SDCSC Superintendent Gives Insight into Possible Manchester Elementary Closure

Friday, April 11, 2025 at 2:03 PM

By Travis Thayer @eagle993

(Manchester, Ind.) - Discussions have been had about closing Manchester Elementary School.

South Dearborn Community School Corporation Superintendent Ron Ross tells Eagle Country 99.3 that declining enrollment and rising operating costs are the primary reasons for the discussion.

On average, it costs $1,100 more to educate a Manchester student compared to Dillsboro and Aurora Elementary Schools, according to Superintendent Ross.

We have discussed moving the 6th grade to the middle school. That will lower the operating costs of the middle school by over $200 per student. This is less about the money and more about right sizing our district. Lawrenceburg and Sunman-Dearborn have more students than us and operate four buildings compared to us operating five," Ross added.

Manchester Elementary currently serves 140 students when it was designed to serve 400. By closing the school, the corporation would save over $1 million. That money would be reinvested into staff, program and facilities across the corporation.

All current teachers and staff have been promised a position within the corporation, if Manchester closes. The school corporation is also committed to making the remaining four buildings sustainable and open.

"Any discussion of Dillsboro Elementary School being next to close is completely false," said Ross.