By Dr. Thomas Little
Superintendent of Perry Township Schools

Perry Township Schools is fortunate to have the support of our tight-knit community, which invests in our students through tutoring, volunteerism, mentoring, in-kind donations and financial contributions. One of the ways in which our students and teachers are supported is through the Perry Township Education Foundation – a grant making organization that raises funds to support innovative and creative programs to enhance learning.

Since its inception the foundation has funded more than $1.2 million in grants. Just last year it awarded 59 grants, which amounted to $62,000. Teachers are chosen after they apply and describe how the award will help them facilitate a specific project.

For example, first-grade teacher Shelley Dorris of Glenns Valley Elementary was awarded a grant to help her develop “Sci Fri,” an abbreviation for Science Friday. Through the program she invites a (secret) community guest (e.g. parent/guardian, administrator, civic leader) to lead a science demonstration while students assist, complete with lab coats and safety glasses. The goal of the exercise is to help students build interest in science-based curriculum that connects with other subject areas. 

Mary Bryan Elementary teacher Erin Arashiro received a grant to bring “alternative seating” to students. Students can sit in a way that best fits their learning styles, including perched at a regular table, kneeling at a lowered table, standing at a high table, siting or laying on the floor or sitting on stability balls. By having the choice to study in a way that meets their unique learning styles, students are more likely to have improved achievement, according to many studies.

Grants originate from contributions. Some people choose to give directly to the foundation via online donations, planned giving or payroll contributions. Others help by sponsoring or registering for events like the Crafts and More Show, the golf outing or Running South. On April 22 the public can support the foundation by attending an entertaining basketball game between the Harlem Wizards and the Perry Township staff. Last year was the first time that we were treated to this hilarious matchup, and it was a real treat for the kids and kids at heart.

We also appreciate the foundation’s partnerships with organizations like Community Health Network, which provides a licensed nurse to work at every school clinic.

Not all support has to be monetary. The foundation is always looking for active, dedicated volunteers to assist with events, planning committees or daily administrative tasks. Foundation leaders are eager to match the talents and gifts of our community members with projects on its to-do list. It takes a village to be successful.

More information about the foundation and volunteer opportunities are available by visiting www.ptef.org.

By Dr. Thomas Little
Superintendent of Perry Township Schools

Our food services department plays a crucial role in student success as it provides our scholars with nutritious meals, which help them stay focused and energized throughout the school day. 

According to numerous studies, children who eat a balanced breakfast every day perform better in class; they also learn better and behave better than their peers who do not have access to a proper breakfast. 

We also know that students who live in low-income households rely heavily on school meals as their main source of food every day. Because nutrition is so important, the department wants to encourage students to take advantage of offerings besides breakfast and lunch.

The department takes great pride in its meals, which meet the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s school regulations and comply with the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Team members ensure that students have access to healthy meals. At high schools they even provide after-school meals for students who have their own transportation and stay at school after classes dismiss – even if they’re not there to participate in extracurricular activities. Any high school student is eligible for the free meal. The only requirement is that students must eat the dinner on school property. 

At Perry Meridian High, after-school meals are available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 2:30-3:30 p.m. and Wednesday from 2-3 p.m.

Southport High students can grab meals from 2:30-3 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and from 2:05-2:35 p.m. Wednesdays.

We hope more students will begin to take advantage of these offerings. During football season we experience a surge in the number of children who are served. At other times only a fraction of students requests a meal. 

The food services department is also in the process of finalizing its plan to provide breakfasts and lunches to students during spring break and summer vacation at sites across Perry Township. Details will be posted to www.perryschools.org in early March. 
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We appreciate our food service team members who work year-round to provide students with nutritious options to keep our kids fueled throughout the day. By introducing students to healthier foods now, we will hopefully lay the foundation for them to adopt and maintain healthy eating habits in the future. 

By Dr. Thomas Little
Superintendent of Perry Township Schools

Academic enrichment is Perry Township School’s top priority. Yet we still place a high value on the benefits of athletics, which play an important role in developing well-rounded students. 

According to researchers, participation in sports and other extracurricular activities can enhance students’ self-esteem, leadership, communication and decision-making skills. Because we regularly look for ways to improve the athletics and extracurricular experience of our students, we are excited to announce a few important milestones in our athletics program.

Perry Meridian High School was accepted into the Mid-State Conference on Feb. 1 and is expected to be fully integrated into the league by the 2018-19 school year. Since the 1996-97 school year, Perry Meridian has belonged to Conference Indiana, along with township rival Southport High. 

The change will allow the community to unite and cheer for both teams since the Cardinals and Falcons will no longer be rivals in Conference Indiana. Our teams can now meet without anxiety about conference rankings. For the most part, bragging rights will be the only thing at stake.

The new alignment places Perry Meridian in a conference with Decatur Central, Franklin, Greenwood, Martinsville, Mooresville, Plainfield and Whiteland, all of which are similar in the athletics and academic programs they offer.

The change comes at the perfect time for Perry Meridian as it will play its first football game at the brand-new Falcon Stadium on Aug. 18. The facility was funded though the generosity of Ray Skillman.

This grand opening has been 44 years in the making since Perry Meridian has always shared a stadium with Southport. I’m excited to say the community is invited to join us in celebrating the grand opening of the new stadium and the dedication of the historic Cardinal Stadium, which is scheduled for Aug. 25. Both events are still in the planning stages, but I look forward to sharing more details with our community in the near future.

Thrilling things are happening for Perry Township’s athletics program. We hope you’ll join us in cheering on all of our athletes.

​By Dr. Thomas Little
Superintendent of Perry Township Schools

We embrace the change that awaits us this year. At our first Board of Education meeting of the year our board welcomed two members and voted in new leadership.

We’re looking forward to working with our two newest additions, Emily Hartman and Steve Johnson, who took the oath to serve our students and uphold laws pertaining to public education. Emily and Steve have been fixtures in our community for years. 

Emily, a 1996 Perry Meridian graduate, is mother to four Perry Township students. Over the years she’s served as president, treasurer, and vice president of William Henry Burkhart’s PTA. 

Steve has been an ambassador for our community for several decades as well. For 30 years he taught social studies at Perry Meridian High. He has even coached football and track and field. Steve’s two children are graduates of Perry Meridian High, and his wife, Lynne, is a teacher at Glenns Valley Elementary. They have a proven track record of investing in our students. We look forward to their guidance in the coming months.

Ken Mertz and Charles Mercer Jr. were also sworn in after being re-elected. The board also elected its new leadership: Mr. Mertz, president; Ed Denning, vice president; and Jon Morris, secretary. They will serve alongside Steve Maple, whose most recent term has spanned more than 10 years.

The board is a critical component to any public school district. Members are elected by voters; therefore, they represent the community’s values and voice. As the National School Board Association explains, school boards have several functions:

• Provide citizen governance for what the public schools need and what the community wants.
• Help to set the standard for achievement while assuming accountability for performance.
• Ensure taxpayer money is used responsibly.
• Adopt fiscally sound budget.

Our students have an incredibly thoughtful board to advocate for them, and our administrators appreciate the collaborative spirit with which our board approaches problem solving. We are committed to meeting the needs of every child placed in our care, and we value the positive relationship we have with our board, which makes this possible.