School Reorganization Moves Forward

March 12, 2010

The Kokomo School Board Wednesday unanimously approved moving forward with implementing elementary and middle school reorganization for the 2010 to 2011 school year.
Superintendent Chris Himsel said the move is necessary as the corporation deals with $3.7 million in funding cuts, because of reduction in state funding and decreased enrollment. He said Kokomo-Center has lost 250 students since fall 2008, a loss he blames on the economy and lost jobs.
That means Wallace and Washington schools will close, as will Maple Crest Elementary. The Maple Crest building will stay open, housing middle school students only.
Elementary school programs will be in Lafayette Park, Bon Air, Elwood Haynes, Boulevard, Pettit Park and Sycamore schools. Central Middle School will be the second of two middle schools.
Current seventh-graders will finish middle school at their current schools, Himsel said. Those who have siblings at either Central or Maple Crest will have the option to move to the same school as their siblings, he said.
At the beginning of the 2011 to 2012 school year, Himsel said, all middle school students will be in one of the two middle schools, because Central’s renovations will be complete.
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Life skills students will move from Pettit Park Elementary to either Bon Air or Boulevard Elementary.
Himsel said Kokomo-Center began the consolidation process in 2006, with the formation of a community-based blue ribbon committee, and worked through a series of open meetings to make recommendations for building reuse and attendance boundaries.
Board member Harold Canady asked if any of the closed schools will be torn down. Himsel said some will be reused. One could house The Crossing alternative program, and others could be used for special education cooperative and administrative officers.
Those not needed will be made available for lease or sale, he said, noting that only the current administrative service center has been slated for demolition. Himsel said it is the most expensive building in the district to maintain.
He said consultant Tracy Richter, who led the study process leading to the consolidation, estimated the corporation could save $2.5 million to $3 million by consolidating and closing buildings, and could save an additional $1.5 million in capital projects money by not having to maintain buildings.
HImsel noted the amount to be saved is still less than the budget reductions.
The district already closed Columbian and Darrough Chapel elementary schools in May 2009. Columbian is now leased to the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library, and Darrough Chapel Elementary is now the early learning center, housing the Head Start program.
Middle school teacher Trudy Blue expressed concern for the eighth-graders who will be in schools with children in kindergarten through fifth grade, wondering if that was age appropriate and if the children would have the full middle school experience in those buildings.
Board president Joe Dunbar said board members also had those concerns, and suggested she speak to Himse l for more information.
Board candidate Corey Summers asked Himsel to let people know if there are going to be teachers fired or laid off, and suggested he reduce administrative staff before laying off teachers.
He also complained about not receiving records he had requested about the corporation’s insurance.
Dunbar suggested Summers make an appointment with Himsel to discuss his concerns.
Canady asked if there is an overall plan for cost savings.
"The only thing I know is in the plan is we’re reorganizing schools. I’m not sure that’s going to cover it," he said, adding that if people know there is a plan, even if there are reductions in force, it is better to know than to speculate.
Dunbar said the board is working on a plan, which was discussed at the board’s last public work session.
In other business the board:
–Hired Robert McIntyre as its energy education specialist, as part of a contract to reduce energy costs;
–Approved a three-year contract with Claimaid, to help the corporation receive reimbursement from Medicaid for some special education services;
–Approved refinancing 21st Century project bonds; and