Muncie community schools are slated to face some major changes in the coming year.
Due to enrollment numbers, the Muncie Community School Board of Trustees is considering different plans for closing or merging different elementary, middle and high schools.
“[Enrollment has] been declining since the factories started to close,” said Ana Pichardo-Delk, communications director for the Muncie Community Schools.
Aside from the shift in students to other schools that some of the plans may cause, Ball State students who volunteer would have to go to seek a new school as well.
Last school year, there were about 638 Ball State student volunteers placed all around the Muncie Community Schools, according to data from the Office of Teacher Education Services at Ball State. The students placed included student teachers, observational placements and participation placements.
“We do have a project in [Northside Middle School, which could close according to the new plan] working with special education students,” said John Jacobson, Dean of Teachers College. “Obviously, students will still have that need, and I’m sure our program will be shifted to that school that the students end up in.”
Despite the shift, Jacobson said he doesn’t believe it will have much impact on the program.
“I wouldn’t think that it would have any effect on our relationship,” he said. “And we have a school partnership network, and Muncie is part of that network.”
If facilities were to be repurposed or abandoned, the board would not be able to sell them, but would have to save them for charter schools.
“According to my finance officer, we cannot sell the building. It will go toward a charter school,” Pichardo-Delk said. “[However,] we can’t just say ‘Ball State wants to buy this building, they can buy it.’”
Historical data from the school system’s website show that enrollment numbers have declined since at least 2003.
The low enrollment has consequently led to less funding from the state for the school system, causing the board of trustees to start plans for cutting costs.
“Our superintendent and this board were ready to make a decision,” Pichardo-Delk said.
The decision will be based off six different plans that have been proposed. The board has had two different public meetings on the issue.
“This is a district level decision, and it’s really unfortunate that enrollment has decreased, but they are doing the right thing holding public meeting and looking at a variety of options before making a decision,” Jacobson said.
