Area public schools continue to look for ways to balance their budgets, which is no small feat with dwindling dollars for many school districts due to state and federal funding cuts, reallocation of funds throughout the state, and lower local tax collections.
Since education dollars follow the students in the state, one way to receive more funding is to increase enrollment by accepting transfer students from other districts.
School districts are already using a number of creative and innovative ways to market themselves including, but not limited to, TV, billboards, radio spots, and print media.
During the May meeting of the Plymouth School Board, administrators asked that the Board consider busing students from both the Argos and Culver areas. The topic was tabled and carried over to the June 2 meeting. After listening to a number of opinions from audience members and discussing the matter amongst themselves, the Board voted 4-1 to table the proposal indefinitely. Board Vice-President Larry Holloway who wanted the matter to be dismissed as opposed to just tabled, cast the lone negative vote. Prior to the vote, several audience members spoke in opposition to the proposal including Argos residents, Argos School Board members, Argos Schools Superintendent, and an Argos High School staff member.
Ironically, a mailing sent out by bulk mail in August 2014 by the Interim Argos Schools Superintendent, Russ Mikel, seem to be offering bus transportation to the Argos Schools from other districts. Mikel wrote, “Residential boundaries no longer serve as barriers to a high quality and appropriate education. Your child may easily transfer to another school district like Argos Community Schools. Bus transportation may be an option depending on the situation.” Included in the letter was the following: “After learning more about our schools, you may wish to begin the application process online or in person. After that, we can look into the option of bus transportation. Our School Board is committed to providing a safe environment for your children as they travel to and from school.”
Whether busing from out of districts will ever be offered or not, administrators will still be pressured to find ways to bring more funding into their district. School funding in Indiana has become especially complex with efforts at the top levels to equalize the per student reimbursement that has led to deep cuts for many schools.
Schools are still being asked to have expanded curriculums, boost academic test scores, raise graduation rates, while at the same time, meeting the needs of students with learning and physical disabilities, English language barriers, and increasing numbers of students qualifying for free and reduced services due to poverty.
Educators are well aware of the need to attract and retain quality teachers, keep class sizes in check, offer extracurricular activities including the arts, and keep up with ever changing technology.
After the June meeting, PEA (Plymouth Education Association) Co-President Laura Kruyer said, ““Small community schools are hardest hit by this new complexity index as state revenues are increasing based on student enrollment numbers. This situation has led to increased competition among community schools and aggressive marketing tactics by school corporations.” she said.
During the Board meeting, Kruyer called for schools boards, superintendents, teachers, and parents of small town communities to join together. She said, “Reductions in funding for small town schools is an attack on the very heart of our communities. It is our united voice that will be heard the most.”
Carol Aders Correspondent
