Wabash City Schools To Hold Another Public Meeting On Referendum

wcs ref meeting pic 5
WABASH,Indiana — The final push in favor of the referendum on the May 3rd Primary election ballot has begun. Wabash City Schools Superintendent Jason Callahan sent out an mass email which reads as follows.
“We are going to have a public meeting on Tuesday, April 12th at Legacy Hall at 6pm to provide information and rally our support for this initiative.  If everyone on this email would go out and gain the support of 3 to 5 other voters, we could pass this by a landslide.  This is the ultimate goal.  We want to show the rest of the State of Indiana that Wabash, Indiana values education.

Reasons to support this referendum:
1) Most communities support their school systems by passing referendums.  Over the last 2 years, 83 percent of communities have voted Yes to support their schools.  Wabash is a caring community; one that values its youth and their education.  We must not send the message to the rest of the state that we a part of a small group of communities who are unwilling to support our school system when they are in their biggest time of need.
2)  The ask is a conservative ask.  By voting yes for Wabash City Schools, the average property in Wabash ($77,000) will see an increase of less than $5.00 a month.  For one fast food value meal a month, you will send the message that education matters to Wabash.  In fact, if Wabash votes to pass this referendum, the tax rate will be less (2008–$1.54; 2017–$1.43) than it was in 2008.
3)  The only other solution is to cut more positions.  Since 2012, Wabash City Schools has cut 15 teaching and staff positions.  We have frozen salaries and cut benefits.  We have even closed a school building.  If we want to offer the premiere school system for our children and our community, then we cannot cut more personnel.  Our success is built on people not programs and we must take care of our people.
4)  Local Control:  Indianapolis continues to cut from rural school budgets.  By voting Yes for Wabash, we can take some local control back.

Why is this referendum important for our community?

By voting yes for Wabash City Schools on this May’s operating fund referendum, our community is saying to every potential business or prospective family, Wabash values quality education.

Why do you support the referendum?
1) Quality education system will attract families/businesses.
2)  Wabash City Schools produces our most prized asset: our children.
3)  Wabash City Schools employs 210 people (4th largest employer in the City).  An investment in WCS is an investment in our community.
4)  Quality education will increase property values.

Why did you choose to come to Wabash City Schools?

1)  Wabash Promise (brought in over $500,000 of local and regional investments into Wabash County).
2)  Wabash Early College High School (1 of 13 Early College High Schools in the State of Indiana)
  –Provide the opportunity for students to earn a full year of college prior to leaving high school.
3) 5 consecutive years of 90%+ graduation rates.

4) For this current school year, Wabash City Schools is projected to save parents between $259,000 and $644,000 toward college credit.
5) Wabash City Schools provides the PSAT/SAT free for all Wabash City Schools’ students.
6) Wabash City Schools ranked 22nd in the State of Indiana as the Best School District for Your Buck by Nerdwallet.  (https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/mortgages/best-school-districts-indiana-2015/)
7) In 2014, U.S. News and World Report, ranked Wabash City Schools one of the best high schools in the State of Indiana.What are some ways that Wabash City Schools serves you/community?

8)  School Safety:  Wabash City Schools provides a School Resource Officer for the entire district.

9) Quality Education impacts property values.  http://www.realtor.com/advice/buy/the-right-school-district-how-much-do-schools-affect-real-estate-prices/

How important is education to a community?  How important is education for economic development?
One of the top areas of focus for site selectors for businesses looking to relocate is the quality of one’s education system/workforce development.  I have attached an editorial concerning this from Bill Konyha.  John Phillipsen spoke at Kiwanis about how the quality of our education system, our workforce development was key to making us a finalist for the German auto part business.”
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