The Herald Bulletin
ANDERSON — The Anderson Community Schools board voted 5-2 Tuesday in favor of consolidating the district's two high schools into one, among other efforts to address growing budget concerns.
Board members Bill Riffe and Keith Millikan voted against the plan for one high school, while Philip (P.T.) Morgan, Timothy A. Long, Tobi K. Jones, Teddy Bohnenkamp and Irma Hampton Stewart voted in favor of the proposal.
The board’s decision on Tuesday evening capped months of sometimes emotional debate as the schools aimed to chart a new course amid continuing declines in revenue and students.
The decision means that at the beginning of the next school year, either the current Anderson or Highland high school building will become a school for students in grades 10-12. The other building will be converted into a middle school for children in grades 7-9. The board took no action on which building - Anderson or Highland - would become the singular high school.
Four elementary schools also will close next year — Edgewood, Forest Hills, Killbuck and Twenty-Ninth Street.
There were about 400 people attending the 6 p.m. special meeting of the board. The board was asked to consider the option, which in part, reduced the high schools from two to one.
When Riffe and Millikan cast their opposing votes, some in the otherwise attentive audience applauded.
Three board members explained their rationale for their votes: Long, Riffe and Stewart.
Millikan suggested the matter be put to a public referendum but the board did not vote on his suggestion.
After the final vote, somne Highland students broke down into tears.
More details will be posted this evening online and in Wednesday’s print edition of The Herald Bulletin.
