SYRACUSE - Tuesday’s special Wawasee School Board meeting was to hear two proposed projects for the district and to open the floor to any public comments.
Everything presented by the architects is just an option. The projects have not entered the design phase. As laid out by Indiana code, a school corporation must hold two public hearings in order to adopt a resolution to preliminarily determine to issue bonds or enter a lease for a project that has a total project cost in excess of a noncontrolled project.
In the spring, a community engagement committee was assembled to help look at facilities and to present them to the board for consideration. The committee wrapped up in March, before spring break, and presented the potential options at the April regular board meeting.
The committee presented four “Tier One” projects: Milford Elementary School, performing arts center for the high school, fieldhouse and natatorium. The board had discussed the options and agreed Milford Elementary and a performing arts center made the most sense for the school system.
“It would have a trickle-down effect. It wouldn’t just be a performing arts center space for the high school, we would also look at repurposing the existing space that performing arts is currently in,” said Dr. Steve Troyer, superintendent.
“That would include auditorium, band room, choir room and theater rooms associated with those programs. We would look at repurposing those rooms into potentially some CTE space to be used down the road. ... We also need space for our alternative learning program,” Troyer explained to the board.
The board is looking at either a significant renovation or a new building altogether for Milford Elementary School.
The board heard from Emily Hower, on behalf of Elevatus Architecture, the firm working on the Milford Elementary School project. She presented the schematic process so far. Hower presented an existing site plan and a supporting document that showcased the phasing of additions through the years.
Hower showed where the firm is on a schematic conceptual process of laying out the site. The site is a little over 70,000 square feet.
“Additionally, some of your infrastructure is pretty advanced in their age. I heard there is a drainage from the building that is actually made from hand-laid brick. That will all need replaced and that is very costly. So when you’re talking about that type of aged and location of services and infrastructure, that’s going to add a lot. You might see a savings of 5-10%. But you would still have an old building with marginal savings.”
Board member Steve Baut questioned how Elevatus can include the community in the communication about the project. Hower suggested the use of Elevatus’ marketing team, whether that is a website with project process or drone footage.
“We are really, really early in the process. So when we talk about conceptual design, it is just boxes we are placing to see what this could look like. We have not started engaging stakeholders,” Troyer reiterated to the board.
The board heard from Brian Wolf of Garmann Miller. Wolf presented his ideas as to where the proposed PAC could be located. Each option presented took into consideration the circulation of students, the front entrance, parking and the back of house (for use of deliveries).
The first idea he presented was placing the performing arts center on the south side to have connection with the agriculture building. The main entrance in this option is “less than ideal” and the back of house is “tough” because of limited access. With this option, adding additional parking would be advised.
“This option does not really rise to the top,” Wolf told the board.
The second idea Wolf presented is a flip of his first idea, to the west. The entrance would be toward the north parking area, which would allow plenty of parking access for visitors. Back of house is easily accessible for deliveries.
The third idea presented was placing the performing arts center north (in front of the football field). This idea allows for an “ideal entrance” and plenty of parking. The connection to the high school’s building makes it easily accessible for students and staff. However, accessibility to the back of house is limited. This location also will eliminate around 100 parking spaces. This option, with the way the PAC is positioned, does allow for the creation of an outdoor courtyard area.
Board member Andy Cripe challenged Wolf’s ideas, saying, “If we’re going to spend a bajillion dollars, I do not want it hidden in a corner. I want it seen from the road. I want people to do a double take.”
Wawasee Interim Director of Finance Dr. Brandon Penrod explained the financial impact of the projects. Penrod explained the par amount of bonds is $77.15 million, with estimated costs of issuance and capitalized interest of $2.15 million, leaving $75 million as the estimated proceeds for hard or soft project costs.
Penrod presented the school’s current tax rate components. In 2022 and 2023, Wawasee School Corporation’s total tax rate was $0.5399 per $100 of assessed valuation.
“The financing may be broken down in various borrowings, potentially over multiple years for financial efficacy and to align with the proposed construction schedule. The borrowings may include general obligation bonds, lease bonds and/or bond anticipation notes,” Penrod explained.
A handful of community members attended the special board meeting, but no one made any public comments.
The boards next regular meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8 in the Warrior Room of Wawasee High School, 1 Warrior Path Building 1, Syracuse.