Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert told the Warsaw School Board Monday about the financial impacts of Senate Bill 1 for Warsaw Community Schools.
Senate Bill 1 could save homeowners a collective $1.2 billion in property taxes over three calendar years, from 2026 through 2028, according to a fiscal analysis. It does so largely by creating a credit for 10% off every homestead’s bill, up to $300 each, according to the Indiana Capital Chronicle.
Hoffert said there are two funds that funnel into the school system: the education fund and the operations fund. The education fund goes directly into classrooms and the operations fund goes into the operation, maintenance and upkeep of the school corporation.
Through SB 1 there will be a decrease of about $1.1 million for WCS’ budget next year. Hoffert said that will mean the school corporation will have to defray some costs, slow down some projects, defer some maintenance that’s out there as the school corporation moves forward.
“Again, we do want to put it out there, this is definitely a budget cut that goes along with our operations,” Hoffert said.
He said there are projected increases specifically for the education fund for the 2025-26 school year at 1.9% and 2026-27 at 1.1%.
Chief Financial Officer April Fitterling said if the school corporation doesn’t see the projected 1.9%, it will be due to possible declining enrollment. Hoffert said there has been about a 20% birth rate decrease over the last decade or two.
Hoffert stated that means the school corporation may have to look at the budget and staffing “and be very cautious about that. Because, again, we know that our teachers are our most vital resource” and the majority of the education fund goes toward teachers’ salaries and benefits. “So sometimes when those dollars aren’t there, that means that we may have to look at some different programs, some different staffing that’s out there to be able to provide what’s needed in the classroom.”
Earlier in the meeting, the board recognized the people who were in the Tiger Ambassador program this year with a graduation.
Hoffert said WCS started the Tiger Ambassador program three years ago to create a link between the school corporation and community members. Each year, one ambassador is chosen to represent each school in the corporation.
“The ambassador backgrounds are very diverse and represent parents, engaged community members, industrial leaders and governmental officials,” Hoffert said. “Our goal is to present a behind-the-scenes viewpoint of our schools and provide opportunities for feedback and also information to continue the conversations in our greater community. Whether the conversations are at the soccer field or down at the state legislature, our ambassadors are great representatives of our schools.”
Hoffert said the ambassadors dedicated time to go to five lunch-and-learns during the school year, where they learned about facility planning management, food service, athletics, transportation and what is offered in the classrooms.
The 2025 Tiger Ambassadors were Grace Whalen, Dr. Drew Flamm, Stephanie Pahl, Lenard McCreery, Tiffany Howe, Kim Slaymaker, Blanca Leyva, Heath Simcoe, Travis McConnell, Leo Patiño, Jim Smith, Emily Hornaday, Jessica Hauck, Erin Serafino and Kim Lezark.
Hoffert thanked the ambassadors for their time and talents because “we are a better school and community because of each one of you.”
In other business, the board:
• Heard there was an electric outage at the high school April 18. When the electricity came back on, it fried the industrial dishwasher and created a fire in the dishwasher at The Blue Apron.
• Heard there were almost record numbers of people attending the recent kindergarten roundup.