Muncie Community Schools Superintendent Reports Preliminary Student Enrollment

MUNCIE, IN - A preliminary enrollment and class size report made to the Muncie Community Schools Board of School Trustees by Superintendent Dr. Marlin B. Creasy at Tuesday’s Board Meeting shows that 7,424 students were in class August 28 - indicating a preliminary loss of 203 of students compared to Indiana Count Day 2006, yet that number of students is 61 more than were in Muncie Community Schools May 17, 2007. The Official Count Day for 2007 is September 14, 2007.

Grade one currently has the most students – 638 - followed by grade 10 – 623 - and grade two currently has 609 students. Central High School has only 17 more students than Southside High School, with an enrollment of 1,131 compared to 1,114. Northside Middle School and Wilson Middle School report a 106 student difference, with Wilson having 845 students and Northside enrolling 739. Grissom Elementary tentatively has the largest elementary student population with 482 students followed by Sutton Elementary with 471 and South View at 427.

The Board authorized permission to publish the 2008 proposed budget and to schedule a Public Hearing on the budget at the September 11, 2007, Board of School Trustees Meeting. The required public advertisement of the 2008 proposed budget will appear in The Star Press August 31 and September 7, according to Mark Burkhart, associate superintendent and corporation treasurer.

Mr. Burkhart shared that 109 resignations had been accepted from the 2006-2007 school year - 53 positions have been filled with 56 positions still vacant. New positions to the district included four full-day kindergarten teachers in order to offer full-day kindergarten at all 10 elementary schools, two English as a Second Language teachers (federally mandated positions), two “Project Lead the Way” positions, and three media specialists. He reported that staff reductions occurred across all employee groups with 56 vacated positions not filled for the 2007-2008 school year.

In other Board action, members approved changes to School Board Policy #2431A “A Standard for Extracurricular Participation” that calls for students enrolled in Muncie Community Schools’ middle or high schools to pass in at least five subjects each grading period and at the end of the semester to be eligible for participation in any school-sponsored extracurricular activity. The Board Policy continues to support the stipulation that a student must meet Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) requirements before they can consider participation in any extra curricular activity; however, if they choose to participate in an extra curricular activity and do not have a 2.0 grade point average, they must attend a regularly scheduled, supervised study table.

Dr. Creasy said this stipulation will serve as one more incentive for students to stay in school- having the opportunity to attend before- or after-school academic help rather than have a student leave school because he/she has no chance of participating in an extra-curricular activity.

“This requirement also gives us the opportunity to reach those students who are not currently participating in any activity because of grades. These students will have the chance to have the very important one-on-one academic help as well as the benefits of working with coaches and organization sponsors in extra-curricular areas.” Dr. Creasy said he will recommend that coaches and sponsors be involved in the study table program to serve the students needing help in order to participate in an extra-curricular activity.

In personnel business, Connie Pendleton was named Media Specialist for West View Elementary and the board accepted the resignation of Cynthia Boes, special education, Northside Middle School effective September 23, 2007.  

The Board accepted donations as follows:

The Board recognized Debbie Feick and Molly Robertson for recently receiving the Vivian Conley award from the Coalition of Women’s Organization at the annual Women’s Equality Day August 23.

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