A public hearing for two major school construction projects has been scheduled.
Seymour Community School Corp. plans to issue bonds to pay for $2 million in renovations and improvements to school buildings and facilities next school year.
The project hearings will be at 7 p.m. Nov. 10 at the administration building. Anyone interested in learning more about the scope of the projects and how they are being paid for or who wants to offer comments may do so at that time.
Half the money will be spent on interior renovations at Margaret R. Brown Elementary School. That project will include adding restrooms and renovating the media center, the old kindergarten classrooms and other spaces in the building.
It is the second phase of work at Brown. The first phase was a $2 million addition of four kindergarten classrooms, completed this summer in time for the start of school in August.
Officials said the renovations are needed to better utilize space in the building for the school’s continued growth and to make the facilities safer and more conducive to learning.
The other project being discussed will continue improvements being made to Seymour High School’s athletics facilities and will focus on the football stadium, mainly installing an artificial turf field.
The football stadium project follows the board’s decision to spend $2 million to create soccer fields on the school’s campus between the softball and baseball diamonds and to help improve stormwater drainage issues in the area.
The soccer project is underway and should be completed in time for next fall’s season.
By continuing to do projects with a cost of no more than $2 million, the school corporation is helping keep its tax rate stable and is allowing the district to prepare for a bigger, more costly project in the future, such as a major renovation and addition at Seymour High School or building a new school, officials said.
Another project that was approved this year is $1.5 million for the addition of a new media center and some interior renovation work at Cortland Elementary School. That project won’t start until next year.
A $1.5 million building addition was completed at Emerson Elementary School in late 2013.
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What: Public hearings for construction projects at Seymour Community Schools
Where: Administration office, 1638 S. Walnut St., Seymour
When: 7 p.m. Nov. 10
Purpose: To allow public comments on $2 million worth of construction projects at Margaret R. Brown Elementary School and Seymour High School.
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