Inside La Porte Schools

What does it mean for a school district to be a place families choose, rather than the one they default to? At a board retreat this summer, the La Porte school board and district leadership spent a day answering one question: why are we here, and where do we want to go? The answer was a destination district, and this month the board announced what that means for the next six years. Superintendent Dr. Sandra Wood is joined by board President Ryan Seaburg and board members Amy Jackson and Nate Loucks for a candid conversation about the goal, the money behind it, and the two years of careful planning that come first. In this episode: What a school board actually does, and why these three ran Why the board set a goal of becoming the highest-paying district in Northwest Indiana in every role by 2032 How revenue from the Microsoft development works, when it arrives, and why the district is confident in it What changes for families and staff now, before any new dollars arrive The revenue funding this goal comes from property taxes on new development that does not exist today. The district receives 15 percent of what that development generates. No referendum and no tax increase. Learn more at https://www.lpcsc.k12.in.us. Board meetings are open to the public, and questions are welcome at any point along the way. Inside La Porte Schools. Real stories. Clear answers. Students first.

Indiana Senate Bill 78 requires bell-to-bell restrictions on personal devices next school year. Dr. Sandra Wood talks with assistant principals Jordan Heckard and Ben Braden about the Yondr pouch program for grades 5-12 and what a normal school day will look like.

What are professional learning communities, and why does next year's calendar include eight early release days? Superintendent Dr. Sandra Wood sits down with Zach Huber, the district's new Director of Curriculum and Instruction, to explain how teachers will use that time to learn from one another, examine student progress together, and strengthen instruction in every classroom. Fresh off five years as principal of Hailmann Elementary, Mr. Huber shares the research behind the PLC model, what families can expect, and where the district is headed next. Real stories. Clear answers. Students first.

What does a global technology giant have to do with the future of La Porte Community Schools? Everything. In this episode of Inside La Porte Schools, Superintendent Dr. Sandra Wood sits down with Mayor Tom Dermody and Bert Cook, Executive Director of the La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership, to discuss the historic agreement between the City of La Porte and La Porte Community Schools made possible by Microsoft's full-tax commitment to the community. Dr. Wood and her guests break down how Microsoft chose La Porte, what the new 20-year agreement means for the district, and why this partnership is unlike anything seen before in Indiana school finance. They also address common misconceptions about data center development and share what this investment will mean for students, including the launch of a Microsoft Data Center Academy at the Slicer CTE campus. This is a conversation about more than dollars and tax agreements. It's about what's possible when public schools, local government, and private business work together with a shared vision for the future.

In this episode of Inside La Porte Schools, Superintendent Sandra Wood kicks off season two by introducing two new leaders for the 2025-2026 school year: Dr. Aaron Owney, the new Assistant Superintendent for Operations, and Kyle Dean, the new Principal of Kingsbury Elementary School. Dr. Owney and Mr. Dean share their educational journeys, goals, and initial experiences in their roles within the La Porte Community School Corporation. The conversation covers the challenges and strategies related to their roles and examines how school operations affect student success. The episode concludes with insights into the intricacies of school finance and the collaborative efforts required to navigate upcoming budget constraints. 00:00 Welcome to Inside LaPorte Schools 00:34 Introducing New Leaders for the 25-26 School Year 01:20 Dr. Aaron Owney’s Educational Journey 04:52 Kyle Dean's Path to Kingsbury Elementary 08:13 Challenges and Growth in New Roles 14:05 Dr. Owney's Role and Responsibilities 16:17 Navigating School Funding Challenges 21:06 Goals and Future Plans 31:30 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up