West Lafayette Elementary named Blue Ribbon School

Plus, Indiana House candidate Jim Schenke posts his ‘regret’ for incident after he’s cited for leaving accident scene involving his campaign RV and a West Lafayette Village lamp post

• This edition is sponsored by Duke Energy, promoting Greater Lafayette Commerce’s Manufacturing Week Sept. 30-Oct. 4. The annual Manufacturing Week brings awareness to the community about manufacturing in the Greater Lafayette region, including classroom events and activities designed to educate students on career pathways available to them. For more information, check www.greaterlafayettecommerce.com/manufacturing-week

---

WEST LAFAYETTE ELEMENTARY NAMED ONE OF 356 BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS IN U.S.

West Lafayette Elementary was one of 356 schools in the U.S. and 16 in Indiana named Monday as a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education.

“The National Blue Ribbon Schools Award is a testament to the exceptional achievements of students and educators at each of these schools,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said Monday in announcing the list.

(Photo: Dave Bangert)

The Blue Ribbon Schools Award recognizes schools based on student performance data,  including assessment results, student subgroup performance and graduation rates. West Lafayette Elementary, a K-3 school with 702 students on Cumberland Avenue, was recognized in the category of “Exemplary High Performing Schools,” which is based on being among the top performers on state assessments or nationally normed tests, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

“Our success would not be possible without the support of our families and the greater community,” Sara Delaney, West Lafayette Elementary principal, said “From volunteers, guest speakers and traveling programs to families who read with their children nightly and join us for school events, we proudly showcase our Blue Ribbon acknowledgment. The dedication to excellence shown by all has resulted in this great honor.”

Indiana had 16 schools on the Blue Ribbon list. Of those, two came from neighboring counties: Pine Village Elementary in Warren County and Ladoga Elementary in Montgomery County.

To see West Lafayette Elementary School’s nomination for the award – including details on  school culture, programs, assessments, instructional practices and more – here’s a link.

---

SCHENKE: ‘I SINCERELY REGRET THE INCIDENT’ IN CAMPAIGN RV. ACCIDENT LANDED THE INDIANA HOUSE CANDIDATE A TICKET FOR LEAVING THE SCENE

(Photo courtesy of Randy Studt)

Jim Schenke, cited Saturday by West Lafayette police for leaving the scene of a property damage accident involving his 32-foot campaign RV, posted on social media his regret about the Saturday afternoon accident on a tight, no-outlet section of South Street in the Village area.

“I sincerely regret the incident that occurred on Saturday involving my campaign RV in West Lafayette,” Schenke, a Republican running for Indiana House District 26 seat, wrote on his Facebook page.

“While trying to navigate a tight space, I accidentally backed into a small lamp post,” Schenke wrote. “I did not initially realize the full extent of the damage. In the moment, I attempted to rectify the situation by trying to stand the post back up. When this could not be done securely, I carefully laid the lamppost in a position that would not be an impediment to pedestrians. … Public safety and accountability are core values of my campaign. Which is why I called both the city street department and police department to report the incident.”

West Lafayette police reports the crash, seen by witnesses at Vienna Espresso Bar and other nearby businesses, happened at 3:06 p.m.

West Lafayette Police Capt. Adam Ferguson said officers had been trying to track down Schenke Saturday afternoon after witnesses said he got the RV turned around and back out of the section of South Street, which has a single entrance and exit on Chauncey Avenue. Ferguson said police heard from Schenke at 8:37 p.m. Saturday, when he called officers about damaged campaign signs on Northwestern Avenue.

Ferguson said Schenke told officers that he’d reported knocking over the light pole to the West Lafayette Street Department, which is closed on weekends. Ferguson said Schenke left a message at the street department at 5:35 p.m. That was 2½ hours after witnesses reported the crash.

“We were actively trying to locate him after the lamp post was struck; something we would not have had to do if he'd called us at the time of the incident to report it,” Ferguson said. “He left the scene almost immediately.”

Contacted Monday, Schenke declined to comment beyond his Facebook posts about why he delayed reporting the crash, why he left the scene before the pole and broken glass were cleaned up, and whether hanging around a bit longer Saturday might have saved him a summons for leaving the scene. (West Lafayette officials said crews from Duke Energy secured the site that afternoon.) Schenke posted on social media that he’d followed the law regarding accidents that involve damage to property.

On social media Sunday evening, Schenke said “there was no ‘catching up to me’” as he traveled to other events Saturday, posting his whereabouts on Facebook. “I'm in the middle most visible and famous vehicle in the county. And I don't drive very fast,” Schenke wrote.

“While I understand that there may be differing accounts of the events, I am concerned about deliberate misinformation being spread by political activists. Moving forward, I remain focused on my campaign and the issues that matter to our community,” Schenke wrote. “I’m dedicated to serving the residents of Indiana House District 26 with integrity and respect.”

On Monday, Schenke posted photos on his Facebook page that showed tight conditions on that block of South Street, writing: “Of course the turnaround area is impossible to use when West Lafayette allows so many cars to park in the yellow striped area.”

Schenke is challenging state Rep. Chris Campbell, a West Lafayette Democrat running for her fourth term in the Indiana House.

For more on the accident and how Schenke’s campaign RV has been in the news since the 2024 primary, this account is from Sunday:

---

THIS AND THAT …

• The third annual Mocktail Monday, a Mental Health America Wabash Valley Region event to raise money and awareness for National Suicide Prevention and Recovery Months, will be 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sept. 30 at The Stables Event Center, 7071 S. County Road 100 East. The evening will include teams and mocktail tastings from Digby's Pub and Patio, Checkerboard Tavern, 648 Bourbon and Cigar Lounge, The Coterie, Walt's Pub, East End Grill, Ritual, American Legion Post 11, The Lobby by Greyhouse, Knickerbocker Saloon, Sixth Street Dive and Handholder. The teams will compete for tips/votes that will go to Mental Health America programs. Tickets are $40. For tickets and more information go to mocktailmonday.org

• Entry registration for the Lafayette Christmas Parade, happening from 5:30-8 p.m. Dec. 7, is open through Greater Lafayette Commerce. The parade runs along Main Street, from 11^th to Second streets. GLC says entries must incorporate lights. Entries are $50 for commercial, $10 for nonprofit and free for government and public safety groups. Entries are due by Nov. 1. Entry forms and more details are available online at bit.ly/GLCChristmas24.

Thanks, again, for sponsorship help from Duke Energy, promoting Greater Lafayette Commerce’s Manufacturing Week Sept. 30-Oct. 4. Learn more at www.greaterlafayettecommerce.com/manufacturing-week

Thank you for supporting Based in Lafayette, an independent, local reporting project. Free and full-ride subscription options are ready for you here.

Tips, story ideas? I’m at davebangert1@gmail.com.