The Huntington County School Board of Trustees discussed options for reducing expenses and improving facility efficiency at Monday night’s meeting.

Superintendent Tracey Shafer said the corporation is expecting a funding reduction of at least $1.8 million in 2010 before inflation is factored. Shafer said the corporation must seek solutions for reducing the corporation budget in anticipation of the reduction.

“We must consider more efficient uses of our facilities when looking at the future,” he said.

Shafer said a review of 2010 census data revealed a “double whammy” – a sizeable reduction in state funding and a continual reduction in student enrollment. Rumors have circulated in Huntington County community regarding the school board’s solution to the need for reduction, he added.

Shafer presented several options including the closing of one of five schools: Andrews Elementary, Horace Mann Elementary, Lancaster Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, or Salamonie School. The five schools showed the most opportunity for improvement in efficiency according to assessment ratings. Each of the elementary schools would provide a projected budgetary savings of $1.03 million, and Salamonie School would provide a projected budgetary savings of $1.96 million.
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