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

South Wayne Elementary School staff and parents were notified of the decision.

"With impending reductions in funding, we have to ensure we are operating as efficiently as possible," the district said in a statement.

Chief Financial Officer Rosie Shipman told the school board in September that the district must be firm about sticking to its $419 million budget as it adapts to revenue losses caused by Indiana's new property tax reform law. Gov. Mike Braun signed the legislation in April and touted the bill as "historic property tax relief."

FWCS, which has about 30,000 students, faces an estimate

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