Public sounds off on EACS 2010 budget

NEW HAVEN, Ind. (WANE) - East Allen County School leaders got an earful from frustrated taxpayers in the district at a public hearing on the 2010 budget, Tuesday evening.

The board unanimously approved half the budget, including the capital projects and bus replacement plans. It still has to vote whether or not to approve a redesign plan for the district.

The district is facing a budget crisis as East Allen leaders have already had to slash about $4 million from this year's budget.

But more changes are coming. Earlier this year, Superintendent Dr. Karyle Green laid out five different "redesign" options that will help save even more money. All five are different, and include suggestions ranging from closing schools, renaming some, and building new ones. Monroeville and New Haven Elementary Schools are two schools that would close in each plan.

If the school board approves a redesign it will save anywhere from $5 to $8 million a year. If voters pass a property tax referendum in November it will save another $8 million annually.

"If we can save some operational costs related to the redesign than we can take that money and fund it solely for programming and academics for our students," said Green.

But there is opposition to redesigning the district and closing schools. Dozens of taxpayers showed up at Tuesday's public hearing to ask the board to reconsider.

"If East Allen builds one high school, property values will plummet," said one East Allen County resident. Another added, "If you take your schools out of the community, you're not only bothering the people in the community, you're deteriorating our property values, plus you take away the spirit of the community."

Superintendent Green is expected to present her recommendations to the board at the next school board meeting on Sept. 21st, 2010.