Hamilton Southeastern Schools is preparing to sell roughly 16 acres of district-owned land at 136th Street and Prairie Baptist Road, with an auction possible as soon as September, officials told the school board’s Finance and Facilities Committee on Thursday.
The property, currently leased out and being farmed, is left over from a larger parcel the district once owned at the intersection. A portion of that original tract was used in a partnership with the City of Fishers to build a fire station, leaving the roughly 16 acres now on the table.
District officials said the remaining ground is not a realistic site for a future school building — too small, and in the wrong spot, to support one.
Chief Financial Officer Tim Brown told the committee the district is working through the legal steps required before a public school corporation can dispose of real estate. The first appraisal of the property is expected in mid-August, with a secondary review of that appraisal following shortly after.
Once the appraisal work is complete, Brown said he anticipates bringing a full resolution to the board, with the goal of engaging an auctioneer in September.
The sale would come with no strings attached on how the land is used. The district does not plan to attach contingencies restricting the buyer, Brown said, and any zoning questions or land-use approvals would be handled by the City of Fishers rather than the school district.
The school board will weigh in twice. Members will vote to authorize the sale before the property goes to auction, then vote again to approve the final sale once the auction is complete.
No estimated value for the property was discussed at the committee meeting.
In other items before the committee Thursday morning:
–A ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for August 20th for the Fishers Elementary School renovation.
–At HSE High School, Royalty Drive is open but construction continues in the parking lot area. Brown anticipates the new parking area will be open and ready for use following fall break.