District updates family‑engagement work as committees compare ratings and prepare applications

A district family‑engagement staff member reported progress on the Family Friendly Schools designation and described classroom work and community events that staff say are intended to increase family involvement and cultural inclusion.

The presenter said building committees have been self‑rating six Family Friendly Schools standards — welcoming families, effective communication, supporting student success, advocating for every child, sharing power, and community collaboration — and that committees will meet in April to compare those ratings with results from surveys completed by staff, students and parents.

The speaker said West Lafayette will submit initial Family Friendly Schools applications for all three district schools in April or May and highlighted a West Lafayette Intermediate School cultural night that drew more than 250 attendees and volunteers representing 11 cultures and heritages.

The presenter said she has conducted classroom lessons across kindergarten through seventh grade and listed goals for 2025–26, including maintaining the Family Friendly Schools designation, reviewing district procedures related to McKinney‑Vento, and using data from the designation process and the PASA/PASA‑style surveys to improve districtwide communications.

During board and public questions, one audience member asked whether the district has families facing homelessness; the presenter answered that in her experience every district has students facing housing instability and that the district will review McKinney‑Vento procedures in coordination with central office to determine any necessary policy or procedural updates. The presenter said she would work with central office to review board policy cited in questioning as “1, 500111Dot01” and associated recordkeeping and notification steps.

Commenters asked whether the building committees included representative staff from many grade levels and whether committee members were working outside of contracted hours; the presenter said the committees include a diverse set of staff (including kindergarten, first, second and special education at elementary, and multiple departments at the high school) and that committee members were participating outside contract hours.

Speakers in public comment also raised the status of House Bill 1002, which at the time of the meeting had passed the House and was in the state Senate; the presenter said the district is monitoring that bill and will continue to use information gathered from the Family Friendly Schools process even if state funding or requirements change.

The presenter closed by restating contact information and the district’s intent to apply local data to district goals and communications work.