Fiscal Responsibility

STRATEGIC GOAL – P-H-M will provide necessary financial resources to support high quality teaching and learning while maintaining fiscal responsibility. 

MEASURES OF OUR SUCCESS

  • Decreased tax rate $.1556 in 2015
  • Maintain General Fund operating balance for 8 years
  • Rainy Day Fund maintained for emergencies
  • Adopt budget at maximum levy; File for appeals on additional revenue when qualify
  • Competitive bidding on purchases and services for cost efficiency
  • Revenue generators include non-resident student enrollment, Energy education, additional vocational programs, grants
  • Partnered with City of Mishawaka for PLTW initiative for classroom technology

 

Professional Development Goals

STRATEGIC GOAL – P-H-M will have the highest quality trained faculty and staff by continuing to invest in ongoing, job-embedded professional development.

MEASURES OF OUR SUCCESS

Performance and Accountability – 100% of P-H-M teachers are rated Effective or Highly Effective on Indiana’s teacher evaluation system. 

Indiana Principal of the Year  – Penn High School Principal Steve Hope was named Indiana Principal of the year in November 2015

Indiana Teacher of the Year – Stacy McCormack, Penn physics teacher, was named Indiana Teacher of the Year in 2011, distinguishing herself at the state and national level.

Professional Distinction – A P-H-M educator has been named as a finalst for Indiana Teacher of the Year five of the past six years. 

Student Achievement Analysis – Our decisions, including planned professional development, are data-driven and based on what we need to do to meet our students’ needs. 

Ensuring College and Career Readiness – Our teaching staff is equipped and enabled to provide instruction that is both relevant and rigorous. The high school faculty is trained in best practices, including how to be part of an effective Professional Learning Community. 

Current Educational Trends – We bring in nationally-recognized speakers and trainers and allow teachers time out of the classroom for these growth opportunities. 

Customer Service at all Levels – The expectation is clear and the training is provided so that all staff are positioned to serve our community in a helpful, pleasant, and respectful manner.

Continuous Professional Growth – Teacher retention is high because the district values and invests in them. In addition to year-round professional development, a Summer Curriculum Institute is designed to introduce new materials or new skills ahead of the coming school year. 

Building Administrative Capacity – P-H-M has a culture of honoring growth and recognizing excellence. Through mentoring, support, and structured administrative experiences, a number of good teachers have become great principals and administrators within the district. 

 

College & Career Readiness Goals

STRATEGIC GOAL – Preparing all students for the world beyond the walls of Penn. Students will be experienced with high-level thinking in all courses with the expectation of continual growth and expanded thinking.

MEASURES OF OUR SUCCESS

District Grade –  P-H-M is an A-rated school district for the 5th consecutive year.

School Grades –  The district got an ‘A’ grade for the fifth consecutive year. Thirteen of the 15 schools earned A’s. Two schools earned high B’s. 

Four Star Schools –  Seven of P-H-M’s schools are recognized by the Indiana Department of Education as high-achieving Four Star Schools. 

90-25-90 is an elite status, accorded to top-performing high schools based on the three measures below.

Graduation rate must exceed 90%. ⇒ Penn’s graduation rate is 97%

Advanced Placement (AP) and Advanced College Placement (ACP) participation/passing rate must exceed 25%. ⇒ Penn far exceeds the target at 62%.

Algebra I End of Course Assessment (ECA) and the English 10 End of Course Assessment passing rate must exceed 90%. ⇒ 94% of Penn students passed Algebra I ECA; 93% passed the English 10 ECA.

ISTEP – Based on the passing rate of our students, P-H-M is in the top 5% of all schools statewide.

IREAD –  91% of P-H-M third graders passed this annual reading proficiency test.

Many other measures can be used to gauge P-H-M’s success at the state level and nationally. These include the ISTEP-based Indiana Growth Model and college entrance exams such as PSAT/SAT and the ACT.  

All students benefit from differentiated instruction, and programs in place that support high ability students, English-language learners, and those with special needs.  

At the high school, the Freshman Academy helps ninth graders transition to college and career expectations, and four Achievement Academies provide structured programs of study aligned with career interests and aptitudes. Some will choose the Early College Academy as a way to work toward an Associates Degree while earning a high school diploma. 

The school district’s goal is to provide an educational environment for students to reach their highest academic achievement. We will help them become lifelong learners who are ready to adapt, contribute to and succeed in a changing world. 

Public Participation in Board Meetings

You can watch our Board Meetings livestreamed on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PennHarrisMadison

Members of the public can address the Trustees on agenda Board Action Items and the Hearing of Visitors. Any patron of the School Corporation who desires to address the Board during a regular meeting shall be required to state his/her name and address for the record. (per policy 0167.3 adopted June 27, 2005; last revised Sept. 13, 2010)

Visitors Requesting Permission to Address the Board on a Specific Agenda Item (In-person Regular Meetings):

  • Visitors requesting permission to address the Board on a specific agenda item are requested to complete a registration form prior to the meeting for each item.
  • A time limit of three (3) minutes during the discussion of that agenda item will be enforced for persons wishing to speak on any specific agenda item.
  • Visitors will be restricted to one (1) appearance per item.

