West Lafayette teachers praise programs, community support and referendum during public comment

Several unnamed teachers representing West Lafayette Community School Corporation used the meeting's public-comment period to describe what they called strong academic, musical and social-emotional supports in the district and to credit a local referendum with sustaining programming.

"I think West Lafayette puts a lot of things in place to be able to help students develop wholeheartedly in all areas," Teacher (speaker 1) said. "So we have strong music programs, strong academic programs. We work on students' social emotional needs and build, through classroom guidance lessons and through social skills groups to help support them."

Teacher (speaker 2) described day-to-day staff support: "Anytime I have a question, I know I can rely on 10 to 12 different people I know I could ask for advice or a suggestion." Teacher (speaker 3) said the district receives financial support through "opportunities, grants written for the schools," and sporting and extracurricular activities. Teacher (speaker 4) highlighted the district's diversity: "Our community is made up of families from all over the world. I learn so much from my kids about the world and, about resilience."

On funding, Teacher (speaker 1) said the district benefits from a voter-approved referendum: "Our school district is lucky to have a referendum that passes which allows us to do these things. Without those opportunities and without the funding that goes with that, our school wouldn't be able to do the things that we have in place right now." The speakers did not provide dollar amounts or dates for the referendum during their remarks.

All comments occurred during public comment; no motions, votes or board directives were announced in the portions of the meeting that included these remarks.