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Dear Editor:
I am Jeanne Flanders, a resident in southern White River Township. Thank you for your understanding of the issues faced by Southeastern Schools’ taxpayers.
We own property in Wayne Township. The school tax rate is an issue for us, especially the school referendums. Because we do not reside in Wayne Township, we cannot vote against the referendums for school improvements. My vote against a referendum would not stop it. A lot of politics goes into the referendums.
Years ago, Wayne Township powers should have risen up in alarm when the city of Noblesville began annexing Wayne Township property. Noblesville annexed south of 146th Street 1/2 mile wide and even wider reaching Interstate 69 all the way to the Madison County line, literally cutting Wayne Township off from the rest of the Southeastern School system. While Noblesville wanted the tax base of Wayne and Fall Creek townships, they were not willing to educate the children who lived in the annexed area of Wayne and Fall Creek townships.
This stems from the forced school consolidations put into effect during the 1960s. Many residents of Wayne Township wanted to be consolidated with Noblesville’s schools. Others wanted to be merged with the Lapel School system. Some wanted Wayne and White River townships to form their own school system. In the end, no one was happy as Wayne was forcefully consolidated with Fall Creek and Delaware townships.
Wayne Township children were called the “hicks.” What saved these students was their agriculture teacher, Tom Younts, who led these students to many State and National awards and leadership positions in FFA, and encouraged other urban students from Fall Creek and Delaware township to join them.
Jeanne Flanders
Noblesville