Community Schools of Frankfort Superintendent Dr. Matt Rhoda says the district will seek approval for a little over $16 million in new bonding authority to upgrade athletic facilities and the high school swimming pool, while keeping the school tax rate flat for local property owners.
Rhoda discussed the plan, along with ongoing construction and looming staff reductions, during a recent appearance on WILO’s “Party Line” program. He said the new bond is possible because older debt has been retired and emphasized that “taxpayers are not gonna see any difference here with this — it’ll be a tax neutral bond.”
View the entire interview broadcast on WILO, Boone 102.7 FM and Hoosierland TV HERE.
Balancing facilities, finances, and enrollment
The superintendent framed the proposed bond and construction work as part of a broader effort to keep Frankfort’s facilities competitive and attractive to families at a time when enrollment has dropped by about 150 students in the past year, straining the district’s operating budget. At the same time, he acknowledged teacher concerns over planned staff reductions and described his handling of a proposed shift to a Latin honors system as a “leadership failure” in communication.
$16 Million Bond Aimed at Athletics and Pool
Rhoda said the new bond proposal, which he presented to the school board this week as a notice of public hearing, will receive two preliminary determination hearings so the public can review the plan.
“We’re going after a little over a $16 million bond,” he explained. “That bond is because we have paid off other debt… nothing taxpayers are not gonna see any difference here with this — it’ll be a tax neutral bond.”
He said the money would be used to:
– Renovate and improve the high school swimming pool.
– Install synthetic turf on the football, baseball and softball fields.
– Update related athletic structures around those facilities.
Rhoda said the district is “shooting to have the football field done for by the fall of 2027, so that football season in 2027 will be on a synthetic field.” He stressed that athletic investments are overdue: “We’ve invested money into our buildings and we’re doing that, but it has been a long time since we’ve touched athletic facilities.”
Public notices will be posted on the district website and published in the Frankfort Times, with bond hearings planned for March 10 and March 17 school board meetings.
Middle School, Roof, and HVAC Projects Continue
Rhoda also gave an update on the multi-year Frankfort Middle School renovation, which remains on track for completion by December 2026. Construction manager Tecton and architects KJG of Lafayette, along with Fanning Howey for electrical and HVAC design, are leading the work.
“They’ve done a great job with the middle school project,” Rhoda said. “We’ve been, knock on wood, on time. We’re less than a year out from final completing that project. It should be done in December of 2026.”
Recent work has included converting the former wrestling room area into three new classrooms and adding a second-floor hallway “bridge” connection that makes the space more accessible. This summer, the distinctive diamond-shaped skylight atop the middle school will be removed, all downstairs flooring will be replaced to tie into the renovated cafeteria and office area, and the library will receive updates.
Other current and planned facility projects include:
– A new HVAC chiller at Suncrest Elementary, originally built in 1996.
– Painting both middle school gym walls and ceilings this summer.
– Replacement of the flat roof sections at Blue Ridge and Green Meadows, following shingle replacement last summer.
Staff Reductions, Teacher Concerns and Enrollment Decline
Rhoda said one of the most difficult topics at the latest board meeting was staffing cuts driven by enrollment and funding pressures. He noted that the corporation has lost about 200 students over the past five years and roughly 150 students between last year and this February, at about “$7,600 per kid” in state revenue.
“All we’re trying to do is bring our number of staff in parity with the student enrollment,” he said. “We hire more staff when we have more kids and we have to reduce staff when we have less kids. It’s an easy concept.”
A group of teachers attended the meeting to urge the board to look at other areas, including central office, before cutting classroom positions. Rhoda said he understands their concerns but believes current reductions need to focus on teaching staff and low-enrollment courses. “We’ve got some content areas that don’t have a lot of kids in them. And so it’s hard to justify paying for a full-time teacher when there are not a lot of kids,” he said.
He also cited unfunded mandates such as special education preschool, where the district must provide services but receives no dedicated state dollars, further tightening the budget.
Latin Honors Delay and Student Programs
Rhoda told listeners he took responsibility for not giving board members enough information ahead of a proposed change from a traditional valedictorian/salutatorian model to a Latin honors system (cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude) at the high school. “That was kind of a failure on my part,” he said. “I did not… get enough to them and we had to table it.” The proposal is expected to return to the board’s March agenda.
He also highlighted student leadership and career programs, including the Crash Club at Frankfort High School and the countywide Learn Academy, which offers industrial electrical certifications in partnership with local employers.
“We just have great kids at Frankfort High School,” Rhoda said of Crash Club. “These kids are great kids. They do well in school. They want to make Frankfort High School a great place to learn, but they want to make this community a great place.”
As the district weighs bonds, construction and staffing moves, Rhoda said the goal remains the same: “We’ve got to be able to have facilities and programs that people want to come to Frankfort and stay in Frankfort.”