SHOALS, Ind. — The Shoals Community School Corporation (SCSC) Board convened Friday morning to discuss a sweeping agenda including a proposed $9 million bond for capital projects, campus security upgrades, student mental health initiatives, and a host of personnel changes as the district prepares for the 2026-27 school year. The meeting, held at the district office, drew a crowd of parents, staff, and community members, many of whom voiced questions and concerns about school finances, safety, and student support.

At the center of the meeting was a public hearing on the corporation’s preliminary plan to propose issue $9 million in bonds aimed at a series of building repairs and upgrades. The Shoals School superintendent, addressing the public at the outset, emphasized that the hearing marked the first step in a lengthy legal and public engagement process required by Indiana law for major school construction or lease projects.

“Over the past several months, we have been working to create a possible list of building projects,” the superintendent said. “These are not set in stone. This is very early in the preliminary process, but the plan is to come back and talk to teachers and staff as well.”

The bond, if ultimately approved, would fund repairs to exterior maintenance, improved security at both the high school and elementary entrances, renovations to the high school technology and trades education wing, upgrades to the culinary and industrial arts areas, media center improvements, expanded STEM and early college space, ADA-compliant restroom renovations, and new floors in the multipurpose room. HVAC upgrades and other infrastructure improvements are also included in the initial proposal.

“These are some of the pieces we are looking at,” the superintendent explained. “Some of the grout between on some of the brick walls is coming loose, so we need to repair that. We’re also looking at high school secured entrance, elementary school security, and renovations for several educational spaces.”

School board members and administrators fielded several pointed questions from the public about the district’s debt service and the impact of the new bond on property taxes. Board member Ethan clarified that a recent increase in property taxes was primarily due to a short-term bond with a rapid payoff, which was necessary to “front-load” funding for coming projects.

“That has set our debt service rate to the point that when we borrow this money, your tax rate won’t be affected,” he said. “The additional amount that we’re borrowing here will not affect your taxes anymore.”

The Superintendent added, “These numbers are conservative in nature. We are not taking any legal action tonight. These numbers are for information only. The next tax increase over 2026 debt service funds is zero.”

Some residents expressed concern about transparency around the process. Steve Sorrels, a local resident, asked whether meeting agendas could be posted more consistently on the school corporation’s website. The board acknowledged the request and committed to improving communication.

The superintendent presented a detailed report on the district’s various funds, including the education, operations, debt service, and rainy day funds. The education fund, primarily used for teacher salaries and classroom expenses, is “based on enrollment and funded mostly by state tuition support.”

“Our operations fund is used for facilities, maintenance, transportation, utilities, and technology,” the superintendent said. “It’s funded through local property tax, and it is constrained by some tax gaps.”

The superintendent was candid about budget challenges, noting, “We’ve used almost 51% of our appropriations. This is one of the funds that we’ve talked about that we are overspending, and we have been very transparent about that.”

A recent transfer of nearly $30,000 from the rainy day fund to support cafeteria operations was highlighted. “Every kid here gets a free breakfast and a free lunch,” the superintendent said. “We only get 80% return on that food. So, being a CEP [Community Eligibility Provision] school, this is actually really good. Amy Money has done a great job of conserving, but we will always spend approximately $30,000.”

During public comment, a resident asked whether SCSC had compared its salary and operations budgets with similar-sized districts such as Loogootee. The superintendent replied, “A lot of the budgets we really look at is the basic fund grants, which is the education budget, and we do look at them because it’s based on enrollment,” adding, “I’m pretty new to that, but I am learning what I can defend.”

The meeting also addressed ongoing teacher vacancies, particularly in areas such as band, engineering, construction trades, and welding. The superintendent explained, “We have some special ed teacher assistant positions open in the elementary, but we’re building quite a few. If anybody knows a speech pathologist, we would love to have an in-person speech pathologist.”

A discussion followed about requirements for career and technical education instructors. “Our goal is that in every area of our CTE, our teachers will be able to teach something that will give our kids a credential of value,” the superintendent said. “If they can get that when they leave here, it’s going to give those kids a leg up when they go to apply for a job.”

An Elementary principal and middle school principal, Miss Hubank, reported on summer professional development, curriculum mapping, and student achievements, including several students placing in national Beta Club competitions and the Catfish Festival.

A major topic was the introduction of “Team Peace,” a trauma-informed, neuroscience-based program designed to help teachers and students better navigate stress, anxiety, and emotional health. The board celebrated the award of a $14,500 grant to support the initiative.

Kara Schmidt, executive director and founder of Team Peace, addressed the board: “Pretty much every educator that I talk to, and I’ve talked to a lot of them because we’ve been in schools a lot over the last seven years, they tell me the same thing: that students are carrying more stress, anxiety, emotional dysregulation, and trauma than ever before. The question is how do we do it and provide it in a way that is practical and sustainable and supports teachers and students, instead of just adding one more thing to teachers’ plates.”

Team Peace will provide training, lesson plans, and videos for staff and students, aiming to build skills in emotional regulation and resilience. “We teach them why their brains and bodies respond the way that they do,” Schmidt said. “When we learn these simple skills to regulate our bodies and emotions, we’re just better able to focus, to solve problems, to collaborate, and to learn.”

A lengthy series of personnel actions was approved, including resignations of teachers and coaches, contract updates, new hires for both certified and non-certified positions, and substitute approvals for the coming school year. The board also approved public meeting protocols, revisions to the middle school handbook, and an application for free and reduced-price lunch eligibility.

The board discussed the district’s involvement in the Cosmos strategic planning partnership with regional schools and organizations, aiming to “move from a collection of programs to a more aligned, sustainable system to meet the needs of our workforce.”

A recurring theme throughout the meeting was the ongoing challenge of finalizing an operations plan for the district’s newly completed FEMA-funded tornado shelter. Several residents expressed concern about access to the shelter during severe weather outside school hours.

The board acknowledged the complexity: “Right now, the only way to get into those FEMA shelters is with a lock, a door key. Some of them have one. We have not fully completed that volunteer team, but more importantly, I have contacted Andy, our EMA director, to try to help us determine or figure out how we can create or obtain an automated system.”

Board members agreed that automation and coordination with emergency management authorities are key. “We don’t want someone on the road trying to get out here to unlock a door. That’s the scary part,” the superintendent said.

Looking ahead, the board concluded the meeting by approving claims and setting the next meeting for August 13. The board president thanked community members for their engagement: “Thanks, everybody, for coming out and for the questions.”

As SCSC heads into the new school year, the district faces crucial decisions on facility upgrades, fiscal stewardship, student and staff well-being, and community engagement. The July board meeting underscored the complexity—and community interest—in getting those decisions right.