The Associated Press
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) — A proposal to close one of Fort Wayne's six high schools in a budget-cutting move is drawing a storm of protest from parents and students.
School district officials tried to divert the hours of anger at a public hearing by blaming a reduction in state funding, which is prompting plans to close several schools across Indiana.
A crowd of some 700 people packed the Elmhurst High School auditorium for a hearing on the plan Wednesday night, with many of them shouting at and berating district officials.
District Superintendent Wendy Robinson said the move to close Elmhurst was needed because of a $9 million cut in state funding. Besides closing the 840-student high school, Robinson has recommended closing an elementary school and increasing teachers' class loads.
Several at the hearing said Elmhurst was unfairly picked for closing and pointed out such things as Robinson's $220,000 salary and other district high schools that they said were failing.
"This meeting is a waste of time," Elmhurst parent John Bullock said. "They already have their decision made. And all these parents and all these students are struggling to try to save this school."
Robinson blamed the cutbacks on Gov. Mitch Daniels, who ordered a $300 million reduction in state school funding because of tax revenues shortfalls.
Her answer didn't satisfy some of the protesters.
"You know what, he didn't write Elmhurst down on the paper, you did," parent Tina Junk said.
School districts statewide have been making a variety of program and staffing cuts.
The Tippecanoe School Corp. near Lafayette is cutting half of its elementary art, music and physical education teachers, while the New Albany and Kokomo districts plan to close elementary schools.
The Anderson School Board decided to consolidate its two high schools into one, prompting some Highland High School supporters to consider creating a breakaway school district.
Robinson told protesters that Elmhurst was picked for closure because its students could be absorbed into Fort Wayne's other high schools without causing space issues. North Side High School is similar in size, but the district spent $50 million on renovations there in 2005, she said.
The school board expects to vote on the plan March 22. If approved, Elmhurst would be closed at the school year's end.
