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2026 Operating Referendum

Collage of MCAS students

 

Thank you for visiting the Michigan City Area Schools 2026 Operating Referendum information page. And thank you for making the Michigan City Area Schools your choice for public education.

At Michigan City Area Schools, we are committed to Maximizing Community and Students by providing excellent educational opportunities while being responsible stewards of taxpayer resources and protecting property values.

For several years, MCAS has carefully reviewed and evaluated district operations, streamlined administrative costs, reorganized staffing, pursued grants and community partnerships, and implemented operational efficiencies to maximize available resources while protecting students and classrooms. These efforts have helped the district responsibly manage financial challenges and continue providing the services our students and families rely on.

The locally elected School Board has approved seeking community support for a proposed 2026 Operating Referendum. Like many districts across Indiana, MCAS is facing new financial challenges. Recent changes to Indiana's school funding system, including SEA 1, combined with declining enrollment, property tax caps, and rising operational costs, have changed the district's long-term financial outlook.

If approved by voters, this operating referendum would continue to support: 

  • Student Programs and Services
  • Transportation
  • School Safety
  • Recruitment and Retention of High-Quality Educators and Staff
  • Student Behavior and Health Services
  • Essential Daily Operations

This page is your central source for information about the proposed Operating Referendum. Here, you can learn about the proposal, how public schools are funded, the financial factors affecting Michigan City Area Schools, and the potential impact on our residents, schools, and community. We encourage you to explore the resources, review the frequently asked questions, and attend a community meeting to learn more.

Superintendent's Message

Dr. McCollum on WIMS

On August 31, 2026, Dr. McCollum visited WIMS to give updates on the upcoming operating referendum.

At Michigan City Area Schools, "Maximizing Community and Students" reflects our commitment to creating opportunities that benefit both our students and the community we serve. Together, we are a diverse community of residents, students, staff, businesses, and community partners who take pride in our schools, contribute positively to society, and prepare students for lifelong success.

Maximizing Community and Students Graphic

Thank you for your continued support of Michigan City Area Schools and for the many ways you help shape the experiences offered in our schools each day. Whether through being a taxpayer, volunteering, mentoring, attending events, supporting our students, or partnering with our schools. Your involvement helps create meaningful opportunities for our students to learn, grow, and succeed.

A flyer for Michigan City Area Schools community meetings about a 2026 referendum campaign is displayed, featuring graduation photos in the background and details about meeting dates, times, and topics in the foreground.

YOU MAY BE WONDERING

AUG. 2026 REFERENDUM PRESENTATION

A presentation slide titled %22Securing Our Future%22 with a logo at the top and a QR code in the bottom right corner.
Four students hold signs in front of a colorful banner with the text %22Our Students%22 and statistics about student services on the left.
Four students stand together in the background, while a student welds and another works with equipment in the foreground.
A group of smiling children stand in the foreground, while the background features text about %22Our District%22 and the %22Michigan City Area Schools%22 logo.
Children of diverse backgrounds are seated at red tables in a brightly lit cafeteria, with a chart detailing student diversity statistics on the left.
A legislative squeeze, representing SEA-1, tightens on a tax base from 2025 to 2031, with informational boxes detailing the changes in the background.
In the foreground, a list of academic achievements for Michigan City Area Schools is presented, while the background features a group of smiling graduates in caps and gowns.
A bar graph shows a steady increase in tax cap drain from 2016 to 2026, with accompanying text boxes detailing circuit breaker losses and homestead residential credits.
A graphic lists services funded by %22The Operations Fund: Keeping Schools Running Safely%22 on the left, with a graduation cap and a disclaimer about classroom instruction on the right.
A presentation slide titled %22What Have We Done to Reduce Expenses?%22 lists five bullet points with accompanying icons in the foreground, while the background is a plain white gradient.
A framed infographic in the foreground displays %2225 Total Positions Reduced%22 and %22$2 MILLION+ Saved in Salary & Benefits,%22 with labels for %22Administration,%22 %22Certified Staff,%22 %22Classified,%22 and %22Non-Certified%22 radiating outwards, all set against a white background with a title and explanatory text above.
Three illustrated buckets labeled %22Debt Fund,%22 %22Education Fund,%22 and %22Operations Fund%22 are shown in the foreground, with a blue banner stating %22The Bottom Line%22 and explanatory text in the background.
Three boxes labeled %22Force 1,%22 %22Force 2,%22 and %22Force 3%22 with financial figures and descriptions are stacked above a concluding statement about external legislative forces outpacing internal efficiency.
A table in the foreground displays rising costs for school bus, medical insurance, and property and casualty insurance from 2019 to 2025, with a blue background in the upper portion and a lighter blue footer containing a concluding statement.
A graphic outlines the impact of a $4,000,000 annual reduction on transportation, academic programs, student support, and operations, with a central circle highlighting the total reduction amount.
A presentation slide explains why money cannot be moved from one fund to another, detailing fund restrictions, enrollment impact, and decision options, with a dark blue banner at the bottom stating MCAS is a hard-hit district.
A marching band in blue uniforms performs on a football field at night, with a large moon prop in the background.
A slide titled %22November presents a clear choice%22 contrasts the negative consequences of a failed referendum with the positive outcomes of a successful one, listing bullet points under each scenario.
Two cards with information about an 8-year referendum and $10 million per year are displayed against a white background.
A person in a welding mask and protective gear works in a workshop in the foreground, while text about a ballot question is displayed on the left side of the image.
A light blue background frames two white cards, one with text about legislative changes impacting Indiana school funding and the other displaying %2238 SCHOOLS%22 expected to face operating referendums, with a smaller text box below detailing potential cuts to essential services.
A draft ballot language about a school tax increase is presented in the foreground, with a %22MISLEADING%22 label and explanation in the background.
A presentation slide with the title %22CALCULATOR%22 and a QR code in the foreground, and a classroom scene with students and a teacher in the background.
A digital interface displays a table showing the impact of a $10M referendum on a $200K homestead taxpayer, with input fields and summary statistics in the foreground and a year-by-year breakdown of tax changes in the background.
Three pillars in the foreground detail how a $10 million annual investment will be allocated to academic, educationally related, and safety and security programs, with a background bar graph showing the percentage breakdown of 65%, 20%, and 15% respectively.
A dark blue arrow points downwards towards text detailing the negative consequences of funding cuts, including school closures and program gutting, against a white background.
A white box with text about taxpayer impact is in the foreground, with a large %22$0.50 a month%22 below it, against a plain white background.
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A line graph in the foreground shows a steady increase in MCAS IREAD-3 proficiency from 2021 to 2026, with a table below detailing the data, all set against a blue background with summary statistics and text boxes in the background.
A graphic displays %22The Impact is Real%22 with data on MCAS performance, while a cartoon cat mascot is visible in the upper right corner.
Two chevron-shaped arrows, one dark blue and one light gray, are set against a white background, with the dark blue arrow on the left detailing community engagement from August to November 3rd, and the light gray arrow on the right marking Election Day on November 3rd.
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A collage of photos features smiling children and graduates in the foreground, with a sports team and festive gatherings in the background.
A logo for Michigan City Area Schools featuring a lighthouse and two figures is on the left, with the words %22MAXIMIZING COMMUNITY AND STUDENTS%22 to its right, and a QR code in the lower right corner.
A collage of images shows smiling graduates in the foreground and a street scene with a crowd in the background.
MCAS Summer Connections Graphic
Understanding School Finance Graphic

COMMUNITY MEETINGS

JUNE 2026 SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

VOTER INFORMATION