Patrons can get straight story at DCSC work session
By Kevin Schnepp Staff writer

Taxpayers and concerned citizens will have an opportunity to listen to Delphi Community School Corporation Board of Trustees discussions concerning re-alignment of DCSC elementary schools at a work session tonight, Wednesday, at 7 p.m. in the middle school cafeteria.

The session was announced by DCSC Superintendent Ralph Walker after the board's regular meeting in March yielded a host of questions and concerns from the public concerning re-alignment options for the schools.

A rule set by the board regarding the work session is that no public input will be accepted during the meeting. Board president Robert Resler said he and the board wanted to discuss options in quorum in order to keep the public informed during the process, but no decisions would be made.

"At the work session, the board will not vote on anything," Resler explained. "We simply want to discuss options and public input we've received as a whole so as to abide by state law."

The Indiana Public Access Handbook stated this rule is valid because a governing body has the right to determine whether individuals may speak at meetings.

"The Open Door Law does not guarantee the right to speak at public meetings. Although an individual has the right to attend and observe all public proceedings, there is no specific statutory authority that allows an individual to appear before and address a governing body," is the explanation given.

The law also clarified that a governing body may provide an opportunity for comments or discussion, or limit discussion time, but is not required to do so.

Patrons who would like to provide input before or after the session are encouraged to write, call or e-mail the board or superintendent. Call the corporation office at (765) 564-2100 for information.

Consolidation history

According to 1962 editions of the Delphi Journal and The Hoosier Democrat, Camden, located in Jackson Township, was the center of controversy during state-mandated school reorganization efforts that year.

The Indiana School Reorganization Committee, established to seek the best option for restructuring Carroll County schools, experienced difficulties when it came to the choice of which school district Jackson Township would fall.

The reorganization plan originally called for Camden to join Carroll School Corporation. However, that option was discarded due to a high number of Carroll school patrons who voiced opposition to upsetting the school's good standing by adding another school to the system.

After more than a year of heated debate, lawsuits and meetings, along with a purported hand-shake deal for a new building if Camden joined Delphi, the committee decided on Oct. 28, 1963, to form two school units in the county. The west unit was comprised of Delphi-Deer Creek Corporation and Tippecanoe, Rock Creek, Madison, Jackson and Liberty townships (now known as DCSC). The east unit would be comprised only of Carroll School Corporation.

Upon reorganization, Camden became a K-6 establishment and operated six more years before a new school was built. The old Camden school (not including the gym) burned down in September 1968, just before it was to be razed. Classes were held in the gym for a year before the new elementary school was open.

A difference between current realignment options being considered and the previous consolidation was that the county was forced by the state to reorganize county schools in the 1960s. Options to be discussed at this week's work session are at the discretion of the school board, which is why public input is sought.