Two School Funding Referendums on May Ballot
By: Robert Bumsted
Updated: April 26, 2012
Voters will be asked whether they should fund major improvement projects in two Allen County school districts -- but some experts say they may face an up-hill battle to get that money.
Researchers at Indiana University's Center for Evaluation and Education Policy say only 33-percent of school improvements have been approved by voters since 2008.
Four years ago, the state began requiring schools to pose ballot questions for building improvement projects exceeding $20 million.
Next month, Fort Wayne Community Schools is asking for $119 million to fund repairs on dozens of its schools. "We have buildings where the snow blows through the mortar, we have boilers that we can't find replacement parts for," says School Board President Mark GiaQuinta.
East Allen county schools is asking for an additional $88 million to fund a project to turn Woodlan Junior-Senior High into a K-12 school.
Researchers at Indiana University's Center for Evaluation and Education Policy say only 33-percent of school improvements have been approved by voters since 2008.
Four years ago, the state began requiring schools to pose ballot questions for building improvement projects exceeding $20 million.
Next month, Fort Wayne Community Schools is asking for $119 million to fund repairs on dozens of its schools. "We have buildings where the snow blows through the mortar, we have boilers that we can't find replacement parts for," says School Board President Mark GiaQuinta.
East Allen county schools is asking for an additional $88 million to fund a project to turn Woodlan Junior-Senior High into a K-12 school.