The public can also address the Board during the Hearing of Visitors.

Hearing of Visitors (In-person Regular Meetings):

  • Anyone wishing to address the Board on general topics is invited to do so under this item, Hearing of Visitors, without registering.
  • The Hearing of Visitors will begin at the conclusion of the regular agenda.
  • A time limit of three (3) minutes shall be enforced for persons wishing to speak during the Hearing of Visitors.
  • It is requested that names and addresses be stated at the beginning of such comments.
  • Individuals may speak only once during this section of this agenda.

Virtual Public Comment Procedures:

 Visitors wishing to address the School Board Members virtually should email boardvisitor@phm.k12.in.us. You will need to share the following information in that email: 

  • Name
  • Address
  • Phone number
  • Organization you may be representing
  • If you have student(s) in the school corporation.  

Please note that all requests to speak virtually must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. 

Please review policy 0167.3  for procedures for visitors requesting permission to address the Board on during Special Meetings.

Board Meeting Dates

2024-2025

All regular board meetings are held in the Board Room at the Educational Services Center, 55900 Bittersweet Road, Mishawaka, and begin at 6:00 p.m., unless otherwise noted. The Board Meeting dates are listed below; click to see them.

All regular meetings are open to the public and the news media. P-H-M Board Meetings are also shared via livestream through the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation’s YouTube Channel, click to to visit the PHM YouTube page.

​Public Participation at Board Meetings:

Per policy 0167.3 (adopted June 27, 2005; last revised Sept. 13, 2010), members of the public can address the Trustees on agenda Board Action Items and the Hearing of Visitors. Any patron of the School Corporation who desires to address the Board during a regular meeting shall be required to state his/her name and address for the record.

Visitors Requesting Permission to Address the Board on a Specific Agenda Item (In-person Regular Meetings):

  • Visitors requesting permission to address the Board on a specific agenda item are requested to complete a registration form prior to the meeting for each item.
  • A time limit of three (3) minutes during the discussion of that agenda item will be enforced for persons wishing to speak on any specific agenda item.
  • Visitors will be restricted to one (1) appearance per item.

The public can also address the Board during the Hearing of Visitors.

Hearing of Visitors (In-person Regular Meetings):

  • Anyone wishing to address the Board on general topics is invited to do so under this item, Hearing of Visitors, without registering.
  • The Hearing of Visitors will begin at the conclusion of the regular agenda.
  • A time limit of three (3) minutes shall be enforced for persons wishing to speak during the Hearing of Visitors.
  • It is requested that names and addresses be stated at the beginning of such comments.
  • Individuals may speak only once during this section of this agenda.

Virtual Public Comment Procedures:

 Visitors wishing to address the School Board Members virtually should email boardvisitor@phm.k12.in.us. You will need to share the following information in that email: 

  • Name
  • Address
  • Phone number
  • Organization you may be representing
  • If you have student(s) in the school corporation.  

Please note that all requests to speak virtually must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. 

Please review policy 0167.3  for procedures for visitors requesting permission to address the Board on during Special Meetings.

Any changes in the starting times or location changes are so noted in red on the schedule below.

Day Date Location Time
Monday June 23, 2025 ESC 6:00 p.m.
Monday July 21, 2025 ESC 6:00 p.m.
Monday August 5, 2024 *Budget Work Session Only ESC 6:00 p.m.
Monday August 11, 2025 ESC 6:00 p.m.
Monday September 8, 2025 ESC 6:00 p.m.
Monday October 6, 2025 Meadow’s Edge 6:00 p.m.
Monday November 10, 2025 Dr. Jerry and Donna
Thacker Fieldhouse		 6:00 p.m.
Monday December 8, 2025 ESC 6:00 p.m.
Monday January 12, 2026 ESC 6:00 p.m.
Monday January 12, 2026 *Board of Finance Meeting ESC Immediately following
the Board Meeting
Monday February 9, 2026 Penn High School  6:00 p.m.
Monday March 16, 2026Moran   6:00 p.m.
Monday April 20, 2026 ESC 6:00 p.m.
Monday May 18, 2026 Mary Frank 6:00 p.m.
Monday June 22, 2026 ESC 6:00 p.m.
Monday July 20, 2026 ESC 6:00 p.m.

*The annual Budget Work Session will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, August 4, 2025. No Regular Meeting followed that evening.

**The annual Board of Finance meeting will be held on Monday, January 12, 2026 immediately following the Regular Meeting at 6:00 p.m.

The Board’s meeting site is fully accessible to all persons. Any person requiring further accommodation should contact Rachel Hoogenboom, Administrative Assistant to the School Board: rhoogenboom@phm.k12.in.us or (574) 258-9570.