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Lake Station wins referendum ask, but Kokomo and Twin Lakes fall short

A yard sign supporting Kokomo's school referendum is displayed in the grass of a lawn with scattered foliage. Behind it is an intersection of a neighborhood.
Kirsten Adair
/
IPB News
This was the first time Kokomo and Twin Lakes asked for referendums. As of midnight, about 67 percent of voters in each district had rejected the proposed tax increases.

Three Indiana school corporations asked voters to pass operating referendums this November. Voters approved the Lake Station Community Schools referendum this year, but voters rejected referendums for Kokomo Community School Corporation and Twin Lakes Community School Corporation.

This was the first time Kokomo and Twin Lakes asked for referendums. As of midnight, about 67 percent of voters in each district had rejected the proposed tax increases.

Lake Station asked voters last November to extend a referendum initially passed in 2017, but they said no. This year, the corporation reduced the number of in-person school days to save money on transportation. Three days of the week are now remote-learning days.

Lake Station also cut Spanish classes, elementary music classes, middle school and high school electives, and STEM programming for all grades. If the referendum failed a second time, Lake Station Superintendent Tom Cripliver said the corporation would have been forced to make further cuts. Funding from the 2017 referendum runs out on Dec. 31 of this year.

The money from this referendum will allow the district to resume busing students to school five days a week starting Monday, Nov. 11. The district will also reinstate staff members and courses that were cut to save money.

Cripliver said he’s grateful to everyone who voted in favor of the referendum.

“I could not be more proud of our parents and our community for what they did tonight in showing their support for our children and our students and our schools,” he said.

Cripliver said community outreach and education played a large part in garnering “yes” votes. The corporation discussed the referendum on three radio shows ahead of the election, rented billboards, distributed yard signs and answered questions from community members.

“It’s a win for our kids, and I’m just so proud of our community,” he said.

Kirsten is our education reporter. Contact her at kadair@wfyi.org or follow her on Twitter at @kirsten_adair.

Kirsten the Indiana Public Broadcasting education reporter. Contact her at kadair@wfyi.org or follow her on Twitter at @kirsten_adair.