Elkhart School Board discusses transferring Osolo Elementary building to nonprofit Premiere Arts Academy
ELKHART, Ind. -- The Elkhart Community Schools Board of School Trustees held a public work session Friday evening at the J.C. Rice Educational Services Center to gather community input on a proposed agreement to transfer the former Osolo Elementary building to Premiere Arts Academy, a nonprofit charter school, for $1.
Under the terms presented, Elkhart Community Schools would remain responsible for maintaining the building until the sale is finalized but would carry no further responsibility once the transfer is complete. Premiere Arts Academy would independently run and staff the school, and neither party could compel service support from the other — for example, Elkhart Community Schools would not provide bus transportation for Premiere Arts students. Officials said the arrangement could not be structured to produce financial benefit for either party, described the agreement as covering a two-year term.
Board members said the district's academic accountability role under the proposal remained unresolved and noted the transfer would still expose the district to liability tied to the charter school. Officials also indicated Elkhart's state-funded tuition support obligations are expected to help support Premiere Arts. The $1 sale price was described as an exchange for the district being relieved of existing debt on the building, though the amount of that debt was not disclosed during the session.
Community members who spoke during public comment were largely supportive of Premiere Arts Academy moving into the building, with several expressing relief that the vacant Osolo property would be put back to use. Representatives connected to the local arts community, including those tied to the Lerner Theatre's programming, voiced support for the agreement. At least one Elkhart teacher urged the board to reject the proposal, and one community member criticized the board's financial decision-making.
Despite the generally supportive public comment, board members appeared cautious, expressing reservations about giving up a district-owned building already in a weakened condition and about the financial terms of the deal.
The board is expected to take formal action on the proposal at its July 14 meeting.