Monroe County, Indiana – The Monroe County Community School Corporation Board of School Trustees covered a wide range of topics during its regular meeting on Tuesday, December 16, offering updates that stretched from classroom instruction and student achievement to long-term planning around district boundaries and facilities. The meeting reflected both celebration and careful reflection, highlighting current successes while laying groundwork for future decisions.
Superintendent Dr. Markay Winston opened the meeting by recognizing two Bloomington High School South students, Jiping Liu and Jiin Hur, for a notable academic achievement. The students recently won the Congressional App Challenge for Indiana’s 9th U.S. congressional district, an accomplishment that placed their technical skills and teamwork on a national stage. Winston honored them with the Superintendent’s Sustaining Excellence Award, a monthly recognition given during Board meetings to celebrate outstanding contributions by students and staff.
From recognition, the discussion moved into student safety, particularly around weather-related school decisions. Winston outlined how MCCSC approaches decisions involving delays, cancellations, or schedule changes during severe weather. She emphasized that these calls are never rushed or made based on a single factor.
“We never make those decisions lightly,” said Winston. “The numerous factors our team considers include current and forecasted conditions, wind chill temperatures, input from meteorologists, local law enforcement, city, county, and state highway officials, transportation staff, and coordination with surrounding school districts. We also must consider all rural county roads and the safety of bus travel — and student drivers.”
Board members were also briefed on instructional strategies across the district. Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Alexis Harmon shared how MCCSC is focused on building strong foundations in literacy and numeracy for all students. She explained that the district’s approach centers on individualized instruction designed to meet students where they are, rather than relying on one-size-fits-all teaching.
Harmon highlighted the use of the Multi-Tiered System of Support framework, which helps teachers identify the specific type of instruction or intervention each student may need. Through this model, students receive targeted support while remaining engaged in meaningful learning experiences.
She was joined by Lily Albright, director of elementary education, who provided context around student performance on statewide assessments. Albright noted that MCCSC students continue to perform above the state average on Indiana’s ILEARN and IREAD-3 exams. More importantly, she said assessments are being used as tools for growth rather than pressure.
Albright emphasized that when assessments are approached intentionally, students begin to see them as opportunities to notice improvement instead of focusing solely on scores. This shift, she explained, helps build confidence and encourages a healthier relationship with learning.
Another significant update focused on long-term district planning. Dr. Tim Dowling, director of early learning and enrollment, shared that the MCCSC Redistricting Study Commission has completed its work after nine months of study. During that time, commission members reviewed research and examined 50 different example redistricting scenarios.
Dowling explained that the scenarios were not proposals but learning tools designed to help the commission understand how redistricting can affect enrollment balance, transportation, school communities, and other factors. The process, he said, underscored just how complex redistricting decisions can be.
The Redistricting Study leadership team plans to present a report to the Board of School Trustees in the spring of 2026. Dowling made clear that the report will not include recommendations.
“Our report’s key findings and summary won’t be recommendations; rather, it will be what insights we learned throughout the Commission process gained from our Commission members as they studied redistricting scenarios,” said Dowling.
He added that the Board will decide how to use the information and provide direction to the district moving forward. Community members interested in staying informed can sign up for updates when the report is released by visiting mccsc.edu/redistricting.
Facilities and operations rounded out the evening’s presentations. Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and Operations Dr. Jeffry Henderson gave an overview of MCCSC’s facilities management, emphasizing the role physical spaces play in supporting student success.
“Maintaining high quality facilities allows us to uphold our Board’s priority to Sustain Excellence in our Schools,” said Henderson. “As such, ensuring state of the art academic, athletic, and performing arts facilities continues to be one of Superintendent Winston’s top priorities.”
Henderson noted that ongoing maintenance and thoughtful planning help ensure schools remain safe, functional, and supportive of learning for years to come.
The December meeting reflected the district’s broad focus, balancing immediate needs with long-term vision. From celebrating student innovation to examining instructional practices, planning for possible redistricting, and maintaining facilities, Board members heard how MCCSC leadership is working across multiple fronts.
Information about future Board of School Trustees meetings, including agendas and schedules, is available under the Board of School Trustees tab at www.mccsc.edu.
