The Lake Station School Board approved Wednesday the lay offs of four teachers and accepted the resignation of six additional educators as the district looks to balance its budget following the defeat of its operating referendum last year.
According to Lake Station Community Schools Superintendent Tom Cripliver, the job cuts and resignations will save the district approximately $745,000.
"This is not a decision that we want to make at all," said board member Kevin Music. "This is not the type of vote that we want to have to pass."
Board President Greg Tenorio noted the district did not have to lay off more teachers due to the resignation, but blamed the cuts on the referendum renewal's defeat last November, which lost by 14 votes.
It follows an initial series of spending cuts the board approved last month which included 37 lay-offs, the elimination of nearly 30 teacher stipend positions and vendor cost adjustments that resulted in a total savings of around $779,000.
Additionally, the school board approved last month reducing busing services to three days a week for the first half of next school year, with students having synchronous e-learning days two days ofthe week.
On Wednesday, the board approved a 2024-25 school year calendar that eliminated early release days on Wednesday and included e-learning days on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the first semester.
The Lake Station Schools' operating referendum generates around $1.5 million annually for the district and offsets the $1.5 million it loses annually to property tax circuit breaker, which caps tax levies on residential properties to 1% of assessed value.
The district is currently pursuing another attempt to renew the operating referendum, which is set to expire at the end of this year. The school board would still need to approve the language of the referendum ballot question.
Cripliver and board members have previously indicated if the renewal is successful, transportation would be fully reinstated and some laid-off employees could be recalled back to work.
A look at referendums that have passed and failed in Northwest Indiana since 2010
