MUNCIE, IN – It took all of 10 minutes during their special board meeting of the Muncie Community School Board to end the 51 year tradition of Southside High School tonight in a packed gymnasium inside the Muncie Area Career Center.
The school board members were shuttled into the Career Center and once the pledge of allegiance was over, Tim Heller, MCS School Superintendent, approached the podium and recommended to the board that for the 2014-2015 school year, Muncie Southside High School be combined with Muncie Central and the current middle school at Wilson be moved into Southside leaving two middle schools and one high school. Mr. Heller said that the Wilson school building will be added to the list of facilities which could be purchased by a charter school corporation.
Bev Kelley, President of the Board of Trustees then shared her disappointment to the crowd how she hoped the board could have saved money elsewhere, but was ready to vote. She received a standing ovation from the crowd and got very emotional.
Vice President of the Board, Tony Costello, then made the motion to approve Supt. Heller’s recommendation and board members, Warner, Long, Costello, and Feick voted Yay, and Ms. Kelley voted Nay (4-1).
Dave Collins who organized the “Save Southside Rally” yelled from the crowd, “Don’t you have a few words you’d like to share with everybody!”
None of the board members had anything to say…Bev Kelley responded, “There’s been many meetings where people have expressed their thoughts, but not tonight.” The meeting was adjourned.
Tough night for Muncie Southside alumni, parents, teachers, and students – many of them came out tonight for the special board meeting to hear the vote in person.
Muncie Southside was officially opened on September 6, 1962.
