UPDATE: Batesville Schools Seeking BHS Renovations

By Mike Perleberg Update published Tuesday, September 22 at 10:02 a.m.: The Batesville Community Schools Board of Trustees meeting was canceled on Monday, September 21. A lack of a quorum of board members was the reason for the cancellation, said Batesville Schools Superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts. The regular September school board meeting has been rescheduled to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 24 in the Batesville Middle School Commons. Details of the Batesville High School renovation project could be unveiled to the public during that Thursday meeting. According to a notice from the school district, as per the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance, the 2016 budget hearing cannot be rescheduled. The 2016 budget adoption is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Monday, October 19 in the Batesville Middle School Commons   Original story published Friday, September 18 at 8:18 a.m.: (Batesville, Ind.) - A public hearing to consider improvements to Batesville High School has been scheduled. The Batesville Community Schools Board of Trustees is considering a project to renovate and expand the high school. A required 1028 public hearing on the proposal will be held on Monday, October 5 at 7:00 p.m. at Batesville Middle School. No price tag for the project is being released at this time. Batesville Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts says a dollar figure and other specific information will come out following the school board meeting on Monday, September 21. This is not the first time that the school district has sought improvements to its buildings. In 2009, Batesville voters went to the ballot box to and nearly 57 percent voted to defeat a referendum for $28 million. That renovation plan would have added more classrooms, office space, and a swimming pool at Batesville High School while also making renovations at the district’s three other schools. The plan included a tax increase for property owners in the school district. The renovations being sought now would have to be below $10 million in order to avoid going to the ballot, as required by state law for larger capital projects. RELATED STORIES: 2009: Batesville Schools Referendum Fails