WESTFIELD, Ind. — New home construction in Westfield is booming.
As builders meet the increasing need for homeowners, the surge in neighborhoods is placing demands on the Westfield Washington school district.
"2024 will definitely be the year of ground breaking," said Brian Tomamichael, assistant superintendent for business and operations for Westfield Washington Schools.
Tomamichael said the district is undergoing a $487 million "Destination Westfield" plan.
"When we look at the growth that has happened over the last several years, we have not added a brand new K-12 school building in Westfield since 2009," Tomamichael said.
The project includes:
- Two new elementary schools slated to open in 2026
- One middle school expected to open in 2027
- A new transportation center and event center opening by the end of 2025
"We've had over 1,200 students in the last three years. We're 500-plus this year alone, and they're still coming in," said Paul Kaiser, superintendent of Westfield Washington Schools.
The plan would increase the number of elementary schools from six to eight and establish the district's second middle school.
"We're putting fifth grade back in the elementary schools, and our middle schools will be grades 6, 7 and 8, which again will give us some more flexibility in our current six elementary schools," Kaiser said.
More students means the need for more transportation.
The district is outgrowing its current transportation facility, which at a time, comfortably had space for 40 school buses.
"To give you an example, on the first day of school, we had all the buses there, all the bus drivers. We'd have enough space to park all the drivers, and now, we're well over 100 school buses, and that will continue to grow for us. There's one restroom ... one male, one female restroom in the whole facility for our drivers and all the bus drivers," Kaiser said.
Kaiser also said there will be no tax increases for the project.
"As they move and build these neighborhoods, those tax revenues build the schools," Kaiser said.
School leaders say Westfield may very well become the fastest-growing city in Indiana.
"I'm the only Indy native on our block. Everybody else, umm, California, Kansas, Idaho, New York, Kentucky. It's all over the country," Tomamichael said. "As we continue to grow as a city, the schools are just a byproduct of where that growth goes."
Anyone who would like to speak with Kaiser to discuss the project or any school-related issues can meet at Westfield High school at 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7.