On Tuesday, September 22, the Monroe County Community School Corporation (MCCSC) Board of School Trustees held the 2027 budget hearing and heard how MCCSC schools support student learning, including updates on student health and safety.
MCCSC Facilities Master Plan
Brent Hite of CSO Architects, and Victor Landfair from the Skillman Corporation shared an overview of the planning process for MCCSC’s facilities master plan, announced last month. MCCSC’s educational priorities will guide the planning and will be used as criteria to evaluate future facility scenarios. The planning process will examine many factors, including academic needs, instructional goals, building conditions, building utilization, student enrollment, and cost estimates.
The process will take place over the next 8-10 months, approximately. One of the next steps will be to involve teachers, parents, and students in visioning sessions to ensure that facility decisions support teaching and learning.
2027 Budget and Public Financial Dashboard
Chief Financial Officer Matt Irwin presented the proposed 2027 budget, as required by the state, which is approximately $3.07 million less than the 2026 budget. The Board is scheduled to adopt the budget on Tuesday, October 27. MCCSC recently published a public financial dashboard (mccsc.edu/everydollar) that discloses MCCSC budget spending each year, and is continually updated.
Health & Safety
Alexis Harmon, assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and assessment and Eric Gilpin, director of school safety, shared student health and safety supports.
This school year, MCCSC increased student mental health supports in 3 ways:
- Expanding the number of Family and Community Engagement coordinators through the Communities in School program
- Increasing the number of registered behavioral therapists
- Increasing partnerships with community health organizations to expand services
Gilpin shared that all MCCSC schools follow the Standard Response Protocol (SRP), a nationally recognized safety framework trusted by school districts nationwide.
Each school has a certified Safety Specialist trained through the Indiana School Safety Specialist Academy. Safety plans at every MCCSC school follow national best practices and are reviewed annually with local law enforcement. More information on school safety can be found at mccsc.edu/safety.
The public is invited to hear from MCCSC school leaders on the importance of student mental and behavioral health and student safety in the latest episode of MCCSC’s School Voices podcast.
Technology Guardrails
Alexis Harmon, assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and assessment, and Andy Koop, director of technology, shared the guidance that all MCCSC schools follow to practice responsible technology use in the classroom. Teachers use technology intentionally, directly connected to learning goals. School devices are for school activities only. Elementary students do not use iPads during lunch, recess, or any time they are not directly supervised by staff. In addition, students in every grade learn digital citizenship, including how to use technology safely, kindly, and responsibly.
As part of these efforts, MCCSC also reduced student screen time in all elementary schools earlier this school year.
The public is invited to stay informed on all MCCSC news and initiatives at mccsc.edu/community.
