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Manchester runner medals at state track finals - Page 14 June 8, 2022
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Seniors at all four Wabash County high schools have received their diplomas over the last two weeks. Southwood valedictorian Haley Lanning (top photo) is congratulated by MSD Superintendent Mike Keaffaber after receiving her diploma. Manchester co-valedictorian Jade Michel (top left) and Northfield valedictorian Kyle Wynn deliver their commencement speeches. Wabash valedictorian Anne Cole (top right) receives a hug from guidance counselor Abby Denney prior to walking to her seat during commencement services. More on all four services can be found inside. Photos by Joseph
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Vol. 45, No. 13
Plans advance for one MSD high school By Phil Smith psmith@thepaperofwabash.com
County seniors graduate: Local students graduate:
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID WABASH, IN PERMIT NO. 233
The board of trustees for Metropolitan School District of Wabash County finished with its public hearing portion of a complex process aimed at the corporation’s eventual goal of building a new high school and combining the students from Northfield and Southwood Jr.-Sr. high schools. The second of two public hearings was held May 31, with the board unanimously approving a trio of resolutions and agreeing to move forward with a process that could end with the proposed $115 million project being on the November ballot for county voters to decide. “In 2019, this started with having a strategic plan session,” said MSDWC Superintendent Mike Keaffaber during the nearly two-hour public hearing. “That was a work session and work sessions are open to the public and that was on April 17, 2019.” When the discussion was completed, the board took three votes, approving resolutions for the project, the preliminary determination and for reimbursement, each by a unanimous 5-0 tally. The project resolution included estimated costs of hard and soft construction, as well as costs of issuance, an establishment of total project costs and total tax impact. For the preliminary determination resolution, which is required when a school corporation is planning to finance more than a “certain threshold” on a construction project, the resolution includes total project cost, maximum annual payment and lease terms, as well as other financial terms, estimated principal amount and tax impact. The reimbursement resolution relates to the financing of a construction project and permits the school corporation to reim-
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burse itself from bond proceeds for any cash it might spend on a project prior to the closing on the balance, required by federal tax law, Keaffaber said. This is done, he said, to preserve the school corporation’s ability to reimburse itself. Later in the week, Keaffaber explained that misinformation about the project and its impact on local taxpayers required clarification. Keaffaber said the total price tag of $115 million also included renovations to the current high schools, that would serve students from grades K-8. He added that the tax impact would be much less than what was reported. During the first meeting, consultant Jim Elizondo showed a slide that indicated that the Debt Service Tax Rate would rise significantly once the project was under way. However, Keaffaber said the Debt Service Tax Rate represented only a portion of the overall rate, and that MSD tax payers would not experience as big a tax hit as they currently believe. The Paper of Wabash County plans future articles to clarify this impact. What remains is a series of steps in the process of getting a referendum on the November ballot for voters. During the hearing, the board heard from citizens, many who had questions and concerns about the project, which is expected to create a significant boost in the property tax rate in the district. On Facebook as the hearing streamed live, Nicci Cornett said “I don’t understand all these numbers and specifics. However, it seems to me that by consolidating, class sizes will only grow (and) students will get less one on one, and it’s hard enough to keep teachers now. They don’t get paid near what they are worth.” Cont. on Page 2.
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