The Monroe County Community School Corporation board voted at its July 8 meeting to increase meal prices and provide online learning opportunities for the 2025-26 school year. Board members also debated a reduction-in-force policy.
Jeffry Henderson, assistant superintendent of human resources and operations, said the higher prices would ensure financial stability in the nutrition program. The increases include breakfast going up 10 cents to $1.90 and lunch going up 10 cents to $3.40 for middle schoolers and high schoolers. Preschool and after school snack prices will increase 25 cents to $1.75.
“We will continue offering free breakfast and lunch at eligible Community Eligibility Provision schools, which are Arlington, Bloomington Graduation School, Clear Creek, Fairview, Grandview, Highland Park and Templeton,” he said.
The board also approved online learning opportunities for students for the 2025-26 school year. Tim Dowling, director of early learning and enrollment, said the corporation is partnering with Edmentum, the largest provider of online learning in the state, to offer over 300 courses, including Advanced Placement classes.
“We also know that online learning can also offer flexibility for families, including support for mental health, travel, athletics and medical needs. We also know we'd like to gain new students interested in online learning, this includes students who might be currently home schooled, or students from other school districts,” Dowling said.
Options are synchronous and asynchronous, as well as opportunities to participate in sports, clubs and Hoosier Hills courses. All classes are taught by certified teachers in Indiana, and students will receive an MCCSC diploma.
A presentation explained how the Monroe County Education Association of teachers works with the corporation. Senate Enrolled Act 486, which went into effect in 2023, removed the requirement to discuss certain items. MCCSC kept its discussion procedures in place to ensure consistent communication, and hosts weekly meetings with the association. Indiana law allows officials to discuss topics that impact educational quality and employees’ working conditions.
Cuts in state education funding prompted conversations between school officials and the association on how to approach potential staffing changes. They are looking at factors to consider if staffing cuts become necessary. Association President Jenny Noble-Kuchera worked with corporation officials to draft guidelines.
Some board members were skeptical of the proposal and want the superintendent to advocate for teachers in uncertain financial times. Board member Aja Jester says the policy would limit the administration’s ability to do things.
“It would kind of put some undue restraints on the administration in a time that we are all like going into blindly, and I just don't think that would be a wise decision,” Jester said.
Board member April Hennessy says the policy itself isn’t the issue, the way it’s drafted is. She said she wouldn’t be comfortable passing this particular policy.
“Everybody wants the most security that they can get out of every place that might be threatened in their immediate future,” she said. “I've sort of wrestled with this a lot, but I will say that from my part at this moment, it feels a little to me like an overreach of our authority as a board, in some ways.”
The board also discussed an update to the redistricting study commission. Officials are considering scenarios in which different schools would close based on current and projected enrollment data, building capacity and utilization rates. Maps will be created and sent to the commission to study. The board wants to balance socioeconomic status and cost effectiveness.
A Safety Summit at the end of July will examine transitions and changes for the next school year. At least 61 custodial, food service and health staff have been cut due to state legislation that will cause MCCSC to lose between $14.7 million and $17.2 million in the next three years.
“Going into next school year, [we want] to make sure that across the district, everything is being consistently dealt with when it comes to especially student and also adult safety, given the fact that we have a decrease in our adults in all buildings,” Noble-Kuchera said.
Briefly discussed were administrative appointments, changes of status and retirements, as well as the teacher evaluation model.
The next board meeting is Tuesday, Aug. 26 and the first day of school is Aug. 6.
