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/

Declining Funding for Declining Enrollment?

April 13, 2017
Muncie Community Schools is projected to lose both funding from the state of Indiana as well as to experience continued declining enrollment. More information is provided in the article, but here is some key information.

"In the House budget, complexity-index funding for MCS would decrease nearly 10 percent from this year's $9.3 million to $8.4 million over the next two years, while the Senate's version would increase slightly from the $9.3 million to $9.4 million.

A study of the complexity index published by Indiana University in February found that Indiana's school funding formula is keeping money away from the highest-need school corporations."     Seth Slabaugh reporting

http://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/education/2017/04/13/state-cut-funding-muncie-schools/100410252/

April 13, 2017

Senate bill 567 was moved into committee after state senator Eckerty (R)Yorktown filed a motion to dissent. This motion stopped the bill from making its last move to the governor's desk for signing, and provides a context for last revisions. The image below is a screen shot of the Indiana legislature page that outlines latest bill actions.

Emergency Public Hearing and School Board Meeting

April 13, 2017

An emergency public hearing and school board meeting has been called for Thursday evening. It is likely discussion will occur regarding the closing of four schools, followed by school board action on that question.

http://www.muncie.k12.in.us/cms/one.aspx?portalId=109263&pageId=109284&objectId.16712=1222339&contextId.16712=109335&parentId.16712=109336&ref=mesTP9fg96fVsgzpWYeogCWpxdCH1KYVDLijpaF2Xxs%3d


The image below shows the proposed school closings in MCS.

"Are we sending the right message?"

April 12, 2017

In this article, Star Press reporter Jeff Ward analyzes actions taken by Muncie Community schools and the stakeholders over the last few weeks. A pretty strong critique is provided, and an exhortation to taking action is given.


http://www.thestarpress.com/story/opinion/columnists/ward/2017/04/12/ward-mcs-sends-message-right-one/100368646/

Attempt to Delay Possible State Takeover of Muncie Community Schools

Indiana State Senator Doug Eckerty, (R) Yorktown, is working with other state senators to develop and add an extension to the proposed bill that would result in a state takeover of Muncie Schools. The proposed extension would be until October 31, 2017. The following article further describes this effort, along with the efforts community members, parents, and teachers to stop the takeover.

http://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/education/2017/04/10/eckerty-seeks-delay-mcs-takeover/100070460/

Overview

This blog is intended to inform others about school and policy related issues Muncie Community Schools, which are located in Muncie, Indiana Information is also provided about other areas schools as well as state and national policy, legislation, and education issues.