Mt. Pulaski School Board District #23

Board Responds With the Facts
1)  One issue set to rest was the allegation that 4 - $6000 was spent for each board member to attend a board convention in Chicago.  Rather, it was approximately $4,000 for all board members - total, which included convention registration, room, transportation, and only one meal.  Further, Superintendent Shelton admitted that registrations and rooms at such conventions have to be made in advance and occasionally one of slots would remain unfilled due to an emergency with one of the participants.   Shelton remembers on at least one occasion he had to either arrive or leave early due to an important school matter back in Mt. Pulaski.  Shelton feels that it is of great benefit to all board members.  The conference attendance has grown in numbers over the years, even though the number of school boards has somewhat declined.  [This may be due to consolidation of schools.] 

2)  Another issue was concerning the former Mt. Pulaski School District #23 Superintendent Sandy Ellis.  The Elkhart Citizens for Education wanted full disclosure of the specifics of her termination, which this group claimed involved $300,000 to $380,000.  Superintendent Phil Shelton replied that the Judge mandated that the court documents be sealed.  [This occurred 9 years ago and has not had any bearing on the present construction cost figures.]

3)  A third issue was the cost over-runs to the new building construction.  In response, Superintendent Shelton reported that there are no cost over-runs - a handout showed figures to substantiate his remarks. [surprising since cost of all construction materials has gone up
in the past two years]

4)  A fourth issue concerned communication with the public.  Superintendent Shelton said that his door has always been open.  In fact, the Elkhart Citizens' Group has not walked through his door to obtain correct information during this entire period. 

5)  A fifth issue concerned the resignation of Tina Rogers Smith of Elkhart from the Mt. Pulaski School District #23 Board.  All of the board members individually responded that her allegations of board intimidation of the Elkhart Citizens Group were not true.  [Her allegations upset all of the board members.]

6)  A sixth issue concerned the cost of a basement to the new addition and the dirt to be used - rumored to have been removed and then having to be imported - $80,000 to $190,000.  Superintendent Shelton remarked that there is now and never was a basement planned for the addition.  Rather, the hole filled up with imported dirt was the basement of an old house in the annexed lot to the south of the high school, which is now under a portion of the new construction.  The cost of fill dirt for the addition was in the construction contract cost.  Therefore, there was no "extra cost" for the fill dirt & compaction.  [A bit of laughter could be heard.]

7)  John Olson, Elkhart resident and former Mt. Pulaski School District #23 Board member and Board President, remarked that this Elkhart Citizens' Group does not speak for the whole of Elkhart.  He commented on his understanding of the tough decision to transfer the Elkhart Junior High to the Mt. Pulaski building.  He also applauded the handling of the new construction at the Mt. Pulaski High School site, one in which he had had a hand in while board president during the previous several years.

[In conclusion, the board - all of them addressed most if not all of the allegations individually - has now decided that since allegations have been brought to bear on their financial handling of the new construction, conventions, terminations, etc., further research will be immediately conducted on the financial wisdom of allowing the Elkhart elementary school building to remain open.

Moreover, several members of the board revealed that they had expressed sadness at having to make the tough decision in regards to the transfer of the junior high from the Elkhart building to the Mt. Pulaski building.  They commented that several of them (board members) were willing to trust the Elkhart plea of "wait and see" if more housing would bring in more students in the next several years.  The board members now feel that they are no longer willing to "wait and see" - that, now, their attitude is more of a concern for the financial solvency of the entire district than of a concern for feelings of a town now facing the complete loss of their long-time elementary school.  This past year, as one board member remarked, has seen a rise in the cost of transportation, food, school supplies, and heating, etc.]

[reported & edited by phil bertoni]