April 29--ELKHART -- Sweeping changes laid out in Elkhart Community Schools' strategic plan are moving forward after the school board officially began the process of selling $10 million in bonds to pay for some of the changes.
The superintendent also discussed a total price tag for the plan this week: $40 million.
During a public forum this week to provide more information about the plan, school board members, teachers, administrators and members of parent group One Elkhart joined community members to discuss the school system's strategic plan for Elkhart schools.
The plan, which was proposed in 2015 and adopted by the Elkhart Community Schools Board of School Trustees in 2016, would not see a reduction in the number of elementary schools, but would free up space for pre-kindergarten programs by the move of sixth-graders into the middle schools. It would also create a ninth-grade academy and a fourth middle school at Elkhart Central. Sophomore through Senior classes at Elkhart Central would be consolidated into the existing Elkhart Memorial and create a unified Elkhart High School.
Elkhart Community Schools Superintendent Rob Haworth said the school board has allocated $40 million, which does not include professional development.
"Right now, the board has dedicated $40 million toward this project," he said. "That is not linked to, however, professional development, in which we'll be using Title 2 grant funds to assist us with the professional development needed to make wall-to-wall pathways work."
This week's meeting was aimed at answering questions concerning the current state of the Strategic Plan, dubbed "The Elkhart Promise," as well as address questions regarding the school board's plan to sell $10 million in bonds to begin work on the project.
Per state requirement, two petitions must circulate before the board can sell bonds. One petition will ask for signatures of those in support of the school system receiving the bond, the other for those against.
However, the board has said it will continue to implement the strategic plan whether voters approve or deny the bonds through the petitions, which will begin circulating on May 15 and continue for 30 days. School board members stressed the petitions will not be construed as an up-or-down vote on the strategic plan as a whole.
School Board President Susan Daiber said the board is relying on facts to guide its decisions as much as community input.
"I feel from what we have already, the majority of the people do want this to happen," Daiber said. "From what we gathered before we voted, we're three-to-one with people who believe in this process. I want to say that I am listening to constituents, but I am listening in my heart to the facts."
