Summer is a busy time of year for Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation. Although our schools and campuses are busy year round with summer enrichment, athletic, and activity camps, P-H-M Facilities, Maintenance, Grounds, and Custodial Staff take advantage of having less staff and students in our buildings to do necessary maintenance and updates. P-H-M works with valued partners to conduct the majority of Capital Improvement Projects over the summer months.

Below is a listing of just some of the total work being done this summer across the district, along with a corresponding photos:

Bittersweet Elementary School & P-H-M District Educational Services Center

Mary Frank Elementary School

Walt Disney Elementary School

Discovery & Schmucker Middle Schools

Exterior restrooms and concession stands. Click to see Discovery photo gallery. Click to see Schmucker photo gallery.

Penn High School

Automatic ADA door controls

HVAC upgrades, improving the multistack chillers and the cooling tower heat pumps

The work being done over the course of 2025 is part of P-H-M’s 2-year, $55 million overall Capital Improvement Plan approved by the School Board in November 2023. Click to review the plan and see the project breakdown per school. 

The projects were reviewed and prioritized based on the following improvement criteria: safety and security, learning environment, replacement cycles, and the district’s goal of maintaining and improving the overall appearance and function of each educational facility to create optimal learning opportunities.

These planned improvements are being financed through a Lease Rental and follow the district’s debt service management plan to maintain a stable tax rate, currently the lowest school district tax rate in St. Joseph County.

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation (P-H-M) proudly shares the outstanding performance of its students on the Spring 2025 ILEARN assessment, as released by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). P-H-M students once again outperformed the state average by an impressive 20 percentage points in the percentage of students passing both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. This achievement places P-H-M in the top 4% of public school corporations across Indiana (see the charts below).

“These results reflect the exceptional work of our teachers, students, and staff,” said Superintendent Dr. Heather Short. “We remain deeply committed to ensuring every child reaches their full potential, and this data shows that our efforts are paying off.”

P-H-M has maintained its Top 4% ranking for a second consecutive year, a testament to the district’s commitment to academic excellence and the strategies that drive student success. Out of Indiana public schools that passed both ELA and Math, Northpoint and Prairie Vista Elementary Schools are in the Top 10; and Discovery Middle School is #3 in the state.

A closer analysis of the data shows strong gains across grade levels and student groups. Middle school students, in particular, demonstrated significant improvement in math, based on the state’s 2021 benchmark. P-H-M 8th grade Math performance is up 24% since the benchmark year and now the variance over the state average is 28%.

The district’s Free and Reduced Lunch (F/R) student population, which now exceeds 30%, continues to demonstrate notable progress. Among Indiana’s largest public school districts testing close to 5,000 students, P-H-M ranks #1 in the state for the percentage of F/R students passing both ELA and Math.

“These achievements are not by accident,” added Dr. Short. “They are the result of intentional investments in teacher professional development and the implementation of evidence-based instructional practices. We are fortunate to have educators and staff who are deeply committed to supporting every learner.”

Indiana junior high school students are now required to take the SAT for graduation. The IDOE also released SAT results. Among public high schools in pass percentage, Penn High School moved up from #27 last year, to #15 this year.

Results from the Spring 2025 IREAD assessment are expected to be released in early fall, and P-H-M looks forward to sharing those outcomes as well.

ILEARN Math

ILEARN ELA

Penn High School’s Class of 2025 Commencement Ceremony will be held at 7 p.m., June 9, 2025, at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. Doors open for parents at 5:30.

P-H-M will provide FREE candid photos of the graduates on this link, https://phmexcellence.com/PhotosClassof2025, by Friday June, 13.

Click here for details on the photos provided by Inter-State Photography.

There is no ticket requirement—meaning families are not limited on the amount of attendees. Click here for info on live stream of Commencement for friends and family not in attendance. 

On the day of Commencement the doors for students to enter Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center will be open at 4:30 p.m. Seniors are to enter at Gate 10 and report to the field house at the Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center by 4:45 p.m. Seniors arriving after 5 p.m. will not be in alphabetical order and may be required to be seated at the end of the line or may even be excluded from commencement. Click here to read the full parent/student letter with more details concerning graduation.

CLICK HERE for a map with parking/shuttle information for Notre Dame.

In March, Superintendent of Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation Dr. Jerry Thacker announced his retirement after 19 years. Under Dr. Thacker’s leadership, P-H-M has achieved extraordinary milestones, including raising the graduation rate from 79% to 98%, ranking in the top 4% of the state academically, and helping students earn more than $200 million in scholarships. He also prioritized school safety, leading P-H-M to be ranked sixth in the nation for school safety initiatives. Click here to read more about P-H-M student success achieved during Dr. Thacker’s tenure.

