Monroe County, Indiana – The Monroe County Community School Corporation (MCCSC) is taking major steps to address a looming financial shortfall by focusing on cost-cutting measures that steer clear of the classroom, wherever possible. During the regular meeting of the Board of School Trustees on May 20, 2025, Superintendent Dr. Markay Winston provided a detailed update on the progress of the district’s two-year plan aimed at restoring financial balance amid a significant loss in state funding.
This strategy, launched in response to a state legislative change that stripped over $17 million from MCCSC’s funding, is designed to fix long-standing structural issues in the budget. Though the administration acknowledged in April that staffing cuts would be inevitable, they also reiterated their commitment to protecting classroom instruction as a priority.
One of the primary ways MCCSC is saving money is through natural attrition. Currently, there are 198 staff positions that are either already vacant or expected to be by August 2025 due to retirements and resignations. Each of these vacancies will be evaluated individually to determine whether or not the role needs to be filled.
In her presentation, Superintendent Winston explained that much of the financial progress so far has been made through non-classroom cost reductions. Specifically, the district expects to save approximately $7.67 million annually by eliminating or leaving unfilled a combined total of 82.1 full-time centralized service positions. This includes 28.8 full-time roles that are being vacated naturally and 53.3 full-time positions being actively eliminated.
The positions affected are largely within centralized services—many of which were added during the COVID-19 pandemic. These include custodial and health aide roles, as well as jobs in central office administration, support staff, IT, transportation, and food services.
“We are very sensitive to the fact that these are individuals’ livelihoods, and we don’t take that lightly,” said Winston. “Because our financial reality makes these difficult decisions necessary, we are prioritizing centralized service reductions, to protect classroom instruction. We are committed to supporting every affected employee with all available resources and support.”
Following Winston’s remarks, Chief Financial Officer John Kenny provided a financial transparency report that outlined how the ongoing cost-saving efforts are beginning to positively affect cash balance projections through the year 2028. However, he cautioned that more work needs to be done.
“To be clear, we are not there yet, but we have made improvements in our cash balance to-date through our two-year strategy,” Winston added. “While we will continue to realize cost savings through retirements and resignations, our financial transparency report makes it clear that we have not yet reached a sustainable financial model. We will continue to examine operational efficiencies corporation-wide and in centralized services first before examining cost savings at the building-level.”
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In addition to the financial update, the board meeting also covered several other significant developments. One such update was the release of MCCSC’s Referenda Impact Report. Superintendent Winston explained how funds from the 2022 and 2023 referenda—amounting to an annual $22.6 million—were used to expand early learning, support teachers, enrich student services, and provide school supplies at no cost to families.
She clarified that while these referenda contribute about 18% of MCCSC’s total operating budget, they are not a solution to deeper financial issues. “For context, our 2022 and 2023 referenda provide 18% of MCCSC’s operating budget, sustaining high-quality education and student supports, but they cannot address structural financial imbalance,” Winston said. “That’s why our two-year strategy will continue to focus on sustainable cost reductions and revenue generation.”
Updates were also provided on the work of MCCSC’s Redistricting Study Commission. Dr. Tim Dowling, director of early learning and enrollment, discussed how the Commission is working to establish key criteria for evaluating future redistricting plans. These meetings and their progress are made publicly available at mccsc.edu/redistricting.
The board also learned about new digital initiatives. MCCSC is actively exploring online learning options for grades K through 12. More details on this program will be shared with families and staff in the coming months.
In another update, two leadership appointments were announced for the 2025–26 school year. Kelley Dawson, currently an assistant principal at University Elementary School, will become the new principal of Rogers Elementary School. Dawson brings 14 years of experience within MCCSC to her new role. Meanwhile, Malynda Fields will be transitioning from assistant principal to principal at Lakeview Elementary School after eight years of service with the corporation.
Community members interested in learning more about the district’s financial recovery plan can visit mccsc.edu/strategy, where frequently asked questions and updates are posted.
Information about upcoming board meetings—including agendas, minutes, and live streams—can be found at mccsc.edu under the Board of School Trustees tab. The next regular meeting is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 24, at the MCCSC Co-Lab at 553 E. Miller Drive, Bloomington. The meeting will also be streamed live on the MCCSC YouTube channel.
While MCCSC’s financial challenges are not over, officials remain committed to transparency, long-term planning, and making the hardest cuts away from students and teachers. As the two-year strategy unfolds, district leaders say they will continue to adapt, inform the public, and ensure that core learning environments remain as strong as possible.
