Renovation Complete — Our Facility is Ready to Welcome You
We are excited to announce the completion of the renovation project at the service center. Thanks to careful planning and support from our members, our building received a full refresh that included a new roof, masonry repairs, new gutters, fresh paint, new flooring, improved lighting, and updated ceiling tile.
What this means for members
- Comfortable, modern meeting spaces ready for workshops, training, and collaborative work.
- Improved facility reliability and safety with the new roof, masonry, and gutters.
- Brighter, more accessible spaces that support effective learning and professional engagement.
We look forward to hosting events, meetings, and professional learning opportunities for our member districts.
Thank you to everyone who supported this project. We’re eager to put this renewed space to work for our members.
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Big Savings, Better Solutions:
Inside the ECPA Partnership
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Since the beginning of our partnership, the ECPA team has worked diligently to expand purchasing opportunities, streamline procurement, and deliver measurable value to school districts across the State of Indiana. We are proud to share the incredible impact this collaboration has achieved together.
To date, 258 school districts have utilized an ECPA contract, generating more than $40 million in cooperative purchasing sales. Our portfolio has grown to include 52 awarded vendor contracts spanning 26 purchasing categories, providing districts with competitively solicited solutions that save both time and resources.
The categories with the highest utilization reflect the evolving needs of our schools and communities, including:
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Technology — $12 million
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Furniture — $9 million
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Amazon — $15.5 million
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Copy Paper — $1 million
These accomplishments demonstrate the strength of cooperative purchasing and the trust districts continue to place in the ECPA program. We are grateful for the ongoing partnership and look forward to continuing to support schools with compliant, efficient,and cost-effective purchasing solutions in the upcoming school year.
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Did you know you could save nearly 86% on items you are already buying? We recently completed a cost analysis comparing ECPA contract pricing to other contract pricing on everyday office and classroom supplies, and the savings speak for themselves. On just four common items, members can save anywhere from 10% to nearly 86% by purchasing through ECPA contracts.
Want to see what your organization could be saving? We can connect you with our vendors to run a cost analysis on items you are already buying.
Reach out to get started!
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Mark your calendars for next year's Study Councils!
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The core of the book revolves around what the authors call the Three Great Untruths, well-intentioned but psychologically damaging ideas that have increasingly influenced modern culture, parenting, and education.
Two of our greatest takeaways from the book capture this perfectly:
"Prepare the child for the path, not the path for the child." By clearing every obstacle out of the way, well-meaning adults inadvertently make children more fragile and less equipped to handle the natural bumps and bruises of adult life.
"The purpose of education is to teach children how to think, not what to think." It’s vital that we equip students with the tools of critical thinking, such as logic, evidence evaluation, and the ability to engage with opposing viewpoints.
By trading the illusion of total safety for the strength of resilience, we better prepare ourselves, and the next generation for the real world.
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Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities
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Robert McDermott
Superintendent
Duneland School Coporation
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On June 4, 2026, Duneland School Corporation will officially welcome Robert McDermott into his new role as Superintendent. While the leadership title is new, Mr. McDermott is a deeply familiar face within the Duneland family, currently wrapping up his seventh year with the corporation and 31st year in education.
For Robert, what truly sets Duneland apart is its deeply ingrained student-first mindset and the incredible local community support. Over his seven years with the district, he has been continually impressed by the dedication of staff members who work to ensure every student receives the best education opportunities possible. He proudly describes the Duneland community as "second to none," pointing to the incredible ways residents show up—whether by volunteering in schools, attending extracurricular and co-curricular events, or supporting initiatives such as our referendum.
Stepping into this leadership role from within the district has allowed Robert to hit the ground running. Currently, the district is working through the final phases of its strategic plan while continuing to strengthen and refine the numerous academic initiatives implemented over the past five years. Looking to the future, his vision is clear: to build on this strong foundation every day and further establish Duneland as a premier "destination district" for both families and prospective employees, all while fulfilling the high expectations set by the Board of Education and the community we serve. Robert says," Serving alongside employees and a community that genuinely cares about the success of our schools is incredibly rewarding. Seeing the level of commitment and passion people pour into our schools motivates all of us to work as hard as we can for our students."
He is incredibly dedicated to working hard for Duneland's students, he also knows the importance of family. Outside of work, he enjoys recharging at his lake house and spending cherished time with his loved ones—most notably, his brand-new granddaughter, Everlee.
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56535 Magnetic Drive Mishawaka, IN 46545 | (574)254-0111
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