Elkhart Schools prepare for potential impact from Monaco Coach layoffs

by Sarah Rice (srice@wsbt.com)

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Monaco Coach in Wakarusa (WSBT Photo)

Monaco Coach in Wakarusa (WSBT Photo)

By WSBT News1

ELKHART — 1,400 workers will be looking for work by September when Monaco Coach closes its plants in Elkhart, Nappanee and Wakarusa. The layoffs are forcing Elkhart Schools to prepare for some unwanted changes.

In less than a month, students in Elkhart will head back to the classroom. This year, the district will likely face a challenge.

"We're feeling like we could see a decrease in the number of students that enroll this year and more likely next year," said Elkhart Schools Communication Coordinator Jodee Shaw.

More than 1,300 students are enrolled in Elkhart Schools. The district could lose 100 kids from the recent layoffs, but officials don't think that drop will have a significant impact right away.

"Our funding this year will be based on last year's enrollment. So it would be really next year that we would feel a decrease,” said Shaw.

The news concerns people like Charlie Forbert. He has five grandchildren in Elkhart Schools.

"I can see them eventually trying to do away with the sports, maybe the music, and some of the outings that they get education from,” said Forbert.

School officials aren't talking about those types of cuts now. They're more concerned that people being laid off will have a hard time finding new work.

That could increase the number of students taking part in the free lunch and textbook program. Already, 60 percent of students in the district qualify.

"That money is reimbursed by the state, but for the past several years it hasn't been reimbursed at 100 percent. So we have been losing money in that vein, and that could hurt us more if more kids are in need," said Shaw.

The district remains optimistic about how much of an impact the layoffs will have, but officials say the key will be looking ahead.

"While we've seen the 1,400 layoffs at Monaco, we might be seeing a trickle down effect eventually as suppliers to Monaco might also start laying off people. So we want to keep our eye on that and see what happens overall," said Shaw.

The new property tax caps will also impact the budget. Elkhart Schools anticipates the state will cut funding by more than $1 million in 2010. That number could jump to $2.5 million in 2011.

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 10:43 PM Just sittin here wondering & thinkin wrote ...

Steve-O are you really this dumb? You deny God, mock and judge people, critize people. You must be one very unhappy man! I see you post on here all the time and its always tearing people down. I hope you dont have kids and that you are not passing you'r undesirable traits on to your offspring. Your heat if you have one ust be encased in steel, I do feel bad for you, you can't be happy

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 9:42 PM T Gaskill wrote ...

I have to lean to agree with with "11:57 AM Northern Indiana".

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 9:24 PM Yakin FLapper wrote ...

There were many people working at Monaco that drove from towns beside Elkhart. I used to work there. The entire RV industry is in trouble. With high fuel costs, the hot item is no longer motor coaches and recreation. Elkhart schools is just one of many who will feel the unemployed parents pain.

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 8:52 PM Steve-O wrote ...

To "903 Mcghee" are you the same idiot that hit the bike rider in South Bend?. Are you out of jail, where you belong? Or are you in the county jail library writing to us?

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 8:11 PM Joe wrote ...

Are you a complete idiot Steve O . Maybe people cant afford to send their kids to school without jobs! Maybe just maybe food would be more important ! You can home school to genius! Maybe just maybe you should think before you place a comment on here

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 8:04 PM A Hard Worker Not Like Steve O wrote ...

Somehow the R.v. industry has really done steve o wrong.Im guessing he was a slacker that couldnt keep pace and was canned. Well STEVEY o? Where are all them jobs you say you have for everyone? Your a joke that couldnt hack a real job!

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 2:41 PM Anonymous wrote ...

move to laville there going to build a new school !

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 1:12 PM Steve-O wrote ...

Ok thanks guys that clears it up for me, i wish the person reporting this would of mention it in the story. I dont see people wanting to move cause of cost of living in other areas are higher then elkhart county. Why would they want to work at a wal-mart in chicago when we have plenty here.

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 12:54 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I am also going to be a displaced worker from Monaco. I am a single mom and work very hard to support my children. I would not make my kids get a job so I could sit on my butt and collect unemployment all day. But I do think the situation is bad enough as it is and I don't think we need any more sarcastic comments from Steve-O!!!

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 11:57 AM Northern Indiana wrote ...

What Elkhart schools really are thinking is "darn fewer student so less federal money" not "I hope the families find good jobs and come through this "

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 11:11 AM Joe wrote ...

Steve-O, I believe the implication is that without the local jobs, people will move to Chicago/Detroit/Indy somewhere to find a new job. If parents move to find jobs, they won't be leaving their kids behind to stay in the Elkhart schools.

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 11:08 AM Elkhart Resident wrote ...

I would like to address this comment to Steve-O. Most likely former Monaco employees will have to relocate and will most probably take their school-age children with them. What do you think?

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 10:46 AM MC wrote ...

Do you think Steve-O that maybe the families will need to relocate to another area to find new jobs to support their families.

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 10:41 AM Anonymous wrote ...

The parents will likely have to move to find work. If they move, the district's numbers will be lower. Lower number of students equals less funding. Also, a certain portion of the school's income is based on local taxes. If people make less $ the income from these taxes will be impacted.

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 10:19 AM Steve-O wrote ...

Can someone fill me in on how a Monaco layoff will affect the schools. Are they saying the parents will force their kids to find work so they can sit on their butt all day and collect unemployment. Or are they saying parents from Monaco cant afford the schooling cause they have to get the kids the latest and greatest Ipod, cell phones, Nikes, eating A-la cart(cause reduce lunches are not cool), laptops etc. I am lost, fill me in.

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 9:03 AM McGhee wrote ...

I believe that Elkhart Schools have more than 1,300 enrolled students. The reporter must have missed a "0".

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