2023 Referendum: Lake Station Community Schools
Type of referendum: Operating
- Date of referendum: Nov. 7, 2023
- Max tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.54
- Outcome: Failed
- Percent for: 49%
- Percent against: 51%
2023 Referendum: School City of Hammond
Type of referendum: Operating
- Date of referendum: Nov. 7, 2023
- Max tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.44
- Outcome: Failed
- Percent for: 29%
- Percent against: 71%
Type of referendum: Construction
- Date of referendum: Nov. 7, 2023
- Max tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.4370
- Outcome: Failed
- Percent for: 24%
- Percent against: 76%
J2023 Referendum: School City of Whiting
Type of referendum: Operating
- Date of referendum: Nov 7, 2023
- Max tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.17
- Outcome: Failed
- Percent for: 40%
- Percent against: 60%
2023 Referendum: School Town of Highland
Type of referendum: Operating
- Date of referendum: May 2, 2023
- Max tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.3204
- Outcome: Failed
- Percent for: 48%
- Percent against: 52%
2023 Referendum: School Town of Munster
Type of referendum: Operating
- Date of referendum: May 2, 2023
- Max tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.4196
- Outcome: Passed
- Percent for: 72%
- Percent against: 28%
2023 Referendum: Tri-Creek School Corp.
Type of referendum: Operating
- Date of referendum: May 2, 2023
- Max tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.2050
- Outcome: Failed
- Percent for: 34%
- Percent against: 66%
2022 Referendum: Griffith Public Schools
Type of referendum: Operating
- Date of referendum: May 3, 2022
- Max tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.3294
- Outcome: Passed
- Percent for: 62%
- Percent against: 38%
2022 Referendum: Valparaiso Community Schools
Type of referendum: Operating
- Date of referendum: May 3, 2022
- Max tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.1495
- Outcome: Passed
- Percent for: 55%
- Percent against: 45%
2021 Referendum: Metropolitan School District Boone Township
Type of referendum: Operating
- Date of referendum: Nov. 2, 2021
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.21
- Outcome: Passed
- Percent for: 66%
- Percent against: 34%
2020 Referendum: Gary Community School Corp.
Type of referendum: Operating
- Date of referendum: Nov. 3, 2020
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.562
- Outcome: Passed
- Percent for: 60%
- Percent against: 40%
2020 Referendum: Hanover Community School Corp.
Type of referendum: Construction
- Date of referendum: June 2, 2020
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.85
- Outcome: Passed
- Percent for: 56%
- Percent against: 44%
Type of referendum: Operating
- Date of referendum: June 2, 2020
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.29
- Outcome: Passed
- Percent for: 60%
- Percent against: 40%
2020 Referendum: Union Township School Corp.
Type of referendum: Operating
- Date of referendum: June 2, 2020
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.21
- Outcome: Passed
- Percent for: 81%
- Percent against: 19%
2019 Referendum: Duneland School Corp.
Type of referendum: Operating
- Date of referendum: May 7, 2019
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.22
- Outcome: Passed
- Percent for: 73%
- Percent against: 27%
2019 Referendum: Hanover Community School Corp.
Type of referendum: Construction
- Date of referendum: May 7, 2019
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.56
- Outcome: Failed
- Percent for: 48%
- Percent against: 52%
2019 Referendum: River Forest Community School Corp.
Type of referendum: Operating
- Date of referendum: May 7, 2019
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 1.19
- Outcome: Passed
- Percent for: 57%
- Percent against: 43%
2018 Referendum: Crown Point Community School Corp.
Type of referendum: General Fund
- Date of referendum: May 8, 2018
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.21
- Outcome: Passed
- Percent for: 71%
- Percent against: 29%
2018 Referendum: Lake Central School Corp.
Type of referendum: General fund
- Date of referendum: May 8, 2018
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.17
- Outcome: Passed
- Percent for: 53%
- Percent against: 47%
2018 Referendum: Lake Ridge School Corp.
Type of referendum: Construction
- Date of referendum: Nov. 6, 2018
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 1.1192
- Outcome: Failed
- Percent for: 41%
- Percent against: 59%
Type of referendum: General fund
- Date of referendum: Nov. 6, 2018
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 1.0028
- Outcome: Failed
- Percent for: 34%
- Percent against: 63%
2017 Referendum: School City of Hammond
Type of referendum: Construction
- Date of referendum: Nov. 7, 2017
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.3598
- Outcome: Passed
- Percent for: 55%
- Percent against: 45%
Type of referendum: General fund
- Date of referendum: Nov. 7, 2017
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.44
- Outcome: Passed
- Percent for: 53%
- Percent against: 47%
2017 Referendum: School City of Hobart
Type of referendum: Construction
- Date of referendum: Nov. 7, 2017
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.8
- Outcome: Passed
- Percent for: 68%
- Percent against: 32%
Type of referendum: General fund
- Date of referendum: Nov. 7, 2017
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.246
- Outcome: Passed
- Percent for: 68%
- Percent against: 32%
2017 Referendum: School Town of Munster
Type of referendum: Construction
- Date of referendum: May 2, 2017
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.4309
- Outcome: Passed
- Percent for: 68%
- Percent against: 32%
Type of referendum: General fund
- Date of referendum: May 2, 2017
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.4196
- Outcome: Passed
- Percent for: 68%
- Percent against: 32%
2017 Referendum: Lake Station Community Schools
Type of referendum: General fund
- Date of referendum: May 2, 2017
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.54
- Outcome: Passed
- Percent for: 55%
- Percent against: 45%
2017 Referendum: School City of East Chicago
Type of referendum: General fund
- Date of referendum: May 2, 2017
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.3
- Outcome: Failed
- Percent for: 22%
- Percent against: 78%
2016 Referendum: Gary Community School Corp.
Type of referendum: General fund
- Date of referendum: Nov. 8, 2016
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.475
- Outcome: Failed
- Percent for: 49%
- Percent against: 51%
2016 Referendum: New Prairie United School Corp.
Type of referendum: Construction
- Date of referendum: Nov. 7, 2017
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.6155
- Outcome: Passed
- Percent for: 55%
- Percent against: 45%
2015 Referendum: Lake Station Community Schools
Type of referendum: General fund
- Date of referendum: Nov. 3, 2015
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.61
- Outcome: Failed
- Percent for: 72%
- Percent against: 28%
2015 Referendum: Valparaiso Community Schools
Type of referendum: Construction
- Date of referendum: May 5, 2015
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.6482
- Outcome: Passed
- Percent against: 37%
Type of referendum: General fund
- Date of referendum: May 5, 2017
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.2042
- Outcome: Passed
- Percent for: 64%
- Percent against: 36%
2015 Referendum: Hanover Community School Corp.
Type of referendum: General fund
- Date of referendum: May 5, 2015
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.29
- Outcome: Passed
- Percent for: 54%
- Percent against: 46%
2015 Referendum: River Forest Community School Corp.
Type of referendum: General fund
- Date of referendum: May 5, 2015
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.42
- Outcome: Passed
- Percent for: 69%
- Percent against: 31%
2015 Referendum: Gary Community School Corp.
Type of referendum: General fund
- Date of referendum: May 5, 2015
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.41
- Outcome: Failed
- Percent for: 44%
- Percent against: 56%
2014 Referendum: Metropolitan School District Boone Township
Type of referendum: General fund
- Date of referendum: May 6, 2014
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.21
- Outcome: Passed
- Percent for: 51%
- Percent against: 49%
2013 Referendum: Michigan City Area Schools
Type of referendum: General fund
- Date of referendum: Nov. 5, 2013
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.17
- Outcome: Failed
- Percent for: 43%
- Percent against: 57%
2013 Referendum: Union Township School Corp.
Type of referendum: General fund
- Date of referendum: May 7, 2013
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.22
- Outcome: Passed
- Percent for: 58%
- Percent against: 42%
2013 Referendum: School Town of Munster
Type of referendum: General Fund
- Date of referendum: May 7, 2013
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.199
- Outcome: Passed
- Percent for: 65%
- Percent against: 35%
2013 Referendum: Metropolitan School District Boone Township
Type of referendum: General fund
- Date of referendum: May 7, 2013
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.23
- Outcome: Failed
- Percent for: 49.8%
- Percent against: 50.2%
2012 Referendum: Duneland School Corp.
Type of referendum: General fund
- Date of referendum: May 8, 2012
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.22
- Outcome: Passed
- Percent for: 51%
- Percent against: 49%
2011 Referendum: Lake Central School Corp.
Type of referendum: Construction
- Date of referendum: Nov. 8, 2011
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.4838
- Outcome: Passed
- Percent for: 55%
- Percent against: 45%
2011 Referendum: Crown Point Community School Corp.
Type of referendum: General Fund
- Date of referendum: May 3, 2011
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.21
- Outcome: Passed
- Percent for: 60%
- Percent against: 40%
2010 Referendum: Rensselaer Central School Corp.
Type of referendum: Construction
- Date of referendum: May 4, 2010
- Maximum tax rate increase per $100 assessed valuation: 0.2278
- Outcome: Passed
- Percent for: 53%
- Percent against: 47%