North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Addresses School Funding Rumors

N.J.-S.P. Superintendent Lynn Johnson asked supporters of the corporation to sign a banner after the school funding presentation as a show of solidarity.
N.J.-S.P. Superintendent Lynn Johnson asked supporters of the corporation to sign a banner after the school funding presentation as a show of solidarity.

North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation officials are eying a local property tax hike to cover operating expenses. A combination of state funding cuts and declining enrollment have cost the corporation a significant amount of money. Superintendent Lynn Johnson says they are not planning to consolidate.

“This is North Judson-San Pierre. It needs to stay North Judson-San Pierre. We’re not going to be absorbed into Knox. That is not true,” Johnson said.

Corporations already do share services like special education and vocational programs in order to contain costs. Johnson told the audience at Thursday’s fight for public education forum school officials may look at other shared service options but stressed consolidation is not being considered. Neither is the closure of the elementary school.

“Come Aug. 5th, those kids will go to school in that building. You hear that people are saying it’s being closed. No, it’s not. Straight from the horse’s mouth,” Johnson said.

WKVI News will share Johnson’s presentation from Thursday’s informational forum on tomorrow’s “Kankakee Valley Viewpoints” public affairs show. It airs at noon CDT.