The communication below was emailed to staff and parents today:

July 30, 2020

Dear P-H-M Families, 

We have been communicating regularly with medical professionals at the St. Joseph County Department of Health (SJCDH) and receiving guidance regarding the status of coronavirus activity and community transmission in making decisions regarding the safest model for curriculum delivery. The current thresholds for consideration by SJCDH strongly recommend that St. Joseph County Schools open in a virtual learning environment.

They also provided guidance on extracurricular and co-curricular activities. Those programs are being monitored and are under review.

The administration will recommend to the P-H-M Board of School Trustees at a School Board meeting on August 3, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. that all students participate in a virtual learning environment from the first day of school, August 19 through October 22. During the established virtual learning period, we will continue to collaborate with the SJCDH regarding further discussions and recommendations.

Prior to October 22, and the decision to return students to in-person instruction, we will ask parents which option they will be choosing by providing a parent survey. Parents will not be bound by their previous choice.

When we return, we will continue to offer two options: in-person or virtual instruction. 

• On October 27 (or when the SJCDH deems it appropriate) students who are enrolled in the in-person program will return to school.

• On October 27 students who are enrolled in the virtual learning program will continue with virtual learning.

Established metrics, provided by the SJCDH, will determine when it is safe to return to in-person learning. Families will be given a two week notice of any changes to return to in-person learning.

Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership. 

Please stay safe and healthy!

Dr. Jerry Thacker

Superintendent

The communication below was emailed to staff and parents today:

July 21, 2020

Good Afternoon.

At last evening’s Board of School Trustees meeting, we shared additional information on the district’s overview on safety, the learning environment, and procedures for our return to learn in the fall. 

Our focus is to provide you and your student(s) with an excellent education in a safe, supportive, and positive learning environment. In order to achieve at the highest levels, we must continue to work toward our goal, doing what is best for our students, staff, and families. Our Triangle of Success supports our vision of Excellence in Education, and you are an important part of our Triangle.

In today’s communication, I share with you several guiding documents:

• Return to Learn: Safety Protocols Presentation
• Updated Return to Learn: District Overview Document
• 7/20/20 Board Presentation (video)
• Individual School Return to Learn Plans

I hope that this information is helpful to you in making your decision on whether your student(s) will attend school in person or virtually. We are providing the link for the parent survey here and ask that you please complete it by July 27.

We will continue to collaborate with our parents, staff, and state and local health partners as we work to provide a safe and positive learning environment for our students. Thank you for your continued support.

Stay healthy and safe!

Dr. Jerry Thacker

Superintendent of Schools

The communication below was emailed to staff and parents today:

Friday, July 17, 2020

Dear P-H-M Families,

As we continue to develop our school specific plans, we would like to share an update with you. We continue to receive great questions and feedback from our families that have assisted us in developing a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). The FAQ has been posted to our Return to Learn page. 

Answers to the two most frequently asked questions:

• Per the St. Joseph County Health Department Public Health Order, staff and students are required to wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth and social distancing will be maintained when possible.
• Students and staff who test positive will quarantine for at least 10 days from the date symptoms began AND remain fever-free for 72 hours (without use of fever reducing medication) before returning to school. Click here for the Indiana State Department of Health guide for parents related to student screening and quarantine/isolation guidelines. 

Penn High School Information

Previously, I shared with you about the two different options that parents can choose to have their students educated this fall.  However, based on stakeholder feedback, students at Penn High School specifically will have additional virtual options to choose from.  Principal Sean Galiher will share a separate survey with Penn High School families today and we ask that families complete that survey by July 24th.  

Next week, we will also share each school's specific Return to Learn plan. This communication will outline school specific details including arrival procedures, the learning environment, lunch, school dismissal, as well as other important information.

PHM will ensure the guiding focus remains on the health and education of our community and we will continue to follow state and local guidance as we evaluate COVID-19 and our return to learning. 

Stay healthy and well,

Dr. Jerry Thacker, Superintendent
Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation

The communication below was emailed to staff and parents today:

Friday, July 10, 2020

Dear P-H-M Families,

I recently sent you information on our plan to Return to School and a survey regarding choices between Face-to-Face Learning and Virtual Learning. Thank you for your valuable feedback. Based on the responses that you provided, we are making positive changes to some of our Education Options, primarily Virtual Learning at the secondary level. Since we want to share those modifications late next week, we are extending the timeline to complete the survey to July 27.

