Wabash County voters will decide on high school consolidation

FORT WAYNE, Indiana (WANE) – Voters in Wabash County’s Metropolitan School District will go to the polls in November to vote on whether or not to merge two area high schools.

Dozens turned out for a meeting Wednesday night to learn what it would mean for their taxes.

This was the first briefing on the referendum and two more will be held in the coming weeks.

If approved, this project would increase the tax rate from 83 cents to $1.34. The district would build a new high school and repurpose the current junior/senior high schools.
The new high school would combine students from grades 9-12 in Northfield and Southwood.

The current Northfield and Southwood Junior/Senior High School buildings would be converted to preschool through 8th grade buildings.

This is an issue that has been talked about for years and some are in favor of it while others think it’s not the right move at the moment.

“We approached the matter with an open mind. We were neither a hard yes nor a hard no, maybe even more inclined towards no. But we attended a meeting and the school board did a phenomenal job of researching and being very candid with information, and they’ve proven they can be trusted,” said Maria Marshall.

“It’s nice to look at a new school being built and stuff like that, but I think at the moment I’m a bit dissatisfied with the inflation and the cost of goods and the way people are struggling with this kind of tax increase right now want to dress people now. I think there are other options to explore and consider,” said Michael Nigney.

The referendum will be voted on on November 8th.