Fayette County School Corporation

January is School Board Appreciation Month! We don't want to let the month pass without giving a HUGE shoutout to our incredible Board of School Trustees. This group works tirelessly to help make decisions that are in the best interest of our most precious assets...our children. For that and so much more, we THANK YOU! Great things are happening at the Fayette County School Corporation due to your leadership!

The Fayette County School Corporation will operate on a two hour delay tomorrow, Wednesday, January 22nd, 2025. Go Spartans!

PowerSchool Data Breach Update Dear families and educators of the Fayette County School Corporation community, As we previously communicated, PowerSchool – a cloud-based software vendor used by the Fayette County School Corporation – recently experienced a cybersecurity incident involving unauthorized access to certain information in the PowerSchool Student Information System (SIS). PowerSchool serves thousands of school districts across the globe and the impact is widespread. The Fayette County School Corporation could not have prevented this incident locally. We are reaching out to share more information and next steps that we recently received directly from PowerSchool: • Identity Protection and Credit Monitoring Services: PowerSchool has engaged Experian, a trusted credit reporting agency, to offer two years of complimentary identity protection services for all students and educators whose information from our PowerSchool SIS was involved. This offer will also include two years of complimentary credit monitoring services for all adult students and educators whose information was involved. • Notification to Individuals Involved: Starting in the next few weeks, in collaboration with Experian, PowerSchool will provide notice to students (or their parents / guardians if the student is under 18) and educators whose information was involved, as well as a phone number to answer any questions you may have about the incident. The notice will include the identity protection and credit monitoring services offer (as applicable). • As soon as PowerSchool learned of the incident, they engaged cybersecurity response protocols and mobilized senior leadership and third-party cybersecurity experts to conduct a forensic investigation of the scope of the incident and to monitor for signs of information misuse. PowerSchool is not aware of any identity theft attributable to this incident. In the meantime, I encourage you to visit https://www.powerschool.com/security/sis-incident/ for up-to-date information on the cybersecurity incident. We care deeply about the welfare of our Spartan families and will continue to do everything we can to support you. Thank you for the important role you play in our community and your shared commitment to putting our students first. Respectfully, Jeremy Duncan Fayette County School Corporation Superintendent

The Fayette County School Corporation will operate on a two hour delay tomorrow, Tuesday, January 21st, 2025. Go Spartans!

Dear Fayette Central/FCSC Families and Friends, It is with deep sadness that I share the news of the passing of Mrs. Kellie O’Rourke, a cherished member of the Fayette County School Corporation family. Mrs. O’Rourke passed away unexpectedly after a short illness. For over 35 years, Mrs. O’Rourke dedicated herself to the education and care of our students as a special education teacher. She touched countless lives with her compassion, kindness, and unwavering advocacy for her students. Mrs. O’Rourke had a gift for seeing the potential in every child and worked tirelessly to help them succeed. Beyond her commitment to our school community, Mrs. O’Rourke was a familiar face at Kroger, where she worked part-time, and a devoted member of St. Gabriel Church, where her faith and love for others shone brightly. She truly embodied the values of service, love, and dedication, embracing everyone she met with warmth and care. Mrs. O’Rourke’s impact extends far beyond the walls of our classrooms. Her legacy of love, advocacy, and devotion to others will continue to inspire us all. She will be dearly missed by her students, colleagues, and the many families she served over the years. We understand that this news may be difficult for some of our students and families. Grief counselors will be available at school to provide support to anyone who may need it. If your child needs assistance processing this loss, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. As we remember Mrs. O’Rourke, let us honor her incredible contributions by continuing to care for one another with the same kindness and compassion she so freely gave. Thank you for keeping Mrs. O’Rourke’s family, friends, and all who knew and loved her in your thoughts during this difficult time. Just Love, Mrs. Phillips

REMINDER - School will not be in session on Monday, January 20th in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Staff will be participating in a Professional Learning Day. Go Spartans!

Job well done, Coach. Job well done...

Due to deteriorating road conditions, the Fayette County School Corporation will operate on a two hour delay on Monday, January 13th, 2025. Thank you!

