Board holds preliminary hearing on proposed $77.85 million career-technical center and new transportation facility

Northwest Allen County Schools held a preliminary determination hearing June 23 for proposed capital projects that would add a career-technical education (CTE) and alternative education center at Carroll High School and a new transportation facility, administrators said.

The projects were presented by district staff and consultants in schematic-design detail and will be the subject of a second public hearing July 21. Superintendent Barker and Dr. Bidding described program plans and site work; business staff reviewed estimated costs and financing scenarios.

District staff said the CTE/alternative education center is being planned as a multiuse facility intended to serve “all students.” Dr. Bidding listed about 21 proposed programs under consideration, including certified nursing assistant and medical-assistant pathways, fire and rescue/EMT training, industrial maintenance, welding, ag mechanics, construction and an early‑childhood preschool lab intended to link with the culinary and nutrition programs. “This facility is meant for all students. It's not just a career center, it's not just a college bound center, it has a little bit of everything,” Dr. Bidding said.

Administrators presented a schematic plan showing instructional clusters (construction, welding, industrial maintenance, culinary, medical, early‑childhood) and separate space proposed for alternative‑education classrooms. The planned CTE facility would include hands‑on bays and flexible classrooms so programming can be adjusted, the district said.

The proposed transportation facility was described as a secure site sized to park about 120 buses and staff vehicles, with seven maintenance bays, a climate‑controlled training area that can fit a bus for evacuation drills and larger common meeting space for drivers and routing staff. District staff said the new facility is meant to consolidate bus parking (some drivers currently park buses at home) and improve workflow among drivers, routing and maintenance staff.

Cost and timeline

Business staff presented an estimated project cost of $77,850,000 for the two main projects and an additional proposed general‑obligation (G.O.) bond authorization of $11,000,000 for related district capital needs, a combined maximum cap the district plans to request. Staff noted the numbers are preliminary and could fall if bids or grant awards are favorable.

The district described a two‑issuance plan to limit capitalized interest: a G.O. bond in 2025 for $11 million and a second issuance in 2026 for the balance. Assumptions announced in the presentation included a 5% interest assumption and soft‑cost estimates of about 23% of construction for the CTE center and about 26% for the transportation facility. Administrators said they expect to put the CTE project out to bid in December 2025 and the transportation project in October–November 2025, with ground breaking weather‑dependent in February–March. The district said the target opening is fall 2027 for the CTE center (occupancy June–July 2027 to set up programs) and spring 2027 for the transportation building, with renovation of the current transportation site afterward.

Financing options and board process

District finance staff described two repayment scenarios: a level‑payment approach that spreads debt service evenly and a deferred approach that pushes some larger payments later, potentially reducing immediate tax‑rate impact. Mr. Basham told the board the district did not need to decide on the approach at the hearing and that numbers could change with AV (assessed‑value) growth or grant awards.

Public comment during the hearing

Speakers at the hearing included residents and local officials. Stephanie Born, who lives on Carroll Road, asked the board to consider naming the new CTE facility for her parents, who have deep family ties to the Carroll Road neighborhood. Robert Born, fire chief of the Northwest Fire District, spoke in support of the CTE program’s ability to provide job‑ready training and reduce time to workforce entry for students; he described the shortage of qualified EMTs and firefighters and said the CTE program could help address recruiting and training needs.

Several residents raised concerns about taxes and timing. Mike Gross, a resident, told the board “it's really easy to be generous when you're spending other people's money,” and urged caution on tax increases. Kent Summers urged the district to defer a referendum and to examine tax incremental financing (TIF) impacts, operating savings and redeploying existing teacher resources before seeking new tax levies.

Next steps and board action

No board vote on bonds was required at the preliminary hearing. The district will hold a second public hearing July 21 and proceed with the legal process required by Indiana Code 6‑1.1‑20‑3.5 before any bond issuance or lease authorization. The board adjourned the preliminary determination hearing by motion (mover: Mitch Schlatter; second: Mr. Vogt).