One district. One university. One shared future.

Dollars and coins sit on a plate in the Photojournalism Studio Feb. 1 in the Art and Journalism Building at Ball State. Amber Pietz, DN
Dollars and coins sit on a plate in the Photojournalism Studio Feb. 1 in the Art and Journalism Building at Ball State. Amber Pietz, DN

Local School Meals 2/2/2023, 9:59am

Most meals in Delaware County’s schools are no longer free, adding an extra stress on families

By Kyle Smedley

Though only one public school corporation in Delaware County’s meals are free to all students after the pandemic, the economic climate still makes it necessary for some families. Two parents of children in the Delaware Community School Corporation explain why there may always be a need for free meals in public schools.

Dave Largent poses for a portrait in his office Sept. 26. Amber Pietz, DN

Computer Science 9/29/2022, 9:59am

From Social Work to Computer Work

By Kyle Smedley

Though Dave Largent initially secured a social work major in college, he has made a career out of computer science. Largent won the 2022 Ball State University Most Outstanding Faculty Award due to his work for the university and with local K-12 schools.

Video:

Ball State professor Kate Elliot talks to her class about creating bookmarks for United Way: Day of Action Sept. 1. Elliot is on the board of this foundation and is looking to introduce it to her students by having them participate in making inspirational bookmarks. Meghan Sawitzke, DN

Day of Action 9/8/2022, 8:59am

A Helping Hand

By Hannah Amos

Ball State’s Office of Community Engagement holds its annual Day of Action Friday, Sept. 9, to help Delaware and surrounding counties with providing basic necessities. 

Josie Santiago, DN Illustration

School Safety 8/29/2022, 8:59am

Safety in the Schoolyard

By Elissa Maudlin

With August comes a new school year, and schools in Muncie are or will soon be filled with students of all ages, in cafeterias, at bus stops and in school hallways. Families may ask for bus drop-off and pick up times and how the cafeteria works, but they may also ask – ‘will my loved one be safe?’

The Alliance for Black and Latino Teachers was founded in hopes of increasing the percentage of African-American and Hispanic population with a teaching degree. ABLT, which has been active for six semesters at Ball State, is pushing to bring the organization to Muncie Central High School so they can gain more student interest in the education field. Mary Freda // DN

Muncie Community Schools 6/3/2022, 10:00am

Muncie Community Schools' 2022 summer meal sites

By Staff Reports

During the months of June and July, Muncie Community Schools (MCS) is set to provide free summer meals (breakfast and lunch) for those 18 years and younger. These meals are set to be provided across four MCS locations from June 6-July 29, Monday-Friday each week. 

Muncie Central High School entrance: Patrick Murphy // DN File

Muncie Central High School 5/31/2022, 6:00pm

Muncie Central High School named Mentor School for successful Early College program

By Staff Reports

Muncie Central High School’s Early College program has been recognized as one of the best in Indiana by the Urban College Acceleration Network (UCAN), a new initiative of the University of Indianapolis’ (UIndy) Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning (CELL) in partnership with the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). CELL recently invited MCHS to serve as a Mentor School to other Indiana high schools so they can successfully implement a program similar to that of Muncie Central High School's. 

Lisa Letsinger poses for a photo in her classroom April 5 at Muncie Central High School. Letsinger is retiring in 2022 and plans to spend more time with her daughter and grandchildren in Australia. Rylan Capper, DN

Partnership Project 4/14/2022, 3:00pm

Letsinger's Legacy: After 22 years teaching at Muncie Central High School, Lisa Letsinger is retiring and leaving behind a legacy

By Taylor Smith

The artwork-lined hallways of Muncie Central High School (MCHS) have been Lisa Letsinger’s second home for 22 years. Since January 2000, when she rolled textbooks classroom to classroom on a cart to teach accounting and personal finance, Letsinger has rooted herself at the heart of MCHS and in the hearts of her students.

Lee Ann Kwiatkowski, Muncie Community Schools (MCS) Director of Public Education and CEO, gives the MCS Board of Trustees an update on school programs for the 2020-21 school year at the meeting May 25, 2021. Board members approved salary increases for all teachers, ranging from $2,400 to $5,200 annually. In 2020 and 2021, MCS' financial stability and savings increased from previous years. MCS YouTube page, Screenshot Capture

Partnership Project 4/8/2022, 12:00pm

Muncie Community Schools records increased financial performance, enrollment

By Jamie Strouts

Below are some charts showing the financial stance of Muncie Community Schools (MCS) in 2022, which were provided by Brad DeRome, MCS chief financial officer. “Prior to the [Ball State] partnership in 2018, the district was losing around 500 students or so each year,” Klotz said via email. “That then subsided to around 100 students for a couple years before actually seeing a gain of 100+ students last year – the first enrollment increase at MCS in 15 years.”

Owen Roberts sits in class, April 16, 2021, in West View Elementary School. Muncie Community Schools (MCS) announced Feb. 22 it is lifting its mask mandate, no longer requiring students, staff or visitors to wear one inside MCS buildings. Andy Klotz, Photo Provided

News 2/23/2022, 10:00am

Muncie Community Schools lift mask mandate

By Staff Reports

The Muncie Community Schools (MCS) Board of Trustees approved lifting the school district's mask mandate Feb. 22, no longer requiring students, staff or visitors to wear a mask inside MCS buildings.