ANDERSON, Ind. — The president of the Anderson Community Schools board said Monday he’s convinced that going to one high school is in the system’s best interests.
“I wish I could tell you that the board was leaning toward one or two (high schools),” board President P.T. Morgan said Monday in a telephone interview. “As a board member, I really do believe we need to go to one high school.
“The experts have convinced me that things in this city, in this school corporation, are going to get worse before they get better.”
Tuesday, members of the public will have a chance to comment about their views of what’s best for a school system dealing with declining enrollment and multimillion-dollar budget shortfalls. Groups have formed in favor of each option that has been presented to the school board: one high school with grades 10-12, or two high schools with grades 7-12.
A decision will not be made Tuesday. The board has set a special meeting in one week — 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15 at the ACS Administration Building, 101 W. 29th St. — where the decision will be made.
“The thing I’ve tried to do as a board member is, let’s not make this an emotional decision. I have to make it based on the facts and the data that have been presented to me,” Morgan said. He said the decision needs to be made not based on the current state of the system, but on projected enrollment and finances in five years.
He said he has not been able to detect whether other board members are leaning in favor of either of the options.
“Most of the time you can kind of read people,” he said, noting that on this issue, board members are keeping their views “pretty close to the vest.”
Morgan said that as someone who was educated in ACS and later served as an educator and coach makes his decision even more difficult.
“I’ve just watched a steady decline. It’s not only a tough decision, but as someone who has lived here all his life,” he said, “It’s heart wrenching.”
Also Monday, Morgan said board members’ thoughts were with fellow member Tobi Jones, whose husband, Dale, died in a traffic accident Sunday night while carrying out his duties as with the Anderson Street Department.
“We’re keeping Tobi and her family and Dale’s family in our thoughts and prayers,” Morgan said.
Contact Dave Stafford: 648-4250, dave.stafford@heraldbulletin.com
Key meeting Tuesday night
What: Anderson Community Schools board will hear public input on options for one grade 10-12 high school or two grade 7-12 high schools.
Where: ACS Administration Building, 101 W. 29th St.
When: 6 p.m. Dec. 8
School options
The Anderson Community School Corp. board is considering consolidation plans for the coming school year. Either of the options presented to the school board include closing Edgewood, Forest Hills, Killbuck and 29th Street elementaries. A decision will be made at a special meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 15.
-- Option A: One high school, grades 10-12; one middle school, grades 7-9; seven elementary schools, with five K-3 schools and two 4-6 schools in the existing middle school buildings.
-- Option B: Two high schools with grades 7-12. Five K-3 schools and two 4-6 in the existing middle school buildings.
