TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Dr. Rob Haworth, Superintendent of Vigo County Schools, addressed the three proposed potential high school building projects in a virtual community meeting.
After deliberation and discussion, eight options became three proposals on the future of high schools in the Vigo County School Corporation. Now, the Corporation will address areas of interest from the public like, are three schools the best approach? If so, which option seems more favorable?
“As a community, we need to think about our high schools and ask ourselves, is this the time to invest in our buildings so that the generation that they have served can look forward to the generation that they will serve?'” Superintendent, Rob Haworth said.
Option one is a $160 million referendum. Overtime, a money will used to add new academic spaces to each building over time.
It would have a tax rate 24.8 cents per $100 assessed value.
Option two is a $260 million referendum that includes helping fun 60% of new projects and 40% renovation through a referendum.
“It would do all things option one would allow us to do, but it would allow us to tackle renovations projects at one time,” He added.
Option three would build three new high schools with a $333 million referendum. It would involve a referendum tax rate of 52 cents.
Options two and three would have funds available to address elementary and middle school needs.
An operational referendum passed in 2019 could end in 2024. It comes after downsizing the district and coronavirus grants.
‘We would love to able to use some of those ESSER dollars so we could move forward in a building project. If we fail to move forward with a building project using referendum dollars, we’re going to need to use those ESSER dollars to help with infrastructure,” Haworth stated.
To view the community event live, see the video player below.
The Vigo County School Corporation announced Tuesday it now has three potential plans on how to go about current high school facility projects. The school corp. said that this fall it will work with community members to discuss the three potential facility plans to see if one can be agreed upon in December before the May 2022 referendum.
For information on all three options for the high schools, click here.
If video player does not appear, click here.
The public is encouraged to attend community meetings regarding all three proposals., those dates have not yet been announced.