Before you receive more comprehensive information, here is a list of answers to the most frequently asked questions.

• Per the St. Joseph County Health Department Public Health Order, staff and students are required to wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth whenever social distancing cannot be maintained. Click here for the Indiana Department of Education Back to School Face Covering Guidance for Families.
• Students and staff who test positive will quarantine for at least 10 days from the date symptoms began AND remain fever-free for 72 hours (without use of fever reducing medication) before returning to school. Click here for the Indiana State Department of Health guide for parents related to student screening and quarantine/isolation guidelines.
• Virtual students may participate in available Honors, Dual Credit and AP classes. Additional information will be shared next week.
• Virtual students may participate in extracurricular activities.
• Virtual teachers will differentiate for high ability students.
• Virtual students may participate in available electives.
• Students may continue to bring lunch with them to school.
• We are asking parents to make a semester commitment when choosing face to face or virtual instruction.

We will also share more comprehensive information on school safety protocols, individual school plans, and an FAQ document to keep you updated.

• Indiana State Department of Health FAQ
• Indiana Department of Education FAQ
• Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation FAQ – coming soon!

We will continue to follow state and local guidance and if the number of cases of COVID-19 reaches a level where local and state officials determine that school cannot meet in person, eLearning would resume. This would be similar to last spring with some improvements based on the parent feedback we received. We tested some new educational models during online summer school and feel confident that if we have to return to eLearning, we can continue to provide a quality education while also offering social emotional support.

Stay healthy and well,

Dr. Jerry Thacker, Superintendent
Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation

The communication below was emailed to staff and parents today:

Thursday, July 2, 2020

Dear P-H-M Families,

I know that you have been anxiously waiting for the details on our plan to return to school on Wednesday, August 19 (for grades 1-12) and August 20 (kindergarten).

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every aspect of our lives. There have been many changes in our daily lives making things our new normal, at least for a while. This also means that the procedures in our school buildings must also change to ensure the highest health and safety guidelines. Working in concert with the St. Joseph County Health Department and following the guidance and recommendations by the CDC, Indiana State Department of Health, Governor’s Office, and the IDOE we have developed a re-entry plan for Penn-Harris-Madison Schools.

EDUCATION OPTIONS

While we believe that the most effective instruction for your child happens in a classroom Face to Face with our highly qualified teachers, there will be an online Virtual option available for those who elect not to attend in-person.

Click the two links below to read more about the two different options that parents can choose between to have their students educated this fall:

1. Face to Face Learning: This plan also details how Transportation, Food Service, Recess, Cleaning, Extracurricular Activities will be handled in our facilities.

 

2. Virtual: This plan breaks down how online learning will take place at the three grade levels (elementary, middle and high school).

 

3. WHAT IS YOUR CHOICE? To help us plan for the Fall, we are asking parents to complete a survey with their choice for instruction for the upcoming school year.​ Please complete this survey by Monday, July 13.

As we communicated Tuesday of this week, we will follow our 2020-2021 school year calendar and these health and safety guidelines:

• Per the St. Joseph County Health Department Public Health Order, staff and students are required to have a mask (face covering) with them at all times. There will be times indoors or in enclosed spaces that 6 feet of physical distance cannot be maintained.
• Students and staff will be required to be fever free for 72 hours without use of fever reducing medication before returning to school.
• To maintain safe social distancing, lunch times will be staggered and available open space will be maximized.
• Restrict visitors and guests in our school buildings.
• Maximize instructional space and scheduling flexibility.
• Employee enhanced cleaning procedures with additional hand sanitizer stations.
• Identify and separate space in school clinics to treat symptomatic students.
• Discontinuation of perfect attendance incentives for the 2020-21 school year.

For more detailed information on the procedures for masks, social, distancing, cleaning, etc. on P-H-M buses and within our schools, please click here to review the Face to Face Return to Learn model.

We understand that these documents can’t answer every question about re-opening, however, we hope it gives you the framework necessary to make the best decision for your family, whether that’s  returning to school, or online learning. Individualized school plans are being created and will be communicated to families and posted on school websites on August 1st. If you have additional questions in the meantime, please email returntolearn@phm.k12.in.us.

