With cuts, Valparaiso schools also looking to boost income

VALPARAISO | Along with $3.5 million in budget cuts, Valparaiso Community Schools could stave further shortfalls with an increase in the number of tuition students and a hike in full-day kindergarten tuition.

Addressing a proposal to patch the district's budget Tuesday night, Superintendent Andrew Melin said in addition to cuts, the corporation needs to look at the possibility of increasing revenue, as state cash draws may continue to slide.

Melin said the state currently provides about $4,800 per student, but only half that for kindergarten students. He said a proposal in the Indiana General Assembly would add an additional $1,200 appropriation for every full-day kindergarten student. If that increase doesn't happen, parents could see the current $350-per-child tuition increase in the fall.

Another idea for enhancing revenue is charging students fees for participating in athletics. Melin told board members that proposal is being taken under consideration, but warned that it could have adverse affects.

"If you charge participation fees, participation goes down," Melin said. "That's a concern for us because we don't want any student not be able to participate."

The corporation also is looking at the possibility of increasing the number of out-of-district tuition students at the middle and high schools, each of whom would bring with them additional state appropriations.

"Those are sustainable dollars. It is a legitimate (proposal) to raise funds in our school corporation," Melin said.

While Melin said the administration isn't considering a taxpayer referendum at this time, the idea remains an alternative for the future.

At the meeting, board member Jim Jorgensen said families, businesses and other units of government have dealt with reduced revenues and organizing a referendum without an attempt to shave the budget could send voters the wrong message.

"We would be asking them to subsidize the way we've always done business," Jorgensen said.

Board member Mark Maassal said he also wasn't ready to approve seeking a general fund referendum. He said in the coming years, the schools could face issues with aging buildings, resulting in a construction referendum.