Reconfiguration plan approved

It was not a decision anyone enjoyed.

But in the end, the Jay School Board unanimously gave its approval to a major reconfiguration of the district’s school buildings and set in motion an estimated $20 million in remodeling work on the six schools that will comprise the corporation’s footprint.

Under the plan approved by the board Monday night:

•Jay County High School will become a grade 7 through 12 junior-senior high school.

•Bloomfield and Redkey elementary schools will become kindergarten through grade 6 facilities.

•The current East Jay Middle School building will become a grade 3 through 6 facility serving all of Portland.

•The current West Jay Middle School building will become a kindergarten through grade 6 facility, with Westlawn Elementary School being closed.

•East Elementary School will continue as a kindergarten through grade 2 building for all of Portland.

•General Shanks Elementary School will be closed and reconfigured to house the corporation’s central office, preschool and special programs.

•The current central office building on Tyson Road in Portland will be closed and sold along with the former Judge Haynes Elementary building, the Westlawn building and the former Pennville Elementary building.

“This is not fun to deal with,” said school board president Phil Ford. “The driving force is … declining enrollment, and declining enrollment is not going to go away.”

The board’s decision followed a nearly one-hour presentation by superintendent Jeremy Gulley which traced a decision-making process that has spanned more than 16 months.

“There’s never, ever been more transparency for a project than this one,” said Ford.

The changes, said Gulley, will lead to the elimination of nearly 30 school district jobs, relieving pressure on the district’s general fund that will allow it to maintain curriculum and programs at their current level. Already, he said, the corporation has cut expenses over the past two years by $2 million by eliminating 28 positions.

But the reconfiguration will carry a significant price tag as buildings are re-purposed, and that cost was a source of concern for at least one of the roughly 50 people on hand for Monday’s meeting.

“This is one of the largest expenditures in Jay Schools history,” said farmer and former school board member Greg Miller. “Looking at the numbers … it looks like it’s going to be a 64-percent increase to (property) tax payers.”

“A farmer,” said Miller, “will see at least a thousand dollars out of his pocket.”

He was also skeptical as to whether the six-school configuration will actually solve the problem. “Maybe we’re down to that point where we’re down to a three-building configuration.”

But Gulley said his months of study had brought him to the conclusion that the six-school plan is the best approach.

“This configuration is the most sensible,” Gulley said. “My assessment is unchanged from the previous month.”

Though initial estimates from the architectural firm of Barton-Coe-Vilamaa had construction costs of $35 to $40 million, that was pared back to an estimated $20 million.

That would translate into an estimated 18 cents per $100 increase in the debt service fund property tax rate. Accountants estimate that would mean a $5.36 per month increase in property taxes on a $100,000 home and a $15.11 per month  increase in property taxes on a $200,000 home. It would mean a $2.90 increase per acre of farmland over 2019 rates.

Gulley said the bulk of that amount would be spent at JCHS, transforming the southeast corner of the building into an area for junior high classes.

“This room is where the space is,” he told those assembled for the meeting in the library of the high school. The cost of the high school reconfiguration is estimated at $14 million.

Another $1.2 million would be spent at the current East Jay building, primarily on the grounds and exterior. Work estimated at $1.2 million would be done on the West Jay building, focusing on security, expanded parking and transforming the current science classrooms into a kindergarten area.

Bloomfield would see an estimated $3.1 million in work, finding more classroom space in the current library and making security changes involving the location of the principal’s office. Redkey would have an estimated $103,000 in security improvements.

On Jan. 21 and Feb. 18, the board will hold what is known as a 1028 hearing to set the bond financing of the construction work in motion.

Gulley’s timeline calls for work at the high school to take place in the 2019-20 school year, with the building becoming a junior-senior high school in the 2020-21 school year.

Also in the 2020-21 school year, the West Jay building would be converted to an elementary facility. Then in 2021-22, Westlawn students would move to the West Jay location and the central office would move to the General Shanks building. 

“The goal is to try to cut spending without affecting programs,” Gulley said. “We’re driving every dollar we can into the classroom.”

“We’re trying to do what we think is best not only for the kids,” said Ford, “but for the health of the community.”

In other business, the board:

•Appointed Dolphus Stephens to Jay County Public Library Board.

•Accepted two donations from the Dunkirk Kiwanis Club — $1,000 for teachers at Redkey and $1,200 for teachers at Westlawn.

•Accepted a Teacher Appreciation Grant in the amount of $92,372.28 from the state of Indiana, which will be used for bonuses for qualifying teachers.

•Hired Joni Robbins as kitchen manager at Bloomfield.

•Approved the retirements of transportation director Teresa Myers, food service director Karmella VanSkyock and food service cook Josephine Smith.

•Accepted the resignations of crossing guard Bryce Davidson and food service employee Stashia Cooke.

•Approved leaves of absence by kindergarten teacher Carrie Byrum, fourth grade teacher Jessica Root, third grade teacher Jenna Muhlenkamp and principals Fred Medler and Julie Gregg.

•Agreed to a support services contract with Community and Family Services related to Head Start.

•Authorized a field trip by JCHS science students to Costa Rica.

•Approved extra-curricular assignments for girls assistant basketball coach Marc Bogenschutz, girls assistant basketball coach Pazia Williams, assistant swim coach Kyle Sibray, freshman football coach Mitchell James, middle school art club sponsor Tammy Tillman, sixth grade girls basketball coach Mikayla Schultz, seventh grade team leader Tammy Boltz and competition cheer coaches Lynette Sisco, Cheree McCallister and Melynda James.

•Were formally introduced to Mike Bush, a semi-retired school administrator filling in as interim business manager after Brad DeRome’s retirement.