New Albany-Floyd County Schools try another referendum

In May of 2015, the measure failed in the primary, with the vote spread at 45 percent in support and 55 percent against it. Taking some lessons from the failure and regrouping, the district aims to win next month, but an opposition group still raises concerns about keeping taxes at the same level and whether the scope is too great on the projects.

In just more than two weeks, voters will decide whether to take an overall property tax decrease or to allow the district to issue the bonds to renovate or rebuild schools, but both sides argued their points.

THE BUILDINGS

The majority of the money for the projects will go to the Prosser Career Education Center, totaling about $27.25 million. Alan Taylor, director of career and technical education, said his building was one of the state’s pilot sites for that kind of education, completed in 1969.

He said it was essentially a pole barn at the time and it worked. But as programs continue to grow, new ones come on as others drop off and the needs of workforce development change, he said the facility needs to change, too.

“We do an outstanding job with this facility, but it’s time to set it up for the next generation of students,” Taylor said. “It’s a perfect and appropriate time to do that.”

He said the facility was recognized by the state as a model for career and technical education last year, mostly because of its programs. But he said it’s difficult to make everything work and the building needs more repairs than they can keep up with.

But he said it’s also difficult to keep the building organized. As the state puts more emphasis on advanced manufacturing, more programs have come in the last five years to support that initiative. But he said they’ve only been able to place those programs where they have space. Often, similar programs that would benefit from cross curriculum are nowhere near each other on the floor plan.

Mike Bauerla, a manufacturing instructor at the school, said he’d like to be closer to the welding lab — which Taylor also said is cramped for the enrollment they have and difficult to watch everyone because of its layout — but his classes and labs are on the other side of the main building.

He said he’s got top-notch equipment to train students on from Amatrol — which was paid for through specific grant funding — but he has nowhere to keep it except in a small storage closet under a sometimes-leaky air handler.

“Right now, I don’t have the flexibility to grow to meet our demands,” Bauerla said. “[The students are] hungry. They want to know what we have to teach.”

Another main concern for Taylor was the overall security of the building. He said as it stands, members of the public can walk through the building once the door is opened by an attendant. They don’t have an office to check into immediately, the cafeteria that’s often patronized by the public isn’t closed off from the rest of the building, and the cosmetology center on Grant Line Road isn’t very secure.

He said the upgrades would bring the cosmetology students onto the main campus and provide better security all around.

“Safety is something that is very important for us to address, in regards to the public supporting our programs,” Taylor said. “We need them to support those programs, but it’s a different world than it used to be.”

The facade of the building would also see an upgrade. Taylor said the school depends on 700 to 800 new students every year, but it can be tough when potential families make a judgment on the facility before they ever step inside.

Slate Run Elementary would also see a substantial portion of the money from the projects. Set for $22.36 million, the new school would address problems that go beyond cosmetics.

Amy Niemeier, principal, said traffic flow is a big issue inside, with students frequently diverted through gym space and cafeteria space to get from some classes to others.

“The traffic pattern in the building is not real conducive to learning,” Niemeier said. “Our students, in order to get to music, have to walk through the cafeteria and the gym just to get to the music room. Those things aren’t set up to support that sacredness of instruction.”

She said many of the classrooms are undersized, both for large- and small-group instruction. She said it’s not uncommon to see teachers in the hallways with students just to get a lesson taken care of.

But she also said there are some aspects of the interior that make it difficult for learning, as well as less-than secure. She said some rooms were built with open concepts in mind, meaning they don’t have walls that go from the floor to the ceiling. She said that makes it difficult with cross chatter, but as noted with Greater Clark County School’s failed referendum last year, it also presents a security risk.

She said the school also doesn’t have a clear entryway. Though the awnings out front suggest entrances, the main office is on one side of the building. She said a trusting student could unknowingly let someone in who shouldn’t be in the school.

“It’s not the best for security,” Niemeier said. “While we keep our facility locked and as secure as possible, we’re also dealing with students who are 5 or 10 years old. They might see someone knocking on a door and let them in. We need a clear point of entry to greet our guests and make sure they’re appropriate to be in the building.”

Green Valley Elementary School would also see a complete rebuild, with $25.85 million dedicated to the project. Several concerns have been brought up, including inadequate classroom space and portable classrooms outdoors.

THE ARGUMENTS

While the projects have been lauded as an improvement for students and their families, having the potential to raise values for property owners and keeping the tax rate where it is, community members in a political action committee have taken issue with the campaign and the necessity of some of the projects.

Joseph Moore, a member of the board of the directors for Grassroots Concerned Citizens, said his organization is taking a stance against the referendum. He said he doesn’t think it’s a good deal for taxpayers, even though he agrees with certain portions of the proposed projects.

“Green Valley and Slate Run, we agree they need some repairs,” Moore said. “We believe it’s overkill to put brand new schools in there because those facilities, they may be 50 years old, but they still look pretty good and they still function well.”

He said he doesn’t think it’s fair to put taxpayers on the hook for complete rebuilds of those buildings. He also said the interest on the bonds of the project brings its total cost to taxpayers to about $136 million.

“Bonds are one of the best ways to make money if you’re buying the bonds,” Moore said. “It’s one of the most expensive ways of borrowing money if you’re the one issuing them.”

He said Prosser also needs a major overhaul for the whole building, but he said since the facility serves seven counties in Southern Indiana, they should also contribute to the construction needs instead of pinning all of it on Floyd County voters.

But he said overall, he doesn’t like the campaign’s use of the tax rate neutral argument. He said if mortgage companies tacked on another 20 years of payments for homeowners, it wouldn’t be called mortgage neutral.

Another PAC, Families For Floyd County, has been pushing in favor of the referendum. Michele Day, chairwoman for the PAC and a former elementary education administrator in the district, said the measure isn’t just an opportunity to improve the schools, but an investment for the community. She said since schools serve as big economic drivers for communities, it makes sense to continue to invest in them.

“Nobody likes taxes,” Day said. “This is tax rate neutral, but we know how people feel about taxes.”

She said other referenda in the state generally haven’t kept tax rates at the same level, they’ve outright raised what people were paying year over year. But she said since good school districts attract business, families and homebuilders, passing the measure gives property owners a chance at higher property values.

That’s part of the reason, she said, the project has received the endorsement of Mayor Jeff Gahan, other city bodies and various trade organizations in the county.

“It’s going to create jobs and it’s going to create jobs over a period of time,” Day said. “I think it speaks volumes that the mayor of the city and the city council have endorsed the referendum because they know it’s going to be bring progress.”

Moore also said he takes issue with the way the campaign for the referendum has gone on. He said his organization’s supporters have seen 80 or more yard signs stolen or vandalized, but he also said he thinks the “Say Yes” campaign isn’t for enrollment, but an endorsement of the referendum. Under state law, if the district has paid for those signs, that would be a violation. He said he’s filed complaints with county and state election commissions and is awaiting responses.

Day said though the last referendum failed, she hopes it passes this time around, especially since there’s been a bigger effort to keep communities informed and give everyone in the county a better chance to weigh in.

“I feel like this community has always been very, very supportive of public education,” Day said. “I’m very optimistic that we’ll have a successful referendum that will benefit our children and our community.”