Kelton O'Connell

MCCSC placed all schools on a “soft lockdown” Jan. 22 after an anonymous caller told BPD he was in a school bathroom stall with a gun and would “shoot up the school.” No school was named. SROs swept all 23 buildings; no credible threat was found.

At Tuesday’s MCCSC board meeting, superintendent Markay Winston explained how weather-related school closures are decided, citing forecasts, road conditions, legal requirements, and safety concerns. Recent snow and extreme cold led to e-learning days and delays this month.

MCCSC approved a new teacher contract Tuesday that freezes salaries through 2027, increases insurance contributions, expands parental leave, and reduces the retirement match. The district also faces state TAG changes that will limit the number of stipend recipients.

The Monroe County Community School Corporation (MCCSC) presented its tentative collective bargaining agreement for 2025-2027 at Tuesday’s regular meeting of the school board. Ratification is expected at the board’s next meeting in about three weeks.