Analysis of the April 15 Special Session

[Scott Henderson]

After 2 1/2 hours and many different perspectives from the packed room, the April 15 Carmel-Clay School Board special session came to a close. Here's what came to light:

The softball families have years of broken promises and a large accumulation of frustration. The school administration promised them last spring that they would break ground on a new complex at Prairie Trace. When those plans changed and the revised proposal for Cherry Tree was tabled on March 28, their frustrations went past the boiling point. Now they are calling for construction of a new complex, regardless of site (though most implored the Cherry Tree community to stop questioning the proposal.)

Residents living near Cherry Tree and Prairie Trace Elementary Schools raised a number of valid questions centered around how little consideration has been given to placing a commercial grade softball complex on an elementary school campus that will fence off current high use green space. A Citizen Task Force conducted extensive research into alternative sites, audited use of all Carmel elementary grounds, and assembled research on all CHS opponent facilities. Their recommendations included a high school site, Shelbourne field, and a 40-acre property at 146h & Shelbourne.

City Councilor Joe Griffiths encouraged the school board to meet with him to discuss the 40 acre site at 146th & Shelbourne. Whether this was public grandstanding or a goodwill offer, time will tell. The board and administration expressed reluctance to purchase 40 acres for athletic fields, given the current mood of state politics (i.e. property tax reform that has altered how school corporations can conduct capital projects). However, no real discussion was conducted on purchasing the land for athletic fields and a future school site.

Assistant Superintendent Roger McMichael and the school's architect acknowledged that the proposed complex would fit at the Shelbourne field site off 126h Street but would require two regulation soccer fields built at Cherry Tree and two at Prairie Trace. McMichael also acknowledged the school has allowed Carmel United soccer club to invest "hundreds of thousands of dollars" in property improvements, despite the lack of any written agreements and the school's retention of ownership. Since top quality soccer fields were sacrificed to build West Clay Elementary prior to this investment, the board and administration have little or no will to exacerbate that relationship further.

As for the high school site, the CHS athletic director claimed they considered that site early in the process. But, they abandoned the idea claiming the physical education program needed it. When asked why the softball complex could be used by Cherry Tree Elementary's PE clasess and not the high school's, he added that the football program did not want to relinquish its use of it, too (Doesn't giving preference to the boy's football team over the girl's softball team create greater risk exposure to a Title IX claim?)

Given all these factors, it is clear that the school board is divided on how to proceed. Some think it is time for action. Others think too many concerns exist for the current proposal. April 28 will be the next time we have to find out what the board is thinking. Between now and then, let your voice be heard. Email and call them with your thoughts.

[james]

were are the boys practicew field. I was told the boy played near the admin build??? IS THIS NOT CORRECT ??? Also I have heard about 12 acre near the school were is it ?? how much do they want per scre???

[Lou Wozniak]

On further thought, this is painfully clear from a boys vs girls perspective. The boys are good enough to have a professional football complex, with plenty of parking, on school grounds AND two practice fields also ON school grounds. The girls have had a second-rate softball field, with woefully inadequate parking, OFF school grounds, for years. What is wrong with this picture? First and foremost, the girls deserve a professional complex, on school grounds, just like the boys, unless boys are just somehow better than girls.

Once that is established, we can figure out where to put the boys practice fields. Maybe the boys will have to drive a little to get to practice, like the girls have for years.

[james]

look around Center Grove, Lafayette Jeff, Pike all are in neiborhoods ..... I was told by the Lafayette Jeff Athl Director that more and more school are goign were ther is land . Most are in housing additions ...

[Deborah]

First of all I want to thank Scott Henderson for putting this forum together. He has done an outstanding job at communicating this issue and being fair to all involved. I thought this issue would have come to a conclusion when the school board realized that the Prairie Trace location was so vehemently oppossed by local residents. The school district NEEDS to find a solution that is more appropriate than a residential area for this type of facility. The school district NEEDS to be a good neighbor. Again, the need for a softball complex is not being debated . . . sports families should understand that. The debate is where . . . we should not be debating whose neighborhood this belongs in and why. A SPORTS FACILITY DOES NOT BELONG IN ANY NEIGHBORHOOD! It concerns me that the school board does not realize this?!?!

[james]

if you figure thing out carmel can not offer 3.5 million for the land/ improvements then 2.5 million for the feild . it would e $10 million opps over the limit and also all the other site would take zoning approvel . so anybod could shooti down and be back to cherry tree.

[james]

here is the thing from research tthat i found out Pike school corp bough midewest sport complex and will mover there high school softball probgram and build an elementy on the property .. aka like carmel
Center grove does not play on school propery there play at a 9 feild complex that is right a accros the street from homes and there parking lot is stone

Lafayette Jeff does not play at the high school either they play 6 miles away at Mccaw Park 2 softball feilds, the jeff high school baseball team plays in a 1930' era minor leage staduim in city part.......

would anybody like to join me in visting these other sites that carmel is playing there away games at to see the good and bad ???

I am planning to vist center grove , was at ben davis last night . Will be going to the rest of the carmel varsity/jv sch to look at what the other school have. Who want to join me

[ping]

Regarding the "proposed complex at the Shelbourne field site off 126h Street", I am strongly opposing the associated subproject of "built two regulation soccer fields at Prairie Trace". We stronglt aggree with Katie Hollman that "Why should an elementary school have to sacrifice so much for a high school?". By considering the already heavy traffic on Havetone way at Haverstick community, who is going to pay the price of descrasing the home value and even heavier traffic that the impacting homowners would have?

Parents of students at Prairie Trace and homeowner at Haverstick community,
Ping and Yan

[Katie Hollman]

That meeting stirred up several questions for me.
Whose field is it? According to the meeting, the CDC was the main force behind hurrying it up and getting it built. They were the main speakers behind this operation. I am extremely sick and disgusted to even be associated with the CDC right now. Those who spoke were arrogant and not putting the children first. I am ashamed that my 3 children are even playing in this league. Isn't the CDC about children having fun and good sportsmanship?
Secondly, this massive project involoves the ENTIRE community; not just Avian Glen and Chery Tree. Yes, the girls need a new facility, but lets build it right the first time around. Let's put the community and children first and build it in the spot that is best for everyone.
This issue is not a done deal. We still have till the 28 and we will not give in. Come to the meeting and let our voices be heard louder and stronger!!

Let's get the girls a new field, in the appropriate spot. Why should an elementary school have to sacrifice so much for a high school. If the community wants the boy and girl sports to be equal, how about building it in the area next to the football field?