School consolidation and cost containment were the topics of debate during Tuesday's public hearings held by Muncie Community School's administration.
The public hearing began with a summary of the Blue Ribbon Task Force proposal and report presented by Associate Superintendent Mark Burkhart. The report discussed several problems regarding Muncie Schools. Some of these problems are a low student to teacher ratio, student achievement that is not at the level where it should be and large revenue shortfalls.
Burkhart said that the major problem concerning the school district is that student enrollment has declined by 2,600 since 1988. He also said both high schools are under the maximum capacity level because of the declining enrollment.
The main proposals of the Blue Ribbon Task Force report are to reconfigure grades, reduce the unused space and repurpose or sell buildings. The Task Force identified two school options for Muncie Community Schools.
The first option would have two high schools with grades 8-12 and an enrollment of about 1,200 students each. There would be one middle school for grades 6-7 with an enrollment of 970 students. In this option, one middle school building would be repurposed for lease, innovative programs and administrative offices.
The second option would have one high school for grades 9-12, with an enrollment of 1,900 students. There would be two middle schools for grades 6-8, with an enrollment of 750 students each. The unused middle school building would be repurposed for lease.
Some of the community members in attendance voiced concerns about the one high school option.
Jake Reed, a student at Southside High school, said he loved being a Rebel, reffering to the school mascot. He also said he didn't want to lose the traditions of Muncie South.
Some of the rationales behind the two high school option are that community pride would be maintained, there would be greater community acceptance and a bigger high school is not necessarily a better high school.
Andrew Popp, a member of Southside High School's ROTC, voiced his concerns about the separate ROTC units. Popp said some students stay in high school because of ROTC and if they lose the ROTC programs they might drop out of school.
Ron Walton, a Muncie Central graduate, supported the one high school option. Walton said he wanted to "stop the civil war in our town and bring our kids back together again."
"The town should stop being divided," he said. "Two high schools make enemies of our friends."
The advantages of the one high school option is it would unify the community while reducing costs — fewer administration, support staff and extracurricular staff.
Terry Ruddick said he supports the one high school option "as long as they make it fair."
"It's hard for a Rebel to become a Bearcat, and it's hard for a Bearcat to become a Rebel," he said, speaking of the school mascots. "The new school should have a new mascot and new colors."
In both options the Anthony Administration would be sold. If enrollment continues to decline, the district could consider reconfiguring as K-6 and two 7-12 high schools.
There will be another hearing Tuesday and a discussion group session June 15.
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