Crawfordsville Community School Corp. selected a construction manager and began the financing process for the last phase of the Crawfordsville High School renovations.
Plans call for an estimated $1.7 million in upgrades to the related arts wing, including the auditorium and band room.
School board trustees voted unanimously Thursday to select Lafayette-based Kettlehut Construction to oversee the project and approved a series of formal resolutions to pursue a general obligation bond.
“Most schools are able to use general obligation bonds quite a bit. It’s usually their primary financing vehicle,” said superintendent Dr. Scott Bowling. “We have been so strapped, we haven’t been able to do that.”
The bond will result in a property tax increase of about $70 on a $100,000 home in the taxing district. The tax rate will not change, though financial advisers forecast a modest increase in assessed valuation that would increase the levy even under the same tax rate, Bowling said.
The district paid for the other phases through lease financing or common school loans.
Kettlehut has served as construction manager for the rest of the project but had to submit a new proposal for the related arts portion because each phase is being separately financed.
Administrators recommended Kettlehut over a second company, CPM Construction of Indianapolis, because of their ongoing involvement and lower fee proposal, assistant superintendent Dr. Rex Ryker said.
Ryker said meetings on the related arts wing will begin this spring. The renovations began with replacing the roof and renovating the pool area, and crews are finishing up work on the classroom wing.
In other business, the board approved the retirement of longtime Hoover Elementary counselor Bonita Hirsch, who has spent 50 years with the district.
The board also approved the resignations of Hose Elementary teacher’s aide Jennie Lisby and Nicholson Elementary teacher’s aide Kristel Crowder.
In other personnel moves, Timothy Herston was recommended as a science teacher at the high school and Emily Daley will be hired as the Crawfordsville Middle School media assistant.
Rob Furgye was recommended as a teacher’s aide at Hoover.
