State representative feared more 'hostility' at Muncie schools

MUNCIE, Ind. — State Rep. Sue Errington, an early opponent of the state takeover of Muncie Community Schools, now sees it as a good thing.

"Living here and knowing how much hostility there is, I think the takeover allows some more cooling off," said Errington, D-Muncie.

"I was concerned that if the emergency manager left, all the confrontation and hostility we had seen up until they took over, we'd go right back to that," Errington said in an interview.

Conflict between the deficit-ridden school district and its teachers has included a bitter, long-standing and expensive collective-bargaining dispute that had to be settled by the state; Superintendent Steve Baule being accused of saying of the teachers union president, "I will dance on Pat Kennedy's grave, and I will dig her grave with her skull;" and Baule's dog being poisoned, according to the school's chief of security.

►RELATED: Teachers back state control of MCS

Referring to a recently filed lawsuit claiming Baule created a hostile work environment through sexist, racist and intimidating language, Errington said, "There was a lot of people still in the wings."

State-appointed emergency managers, whose authority at MCS has been limited for the past six months, recently said Baule's original three-year contract will not be renewed after it ends on June 30 of this year.

"The superintendent came in and did what he was hired to do … but his methods were problematic," Errington said. "I don't know if somebody else could have done it any differently."

Deficit-reduction steps including school closures and staff reductions have taken place during Baule's tenure.

The way Errington sees it, financial mismanagement isn't the only reason the state's Distressed Unit Appeal Board (DUAB) voted 5-0 on Dec. 13 to give full control of MCS to the state-appointed emergency management firm. 

"There was also a concern about turmoil within the school corporation — whether teachers and parents would start " Errington said. "The emergency managers were really able to stabilize the situation, enough to get a new teacher contract signed."

► RELATED: Teachers ratify new contract

►RELATED: Look back at teacher resignations

She went on, "There is a lot riding on this for DUAB and legislative leadership, that Muncie be successful, that what the state did becomes a success. Because there are other schools that might wind up in the same boat we are in. But that's just me thinking."

During the Dec. 13 meeting, DUAB member Kent Hatcher, representing the Indiana Department of Education, said, "It's our goal for no districts to be under state takeover. We would like this to be two schools and done. That would be our preference."

Gary and Muncie are the only state-labeled "distressed" school districts where emergency managers have assumed full control.

None of the five DUAB members cited hostilities or turmoil as a reason for the state takeover. However, the conflict and uncertainty were discussed in many emails sent to DUAB by MCS teachers, parents, school board members, administrators and others.

And DUAB members more than once thanked the public for sending the emails and for comments made at a public hearing.

After DUAB voted for a full state takeover of MCS, DUAB director Courtney Schaafsma said she expected the takeover to be "at least a two-year process."

But it's possible it might not take that long.

The emergency managers and Errington recently pointed out a section of state law pertaining to new leadership at distressed schools like Muncie.

The law says the governing body of a distressed school district that employs a new superintendent may file a petition with DUAB to terminate the district's designation as distressed. If a petition is filed, DUAB must conduct a public hearing on whether to terminate a school's distressed status.

Steve Wittenauer, head of the emergency management firm in Muncie, has said it is too early to talk about a potential replacement for Baule. 

Seth Slabaugh is an education reporter at The Star Press who can be reached at (765) 213-5834 or seths@muncie.gannett.com.