Ashley Sloboda

Starting my day (my 9th anniversary @journalgazette.net, BTW) at Indiana Tech for a panel discussion about AI and the future of education.

Helping my 6yo prepare for the 67th day of school tomorrow.

Got my regular seat in the back for Fort Wayne Community Schools. Have my board packet and a copy of the new annual report. Here for @journalgazette.net

Glad to help.

Bill may shame schools' spending INDIANAPOLIS – The House Education Committee voted 9-3 Wednesday to approve a bill that would publicly shame school districts that transfer more than 15 percent of state funding to operations

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8% of schools miss state goal INDIANAPOLIS – About 8% of Indiana's school corporations failed to meet state targets in 2020 because they transferred too much money out of the classroom – landing them on the

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I think some things now under ops funds would have been funded with what is now ed fund money and the transfer — which I think ALL districts do — helps with that. I’ll link to some past JG stories that might explain it. (Going off faulty memory so could be wrong)

My understanding is the transfer stems from when the state changed the school funding buckets several years ago. This was when the current ed/ops funds system was created.

I don’t know if that helps, but it’s what came to mind when I saw your post while at home on a Sunday night.

Districts xfer up to 15% of ed funds to operations (supported by prop taxes) and with SB1 cuts, that doesn’t help. Ed fund is further strained by legislative mandates — min. 45k teacher pay and 65% ed fund spent on teacher pay/salaries.

SB1 affects property taxes, and teacher salaries are not paid with property taxes. Those costs are paid with the education fund, which is tied to enrollment and supported by state dollars.

Got a seat in the back for the East Allen County Schools board meeting.
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Northwest Allen County Schools referendum fails with 54% of voters against it Opportunities for Northwest Allen County Schools students and staff will be different than what leaders envisioned following Tuesday's failed ballot measure to annually collect up to $12 million in ad...

Northwest Allen County Schools Superintendent Wayne Barker graciously talked with me tonight once referendum results were in. The word he used that stuck with me? Crushing.
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I am the only one in the newsroom tonight covering an election, so instead of traditional Election Night pizza shared by the newsroom, I have a thermos of ham & bean soup I made this morning.

I went to Wizard’s World last night for the Godzilla Day badge and left with a new PR on my fave. 🤩

Fort Wayne Community Schools to close elementary school Fort Wayne Community Schools announced Monday it will close an elementary school at the end of this academic year, noting costs to repair or replace the aging building factored into

Fort Wayne Community Schools announces a school closure — a first in my nearly 10 years covering the district.
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Anyone else see many 6-7 pairs trick-or-treating tonight?

I will accompany Harry Potter and Rick Astley in our neighborhood!

Coalition to increase higher education access for Fort Wayne Community Schools students The new Higher Education Coalition uniting Fort Wayne Community Schools and seven colleges represents a shared commitment to the region's future, officials said.

I got to see many of my education folks today at the news conference about the Higher Education Coalition involving Fort Wayne Community Schools and 7 colleges.
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FWCS, colleges unite to increase higher education access Fort Wayne Community Schools and college leaders are expected to announce a groundbreaking partnership designed to improve access to higher education for district students.

I am happy — but not as happy as Superintendent Mark Daniel — to tell @journalgazette.net readers today about a new coalition Fort Wayne Community Schools and area college leaders will announce today to improve access to higher ed for FWCS students.

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We are on board member comments. 🥳

Business items are done. Now for a presentation about Amp Lab’s first satellite campus.

Budget passed. Now ratification of the teachers agreement.

Time for the 2026 budget adoption. The presentation happened Sept. 22.

Board will now accept $92,500 in school safety grant funds. The state announced the recipients a while ago.

FWCS has used Naviance for about 4 years and students can use it for 7 years after graduation.

Board asked to renew Naviance College & Career Readiness platform for 3 years for $187k.

Now, the board to accept two special education grants totaling about $10 million.

Meeting is underway. We start with Sodexo Facilities Management Awards.

Waiting for the Fort Wayne Community Schools board meeting to begin. Members & admins are upstairs finishing up a work session.
Here for @journalgazette.net.