Carmel Clay Schools to discuss future of unsafe Orchard Park building

Carmel Clay Schools officials are scheduled to meet Wednesday to discuss the future of the former Orchard Park Elementary School after the building was deemed unsafe. On October 14, maintenance staff discovered approximately four feet of standing water in the school’s boiler room following a water main rupture beneath the facility.

The rupture damaged the building’s infrastructure and compromised its central mechanical plant. Local government officials determined that concerns regarding structural stability rendered the property unsafe, leading to the cordoning off of the building, playground, and surrounding grounds.

The school had been closed since summer 2021 due to a redistricting plan. While the district previously announced plans to convert the site into a centralized early learning center, engineers from Fanning Howey are currently assessing the structural damage to identify potential solutions.