BSU 'less likely' to cut art, music from Muncie schools curriculum?

MUNCIE — The local League of Women Voters has dropped its opposition to a proposed state law that would turn the management of Muncie Community Schools over to Ball State University.

The League says it changed its stance after learning that BSU is less likely than the state-appointed emergency manager to cut art, music and other classes.

The district would continue to be governed by an emergency management firm if House Bill 1315 isn't enacted. The legislation has passed the House and is scheduled to be heard on Thursday by the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The House version of the bill calls for Ball State to govern financially struggling MCS starting July 1 by appointing a seven-member school board to replace the current five-member elected school board.

Last week, the League issued a "Call to Action" opposing the bill on grounds that it permanently "removes power from the people," requires that only two of the seven school board members reside in Muncie, and establishes a governance structure that is "anything but open, representative, accountable and responsive."

Since then, the League says it has learned that the state's Distressed Unit Appeal Board (DUAB) could appoint a new emergency manager on June 30, when the current emergency manager's contract expires.

"Gary's experience with out-of-state/out of community management does make unpalatable the possibility of another firm being selected for Muncie," League official Bea Sousa wrote in an email dated Saturday. "In essence, this bill is bypassing the DUAB … process to put BSU in place. That is certainly preferable."

She went on, "A board appointed by BSU is less likely to save money by cutting art, music and other parts of the curriculum, as the current EM (emergency manager) has suggested in private conversation."

►The League's earlier position

League spokesperson Linda Hanson on Monday said her group changed its stance after hearing from Ball State President Geoffrey S. Mearns and emergency management team leader Steve Edwards.

Hanson said the League also got the impression from Mearns that BSU would be less likely than the emergency manager to cut art, music and other curriculum.

But BSU spokesperson Kathy Wolf told The Star Press, "We can’t answer that question
We don’t know how likely the emergency manager is to eliminate those programs. And we don’t have access to the same detailed information that the emergency manager presently has. If the legislation passes, then we will become more engaged in that kind of analysis."

Edwards could not be reached for comment for this article.

The League is now focusing its efforts on supporting amendments that would require Ball State to appoint at least four school members who reside in Muncie and to include a sunset provision for the return of an elected school board at some point, she said.

However, even if those amendments fail, the League "will not rally against the bill," Hanson said. " …we don't want …  the possibility of the emergency manager being changed."

If the bill doesn't pass, DUAB will seek proposals from firms to become emergency manager of the district after June 30, when the current emergency management firm's contract expires. The firm, Administrator Assistance, would be allowed to submit a proposal to continue in that role, but it would not automatically be retained.

►Looking back: State takes full control of Muncie schools

League members assumed Administrator Assistance, a Hoosier firm of retired school superintendents and business officers, would be reappointed on June 30 if the bill fails, Hanson said.

That was an incorrect assumption, Mearns pointed out to the League, according to Hanson, who spoke with him. "He prompted us to look more closely at what DUAB said in December, and the implications of that.":

Edwards, head of the emergency management team, is a former longtime educator at Muncie schools, where his positions included assistant superintendent.

Gary Schools Recovery LLC, a subsidiary of the MGT Consulting Group, Tallahassee, Fla.,  was named by DUAB last year as emergency manager of Gary Community School Corp. MGT is led by retired Indiana school superintendent Peggy Hinckley.

Contact Seth Slabaugh at (765) 213-5834 or seths@muncie.gannett.com.