Muncie Schools To Likely Close Northside Middle School
Muncie Community Schools wants to re-do what middle school looks like in the district. That plan includes four paths for middle schoolers the board aims to implement in fall 2018. But, as IPR’s Tony Sandleben reports, no path currently includes keeping Northside Middle School or a replacement open after this school year.
Under a purchasing agreement with Ball State University, Muncie Community Schools can lease back Northside Middle School for the next five years. But it doesn’t have to.
Tony Sandleben: “So it sounds like that once Northside does close, there isn’t a plan to build another building to replace it.”
MCS Superintendent Steven Baule: “No. I don’t believe that there is at this point.”
Superintendent Steven Baule says the plan is not to build another middle school. Instead, a proposal discussed Tuesday would spread multiple middle school programs out.
The four options include:
- a traditional middle school program at Southside Middle School,
- an honors program that would include students spending part of the day at Muncie Central High School,
- an immersive option that would send students to work on programs at the Madjax facility,
- a primarily digital option that involves in-class instruction.
A committee will work to finalize curriculum. It will seek input from teachers, administrators and the public. The final approval is expected to come in February.
The program would then be implemented next fall. But that means Northside Middle School would see its final semester after the upcoming winter break.