The $28-million referendum allows the district to finance the construction of safety and security improvements to multiple buildings, build additions at Noblesville High School and transform the Freshman Campus into a middle school. While the ballot question does not state it, the other portion of the referendum is selling Noblesville East Middle School to Hamilton County, which will lease the building to Ivy Tech for $1.
“Ivy Tech plans to have a major Central Indiana campus in Hamilton County. Every city in Hamilton County has been trying to recruit Ivy Tech,” Noblesville Schools Supt. Libbie Conner said. “They came to us really wanting to be in Noblesville. It’s an incredible opportunity for us in Noblesville even though it will serve Hamilton County.”
The referendum allows the district to lose an asset that’s becoming more of a liability. Noblesville East Middle School was built in 1954, had its last major addition in 1984 and currently has 22 different roof sections.
“Its needing major, major renovation,” Conner said. “A facility study said to bring it up to middle school standards would cost $17 million.”
Construction at the high school will add 157,000 square feet and cost $22,628,161. The Freshman Campus will add 88,759 square feet and cost $15,535,174. NEMS is approximately 250,000 square feet.
“It’s more efficient space. We’re adding almost as much square footage as we’re losing,” School board vice president Julia Kozicki said.
Financing and soft costs add another $4,325,100, making the total price tag $39,498,435. Hamilton County and the City of Noblesville will pay $14.5 million for the sale of NEMS, cutting the price down to $25 million.
The $28-million project includes $3 million to refinance existing bonds, thus saving the taxpayer in the long run. Projected costs range from 4.5 cents to 10 cents per $100 assessed value based on the year. Figures are based at a bond interest rate of 5 percent, while the current rate is 1.75 percent.
Noblesville Schools’ strategic plan has freshman returning to an expanded high school building. Plans call for adding more physical education locker rooms, classrooms and expanding the performing arts, which is gaining in popularity with students. The freshman campus will transform back into a middle school, which is what it was years ago.
“We are able to expand and renovate a building with good bones and get a larger-term use for less money then we’d put into the (NEMS) building,” Conner said. “It’s an effective and efficient use of taxpayers’ dollars.”
Despite selling NEMS, the district will retain possession of Hare Chevrolet Field and use of the parking lot. Conner added that the gymnasium will have its history preserved and Ivy Tech plans to open it and the auditorium to the community.
“Ivy Tech is very community minded,” she said. “They are very open to the community using the facilities when they are not using them.”
Ivy Tech officials said this campus will be a full service one with student advisement, student aide, library, a basketball team and science labs. In addition to having an economic impact, Ivy Tech would help to retrain employees and provide much-needed skills to younger people not going to college. It also allows college students the opportunity to live and work in Noblesville while earning credits, degrees and job certifications at a discounted price per credit hour. Kozicki said senior citizens can attend classes for free.
If the referendum passes, Conner said NEMS will still house students for the 2013-2014 school year and Ivy Tech would take control of the building on June 1, 2014.
If the referendum is defeated, Noblesville Schools will continue at “status quo” and the city would forfeit the opportunity to bring Ivy Tech to the community. Conner said the district would have to turn to general obligation bonds to make the critical repairs at NEMS, which would cost $17 million.
“A split campus would not allow us to move programs forward like we’d like to,” Conner said, adding that portables would be added at the high school for increased enrollment.
The last referendum, a requirement by the state for major funding initiatives of school districts, occurred in 2010 during the primary election. Kozicki said when Noblesville Schools had its first special election in January 2009, only 3,600 residents voted – defeating the proposal 1880 to 1799.
Noblesville Question:
“Shall Noblesville Schools issue bonds or enter into a lease to finance the construction of safety and security improvements to school facilities within the school district; construction of an addition to and the retrofit of the Noblesville Freshmen Center for use as a middle school; construction of an addition and improvements to the Noblesville High School in order to accommodate freshmen students; construction of improvements to the Noblesville Schools’ campus including site and related facilities located thereon and the purchase of real estate and development of real estate for any necessary relocation of facilities, which is estimated to cost not more than $28,000,000 and is estimated to increase the property tax rate for debt service by a maximum of $0.10 per $100 of assessed value?”
