Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
SHOALS – Shoals Community School Corporation will construct two new classrooms that will also be used as safe rooms during severe weather after receiving a nearly $1 million grant from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.
Shoals Superintendent Kindra Hovis said Shoals is just the second school in the state to receive the grant. The grant will pay for 75% of construction costs. Estimated cost of the project is $1.4 million.
In addition to two new classrooms, the project will include restrooms and storage space.
In a post about the grant on the school’s social media page, Hovis said the expansion is needed to accommodate the school’s growth.
“We are excited to be starting the construction soon and have posted our bidding notice for any interested contractor,” said Hovis.
Shoals’ K-12 enrollment is currently 654 students. Enrollment data on the Indiana Department of Education website shows increases in the past few years.
- 2019 – 642 enrollment
- 2020 – 645 enrollment
- 2021 – 619 enrollment
- 2022 – 689 enrollment
- 2023 – 669 enrollment
Ben Kent, ag/construction teacher at Shoals High School, worked with Hovis on the expansion plans and said the school greatly needs more classrooms. This year, the school added a welding pathway and hired an additional teacher for the middle school.
“We’re maxed out on space,” he said. “Our superintendent and treasurer lost their office a couple of weeks ago because we needed another classroom.”
The expansion will be on the southwest side of the school. The classrooms will be designed to accommodate multiple uses and student needs, including special education, said Kent. The safe spaces can also be used by the community when school is not in session.
It’s been about 20 years since Shoals Community School Corp. has undertaken a major construction project.
“From an academic and safety perspective, we’re super excited to see Shoals take this on,” he said. “This grant is a great opportunity for Shoals to get new classrooms without a lot of financial burden.”
Bids will be opened Oct. 17. The tentative timeline for completing the expansion is Oct. 2025.