FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – The Fort Wayne Community Schools Board reviewed the newly introduced 2025 budget at Monday night’s meeting with an expected increase.
The education fund will see an increase of 2.9% with the majority going towards textbooks and salary increases for teachers and staff. The operation fund will jump by about 4% from higher health insurance costs, utility bills, and transportation and regular maintenance costs.
FWCS plans to expand its Peacemaker Program to all five high schools and increase security. That includes adding weapon detection systems to all schools in the district.
The FWCS Board will vote on the plan on Oct. 28 and the public will be able to sound off at the board’s meeting on October 14 at 6 p.m. in the Grile Administrative Center.
FWCS representatives released the following:
The Fort Wayne Community Schools Board of School Trustees on Monday, Sept. 9, reviewed the proposed 2025 budget. While the budget is projected to include a slight increase, the anticipated tax rate is expected to go down.
The Education Fund shows an increase of 2.9 percent. Much of this increase will pay for textbooks, taking that burden away from families. These funds will also pay for teacher and staff salary increases. The Operations Fund is estimated to increase by 4 percent, an amount recently capped by the Indiana legislature. This increase is driven by higher health insurance costs, utility bills and other expenses.
Initiatives funded by the safety and well-being referendum will continue in 2025. Initial expenditures include adding weapons detection systems to all schools, hiring Student Advocates and licensed therapists, expanding the Alive Peacemaker program to all 5 high schools, increasing the security department and upgrading safety systems.
Other highlights of the proposed 2025 budget include:
• The FWCS Transportation Department will purchase more 14-passenger buses that do not require a driver to possess a CDL.
• Enrollment at Fort Wayne Community Schools is on track to see an increase this year with a current unofficial student enrollment of 28,695, an increase of 142 students over last year’s official enrollment. This year’s official enrollment date is Oct. 1.
The budget will be available on the Indiana Gateway portal Tuesday, Sept. 10. A public hearing on the proposed 2025 budget will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14, in the Grile Administrative Center, 1200 S. Clinton St. Board members will vote on the plan at the Oct. 28 Board meeting.
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