From the Muncie Star-Press:
“And the hits just keep on comin’,” says an exasperated Tom Cruise in the movie, “A Few Good Men.” (It’s also the title of Michael Nesmith’s fifth solo album.)
Administrators at Muncie Community Schools can relate to Cruise, after the Indiana Department of Education denied a waiver to end bus service at the conclusion of the current school year. This comes on the heals of a failed referendum last November, where voters said no to increasing property taxes to fund school bus transportation.
MCS must come up with about $2 million to keep the buses running. That’s after about roughly $1 million in savings that can be squeezed out by using remaining transportation funds, expanding walk zones around schools and reconfiguring some bus routes.
That $2 million is likely to come from staff cuts, including teachers. Community members have made it clear they want MCS administration to take a closer look at their own ranks, as well.
No doubt the actions within the state legislature contributed to the fiscal mess facing the district by enacting tax caps. The state legislature must provide a solution.
Bills filed by Senate Democratic Leader Tim Lanane, D-Anderson, and state Rep. Sue Errington, D-Muncie, have been drafted to allow school corporations to move money from “protected funds” to other funds to address shortfalls caused by tax caps.
It’s MCS best hope of maintaining bus transportation and staff levels.
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http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2014301160041
