Fact Vs. Fiction: Our Facilities are Needlessly Extravagant
“We wouldn’t need a referendum if our facilities weren’t so extravagant.”
Don’t believe the chatter. All school construction, renovation, expansion, and improvements are funded separate from the voter-approved referendum.
The referendum is for instruction, not construction.
Thanks to careful planning, these necessary improvements were completed responsibly from existing funds — not from referendum dollars.
Since 2010, when Avon Schools last opened a new school (River Birch Elementary) Avon Schools have grown by more than 2,300 students. A new school (Avon Middle School West) was finally added to help serve this growth, existing facilities also face increased demand and had began showing wear and tear over the decades. To keep them safe, functional, and welcoming, several important updates and expansions have been made. Here are some facts to keep in mind:
These projects are part of a larger, strategic plan developed with input from the community and guidance from an outside demographer.
The construction projects were funded responsibly:
All construction, renovation, and expansion was completed within Indiana’s 1% property tax caps.
Due to wise financial management, ACSC has been able to lower its debt service rate by more than 21% since 2017.
“What about the ‘extravagant’ updates at Avon High School?”
Tennis Courts at AHS – Experts determined the old courts to be beyond repair, so after two years of study and six public meetings, the Board approved a relocation and rebuild. The project also created 250 much-needed parking spaces close to the school. Don’t take our word for it — ask any AHS student or staff member how much these new parking spots help!
New AHS Sign – The 15-year-old sign was failing and had to be moved to be adjacent to the new main entrance. The updated sign is in the most visible location and allows us to communicate reliably with families and the community about the many events that take place in and around the school.
Thanks to careful planning, these necessary improvements were completed responsibly from existing funds — not from referendum dollars.