School board approves purchase of Charlestown Road property after split vote

The New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corporation board voted 4-3 May 12 to approve a purchase agreement for property at 4116 Charlestown Road, a parcel district leaders said would improve access and parking for Prosser Career Education.

Superintendent Dr. Madison and district staff presented the acquisition as part of a larger plan to open Prosser’s campus, ease a congested entrance and create additional parking. “The entrance, the ability to open Prosser up, and much needed parking, much needed access,” a district official said during the meeting.

Why it matters: District officials said buying the parcel is a step toward a concept plan from civil engineers that would move campus access away from a congested stretch of Charlestown Road, improve traffic flow for buses and semitrailers and create room for planned facility improvements. Opponents on the board said the district should prioritize needs over optional property purchases while state-level education funding remains uncertain.

Board discussion centered on safety, timing and funding. Supporters argued the property is strategically located south of Prosser and would allow construction that improves circulation and reduces dangerous queuing at the highway entrance. A district official said civil- and traffic-engineering work has considered the Indiana Department of Transportation study of the intersection and that engineers had moved the proposed access away from the road in concept drawings.

Those opposed questioned immediate need and timing. “I think at this time I would rather focus on needs instead of wants,” one board member said during debate. Another board member described the purchase as a safety improvement but acknowledged uncertainty about how soon adjacent parcels could be acquired and whether demolition would occur immediately.

Funding: Board members were told the district intends to use Prosser funds (tuition and operations tied to Prosser Career Education) for this and related parcel purchases; the presentation noted Prosser charges tuition of $3,995 per student, paid on behalf of Floyd County students. The purchase price for 4116 Charlestown Road was not disclosed at the meeting.

Next steps and contingencies: District staff said exact timing for site work depends on civil-engineer plans and the sequence of acquiring neighboring properties; demolition of existing structures would follow engineer recommendations and could be delayed until multiple parcels are assembled. Staff also said they would explore potential grant funding and partnerships to help cover entrance improvements.

Vote: The motion passed 4-3. Board members voting yes were Mrs. Ball, Mr. Nafus, Mrs. Northup and Mrs. Gardener. Board members voting no were Mrs. Weishard, Mrs. Carruthers and Mrs. Galligan.

The district will proceed with civil-engineering coordination and follow-up planning if the purchase closes; officials said additional conversations with adjacent institutions and property owners would continue.