Residents in the western part of Clark County, Ind., have voted to split the 4,700-student West Clark Community school district into two systems: Silver Creek and Borden-Henryville.
WDRB.com reports that nearly 75% of voters approved the split. More than 4,900 people cast their ballots in favor, and 1,666 were opposed.
The split is the result of years of acrimony among residents in rural and suburban areas of Clark County, which is situated along the Ohio River north of Louisville, Ky. The district was created during school consolidations of the 1960s.
The disagreements came to a head in 2018 when voters from the towns of Henryville and Borden voted down a referendum for $95 million in upgrades to the Silver Creek schools in Sellersburg.
The split will create a Borden-Henryville district with about 1,800 students and a Silver Creek district with about 2,900 students.
Supporters say they hope that more local control will mean better oversight and management of resources.
West Clark Community Schools will cease to exist at midnight on June 30. Each new district will have its own superintendent and will be able to decide how to use funds to support students.