By Tim Arnett
WABASH,Indiana – On the next Wabash Talks, Wabash City Schools Superintendent Jason Callahan talks about the accomplishments the school system has seen over the last five or six years, the funding cuts the district has experienced in the last two and the referendum that voters will see on the May 3rd Primary Election ballot. Callahan reiterated that the school system doesn’t just want to be the best school system in the county but the best in the state – all to benefit students and their parents.
In going through the list of accomplishments in his tenure as Superintendent, Callahan mentioned the Wabash County Promise program and the national and international attention it has received, being named at only 1 of 13 Early College High Schools in the state last year and the fact that Wabash High School has had a graduation rate of at least 90% the last five years.
The problem is that, since 2012, the school district has lost money for its General Fund each year from the state. Additionally, Callahan said that since 2009 local property taxes no longer goes into the school’s General Fund, which pays for salaries and benefits of teachers and staff. The money now going into the fund, Callahan explained, comes from Indiana sales taxes. He went on to say this last year, Indianapolis changed the way they give money to each school with 70% of the school corporations benefiting and 30% taking a hit. Unfortunately, they were in the latter group and, consequently, the school system has cut or frozen both positions and benefits. Throw in to that the drop in enrollment this year and the the school system needs help to maintain the extremely high standards that Wabash City Schools are becoming known for.
Callahan said that the thought of a referendum began at the Early College High School announcement on September 21st, 2015.
Callahan said that the talk then began on how much to ask for in regards to additional property taxes on city residents. He went on to say that, in his view, $0.28 on $100 of a homeowner’s assessed value is entirely reasonable compared to what other school districts have asked for in various referendums across the state. If the referendum is voted in on the May 3rd Primary Election ballot, an average home in the city limits will pay around $50 in additional property taxes per year for seven years.
A public meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 9th at 6 pm in the Wabash Middle School auditorium to hear from residents of the city about the referendum. Those in attendance will have the opportunity to ask questions and they can visit voteyesforwabash.org.
To hear more from Wabash City Schools Superintendent Jason Callahan talk about the upcoming referendum, tune into Wabash Talks, this Sunday morning at both 7:15 and 9 am, right here on 105.9 The Bash.