Redkey school to get makeover

Redkey Elementary School will get more than a spring cleaning.

It has an appointment for a makeover.

Indiana Student Education Association selected Redkey Elementary last year for a makeover as part of its annual community partnership Outreach to Teach program. Now the school is looking forward to getting some cosmetic upgrades next month.

On April 6, volunteers from ISEA will spend the day at Redkey Elementary working on a variety of projects.

Principal Rex Pinkerton said the main indoor work includes a new coat of paint for the hallways and the gym. 

“Just to brighten things up a little bit,” he said.

Outside, the playground equipment will be repainted and will again get new pea gravel. There will be other landscaping as well.

The schedule for the day begins with registration for volunteers at 7:30 a.m., with the kickoff and introductions at 9 a.m. Volunteers will then work on projects until lunch at 11:30 a.m. Work will resume at 12:30 p.m., with projects to be complete by 4 p.m.

“We’re really looking forward to it,” said Pinkerton. “It’s a great asset to us. It’s nice to see that there are groups out there that like to help promote our schools in this kind of fashion.” 

Indiana Student Education Association members, who will provide the labor for the makeover, are undergraduate and graduate students pursuing education degrees at Indiana colleges and universities. They partner with the Indiana State Teachers Association. The organization accepts nominees from across the state for its Outreach to Teach program makeover.

Paul Szymczak, president of Jay Classroom Teachers Association, learned about the program from an Indiana State Teachers Association liaison early last year. With upcoming consolidation or construction expected for Westlawn, Judge Haynes, General Shanks and East elementary schools, he decided Redkey Elementary made sense as the nominee.

“I know the teachers over there have been working really hard,” he added. “It seemed like they could use some excitement, some good news, a little boost in the morale over there.”

He filled out the brief application form online, providing basic information about the school. Then, at the ISTA conference last summer, Redkey was announced as the winner.

“So that was really exciting,” said Szymczak.

After choosing Redkey, ISEA officials met with school staff to discuss what projects were most in need.

The work comes at no cost to the school corporation, with the exception of providing the pea gravel for the playground.

While the makeover project is led by the ISEA, there are ways for local residents to get involved. There are opportunities to donate funding, supplies, materials or food, or to volunteer to work on April 6.

Those interested in donating or registering to volunteer can do so by visiting bit.ly/2Cm0ryN. For more information, email ISEA state coordinator Angela Miller at [email protected].

This year’s makeover will be the second initiative to spruce up Redkey Elementary in as many years. Last spring, the school was part of Indiana University Health Jay Hospital’s Day of Service, involving installation of a Gaga Ball pit, new pea gravel around swings, see-saws and slides and colorful pavers with inspirational messages.