WRV School Board faces tough decisions

The White River Valley Board of School Trustees has an eye on the future, with the best interest of its students in mind.

Some will agree with that statement, and you can bet some will disagree.

But it's hard to argue that in today's world, education needs to be No. 1 on our minds. Without a quality education, students will be left behind.

Students who are left behind in school are less likely to be productive members of society.

In the long run, a quality school corporation will help everyone.

How to build or maintain that goal is another question. That's the dilemma the WRV board faces.

This week a company from Washington state has visited all three schools in the district -- elementary schools in Lyons and Worthington, and the junior/senior high building in Switz City -- to gather information for a feasibility study the board has requested.

The board will use the information to consider its future options.

There are many possibilities, though everyone seems to be focusing only on closing the two elementary schools and moving the students to a new facility in Switz City.

Yes that's possible, and it could happen. But the board may conclude to renovate the two current buildings, possibly add on to one of the buildings and close the other, or come up with a solution to evenly divide the number of students at both elementary schools.

Or it could be something completely different.

Community meetings at Lyons and Worthington schools earlier this week did prove one thing: Those who attended don't want their schools closed and are against consolidating the two.

But they also want the best education possible for their children. They want more class electives and college prep classes at the high school. They want more extra-curricular activities.

Cost (better stated: saving money) vs. quality education.

It's unfortunate that it comes down to that, but you can thank those at the statehouse for that. Both can be accomplished with some hard work.

If the board decides to do any kind of construction project, a voter referendum may be required.

I've spent a lot of time the past few days researching the school referendum process. I contacted the Indiana Department of Education, the Indiana School Board Association, the Center for Evaluation and Education Policy at Indiana University, spoke with one local superintendent, and a former local superintendent.

It's not a simple process.

Mary Jane Michalak, chief-of-staff and director of communications for the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance, was a tremendous help and agreed to offer an explanation that most could understand.

If you're reading this in the newspaper you can find the explanation inside a box along with this column. If you're reading online you'll find it below.

Closing a school -- or schools -- is never easy. It's an emotional issue.

Superintendent Layton Wall says the board is expected to announce its decision at its February or March meeting. It will be done in an open meeting.

Board members were elected to do the will of the people, but also to do what's best for the corporation.

Can WRV continue to operate three buildings and financially survive?

Share your feelings with board members, but do so in a civil manner.

Whatever the decision, it must be the best for the students. And that's the real bottom line.

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The following explanation of the school referendum process was provided by Mary Jane Michalak, chief-of-staff/director of communications for the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance.

She can be reached by mail at 100 N. Senate, N-1058B, Indianapolis, Ind., 46204; by e-mail at mmichalak@dlgf.in.gov; or by telephone at (317) 232-3785.

You can also visit her department's website at www.in.gov/dlgf

"House Enrolled Act 1001-2008 initiated a change in the way school construction projects are approved. Voters in the local community will make the final determination regarding approval of a school construction project.

"School corporations still are required to hold a preliminary hearing of determination during which time the school board notifies the public of the intention to build, add on to or remodel and to borrow the money to fund the construction project. If community members do not object to the proposed project or they do not file enough signatures on a petition to initiate a referendum or petition and remonstrance process, the school district can move forward with its construction project. If 100 or more registered voters or property owners sign a petition opposing a school construction project within the legal timeframe, the project is subject to either the petition and remonstrance process or the referendum process.

"Elementary and middle school construction projects are subject to the referendum process, if the projected cost is more than $10 million, and high school construction projects are subject to the referendum process if the projected cost is more than $20 million. Construction projects with projected costs less than these thresholds but greater than $2 million will be subject to the petition and remonstrance process. In either process, if a majority of the participating individuals are in favor of the project, the district may proceed with the construction process.

"Additionally, in 2009, the legislature passed a law that allows the school (or other unit of government) to request that a construction project to go through the referendum process. The reason this would benefit a school corporation or other unit of government is that if the question is approved by the public, the tax impact of the project is outside the property tax caps, if the cap is reached. This ensures that the unit of government can receive the full funding for the project.

"Finally, you may want to let readers know that if the project does go forward through the referendum process, the Department will make a calculator available at http://www.stats.indiana.edu/dlgf_calcul... to allow taxpayers to estimate the impact of the project on their pocketbooks.

"The tool, created specifically to gauge the effect of a proposed referendum, calculates the impact of the referendum throughout the length of the proposal and gives users a maximum property tax bill estimate based on the assessed value entered.

"This tool can assist taxpayers with making an informed decision about how the proposal will affect their property tax bill in the coming years. Taxpayers will need their property's assessed value and deductions, if any, to use the tool. If their assessed value is unknown, they may use the Department's Assessed Value Lookup tool, available at http://www.in.gov/dlgf/4931.htm.

"Estimates provided by the referendum calculator are projections only and should not be taken as a statement of true tax liability, which is determined by the county and could change in future years.

"The calculator was created by the Department in partnership with the Indiana Business Research Center (IBRC) at Indiana University.

"Once again, it is important to note that property taxes approved by voters in a referendum are not subject to the property tax caps. Therefore, any approved referendum may result in a property tax bill that exceeds the caps (1% of assessed value for homesteads (owner-occupied residence), 2% for other residential properties and farmland, and 3% for all other property)."