01/09/2025 Press Release For Immediate Release Contact: Jeremy Duncan, Fayette County School Corporation Superintendent PowerSchool Data Breach: Information for Fayette County School Corporation Families, Current and Former Employees, Current and Former Students, and Current & Former Attendees of the Whitewater Career Center School officials of the Fayette County School Corporation were recently notified that our student data software vendor, PowerSchool, has experienced a widespread cybersecurity data breach. Unfortunately, it appears some of our Fayette County School Corporation student and employee data was compromised as part of this breach. This includes, but may not be limited to, data for current and former students, current and former employees, and current and former attendees of the Whitewater Career Center. PowerSchool serves thousands of school districts across the United States and Canada and many have been impacted. This unauthorized access was not unique to the Fayette County School Corporation and could not have been prevented locally. PowerSchool has confirmed that the incident was not a ransomware attack, but rather a targeted data theft. The company has worked with third-party cybersecurity experts to mitigate the breach, including engaging CrowdStrike for investigation and paying a ransom to prevent the stolen data from being shared further. They do not anticipate any of the data being shared or made public and are working with cybersecurity experts and law enforcement to ensure ongoing data safety. For affected individuals, PowerSchool has stated that they plan to offer credit monitoring services for adults and identity protection services for minors. We will pass along information from PowerSchool as it is received. We are also working with our Indiana agencies and law enforcement partners to ensure ongoing safety of Fayette County School Corporation data. Having said that, we still recommend you reviewing appropriate steps to take when data is lost or stolen at the following link: https://www.identitytheft.gov/Info-Lost-or-Stolen. We want to assure the Spartan Family that safeguarding student and staff information remains a top priority. Respectfully, Jeremy Duncan Fayette County School Corporation Superintendent

The Fayette County School Corporation will operate on a two hour delay tomorrow, Thursday, January 9th, 2025. Go Spartans!

Due to still hazardous conditions and impassable roads, particularly in the county, FCSC will be closed to in-person instruction Wednesday, January 8th, 2025. This will be our last allowable asynchronous eLearning Day. Future closures will be made up at the end of the school year. School buildings will be open Wednesday from 8-11:30 & 12:30-3 should you wish to retrieve your child's Chromebook and can do so safely. Otherwise, time will be given to make up work as previously described for those who do not have adequate technology or connectivity. Go Spartans!

What do school officials and transportation staff do on snow days? Well, many things. One of those things is driving roads to check on passability for busses and other drivers. Unfortunately sometimes, as our Superintendent and Transportation Director found out today, we get stuck! Despite the incredible efforts of our county plow drivers, many roads are still drifting and impassable as we found out the hard way. There's a lot of snow out there! Be safe, Spartans!

The Fayette County School Corporation would like to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to the incredible individuals who have worked tirelessly the past few days to keep the Spartan Family and the entire community safe. We appreciate you!

The Fayette County School Corporation will close to in-person instruction and move to a second eLearning Day tomorrow, Tuesday, January 7th, 2025. Please check out the below link for more information about eLearning: https://www.fayette.k12.in.us/article/1945172 Thank you and be safe!

The Fayette County School Corporation will close to in-person instruction and move to an eLearning Day on Monday, January 6th, 2025. Please reference the following link for more information about eLearning: https://www.fayette.k12.in.us/article/1945172 Thank you and be safe! Go Spartans!

Dear Fayette County School Corporation Parents and Guardians, As we prepare for the upcoming week, forecasts indicate that inclement weather may be a potential concern. Our priority is always to ensure the safety of our students and staff while maintaining continuity in learning. If weather conditions necessitate school closures, our district will transition to eLearning days. On eLearning days, work is provided to students asynchronously (without live online sessions) through Google Classroom. If your child has a device at home with connectivity, they should plan to complete this work online. We understand that some students may not have their Chromebooks at home due to the recent holiday break. Please rest assured that we will accommodate this situation. Upon return to school, students will be provided work and will be granted two days for each eLearning day to complete any missed assignments. This extension ensures that all students have ample time to catch up without added stress. If a closure is necessary, please watch closely for updates on specific guidelines for work completion, taking attendance, and more from your child's school. Please remember that we are limited to three asynchronous eLearning Days per year. Any school closures beyond three days will result in days added to the end of the school year. There are no built in snow days in the 2024-2025 school calendar. Go Spartans!

