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Muncie Community Schools Keep Northside for Another Year

MUNCIE, Ind. (NewsLink)– When a state emergency management team was in charge of Muncie Community Schools and its large budget deficit, Ball State University purchased Northside Middle School. The contract stated that MCS could continue to operate the middle school for the next five years from that signing date at a cost of $1 per year. However, this lease has to be renewed every year.

With the city projected to shrink in population through 2035, there have been conversations about what the right size is for the school district.

Tuesday, the school board approved the lease for another year. Jim Williams, school board president, says the district has no intentions of closing the middle school anytime soon.

“There are no plans for that right now at all,” Williams said. “In fact, we are looking to grow the district in terms of student population.”

The board did not discuss changing any details of the lease now that Ball State is legally responsible for the district.