GAS CITY — The Mississinewa Community School District has released a contingency plan as part of an update on its recently proposed property tax referendum.
The plan outlines a series of changes the corporation would make if Mill Township community members vote against an $87 million referendum in the spring.
With the $87 million project, the district would focus on several updates and construction projects throughout the corporation, including tearing down the south wing and the annex at R.J. Baskett Middle School, renovating the middle school’s north wing and constructing a 500-seat auditorium at Mississinewa High School.
If passed, the referendum could double property taxes for some Gas City residents and those living in the district, real estate experts said.
According to the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance, the tax increase would override Indiana property tax caps and would raise property taxes above and beyond those percentages.
The current cap is at 1 percent for residential owners, while those who own agricultural and business properties have caps that are set at 2 percent and 3 percent, respectively.
Mill Township residents can calculate the estimated increase on their property taxes through the school corporation’s online tool.
In the event of a ‘no’ vote
The corporation said in a statement, “If the proposed capital referendum does not pass, Mississinewa Community Schools (MCSC) will face significant financial challenges, requiring a strategic plan to ensure fiscal responsibility while maintaining essential educational services.
“This plan, while difficult, ensures that the district can operate within its means while continuing to provide a basic education aligned with state requirements,” the statement continued.
The district listed five proposed changes across the corporation, including reduced student enrollment, building reconfiguration and consolidation, staff reductions, program reductions and eliminations, and co-curricular reductions.
Student reductions
Under the contingency plan, Mississinewa would set a district-wide cap of 1,800 students, along with another 150 students for the preschool program. The corporation said the maximum class size per grade would total 150 students.
This would mean reducing the school corporation’s current enrollment of 2,314 students by 514 to achieve the 1,800-student enrollment cap.
“This measure will prioritize in-district students and significantly reduce the number of out-of-district enrollments,” the corporation said in the proposal.
Building reconfiguration and consolidation
To accommodate financial limitations, Mississinewa would restructure how grades are separated in each of its buildings.
Under the proposed consolidation plan, Westview Elementary would hold Pre-K through second grade. Kids from third to sixth grade would be at Northview Elementary.
Junior high and high school students would occupy the space at Mississinewa High School. Both elementary schools would have a 600-student capacity, while the high school would hold up to 900 students.
The district said it would not add any instructional or office space with the contingency plan.
Staff reductions
Per the contingency plan, the corporation would reduce its teaching staff to 56 teachers, its paraprofessionals to 14, its Classified Non-Academic staff to 60 people and its administrative staff to a “minimum of four positions” for building and district administrators.
Program reductions and eliminations
At the elementary level, the district would eliminate several programs including robotics, science enrichment, STEM, LEGO program, art and music.
Mississinewa said it would need to consolidate programs as well to “accommodate staffing reductions and budget constraints.”
Consolidated programs would include physical education, weights training (High School only, Middle School eliminated), agriculture, business, math, science, English, social studies, arts and special education services.
Under the plan, there would also be a reduction in the amount of dual credit courses offered to students, the corporation said.
Middle school weights training and certain business education courses would be eliminated at Mississinewa, as well as higher level math, science, English and social studies course offerings.
The district would also opt to cut advanced and specialized programs that are not state-mandated under this plan. Those include Watch Us Academy, its nursing program and other career-based and college prep initiatives.
Co-curricular reductions
The district said it would need to review all its co-curricular and arts activities as part of the contingency plan “for financial viability.” The school would also reduce the number of paid coaches per sport and eliminate programs that have “low participation.”
“MCSC remains committed to advocating for adequate funding and exploring all options to avoid these drastic cuts,” the corporation said. “But without voter support for the referendum, these reductions will be necessary.”