District says it can't set a construction start date for its school building plan until the county decides whether to help pay for it

What happened

Superintendent Dr. Hemsall told the oversight board the district can already afford a smaller version of its facilities plan ("group two") within its existing 24.24-cent debt-service tax rate without raising it, but affording the larger "group one" version — which also modernizes elementary schools — depends on adding county money to a commitment already made by the Terre Haute Casino Foundation. He said the district is still "wrestling" with whether to wait for the oversight board to finish its review or start the project now, and has not set a date to break ground: the district once hoped to have a shovel in the ground as early as late 2026, but he said even a 2027 start is "becoming less and less realistic" the longer the decision takes.

The outcome

No decision made. Construction timing and scope remain undecided, pending the county's funding decision.

Sources

• Hemsall: "group two" affordable within current tax rate; "group one" needs county help plus the Casino Foundation's commitment, 1:19:24
• Hemsall: district still "wrestling" with whether to wait or start now, 1:21:46
• Hemsall: once hoped for a shovel in the ground as early as late 2026, 1:20:40
• Hemsall: even a 2027 start is "becoming less and less realistic," 1:21:12

Also known as: Option Six construction timeline · school building plan start date · group one group two funding · East Side high school groundbreaking · Vigo County schools construction start