Monday, November 18, 2013

Times Reports Michigan City Schools Take Steps Towards Massive Cuts

From the Northwest Indiana Times:

Initial steps have been taken to decide how to close a budget deficit next year in the Michigan City Area Schools without a mass layoff of teachers.

Some Michigan City Area Schools officials are speculating an amount of the corporation's $91 million in debt will be refinanced to acquire funds to help keep as many teachers as possible.

The School Board has made no decisions on where to cut, but member Beryle Burgwald did asked for figures last week to see how much a redistricting of the elementary schools could save the district to minimize any teacher layoffs.

Burgwald said Pine and Lake Hills elementaries were overbuilt and could take students from other grade schools through redistricting.

He said redistricting the middle schools recently saved about $700,000.

"I think the same could be done for the grade schools," Burgwald said.

Former Coolspring Township Trustee Dennis Metheny said he was told after the meeting the board was positioning itself to refinance.
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http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/laporte/michigan-city/officials-take-steps-toward-massive-cuts/article_30a24199-4d4a-5db6-8929-12fb111882c3.html