Education

By Andy Klotz— Masks required for all students, staff, visitors MUNCIE, Ind. – Due to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases, Muncie Community Schools (MCS) will require facemasks be worn by all staff, students, visitors and volunteers regardless of vaccination status to start the 2021-22 school year. The school board cited new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Indiana State Department of Health and consultations with Indiana University Ball Memorial Hospital when announcing its decision…

By Ryan Hunter— MUNCIE, INDIANA—What do a water-cleaning robot, portable dishwasher, and school bus tracker app have in common? Those were just some of the solutions developed by middle schoolers at the first Tech-Spark event. On July 9-11, local middle schoolers gathered at the Innovation Connector in Muncie to collaborate and create their own business ideas. The three day experience, led by TechWise Academy, taught these young students the basics of tech entrepreneurship and foundational knowledge of robotics programming, drone programming,…

By Andy Klotz— Board delays announcement of reopening plan Muncie, IN – On the heels of providing raises for teachers in May and $1,000 COVID-related stipends for all employees back in April, Muncie Community Schools (MCS) has now raised starting pay for all support staff, which includes positions like administrative assistants, instructional assistants and permanent substitute teachers. The MCS Board of Directors tonight voted to increase starting pay for these jobs and others to $14/hour, up from about $11.20/hour. “Our…

By Ryan Hunter— Muncie, IN—On June 26th, local Delta Middle School student, Caleb Hunter, competed at the Nike 2021 National Youth Weightlifting Championship in Detroit. Caleb is a member of the Muncie Weightlifting Club and Youth Sports Performance Program at Muncie CrossFit at the Arsenal. He earned a spot at the national competition by lifting a qualifying total weight in the Snatch and Clean & Jerk in early May. These two lifts can be seen at the Tokyo Olympics this…

By Jennifer Gasiorek— Muncie, IN– Muncie Central High School offers the Early College dual credit program in partnership with Ivy Tech Community College. Sixty-four 2021 Muncie Central graduates earned enough credits to transfer at the sophomore or junior level to a four-year college of their choice, saving local students thousands of dollars as they prepare for their future. Through the program, graduates earned an associate’s degree in general studies or their state transfer general elective core (STEGC) from Ivy Tech…

By Jennifer Gasiorek— Tuition held flat for the next two years Muncie, IN – The Ivy Tech State Board of Trustees recently approved a new tuition model for the Community College. The new approach, Ivy+, is focused on making college more affordable, ensuring students have equitable access, transparency of cost, on-time completion, and a seamless experience. Ivy Tech becomes one of the first schools in Indiana and first community colleges in the country to adopt this new tuition model. Ivy+ transforms…

 By Greg Pence Press Office— Columbus, IN – U.S. Congressman Greg Pence (IN-06) announced the opening of the 2021 Congressional App Challenge, including deadline for submission. Prospective students need to register and submit their app by November 1, 2021 to https://www.congressionalappchallenge.us/students/student-registration/. “The Congressional App Challenge has been a successful and innovative way to engage students with STEM education,” said Congressman Pence. “The Congressional App Challenge is a distinguished program that students across Indiana’s 6th District can participate in. I am pleased to be hosting…

By Andy Klotz— Former Bearcat boys basketball coach “happy to be home”  Muncie, Ind. – Jeff Holloway, a 1994 Muncie Central High School graduate, is returning to the school as its new athletic director. He rejoins the Bearcats after serving as boys head basketball coach from 2014-17. He succeeds Tom Lyon who retired earlier this month after 22 years with Muncie Community Schools. “This is an opportunity to help and give back to where I’m from,” Holloway told the MCS…