* Information is based on original charter application.

Grades served in year 1: 9-10

Grades served at capacity: 9-12

Enrollment in year 1: 100

Enrollment at capacity: 200

Proposed Location: 5125 Decatur Boulevard

Opening: Fall 2005

Mission, Need, and Demand for the School

 ·         The MSD of Decatur Township will open the Decatur Discovery Academy (DDA)  to provide "a non-traditional, personal learning environment in which students are challenged to learn and excel at their own pace through a rigorous inquiry approach to learning."  The school will partner with the Challenger Learning Center, a space simulation center (located in the same building as the school).

·         The school will target students who have not been successful in a traditional high school and work with those students to ensure high school graduation and entry to post-secondary education.

·         The Metropolitan School District of Decatur Township (Decatur Township) formed a committee in fall 2003 to investigate strategies for reducing the dropout rates in Decatur Central High School.  

§         Decatur Township has had approximately 400 8^th grade students entering the 9^th grade each year and last year had only 285 students graduate from high school.  They estimated that 25-30% of the 8th grade graduates weren't continuing on through to graduation.  The committee recommended that the district create a non-traditional high school to meet these students' needs.  Hence the district's decision to pursue this charter school.

·         Decatur Township has identified partnerships to support the school, including: Holladay Properties (the developers of Ameriplex where the school will be located), Panther Racing, and the Central Decatur Lions Club. 

·         The school will also benefit from the university, business, and community organization partnerships that are already supportive of the Decatur Township, including the Ivy Tech State College (which has a campus next to where the charter school will be), the University of Indianapolis and Indiana University. 

Educational Services Provided

·         The DDA will use the highly effective school model Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound (ELOB). 

·         The ELOB model is an outgrowth of Outward Bound, the well-known outdoor leadership training programs created in 1941 in Great Britain. 

·         The ELOB design is a teaching approach (not a curriculum) which emphasizes active learning, character growth, teamwork, and learning expeditions.

·         Because it is a teaching approach, ELOB supports its schools primarily through ongoing professional development, which is critically important to a school's long-term success.  The ELOB professional development opportunities are designed to be active learning experiences and allow local school staff to collaborate with colleagues from other ELOB schools to ensure the full implementation of the school design.

§         The program includes 25-30 days of on-site staff development per year, including a retreat for school leaders and a pre-summer planning institute for teachers. 

§         In addition, a mid-west regional office offers workshops focused on particular content areas and teaching practices, and holds site seminars at exemplary ELOB schools. 

§         National programs include weeklong learning expeditions for teachers, weeklong Outward Bound educator courses, weeklong institutes focused on particular educational practices and content areas, an annual leadership conference for school leaders, and a national conference that focuses on instructional practices.

·         The DDA will become a professional development center, for not only the charter school but also for Decatur Central High School, which will encourage teachers and administrators to share best practices and continuously learn new teaching strategies.

·         The ELOB design allows students to engage in learning expeditions, which are long-term, in-depth investigations of a topic designed by interdisciplinary teams of teachers at each ELOB school, and frequently involve fieldwork in the community. 

·         ELOB schools typically group students in "crews" where a group of not more than 12-15 students is assigned to a staff member for a multi-year period.  Crews set the tone for discipline and culture in the school by promoting an atmosphere of teamwork, cooperation, and high expectations. 

·         Service learning is a key to the model.  Students learn about service though the school culture and learning expeditions geared toward community service.

·         The DDA has set high expectations for students, including the following goals: 90% of sophomores will meet the GQE standard in fall 2006 and 90% of students will enroll in a post-secondary institution immediately upon graduation.

·         Parental involvement is essential to DDA's success.  The school will strive to build a strong relationship between school and home to support the students.  Students will participate in weekly progress reviews that will be shared with parents and students will lead conferences at least twice a year which parents will attend. Parents will also complete annual surveys and have the opportunity to participate in a parent council group.

·         Staff at the Challenger Learning Center will incorporate the DDA students into their space simulation program by providing custom science classes and learning expeditions for the students and offering a Flight Directors in Training program.

·         The DDA students will be able to take classes at Ivy Tech State College, which is located in the school's building.  In addition, Decatur Township is exploring the possibility of an Ivy Tech staff member working at the DDA to support students and help prepare them for Ivy Tech classes.  This partnership will help DDA students successfully transition from high school to post-secondary education.

Summary of the Founding Group

·         The Metropolitan School District of Decatur Township, led by Superintendent Don Stinson, is the driving force behind the DDA.

