August 12, 2021
The Indiana Area School District (IASD) is currently conducting discussions surrounding the current academic grade configuration of the elementary schools. IASD is committed to providing opportunities for all those in the district to have a voice in the process. The School Board has retained an outside firm to assist in the process, Strategy Solutions, Inc. (SSI). SSI has facilitated several projects in and around our community, so they are familiar with our district as well as what the community needs and interests are. They have partnered with another consultant, Rodney Green, who has supported the district on numerous engagements. We are confident this process will elicit broad community input that will be used to inform the board in continuing to support the district.
Our public engagement process includes interviews with the board, administration, and community stakeholders; focus groups with teachers and staff; a survey to municipal officials; and a district-wide survey. In addition, there will be 3 public engagement sessions. The first session will be held at the Buildings, Grounds, and Transportation Committee meeting on August 16th. During this initial meeting, the public will have the opportunity to hear and provide input on potential configuration options, and the board will narrow down the number of options to three or four. Over the next several weeks, the administration will then be tasked with gathering data on the academic and operational implications for the “shortlist” of proposed options. The public will have the opportunity to review the impact data from the potential operations at a 2nd public meeting (date TBD), and weigh in on the plusses, potentials, and concerns associated with the various options. Once the board has selected the best option for the district the 3rd public meeting (date TDB) will be to present the implementation plan and provide the opportunity for public comment on the implementation plan. Please visit our website for updates as they become available.
In closing, please understand that the survey data collected is only one of the many different pieces of information the Board will consider in their decision-making process. Community members are encouraged to visit the district website in the upcoming days to access the survey. We expect the survey to be available (online and in print form) by Friday, August 20, 2021. The survey will be placed under the “Latest News” section once it is ready. We will also be sending an email to our families via our internal system to complete the survey and/or at least notify them of its availability. For those who do not have access to the internet, paper copies will be available at the district office, each individual school building, the Chamber of Commerce, Renda Broadcasting, YMCA, and White Township Office. Finally, you can contact my office at (724)463-8713 to request a paper copy of the survey mailed to your home address.
All the best,
Mr. Michael J. Vuckovich
Superintendent of Schools