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Board approves $2.14 million in capital projects, greenlights design for Science & Space center
Summary
The Penn‑Harris‑Madison Board approved a $2.14 million slate of capital improvements and authorized a $140,000 design agreement with Fannie Howey for a new Science & Space Exploration Learning Center; bond- and lease-related resolutions needed to fund the work also passed.
The Penn‑Harris‑Madison Board of School Trustees voted Monday to award a slate of capital improvement projects totaling $2,144,009.58 and to proceed with related bond and lease actions needed to fund the work.
Chief Operating Officer Aaron Linsky told the board the largest investments include renovations at Schmucker Middle School and relocation of the district’s information technology department to a new PHM Information Technology Center. The move will free up five classrooms at Schmucker and create additional locker space, Linsky said.
Board members also approved a $140,000 professional services agreement with architectural firm Fannie Howey to support schematic design and bid procurement for the PHM Science and Space Exploration Learning Center at Bittersweet Elementary. Administrators estimated construction costs at about $2 million and said a grant secured by district staff will cover roughly half the anticipated cost.
The board took all capital awards in a single motion, with the vote recorded as six in favor, zero opposed and one abstention. The motion to approve the Fannie Howey agreement carried by the same margin.
Finance counsel summarized required steps under Indiana law and the board adopted a package of bond- and lease-related resolutions — including additional appropriation resolutions for general obligation and first mortgage bonds, a final bond resolution and an authorization to execute lease documents — each approved with recorded tallies of six in favor and one abstention on roll calls.
Administrators said work will proceed primarily this summer; Schmucker classroom renovations will begin after the technology move is complete, with an estimated mid‑to‑late September completion for that relocation. The board was told project bid tabs and vendor recommendations are available in the board packet and online.
Next procedural steps include awarding specific construction contracts and finalizing bid assignments to the building corporation as part of the bond closing process. The board scheduled action on related policy and professional-services items at upcoming meetings.
Provenance: presentation and motions on capital improvements and Fannie Howey agreement (topicintro: SEG 1639; topfinish: SEG 1779).
