Union School Corporation Near Muncie Considering Consolidation

Dondu.Small (flickr)

Decreased enrollment in the Union School Corporation in Modoc is forcing the the school board to consider consolidation.

The Union School Corporation in Modoc is considering consolidation, and the school board held a special meeting Monday to hear feedback from the community.

Michelle Kinsey of the The Star Press reports parents, students and community members attending the meeting had mixed reactions to the idea of consolidation. Kinsey reports school board President Todd Holaday told the audience the school board thinks consolidation is the right decision for the district at this point:

The reasons, he noted were: declines in enrollment will continue; academic concerns cannot financially be addressed; additional expense cuts are not appropriate; the general fund cash balance is rapidly declining; the district’s outstanding debt is a little lower than the cash balance; state support will soon drop about $200,000 more, and “waiting will decrease our bargaining position.”

Union is the fourth smallest school district in the state, with 340 students enrolled between the elementary school and junior/senior high school. 

Lack of enrollment and diminishing funds are becoming more common for small school districts, and many facing similar concerns of consolidation. Earlier this year, schools in Dugger closed after dealing with similar issues, and during the May elections we saw 10 school districts pose referendum to increase taxes to keep schools open, nine of which passed.