00;00;00;01 - 00;00;16;29
Zoe Dwiggins
In 2017, when Muncie Community Schools was facing a state takeover and needed to raise money to fix a large budget deficit, Ball State University purchased Northside Middle School, which is adjacent to its campus. The contract stated that MCS could continue to operate the middle school for the next five years, from the date leasing the building back for $ 1 per year.

00;00;17;01 - 00;00;31;10
Zoe Dwiggins
That lease has to be renewed each year, and despite conversations about what the right size is for the school district in a city projected to shrink in population, the board approved the lease for another year. On Tuesday night, MCS Board President Jim Williams says the district has no intentions of closing Northside in the near future,

00;00;31;12 - 00;00;39;03
Jim Williams
And there are no plans for that right now at all. In fact, we are looking to grow the district in terms of student population.

00;00;39;08 - 00;00;45;23
Zoe Dwiggins
As part of the Northside sale, Ball State would help pay for maintenance of the building each year it was leased. At the school board meeting, there was no discussion of changing details of the lease now that Ball State is responsible for the district by state statute.