12-02-2025
Goshen School Board centers in on impactful legislation
GOSHEN — Goshen Community Schools is among the many districts keeping a close eye on the Indiana Statehouse during the legislative session.
Two board members commented on bills making the rounds at the Statehouse during the Goshen Community Schools Board of Trustees meeting on Monday night, and district Superintendent Jim DuBois also noted that he's keeping watch on Indiana Senate Bill 1: Property Tax Relief
The bill would make changes to homestead deductions, reduce property tax caps, and decrease spending on schools and other taxing entities. The plan would reduce taxes to Indiana schools by about $1.9 million, according to the state's Office of Fiscal and Management Analysis' Legislative Services Agency.
DuBois said if approved, the estimates for Goshen Community Schools show the district losing up to $3.8 million in 2026, up to $4.6 million 2027 and up to $5.4 million in 2028.
OTHER BOARD ITEMS
Assistant Principal Jon Everingham, who is also serving as Career and Technical Education director for the district, discussed with the school board a project he's begun in order to evaluate the needs for pathway programming through high school.
Everingham is working on a Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment that he hopes will allow him to present a proposal moving forward to the board before spring break.
The CLNA looks at career center options offered across the region in order to determine what programs could be of most benefit to Goshen High School students.
DuBois also said they've been in conversations about opening up a body shop to teach mechanics, but they need a comprehensive plan before they can move forward with any further pathways plans.
• GCS Chief Financial Officer Bob Evans said summer projects this year will include replacement of parts of HVAC systems at Goshen Junior High School and Goshen High School; a small concession building for athletics and track reconstruction at the junior high; adding air conditioning to the high school gym, redoing the band parking lot, and a new press box, bleachers, and dugouts for the high school soccer field; courtyard renovation and classroom door replacements at Model Elementary School; and repair of a section of the roof at Waterford Elementary School.
• Goshen Community Schools Foundation still has no representative from the school board.
• Goshen High School Band Director Tom Cox was honored for receiving the Dr. William P. Foster Project Community Development Award North Central Division.
• Tageeya Galeb was recognized for becoming a 2024 Elkhart County Lilly Endowment Community Scholar; Kendall Scott for making the Football Academic All-State Team; Ivon Rescalvo for competing in the Girls Wrestling State Competition and receiving seventh place in her weight class; Elsa Alstrom-Brookhyser for being accepted into the Indiana Junior All State Orchestra; and Miguel Aguilar Vargas, Emily Smith and Haleigh McKee for being accepted into the IMEA (Indiana Music Educators Association) Honor Band.
