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School board approves consent agenda, hears financial update and stresses security after online threats
Summary
The Muncie Community Schools board approved the consent agenda and adopted several policy revisions; the financial report showed roughly $3.956 million in state revenue for August and a cash balance over $31 million, with plans to sell $6.1 million in bonds for a Field House HVAC project. Board leaders also described recent social-media threats and thanked Muncie Police Department for assistance.
The Muncie Community Schools Board approved the consent agenda, adopted several routine policy updates and heard a financial briefing that laid out near-term borrowing for a field-house renovation while leaders described heightened attention to online threats against schools.
Board president (first speaker on the agenda) moved the meeting to the consent agenda, recognized donors to the Panther Pantry food program and welcomed two new hires. After a motion and a second the board approved the consent agenda by voice vote; a second was recorded and members responded "aye." The meeting then moved to the financial report.
The district financial presenter reported August state revenue of "almost $4,000,000, 3.956" (presenter phrasing) and said the district is on pace for about $47 million in state basic grant revenue for the year. He told the board the district's cash balance was a little over $31,000,000 and that a school loan outstanding had been reduced to about $8,600,000. The presenter described a $6,100,000 renovation project for the Muncie Field House to replace heating and cooling systems, said the construction company will receive bids on the 25th, and outlined a schedule with an S&P ratings call on Oct. 3, a bond sale on Oct. 21 and an expected November closing.
Board members asked whether enrollment had plateaued and about staff openings. A district staffing representative said the district is actively recruiting certified middle-school math and science teachers, has used permanent building substitutes and staged a mini career fair to find candidates.
The board considered a set of revised policies (purchasing procedures and capital assets to reflect state bid thresholds, medical needs at school, digital recording on school property and other updates). Administration noted the changes were largely to keep district policy aligned with state statutes; the board moved, seconded and adopted the revisions by voice vote.
Separately, the board chair and other members addressed a rash of threats to schools that had appeared on social and digital platforms in recent weeks. The chair said the district has worked closely with its security staff and the Muncie Police Department to investigate and provide coverage at buildings and to communicate with families and staff. "We have not taken any of those threats lightly," the chair said, thanking the police for their work and urging continued communication.
The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn taken under an hour.
