Ms. Tricia Hacket

Carmel Clay School Board President

Sent via e-mail (thackett@ccs.k12.in.us)

Dear Ms. Hackett,

We are writing to express our concerns over the redistricting process.  To say we are disappointed is an understatement.  Carmel Clay Schools is a large school district and the redistricting process is a complicated undertaking.  Therefore, we understand what a challenge this must be for the school board and CCS administration.

We are all on the same page with the ultimate goal of successful long term planning.  Given the school district’s history of having to redistrict every three years, it is critical that we, as a community, get it right for future planning.     If we need to redistrict on a grand scale, should we not take the time to do it right?   Key decision makers need to apply decision-making principles evenly across the district.  The sound consistency necessary to make this a successful process is not happening at this stage.  

We are very concerned with the lack of transparency exhibited by the administrative team thus far. The administrative team, under the direction of Steve Dillon, has been less than forthcoming with any information to make this a successful process.  At both public meetings and in private conversations, both PAC members and taxpaying residents of Carmel are shut down when they press any member of the administrative team for the information that forms the basis of this redistricting plan.

There is a great deal of emotion around this redistricting process and there are clearly inequities among the various elementary schools across the district.  The members of this administrative team are experts in their own fields of educational administration, not redistricting. They are not demographers nor are they city planners.  These are clearly experts that need to be involved in this process to avoid neighborhoods flip-flopping schools every 3 years because we cannot get this right.  

What we are asking for is to involve relevant, yet neutral experts, to resolve this issue in a fair and equitable manner.  The schools have demonstrated their commitment to excellence and the taxpayers/parents have consistently voted in support of their efforts as most recently demonstrated through the passage of the CCS referendum in May.

Let’s get this right for the current CCS students as well as the future of our community.  We look forward to continuing this conversation before any further action is taken.  We appreciate your expedited response.

Sincerely,

Concerned Parents of Carmel Clay Schools

cc:        Mr. Andrew Klein

            Mr. Greg Phillips

            Ms. Pamela Knowles

            Ms. Layla Spanenberg

            Dr. Jeffrey Swensson

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