BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (IUSTV News) — The Monroe County Community School Corporation will begin the process of merging Childs and Templeton Elementary Schools starting the 2025-26 school year following school board approval Tuesday night.

There is still no definitive answer as to what the merger will look like. The resolution says that the new superintendent would have until the end of 2024 to submit the final plan to the Indiana Department of Education, however the district said they have the option to extend the deadline.

The goal of the merger, which has been in the works for several months, is to consolidate the two schools based on socio-economic status and to address concerns over a disparity in recourse availability at the two schools.

According to MCCSC, a school’s socioeconomic status is calculated by the percentage of students who qualify for free or reduced lunch. The district reported that 72% of Templeton students qualify for the program, but only 9% of Childs students do.

The board also named Markay Winston as the district’s new interim superintendent for the 2024-25 school year, following the March contract buyout of former superintendent Jeff Hauswald. The search for a permanent replacement won’t begin until after November.

Hauswald will remain as superintendent until June 30.