If the number of cases of COVID-19 reaches a level where local and state officials determine that school cannot meet in person, eLearning will resume and would be similar to what it was last spring with some improvements based on the parental feedback we received. We tested some new education models over the summer with online summer school and feel confident that if we have to return to eLearning that we can continue to provide a quality education while also offering social emotional supports.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jerry Thacker, Superintendent
Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation

On Wednesday, July 1, the P-H-M Board of School Trustees held a special Board Meeting to pass the Resolution listed below and to announce the creation of the new district position of Officer of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. This was in response to an open letter to the P-H-M Board of School Trustees and Administration from current and past Penn High School alumni (click here to read Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker’s June 25 email sent to P-H-M families concerning this matter).

RESOLUTION OF THE PENN-HARRIS-MADISON BOARD OF SCHOOL TRUSTEES TO BRING ABOUT SYSTEMATIC AND STRUCTURAL CHANGE TO ENSURE DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, AND EQUALITY.

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

WHEREAS, the unjust killing of Mr. George Floyd on May 25, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, along with the preceding and unjust deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and many others, has generated a much needed national discussion on the necessity of ensuring permanent racial equality and racial justice. The members of the Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees are saddened by and stand against these unjust deaths.

WHEREAS, as we prepare to celebrate the United States of America's 244th year of independence, the Penn-Harris-Madison School Board of School Trustees is guided by the wisdom of one of this country’s greatest leaders, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."

WHEREAS, we the members of the Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees and Administration, acknowledge that we must urgently end acts motivated by racial animus and bias, remediate racial inequities, and end any form of racism in our schools.

WHEREAS, the Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees recognizes that working with the school community is a vital and necessary component of achieving the goals expressed in this Resolution.
 

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we, the members of the Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees shall implement all reforms necessary to eradicate racism and racial injustice within the Penn Harris Madison School Corporation. We recognize and will fulfill our duty to foster a safe, healthy, and inclusive learning environment; to ensure that all are treated with dignity and respect; and to do our part to bring about positive change, end discrimination and secure equality for all. 

This letter was sent to P-H-M staff and parents:

Thursday, June 25, 2020

This morning members of Penn-Harris-Madison and Penn High School administration met with current Penn students and alumni about the state of race relations not only at Penn, but throughout P-H-M. Last Tuesday, June 16, Penn alumni and current students started a petition and shared an open letter to bring to our attention the hurtful incidents of racism that have occurred to students during their time with us. The group brought forward a list of action items and a timeline that they’d like for the School Corporation to follow in order to bring about change. We will be meeting in July to collaborate with current students and alumni to begin implementation of some of the action items. 

Today, we listened and we apologized to the group. I am taking the time now to also apologize to our greater P-H-M community and to say we must and will do better. 

As I stated in my letter to P-H-M parents last Friday, June 19, “The Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees, District Administration, teachers and staff are proud to be educators. It is a call to service, and we don’t take our role of helping to form future citizens of our community, country, and the world lightly.” 

After listening to the students today, we know that our role as educators is more than to just teach basic academics. We must also teach and model for our students what it means to treat others as we would want to be treated. This means we cannot only not tolerate acts of bigotry and complicity, but we must be actively anti-racist. We must always be cognizant, aware and ever vigilant. This must not only be an expectation for ourselves, but also for all of our students.

Today was just the first step in a self-examination and reflection of ourselves as a school corporation, both in what we’ve done and failed to do. We pride ourselves in providing excellence in education, but excellence does not happen here if even one of our students feels pain and indignity. This conversation and journey to change the culture in our schools is just the beginning. Valuing and celebrating diversity is a tenet of P-H-M’s “Vision of Excellence” I’ve spoken of many times. We are committed to implementing reforms necessary to end racism and racial discrimination to create a positive, healthy learning environment for all students. We look forward to working with all of you!

Dr. Jerry Thacker, Superintendent
Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation

The IDOE has provided summer resources for parents to use with their children, grades 1^st – 8^th, to help keep their math and reading skills up over the summer.

Parents and students have access to the Lexile® Find a Book tool and the Quantile® Summer Math Challenge.

The Lexile® Find a Book tool helps students create a personalized reading list and then locate those books at the nearest library or bookseller.

The Quantile® Summer Math Challenge is a six-week refresher course for students in grades 1^st – 8^th.

For more information, visit MetaMetrics’ Summer Learning website. 

