After a 90-minute work session Tuesday morning, the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board discussed a number of options on the future of Fishers Elementary School, but no consensus has yet emerged.  The board is expected to meet in executive session to hash out any possible property acquisitions that may or may not be part of the final decision.

HSE Facilities Director Harry Delks presented 7 options, with choices within some options, for the board’s consideration.  Superintendent Yvonne Stokes said options could be combined if the board so chooses.

Here are the options presented:

Renovate Fishers Elementary – Replacing major systems with “cosmetic renovations” would cost $14 million.  Another choice would include the previous upgrades with significant changes to the structure’s interior for a better learning environment, costing a total of $18.5 million.  The final renovation choice would have a $27.75 million price tag involving building an addition to the current school, removing part of the current school and reconfiguring parking.

Renovate and expand building capacity to 700 students – This is described a “significant reinvestment to keep the current Fishers Elementary building on its current site.  The estimated cost would be $38 million.

Convert to an all-day pre-school center – The first choice here would be a $16.5 million renovation, but the second floor of the current building may not be suitable for this age group.  Another choice would involve demolishing the current structure and constructing a  new classroom building for $15.25 million.

Convert to a home for the Academy and Transition programs – The first choice here is to renovate the elementary school, although the building is larger than needed to house these programs, at a cost of $15.5 million.  A second choice would call for a  smaller building to be constructed on the eastern part of the land, selling off part of the property, at a cost of $11.5 million.

Convert the building to all-day pre-school center, Academy and Transition – This would combine other options and would cost $16.5 million.

Create a professional learning academy for teacher training – The first choice would be a building renovation with a need for more parking with a price tag of $16.25 million.  A second choice would call for the construction of a new building on the east side of the property, selling off much of the remaining land, costing $11.5 million.

Construct a new Fishers Elementary School on a new site – This is estimated to cost $43 million.

The ensuing board discussion looked at a range of options.

The board viewed a video produced by the staff at Fishers Elementary School.  The video, and comments from the current FES Principal Brian Behrman, said the desire of the staff is to keep the current staff together.

Board attorney David Day explained a number of options and urged the board not to be locked into the past, but to look at how things might be in the future.

When the board discussion moved into possible locations for a new elementary school, board President Janet Pritchett suggested further discussions should be limited to an executive session to be scheduled before the next regular board meeting.

Dr. Stokes told the board the decision on the future of Fishers Elementary is key to a number of other decisions the district must make, describing the process as putting together a puzzle.  Chief Financial Officer Katy Dowling reminded board members that finances will be another component for any decision on the future of Fishers Elementary Schools and the decisions that must follow.