District planners presented the White County Board of Education with its five-year capital-outlay plan and the district academic plan on March 20 and showed conceptual drawings for a proposed seven-classroom addition at Doyle Elementary.

The architect engagement was described as continuing under the district’s existing contract with Upland Design Group. Staff explained the Doyle project would add seven classrooms to the school’s front facade and keep the exterior appearance similar to the current building. The addition would include a covered patio connecting to existing campus circulation and a proposed walking trail along the front pavement; staff said the city would be consulted because some existing pavement is city-owned.

Staff estimated the Doyle addition would cost less than $2 million and said the district intends to use savings rather than bond proceeds or new taxes to fund the work. The project would not add kitchens or restrooms but might require extension of a sprinkler system; staff said they would resolve that code question with architects and building officials.

Board members and community speakers raised operational concerns: limited playground space, parent drop-off and pick-up traffic, a curved approach road near the playground described as a safety risk, and an already-crowded gym and cafeteria at Doyle. Some board members urged staff to consider other options, including revisiting use of the Central View facility or reworking parent-flow patterns, before committing to a large expansion.

Why it matters: Capital decisions affect classroom capacity, student safety and long-term maintenance budgets. The proposed addition aims to relieve space constraints for instruction and pullout services but will require detailed reviews of playground impacts, traffic flow and the need for sprinklers and HVAC design.

What’s next: Staff will continue design work with Upland Design Group, verify sprinkler and code requirements, and bring scope, budget and timeline information to the board for a future decision. Board members signaled support for further review rather than immediate approval.