Whitebead holds informational meeting on proposed annexation of Paoli schools; no vote taken

The Whitebead Board of Education convened a special meeting May 3 at 10:00 a.m. in the Whitebead Auditorium to discuss a proposed annexation of Paoli Public Schools into the Whitebead district. Chair Alex Young opened the session by saying, "This meeting is for discussion and information sharing regarding the proposed annexation of Paoli School District into Whitebead School District. No formal action (no vote) will be taken at this meeting. All participants must be respectful to speakers, board members, staff and other attendees." Twenty-three board and community representatives and 37 guests were recorded on the sign-in sheet; David Morris, Paoli superintendent, and Paoli board member Angie Norman attended the meeting.

District staff presented a packet of follow-up information from earlier public hearings. That material included projected millage equalization estimates that would raise Whitebead's millage by about 1.9 mills to an estimated 4.23 in 2025 while reducing Paoli's from 5.80 to the same estimated 4.23; an example showed a $1,000 assessed-value taxpayer would see roughly a $25.46 annual increase under that scenario. Officials also described procedural steps for annexation, timelines for voter approval in Paoli, and the process for forming a new five-member board if annexation proceeds.

The session closed with public comment, where 12 community members expressed a range of views from firm support to persistent doubts about governance, transportation and fiscal impacts. The board took no annexation vote and adjourned at 11:02 a.m. after a unanimous motion to end the meeting.