Those owing money to the Oregon-Davis School Corporation have had their debt wiped away. The Starke County Community Foundation’s Hardesty Memorial Endowment Fund has agreed to pay off $25,000 in outstanding debt, through a grant awarded to the school corporation last week.
The Oregon-Davis School Board recently approved an agreement that would let school officials garnish families’ state income tax refunds. At the time, school officials noted that the bulk of the $25,000 was from textbook fees, but it could also involve charges for damaged iPads or lost chargers. Board members noted that amounts to a lot of money for a school corporation with just 500 students.
Since then, the Starke County Community Foundation says it discussed the issue with School Superintendent Bill Bennett, who felt that the impact of COVID-19 has made it harder for families to pay their fees. Last week, the foundation was able to present a $25,000 check from the Hardesty Memorial Endowment Fund. Northern Indiana Community Foundation Executive Director Jay Albright says he hopes the money will “provide some much-needed relief for local families.”
