Elkhart Community Schools

A conversation with Superintendent Michele Riise

Elkhart teachers say they realize the district is broke but say they shouldn't have to take a benefit cut to receive a pay raise this year after not receiving a pay raise last year.

The total 2027 budget adopted by the school board Wednesday is just over $148 million, about $23 million less than the one the board approved for 2026.

The Community Foundation of St. Joseph County has awarded WVPE a $500,000 grant over three years, allowing the nonprofit station to add two reporters.

The school board voted Tuesday to freeze pay rates for many support staff members and make official the closure of four school buildings.

WVPE's Kent Fulmer talks with Michele Riise, superintendent of Elkhart Community Schools.

The Elkhart School Board will consider an agreement Tuesday to transfer the former Osolo Elementary School to Premier Arts Academy for a dollar.

Elkhart County Prosecutor Vicki Becker says Elkhart Community Schools officials waited too long to report the incident and failed to properly test a bus driver suspected of driving while impaired by alcohol in January.

Elkhart Community Schools hasn't announced when their board will vote on whether to transfer Osolo Elementary to Premiere Arts Academy for a charter school, but Premiere has told their parents the vote will happen July 14, and they're urging them to attend in full force.

Elkhart High School government teacher Linda Fine says letting Premiere Arts Academy use the newly closed Osolo Elementary property would let Elkhart Community Schools retain some of the new charter school's per-pupil state funding. But the district could still have to pay to maintain the building and would have no say over how the school is run.