Dr. Thacker has had a remarkable 53-year career in education working in leadership roles across Indiana and Michigan. As the school year wrapped up and in gratitude for his many contributions to the field of education, Dr. Thacker has received several honors.

These five prestigious awards were conferred upon Dr. Thacker:

• May 4, named IAPSS – District II Superintendent of the Year
  
• May 9
  
  Ivy Tech Community College presented him with an Honorary Degree in College and Community Service at their Commencement
  
• May 9, Head Start Consortium gave him the “Making a Difference” award for his loyal dedication, unwavering commitment, and his indispensable support of Head Start’s mission at Head Start’s 60th Anniversary Celebration and Board Meeting
  
• May 21
  
  Mishawaka Mayor Dave Wood presented him with a Key to the City and a proclamation declaring May 21st “Dr. Jerry Thacker Day”
  
• May 30
  
  State Senator Linda Rogers presented him with the Circle of Corydon award on behalf of herself and Governor Mike Braun. The award honors Hoosiers who have made remarkable contributions that have bettered Indiana, and who have demonstrated the qualities exemplified by our state’s greatest citizens

Internally, P-H-M school principals, teachers, and students also wanted to thank Dr. Thacker for his years of service and dedication to the district. Several came up with meaningful ways to express their appreciation:

• May 1, Penn High School Bands recognized him for his “caring leadership and service” at the Spring Concert
  
• May 16
  
  Grissom Middle School students and staff lined the hallways to applaud him as he walked through the school’s hallways
• May 16
  
  Penn High School Building Trades program presented him with a Golden Hammer for recognition of his Outstanding Support and Service 
• May 22
  
  Bittersweet Elementary School students and staff lined the hallways to applaud him as he walked through the school’s hallways
• May 27
  
  Walt Disney Elementary School establishes the “Dr. Jerry Thacker Achievement Award” to recognize students who exemplify persistence, good citizenship, and positive competitiveness
  
• May 30
  
  Schmucker Middle School principal presented him with an Elevation Award for 53 years of service in education to students, teachers, and parents
• June 2
  
  
  Prairie Vista Elementary students performed a “We are your Triangle of Success” presentation and gave him a planter with all the thumbprints of students (grades K-5) and staff to illustrate the impact he’s had on their lives
  
• June 3
  
  Retiring Penn Band Director Glenn Northern, leads the Symphonic Winds section of the Kingsmen Marching Band in the Penn High School Fight song outside Dr. Thacker’s office at the Educational Services Center. Click here to see the video on Facebook.

Before the end of the 2024-2025 school year came to a close, Dr. Thacker shared the video message below with P-H-M students, teachers, and families.

In a special meeting held Tuesday, May 27, the Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees unanimously (7-0) approved the appointment of Dr. Heather Short as the district’s next superintendent effective July 1, 2025.

Nearly 50 P-H-M teachers, administrators, staff, family and friends showed up to express their overwhelming support of Dr. Short’s appointment.

Dr. Short, a lifelong educator who has dedicated her entire 31-year career to P-H-M, will succeed Dr. Jerry Thacker, who is retiring after 19 years of transformative leadership. Dr. Short has served as Assistant Superintendent for Instruction since 2017. During her tenure, P-H-M students have experienced consistent academic growth and achievement.

“I am deeply honored by the Board’s confidence and grateful to Dr. Thacker for his mentorship throughout my career,” said Dr. Short. “It has been the privilege of a lifetime to grow as a leader within this incredible district. I’m excited to continue working alongside our talented staff, dedicated families, and exceptional students to expand opportunities and ensure every child thrives.”

Under Dr. Short’s leadership, P-H-M ranks in the top 4% of Indiana districts based on ILEARN scores. The district also outpaces the state average by 20 percentage points in overall percent passing rates.

“There is no one better—or more qualified—to lead P-H-M’s continued path of academic excellence than Dr. Short,” said Chris Riley, President of the Board of School Trustees. “Her academic expertise and visionary leadership in developing rigorous, relevant curriculum have been key to our students’ success. Dr. Short was the Board’s clear and unanimous choice for superintendent.”

P-H-M is home to some of Indiana’s highest-performing public schools in both English/Language Arts and Math. Prairie Vista Elementary ranks #3 in the state, while Discovery Middle School ranks #2. In Spring 2024, P-H-M’s IREAD pass rate was 86.8%, surpassing the state average of 82.5%. Three P-H-M elementary schools—Prairie Vista (97.7%), Northpoint (95%), and Horizon (95.3%)—achieved pass rates above 90%.

Included in her district-wide academic strategy was a robust Response to Intervention (RtI) program and expanded summer offerings that support both enrichment and remediation.

