On May 7, 4,188 voters in Noblesville spoke on behalf of the community and impacted not only Noblesville’s plans for the future but Hamilton County’s.
With the passing of Noblesville Schools’ special referendum (2,868 yes votes to 1,320 no votes), citizens approved the $28 million proposed project that 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.
“It’s incredibly exciting to know we have the freshmen back in one high school where they belong for programming,” School Board President Jane Barr said.
“It’s an incredible opportunity for the citizens of Noblesville. It’s very exciting to see the people who took the time to go vote on a single issue today (May 7),” Noblesville School Board Secretary Julia Kozicki said. “I’m thrilled to have a college in Noblesville they can attend.”
Now that the referendum has passed Noblesville Schools Superintendent Libbie Conner said the district will begin the Design-Build process, the same process used during phase I and II of 2010’s referendum, in June.
“We’ll go through the process and select a team that will do all the design and construction,” she said. “We’ll do everything it takes to sell bonds by September and break ground after school starts.”
Conner said NEMS will still house students for the 2013-2014 school year and Ivy Tech would take control of the building in June 2014 and expect to have some classes that fall. The construction will take place during next school year but it should not interfere with students in the classroom. Conner said Promise Road Elementary was built in 11 months and the most recent additions from the 2010 referendum were done during the school year.
“The additions will all be outside so the only interference is parking and traffic flow,” she said. “Next summer will be huge in terms of finishing up without students around.
Hamilton County Election Administrator Kathy Richardson said there were no issues with the special referendums voting. Richardson said the exact amount both Noblesville and Hamilton Southeastern will pay for the referendum was not known at print time.
“Anything that can be fully assigned to a school corporation will be,” she said.
Each will pay for the poll workers, their meals and other expenses of polling places. The remaining items – like machine maintenance and publication – will be prorated 60/40 (HSE/Noblesville) because of voting population numbers. To assist in cost saving, Richardson said the number of poll workers was cut back from five to three and locations with multiple precincts had only one inspector.
