141 Siefferman Rd
West Harrison, IN 47060

Despite appearing as a state of the art facility with pods for grades, the mindset is very antiquitated. I recommend asking about evidence-based practices. I believe they as doing the best they know how to do, but it is 2025. Some of the practices have longitudinal studies that show they are not effective but they are still used. My impression has been that the kids that walk in, turn their brains off and show absolute compliance do very well. It gives a this isn't the place for any outliers vibe. Awesome things: options for family night, pods for each grade, reading program and process for learning to read, ease of paying for lunch, and having teachers outside at drop off.Not so awesome things: We experienced a change mid-year of teachers. Our classroom shifted from years of experience to a person that was licensed for approximately 6 months. The learning curve has felt very off-putting and concerns are met with a please respect our decision attitude. The expectations do not appear to match development of the brain. The mission and core values do not match the attitude and behaviors demonstrated by staff. I have heard staff talk about other parents and their situations in a judgemental tone as well as a teacher stating she doesn't understand anything one of her students says because of speech. I do not believe that should be shared with me. Recently, the principal admitted several of the more intense behavioral needs students were placed in one classroom. Again, I appreciate the transparency but I do not appreciate the "it is what it is" mentality. This was also evidenced by the principal giving non-verbal communication towards the teacher in front of me and I addressed it because it was so obvious that he held the meeting so he could state that he did so.

I'm alumni of East Central High School, currently living in Washington DC. They prepared me, encouraged me to go to college and I'm faring quite well. I can't believe the improvements to the facilities and hope while these were much needed in some cases that they will refocus some spending on the classroom to increase the knowledge of the next generation in the class room as much as they do outside. Overall they prepared me very well.

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