·         The district created the non-traditional high school planning committee in 2003 to research how to better meet the needs of students who are not being served by Decatur Central High School.

·         The planning committee engaged in significant research of the community and educational models before determining that the ELOB design was the best suited to meet the students' needs.

·         As a school district, Decatur Township is unmatched in the resources it can bring to the DDA.

·         The Board of Directors will oversee the DDA and is comprised of seven members, including: five community/business members, two current Decatur Township School Board members, and the Decatur Township Superintendent or his designee (as a non-voting, ex-officio member). 

·         Four of the seven Board members are parents of current or former students in Decatur Township.

Governance and Management

·         The DDA Board of Directors will oversee the school, including establishing fiscal policy, approving budgets, monitoring the accountability plan, and communicating with the charter school sponsor.  The Board will have ultimate responsibility for the school's performance and compliance with the charter agreement.

·         The Superintendent or his designee will be the Chief Executive Officer of the school and will assist in the maintenance of the school's vision.  The principal and staff will work directly with the Superintendent in the day-to-day operation of the school.

·         The Assistant Superintendent for Business for Decatur Township will act as the school's Business Manager and will monitor the budget and expenditures to allow the principal to focus on instruction and academics.

·         Decatur Township has already identified a leader for the school, John Pietrzak, an experienced principal who has 27 years of experience in education.

·         The principal will have the autonomy to make instructional and budget decisions for the school, including hiring and evaluating the staff, creating annual budgets in cooperation with the Assistant Superintendent of Business, and overseeing all aspects of the curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

·         ELOB will not manage the school, but will provide the professional development and support services essential to implement the school's curriculum

·         The teachers at DDA will be affiliated with the Decatur Education Association and will have the same contract as other Decatur Township teachers.

Financial Viability

·         Decatur Township has identified a facility within the district for the school at 5125 Decatur Boulevard (the same building as the Challenger Learning Center and a new Ivy Tech State College campus).

·         Decatur Township has committed to providing the financial and human capital resources necessary to make the DDA successful and clearly has all the expertise necessary to start the school, including curriculum, instruction, assessment, and management.

·         Decatur Township will provide financial management, transportation for year 1, and human resources (e.g. payroll and benefit services) at no cost to the school.  The school will provide transportation in subsequent years (funds for transportation in years 2-5 are included in the budget).

·         For their planning efforts, the DDA received a Gates Foundation planning grant from the Center for Excellence in Leadership of Learning (CELL) at the University of Indianapolis to fund their efforts to research and evaluate innovative school designs for the school, which led to the partnership with ELOB.

·         ELOB received a $12.5 million grant from the Gates Foundation in 2003 to create 20 small ELOB high schools.  The DDA will benefit from this grant through the professional development that the grant will provide for the school's teachers and administrators.

Accessibility

·          Decatur Township will ensure that the full spectrum of special education services is provided for DDA students.  Instruction at the DDA will be differentiated for each student to accommodate his or her needs in keeping with DDA's philosophy of full inclusion for all students.

·         DDA will join the RISE cooperative which provides special education services for Decatur Township and will employ a special education teacher full time to serve students.

·         Decatur Township will also make sure that DDA students receive the same ESL services and support that are available to other Decatur Township students, including ongoing direct services and special tutoring as necessary.

·         In year 1, Decatur Township will provide transportation for DDA students at no cost to the school.  After year 1, the school's budget includes an allowance of $50,000 per year for bus transportation.  Decatur Township has committed to providing transportation on Decatur Township busses for any students residing in Decatur Township or in the desegregation area in Mapleton-Fall Creek.  In addition, DDA will make IndyGo bus passes available to students.

Leadership Information

*Note: The information provided below is solely a summary of qualifications, and does not reflect a comprehensive description of each founding member's expertise and experience.

Name and Proposed Positions of Applicants

·         Debbie Sullivan—Authorized Representative, Decatur Township Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction

·         Donald Stinson — Decatur Township Superintendent and Non-voting DDA Board Member

·         Jeffrey Baer— Decatur Township Assistant Superintendent for Business and DDA's Business Manager)

·         Gary Pellico—Project Director of the Challenger Learning Center in Decatur Township

·         John Pietrzak—DDA Principal

·         Jane Barnes— DDA Board Member

·         Bruce Borud— DDA Board Member

·         Cheri Corsaro— DDA Board Member

·         Donald Huffman— DDA Board Member and current Decatur Township School Board Member

·         Anthony Scott— DDA Board Member

·         Larry Taylor— DDA Board Member and current Decatur Township School Board Member

·         Christopher Wilkes— DDA Board Member

Capacities Represented by Applicants (by topic area)

School Leader Biography

·         John Pietrzak will be the Principal for the DDA.  An experienced educator, John has 27 years of experience in education.  He has worked as a high school principal and as a staff development trainer.  He has also been the director of an alternative school for one year and a director of academics and vice-principal for a private school. 

