N.J.-S.P. Moves Closer To Budget Adjustment Goals

North Judson-San Pierre Admin buildingThe interim superintendent with the North Judson – San Pierre school corporation says they are still in the assessment phase of their plans when it comes to readjusting their finances.

Following the retirement of their previous superintendent, and a property tax levy referendums’ inability to receive sufficient support for passage at the ballot box, N.J.-S.P. says it has some work to do for 2016.

Superintendent Bob Boyd says they did achieve a small cash balance of $182-thousand for 2015.

“We’re in the process of planning some steps to assure that that occurs in 2016,” says Boyd.

North Judson – San Pierre schools are facing a similar situation to many rural school corporations in the state: declining enrollment and reduced revenue support from the state of Indiana.

Boyd says it’s still early in his tenure, but he’s working to review data and information with the school corporation’s Board of Education. This week, Boyd says he will be meeting with the administrators of the three schools to find out where adjustments can be made to their expenditures.

The goal, according to Boyd, is to balance the budget without impacting student performance.

“It’s going to take more than just tweaking,” says Boyd. “It’s going to take some structural re-alignments of the district and at this point a lot of options are on the table to be looked at.”

Boyd says that as more concrete plans are developed, the school board’s plan is to share their vision with the public prior to implementing changes to their budgets.

Action by the board to react to the changes in revenue expectations is anticipated at some point this year.