The Carmel Clay School Board has proposed a $12 million referendum. Voters will have the option of both renewing funds that expire in 2012 and providing additional funds due to state and other cuts.

“The Carmel Clay School District is having a revenue problem due to the recession, the new funding formula, and immediate reductions directed by the Governor as of January 1, 2010. The school board first responded to declining revenue with budget cuts. $315,200 was cut from the general fund budget during the 2008-09 school year, $1.5million in 2009, and $3million is proposed this year. In 2008, no one realized the full impact of this recession. Cuts were needed but could be kept to a “minimum”. As the recession worsened and its effects were felt nationally, our school district’s revenue problems grew worse. To continually reduce the district’s budget is one option, but certainly not ideal for the education and well being of our youth. A general fund referendum is the only process available for a local community to support their local school district financially,” Hackett said in an interview via e-mail.

Senior Derya Toksoy said that she hopes voters pass the referendum.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to go to Carmel while class sizes are big, but under control, and teachers have time to work with students. I have a younger brother in the district and I wouldn’t want to see him go to a worse off Carmel (High School) than I am going to now,” Toksoy said.

If voters decide not to support a referendum, Tricia Hackett, Vice President of the school board, said that repercussions would be encompassing.

“The school board is presently looking at necessary budget reductions of approximately $3million including, but not limited to, 35 teaching positions, one assistant superintendent, support staff, supplies and specific energy saving strategies. A reduction of this size will touch each student one way or another. If the $12million referendum does not pass May 4, we would be forced to uphold all these cuts and look at reductions nearing three times this amount,” Hackett said.

Although many of the Carmel citizens who will vote on the referendum do not have children in the district, Hackett said that these voters could still garner benefit from a referendum.

“Many of us moved to Carmel because of the excellent educational system. Those of us with children feel these benefits daily as we watch our children grow and learn. All of us experience a level of excellence as this value in education permeates all aspects of life in Carmel. Our community’s value in education plays a large role in keeping our property values high,” Hackett said. By Rosemary Boeglin <[email protected]>