Project advances

The planned capital improvement project for Jay County Junior-Senior High School has taken another step.

Jay School Board passed a resolution Monday indicating its intent to move forward with the estimated $17.44 million project that will include upgrades to HVAC and electrical systems, outdoor athletic facilities and a variety of other areas.

The board held two public hearings on the project, with no comments during either.

Board members Ron Laux, Marcie Vormohr, Chip Phillips, Aaron Clark, Donna Geesaman and Chad Towell then unanimously approved a resolution indicating that there is a need for the project and that the school corporation will issue bonds to cover the cost of the work. The bonds are capped at $18.285 million and will have a term not to exceed 20 years.

Brian Bohlender of engineering and architecture firm Barton Coe Vilamma provided an overview of the project, which is unchanged from the previous meeting. Its big-ticket items are upgrading the heating, ventilation and cooling system controls; replacing pool treatment equipment, the dehumidification unit and the roof; updating food service equipment, utilities and flooring; rehabilitating the grandstand at Harold E. Schutz Memorial Stadium; replacing the building’s main electrical service; and constructing new tennis courts. Also included are reconstructing the track at Harold E. Schutz Memorial Stadium; modernizing the band and choir areas; replacing water mains, making sidewalk repairs and paving parking lots (as funding allows); painting exterior steel, repairing cracks and replacing exterior wall panels; expanding the wrestling practice area; replacing stage curtains in auditorium; converting the TV studio into instructional space; making security and technology updates and replacing baseball dugouts.

The school corporation has the capacity to bond without increasing its total debt service tax levy because existing debt service payments roll off in 2027, 2028 and 2032.

While there were no public comments Monday, Jay Schools superintendent Jeremy Gulley noted that there were nearly 146 comments shared via an online survey. Vormohr said she is pleased that the board listened and made adjustments to the project based on that feedback.

“It’s very, very important that we have buy-in for this,” said Laux, the board president. 

Another public hearing related to the project is scheduled for the board’s July 21 meeting. The timeline then calls for eight months to design the project, followed by bidding and plans to award it to a contractor in May 2026.

Also Monday, junior-senior high principal Chad Dodd presented data regarding dual credit students for the 2024-25 school year.

A total of 290 students took at least one dual credit course — a course that counts for college credit — with a total of 1,979 college credits earned. Information from Ivy Tech Community College, which partners with Jay Schools on its dual credit program, estimates those classes saved students $336,569 in tuition.

The dual credit total is the highest thus far for Jay School Corporation, surpassing the 1,742 credits achieved in 2023-24.

“It’s very much appreciated the extra effort the teachers give our students,” said Dodd. “We appreciate the families that are encouraging their students to challenge themselves academically. … I couldn’t be more proud of the adults in our building and the students in this program.”

In other business, the board:

•Received the planned budget calendar for preparing the 2026 budget, beginning with seeking permission to advertise the budget during a meeting Aug. 4. A public hearing on the budget will be held Aug. 18, with planned adoption on Sept. 15.

•Approved the following: several hirings, including East Jay Elementary School fourth grade teacher Chloie Lowe and junior-senior high Lifeskills teacher Heather Fugate; an adjunct teacher agreement with junior high art teacher Kim Anderson; a bus request from Jay Community Center for its summer day camp; contracts with Curtis & Livers Consulting for special education consulting services, Abby Muhlenkamp and Katie Southworth for occupational therapy services, Hillside Therapy Service for occupational therapy assistant services and Physical Therapy Service Rehabilitation for physical therapy services; writing off negative food service account balances; new expenses related to recovery from the September tornado; student fees for the 2025-26 school year.

•Accepted a $1,000 donation from Tyson Mexican Original for a soccer camp.

•Approved several fees for the 2025-26 school year. Meal prices will be $3.25 for elementary school lunch and $3.50 for junior-senior high lunch. Breakfast will be free to students. Adult meals will be $2.85 for breakfast and $4.75 for adults. The driver’s education fee was increased by $20 to $420. Increased the per-hour Latchkey fee to $6 from the current $5. The registration fee is $20 for the first child in a family and $10 for each additional child.

•Canceled the contract of junior-senior high social studies teacher Jeffery Mellott as a reduction in force (RIF).

•Accepted the resignations of East Jay third grade teachers Kiah Bruns and Abigail Bowers.