SCS Superintendent closely monitoring continued decline in student enrollment numbers

Shelbyville Central Schools’ enrollment continues to decline and Superintendent Dr. Matt Vance is concerned.

School enrollment is documented twice a school year – once in the fall and once in the spring. Feb. 1 was the most recent count day.

Shelbyville’s total enrollment was 3,575 on that day – down 29 students from the fall count in October, which is not unusual according to Vance when you factor in early graduates and even expulsions.

The growing concern for Vance is the continued decline from a student enrollment of 3,917 in the 2016-2017 school year.

“We are in a situation where we are continuing to decline and at some point in time that can’t continue,” said Vance (photo). “We are taking some steps to really start tightening up the budget because we have to. And we want to do it before it’s too late.  “No matter what, with our enrollment, we are getting in a situation where steps have to be taken to be financially solvent and good stewards.”

The enrollment figures and newly elected Indiana Governor Mike Braun’s stated goal of lowering property taxes could severely impact the operating budget of school systems across the state.

“There is a property tax issue going on which will be a huge hit for schools,” continued Vance. “Depending on what is approved, that is going to hit our operations fund very hard.

“Based on the estimates we’ve seen so far, we don’t know where everything is going to end up. … We are looking at where we can save and what we can do. We don’t want to have a negative impact on the classroom.”

The enrollment count for Shelbyville’s three elementary school is up while the middle school and high school numbers are down.

In other board business Wednesday:

• Approved adding a second Employee Childcare classroom at Golden Bear Preschool during the summer months. The classroom accommodates one- and two-year-olds of Shelbyville Central Schools employees and will be open to grandchildren of SCS employees and children of Chartwells’ employees.
• Approved a rate increase at Golden Bear Preschool for the 2025-2026 school year. The price increase varies between $10 and $50 per month depending on the number of days per week a student attends.
• Approved the salary for school board attorney John DePrez IV at $6,500 for the 2025 calendar year. At the January board meeting, the board approved salary and per diem for school board members at $2,000 with special meetings being an additional $62.

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