Blue-ribbon panel to report North Spencer findings

SPENCER COUNTY – A blue-ribbon task force will present its analysis of declining student enrollment and reduced state funding for the North Spencer School Corp. at four upcoming public meetings. The group will propose options for the public’s consideration on the following dates:

• Thursday (today) at David Turnham Education Center at 5 p.m. and at 7 p.m. at Lincoln Trail Elementary School.

• Feb. 23 at 5:30 p.m. at Chrisney Elementary School and 7:30 p.m. at Nancy Hanks Elementary School.

Due to revised state funding formulas and fewer students in the corporation, state per-pupil support for the North Spencer general fund budget account is expected to decline by $1.65 million over the next 10 years. Even if inflationary costs rise only 1 percent each year, the task force estimates by 2021 the school corporation will face an annual $2.88 million general-fund shortfall.

In 2009, Indiana law changed so that state funds for schools are now distributed on a per pupil basis. Enrollment in the corporation has been declining and is projected to continue falling resulting in a heavy loss of state funds for the corporation. Furthermore, the state-wide budget crisis in 2010 led to reduction of funds for all Indiana schools.

An additional $568,348 was cut from North Spencer at that time.