INDIANA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF
BELONG • EXCEL • THRIVE
CAMPUS POLICE • VP: 317-493-0701 • V: 317-550-4874 HEALTH CENTER • VP: 317-493-0497 • V: 317-550-4818
The Indiana School for the Deaf is a tuition-free state public school to eligible Early Childhood Education and K-12 students who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing. ISD is accredited by AdvancED and the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf (CEASD).
The Indiana School for the Deaf is committed to providing meaningful learning opportunities for students that foster academic and social excellence where languages and diversity are valued.
The Indiana School for the Deaf (ISD) is a fully accredited school for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students in nursery school through high school. The Indiana School for the Deaf is accredited by AdvancED Indiana and the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf (CEASD). It provides services to approximately 350 students enrolled on campus. About 60% of the students live on campus during the academic year. ISD offers a full range of social activities, including sports, clubs, and organizations. The Indiana School for the Deaf was founded in 1843 by William Willard, the first Deaf person in American to establish a state school for Deaf people. It was at first a semi-private school that offered free instruction to any Deaf person in-state or out-of-state that sought an education. The following year, the Willard School formally became the Indiana School for the Deaf, the first state-sponsored school in America that offered free education to any Deaf student. From that beginning, ISD has developed into one of the leading Deaf Schools in the nation, rich in heritage yet always striving to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
IC 20-22-2 Legal Mandate IC 20-22-2-1 Services provided Sec. 1. (a) The Indiana School for the Deaf is established as a state educational resources center that includes the following: (1) A residential and day school. (2) Until the center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing education is established and operating, outreach services, consultative services to local education agencies to assist the agencies in meeting the needs of locally enrolled students with hearing disabilities. (b) The state board of finance and the budget agency may not transfer for use by or for the center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing education any appropriation made to the Indiana School for the Deaf by P.L. 229-2011. As added by P.L. 1-2005, SEC. 6. Amended by P.L. 109-2012, SEC. 14. Purpose IC 20-22-2-2 Sec. 2. The school shall provide for the instruction, education, and care of children who are determined to have a hearing disability by case conference in accordance with Indiana law and federal law. As added by P.L. 1-2005, SEC. 6. Educational facilities, educational programs, and training IC 20-22-2-3 Sec. 3. The school staff provide the following (1) Educational facilities that meet standards established by the state board for regular public schools. (2) Educational facilities for school age individuals. (3) Educational programs and services to meet those special needs imposed by hearing impairment so that a student with a hearing disability (including a student with multiple disabilities with hearing impairment) may achieve the student's maximum ability for independence in academic pursuits, career opportunities, travel, personal care, and home management. (4) Training to permit a student with a hearing disability (including a student with multiple disabilities with hearing impairment) to achieve the student's maximum development toward self-support and independence. As added by P.L. 1-2005, Sec. 6. Amended by P.L. 99-2007, Sec. 165. Students admitted to school IC 20-22-2-6 Sec. 6. Subject to (1) the determination by case conference committees based on individualized education programs; and (2) the school's admissions criteria adopted by the board under IC 20-22-3-1(a)(4); the executive shall receive as students in the school Indiana residents who are school age individuals with a hearing disability. As added by P.L. 1-2005, Sec. 6. Amended by P.L. 218-2005, Sec. 64.; P.L. 99-2007, Sec. 166. Furthermore We are serving Deaf and Hard of Hearing children who are diverse and have a range of needs regardless of where they are placed for their education. Each Deaf or Hard of Hearing child's individual needs are determined by an Individual Family Service Plan or the Individual Educational Plan, and placement is determined through a case conference. ISD may provide support or services by providing the educational services through the school on ISD's campus. See the mission statements and further information for the Education and Student Life in their sections. Naturalization Examination 2024 Pursuant to Indiana Code (IC) 20-30-5-7(d), students must take the naturalization examination for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) during the student's high school U.S. government course. ISD Seniors participated in the 2024 naturalization examination, which contains 20 out of 100 questions provided by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Office. These questions are signed by the U.S. government instructor. A student score of 60% (12/20) is considered passing on the student’s first attempt. The total number of students, student scores, and student passing rates are collected at the school level. Each corporation will determine its own data collection method. The data is reported to the Department of Education and posted on the school's website. ISD had an 88% passing rate.
