Muncie Schools State Takeover Bill Passes House Of Representatives

Senate Bill 567 was originally designed to help Gary Community School Corporation come out of a $19 million budget deficit. This week, a House committee added Muncie Community Schools to the bill, saying a state report showed an $18.6 million deficit.

Local lawmakers and district Superintendent Steve Baule had asked the committee to be allowed to fix things themselves without state takeover. On the bill’s second reading on the House floor Wednesday night, an attempt to remove MCS from the bill led by Democratic Representative Cherrish Pryor failed.

On the House floor Thursday, House bill sponsor Republican Representative Tim Brown said “They have about $51.6 million of long-term indebtedness, and these are bonds they have taken out over the years.”

Some lawmakers opposed the bill objected to MCS being added without their permission. And Democratic Representative Scott Pelath said he worries which school district is next.

Read more: http://indianapublicradio.org/news/2017/04/muncie-schools-state-takeover-bill-passes-house-of-representatives/