Should the Hamilton Southeastern Schools make a preliminary decision to build two new elementary schools?  That was the question before the school board Wednesday night.

The board voted to move forward with plans to construct a replacement for Durbin Elementary that can also relieve other elementary buildings with overcrowding issues.  Durbin cannot be expanded at the present site because water and sewer connections are not available.

However, the board voted unanimously not to include a possible replacement for Fishers Elementary School in its preliminary action, but in the same unanimous vote, decided to go ahead with plans for the new elementary replacement for Durbin at 156th Street and Boden Road, in Noblesville.

The board engaged in a long and wide-ranging discussion about whether to include both Durbin’s replacement and Fishers Elementary in the same preliminary action.  When the discussion ended, all board members voted in favor of only dealing with the Durbin replacement at this time.