NEWS 25 - WEHT: Evansville, Henderson, Owensboro-Referendum For Renovations A No Go

Referendum For Renovations A No Go

story by Jamie Rose

TELL CITY, IN - Voters say no to a referendum that would have given the green light for renovations at Tell City High School.

The renovations would make the high school seventh through twelfth grade, eliminating Tell City Junior High School.

NEWS 25 talks with school leaders finding out where they will go from here.

Tell City school leaders tell us even with the no vote, the plan is to press forward.

Assistant to the Superintendent of the Tell City-Troy Township School Corporation, Bruce Chinn, says, "Yes we're disappointed but our job as educational leaders is to continue to do what we think is best for the students."

A referendum that would have allowed for about ten million dollars in renovation at Tell City High School, is a no go.

But if it had passed residents in the school corporation would have paid slightly higher property taxes.

Chinn says, "Now we are going to have to regroup as an administrative team."

Even with the no vote, school officials say renovations still need to be done. Things like a new media center, an updated kitchen, and updated classrooms are all part of the plan.

Chinn says, "We feel like these needs are needed to let our students be proud of our facilities."

Chinn points out some renovations have already been done, mostly in the parts of the school dating all the way back to the 1920's.

He says the ultimate goal is to move seventh and eighth graders from Tell City Junior High School into the high school, and the sixth graders would go to the elementary school.

By eliminating the junior high, school leaders say operational costs will go down.

"It would give the staff and students there much needed renovations only on a different campus," explains Chinn.

Chinn says previous renovations at the high school were paid through low interest bonds, and now that might be a possibility again. But that could mean it will take longer to get the renovations done.

Chinn says, "That's a decision we as an administration and school board will have to make."

A similar referendum did pass in Dubois County, allowing funding to renovate South Ridge High School and South Ridge Middle School.