Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. board members voted 6-1 to pass a pair of resolutions releasing about $44.1 million in rental lease bonds as part of the $306 million Envision 2030 plan.
District 1 board member Jason Major voted against the resolution, in keeping with previous statements he’s made about how he does not believe there is a need for a 12th BCSC elementary school.
BCSC officials have proposed the following projects as part of the “Envision 2030” plan:
- A new westside elementary school.
- Renovations to remaining elementary schools (excluding Parkside and Schmitt, where work is already underway).
- Significant renovation at Northside Middle School and tech/equipment updates at Central Middle School.
- Additions and renovations to both Columbus North and East high schools to meet career and technical education demands.
- Physical education/extracurricular expansions at the two high schools to meet demands.
- Relocation of Bright Beginnings Early Learning Center to the R.L. Johnson Building, relocation of Columbus Virtual Pathway to the McDowell Education Center, and relocation of C4 Cosmetology to expanded space at East.
One resolution members voted on stated the need for the projects and the other resolution approved the form of lease, BCSC Superintendent Chad Phillips said.
“If these seem repetitive to you, it’s because you’ve also approved these as part of the larger project,” Phillips said, referring to a vote from December 2023. “But again, each year as we issue these bonds, we will have to come back and request approval for those again.”
Construction during Envision 2030 will take place during three phases over a period of five years, BCSC officials have said.
Included in phase one is the construction of the new westside elementary school and work to Northside Middle School, Central Middle School, Columbus North High School, Columbus East High School, Smith Elementary, Mt. Health Elementary, the R.L Johnson building, and McDowell Education Center.
Phillips said they’re only issuing bonds for $44.1 million “basically because interest rates are so high right now, we’re trying to finance the lowest amount possible.”
Assistant Superintendent of Finance & Operations Brett Boezeman went over bond issue estimate projections over the next three years, noting that phase one projects account for $147 million of the total $306 million.
Bond issue estimates for 2025 and 2026 are $50,699,500 and $52,641,500 respectively, although Phillips said they’ll take a look at it again next year to decide if they want to make any changes depending on the financial situation.
