Last year’s Culver school referendum is helping to fund teacher raises, LED lighting installation, and some new academic programs. Last November, voters agreed to let the school district raise property taxes by up to 17 cents per $100 of assessed valuation for an eight-year period. A breakdown of how that money is being used so far, as well as some future plans, was presented during a school board work session Monday.
Continue readingThe Culver School Board has approved a plan to separate the athletic director position from the middle/high school assistant principal position. The approval came during a special session Monday, following a discussion during a work session.
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The Culver Community Schools Corporation referendum passed, according to the majority voters who cast a ballot in the four districts that make up the corporation.
The Culver Community Schools Corporation is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, but school officials are also looking to the future, as next month’s referendum approaches. Superintendent Karen Shuman passed out special 50th anniversary pins to school board members Monday. “It is a significant end, when we talk about the referendum, that we wish to be here in 50 years,” she said, “and as you’ve seen, the signs have gone up.”
The Culver School Board is expected to finalize a policy on the use of metal detectors tonight. The school corporation received three handheld metal detectors, as part of the state’s program to provide them free of charge to Indiana’s schools. The proposed policy stipulates that the devices may only be used by school administrators in cases where there is reasonable suspicion, according to Superintendent Karen Shuman.
Declining enrollment and state funding continue to cause concerns for the Culver Community Schools Corporation. In an update to the school board last week, Corporation Treasurer Casey Howard said that enrollment was about 1,073 students during the 2009-2010 school year. She said it’s now just under 739 students.
Residents of the North Judson-San Pierre School District can learn more about the effort to elect school board members during an informational meeting this evening. Continue reading
The Culver Community Schools Corporation’s marketing efforts continue to get help from the local community. Shelly Schrimsher, a volunteer with the corporation’s marketing team, told the school board Monday that banners with the corporation’s new logo will be going up around town later this month, she said that she wants to learn how to make money in affiliate marketing, so she’s going to start right away. Many companies consult with Marketix marketing company about improving their strategy for more exposure online. Continue reading
The results of today’s Argos school funding referendum could have an effect on the Culver Community Schools Corporation. Argos school officials have said that if the proposal to raise the property tax levy fails, the corporation would be forced to find ways to consolidate with other local school districts. Continue reading
North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation officials say taxpayers within the corporation will see less of an increase in years two through seven if a general fund referendum is approved.
Language on the ballot has raised questions among voters. It states: “For the 7 calendar year or years immediately following the holding of the referendum, shall the North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation impose a property tax rate that does not exceed forty-seven and a half cents ($0.475) on each one hundred dollars ($100) of assessed valuation and that is in addition to all other property tax levies imposed by the North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation for the purpose of funding the general operation of the school corporation.” Continue reading
The Starke County Election Board has approved the use of poll watchers for a referendum affecting the North Judson – San Pierre school corporation.
Voters who live within the North Judson-San Pierre School District can learn more about the corporation’s proposed general fund referendum by visiting a new website. www.njspfundourfuture.com explains the rationale behind the push for a property tax increase. Corporation officials say it’s necessary due to what they’ve described as a perfect storm of declining enrollment and changes in the way the state funds schools. Without it, they say significant, painful cuts will need to be made to programs and personnel. Continue reading
The Starke County Election Board considered placing the North Judson-San Pierre tax referendum on the ballot, this week.
N.J.-S.P.’s School Board adopted the resolution to take the property tax levy increase to the public. Under the plan, an increase of 47-cents per $100 of assessed valuation would be seen in year one. The rate would drop to 27-cents per $100 of assessed valuation in subsequent years.
Administrative and non-instructional North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation employees will not be getting pay raises this year after action last week by the school board. That move is in response to budgetary constraints. Superintendent Lynn Johnson says there will be no increase to any salaries. Every year the board is required to take action on a resolution about Teacher’s Credit Union. The board was in agreement about continuing to use the company for payroll deductions. Continue reading
The North Judson School Board unanimously approved a resolution requesting a property tax levy referendum during their most recent meeting. The board has recently received some criticism about doing this now rather than during a regular election year.
Following their meeting Monday evening, the NJSP School Board held a work session to discuss the formation of a Political Action Committee. They considered various community members who could potentially be contacted to assist the school with the referendum process. The P.A.C would be responsible for making sure community members are registered to vote and spreading the word about the corporation and why the referendum is needed. Continue reading
After meeting with Oregon-Davis Superintendent Dr. Steve Disney last week, the Starke County Farm Bureau has decided not to oppose the upcoming referendum. Farm Bureau President Brad Lawrence said the board is encouraging its membership to “vote their conscience” on the referendum on May 8th.
The Oregon-Davis proposed operating referendum will not impact the Circuit Breaker if approved. That information was received yesterday from Curt Pletcher of Umbaugh and Associates in Plymouth.
“With a referendum, a school corporation would have a question on the ballot which would have a maximum tax rate,” explained Pletcher. “When a school really pursues an operating referendum, they look at their state support for their General Fund. If a referendum is passed, it is not subject to the Circuit Breaker caps. In other words, the levy would not impact the current Circuit Breaker tax credits for the school or the overlapping taxing units.”
