FCCSC Votes to Keep All Schools Open, Accept Recommendation for School Renovations

(Brookville, Ind.) - A Master Facility Plan was laid out at this month's Franklin County Community School Corporation Board Meeting. 

Superintendent Dustin Gehring laid out the plan in a 40-minute presentation that focused on options for enhancing the school corporation's elementary schools. 

The Master Plan comes amid concerns about enrollment, finances and the state of the elementary schools. In December, the school board met to discuss possible consolidation and other options and the risks and rewards of each. 

Superintendent Gehring proposed five options that would enhance the elementary schools throughout the school corporation. Those options included building three new schools on current sites, two new schools on neutral sites, a new elementary on the Brookville campus for 850 students, renovating Brookville Elementary for 850 students, or renovating the existing three elementary schools to ensure viability for at least the next decade. 

The school board voted 5-2 to keep all five schools open and accepted the superintendent's recommendation to renovate the existing three elementary schools at an approximated cost of $21-$25 million. 

Gehring noted that closing two elementary schools will require spending $33 million in renovations or $46 million for a new building that could house 850 students. Closing one elementary school creates limited savings, according to Gehring. 

The school corporation currently has a pending debt cliff where a large chunk of debt falls off at the same time, meaning that past bonds are being paid off leaving room for additional debt while maintaining the current tax rate. 

As much as $45 million could be freed up for another bond financed project. 

One of the primary concerns is Indiana Senate Bill 270, which was passed in 2024. The legislation forces school districts to close underutilized buildings and make them available to charter schools for purchase for $1. 

The legislation could be impactful on FCCSC due to enrollment trends, but their legal team believes they have a strong case to fend off state closures due to current language around travel times. 

You can view the March School Board Meeting at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2b23YFCL6Yo&t=16s.