Mitchell Community School Board Approves Capital Projects Through Bonds

(MITCHELL) – The Mitchell Community School approved moving forward on a $16.8 million improvement plan for the school corporation.

During the board meeting, the Mitchell Community School Board decided to move the proposals to a public hearing in the first part of January 2021. They must decide whether to take all of the $16.8 million in projects,which will take almost three years to complete. The debt for all the projects would be paid off in ten years.

However, board members could decide to take another option which is to take on a few projects at a time. However, the costs may increase and cost taxpayers more in the long run. Should any of these projects be put on hold the cost of interest rates, construction costs and other variables could cause price increases.

The greatest savings for the school corporation will be to take these projects on all at once and be able to keep the debt service rate for tax payers down.

Capital improvement funds can only be used for capital projects; they cannot be used for teacher salaries.

A proposed turf project of football, baseball, and softball fields.

List of proposed projects:

High and Middle School

  • Auxiallary Gym/ Concessions – $5,000,000
  • Contingency – $250,000
  • A/E Fees – $320,000

Elementary School

  • Traffic Improvements – $1,100,000
  • Roofing – $1,022,000
  • Contingency – $200,000
  • A/E Fees – $145,000

Athletics

  • Practice Facility – $1,100,000
  • Turf Football Field – $850,000
  • Infield Turf Baseball/Softball (include drainage and irriagation) – $1,500,000

Adminstration

  • Maintenance building – $ 1,000,000
  • Demolition – $95,000
  • A/E Fees – $69,000

Junior/Senior High Roofing

  • Roofing – $765,000
  • Contingency – $70,000
  • A/E Fees – $52,000

HVAC/Chiller Replacement/Energy Upgrades

  • HVAC/ Chiller Replacement/ Energy Upgrades – $100,000
  • Contingency – $ 100,000
  • A/E Fees – $68,000

STEAM/Lab Renovations

  • STEAM/Lab Renovations – $584,500
  • Contingency – $50,000
  • A/E Fees – $47,000

The Mitchell Community School Supt. Brent Comer, along with the Mitchell School Board, want to clearly emphasize that no tax increases to the local taxpayers by executing these projects will take place.

The Board President Chris Shaw and Superintendent Brent Comer want the public to be informed and transparent as they proceed with the projects.

More information on the proposed projects will be released for the public in the coming weeks ahead.