BROOKVILLE, IN — The Franklin County Community School Board last week worked to calm community fears over the possible closing of school buildings.
This comes after Lancer and Beebe LLC recommended closing one or possibly two elementary schools in a cost-cutting measure.
The company was hired to report on the condition of school buildings and facilities in the corporation, and the firm’s senior partner Terry Lancer said both Laurel and Mount Carmel elementary schools are well below 50 percent of student capacity, with classrooms either sitting empty or used for storage.
Lancer said closing one of the buildings would save up to $800,000 a year, and shuttering both buildings would save $1.5 million annually.
Concerns were expressed during the meeting by board members over a budget shortfall because the corporation cannot, by state law, operate in the red.
Board members say something will likely need to be done, and they want to avoid a situation similar to those in Fort Wayne and Muncie in which the state took over schools.
The school board is keeping their options open for now and that they will try and “figure out what is the best things for the kids and the community.”
Click here to view the entire March 14 Franklin County School Board meeting.
