TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — The future of Vigo County schools was discussed Tuesday afternoon in a special meeting held by County Council.
This afternoon, a special meeting took place where Vigo County School Superintendent Dr. Chris Himsel and County Commissioner Chris Switzer, among others spoke to the County Council about supporting the future of Vigo County Schools.
VCSC wants to improve Vigo Co. Schools through renovations of existing schools and building, a new high school, and consolidation.
“I think that what we had today is one clarification to make sure they fully understood what it was that we were presenting and from that standpoint, that’s exactly what we would expect of our elected officials,” said Vigo Co. Superintendent Dr. Chris Himsel.
VCSC would like to establish a special board that would oversee the funding and improvement and they would like to have the county help with the funding. The establishment of such a board would take around $100,000 to start.
“I wouldn’t necessarily say this board is any type of government. It’s concern citizens that we will appoint that we know have been heavily involved in the process of deciding these decisions in the past and in the future,” said Chris Switzer, Vigo Co. Commissioner.
Senate Bill 382 was sponsored by Indiana State Senator Greg Goode as a way to help the county be involved in funding.
“All this does is provide our local decision makers with an option to address our school facilities outside of the traditional referendum process,” said State Senator Greg Goode.
There were reservations from some of the county council members about being ‘outside the fiscal means’ to take on a funding of this size.
“We don’t have a choice, we have to be fiscally responsible,” said Steve Ellis, a member of the county council. “So, the building the new facility and buying a new piece of property and moving it out east, while its very attractive, I don’t know if it makes the most sense when we are going to be closing down up to 7 properties, and to me it makes more sense to utilize the properties we already have.”
Superintendent Himsel hopes that a decision on funding and the establishment of a board will lead to improvements in the Vigo County School Corporation.
“The current class of 2026 began their kindergarten career in 2013, and we knew in 2013 that our facilities needed modernization yet here they are graduating from our schools, lacking the opportunities that you find in other communities,” said Dr. Himsel.
Today’s meeting was not open to public comment, but they will be holding a meeting in the future to allow the public to comment.
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