Whiting board advances $24.36 million project, adopts reimbursement resolution and approves routine contracts

The School City of Whiting board held a second preliminary determination hearing on a proposed capital project and voted to advance the financing and related administrative steps.

Administration explained that many district buildings are more than 100 years old and need mechanical, HVAC, electrical and plumbing upgrades. The administration said it spent "a little over $100,000" last year on HVAC maintenance and that delaying repairs would likely increase future costs. Finance staff reported March 2026 cash balances of $11,447,834.37, noting the education fund held $3,140,135.14, the operations fund held $1,226,121.91 and a rainy-day fund of $3,900,000. The finance presenter also said the district is projecting roughly $290,000 in reduced revenue this year because of circuit-breaker losses.

The board then heard from the district’s underwriter, Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Inc., which outlined a proposed borrowing of $24,360,000 and suggested phasing construction into two segments to match project timing and borrowing needs. The underwriter emphasized that, because many local property owners are already at tax caps, the underwriter’s model anticipates the median homeowner would not see an increased payment tied to the project. A member of the legal/financial team explained that the project-resolution item satisfies requirements under Indiana law to adopt a preliminary determination resolution specifying educational value, estimated construction cost, estimated tax-rate impact and proposed funding sources.

The board moved, seconded and adopted the project-resolution motion to permit the corporation to enter into a lease or issue bonds for the project. The board also adopted a reimbursement resolution to allow the school corporation to reimburse prior project costs from future bond proceeds once bonds are closed. Both resolutions passed on voice vote with no opposing votes recorded in the transcript.

During the same meeting the board approved routine business items: acceptance of the personnel report; carry-forward of open purchase orders totaling $86,796.58; approval of a Lee Company quote for new cafeteria furniture at Nathan Hale (approximately $115,044.41); a $9,754.51 resource desk for the high school; authorization for a summer nutrition program at Wyndham High School beginning June 2, 2026; and various workplace-learning partnership agreements. The board also discussed E-rate funding for networking and expected an approximate 80% reimbursement rate for eligible purchases.

Teacher and union representation at the meeting underscored concerns about state funding pressures; a teacher who identified themself as the dual-credit world history teacher and WTA union president thanked the board for using leftover construction funds to address building needs while acknowledging the fiscal pressures from the state-level circuit-breaker impact.

The meeting proceeded to other routine agenda items after those votes.