Food Pantry/Clothing Closet January 9th & 23rd 4:00-6:00 at LSP

A New Year, A New Chapter for Fayette County Schools I love new beginnings! They provide a chance to start fresh with hope for incredible new adventures, opportunities, and accomplishments to come. And, they provide a window through which to look back at what has come before with humble reflection. And, let's be honest ...We all are in need of new beginnings in life. As we welcome in 2025, I can’t help but be filled with excitement, hope, and a deep sense of gratitude for the amazing students, dedicated staff, and supportive families that make up the Spartan Family. While January 1st could be just another day on the calendar, it also represents a new beginning for those at the Fayette County School Corporation as we begin a new semester of work toward better futures. At FCSC, we pride ourselves in being a community of learners and leaders, united in our mission to empower every student to press into their individual path to purpose in life. Over the past year, we have accomplished so much together, from academic achievements and athletic victories to the completion of important facility improvements and the expansion of innovative programs. These milestones reflect the dedication and passion of our entire school community. But, there is so much still to be done. As we step into this new year, I’d like to share a few of our key priorities and goals: 1. Elevating Student Achievement Providing a high-quality education remains our top priority. We continue to keep a pulse on formative assessment and other data to ensure that our students are growing. In 2025, we will continue to focus on personalized learning experiences, robust career and technical education pathways, and expanding opportunities for advanced coursework and dual credit programs. Every student deserves the tools and support to achieve their dreams, and we are committed to making that happen. 2. Building Durable Skills Recent data released by the Indiana Business Research Center, Fayette County had the second highest rate of unemployment in the state of Indiana as reported in November, 2024. While we could point to a lack of high-demand, high-wage jobs, it is probably also fair to have discussions about workforce readiness, building employability skills in our students, and fostering durable skills to last a lifetime. Our schools have the duty and responsibility, in partnership with our families and industry partners, to make this happen. I look forward to building systems of support to cultivate necessary skills such as communication, collaboration, and work ethic in our students so that they can be prepared for jobs that do not yet exist in our world. 3. Strengthening Community Connections Our schools are the heart of Fayette County, and we value the strong partnerships we share with families, businesses, and community organizations. In 2025, we look forward to expanding these partnerships, blurring the lines between the community and the Corporation for the betterment of our students. Ultimately, if our schools are successful, so then will our community. Together, we can accomplish great things for our students. 4. Investing in Our Future Thanks to the ongoing support of our community, we will continue to make improvements to our school facilities. We are currently in the midst of several building projects including work to improve the physical classroom and common spaces at Frazee Elementary School, replacing aging and dangerous bleachers at our track and football field, and putting the finishing touches on a new varsity baseball diamond. Soon, we will also start a pool project to improve both infrastructure and aesthetics of our CHS pool. These investments ensure that our students and staff have access to modern, safe, and inspiring spaces to learn and grow. As we move forward, I encourage every member of our school community to stay engaged and involved. Whether it’s attending parent-teacher conferences, cheering on a Spartan athletic team, volunteering in the classroom, or simply sharing words of encouragement, your involvement makes a difference. We all have a role to play in building up the great work that is happening within our classrooms. We thank you for taking a positive, supportive role in the education of our children. To our students, I want you to know that we believe in you. You have the power to achieve incredible things, and we are here to support you every step of the way. To our staff, thank you for your unwavering dedication and hard work in doing what is best for our students — you are the backbone of FCSC. And, to our families and community members, thank you for your trust and partnership as we work together to build brighter futures for our students and community. It is a privilege and honor to be your Superintendent. Here’s to a year filled with opportunity, growth, and success. Let’s make it our best year yet! Mr. Jeremy Duncan, FCSC Superintendent

With a chance of inclement weather headed our way and winter knocking at our door, it is a great time to review our guidelines for making decisions about delays and cancellations. IMPORTANT! Monday, January 6th is scheduled as an Early Release Monday for our elementary school buildings and CHS. IF school is ever delayed on an Early Release Monday, please note that the early release would be cancelled and school would be dismissed at the regularly scheduled time. This change is necessary to meet the number of instructional minutes required in a school day per statute. Thank you for your grace and understanding as we work to keep our people safe. Go Spartans!

Congratulations on a job well done with attendance during the first semester of the 2024-25 school year! Currently, Everton holds our top spot with a 96.02% attendance rate. While our Corporation attendance rate of 94.45% is above the state average (94.35%) and last year's district percentage (93.61%), we are still a little behind our goal of 96% attendance for the school year. We need your help! Please make sure that your child is at school each and every day unless there is a legitimate and verifiable reason to miss. And, please remember that all absences should be excused within 24 hours by parent/guardian to avoid legal issues for our families as a result of unexcused absences and habitual truancy designation. As you can see, Fayette Central currently holds the lowest percentage of unexcused absences. Great job! Great things are happening at the Fayette County School Corporation!