3 districts pause student services contracts

After several years of relying on Communities In Schools of Wayne County to directly connect students with supplies, social services and mentors, three of Wayne County’s five public school districts won’t have CIS employees stationed in their buildings this fall.

Although local CIS staff and board members are making changes to local operations, the nonprofit organization remains committed to providing resources to connect students to caring adults and community resources “that help them see, confront and overcome the barriers that stand between them and a brighter future,” a statement said.

Richmond Community, Nettle Creek and Western Wayne have paused their partnership with CIS, but CIS’ 2025-2026 agreements with Northeastern and Centerville-Abington school districts remain unchanged.

Northeastern Elementary, Northeastern High School, Centerville-Abington Elementary and Rose Hamilton Elementary have continued access to full-time site coordinators who work directly inside the schools to support students facing challenges related to attendance, behavior, academics and basic needs.

Meanwhile, RCS officials just announced their plans to pursue new and/or deepened partnerships with businesses, nonprofits and faith-based organizations to increase students’ achievement and well-being. School and CIS leaders say Indiana’s public schools are currently reevaluating costs for the 2025-26 school year now that Senate Enrolled Act 1 is taking effect.

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun and Indiana’s House and Senate approved legislation in April that introduces several changes to the state’s property tax and local income tax system that are expected to reduce funding for Wayne County’s public schools.

Mike McCoy, CIS board member and Centerville-Abington superintendent, said Indiana school districts are feeling the funding decreases, but ensuring that every student has access to the necessary resources to succeed remains a priority.

CIS making changes

In response to WWN’s inquiry, CIS board members and employees provided a statement.

Becky Murray, Wayne County’s CIS executive director, said the organization “will continue to function as a needed resource to our partnering schools to ensure that our most vulnerable students continue to receive as much support as possible so that they may realize their potential in school and beyond.”

CIS’ services include one-on-one case management, academic support, attendance monitoring, family engagement, resource referrals, mentoring, crisis intervention, and coordinating clothing, hygiene items and school supplies.

Shane Bietry, CIS board president, said the organization’s model will change for the 2025-26 school year to better meet the needs of each district it serves.

“Each school district has unique needs, and we are confident that CIS is positioned to join them where they are to best help kids and families,” Bietry said.

They are exploring opportunities through their national CIS affiliation to collaborate with other school districts to help all children in Wayne County succeed.

“We are always assessing ways in which this goal may be accomplished more efficiently, and we are excited to see positive impacts that our current planning process will produce,” the statement said. 

Wayne County’s previous model, employing a site coordinator in each school, is unique to the local organization. The board is exploring adapting that model to more closely reflect other CIS affiliates, which could better position CIS to help each district individually.

Nettle Creek

Superintendent Emily Schaeffer told WWN that while Nettle Creek isn’t currently partnered with CIS, district employees will continue eliminating learning barriers for their students. 

Schaeffer said staff within Hagerstown’s elementary and junior/senior high schools are working diligently to meet kids’ academic, attendance and behavior needs.

“Our community and local organizations have been great partners in providing school supplies, food, hygiene products and other items for our students so that they can focus on being at school, learning and continuing to grow into respectful citizens,” Schaeffer said.

Schaeffer will remain active with CIS’ board to work toward a partnership that meets the needs of Nettle Creek’s students and schools.

“When that time comes, I look forward to entering back into an organization that has such a meaningful mission,” she said.  

RCS

According to a district news release, RCS officials say they aim to build direct community connections with their 11 buildings, family support liaison positions and resources to help students overcome barriers to learning.

RCS is taking proactive steps to strengthen its network of community support to remove students’ barriers to learning and offset the shift in state funding priorities, the release said.

The district seeks to expand its collaboration with longstanding community partners and welcome new ones, especially those previously providing intermittent support that are now positioned to contribute more consistently, the release said.

During an April school board discussion of student supports earlier this year, RCS employees noted CIS staffing shortages in previous years that prompted district employees to fill the gaps. They said CISWC had turnover or unfilled positions in several schools in 2024-2025.

At that time, Murray said RCS had expanded its commitment by integrating services at three schools in December 2024, and recruitment in the middle of the school year had been challenging.

For several years, CIS had site coordinators working in all five of the county’s public school districts. However, substantial Lilly Endowment grant funding concluded a few years ago, and CIS has continued seeking additional funding sources to offer competitive compensation for the positions.

Despite CIS’ staffing challenges, RCS faculty and staff stepped up and delivered notable improvements in academic achievements, attendance and behavior, the release said.

RCS officials say postponing the partnership this fall allows CIS more time to continue refining its strategic planning and program development, and gives RCS space to adjust to uncertainties in state funding.

“We are forever grateful to those CISWC site coordinators who showed up every day to serve our students with commitment and care,” said RCS Superintendent Curtis Wright in the release that noted sincere thanks to the organization for its past collaboration and wishes for continued success. “… We have every intention to reestablish our partnership with CISWC following their strategic planning process revisions.”

RCS has begun hiring family liaisons. Those positions are dependent on Title I grant funding, according to the job description.

Liaisons are to increase engagement, facilitate access to resources and strengthen home-school partnerships. Pay ranges from $15.25 to $16.28 per hour for up to 7 hours daily.

Liaisons must have a high school diploma or equivalent. Associate or bachelor’s degrees in social work, education, human services or related fields are preferred.