Jim Sullivan

Dear Perry Township residents,

I would like to take this opportunity to put pen to paper, so to speak and share with you my reasoning for supporting the extension of the upcoming Perry Township Schools operating Referendum.

First, and foremost reason, the kids! As a long term Perry Township resident and also as an elected leader here in Perry Township, who is ALWAYS being mindful of good stewardship… I know we are getting a good return on our investment in our schools. I have had 3 sons, not to mention, my wife as well go through Perry Township Schools. Two of my three sons and also, my wife are PMHS graduates. My youngest son is currently a very active PMHS student. I can honestly tell you that I know how central Perry Schools are to us, and more precisely, their teachers have been to my kids’ development and success in life.  

All three of my sons have participated in various Perry activities at different times from sports, like football and swimming, to Robotics, Scouts, Band and Orchestra. We have all enjoyed and been enriched by all that Perry Schools have had to offer. My oldest son is graduating from Xavier University Honors program in May of 2022. My middle son is attending Purdue University in West Lafayette for Computer Engineering and Technology, and my youngest, as I mentioned, is currently at PMHS, and is a very actively involved student at Perry Meridian High School where he is engaged in activities both academic and otherwise. Activities like Band, Art, Academic Pursuit, Swimming, Track, and Lacrosse just to name a few.

Years ago, my wife and I chose to grow our family here and be fully engaged with our community. I am genuinely proud of our schools, our teachers, our parents and specifically the Perry Schools commitment to all of our students.

It’s important to note that Approval of this referendum WILL NOT raise our taxes! The referendum is a vote to keep in place funds that were approved by the voters in 2015. Approving the Perry Township operating referendum makes sense for our schools, our children, and our larger Perry Township community. Failure to pass the extension of this referendum that was solidly supported by voters back in 2015 will result in many of the programs and services that our Perry Township families have come to rely on being either eliminated or greatly reduced.

Superintendent Pat Mapes has outlined some of the dire consequences that Perry would face if this referendum fails to pass.

·         The Township will be forced to eliminate more than 200 jobs. Of which, 193 teachers or approximately 20% of the teachers that are now serving the nearly 17, 000 Perry Township students will be lost. The result of this loss of educators will mean larger classroom sizes for our children. Forcing Teachers to do a lot more with a lot less.

·         Transportation will also be cut. The result? More students will have to walk to their school.

·         Enriching programs like sports, art, music, and similar will all likely face cuts or outright elimination.

Further, our Perry Township Schools, which have been widely recognized both inside this state and also nationally for their academic successes will likely suffer setbacks in their mission to educate and prepare our Perry Township kids. Academically speaking, Perry is performing well. This in large part is due to our community supporting Perry Schools in 2015 referendum vote with appropriate levels of operational funding.

For your reference.

·         In 2021, students of Perry Township School exceeded the state average on the state standardized ILEARN test for English Language Arts and Math. Out of 11 Marion County school districts, Perry Township Schools is one of three that scored higher than the statewide average for both math and ELA. (www.wfyi.org/news/ilearn-scores-point-to-years-ofrecovery-for-marion-county-students )

I believe that at the heart of every great community will also be found a great school – or school system.

Our mission as community leaders and also as invested adults should always be to help our Perry Township kids achieve and be the best and most successful person that they could possibly be. We all want our kids to become great citizens. We want them to be happy, well rounded, and well adjusted citizens who are able to take on and meet life’s challenges. Supporting Perry Township Schools is one of the best ways to help deliver on these goals. Like I said earlier, I believe that at the heart of every great community is always a great school!

I encourage you to vote YES to Perry Township Schools operating referendum on Tuesday May 3, 2022.

 

Sincerely,

Jim Sullivan

Perry Township Resident

 

Jim Sullivan is a member of the Perry Township Board, representing District 1 in Indianapolis