At a glance
Public hearings on the proposed $8.15 million general obligation bonds are set for July 22 and Aug. 12.
A presentation about the $125 million Repair 2020 program will be given at a school board meeting this fall with public hearings expected Nov. 25 and Dec. 9. The referendum would appear on the May 5 ballot.
Fort Wayne Community Schools is eyeing $133 million in capital improvements with hopes that voters will support the bulk of the work through a referendum next year.
Repair 2020 would tackle $125 million in improvements, including about $81 million in major renovations at Wayne High School and Blackhawk and Miami middle schools, according to information shared with the school board during a Tuesday work session.
Referendums can help school districts fund major facilities projects, such as new construction and renovations. Property taxes approved by voters through referendums are not subject to property tax caps.
FWCS previously passed referendums in 2012 and 2016 to address building needs, but that “doesn't mean we're done” updating schools, said Kathy Friend, chief financial officer.
Julie Hollingsworth, board president, views Repair 2020 as a continuation of the process begun with the initial referendum discussions in 2011. At that time, she said, the board considered trying for a referendum that would include every needed major renovation, but it rejected the idea as asking for too much at once.
“We haven't changed our goals, we haven't changed our program,” Hollingsworth said Wednesday. “We just have some additional needs that are still there. It's no different than when you own a home. ... You're never really done with repairs or upgrades.”
Wayne is the district's only high school that has not had a major renovation, Hollingsworth said.
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