(Batesville, Ind.) - Batesville Community Schools can move ahead with construction projects to revamp their schools.

Students in the classroom at Batesville Intermediate School. file photo

The deadline for anybody in the school district to challenge the building project passed Oct. 29. There were 30 days for citizens to file a petition against the project with the Ripley County Clerk.

Batesville Schools put together the remonstrance after voters denied a $28 million referendum at the ballot box in 2009.

The $12 million project is the maximum cost for a remonstrance project allowed by state law. The owner of a $150,000 home will pay $11.86 more in property taxes each month according to the project study by H.J. Umbaugh & Associates.

Debt for the project will be paid off over the course of 17 years and six months beginning in 2012.

According to the public 1028 Hearing held Sept. 12, Batesville Middle School will be the main focus with $10 million earmarked for improvements there including a two-story classroom addition and modest renovations to the existing building.  The improvements would allow third graders to be moved from Batesville Primary School to the intermediate school building.

The remaining $2 million would be used at Batesville High School to renovate the vocational wing and allow for better use of space.

Unlike the defeated $28 million referendum, this project was scaled down to not include a swimming pool at the high school, a new auditorium, or more physical education space.

Batesville Community Schools expects 2009-10’s enrollment of 2,095 students to increase by about 170 students over the next six years.

Bruns-Gutzwiller Construction, a Batesville-based business, is the general contractor for the upcoming renovations. Fanney Howery has been hired as the architect.

LINKS:

$12 Million Hearing Tonight

BCSC Will Try For Improvements Via Different Method

Batesville Schools Still Need More Space