SW Parke Community Schools bracing for SB 1 hit

Like many superintendents around the state, Southwest Parke Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Phil Harrison is counting down the days until summer vacation.

Also, like many superintendents in the Hoosier State, doing so means inching closer to July 1, when Senate Bill 1, which brought property tax relief to many Hoosiers, will go into law. While residents will see property tax relief, Harrison is waiting to see what less dollars coming in will mean for his school district. 

"We anticipate SB 1 impacting us, and we anticipate it impacting our Operations Fund most heavily. We haven't seen an analysis on the numbers since the bill was signed; however, estimates just prior to the signing of the bill showed losses to our Operations Fund in each of the next three years," Harrison told The Parke County Post. 

With less dollars coming in, Harrison said his district will still ensure programs are offered and staff is being kept. 

"To offset those losses, schools will have to maximize their Education-to-Operations transfer (up to 15 percent of the education fund can be transferred), and in order to make room for that some reductions will likely be made in the Education Fund. We are in the process of making some adjustments to our staffing based upon the Senate Bill 1 impact and our declining enrollment. We hope that natural movement (i.e. retirements and common relocations) will help with some of that, too," Harrison said.