Monroe County, Indiana – The Monroe County Community School Corporation is inviting residents to take part in a new effort designed to strengthen the future of local education.
District leaders have announced the creation of the Strong Schools, Strong Community Advisory Council, a short-term group intended to bring together voices from across the community to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the school system.
The initiative is designed to gather perspectives from a wide range of participants, including community members, business and civic leaders, teachers, support staff, families, administrators, school board members, and students. By bringing these different viewpoints together, district officials hope to build a clearer picture of how local schools can continue to grow and serve the community effectively.
“The purpose of this council is to involve our community in the long-term future of our schools,” said Superintendent Dr. Markay Winston.
“Great schools attract families, strengthen communities, and fuel long-term economic growth. There are great things happening in our schools every day, and we have so much momentum to build on. When our schools thrive, our whole community benefits, and I am inviting our community to help us build this future.”
The advisory council will meet for three sessions scheduled for April 6, April 20, and May 6, with each meeting running from 6 to 8 p.m. During the sessions, participants will hear brief presentations from Winston and members of the district’s leadership team outlining key topics affecting the school corporation. After the presentations, attendees will take part in small group discussions where they can share ideas, concerns, and feedback.
Several important issues are expected to guide those conversations. Topics will include student support systems, strategies to strengthen community engagement, maintaining academic excellence, and aligning educational programs with workforce needs.
Discussions will also explore population and demographic trends within the region, along with financial realities such as school funding and pressures tied to state education budgets.
District officials stress that the advisory council will function as a listening and dialogue forum rather than a decision-making body. The goal is to gather thoughtful input from participants that can help inform future planning for the school corporation.
MCCSC plans to select up to 40 participants for the council. Applicants must live within the school corporation’s boundaries and be able to attend all three meetings. Because space is limited, applications will be reviewed with the goal of ensuring representation from many different parts of the community.
Residents interested in participating can learn more and submit an application through the district’s website at mccsc.edu/community. The application period will remain open until Tuesday, March 31.
For those unable to participate directly in the council, the district will also offer another way to share input. A public community survey covering many of the same discussion topics will be available from April 15 through May 6, allowing additional residents to contribute their perspectives on the future of local schools.
