The Portage Township School Board voted to go forward with razing Aylesworth Elementary School, building a new middle school in its place, and then razing the existing Willowcreek Middle School.
No one spoke at Monday’s public hearing on the nearly $100 million construction project.
“I’m excited for the opportunities for students and to embrace the learning environment,” Superintendent Amanda Alaniz said afterward.
“It’s been a long time coming,” she said. “Change is difficult but exciting.”
The district’s newest building, Portage High School West, opened in 1979.
When construction of the new school is completed, Fegely Middle School will become an intermediate school, housing grades 5 and 6, while Willowcreek will house grades 7 and 8.
Reducing the number of elementary schools from eight to seven will prompt a rebalancing for more equitable class sizes. Alaniz expects that to happen in 2029.
Project manager Mike Schipp, of Fanning Howey Architects, said when the cost of renovating is about two-thirds the cost of building a new school, it’s time to build. “We have far exceeded that,” at about 85%, he said.
“One of the drivers of the project would be essentially realigning safety and pulling traffic off Willowcreek and onto Central Avenue,” Schipp said.
Willowcreek is the city’s main north-south traffic artery. It’s likely to become even busier when Porter County extends the road to Indiana 130. That project is one of Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission’s highest priorities for federal and state funding.
The school project calls for classes to continue at the existing Willowcreek Middle School until the new structure is completed, then razing the existing building.
Scott Cherry, of Skillman Corp., outlined the three components of the project. The new middle school alone is estimated at over $86 million, he said. Nearly $2 million is set aside for districtwide upgrades. The career and technical education program at Willowcreek will be moved to Portage High School.
Construction is expected to begin in 2026. “We’re hoping that the project will be complete in 2029,” he said.
Cherry hopes the new building will be ready for the 2028-29 school year with just the parking lot where the existing school is left to complete.
Jason Tanselle, of Baker Tilly, said the plan is to borrow up to $99.85 million, supported by property tax, though a bond set to be paid off in 19 years and two months.
Estimates for costs are intentionally set high to establish maximum amounts for legal purposes.
The project isn’t expected to increase property taxes. The debt service tax rate will be the same as the six-year average, beginning next year. The project won’t start until late 2025, so tax bills won’t reflect the new project until 2026. Paying off old debts will eliminate the need for a tax increase.
Doug Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
