MUNCIE — School corporations in six county seats in East Central Indiana continued their enrollment loss this fall, according to new data published by the Indiana Department of Education.
Muncie Community Schools led the way with an 8.3 percent decline over the past year and a 32.2 percent drop in the past dozen years, but Blackford County Schools wasn't far behind with a 27.7 percent loss since the 2005-06 school year.
The 12-year enrollment trend at other schools has produced decreases of 21.9 percent at New Castle Community School Corp., 15,6 percent at Jay School Corp., 12.5 percent at Richmond Community Schools and 11.5 percent at Randolph Central School Corp. in Winchester.
"The story in Muncie has been very influential in Jay County," Superintendent Jeremy Gulley said. "We've monitored that story, and it's been illuminating for us. There are consequences for inaction. How can we keep up with the adjustments we need to make to keep a healthy cash balance and cash flow? We are being required to make historic decisions."The school board voted this week to close Judge Haynes Elementary School in Portland after this school year. The district shut down an elementary school in Pennville after the last school year.
"We hadn't closed a school since we consolidated," Gulley said of his county-wide school district. "We consolidated back in the 1970s as the General Assembly intended. Blackford and Huntington County did the same. I think we are the sixth-largest district in square miles. When you're spread out, it's sustainable with 6,000 students. When you're approaching 3,000 students, it's much harder to do.
"Huntington County just closed two elementary schools up there," Gulley went on, adding that Blackford County is planning to close one elementary school and consolidate junior high school students and senior high school students into the same building.