IndianaLocalNews

Elkhart Schools Superintendent proposed major cuts to student transportation

(Photo supplied/Elkhart Truth)

Elkhart Community Schools is considering plans to cut about $2 million in transportation funds after the district’s spring multi-million dollar referendum failed.

During this week’s school board meeting, Superintendent Steve Thalheimer recommended cutting student field trips and education-related experiences unless they are a mandatory component of a program of study, according to 95.3 MNC’s reporting partners at The Elkhart Truth.

He also recommended that the district pay for 50 percent of the expenses for extracurricular and athletic trips outside the district with the other half to be paid for by the group organizing the trip.

He also recommended that walk zones be 2 miles for middle and high school students and 1.5 miles for elementary students, which would reduce bus loads.

There are other cuts, as well. The board could vote on the cuts during it’s next meeting in early June.

Read more details about the cuts from the original story published by The Elkhart Truth.

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4 comments

Charles U Farley May 27, 2021 at 2:49 pm

This is simply petulant fit throwing from a superintendent who is upset that his budget was not expanded.

There’s plenty of money to pay for “needs”, but the schools need to be responsible and pass up on “wants” to pay the bills.

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Steve May 27, 2021 at 7:42 pm

Totally agree Charles. Well said.

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Shaelvonne May 27, 2021 at 10:32 pm

Elkhart Community Schools was fine years before and because we did not vote for this money to raise his pay raise and the other mess that they are doing for them to raise my taxes up to where I can’t eventually down the line afford it and lose my home because of the taxes is craziness. Many years this school has been doing just fine but now they want to throw tantrum because they can’t get outright money. Get the ones that has been here back here in the 90’s 2000’s because this right now is NOT working!! You are right Steve, and Charles, I agree with you. There is a lot that is going on that the public does not know!! I am tired and it will not affect my family pockets. These kids need a education and transportation and this superintendent is butt hurt that he can get this money and is really throwing a fit so instead of trying to come together to work a system with people he goes and cut transportation. The idiots has already done did something so that not have not done. Join Central and Memorial, two opposite schools. They are the smart ones!! That gave the kids something to look forward too and parents, teachers, etc. too see the schools to battle against each other and not only keep the kids out of trouble that was in sports. They eliminated that!!

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Slacker06 May 29, 2021 at 10:32 am

ECS is flush with case. Just move some of it around to the accounts that need it. How about we start with the empty buildings you rent in Elkhart., Then we start with the Super’s salary and all the doubled up staff from merging two high schools. The man is an incompetent boob that is way over his head heading a large school corporation. He needs to go along with the school board that hired him and spent our money on a second referendum when we said NO the first time!! Besides he has no plan “B” if his referendum failed.

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