ST. JOHN | A group of petitioners has asked the Lake Central School Board to postpone until March its 1028 public hearing in preparation for a voter referendum in May or June for renovations at the district's high school.
The public hearing has not been scheduled, but was expected some time in February. President John DeVries said the board would review and respond at its next meeting Jan. 19.
The district is in the early stages of preparing for a special election in the spring for renovations estimated at $83 million for the high school and $12 million for a new transportation service center.
The project is expected to cost the average taxpayer $170 per year for the project totaling $95 million.
Secretary Howard Marshall read a letter with more than 320 signatures attached requesting further review of a second high school and a roundtable meeting to discuss the information.
Administrators have determined building a new 2,000-student capacity school, minimally renovating the existing school and building a new transportation service center would total $174 million and cost the average taxpayer $350 per year.
"We're saying we need more research because published studies show administrative and operating costs can be maintained at the same level with the addition of a second high school," said parent Dave Janney, of Schererville.
Superintendent Gerald Chabot said earlier it would cost $3.6 million a year to operate another facility. Janney said reducing the size of a school reduces a layer of administration and building design can improve energy and utility efficiencies.
The petitioner's letter said the original engineering study done by Vista ignored the second school option. Vista engineer Jim D'Orazio said at the time "revitalization of the facility would be my recommendation, plain and simple."
The letter stated research since the 1990s suggests smaller high schools have better academic achievement, lower dropout rates, better involvement in extracurricular activities, better attendance and lower crime rates.
Smaller schools don't limit the ability to offer advanced placement courses and local private schools offer many such courses, the letter said.
Petitioners felt if a second school were built, portions of the existing campus could be used for administration, leasing to community colleges, or special education programs.
About a dozen of the petitioners attended Monday's meeting. Many questions centered on other properties owned by the district. DeVries said Blaine Street land was purchased for future use at a time when the opportunity and price was right.
Only three 90-acre parcels remained in St. John at that time and such a purchase avoids having to condemn property in order to buy land, added Vice President George Baranowski.
Property on Burr Street is being used for a special education program. Supporters of the renovation project also expressed their opinions.
"There are many in the community who realize you've been working on this for quite some time," said parent Amy Bogenrief. "This didn't just come up in 2008. There is wholehearted support to continue on with the referendum."