Indiana School for the Deaf strives to promote a safe, stable, and nurturing environment for the ISD community through awareness, dialogue, action, and transformation.
Given its mission, the Indiana School for the Deaf has a responsibility to an increasingly diverse Deaf population. We recognize that each of us has an obligation to the ISD community of which we have chosen to proudly be a part of. We will strive to build and maintain a diverse, equitable, and inclusive, culture and climate based on these principles of community.
STATEMENT ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
Meet the Administration Team
Superintendent
Dr. David Geeslin
Assistant Superintendent
of Education
Kim Kause
Assistant Superintendent
of Finance & Operations
Jeremy Hawk
Assistant Superintendent
of Student Affairs
Matt Krueger
Administrative Assistant
to the Superintendent
Anna Ruble
BUSINESS OFFICE
The Business Office department is responsible for budget, purchasing, fixed assets, accounts payable, and accounting for the Indiana School for the Deaf. Our average annual operational budget is approximately 16 million dollars to support our school (salaries, benefits, utilities, services, supplies, equipment, and travel). We strive to provide the best support to our school, students, staff, and vendors. Business Office Contact: business@isd.k12.in.us.
PHILOSOPHY The Operations Division is committed to providing a clean, safe, attractive and accessible environment for our staff, students and visitors; providing healthy, nutritious, and tastefully prepared meals at all times; earning the respect of all individuals by maintaining a knowledgeable, responsive, well-trained and accountable workforce that discharges their duties and responsibilities with evidence of fairness, tolerance and equality; providing training, guidance and consulting services to staff throughout campus in order to ensure consistency and fairness; and providing timely, accurate services from the payroll and business office in order to ensure seamless services are provided. MISSION It is the mission of Operations Division at the Indiana School for the Deaf to provide operational support and personnel service to the students, staff, families and the I.S.D. community to ensure resources exist in which our students can achieve academic and social excellence in a Bilingual environment. BELIEFS The Operations Division is strongly committed to providing the support services necessary for the smooth operations beneficial to our staff and students. The Operations Division recognizes that continuity is needed campus wide. Our Division respects the importance of providing for the safety, security and education of the young minds placed in our care.
OPERATIONS
The Indiana School for the Deaf Campus Police Department became a State certified Police Department in 1976. Since the start of the Campus Police Department, all of the officers have had to attend the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. The Academy is 16 weeks long and is the same academy that the Indiana State Police and all police officers attend. ISD's Campus Police provide safety and police services to the Indiana School for the Deaf community 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Campus Police provide security for all of the 21 buildings, 80 Acres, 340 plus students, and 250 plus employees on campus. PHILOSOPHY To safeguard freedom by preserving life and property, protecting the constitutional rights of individuals, maintaining order and encouraging respect for the rule of law by the proper enforcement thereof. To earn the respect of all individuals by maintaining a knowledgeable, responsive, well-trained and accountable work force that discharges their duties and responsibilities with evidence of fairness, tolerance and equality. MISSION The Indiana School for the Deaf strives to be the premier comprehensive center providing education, services and resources for Deaf and Hard of Hearing children, their families, and educational partners. BELIEFS To provide full police service to the public by upholding the Constitution of the United States and the State of Indiana. By effectively and indiscriminately enforcing the law; by rendering assistance to the public whenever and wherever necessary; by cooperating with other law enforcement agencies in the reduction of unlawful activity; by furnishing assistance and information within Office guidelines to other governmental and civic bodies; and, within limits of available resources, by responding to all requests for police service in the most professional manner.
CAMPUS SAFETY
The Physical Plant Director for Indiana School for the Deaf oversees Maintenance Crew, Grounds Crew, and Steam Plant Operators. Physical Plant staff are responsible for all 21 buildings on campus, 80 acres of grounds, and 20 State vehicles. Indiana School for the Deaf has 4 multi-purpose buses, and one of these buses is wheelchair accessible. The multi-purpose buses are driven by residential staff and others to transport students to activities and events. Contact: Darwyn Whiteside - dwhiteside@isd.k12.in.us
PHYSICAL PLANT
School Board
School Board Mission
In carrying out this responsibility, the board will establish policies, assess school performance, facilitate strategic planning efforts, oversee budget preparation, promote stakeholder communication, support statewide outreach efforts, and make recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly.