Vigo County's School Plan: What Does the Public Think?

The Vigo County School Corporation's proposal to consolidate schools has sparked considerable debate across the community. The plan, which aims to address aging infrastructure and shifting student populations, has left residents with strong opinions and many questions. To better understand public sentiment, a recent community survey captured a snapshot of residents' views on the consolidation, potential funding sources, and their overall satisfaction with local officials.

This post will analyze the key findings from that survey. We'll explore who participated, what they know about the plan, where they stand on the issue, and what their primary concerns are. By examining the data, we can get a clearer picture of the community's perspective and the factors shaping the conversation around the future of Vigo County's schools.

Who We Heard From: A Survey Snapshot

Before diving into the specifics of the school consolidation plan, it's helpful to understand the demographics of the survey respondents. A total of 1660 residents participated, offering a glimpse into the community's makeup.

The most represented age group was residents over 65, who made up a significant 54.55% of all participants. Other age groups were represented in smaller numbers, with those aged 44-55 accounting for 12.12%, and younger demographics each comprising less than 10% of the respondents.

Politically, the group leaned slightly Democratic, with 45.45% identifying with the party, compared to 33.33% who identified as Republican. About 21% stated they aligned with neither party.

A crucial detail is that the vast majority of respondents (66%) do not currently have a child in the K-12 school system. Only about 34% are parents of school-aged children. This context is important when interpreting opinions on school facilities and educational policies.

Awareness and Support for the Consolidation Plan

The survey reveals that the Vigo County School Corporation has been effective in getting the word out about its consolidation proposal. An overwhelming 87.69% of respondents had heard about the plan, showing widespread awareness across the community.

How Did Residents Learn About the Plan?

When asked where they first learned about the consolidation, residents cited a mix of traditional and digital sources:

• TV News: The most common source, cited by 31.58% of those aware of the plan.

• Word of Mouth: Coming in a close second, 29.82% of people heard about it from friends, family, coworkers, or neighbors.

• Social Media: A significant channel, with 22.81% learning about the plan online.

• School Board Meetings: A smaller group of 7.02% watched a meeting online or via at a local organization, though no respondents reported attending a school board meeting in person.

Public Opinion is Sharply Divided

With the condition that the plan would not increase taxes, public support was deeply polarized.

• Support: A combined 45.45% of respondents either "strongly support" (29.09%) or "somewhat support" (16.36%) the consolidation.

• Opposition: On the other side, 29.09% were opposed, with 25.45% "strongly opposing" it and a smaller 3.64% "somewhat opposing" it.

• Neutral: A notable 25.45% of respondents remained neutral or had no opinion, suggesting a significant portion of the community is still undecided or disengaged from the issue.

  
  

This stark division highlights the complex and contentious nature of the school consolidation debate in Vigo County.

Funding a New High School: Exploring the Options

The survey also gauged public opinion on a related issue: the potential for outside government entities to help fund a new high school, provided it doesn't raise local taxes. The response showed a general openness to external financial support.

A clear majority of 58.73% supported the idea of accepting funding from outside government entities. In contrast, only 19.05% were against it, while 22.22% remained unsure.

For the minority who opposed outside funding, the primary reason was a belief that a new high school is not necessary at all. Over half (54.55%) of those against external funding selected this option, indicating their opposition is tied more to the project itself than the source of its funding.

The Vigo County School Corporation’s consolidation plan continues to spark conversation in our community. While the plan is designed to streamline resources and modernize facilities, local residents have significant concerns about how these changes may affect students, families, and neighborhoods.

In a recent survey, respondents were asked: “What is your biggest concern about the Vigo County School Corporation’s school consolidation plan?” 

What Are the Community's Top Concerns?

Key Concerns Highlighted

• Larger Class Sizes (57%)The leading concern was the possibility of overcrowded classrooms. Many parents and educators worry that bigger class sizes could limit individual attention for students and strain teachers already facing heavy workloads.

• Potential Decline in Educational Quality (55%)More than half of respondents also fear that consolidation may negatively impact overall learning outcomes, pointing to the risk of stretched resources and diminished student support.

• Loss of Neighborhood/Community Schools (30%)Schools are often at the heart of a neighborhood’s identity. Nearly a third of participants expressed worry that closures would weaken community connections and reduce local engagement.

• Longer Travel Distances for Students (23%)Transportation is another major concern. Families are uneasy about students spending more time on buses, which could cut into rest, extracurriculars, and family time.

• Impact on Extracurricular Activities (13%)A smaller but important group noted that sports and after-school programs may be disrupted or harder to access if schools consolidate.

  
  

What Are the Community's Top Concerns?

The Vigo County School Corporation’s consolidation plan continues to spark conversation in our community. While the plan is designed to streamline resources and modernize facilities, local residents have significant concerns about how these changes may affect students, families, and neighborhoods.

When asked: “What is your biggest concern about the Vigo County School Corporation’s school consolidation plan?" Their concerns reflect broader community conversations.

Key Concerns Highlighted

• Larger Class Sizes (57%)The leading concern was the possibility of overcrowded classrooms. Many parents and educators worry that bigger class sizes could limit individual attention for students and strain teachers already facing heavy workloads.

• Potential Decline in Educational Quality (55%)More than half of respondents also fear that consolidation may negatively impact overall learning outcomes, pointing to the risk of stretched resources and diminished student support.

• Loss of Neighborhood/Community Schools (30%)Schools are often at the heart of a neighborhood’s identity. Nearly a third of participants expressed worry that closures would weaken community connections and reduce local engagement.

• Longer Travel Distances for Students (23%)Transportation is another major concern. Families are uneasy about students spending more time on buses, which could cut into rest, extracurriculars, and family time.

• Impact on Extracurricular Activities (13%)A smaller but important group noted that sports and after-school programs may be disrupted or harder to access if schools consolidate.

Parents with children in the K–12 system gave school facilities a mixed, though largely negative, assessment. Not a single respondent rated the facilities as “Excellent.” In fact, 77.8% described them as either “Fair,” “Poor,” or “Very Poor,” underscoring a strong perception that significant facility improvements are needed, an issue the consolidation plan is intended to address.

Where Do We Go From Here?

The survey data paints a picture of a community that is highly aware of the school consolidation plan but deeply divided on how to proceed. While a slight majority favors the plan if it avoids tax hikes, strong opposition and a large group of undecided residents mean the path forward is anything but clear. Supporters seem willing to embrace external funding to build a new high school, but opponents question if a new school is even needed.

The core concerns, the potential loss of community schools and a decline in educational quality, are powerful emotional and practical issues that officials must address to build broader consensus. For parents with children in the system, the poor state of current facilities may make the case for change more compelling.

As the Vigo County School Corporation moves forward, engaging with the significant portion of neutral residents and directly addressing the community's primary concerns will be essential for turning this divisive proposal into a unified vision for the future.

📊 Community Opinion Snapshot

We asked residents how satisfied they are with the performance of several public figures. Here’s what they had to say:

• Brandon Sakbun leads with strong approval — 65.5% satisfied.

• Tonya Plaff also sees solid support at 50% satisfied.

• Chris Switzer and Mark Clinkenbeard both earn more neutral ratings, with half of respondents undecided.

• Donald Trump and Mike Braun face sharp opposition, with the majority unsatisfied.

• Mike Morris split opinion, leaning toward dissatisfaction.

  
  

👉 Take a look at the full heat map below to see how opinions spread across all leaders.