When school gets underway this fall many elementary students will find themselves in new schools.
The Rush County Schools Board of Trustees met Tuesday evening and made the first changes in local elementary school district lines since 1968.
After the original realignment plan drew public fire the board reconsidered and came up with a couple of alternatives.
This week, the original plan was scrapped and what was presented as Option 2 was adopted on a vote of six to one following a motion from Paul Barada with a second from Jeff Slaton.
Board member Anita Jackson was the lone dissenting vote. She later explained that she voted “no” on Option 2 because she preferred Option 3.
Options 2 and 3 were very similar, the difference being that in the third option Glenwood-area children would have remained at Rushville Elementary School. Option 2 will send those students to Milroy Elementary instead.
School board president John Wilson offered his thanks and appreciation to administrators, staff, and all concerned persons who participated in the process of realigning the elementary school boundaries.
“I think it was a very positive thing, going out into the communities and listening to what people had to say,” Wilson stated.
Board member Larry Scott offered his thanks to community members for being “polite and civil during these trying times.”
Board member Jane Carter concurred, noting that the board “knew it was going to be a hard decision” and that she also appreciated input from the public.
Board member Paul Barada added his thanks to all the people who were concerned about where their children were going to go to school.
“You must believe we took your concerns seriously,” Barada said. “If we didn’t care what you thought we wouldn’t have held public meetings on this matter. We did the best we could to make this as convenient as possible for the children.”
In other news, the board voted to approve splitting Rushville Elementary into two separate schools operating under one roof. The new schools will be known as Rushville Elementary East and Rushville Elementary West.
Superintendent of schools Dr. John Williams reported that the Indiana Department of Education has already approved this action.
The board granted authority to advertise for bids on a project that entails connecting the existing kindergarten building to the main structure at RES.
Creating classrooms for special education was part of the plan that included construction of two new elementary schools.
This approach accomplishes that goal, Dr. Williams said, and does so at a substantial savings to local taxpayers.
“The original estimate for building four new classrooms was $1.4 million. This accomplishes the same thing at a cost of $875,000,” he said.
Kindergartners will be moved into the main building.
Finally, the board approved transferring $250,000 from the Capital Projects Fund and $100,000 from the Transportation Fund to the Rainy Day Fund, which is essentially the corporation’s saving account.
These transfers bring the Rainy Day Fund total to $1.492 million.
It is likely as much as $1 million of those monies will be needed to cashflow the school system in light of major budget cuts announced by the state.
Kevin L. Green can be contacted at (765) 932-2222 ext. 108 or via e-mail at kevin.green@indianamediagroup.com. Add a comment to this story at www.rushvillerepublican.com.
News
Related Photos
Discussion
School districts done deal
RCS board changes elementary boundaries
- News
-
-
RPD and RFD promotions
Mayor Mike Pavey and Rushville Police Chief Craig Tucker swear in police officer Alan Wombolt (right) Tuesday during the meeting of the Rushville Common Council. Other promotions approved by the Board of Public Works and Safety for the RPD included Randy Meek to detective, Michael Ervin to K-9 officer, Brad Wessell and Cale Worley to sergeant and Aaron Gurley to sergeant. Promotions at Rushville Fire Department included Mike Justice to lieutenant and Chuck Kemker to captain.
-
Culy joins RCHS Ag Department
During her formative years, Hagerstown resident and 2008 Hagerstown High School graduate Kitlyn Culy knew she would end up in the agricultural field, probably as an educator.
-
Merger off between Chamber, ECDC
Rush County Economic and Community Development Corporation Executive Director Jim Finan has announced that the Rush County Chamber of Commerce and ECDC will not be merging.
-
RCS adds to Rainy Day Fund
The Rush County Schools Board of Trustees met Wednesday night and, among other things, voted to move $550,000 into the corporation's Rainy Day Fund, which is basically the local school system's savings account.
-
Air Evac leaving Rushville base
Nearly four years to the day that Air Evac Lifeteam began operation from a Rushville base, the medical air transport operation will leave our community.
-
Teams sought for 2012 Relay for Life
Nearly a month after the annual kick off and three weeks before the first scheduled team captain meeting (March 1), local organizers are still hoping to expand the number of participants in this year's local Relay for Life.
-
Boys and girls basketball sign-ups underway
Sign-ups for the Boys & Girls Club of Rush County boys and girls ages five through second grade basketball will run through Feb. 29. These leagues will run the five Saturdays in March.
-
Youth in Philanthropy fund grant application deadline
Garry Cooley, executive eirector of the Rush County Community Foundation, has announced that the grant application deadline for the Youth in Philanthropy Fund is 4 p.m. March 1.
-
Lady Lions eliminate Lady Knights
The goal in the tournament is to advance and that is what the Lady Lions did Tuesday at Batesville with a 53-50 victory over South Dearborn.
-
The wonders of wood
Outside the wood shop door on Wednesday afternoons, kids at the Boys & Girls Club of Rush County line up for their turn inside the room where planks of wood become boxes, benches and shelves between 4 and 6 p.m.
- More News Headlines
-
Raw Video: Israeli Embassy Car Attacked
Coroner: Don't Know Houston's Cause of Death Yet
Valentine Greetings Sent Worldwide From Loveland
Greek Austerity Measures Spark Riots
Raw Video: Obama Budget Goes to Capitol Hill
Arab League Wants U.N. Help in Syria
Nordic Festival Puts North Korea in Spotlight
'Rumor Has It' Adele's Rolling in the Grammys
Grohl, Grammy Nominees Cut Up on the Red Carpet
Greece Passes New Austerity Deal Amid Rioting
Raw Video: Greek Rioting Ahead of Austerity Vote
Raw Video: Child Rescued After Kosovo Avalanche
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport
Fuel Removal Under Way on Capsized Italian Ship
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
