Muncie Community Schools opened the Fall, 2017 school year with a major fail of their bus system, resulting in an at least 2 day closure as administrators, the new bus company, and new bus drivers try to resolve this crisis.  Days before school was scheduled to start, 20 percent of the bus drivers employed by the company hired to transport students quit. The article below is an OPED from the Muncie Star Press, and there is also a video of a news conference held yesterday.

http://www.thestarpress.com/story/opinion/columnists/ward/2017/08/03/ward-mcs-bus-fiasco-explanation-please/536303001/

On Tuesday, July 11, the state appointed emergency manager reported at the MCS school board meeting. Bob Coddington, of Administrative Assistant stated that the projected time when MCS would be out of money is sometime in August or September. He also said that MCS will be over a million dollars in the hole shortly after that. Steve Edwards indicated that there will have to be sacrifice on the part of everyone to work through this financial issue, and that he isn't sure at this point if MCS can cut its way to solvency. The link to the article is provided here.

http://www.thestarpress.com/story/opinion/columnists/ward/2017/07/12/ward-stands-mcs-cash-gone-oct-says-cfo/471546001/

The DUAB appointed the firm 'Administrator Assistance' as Emergency Manager for MCS. The article below provides information about this decision.

http://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/education/2017/06/26/state-picks-steve-edwards-group-mcs-emergency-manager/427943001/

According to TSP, "The state board has scheduled a meeting on Monday, June 26, to appoint an emergency manager of the fiscally impaired Muncie Community Schools." The link is provided below.


http://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/education/2017/06/24/state-board-name-emergency-manager-mcs-monday/424088001/

MCS School Board Meeting and State Audit

Muncie Community Schools (MCS) school board meets this evening, and will be focusing on a number of agenda items.  While these items are all important, one wonders how much control the board will ultimately have to carry out the decisions they are making. As they focus on deficit reduction, building repairs, and other matters, the state is conducting an audit of the MCS' last fiscal year. No announcements have yet been made about an emergency manager.


http://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/education/2017/04/24/state-audit-mcs-under-way/100849330/

Emergency Manager appointed for Muncie Community Schools

Last Friday, the Indiana state legislature passed a bill that required Muncie Community Schools (MCS) to have an emergency manager due to the "fiscal impairment" of MCS. The bill passed 50-0 in the senate and 88-10 in the house.  The bill was passed late in the evening of the last day of the session. MCS will have until December to show some positive change in its fiscal situation. At that time, a decision will be made as to whether or not to declare MCS a distressed unit or grant MCS autonomy to run its affairs. An emergency manager will be appointed to lead Muncie Schools through this process.

http://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/education/2017/04/21/emergency-manager-likely-impaired-mcs/100664252/

MCS Votes to Close Three Schools

April 13, 2017

http://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/education/2017/04/13/school-board-votes-close-three-schools/100409662/