Mike Wolanin | The Republic An exterior view of Schmitt Elementary in Columbus, Ind., Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022.
Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. has given initial approval to borrow up to $15.3 million for renovations at Schmitt Elementary.
The school board voted Monday to approve a project resolution, preliminary determination resolution, a preliminary general obligation bond resolution and reimbursement resolution for the project.
However, this is not the end of the approval process, said Assistant Superintendent of Financial Services Chad Phillips. The board will have a final vote to approve the project and bond at its July 17 meeting.
Prior to Monday’s vote, there was a second preliminary determination hearing and a project hearing on the bond. There was no comment during the public hearing about the project.
“The bond issue is for a maximum of $15.3 million and will be neutral on the tax rate, as we have other debt rolling off and refinanced the 2013 projects earlier this year at a lower rate,” said Phillips.
He stated at a previous meeting that the total cost of renovating Schmitt is close to $19 million overall, which includes $4 million in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds (ESSER) that has already been allocated to update HVAC through the entire building.
The remodel of Parkside Elementary, which is in progress, has a similar price tag when ESSER-funded HVAC improvements are taken into account, Phillips said.
The Parkside project is expected to be the first of several renovations to aging BCSC buildings.
Schmitt was built in 1957. According to the Columbus Area Visitors Center, the project marked the Cummins Foundation’s first grant to support architecture fees.
The original building was designed by architect Harry Weese in close collaboration with Brewster “Bruce” Adams. A 1991 addition was designed by Andrea Leers and Jane Weinzapfel, with the Cummins Foundation once again providing a grant.
