West Noble board debates siting new bus garage and whether to rebuild or relocate baseball/softball fields

West Noble School Corporation trustees spent the bulk of a work session debating how to spend the second half of a planned $25 million bond program, with particular focus on a proposed new transportation (bus) garage and the future of the district's baseball and softball facilities.

District staff said the 2026 bond constitutes the second tranche of a two-year borrowing plan and that the district expects roughly $11.2 million in proceeds from the current issuance; after bond issuance and architectural expenses, staff presented a target Phase 2 spend near $8 million for the bus garage, athletics and miscellaneous campus items. "We have the money," a presenter told the board and said work was divided so time-sensitive items (elementary and high-school work) could proceed first.

On siting, staff argued the most cost-effective location for a new bus garage is the current softball field area on the main campus, which would avoid the costly soil remediation and utility extensions they estimated at some alternative sites. The presenter summarized site studies and consultant feedback that moving the garage to low-lying areas could require between $800,000 and $1 million of subgrade remediation (pilings or soil stabilization) at certain candidate locations. "We believe this is the best spot for it," the presenter said of the softball-area site, noting it would allow the district to keep bus maintenance operating during construction.

To preserve athletics, staff proposed relocating baseball and softball to the Owens property the district has under contract. That change would allow the district to build a single press box serving both fields, regrade and rework fields for long-term playability, and repave shared parking. Board members and community coaches pushed back and exchanged a range of views: some argued local youth participation has been declining and cautioned against investing heavily in a sport that may not sustain larger teams; others said a well-built facility would help retain and attract players and that peer districts have invested repeatedly to modernize fields.

Costs and alternates were discussed at length. Staff and a contractor (Hostetler Landscape) described line items: earthwork and drainage for both fields (Hostetler's combined earthwork figure for field reconstruction was discussed in the transcript at about $1.2 million for certain scopes), a $1.8 million package for constructed fields was cited as a Phase 2 athletics estimate in the board presentation, bid alternates included lighting (one lighting line item shown at $599,006 and conduit/bases for future lighting at $176,000) and reuse or purchase of used poles to reduce near-term cost. Staff also noted available leftover funds from the first bond phase and potential rebate opportunities.

Board members asked practical questions about the Owens property: the district does not take full deed ownership until February 2027, raising questions about whether bond proceeds can legally fund improvements now. Staff said the property sale contract includes language allowing school use during the payment period but recommended legal review and verification with permitting authorities before committing bond funds to off-campus improvements.

Several trustees emphasized schedule pressure. Staff described a summer construction timeline to enable the Turning Point program and Noble Early Learning (preschool) to relocate into vacated spaces on the main campus by the next school year; that sequencing was the principal rationale staff offered for completing transportation and athletics work in the coming year. "We need them to be in there around December," staff said of the planned timing for the transportation offices and bus garage to allow further program moves.

What happened next: The meeting concluded without a formal vote on the Phase 2 scope or siting; a motion to adjourn was made, seconded and approved. Staff said they will return with more detailed cost breakdowns, legal confirmation regarding Owens property use, and refined alternates for lighting and other add-ons.

Key quote: "If we do it, we have to do it right. Let's do it right and let's be done with it," a trustee said when arguing for a full rebuild rather than cosmetic repairs.

Next steps: staff will verify legal/permitting issues related to Owens, refine bid alternates to lower the Phase 2 total where possible, and bring updated cost estimates and schedule implications back to the board before any formal authorization.