Shafer Leadership Academy Presents to BCS Board — $25,000 Program Would Serve Up to 30 Students
From the Blackford County Schools Board Meeting on August 18, 2026
Representatives from the Shafer Leadership Academy presented their youth leadership program to the Blackford County Schools board, making the case for expanding to Blackford Junior/Senior High School this fall.
Chris Walker, a Muncie Central High School principal and Shafer Leadership board member, and Dr. John Anderson, former academic dean at Ivy Tech Hamilton County and also a board member, outlined the program. It started about seven years ago at Muncie Central with Ball Brothers Foundation funding and now operates at three Muncie-area schools, serving roughly 30 students per year.
The year-long program splits into two semesters: leadership activities and team building in the fall, followed by a community service project in the spring. Each student team receives a $500 stipend for their project. Past projects in Muncie have included a community refrigerator in a food desert, animal shelter support, and senior living center volunteer work.
The program would cost $25,000 — funded externally, not from the school budget — and could serve up to 30 students in grades 9 through 12. Beth Bowman, an English teacher at Blackford Junior/Senior High, would serve as faculty lead. The first planning meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 21, with a retreat in September and weekly meetings after that. Work-based learning hours earned through the program will count toward new Indiana graduation requirements.
Board members asked about the cost, noting that Muncie pays $33,000 for three schools while Blackford would pay $25,000 for one. Walker explained the per-student cost is comparable — Muncie Central paid $15,000 for 11 students last year, about $1,000 per student, compared to roughly $833 per student at Blackford's capacity. Board member Troy confirmed the $25,000 is a flat fee regardless of whether 10 or 30 students enroll.
No vote was taken — this was a presentation and discussion item only.
Source: YouTube transcript — Blackford County Schools Board Meeting
Some information may be inaccurate due to video audio quality.
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