From the
Merrillville Post-Tribune:
Munster could be the next cash-strapped school district
heading down the referendum path.
The School Board is still deliberating its options, which
include significant cutbacks or asking its taxpayers for about $3 million each
year over a seven-year period.
To get the issue on the November ballot, the School Board
would have to make a decision by next month, said board president Paula
Nellans. The board’s next meeting is July 9.
“At this point, we haven’t made any decision yet; we’re
seeing what other cuts can be made and looking at the pros and cons,” she said.
Newly appointed Superintendent Richard Sopko said a
committee comprised of 40 members from the community examined the funding issue
and recommended a referendum.
“Our revenue is just not supporting us,” said Sopko, the
district’s former assistant superintendent.
In May, voters in the Duneland Schools narrowly approved
a $39.9 million seven-year referendum to offset funding declines. Last year,
Crown Point voters approved a $35 million referendum.
…
Of 357 districts in the state, Munster is in the bottom
10 at No. 347 in state per-pupil funding. A virtual charter school receives
more per pupil funding than Munster, Sopko pointed out.
State officials called Munster’s enrollment of about
4,000 “stagnant,” while saying the Indiana Connections Academy Virtual Charter
School was growing rapidly with about 50 percent of its enrollment of 266 near
the poverty level.
Meanwhile, Sopko said he’s cut two administrative
positions, and teachers agreed to pay increased health insurance costs.
Administrators have gone without pay raises and have taken two furlough days.
…
