A quick run-down of the Hamilton County district with the largest high school in the state. Emma Kate Fittes/IndyStar Wochit


A couple hundred parents and community members made it clear Wednesday night they do not support Carmel Clay Schools closing Carmel Elementary, even if the idea isn't an official recommendation yet.

Within the past week, parents rallied in opposition to the suggestion that their school — one of the oldest in the district and due for a major renovation soon — may need to shut down because Carmel's elementary enrollment is expected to drop. 

During the second of at least five community meetings on the topic, they gathered in the elementary gym wearing yellow "Save Carmel Elementary" T-shirts and presented co-interim superintendent Roger McMichael with a two-page list of questions. 

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Parent Michelle Ring said the group wants administrators to "look at more than just the next schools up for renovation."

McMichael announced during the April 11 board meeting that the district would consider closing a building and redistricting students in response to a 2016 demographic study that predicted Carmel would have 900 fewer students by 2026 than its peak in 2011. If nothing is done, McMichael said the district would have 1,400 empty seats across its elementaries in 2026.

Both Carmel Elementary and Orchard Park have been brought up as potential schools to close. The district held an informational meeting at Orchard Park last week.

Two of the biggest arguments parents provided on Wednesday for keeping Carmel Elementary, 101 4th Ave. SE, open were its history as the second oldest elementary in the district and its central location, including proximity to downtown development and walkability for families.

Some also questioned the accuracy of the demographic study. McMichael said another one will be done in the fall.

The meeting lasted for hours as parents were allowed to ask questions and make statements to McMichael with no time limit. Here are a few of the questions that came up:

What is the timeline?

McMichael said there is no deadline for his official recommendation to the board and made it clear he will not make one until he receives more feedback from the community.

He previously said the board would consider his recommendation for at least a month and that any actual work would not be completed for another three years.

Can we do a referendum to keep every elementary?

Orchard Park parent Laura Moore pointed out the $1.2 million annual operating cost for a school would cost Carmel's estimated 100,000 residents about $12 each. 

"I'll give you my $12 tonight," she said. "... We might be pinching the wrong penny here."

The community has already passed a seven-year referendum twice, which generates about $17 million for the district each year.

However, McMichael said he likely wouldn't pursue another referendum because cost isn't the main issue for the school; it's potentially having too much space.

"I doubt that I would try to persuade (voters) that we should take their money and increase the number of empty seats," he said.

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Can the city help by providing funding?

A few parents called on the city to help the district afford keeping all of its buildings. One argued schools are a better investment than new restaurants.

In Indiana, funding is linked to enrollment, so a decline would mean Carmel receives less money from the state. Carmel received about $5,900 per student this year. At that rate, losing 900 students would be a loss of more than $5 million.

McMichael essentially answered, "no," explaining city funds and school funds are separate, and typically kept separate in Carmel.

"I have not once said that money is the issue here," McMichael said. "This conversation is not as simple as just money. We don’t want to lose sight of that."

What would happen if Carmel Elementary is torn down?

McMichael said the future of the site would be a separate conversation if the board decided to close the school, but that the district wouldn't necessarily look to sell the land.

"I would not recommend that any school property would be immediately disposed of," he said. He also said the building would be put to use, and he wouldn't recommend boarding up a vacant school.

Is redistricting inevitable?

“The answer is yes," McMichael said. He previously said students living west of Meridian Street, where the city is seeing more growth, will have to "push east."

There are seven elementaries east of Meridian Street and four west, but there are only about 700 more students on the east side.


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