Building for the Future: FCSC’s Vision for Modern and Efficient Learning Environments
By Jeremy Duncan, Superintendent, Fayette County School Corporation
At the Fayette County School Corporation, we believe strongly that the learning environment of our school buildings is foundational to the educational experience of every student. With that in mind, we have embarked on a significant facilities improvement initiative that reflects our long-term commitment to maintaining safe, modern, and efficient school buildings that meet both current and future needs.
Partnering for Insight: Gibraltar Design and Facilities Planning
In June of 2022, FCSC began a strategic partnership with Gibraltar Design, a firm with deep expertise in educational facilities planning. Together, we conducted a comprehensive facilities study to assess the current condition and long-term potential of our school buildings.
Gibraltar Design’s involvement extended beyond the technical and architectural. They supported community input meetings and building walkthroughs, allowing our stakeholders—parents, educators, students, and community members—to share their experiences and priorities. This process helped create a clearer, more community-informed picture of our needs and possibilities.
The insights we gained from this collaboration have become foundational in guiding both short-term actions and long-range planning, shaping our approach to renovations, while informing the broader vision for our district’s future infrastructure investments.
Major Investments Underway
This work with Gibraltar led to where we are today. Currently, FCSC is overseeing two major renovation projects, both surpassing more than $6 million in investment for the future. The first of these is a comprehensive renovation of Frazee Elementary School, and the second involves long-needed upgrades to the Connersville High School natatorium.
At Frazee, our focus goes beyond cosmetic improvements. While we are refreshing the building’s appearance with new carpet and paint, the more impactful work is happening behind the scenes. Critical infrastructure upgrades are being made, including updates to HVAC systems, water lines, and other essential utilities that will greatly improve building efficiency, air quality, and sustainability. These enhancements ensure that Frazee remains a safe, functional, and welcoming place for students and staff for many years to come.
Our work at the high school pool is equally vital. This facility serves both our student-athletes and the broader community. Renovations will improve the usability and longevity of the pool, reaffirming our commitment to health, wellness, and extracurricular enrichment. The pool and its inner workings have been essentially gutted, allowing for a near rebuild of the facility.
Scaling a Successful Model: Eastview in Focus
What we learn and implement at Frazee will not stop there. We intend to use the Frazee project as a template for future elementary school renovations within the district. Through our work with Gibraltar and numerous discussions, we have determined that our next priority is Eastview Elementary School. We have chosen Eastview due to its current needs, use, and likelihood to remain in our facilities inventory for decades to come.
Eastview, like Frazee, plays a critical role in our educational system. This is true for so many students, but definitely for those students with more severe special education needs. The proposed renovation will mirror Frazee’s successful combination of aesthetic updates and essential “behind-the-wall” infrastructure improvements. Additionally, we plan to address logistical challenges at Eastview, such as outdated parking configurations and inefficiencies in the parent drop-off/pick-up flow.
Recognizing Eastview’s unique role in serving students with intensive needs, we are also proposing an addition specifically designed to better accommodate these students. This expansion will offer more appropriate learning environments and services tailored to their individualized education programs (IEPs). As a secondary benefit, this addition will free up valuable classroom space elsewhere in the building, giving us flexibility to accommodate potential enrollment shifts in the future.
Fiscal Responsibility and Transparency
Importantly, we are structuring this initiative to be tax neutral. With existing debt from the Connersville Middle School renovation project set to roll off our financial books, we see a rare and timely opportunity to reinvest in our facilities without increasing the tax burden on our community.
However, the financial landscape is not without its challenges. Recent property tax reform in Indiana has introduced uncertainties, particularly in relation to funding for public schools. We are already seeing the early signs of potential losses to our Operations Fund, which supports critical day-to-day functions such as transportation, maintenance, and staffing. While we are still evaluating the full impact of these changes, our commitment remains the same: to carefully manage a responsible tax rate while securing the necessary funds to operate our schools effectively and equitably.
This level of fiscal responsibility and long-term planning is central to our mission as stewards of public resources, even as we navigate a shifting financial environment.
Next Steps
The direction we’ve outlined for Eastview was discussed at our June 10th Board of School Trustees meeting and will again be formally discussed, with cost estimates, during our July 8th meeting. We invite our community to stay engaged, ask questions, and continue participating in these important conversations. Transparent dialogue is key to ensuring our plans reflect the needs and aspirations of our students, staff, and families.
A Shared Vision for the Future
These projects are more than construction and renovation—they are investments in our children, in their learning environments, and in the future of our entire community. With thoughtful planning, innovative design, and careful financial management, we are laying the groundwork for a stronger, more vibrant Fayette County School Corporation that will serve our children well for decades to come.
Let’s continue to build something great…together.
