Meet the emergency managers of MCS
MUNCIE, Ind. — The backgrounds of the new emergency managers of Muncie Community Schools include former church choir director, Sagamore of the Wabash, and fast-pitch softball player.
The state recently appointed Administrator Assistance — a White County consulting firm made up of retired school superintendents, business managers and teachers — as emergency manager of fiscally impaired MCS.
The consulting firm is sending a four-member team to Muncie, and The Star Press obtained their curricula vitae. The highlights:
• Judith Brewer, St. Marys, Ohio; classroom teacher in Westmont, Union City, Ohio (1968-1970, 1984-1993); school consultant (1993-2013); Pre-K-12 director of curriculum and staff development, Auglaize County, Ohio, Educational Service Center (1993-2003); adjunct faculty/lecturer at Wright State, Miami, Findlay and Ashland universities (1993-2011); special projects coordinator, Mercer County, Ohio, ESC (2012-2016); bachelor's degree English education, Manchester College, 1971, master's degree English education, Ball State University, 1986; former newspaper reporter, former professional tax preparer, former church choir director, former church pianist, current professional artist/photographer. She will be the team's curriculum expert in Muncie and also help with community surveys, focus groups, and so forth.
• James McWhirt, Sweetser, auditor, Indiana State Board of Accounts (1980-1992); director of business affairs, Mississinewa Community School Corp., Gas City (1992-2006); director of business, Franklin Township Community School Corp., Indianapolis (2006-2010); business manager, Marion Community School Corp. (2010-2013); plays fast-pitch softball and golf; since 1970, has been a fan of the Chicago Cubs, the Minnesota Vikings and the Indiana Pacers; elected to third term on Grant County Council in 2013; former coach of youth sports teams; bachelor's degree in accounting, Indiana State University, 1980. He will help MCS create a strategic financial plan.
• Paul Pfledderer, Crawfordsville, fourth grade/sixth grade teacher, GED instructor and negotiation team member, Crawfordsville Schools (1968-1979); elementary principal, Crawfordsville Schools (1979-1987); business manager/treasurer, Crawfordsville Schools (1987-2009); administrative responsibilities at Crawfordsville from 1987 to 2009 included financial oversight, school lunch program, buildings and grounds director, school transportation director, and adult education director; bachelor's and master's degrees in elementary education, elementary administration from Indiana State University in 1968, 1971. He will help develop a financial plan for MCS.
• Stephen Edwards, Muncie, North Vermillion High School teacher, head basketball coach (1969-1974); teacher, track/cross country coach, athletic director and assistant principal, Muncie Northside High School (1974-1988); assistant principal, Muncie Central High School (1988-1992); director of adult/community education, coordinator of athletic programs, MCS 1992-1998; assistant superintendent-instruction, MCS (1998-2009); superintendent, Marion Community Schools (2009-2013); presented Sagamore of the Wabash award by Gov. Mike Pence (2013); Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Outstanding Citizenship Award (2010); Indiana Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame inductee (2012); Delaware County Athletic Hall of Fame inductee (1993); current board member of Project Leadership for Delaware-Grant counties; bachelor's and master's of science degrees, Butler University, 1969, 1973 (named outstanding male student in college of education), specialist in education degree, Ball State, 1987. He will provide leadership to MCS Superintendent Steve Baule and the MCS school board.
The school board's first meeting with Administrator Assistance founder Steve "Witt" Wittenauer, last week, went very well, according to Debbie Feick, school board president, who has been worried about the board's potential loss of authority.
"The coolest part of the discussion is Witt used the words 'us' and 'we' and 'our district' to the point that it really committed to a collaborative posture that they are as an agency embracing," Feick told The Star Press. "Witt said they want to strategize, not criticize. That was his catchphrase."
Witt has told The Star Press his firm plans to serve MCS like "an assistant superintendent on steroids."
In addition, Feick's takeaway from the meeting was that "the primary objective is to establish a strategic financial plan to create a sustainable recovery. They are not looking for us to absolutely reduce our debt. They are looking for a sustainable plan that we are all committed to … It isn't that in such a short period of time they want us to be debt free. They recognize that really is an impossible option. But they want us to create assurances for them and the state Legislature that we are committed as a board to be actively involved in strategic financial planning."
The state's Distressed Unit Appeal Board will terminate the emergency manager by Jan. 1 if enough progress is made toward achieving financial stability. If not, the emergency manager would remain in place with added power over MCS.
Feick is confident there is no incentive for the consultant to stay on the job after Jan. 1
"They indicated to me that many other school districts are waiting in the wings, virtually in the same situation we are in, so they want to capture that business," Feick said. "If they are not successful here by the end of the time period, it would be a reflection on them as well as on us."
Contact Seth Slabaugh at (765) 213-5834.