The Alliance for Black and Latino Teachers was founded in hopes of increasing the percentage of African-American and Hispanic population with a teaching degree. ABLT, which has been active for six semesters at Ball State, is pushing to bring the organization to Muncie Central High School so they can gain more student interest in the education field. Mary Freda // DN

Muncie Community Schools' 2022 summer meal sites

During the months of June and July, Muncie Community Schools (MCS) is set to provide free summer meals (breakfast and lunch) for those 18 years and younger. These meals are set to be provided across four MCS locations from June 6-July 29, Monday-Friday each week. 


Muncie Central High School entrance: Patrick Murphy // DN File

Muncie Central High School named Mentor School for successful Early College program

Muncie Central High School’s Early College program has been recognized as one of the best in Indiana by the Urban College Acceleration Network (UCAN), a new initiative of the University of Indianapolis’ (UIndy) Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning (CELL) in partnership with the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). CELL recently invited MCHS to serve as a Mentor School to other Indiana high schools so they can successfully implement a program similar to that of Muncie Central High School's. 


Lee Ann Kwiatkowski, Muncie Community Schools (MCS) Director of Public Education and CEO, gives the MCS Board of Trustees an update on school programs for the 2020-21 school year at the meeting May 25, 2021. Board members approved salary increases for all teachers, ranging from $2,400 to $5,200 annually. In 2020 and 2021, MCS' financial stability and savings increased from previous years. MCS YouTube page, Screenshot Capture

Muncie Community Schools records increased financial performance, enrollment

Below are some charts showing the financial stance of Muncie Community Schools (MCS) in 2022, which were provided by Brad DeRome, MCS chief financial officer. “Prior to the [Ball State] partnership in 2018, the district was losing around 500 students or so each year,” Klotz said via email. “That then subsided to around 100 students for a couple years before actually seeing a gain of 100+ students last year – the first enrollment increase at MCS in 15 years.”


Owen Roberts sits in class, April 16, 2021, in West View Elementary School. Muncie Community Schools (MCS) announced Feb. 22 it is lifting its mask mandate, no longer requiring students, staff or visitors to wear one inside MCS buildings. Andy Klotz, Photo Provided

Muncie Community Schools lift mask mandate

The Muncie Community Schools (MCS) Board of Trustees approved lifting the school district's mask mandate Feb. 22, no longer requiring students, staff or visitors to wear a mask inside MCS buildings. 


Lee Ann Kwiatkowski, Muncie Community Schools (MCS) Director of Public Education and CEO, gives the MCS Board of Trustees an update on school programs for the 2020-21 school year at the meeting May 25, 2021. Board members approved salary increases for all teachers, ranging from $2,400 to $5,200 annually. In 2020 and 2021, MCS' financial stability and savings increased from previous years. MCS YouTube page, Screenshot Capture

MCS teachers to receive unprecedented pay raises

Less than a month after approving $1,000 stipends for all active school district employees for the additional work required due to COVID-19, the Muncie Community Schools (MCS) Board of Trustees is boosting teachers’ pay again. The board approved salary increases for all teachers ranging from $2,400 to $5,200 annually. It has also raised starting teacher pay to $42,000, up from $38,500.


Kelsey Pavelka reads with students in her class April 16, 2021, in West View Elementary School. Pavelka is a teacher in the Dual Language Immersion Program, which teaches students Spanish and English simultaneously to foster early language development. Andy Klotz, Photo Provided

West View Elementary School teaches students English and Spanish at the same time

Vibrant colors of orange, yellow, green and red cover the walls from floor to ceiling in forms of flags, posters and papel picados. Cubbies line the walls and desks are spread out like a typical elementary school classroom, but, sticking true to the program, there are hardly any English words displayed. Instead, they are replaced by a buzz of activity from the teacher reading in Spanish to the excited chatter of the students. This is what it’s like to walk into Kelsey Pavelka’s elementary dual language immersion classroom.


Rhonda Ward, MCS director of diversity and assistant principal at Muncie Central High School takes a phone call in her office April 14, 2021, at Muncie Central High School. Ward was born and raised in Muncie and found herself moving back after graduating from Tennessee State University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Jacob Musselman, DN

Rhonda Ward makes strides in promoting diversity in Muncie Community Schools

At the bottom of every email she sends, Rhonda Ward closes with a quote from Vice President Kamala Harris: “Our unity is our strength, and diversity is our power.” As assistant principal of Muncie Central High School and Muncie Community Schools’ (MCS) newest director of diversity, Ward starts every day with the power of diversity pushing her forward and the goal to ensure equality and equity for all MCS community members. 


Catherine, a third-grade student at East Washington Academy, uses her laptop to learn about thermometers during her class April 19, 2021. The High Ability Program teaches an advanced curriculum to gifted learners in a separate classroom from the general education population for the whole school day. Jaden Whiteman, DN

Muncie Community Schools staff members discuss a unique program for gifted students

When Cindy Miller’s son, David Miller, was in kindergarten, she took him to the Levi Coffin House in Fountain City, Indiana, to learn more about the Underground Railroad and its history in Indiana. In school activities, David Miller, now 10 years old, participates in math bowls and writing camps as a student in Muncie Community Schools’ (MCS) High Ability Program.






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