Noblesville Polling Places
0601 Noblesville 01
Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church
9900 E. 191st St.
Community Room
0602 Noblesville 02
Worship Center of Hamilton County
2200 Sheridan Rd.
Worship Center
0603 Noblesville 03
Noblesville Fire Station 76
16800 Hazel Dell Rd.
Community/Training Room
0604 Noblesville 04
Emmanuel United Methodist Church
16000 Cumberland Rd.
Fellowship Hall
0605 Noblesville 05
Forest Park Inn
701 Cicero Rd.
Overlook Room
0606 Noblesville 06
Wastewater Administration Building
197 W. Washington St.
Conference Room
0607 Noblesville 07
The Worship Center of Hamilton County
2200 Sheridan Rd.
Worship Center
0608 Noblesville 08
First Christian Church
16377 Herriman Blvd.
Narthex/Foyer
0609 Noblesville 09
First Presbyterian Church
1207 E. Conner St.
Fellowship Hall
0610 Noblesville 10
Christ Community Christian Church
772 N. 10th St.
Fellowship Hall
0611 Noblesville 11
Noblesville Fire Station 76
16800 Hazel Dell Rd.
Community/Training Room
0612 Noblesville 12
Hamilton County Government/Judicial Center
1 Hamilton County Square
Eighth St. Entrance/Conference Room
0613 Noblesville 13
Noblesville High School Freshman Campus
1625 Field Dr.
East Gym
0614 Noblesville 14
Noblesville Fire Station 74
20777 Hague Rd.
Bay Area
0615 Noblesville 15
Bethel Lutheran Church
20650 Cumberland Rd.
Fellowship Hall
0616 Noblesville 16
Noblesville Fire Station 72
400 South Harbour Dr.
Bay Area
0617 Noblesville 17
The Worship Center of Hamilton County
2200 Sheridan Rd.
Worship Center
0618 Noblesville 18
White Rock Fellowship Ministry Center
21070 Schulley Rd.
Large Meeting Room
0619 Noblesville 19
Green Valley Church of Christ
19005 Cumberland Rd.
Lobby
0620 Noblesville 20
Northlake Village Apartments
1100 Northlake Dr.
Leasing Office/Clubhouse
0621 Noblesville 21
Noblesville Fire Station 73
2101 Greenfield Ave.
Bay Area
0622 Noblesville 22
River’s Edge Apartments
870 Watermead Dr.
Clubhouse
0623 Noblesville 23
Osprey Point at Morse Beach
19777 Morse Park Lane
Main Room
0624 Noblesville 24
White Rock Fellowship Ministry Center
21070 Schulley Rd.
Large Meeting Room
0625 Noblesville 25
White Rock Fellowship Ministry Center
21070 Schulley Rd.
Large Meeting Room
0626 Noblesville 26
Third Phase, Inc.
15755 Allisonville Rd.
Room
0627 Noblesville 27
The Worship Center of Hamilton County
2200 Sheridan Rd.
Worship Center
0628 Noblesville 28
Green Valley Church of Christ
19005 Cumberland Rd.
Auditorium
0629 Noblesville 29
Green Valley Church of Christ
19005 Cumberland Rd.
Auditorium
0630 Noblesville 30
St. Michael’s Episcopal Church
444 South Harbour Dr.
Sanctuary
0631 Noblesville 31
Janus Developmental Services, Inc.
1555 Westfield Blvd.
Classroom
0632 Noblesville 32
Emmanuel United Methodist Church
16000 Cumberland Rd.
Fellowship Hall
0633 Noblesville 33
Grace Community Church
5504 E. 146th St.
Central Auditorium
0634 Noblesville 34
Grace Community Church
5504 E. 146th St.
Central Auditorium
0636 Noblesville 36
St Michael’s Episcopal Church
444 South Harbour Dr.
Sanctuary
0637 Noblesville 37
Noblesville Fire Station 75
10170 E. 191st St.
Bay Area
0638 Noblesville 38
Emmanuel United Methodist Church
16000 Cumberland Rd.
Fellowship Hall
0639 Noblesville 39
Meredith Meadows Apt. Clubhouse
15367 Meredith Meadows Dr. East
Left Side