2016 Leader in Excellence Winner

Center Grove Community School Corp

SMS 2.0

A Skyward district partner since 2007, Center Grove Community School Corporation in Indiana has implemented many effective programs to improve student outcomes while reducing costs. The district’s Mobile Minds program connects students in grades 6-12 with iPads to expand their ability to use technology to access and complete assignments. Teachers are also able to keep students updated on classwork through the program.

The district has reduced costs by transitioning to paperless report cards and using Skyward’s message center to communicate with students and parents. Center Grove has also created electronic forms, automated attendance, and implemented Skyward’s Food Service module, in addition to other paperless initiatives. The district has experienced significant savings each year as a result. Family and Student Access have greatly improved the ability of teachers and administrators to communicate with students and families on issues regarding attendance, lunch account balances, or academic and general communication.

In addition to Skyward’s Student Management Suite, Center Grove has also adopted the School Business Suite to transition employment applications and onboarding processes to a paperless model. Using Skyward’s system has allowed staff to quickly integrate new modules as well as update existing ones. The human resources module has allowed the department to become nearly 100% paperless.

Center Grove has received multiple awards and recognitions. After receiving a “Summer of eLearning” grant from the Indiana Department of Education, the district used funds to host a state eLearning conference. Five hundred attendees from schools throughout the state participated in the professional seminar. The district was also a Mira Award finalist in 2013, presented by Techpoint for excellence in technology in Indiana. Center Grove was recognized again in 2014 by the Indiana Department of Education for excellence in digital learning. A $100,000 grant was awarded for the district to expand its Mobile Minds initiative into middle schools.

Center Grove also received a top ranking in 2015 for the second year in the Center for Digital Education and National School Boards Association’s Digital School Districts Survey. The survey showcases exemplary school boards’ and districts’ use of technology to govern their district and improve operations, as well as to communicate with students, parents, and the community.

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