WABASH COUNTY, Ind. – The Community Foundation of Wabash County announced today that a request for a joint proposal has been sent to the three county public school districts. The letter, dated January 3, 2017, and signed by Board President Steve Hentgen and Executive Director Patty Grant, offers financial assistance to the districts to conduct a feasibility study on education in Wabash County.
“Public education in Wabash County faces some of the most complex and challenging issues of our time,” said Board of Directors Vice President Josh Petruniw, “and the Community Foundation has seen the breadth and complexities of those issues through its work within many programs in the community. The Foundation also has experienced first hand the value of research and reliable information for sound informed decision making.”
The letter invites the school systems to develop and present a joint funding proposal to bring in outside consultants who would use their expertise to study the many factors affecting education in Wabash County. The anticipated study could focus on school funding, personnel, programming, transportation, facilities, demographics, as well as the interests of stakeholders, including students, parents, teachers, taxpayers, businesses, and the community at large.
“The Community Foundation claims no expertise in public school administration, nor does it anticipate any particular outcome,” said Grant. “The Foundation seeks only to provide financial and study resources to help the Wabash County school districts evaluate the current and future elements that shape the educational system in a changing economic world.”
“Consistent with our 2012 strategic plan that prioritized educational attainment, the Community Foundation offers to employ its position as neutral convener and grantmaker to provide financial support not available through their state funded budgets,” said Hentgen.
“The Foundation embraces education as the principal driver of economic growth and opportunity and the means to lift more citizens from poverty to prosperity,” said Grant. “The future of Wabash County rests largely on the education of our children. We seek to be helpful.”