district, whichever is less.
A legal notice outlining the school’s proposal is found on page 4 of this week’s Crothersville Times and online at www.crothersvilletimes.com.