From the Muncie Star-Press:
Time is running out for voters in Muncie Community Schools to give input and gain knowledge about a Nov. 5 referendum to determine the fate of busing for students.
Opinions on both sides of the referendum issue are strong, which is a good thing, for that spurs a healthy and necessary debate about an important policy decision.
The MCS administration began a series of town hall meetings to receive comments on how to downsize the school buildings to save money in the face of falling enrollments. The last town hall meeting earlier this month at Wilson Middle School saw increased interest in the referendum, with more questions posed at the microphone, and fliers — for and against — handed out at the door.
The final town hall is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 8 at Central High School. It’s a good place to go for information regarding possible school consolidations and the busing referendum.
More about the referendum: MCS administrators say that without a successful outcome, those yellow school buses will stop running for the 2014-2015 school year. If that happens, it will be up to parents to find a way to get their kids to school.
Indiana does not require school districts to provide transportation. But neither can schools charge a fee to parents whose children ride the buses.
The school system needs to raise, according to officials, $3.2 million under a maximum tax levy of $0.3939 cents for every $100 of assessed valuation. That’s the maximum levy. It could be lower than this figure.
MCS officials have stripped out of their referendum wish list about $3.3 million in security upgrades, building repairs and Internet services. Now, the sole purpose of the referendum is bus service.
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Whether you agree, disagree or are undecided, you owe it to yourself to get as much information on the issue as possible before casting a vote.
Attend the final town hall.
http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013309270018