Education

Experience

·        Debbie Sullivan is the current Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction of Decatur Township.  She has also worked as an elementary school teacher, staff development consultant, assistant principal and elementary school principal.  She has chaired numerous committees at the school and district level including curriculum writing, textbook adoption and school improvement. 

·        Don Stinson is the Superintendent of Decatur Township.  He held a number of positions before becoming Superintendent including classroom teacher and elementary principal.

·        Jeffrey Baer is the current Assistant Superintendent for Business of Decatur Township.  He has been an educator for 28 years and has been a superintendent, principal, and assistant principal as well as a middle and high school teacher.  As a superintendent in another district, he started an alternative school and implemented a full-day kindergarten.

·        Gary Pellico is the Project Director of the Challenger Learning Center in Decatur Township.  He has been an educator for 32 years and has held a variety of teaching and administrative jobs including elementary school principal and director of planning.  When he worked for IPS, he helped develop the Select Schools Plan for student choice. 

·        John Pietrzak has worked at both public and private schools for over 27 years.  He has been a high school principal, director of alternative education, staff development trainer and director of academics. 

·        Donald Huffman was a teacher in Decatur Township for 35 years and is a member of the Decatur Township School Board.  

·        Anthony Scott currently works in higher education as associate director for a scholarship program.    

·        Larry Taylor is a member of the Decatur Township School Board.    

Training

·        Debbie Sullivan has a PhD in educational leadership, and a BS and MS in elementary education. 

·        Don Stinson has an EdS in education from Indiana University.  He has also attended the Indiana Principal Leadership Academy and the Indiana University Beginning Superintendent Leadership Academy.

·        Jeffrey Baer has a PhD in educational administration as well as an MS in education. 

·        Gary Pellico has an MS in education and a license in elementary administration and supervision. 

·        John Pietrzak has a BA and MA in Education and is certified in administration and supervision. 

·        Don Huffman has an MS in education.

·        Anthony Scott is pursuing an MS in higher education.  

Other Youth Work

Experience

·        Gary Pellico is a past president and board member of the Council for Exceptional Children.

·        John Pietrzak has worked as a program director at the YMCA.

·        Cheri Corsaro has volunteered with young people in several capacities: Girl Scout leader, school volunteer, district curriculum committee, PTA member, etc.

·        Don Huffman was a coach for many years in the school district and he currently directs the driver education program.

·        Anthony Scott has worked to recruit students for a major university and for a scholarship program.  He has also been a volunteer mentor at a high school and a member of the PTA.

·        Larry Taylor has been a girls' basketball league president and has also been on the board of the Decatur Youth Athletic Association.  He is a 5^th and 6^th grade football coach.   

Management

Experience

·        Bruce Borud managed a company that marketed insurance services.  He has also had experience with sales management.

·        Jane Barnes manages logistics for a professional racing team and has managed doctor's offices and nursing staff in previous positions.

·        Christopher Wilkes is Senior Vice President of Holladay Properties. 

Entrepreneurialism

Experience

·        Debbie Sullivan started an early childhood center.

Finance / Accounting

Experience

·        Jeffrey Baer is currently the Assistant Superintendent for Business.

·        Christopher Wilkes has held various financial management positions.  He was the CFO of Panther Racing and the manager of a real estate investment fund.  He also worked as a senior financial analyst and senior internal auditor for a real estate company.

Marketing / Public Relations

Experience

·        Jane Barnes directs public relations for an auto racing team.

·        Bruce Borud was part-owner of a company that marketed insurance services and previously was responsible for marketing insurance services at two other companies.  

·        Anthony Scott has worked in marketing and sales in many different capacities including army recruitment, project manager for a marketing firm, and minority recruitment for a major university.

Management of Public Funds

Experience

·         Jeffrey Baer is the Assistant Superintendent for Business in Decatur Township and as such manages the public funds received by Decatur Township.  He also had experience managing public funds as a superintendent in North Vermillion Community School Corporation.

·         Don Stinson has experience managing public funds as the Superintendent of Decatur Township.