MCS to vote Tuesday to cancel buses in 3 years

MUNCIE – Muncie Community Schools is planning to notify the state it will cut busing in 2018, after a board vote on Tuesday.

Schools are required to give the Indiana Department of Education, and community, three years notice before they can actually stop transportation. It does not mean that MCS has to end busing if circumstances change.

In a statement released Friday, the district announced its plans to give the notification, but the board has to officially vote first.

According to the statement, the board and administration recognize the problems cutting busing would cause, and are hoping they won't need to follow through.

Right now, MCS is relying on a state waiver to help them keep $3.3 million in the transportation fund. The waiver is set to end in 2016, and without it MCS would only have enough money to run Special Education buses.

"A legislative solution will hopefully be in place in time to avoid the Muncie Community School's potential loss of $3 million, but MCS must act now in case a solution is not developed," the statement reads.

Mark Burkhart, former chief financial officer, encouraged the board during previous meetings to give the notification to send a message to legislators that the district needs help.

Muncie has considered giving the notification in the past, before the waiver it currently uses was created. The board voted it down.

The district faced a similar decision before the waiver was created a few years ago. In 2013, a state change in budget requirements meant the district would have $400,000 for transportation, instead of the $3 million it needs.

MCS responded by trying to pass a referendum, which asked the community to help pay for buses. It did not pass.

Then, the district tried to avoid giving a three year notification by asking the IDOE to cancel busing immediately. That was denied.

A few months later the Indiana General Assembly created a three-year waiver to help districts that were struggling to pay for transportation, among other funds. MCS was eligible and has used the waiver for two years.

MCS would be the fifth district in Indiana to give the state notification since the option was created in 2012.

The school board meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Anthony Administration.

Contact families & education reporter Emma Kate Fittes at 765-213-5845 and follow @EmmaKate_TSP