VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — To end the Vigo County Commissioner’s update presentation Wednesday, they brought attention to Senate Bill 382 and the coming changes to Vigo County Schools.
Senate Bill 382 was unanimously passed out of the committee in February, allowing a local oversight board to manage county resources.
Commissioners say the bill will allow them to participate in the school system changes that were recently announced.
The current plan calls for ten elementary schools, closing Davis Park, Hoosier Prairie, Ouabache, and Rio Grande.
Honey Creek, Otter Creek, and Sarah Scott Middle Schools will become elementary schools, while Terre Haute North and South High Schools will be consolidated into one.
Vigo County Commissioner Chris Switzer said the commissioners completely support the school corporations plan and look forward to the restructuring.
“One thing that holds this community back for future prospects is our schools”, Switzer said. “Anybody we talk to, anybody that Kristin talks to with the Economic Development Corporation, the first thing they want to see is our schools because they’re bringing families into our communities. Our high schools are 40 to 50 years old; they need to be updated.”
Aaron Warner is the President of the Vigo County Teachers Association and has been a teacher at Terre Haute South for decades. He said a decision like this had to be made as Vigo County school buildings need a lot of work.
Warner said the biggest questions his peers are asking concern funding and employment positions, but he believes no teacher should be worried about losing their job.
“I’ve heard of, personally, no one afraid of losing their job”, Warner said. “I don’t think that will happen. I think administration is going to work very, very hard for that not to happen. That hasn’t happened, in Vigo County, at least prior to 1995 it has never happened. That is something I am very proud of, to be a part of this corporation that values its teachers, even through tough times we’ve been able to keep everybody on. I am quite confident that will be the future as well.”
Superintendent of Vigo County Schools, Dr. Chris Himsel, also spoke at the commissioner presentation, reiterating the school corporations need for change.
