Twenty-four area schools are among 131 Indiana schools designated by the state for their commitment to students and families of the nation’s military.
The state Department of Education announced the new Purple Star schools on Friday.
“There’s no doubt our schools play a key role in bringing communities together to honor our veterans and provide support for military-connected families throughout the year,” said state Secretary of Education Katie Jenner in a release.
“These schools go the extra mile to provide a supportive learning environment, while acknowledging the unique challenges that military-connected students may face.”
To meet the criteria, schools must have an assigned point of contact for military families; meet all grade-level training requirements for point of contact; have a dedicated website providing recognition and resources for service members, veterans and students and families; and have a dedicated webpage providing recognition and resources for service members, veterans and students and families.
They also must host an annual military recognition program; recognize service members in a public military display; submit a school board resolution publicizing support for military students and families; and guarantee job interviews for service members and their immediate family members who meet minimum job qualifications for open positions.
Here’s a list of the local Purple Star 2024 schools:
Duneland: Bailly, Brummitt, Yost, Jackson, Liberty elementaries; Liberty Intermediate; Liberty Middle School; Westchester Intermediate; Westchester Middle School; Chesterton High School and Northwest Indiana Online School.
Crown Point: Douglas McArthur, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Jerry Ross, Lake Street, Solon Robinson, Timothy Ball, Winfield elementaries; Col. John Wheeler, Robert Taft middle schools and Crown Point High School.
Lake Central: Lake Central High School
Merrillville: Jonas E. Salk Elementary
Diocese of Gary: St. Thomas More, Munster.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.