Greencastle-Antrim leaders outline facilities master plan amid rapid housing growth and propose millage increases to fund projects

Superintendent Dr. Laura Hanks and district finance staff told the Greencastle-Antrim School District Board on April 3 that the district's facilities master plan, developed with community input in 2023, needs revisiting because local housing development and growing program needs are accelerating demand for expanded space.

The master plan presentation detailed specific building needs, including replacement of gym bleachers to meet ADA standards, expanded science labs at the high school, repurposing a primary-school wing, improved camera surveillance, and safety-film installation at main offices funded through a PCCD grant. Dr. Hanks said recent development activity includes “shovels are going in the ground on 851 housing units in our township and borough” and that kindergarten registration opened with “80 registered” in the district’s first two weeks, signaling faster enrollment growth than typical.

Why this matters: district leaders said the campus is near capacity for programs and activities and that the district must plan financing before growth further strains classrooms, athletics and special programs. Business office staff presented projected costs and a funding path to preserve fiscal health while preparing to finance major projects.

Caroline (business office) told the board the district finished fiscal year 2023–24 with a fund balance of about $21,400,000 and proposed a multiyear approach to bond financing. Using a working estimate of a $45 million project, staff described a phased borrowing scenario and said the district would likely need roughly 8.99 mills in additional tax effort spread across multiple years to fund that scale of work; the finance committee recommended a 4% millage increase in 2025–26 to be dedicated to capital projects. Caroline said the current draft budget shows a small operating deficit ($64,321) and $1.1 million of one-time items (North field turf and network/server refreshes) that could be covered with fund balance if the board authorizes it.

Board discussion emphasized timing and community impact. Dr. Hanks reviewed the master-plan priorities identified in 2023 (short-, mid- and long-term options) and showed preliminary diagrams for a possible high-school science wing and an auxiliary gym, noting constraints such as an existing gas line across campus that limits building placements. She said replacing older bleachers will require ADA-compliant reconfiguration that could reduce seating capacity unless additional space is provided.

Finance and next steps: staff recommended the board place a preliminary budget on the May 1 agenda (including the finance committee’s recommendation to raise the millage by 4% and put the proceeds into a capital projects reserve) and adopt a final budget on June 5 after the required public review period. Caroline said the 4% proposal is intended solely for capital projects and not for ongoing operational expenses; she emphasized that the district should accumulate enough capital funds before committing to construction.

Quotes: Dr. Laura Hanks said the district needed to “be prepared so we're not blindsided by growth,” citing substantial new housing and higher-than-usual kindergarten signups. Caroline said the finance committee’s recommendation was to “raise 4% strictly into capital projects” and to use those funds to build readiness for a large construction program.

What remains unresolved: exact project scopes and up-to-date cost estimates; the board did not approve a bond or construction contract at the meeting. Staff said they will return with refined cost estimates, financing scenarios and a preliminary budget for board consideration on May 1.

Ending: The board did not take final action on a construction plan at the meeting but directed staff to bring a preliminary budget (reflecting the finance committee guidance) to the May meeting and to continue stakeholder outreach and cost estimating.