Science update is priority in 10-year facilities plan
Carroll Jr.-Sr. H.S.
By Jennifer Archibald Staff writer

A committee that worked on a 10-year facilities plan for Carroll Consolidated School Corporation presented its findings at the Carroll School Board meeting June 5.

Spokesmen for the committee, teachers Ed Geheb and Mike Miller, announced the committee's top 10 priorities, as well as additional projects for future consideration. They said the 15- member committee was made up of teachers, administrators, board members, parents, community members, and the corporation's maintenance supervisor. The board will take all the ideas under consideration.

Updating the science facilities heads the list of priorities. Adding four rooms has an estimated price tag of $1.5 million.

Air conditioning/climate control/ boilers at the junior-senior high school, including gyms, is second, with an estimated cost of $1,350,000.

The third priority, according to the committee, is an additional gym, locker rooms, and storage, costing approximately $1,800,000. The corporation has an auxiliary gym now, but it is not used for junior-senior high school games.

Another priority for the junior senior high school is to bring Ag into the main building and to add a greenhouse.

The main priority for the elementary school is kindergarten cabinets.

The remaining five recommendations, for both buildings, include adding a buzzer entry system, new clock system, ability to lock doors from inside the rooms, adding a camera at the front entrance, and new phone system and phones in the rooms.

Geheb said it is now up to the board to decide what to do with the information presented and whether to make the improvements a little at a time or to incur debt and do it all at once. Geheb said it is his understanding that the corporation is debtfree. Superintendent John Sayers said that will be true as of Dec. 31. Sayers also mentioned that some of the proposed projects could be paid through the Capital Projects fund.

The committee's 10-year plan listed 50 other projects for future consideration. Some of these are new field house ($4 million), auditorium curtains and floor, digital outside sign for the junior-senior high school, gym sound system, central office on school premises, coaches' offices, full-time trainer on staff, expand seating in pool area, purchase more ground, and kindergarten playground.

The board approved the purchase of new kitchen equipment for a total of $99,985. The lowest bid was accepted on individual items. Three convection ovens, three combination ovens, and four heated cabinets will be purchased from C&T, and two milk coolers, two pass through refrigerators, two heaters, and one work table will be purchased from Chrisco. Sayers said this will be paid from Capital Projects and from the School Lunch Fund.

John Kinzie Construction will build the dugouts and press box at the new softball field. The total cost, to be paid out of Capital Projects, is $45,727. That amount includes $9,500 for the concrete work, which was approved at the last board meeting.

The board accepted the low bid of 3.91 percent (interest rate) from First Financial Bank for a temporary loan of up to $800,000 for the general fund. Sayers said the loan is necessary because of the delay in the tax draw. Other bidders were Salin Bank & Trust, Lafayette Bank & Trust, and Regions Bank.

The resignation of Mike Hyman as junior varsity girls' softball coach was accepted.

The board approved fundraising requests for next school year, student handbooks for both schools, facility use requests, and a cash tuition request.

The facility use requests approved were from Patsy Bosley, junior varsity cheerleading coach, and Steve Keown, baseball coach. The elementary gym will be used for private gymnastics lessons for cheerleaders, and the baseball field will be used for summer baseball workouts and summer games.

The cash tuition request approved was from Miriam Robeson and David Pickens of Flora for their three children. This is an annual request from the family.

The following conference requests were approved:

- Kathy Shuler and Diane Routt, Midwest Conference on Differentiated Instruction, July 12-13 in Indianapolis.

- Steve and Melissa Keown to take four FFA members to the Washington Leadership Conference July 24-29 in Washington, D.C.

The next board meeting will be June 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the Administration Building.