Dr. Short’s leadership journey reflects deep roots and unwavering commitment to P-H-M. She began her career as a classroom teacher before serving as an Instructional Leader and High Ability Coordinator. Click here to learn how Dr. Short and Board Trustee Katie Bell’s paths crossed when Dr. Short was a 3rd grade teacher at Northpoint. In 2004, she became principal of Prairie Vista Elementary. Recognizing her talent for professional growth and instructional excellence, Dr. Thacker appointed her in 2007 as P-H-M’s first Director of Professional Development—a role she held for a decade before being named Assistant Superintendent.

Throughout her career, Dr. Short has been deeply committed to developing others. She co-created a nationally recognized leadership development program designed to build internal capacity among P-H-M educators and administrators. Her strategic focus on professional development has empowered teachers at every level—from new educators to veteran principals—through initiatives like the annual Literacy Summit and the New Teacher Series.

As Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Short has combined her instructional leadership with strong fiscal stewardship. She has overseen the management of multimillion-dollar budgets and successfully secured hundreds of thousands of dollars in state grants—investments that have directly enhanced classroom instruction, expanded student programs, and strengthened districtwide operations.

“Dr. Short possesses one of the most valuable qualities a leader can have: the ability to build genuine relationships,” said Dr. Thacker. “She makes personal connections with teachers, principals, staff, families—and most importantly, students. She understands the P-H-M culture because she helped build it. There is no one more fitting to serve as the next superintendent.”

After the Board approved Dr. Short as the district’s new leader, Board members shared well wishes and comments. Trustee Katie Bell (elected in November 2024) talked about how things have come full circle for her as a former student of Dr. Short’s when she taught 3rd grade gifted and talented students at Northpoint. The two were actually featured in an article that ran in the South Bend Tribune in March 2003. The article featured Dr. Short teaching her students how to use PowerPoint for their Geography reports on Asia. Click here to read the original story.

Fast forward to 2013 to when Dr. Short was P-H-M’s Director of Professional Development, she interviewed Bell for a teaching position. Bell was hired as a kindergarten teacher in 2016 at Prairie Vista Elementary School and Dr. Short led the professional development for all new teachers. 

“Dr. Short and I are a testament that it’s never goodbye, it’s always see you later,” Bell said. “And I think that shows the true impact of a teacher, that they are in your lives forever, and that you will always remember them.”

Media Coverage

• South Bend Tribune
• ABC 57
• WSBT-TV
• WNDU-TV

Breakfast & Lunch is served at all 11 elementary schools.

Monthly Menus:

• August 2025 Elementary Menu (Updated 7.28.25)
• Click Here for Information on our Summer Food Service Program

*School menus are also posted in Schoolcafe.com. 

The Penn-Harris-Madison Food Service department implements the Offer Versus Serve (OVS) system. OVS allows students to accept or decline some of the food offered as part of a complete meal. The goals of “OVS“ are to reduce food waste in the school nutrition programs and to allow students more customization of the meal they select. 

CLICK HERE to fill out a new application for Free / Reduced Lunch. 

*Due to nation-wide supply shortages, meals could be subject to change. Products or menu items are being substituted when a school kitchen runs out of any particular item. School kitchen staff are trying to make sure that the students have their first choices available, but that may not always be possible. If a student has a specific dietary need, the family is welcome to fill out a special diet form that can be obtained from the school nurse or click here to download it off our website, and then there will be a full meal waiting for the student each day. 

DEBIT CARDS AND CREDIT CARDS

We recommend that parents create a SchoolCafé account to pre-pay for meals online using a debit or credit card. Visit P-H-M’s PAY MEALS ONLINE page to learn more about the many benefits of using SchoolCafé.

CASH OR CHECK

​If you prefer to pay the school via cash or check, please write your child’s name and “lunch money” on the envelope. Don’t forget to specify either “Meal account” or “Ala-carte account.”  The meal account only allows full meal purchases, while ala-carte allows for the purchase of snacks as well as meals.

Note that when you provide a check as payment for a food purchase in the food service department, you authorize the P-H-M Food Service Department to process the payment as a check transaction. Federal Automated Recovery Systems (FARS) processes our electronic collection of checks returned for insufficient funds (NSF).  ​

PAYMENT TERMS

Please make sure that your child has lunch money available each day. Children without lunch money may be required to call home, or be served a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, milk and fruit, after the first charged meal. You will still be charged for peanut butter and jelly meals. Ala-carte and snack items may not be charged.

If your child has a negative balance, they will not be allowed to purchase snacks. Food Services is not allowed to carry negative balances on children’s accounts in the National School Lunch Program so if a meal is charged for your student, you must pay the amount due the following day.