Earlier today, the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce sent a communication addressed to Senator Luke Kenley and Representative Tim Brown regarding the possible insertion of Muncie Community Schools in State Bill (S.B.) 567. The chamber, which represents more than 1,000 member-organizations and the thousands of people that make them up, is united in asking that MCS be removed from S.B. 567 and offered this letter of support to the Muncie Community Schools (MCS). The insertion of MCS in S.B. 567, in the chamber’s opinion, “will create devastating and unnecessary headwinds that will knock our local economy back, erasing important progress many community organizations have enjoyed and ultimately hurting the very people you wish to help.” This is according to a Chamber spokesperson.
April 13, 2017
The Honorable Senator Luke Kenley
The Honorable Representative Tim Brown 200 W. Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Gentlemen,
On behalf of the member organizations we represent – and the thousands of people that they employ, Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to offer this letter of support to the Muncie Community Schools (MCS), and we are united in asking that MCS be removed from S.B.567. The insertion of MCS in S.B.567 will create devastating and unnecessary headwinds that will knock our local economy back, erasing important progress many community organizations have enjoyed and ultimately hurting the very people you wish to help.
MCS, its teachers and the Muncie community are committed to making positive changes for the benefit of the students and families the schools serve. The Muncie community has the leadership, both public and private, that has the ability and desire to collectively address and solve this daunting issue.
The Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce supports and has confidence in our local and state elected leaders. These leaders have asked for local support on this critical issue, and the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce wholeheartedly endorses this effort. The bipartisan cooperation of our legislative Senators and Representatives has been impressive.
We are appreciative of their efforts and stand with them in asking that MCS be removed from S.B.567.
Muncie and Delaware County—through private and public partnership — is making substantial and measured progress in its economic rebound, and this work would be challenged. More specifically, the initiatives of the Economic Development Alliance, now just launching its new five year economic plan with numerous community partners and collaborations, would be severely impacted by this action.
We believe our common goal—a financially-stable and academically-healthy school system—can be achieved through the talents of our local community and the many partnerships that are being constructed.
MCS, along with Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce and many other community organizations are encouraged by the MCS strategic plan that targets primary areas of improvement, such as finance and facilities, curriculum and instruction, student services, support and safety, human resources and professional development and communications and family engagement. Our member-organizations and entire community is committed to assisting MCS in making positive changes for the benefit of the students and families the schools serve.
Many of the changes implemented in the past two years are already showing results. Graduation rates, student grades, and attendance have shown noteworthy improvement over the past several years.
The Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce will continue to work with MCS and the vast array of community resources at our disposal to improve Muncie and the greater Muncie area. Backed by this local support and expertise, along with the continued support of our legislative team, Muncie can effectively operate its own schools, turning this serious and challenging time into a building block for our future.
Sincerely,
Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
