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Carroll Community School District — Long Range Facility Plan

June 11, 2026 · Carroll High School

Community Forum Executive Summary

What we heard from the community

Across all discussion groups, there was broad agreement that the district has legitimate facility needs and that the Adams building should ultimately be closed or repurposed. Participants supported the goals of improving efficiency, modernizing facilities, and creating better opportunities for students. However, there was also a consistent theme that the community needs more information, greater financial transparency, and a clearer understanding of the long-term plan before supporting a bond.

June 11 Forum Recap

5 Discussion Groups

Community members participated in facilitated small-group discussions.

June 11, 2026 · Carroll High School

01 — Overall Themes Across All Groups

Areas of Broad Agreement

Adams building should eventually be closed or repurposed.

The district needs to modernize facilities.

Consolidation from four buildings to three makes sense.

There are educational benefits to moving grades 7-8 closer to high school programming.

Efficiency gains in staffing, maintenance, and operations are important.

02 — Overall Themes Across All Groups

Consistent Concerns

Cost and property tax impact.

Declining enrollment raises questions about the size and timing of investments.

Traffic, transportation, and implementation details were concerns.

Timeline and phases.

The district needs to clearly explain:

  • Why this project is necessary.
  • Why these solutions were selected.
  • What alternatives were considered.
  • How taxpayers will be affected.

03 — Overall Community Sentiment

Where do we stand?

Conditional Support.

The community generally agrees that Carroll Community Schools has a legitimate facilities issue—particularly with the Adams building—and that modernization and consolidation make sense.

The community’s message

However, support for a major facilities proposal is conditional upon receiving much more information about costs, taxes, timelines, alternatives, and the long-term financial impact on taxpayers.

04 — Where the District Goes From Here

Next Steps

The forums suggest that the district’s next steps should focus heavily on:

01

Financial transparency

02

Tax impact communication

03

Explaining alternatives considered

04

Clarifying project phasing and timelines

05

Building community understanding and trust before asking for a vote.

05 — Results By Group

Group-by-Group Summaries

Below is a brief summary of the results from each group. Click any group to expand.

Overall Sentiment

Supportive of the concept, but skeptical due to a lack of information.

 

Positive Themes

  • Consolidating from four buildings to three was viewed as more efficient.
  • Support for moving students out of Adams.
  • Recognition that grade reconfiguration could:
    • Improve staffing efficiency
    • Expand Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities for grades 7/8
    • Better prepare students for workforce opportunities.
  • Operational and transportational efficiencies.

 

Primary Concerns

  • Lack of information:
    • Cost / Tax Impact
    • Building-by-building costs
    • Cost savings from consolidation
    • Engineering estimates
  • Questions about declining enrollment and future demographics.
  • Concerns about whether existing facilities can absorb students.
  • Uncertainty about timelines and whether a November vote is premature.

 

Burning Questions

  • Why is the project necessary?
  • What is the tax impact?
  • What would it cost to move grades 7-8 to the high school?
  • How should the community be educated on the financial aspects?

Overall Sentiment

Generally favorable toward modernization and consolidation, but worried about costs and implementation.

 

Positive Themes

  • Appreciation that the district is being proactive
  • Support for modernizing facilities
  • Agreement that three campuses make more sense than four
  • Recognition that having a long-term plan is important

 

Primary Concerns

  • Traffic flow and student transportation.
  • Property taxes and overall costs.
  • Whether all Phase 1 projects need to happen simultaneously.
  • Accommodating all students, including shared programming with neighboring districts.

 

Burning Questions

  • Could Adams be closed sooner?
  • Could only a 7th-8th grade building be built?
  • Do all projects need to happen at the same time?

Overall Sentiment

Supportive of closing Adams and improving opportunities for students, but concerned about affordability and timing.

 

Positive Themes

  • Support for retiring the outdated Adams building.
  • Improved security and ADA accessibility.
  • Better academic opportunities for middle school students.
  • Potential to attract new families.
  • Increased efficiency through staff sharing and transportation.

 

Primary Concerns

  • Cost and whether other options were explored.
  • Declining enrollment and whether this is the right time.
  • Community buy-in and maintaining positive relationships.
  • How to communicate effectively beyond social media.
  • Whether a smaller project should be considered.
  • Timeline

 

Burning Questions

  • Is this truly the best way to achieve the district’s goals?
  • How should projects be prioritized?
  • How can the district gain community support?

Overall Sentiment

Supportive of efficiencies and modernization, but concerned about costs, taxes, and transparency.

 

Positive Themes

  • Efficiency gains from combining buildings.
  • Avoiding further investment in Adams.
  • Updated facilities.
  • Better educational experiences for grades 7-8.
  • Ability to attract families to the district.

 

Primary Concerns

  • Cost was the dominant issue.
  • Fear that the bond vote could fail because of the price tag.
  • Declining enrollment and future funding implications.
  • Traffic and transportation concerns.
  • Concerns about future use of Adams.

 

Burning Questions

  • Why not build an entirely new building?
  • Can existing space be repurposed?
  • What is the long-term vision?
  • How does this affect individual taxpayers?
  • Can the process be made more transparent

Overall Sentiment

Supportive of the need for change and closing Adams, but highly concerned about affordability, future enrollment, and project timelines.

 

Positive Themes

  • Appreciation that the proposal appears well thought out and phased.
  • Support for removing Adams from use due to:
    • Age of the building.
    • Ongoing maintenance costs.
    • Increasing future demolition costs.
  • Recognition that grades 7-8 would gain academic opportunities by being located at the high school.
  • Efficiency in transportation and operational costs with one less building.
  • Belief that modern facilities help attract families and strengthen the district.

 

Primary Concerns

  • Cost and property tax impact
  • Questions about future enrollment trends and whether the investment will match future needs.
  • Concern about teacher shortages and whether services could be cut after construction.
  • Questions about what happens to Adams and whether demolition is the best option.
  • Significant concerns about traffic and safety around all school buildings.

Continue the Conversation

Share Your Feedback

The Board of Education continues to gather input as it refines the project list. Return to the Long Range Facility Plan page to submit your feedback.