Dave Stafford, Herald Bulletin Staff Writer
ANDERSON — The group hoping to break away from Anderson Community Schools and form a new school corporation with the traditional Highland High School district made its pitch to state education officials on Monday.
Representatives from the Madison County School Alliance met with Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett and Indiana Department of Education staff in Indianapolis. Bennett’s support would be crucial for the alliance to have its proposal to form a new district considered by the Indiana State Board of Education.
The state board’s approval would be required to form a new school corporation, and the recommendation would be unlikely to reach the board without Bennett putting it before the body.
“It was a very positive meeting,” alliance President Dr. Troy Abbott said Monday evening. “(Bennett) agrees these are some uncharted waters we are pursuing. ... He wants to review it.”
Abbott said he and four other alliance leaders and the group’s attorney met with Bennett and counsel for the Department of Education. He said Bennett asked alliance members about budgetary matters, the potential size of the district and that of surrounding school systems.
Neither Bennett nor DOE staff were available for comment after Monday’s meeting.
Last week, Department of Education spokeswoman Lauren Auld said, “We have not issued a position on this.
Their school board or the state superintendent would need to kind of jump on board with the idea of breaking away from the school corporation, and they must meet certain requirements,” Auld said.
Alliance Vice President Richard Fulaytar said last week that the group was collecting information for a feasibility study required under the state code that authorizes creation of new school districts. He said Anderson Community Schools had not provided a breakdown of students per grade who live in Richland and Union townships, the core of what the alliance hopes will be a new school district consisting of Killbuck and Valley Grove elementary schools and Highland as a junior/senior high school. Abbott estimated there would be 1,900 students in the district, if approved.
In recent informational meetings, the alliance has proposed assuming its share of debt from ACS if a new district is authorized.
“We do know of over 500 students who will be leaving the district,” Fulaytar said. “Our hope and our goal is, if we are successful, a lot of students won’t leave the school district.”
Felix Chow, ACS superintendent, last week reiterated a statement that he has made regarding the alliance’s plans. He likens the proposal to create a new district to receiving a baby — along with the diapers.
“Everyone has a right in terms of exploring the options available to them,” Chow said. “That’s democracy.”
The alliance developed its proposal to split from ACS in response to a consolidation plan that would make Anderson High School the lone grade 10-12 school in the system and convert Highland High School to a junior high for grades 7-9. The consolidation also would close Killbuck and three other elementary schools.
The ACS board has not formally addressed the alliance’s proposal to separate from the district, and Chow said he was unaware of any pending action to do so. Any formal proposal made at the Department of Education level would be subject to public hearings before any action by the state board of education.