19. (Photo by Mark Ambrogi)
By Mark Ambrogi
Noblesville Schools are better poised for the future with the recently completed construction project, officials said
The officials, who anticipate their district to continue to grow, held a ribbon cutting and tour on Nov. 19.
“The completion of this project was an important part of an overall district strategic plan and has been over a year in the making,” Noblesville Schools Supt. Dr. Beth Niedermeyer said. “The project was designed first and foremost to help us address our growing student population in Noblesville. We currently have 10,000 students in the district with over 2,700 in the high school.”
Niedermeyer said Noblesville is now the 11th largest high school in the state. Noblesville High School Principal Jeff Bryant said he expects the high school enrollment will be even bigger in the future with some elementary classes having more than 800 students and the district overall growing by approximately 200 students a year for several years.
“Noblesville Schools has been careful to build just want we need,” Niedermeyer said.
Some of the highlights of the construction at the high school include the freshman center, the main office complex, nine new classrooms, a secured main entrance, reorganized performing arts space, including a new band addition, and the addition of the multi-purpose athletic facility.
Bryant said the color guard used to practice in the cafeteria after school but now uses the band space. The cafeteria serving lines were also remodeled.
“We are now getting 2,700 students through the (lunch) lines quicker than we got 2,000 students through the lines last school year because of how it is designed now,” Bryant said.
At East Middle School, Niedermeyer said 26 new classrooms have been added along with athletic renovations to accommodate middle school programming. East Middle School relocated to the high school freshman campus, which was not needed with the addition of the freshman center.
The addition was approximately 179,000 square feet and the project cost was $36 million.
“In order for us to develop the critical thinking, collaboration and student-centered, inquiry-based learning that’s essential in creating our leaders of tomorrow, we needed more facility space for students to learn and do,” Niedermeyer said. “Our facilities are also now more efficient with lower overhead operating costs.
“I want to express our deep appreciation and thanks to the Noblesville community for their confidence and support through all of this.”
Niedermeyer, who was hired over the summer, thanked Dr. Libbie Conner, the former superintendent, for her role in leading the project during her tenure. Conner announced her retirement in March and it became effective on Sept. 1.
Niedermeyer said more than 180 peopled worked through the third snowiest and coldest winter in history last year to keep the construction project on time and on budget.