The Coronavirus pandemic canceled many of our in-person celebrations, not only for students, but also for staff. One of our annual events is the Employee Recognition Dinner where we honor our retirees and recognize our employees who’ve worked for Penn-Harris-Madison 40, 35, 30, 25, 20, 15 and 10 years. Please see the list below of the 2020 Retirees, followed by the list of Service Award Winners of current P-H-M employees:

2020 Honored Retirees

• Evelyn Allison – Transportation
• Frank Anglin – Administrator
• Rhonda Arndt – Transportation
• Sandra Badur – Counselor
• Mary Ann Bogucki – Teacher
• Caroline Brill – Administrator
• Robin Cahall – Auxiliary 
• Barb Colborn – ESP 
• Cheryl Cyman  – Transportation
• Lucia Davis – ESP 
• Megan Decker – Teacher
• Tressa Decker – Administrator
• Suzette Doolittle – Teacher
• Darlene Evans – Custodian
• Christine Fisher – Teacher 
• Lisa Foster – Teacher 
• Elnora Freeman – ESP
• Shannon Gray – Teacher 
• Lori Heise – Teacher 
• Randal Hogue – Teacher
• Donna Humes – Administrator
• Pam Hunsberger – ESP 
• Joy Johnson – Teacher
• Timothy Kalavity – Maintenance
• Dawn Koenig – Food Service
• Robert Lovett – Administrator
• Kathy Minix – Transportation
• Garold Naragon – Custodian
• Rodney Perry – Maintenance
• Pam Peters – Transportation
• Mila Pierce – ESP 
• Laura Pride – ESP 
• Bruce Quick – Custodian
• Kathleen Satkoski – Teacher
• Sherry Sill – Teacher 
• Mike Stephens – Custodian
• Pam Stockbridge – Food Service
• Rebecca Tagliaferri – Teacher
• Deborah VanPoppel – ESP
• Patricia Walton – Teacher 
• Judy Watson – ESP 
• Virginia Wery – ESP  
• Rhonda Williams – Teacher
• Diane Wirth – Administrator
• Susan Wozniak – Auxiliary  

Service Award Winners of current P-H-M employees

40 Years of Service 

• Greg Dikos 

35 Years of Service

• Lisa Foster 
• Peggy Orosz 
• Kim Rice 
• Annette Wisler 
• Cory Yeoman 
• Sheila Toth 

30 Years of Service

• Chisty Cook 
• Jennifer Crist 
• Peter DeKever 
• James Kominkiewicz
• David Manspeaker
• David Metcalf 
• Thomas E. Miller (Teacher)
• Julie Ohlson 
• Melinda O’Malley 
• Judy Scarbeck 
• Wendy Schuster 
• Keely Twibell 
• P. Deb Woodlee

25 Years of Service

• Steven Beery 
• Gloria Brown 
• Mark Burns, Jr.
• Michelle Crawford
• Elizabeth Dix 
• Melissa Grover 
• Vivian Haney 
• Roger Hansel 
• Mary Beth Hollinger
• Andrew Horein 
• Erin Horvath 
• Kristina Hursh 
• Jim Langfeldt 
• Kevin McMillen
• Therese Mellor
• Roseann Morehouse
• Regina Mow 
• Lavon Oke 
• Tamara Portolese
• James Schmidt 
• Murray Weaver 
• Jon West 
• Carol Whittaker
• Rhonda Williams 
• Tami Wisniewski 

20 Years of Service

• Kathy Butterworth
• Jennifer Dakins
• Betsy Faulkenburg
• Cynthia Gearhart
• Wendy Hayes
• Maryellyn Knight
• James Mester
• Karen Miller
• Rachelle Morris
• Dorothy Mroczek
• Cheryl Nellis
• Patricia Roby
• Kathleen Sharkey
• Eileen Shingledecker
• Cathy Smith 
• Vickie Stickel
• Melanie Stock
• Scott Vandygriff
• Barbara Zuidema

15 Years of Service

• Mary Carpenter
• Lisa Dallich
• Judy Donati
• Johanna Gregory
• Lynn Hill 
• Melissa Laidig
• Robin Maden 
• Lisa Milliner 
• Rina Parikh
• Jennifer Payne
• Jennifer Sears
• Jenna Tomaszewski

10 Years of Service

• Angela Allen 
• Paula Ellsworth
• Kathryn French
• Renee George 
• Lori Jaworski
• Crystal Keigley
• Susan Mater 
• Alicia Sullivan
• Jennifer Tebell
• Elyse Toth 
• Marisa VanDeventer
• Ginger Whedon​