08/18/2026
DSC Community,
I wanted to take a moment to discuss the storm recovery status for the Duneland School Corporation.
From the beginning, we knew that recovery would have four hurdles. We would need to have power to all of our buildings, we would need to be able to safely navigate our roads, we would need to be able to staff our buildings, and we would want to make sure that as many students as possible would be able to have a successful first day, meaning that their homes would have power.
We have successfully had power restored to all our buildings, with the final three buildings regaining power today. Although internet access is not reliable in all buildings, we are thrilled that they all have electricity.
Yesterday, we had a large contingent of our bus drivers travel bus routes in their personal vehicles to determine whether a school bus could effectively complete each route. In addition, they checked bus stops to make sure students would be safe waiting for their driver. Although the condition of the roads has improved considerably, there are still significant road hazards throughout our attendance zones. Our drivers found more than 23 routes that were not passable and another 19 had cautions.
It is important to note that the Town of Chesterton looks really good, but the town boundaries make up approximately 10% of our total school area of 92 square miles. We do believe, however, that the remaining road issues will be addressed in the very near future. It is important to note that we are not casting any blame here. The path of the storm was massive, and it has taxed the resources of every agency. We praise all of the workers who have tirelessly cleared and cleaned our roads and removed storm debris.
Power restoration is another matter. There are still numerous families in our community who do not have power, especially in our more rural areas. In many of these homes, there is no running water either because the water wells are dependent on electricity.
The start of school is a special time, and we believe we should do everything within our power to make sure every student has the opportunity to have a special first day. NIPSCO estimates that Chesterton and Porter will have power fully restored by Thursday morning. However, there is no estimate for Burns Harbor or some of our unincorporated Porter County areas.
Today, we surveyed our staff and found that nearly a quarter of our staff members, who live throughout northwest Indiana, do not have power. This could make it very difficult to staff our buildings effectively if we pushed the start date too quickly.
All things considered, we do not believe that a Thursday start is in the best interest of the entire school corporation. As a result, the first day of school for the 2026-2027 school year will be Monday, August 24, 2026.
We know that some will rejoice at this decision while others might be disappointed. Please know that we have tried to factor in every variable possible during this unprecedented time.
We will host an open house at our five elementary schools on Friday, August 21, from 4:00–5:30 p.m. for our elementary students and their families.
Extracurricular activities will proceed as they have since Saturday, with coaches and sponsors reaching out to students to share practice or competition information. It is important to note that practices will remain voluntary. However, IHSAA does have specific guidelines regarding the number of practices a student must participate in before they are eligible to compete in a game or match.
A formal request for a waiver of these missed days has been submitted to the Indiana Department of Education. Once a response is received, we will share it with our stakeholders and adjust the calendar as needed. If calendar changes are needed, they will not take place until the second semester.
I would like to thank the entire DSC community for the compassion and support you have shown not only for our schools, but for our communities, municipalities and one another.
I hope you and your family are safe, and we look forward to welcoming students on Monday.
Sincerely,
Robert McDermott
Superintendent
