Editor's Note: The following is a joint letter to various officials around Wabash County:

A Joint Open Letter to:
Wabash County Commissioners
Members of the Wabash County Council
Members of the Councils of LaFontaine, Lagro, North Manchester, Roann, and Wabash Mayor of Wabash
Members of MSD of Wabash County School Board, Manchester Community Schools Board, and Wabash City Schools Board of Education

We join together as civic and business leaders to underscore the importance of providing a competitive K through 12 public education for all of the current and future students of Wabash County. Our current and future students deserve nothing less. 

Further, the availability of top tier public education as compared to other Indiana communities is critical for population growth, attracting new residents and employees to Wabash County, and to entice existing and new employers to fully invest in Wabash County. We ask that Wabash County’s officials convene a group of Wabash County leaders and citizens who will develop a vision and pathway for a county-wide solution to a competitive and sustainable K through 12 educational offering for Wabash County.

By Phil Smith

The Metropolitan School District of Wabash County is one step closer to seeing whether it will get the go-ahead for a $115 million construction and consolidation project that school corporation officials hope will make the district viable for decades to come.

At the regular meeting of MSDWC’s board of trustees July 12, Superintendent Mike Keaffaber told the board that enough registered voters had signed a petition to get the issue on the upcoming Election Day ballot.

By Phil Smith

The Metropolitan School District of Wabash County has named a new athletic director.

Christopher Oswalt, a teacher at Huntington North High School was approved by the MSDWC board at its regular board meeting July 12.

By Phil Smith

As students prepare to head back to the classroom in the month or so, local educators have some insight as to how the young learners can hone their studying skills to maximize retention.

By Joseph Slacian

Some $10.2 billion in travel related expenses flowed into the Indiana economy in 2020.

That figure was down by more than 25 percent from 2019, due to the pandemic, according to Elaine Bedel, CEO of the Indiana Destination Development Corp.

A current deficit in a major fund, coupled with economic challenges suffered by all Americans has officials at Wabash City Schools considering some cutbacks in the form of reducing assets.

At the regular meeting of the board of trustees June 20, the board, along with Business Manager Matt Stone and Superintendent Dr. Amy Sivley, discussed several deficits in the corporation’s coffers.

By Joseph Slacian

The Imagine One85 comprehensive plan was approved by three separate plan commissions on Thursday night, June 16.

The Wabash Plan Commission, the North Manchester Plan Commission and the Wabash County Plan Commission approved the plan in a joint meeting – perhaps the first in Wabash County history -- at the Wabash Middle School auditorium.

Imagine One85 is designed as a way to help stem the population loss that has impacted the county for several years. Since 1980, the county has lost 5,800 people.

By Phil Smith

Officials at Metropolitan School District of Wabash County have become fully invested in ensuring every resident — particularly taxpayers — of the district have all the information necessary to make an informed decision in November, should the district’s proposed high school reconfiguration plan make it on the ballot.

“Our website is live now,” said MSDWC Superintendent Mike Keaffaber. “We want the public, or the registered voters to be able to vote on this so that it will be a public thing and not necessarily just us or the board.”