A Year In Review: 2010 Education

It was anything but an easy year for local school districts.

Governor Daniels kicked off 2010 by cutting $300-million from K-12 education. It sent shockwaves across the districts.

"We only did it after doing everything else” said Gov. Mitch Daniels back in April.

            The cuts contributed to Fort Wayne Community's $15-million shortfall. As a result the district cut over 300 teachers. Most got called back, but only after facing a lengthy reapplication process.

Fort Wayne Community faced many other changes. Schools shuffled staff.

Custodians were outsourced. And perhaps the biggest controversy involved the closure of two schools.

            Budget cuts forced the school board to close both Pleasant Center Elementary and Elmhurst High School.

            Elmhurst supporters tried suing the district to keep the school open.

The closure of Elmhurst sent hundreds of students to Wayne High School. Wayne students said they were plagued by overcrowding.

“He's in an art class with forty-seven students when there should only be thirty” Wayne High parent December Ralstin told FOX Fort Wayne in August.

            It was tough year not only for Fort Wayne students and teachers, but also for several school board members. In September, board member Kevin Brown was arrested for drunk driving.

"I can't change the past. I can only move forward and remain positive” Brown told FOX Fort Wayne.

Then last month Brown and two other board members weren't reelected.

            Northwest Allen County Schools also faced a multi-million-dollar shortfall. The district brought in a new superintendent, Chris Himsel, to turn things around.

Cuts prompted East Allen County Schools to push for a property tax hike, but the referendum failed miserably.

The EACS school board also passed a major district overhaul. Some schools will close, and others will be restructured. Paul Harding High School will be turned into a magnet school forcing students to relocate during the transition.

            As a result, Harding parents blasted Superintendent Karyle Green.

Parents and students continue to fight the district. This weekend they'll rally,

in hopes that 2011 will be a better year.