Vigo County oversight board hears residents and students on school consolidation, funding shortfalls

Summary

At an oversight board meeting on the Vigo County school consolidation plan, board members and staff outlined declining enrollment and funding gaps while dozens of residents and students urged the board to preserve neighborhood high schools and address deferred maintenance; no final decision was made.

At an evening meeting of the oversight board formed to review Vigo County’s school consolidation plan, board members heard a mix of support and concern from residents, students, educators and local officials while staff detailed steep enrollment declines and chronic maintenance shortfalls that officials say limit options.

Oversight board member Mark Matheni told attendees the board’s role is “to provide an independent oversight essentially of the school corporation consolidation plan and the county finances,” and summarized figures the board says are shaping its review: district enrollment has fallen from more than 21,000 at its peak to about 12,444 today; North and South high schools are roughly 60% full; and the district is carrying a long‑running funding gap the board estimates at about $11.7 million since 2010 because state per‑student support has not kept pace with inflation.

Those figures framed the debate. “We fully realize this is not just a financial decision. We realize this is a community decision,” Matheni said, later noting a consultant’s finding that the…

Vigo County oversight board hears residents and students on school consolidation, funding shortfalls

Summary

Subscribe to keep reading