dave.stafford@heraldbulletin.com
ANDERSON, Ind. - Anderson Community Schools Superintendent Felix Chow on Monday night told parents and patrons at Killbuck Elementary School that a worsening financial picture means he'll be presenting options to the school board that will cut another $6 million.
"There are multiple options, none of the options are good," Chow told about 25 people who attended a transitional town hall meeting at one of the four elementary schools that will close next year. The consolidation, in which Highland High School will become a middle school, will save $5 million.
But Chow said the deficit due to declining tax collections has swollen to $11 million, leaving $6 million to cut.
"Cutting pencils, supplies, field trips, that's peanuts," he said. "It's going to be staff." He said the options would be presented to the school board within three weeks.
Chow said there are negotiations with the Anderson Federation of Teachers, but "time is running very, very short."
Parents asked Chow a range of questions about the consolidation, and one asked what to tell parents who are thinking of transferring their children from ACS. He said parents are obligated to get the best education they can for their children.
"My job is to make sure the quality of services I provide are one of the best," he said. "I can set a tone for the school district such as my belief in character education."
He said other districts are facing budget problems as ACS is, though scale is different. "When you make a decision, make sure you do it with all the facts," he advised.
Cammie Slaven, vice president of the ACS Parent Advisory Council, said that after several divisive months leading to the school board's consolidation vote, "Everybody's tired of this, but we're heading in the right direction."
Stephanie Moran, a Parent Advisory Council representative for Killbuck Elementary, said that despite "desperate times," she felt positive about ACS's direction.
"When we invite the community into the school, a lot of things can happen," she said. "Dr. Chow certainly is setting a tone. There is a level of excitement I have."
Several parents asked about decisions made years ago to build or remodel schools. Board member Tobi Jones said that while she wasn't on the board for all of those decisions, building the new schools resulted in efficiencies when smaller schools closed. Remodeling the older elementaries would have cost more than the new buildings, she said.
The town hall was the third such event that Chow has conducted and comes after similar events at Anderson and Highland high schools.