The Monroe County Community School Corporation is preparing for a new school year after cutting at least 61 custodial, food service and health aide jobs.
The corporation has declining enrollment and lost significant funding because of state budget cuts. In 2025, MCCSC is expected to receive nearly $1.3 million less than expected.
As a result of Senate Enrolled Act 1, which reduces property tax revenue for public schools and requires sharing with charter schools, MCCSC has estimated it will lose between $14.7 million and $17.2 million.
Jenny Noble-Kuchera, Monroe County Education Association president, said with fewer custodians, teachers won’t be able to rely on them as much to clean classrooms and supervise kids.
“We'll definitely need to have other adults besides custodians, more present for supervising the lunchroom, for example, especially at our elementary schools,” she said.
In the fall, Noble-Kuchera will start collective bargaining for teacher salaries. Even with potentially less money available to pay teachers, she says she won’t accept salary cuts. The starting teacher salary this year is $57,750.
“Is that higher than surrounding counties and other school districts? Yes. Is it way more expensive to live in Monroe County? Yes,” she said. “So, I would find it completely unacceptable for a salary decrease to occur.”
Having fewer teachers is also a concern for Noble-Kuchera. MCCSC’s school board meets Tuesday at 6 p.m. The agenda includes reviewing a financial report and teacher transfers within the corporation.
