Carmel Clay Schools embarks next month on the first of a three-year series of multi-million-dollar improvements to school facilities. It will be accomplished without a property tax increase, according to Assistant Superintendent Roger McMichael.
Bids will be accepted on Feb. 9 for an estimated $20 million series of improvements at Carmel High School that include new chillers and boilers, roof restoration, planetarium upgrades and parking lot expansion.
This phase of the overall project will also include work at the soccer and baseball fields with some new bleachers, parking, lighting and a press box.
Later this year another $25 million project will be bid that includes renovating and expanding the Performing Arts Department and remodeling the Dale Graham Auditorium.
School officials say with many more students involved in performing arts, the current facilities are crowded and outdated.
In 2022, the school system will undertake the $43 million construction of a new 50-meter natatorium to be largely devoted to competition swimming. The current swimming facility will then be primarily for recreational swimming. (Carmel swim teams have set national records, winning 51 state championships including 34 consecutive girls swim titles.)
In 2023, the last in the series of renovations called ‘general facility improvements’ estimated to cost just under $18 million will include making certain facilities ADA compliant, installing new field lights at the football stadium, along with a new concession and restroom building at the stadium.
All told, the school corporation will spend slightly over $106 million. Financing will be entirely within existing revenue sources using a combination of general obligation bonds and lease rental contracts, McMichael said.
No voter referendum will be required since existing bonds will be maturing, and their debt retirement rates can be used to retire the newly planned bonds.