Elementary Transition: Meadows Elementary School
Transition Information for Meadows Elementary School
At the close of the 2021-22 school year, Meadows Elementary School will be consolidated and repurposed.
Students currently attending Meadows Elementary School will be redistricted into Lost Creek, DeVaney, Davis Park, and Benjamin Franklin Elementary Schools.
The Vigo County School Corporation is committed to a smooth transition for affected families. This page will be updated as transition events are planned and more information is available. We anticipate having more information about social events, field trips to new schools, and open houses for families.
Frequently asked questions about elementary school reorganization:
Why are we reducing the number of elementary schools in Vigo County?
Vigo County is has experienced a population decline since the 1970s. In the 2020-21 school year, Vigo County had 18 elementary schools. Peer corporations by student enrollment have 11-12. A demographic study predicts that student enrollment will decline an additional 1,000 students between Fall 2019 and Fall 2031 due to birthrates and low in-migration.
Why Meadows Elementary School?
A committee was formed in July 2020 to reorganize elementary schools. In February 2020, the school board approved the strategic plan, which calls for reducing our elementary schools from 18 to 16 at the close of the 2020-21 school year, and reducing our elementary schools from 16 to 15 at the close of the 2021-22 school year.
The committee, which included parent, community, teacher, administrative, and staff representatives, identified Meadows Elementary School based on age of building, low enrollment, and the ease for families to consolidate into existing schools. Meadows is the district’s smallest school by student enrollment at 200 students.
What will happen with the building?
Meadows Elementary School will become the VCSC Learning Lab, a building that can support a range of educational activities including: space for field trips including the NEAT Experience, financial literacy field trips including Let’s Get Real and BizTown, support for virtual learning, space for adult education including early childhood education careers, space for the Building Trades Program, and Pre-K opportunities.
Will class sizes increase?
We do not anticipate average class sizes increasing as a result of this reorganization. Lost Creek, DeVaney, Davis Park, and Benjamin Franklin Elementary Schools are outstanding schools with caring staff members. Many staff members from Meadows Elementary School will choose to be placed at Lost Creek, DeVaney, Davis Park, and Benjamin Franklin. The number of classes at these schools will increase–not class sizes themselves. These buildings have appropriate space and capacity for Meadows students.
Will Meadows staff lose their jobs?
Meadows staff will be able to choose positions–whether they are a teacher, secretary, custodian, educational assistant, or other staff member–at other schools within the Vigo County School Corporation.
When was this discussed?
The strategic plan was finalized in February 2020, and it called for elementary school reorganization by the end of the 2020-21 school year, and again at the end of the 2021-22 school year.
The elementary reorganization committee submitted their recommendation, after months of work, in December 2021.
The board and administration held a listening session at Meadows Elementary School in January 2022.
