MCS hires new superintendent
Emma Kate Fittes, efittes@muncie.gannett.com 2:24 p.m. EDT April 29, 2015
MUNCIE – Steven Baule was welcomed to Muncie Community Schools with a standing ovation and a stack of documents Tuesday night.
"They gave me homework," he said.
The folder of documents included a packed schedule for his remaining 24 hours in Muncie and information on the nearly $15 million deficit the board needs to address in the next five years. His homework is to help the board figure out the future of the schools.
The school board unanimously voted for Baule during the meeting Tuesday evening, officially hiring him as the 19th superintendent of MCS. He had been introduced as the leading candidate 10 days prior out of 14 applicants.
The next step is to meet with the public Wednesday at 3 p.m. and, hopefully, find a house in Muncie. Then, Baule said he is going to start meeting with every administrator and community leaders and tour the facilities.
To Baule, his vision isn't important. It's about looking at the data and seeing what programs are successful and trying to find a way to help each child.
He is planning to make two long-range plans, something he feels the district is currently missing. One for finances and one for facilities.
The nice thing about facilities, he said, is that you know what is going to need to be replaced down the road. And he wants to have money ready in the rainy day fund, which is currently being used to help pay for busing.
Previously, Baule was the superintendent of North Boone CUSD 200 school district in Northern Illinois, which has about 1,800 students. There, he was able to put the district "back on the right path." During his time as superintendent, North Boone had almost a $12 million turn, going from about $1 million deficit to having $9.7 million in the operating funds.
Baule's wife, Kathy, and two kids, Sydney and Sam, will be moving with him. Sydney and Sam will go to Central High School in the fall. He said he isn't worried about them having a difficult time because for one they are the superintendent's kids, and Sam has a black belt in taekwondo. For Sydney, her main concern is that soccer and cross country run during the same semester in Indiana
Kathy will begin looking for a job. She is a nurse and has worked in many areas including trauma surgery. Baule mentioned having IU Health Ball Memorial nearby helped make the move more enticing. And Baule had his heart set on Muncie.
"You want to work somewhere where first you're needed and second you can have an impact on a large amount of kids," he said.
Contact inside families & education reporter Emma Kate Fittes at 765-213-5845 and follow @EmmaKate_TSP
If you want to go...
What
Meet and greet with Steven Baule, the new superintendent of Muncie schools
When
3-5 p.m. Wednesday
Where
Anthony Administration, 2501 N Oakwood Ave
Above is from: http://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/education/2015/04/28/mcs-hires-new-superintendent/26550703/
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