Board pauses partial demolition at Happy Hollow and asks for community input on long‑term uses

The West Lafayette school board heard an update on Happy Hollow planning and decided to delay proposed partial demolition after the policy analytics revenue forecast raised concerns about near‑term district finances. Skybound consultant Adam Jones described a shortened public engagement approach — a neighborhood survey, targeted focus groups, and in‑person and virtual sessions — to gather community ideas about the site’s long‑term use and advised the board on timelines to report back by the end of 2025. Jones said the process would seek uses aligned with district priorities while clearly explaining financial constraints. Administration recommendation to pause: Because Policy Analytics’ forecast shows the district could face substantial revenue loss in coming years, the administration recommended pausing discretionary partial demolition work at Happy Hollow and instead collecting community input before committing capital funds. The superintendent emphasized the district must preserve the portions of the building needed for current programming while planning longer‑term changes; he noted equipment such as a chiller has reached end of life and will require replacement whether or not demolition proceeds. Board and community concerns: Trustees and public commenters asked for technical details — chiller cost estimates (administration cited roughly $300,000 as a planning figure), whether parts of the building can be mothballed safely, and how quickly the district could proceed if funding becomes available. Several trustees and residents urged active outreach to the immediate New Chauncey neighborhood, to parks and recreation, to the city and to other potential partners to explore shared uses and revenue opportunities. Next steps: The administration will keep necessary program spaces operational, prepare cost estimates for urgent maintenance (chiller, critical plumbing), and work with Skybound to deploy the public survey and focus groups; Jones said he will provide a community‑informed recommendation later in 2025. The board emphasized communication with neighborhood leaders and city officials during the planning process.