West Vigo teachers push back on a plan detail that would move sixth graders into an "elementary" building
Who it touches
- West Vigo Middle School
- West Vigo sixth-grade families
Tracked in the archive
April Childress, a West Vigo Middle School science teacher of 21 years, told the county's Oversight Board she opposes a detail in the school corporation's newest facilities plans that would move West Vigo's sixth graders into a "consolidated" building — which she said lacks science labs, gym space, and sports facilities — and reclassify them as elementary students, cutting 45 minutes of school time a day.
Jason Childress, a West Vigo sixth-grade teacher and coach, echoed the concern and separately said the school corporation has not shown him the detailed cost comparisons behind its claim that the new plan is cheaper than alternatives.
The objection surfaces as the same oversight board reviewing the plan voted 5-0 three weeks later to recommend the overall project, known as "Option 6.2," to the county commissioners.
Sources
- April Childress: opposes moving sixth graders to the consolidated building, 29:040:29:04 (29 minutes 4 seconds)
- 45 minutes of school time lost daily as "elementary students", 30:130:30:13 (30 minutes 13 seconds)
- Jason Childress: wants detailed cost comparisons shown publicly, 30:460:30:46 (30 minutes 46 seconds)
- Board response: cost materials posted online, offers to follow up, 32:350:32:35 (32 minutes 35 seconds)
- Oversight board votes 5-0 for "Option 6.2" three weeks later, 27:380:27:38 (27 minutes 38 seconds)
Outcome
No vote taken; presented as public comment
No vote taken; presented as public comment. A board member said cost-comparison materials are posted on the board's website and offered to follow up individually.
This summary was drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by an editor against the recording and documents linked above. Nothing publishes without a resolvable source.