Vigo County officials ask council to fund oversight board to vet school modernization

County officials and scores of residents gathered at a special Vigo County Council meeting where commissioners urged the council to appropriate $100,000 to create an independent oversight board to vet funding options for school modernization and a possible public–private partnership.

Council President Thompson opened the meeting and set public-comment rules before commissioners presented the proposal and financial background. A commissioner described the board as ‘‘temporary and purpose driven,’’ appointed by multiple entities including the county commissioners, county council, mayor, business community and the school board, and required to follow conflict-of-interest and transparency standards under state law. The proposal cites Senate Bill 382 and House Bill 1515 as the statutory basis for the board.

Earl Elliott, a certified public accountant, presented the county’s 2024 cash and investment report and said the county’s adjusted 12/31/2024 cash balance is about $147,600,000 compared with 2024 disbursements of $139,200,000 — roughly 12.7 months of disbursements. Elliott told the council, “Absolutely, it can,” in response to whether the county can afford the $100,000 allocation for consultant work. He also noted the county earned about $8 million in investment income in 2024 and expects roughly $7 million in 2025.

Business and civic leaders said modern schools are essential to attracting and keeping families and employers. Kristen Craig, CEO of the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce, presented an economic scenario estimating a single young family’s lifetime economic contribution and said the chamber of more than 600 businesses supports creating the oversight board. Representatives of the Terre Haute Casino Foundation said the foundation received $4,200,000 in its first year and is exploring ways future distributions could contribute to a long-term commitment to school projects.

Vigo County School Corporation Superintendent Dr. Himsel outlined years of deferred maintenance, cataloged recent repairs (including chillers, boilers, HVAC units and roofs), and said the district has maximized bonding capacity that — without raising property taxes — could modernize West Vigo High School and two to three elementary schools. He said the board’s role would be to ‘‘drill down,’’ analyze options and make recommendations, not to appropriate or obligate county funds.

Council members pressed for details about the board’s duties and limits. Officials repeatedly clarified the board would not have unilateral spending authority: any appropriation or commitment of county money must be made by the Vigo County Council. Commissioners suggested using non–property-tax revenue (specifically riverboat/casino distributions) rather than direct taxpayer funds for the initial $100,000 consultant appropriation.

Public comment filled the meeting. Dozens of residents, educators, business leaders, nonprofit directors and students spoke; most urged the council to fund the oversight board. Speakers described leaking ceilings, broken toilets, extreme classroom temperatures, and other facility problems. A student said, “I’ve seen pieces of the ceiling fall as I walk in the hallway,” and other students described sewage backups and testing rooms so cold students’ hands were numb. Voices in the crowd urged the council to proceed, arguing that modern facilities would help economic development and teacher recruitment; a minority of speakers voiced opposition or procedural concerns about revisiting an earlier council vote and asked for clearer minutes and public records.

No formal vote was taken at the special meeting. Commissioners said they will ask the county council to consider a $100,000 appropriation at the council meeting scheduled the following week, and a formal council vote is planned at the following Wednesday meeting. Officials emphasized that the oversight board would produce recommendations and that the council would retain final authority over any appropriation or project commitment.

The council closed the public-comment period after more than an hour of testimony and thanked speakers. The immediate next step is the council’s scheduled consideration of the $100,000 appropriation; if approved, the oversight board would begin hiring consultants and producing a report on funding options and legal/financial feasibility.