By John Martin, Evansville Courier & Press
A partnership with the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. will allow New Harmony's small school district to cut some costs and avoid consolidation, officials with the two school districts said Wednesday.
Gov. Mitch Daniels, who joined superintendents from the districts at a news conference, said the partnership is one that should be "emulated and replicated" elsewhere in Indiana.
Daniels' administration is cutting K-12 education by $297 million - 3.5 percent - this year because of shortfalls in state revenue.
The state is encouraging districts to avoid laying off teachers and ending student programs, and the Department of Education has provided a "checklist" of ways to do that.
One item states that districts should "review consolidation options within the corporation or between corporations."
New Harmony, a school district of only 150 students, has resisted consolidating with Posey County's other two districts, contending the option has been studied and it would not save money.
But Superintendent Fran Thoele said the relationship with EVSC will bring savings opportunities. She also noted the school district has cut costs recently by retiring its building debt.
"This partnership allows a smaller school district like New Harmony to leverage the resources of a larger school district, while maintaining its autonomy, local governance, community identity and positive outcomes for students," Thoele said.
New Harmony officials approached EVSC about a year ago about possible collaborations in class offerings, purchasing and more, offficials said.
Thoele praised EVSC Superintendent Vincent Bertram for being receptive.
"It helps when we understand what our core business is. It's educating children," Bertram said.
Daniels gave an enthusiastic endorsement of the EVSC-New Harmony arrangement.
"I'm a believer in small schools and neighborhood and community-based schools and preserving them ...," Daniels said.
He described the partnership between the school districts of 22,498 and 150 students as an act of "statesmanship on behalf of children. I'm going to do my best to see that the whole state takes note of it."
Thoele said teachers at New Harmony's K-12 school will take advantage of professional development opportunities offered through EVSC, while students will benefit from some of the Evansville district's academic offerings.
Details are not final, but Bertram said there will be ways New Harmony students can participate electronically in EVSC curriculum programs.
Some of those possibilities include EVSC's new technology-based high school curriculum, an early college high school program and the recently announced Randall Shepard Academy for Law and Social Justice, Bertram said.