By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

AKRON — Tippecanoe Valley High School may look a lot different in the near future.

At a meeting on Thursday, March 18, at the TVHS commons, the Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. provided details to the public on numerous renovations and additions they plan to do at the high school.

The corporation had Fanning Howey architects CEO Bill Payne and Project Manager Mike Schipp explain the projects Valley hopes to undertake.

They include an auditorium seating at least 650 people; better seating for the pool; a cafe shop for students; a new weight room; a modernized field house; a wrestling and multipurpose room; new locker rooms; a greenhouse; and new tennis courts.

The corporation also hopes to add turf to the baseball and football fields.

Leaders noted at the meeting that all the projects may not get completed dependent on funding. To view the presentation that Fanning Howey did showing project renderings, click here.

Bond funding is how the corporation plans to finance the project. The corporation had Baker Tilly’s Brock Bowsher explain the basics of bond funding to those present.

With the funding, the corporation won’t raise the tax rate to pay for the project.

Conley said The Skillman Corp. construction management group, which Valley also worked with for the Akron Elementary School project finished in early 2018, is to provide estimates for all the components of the project.

Valley leaders will decide what parts of the project to undertake based on those estimates and community feedback. Bowsher noted interest rates are extremely low currently, which works out in the corporation’s favor.

Therefore, there’s no overall cost estimate for the project yet. Once everything is finalized, Valley will have a public hearing.

This project will be the second one done to TVHS since it was built in 1975. TVHS underwent an addition and renovation in 2003.

Public feedback

Following the presentations, Valley had attendees provide feedback. They were seated at tables, with one Valley administrator to facilitate discussion and ask questions.

Following the half-hour of discussion, the administrators shared summaries of what each group talked about.

Some questions and comments shared included if projects undertaken would still fit the school’s needs in the future when the corporation was still paying off the project, if leaders had considered classroom needs before those of extracurriculars and if the corporation had taken into consideration the number of students participating in the different activities.

People noted having an auditorium could be used for community and school events.

The public is also welcome to provide feedback at a second meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 23, also at the TVHS commons. That meeting will follow the same format as Thursday’s one.

The corporation has also set up an email address that people may send questions and comments to. It’s [email protected].

Legislative resolution

At the start of Thursday’s meeting, the TVSC Board approved a resolution opposing state House Bill 1005 and Senate Bill 412.

Both bills would set up education accounts for students attending nonpublic schools to cover school expenses.

The Valley school board planned to vote on the resolution at its regular meeting on Monday, March 15, but tabled it until Thursday for more discussion.

Conley made a statement following the approval. He noted 142 Indiana school corporations had or were going to approve such resolutions.

“According to the Indiana Coalition of Public Education, since 2011, $86,000,000 in funding has gone to scholarship granting organizations which fund private schools,” said Conley. “The proposed legislation of educational savings accounts starts with a $19,000,000 price tag, but will likely expand. There’s limited accountability in place for home school or private school students.”

He also noted the amount of funding that has gone to charter schools, which “do not have to be held to the same accountability requirements as public schools.”

“In spite of all these obstacles placed in front of public education, Tippecanoe Valley has been able to remain fiscally sound while providing valuable programming for students and the skills necessary to be successful,” he said. “During this time, our students have received recognition for their efforts.”