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The Purdue Polytechnic High School board of directors will close the charter network’s South Bend location amid financial challenges while it focuses on the long-term stability of its two remaining Indianapolis campuses.

The decision comes amid declining enrollment at both its South Bend and Broad Ripple campuses that could signal a broader enrollment challenge for both traditional public and charter schools. The South Bend location served 112 students this year, according to state enrollment records.

PPHS declined an interview through a public relations professional and did not answer specific questions about the South Bend closure. And it’s unclear if the network still has plans for a third Indianapolis location as previously planned.

In June, OEI issued a notice of deficiency for the network’s two Indianapolis campuses that cited concerns over financial reporting and missed enrollment targets at the Broad Ripple campus.

But in a statement last week, OEI Executive Director Shaina Cavazos said the school is well-positioned to build strong fiscal health based on recent performance and enrollment trends.

“Throughout my communication with the board and school leadership, it has been clear the focus remains on building strong fiscal health for the Indianapolis schools,” Cavazos said.

In South Bend, a partnership with the Career Academy Network of Public Schools — another charter network with four schools in South Bend — allows PPHS South Bend students to be offered priority enrollment at Career Academy schools next school year, the network said in a press release. South Bend staff members will also be able to interview for open positions at Career Academy locations.

Fast growth in first campus sparks quick launch of two others

PPHS launched in Indianapolis in 2017 with the support of former Governor and then-Purdue University President Mitch Daniels. The high school model focuses on science, technology, engineering, and math with a goal of increasing the number of historically underserved students of color attending Purdue University.

The network’s first location in the east side area of Englewood, approved by the mayor’s Office of Education Innovation, grew by one grade each year and has since seen year-over-year enrollment growth with 617 students this year, according to state enrollment records.

The network launched two other locations in quick succession. In 2019-20, PPHS North, also approved by OEI, opened with 64 students and later moved into Broad Ripple Middle School through a partnership with Indianapolis Public Schools. The next year, PPHS opened its South Bend campus.

But both of those locations have been losing students in recent years. In Broad Ripple, enrollment has dropped from its high of 283 in 2022-23 to 220 this school year, well below the maximum 600 threshold that the school pitched to the mayor’s office in its application.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Exactly 155 years ago today, the first official Weather Bureau records were taken in Indianapolis on Feb. 10, 1871.

Later on, the Weather Bureau would become the National Weather Service.

The high temperature was 28 degrees for the day, with no precipitation recorded. Low temperature records did not begin until March 1, 1871.

Indianapolis Weather Extremes over the 155-year history

HOTTEST: Our hottest temperature of 106 degrees was recorded in multiple years, all in July. Those years were 1901, 1934, and 1936.

COLDEST: Many will remember the record cold air of Jan. 19, 1994. Not only was that Indy’s coldest temperature in history at -27 degrees, but New Whiteland achieved the lowest temperature in state history at -36 degrees.

WETTEST DAY: Another weather event recent enough for people to remember. The Labor Day flood of 2003 brought record-breaking rainfall amounts to the state. Indianapolis picked up 7.20 inches on Sept. 1, 2003, alone. Over three days, Indy would get more than 8 inches. This event was one of legendary WISH-TV meteorologist Randy Ollis’ most memorable events he covered.

SNOWIEST DAY: If you asked the majority of residents in central Indiana, their first answer for the snowiest event would be the Blizzard of ’78. But, in Indianapolis, the one-day snow total was greater on March 19, 1906: 12.1 inches.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Where there would normally be a basketball court inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse, there were hundreds of boxes full of dried food on Tuesday morning. The home of the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever hosted the 15th annual Million Meal Marathon.

The Million Meal Movement, an Indianapolis-based nonprofit, puts on the marathon every year to help its mission of feeding hungry Hoosiers across the state.

According to organizers, more than 2,000 people joined the cause on Tuesday, volunteering their time to pack a million meals in one day.

Executive director and co-founder Nancy Hintz says the group has seen a significant increase in need over the last 10 years.

“A lot of people don’t realize that those who are actually working are not making enough money to make ends meet,” Hintz said. “They have to make choices between electricity, or medicine, or food.”

Gainbridge Fieldhouse has hosted the Million Meal Marathon for the last six years.

Richie Smith, associate director of community engagement for Pacers Sports & Entertainment, says that since the Pacers and Fever represent Indiana, it’s important for them to work to improve the community.

“It’s just a chance for us to host something that’s really impactful for the community,” Smith said. “Anytime we can be intentional and impactful, we’re going to be right there.”

Companies like KeyBank join the event every year and help out in the morning hours. More volunteers take over packing shifts later in the day.

The bank’s president in central Indiana, Juan Gonzalez, says the Million Meal Marathon is a way for his company to be involved with the community it serves.

“It’s also a way to do something today that [our employees] can see the result at the end of the day,” Gonzalez said. “It’s a long day, but it’s super, super important for the community.”

For some volunteers, the event is a tradition. Emily Spoerner says she’s helped for most of her life.

This year, she participated through her job.”It just fills my heart so much knowing that these meals go to local families in need, and it’s great to give back to our community.”

Since the Million Meal Movement was founded in 2007, it has packed more than 36 million meals for distribution to food banks and pantries across Indiana. Each meal costs about 50 cents to make.

Click here to learn more about the Million Meal Movement.