Mount Pulaski School Board Approves Transfer of
Elkhart Grades 6,7 & 8 for the 2007-2008 School Year

Vote:  6-1

Facts regarding the Mount Pulaski District #23 Schools:

1)  In 1974, the first step was taken in the consideration of the
      transfer of Elkhart elementary grades to Mt. Pulaski
2)  In 1995, the issue was visited again with an  
     Elkhart Grade School enrollment of 135
3)  In 2001, there was a zero Kindergarten 
     enrollment at the Elkhart Grade School
4)  That particular Kindergarten class would now be a 4th  
      grade, and still has zero enrollment.
5) An Elkhart Grade School co-op with baseball was
     instituted, and then a co-op with basketball was instituted -
     both necessary moves to keep the youngsters in these sports
     programs.
6)  There has been a 42% decrease in enrollment, 135 down
      to 78 (2006), compared to a 5% decrease in enrollment 
      at the Mt. Pulaski Grade School during the same time frame.
7)  Financial, extra-curricular, and cost per student figures
      have been discussed.  The information sheets
      previously distributed at the February Board meeting
      revealed that the 2006 budgeted expenses were as follows:
          
    COST PER PUPIL PER ATTENDANCE CENTER:
                             Elkhart Grade School - $10,274
                     Mt. Pulaski Grade School - $  5,425
                        Mt. Pulaski High School - $  6,863

               Enrollments as of the September 30, 2005 Fall Housing
               enrollment figures:
                           
   Elkhart Grade School - 78
                     Mt. Pulaski Grade School - 298
                        Mt. Pulaski High School -
218

9)  The District is presently in deficit spending due to the
     decreasing farm-land assessments.
10) Superintendent Philip Shelton made $200,000 worth of cuts in
       the budget during a two-year period about 4-5 years ago, in 
       anticipation of the
then-upcoming land assessment decreases.   
       Mr. Shelton says that there is not much left to cut.  Continuing, 
       he says that "the plan to relocate Elkhart's 6th, 7th, and 8th grades 
       to the Mt. Pulaski Grade School site for the 2007-2008 school year
       will benefit the whole District".

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Most of the above information was taken from the
Mt. Pulaski Times issue (April 3rd, 2006) and from the
February District #23 Board meeting.