CEDAR LAKE | Hanover school officials will continue to work on swapping land with Olthof Development for the construction of a new middle school after the approval of a $43.5 million construction plan.
"What was approved by (Indiana Department of Local Government Finance) Commissioner Cheryl Musgrave is the 141st Avenue location in our proposal," Superintendent Michael Livovich said, adding that he hopes to have more information at 6 p.m. Tuesday when the School Board meets.
The school district owns land at U.S. 41 and 125th Avenue, but that location drew criticism because of its proximity to the busy U.S. 41. The land swap would be an "in kind" trade of the school's land for land Olthof owns at Parrish and 141st avenues.
"I don't know for sure even where we'll put the school," School Board President Kay Sheehy said Friday. "The swap with Olthof hasn't gone through."
Sheehy said the board will meet in closed session with representatives of the architectural firm of Fanning and Howey, of Michigan City, and construction management firm Skillman Corp., of Indianapolis, to discuss all the options related to the middle school.
Besides the new middle school, the construction plan includes improvements at the district's three other schools -- Jane Ball and Lincoln elementary and Hanover Central High School.
Mark Stenger, one of those who led opposition to the $43.5 million project that eventually gained state approval, said he wants to see other options explored.
He said a plan posed by School Board member Todd Wilkening would cut the project cost nearly in half.
"I think it's a wonderful idea for the taxpayers," Stenger said.
Wilkening said his proposal was made when everyone thought the state had killed the $43.5 million project.
Wilkening's proposal involves adding on to the existing middle school, which is part of the larger Hanover Central High School/Middle School campus on West 133rd Avenue.
Sheehy said she thinks everything will be back on the table now.
"Would it be smart to add on to the existing school? It'll be one of the ideas thrown around," she said.
