Save ISSCH

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The Honorable Mitch Daniels

4750 N. Meridian Street

Indianapolis, IN 46208

Phone: 317-931-3076

Fax: 317-283-1201



Re: Closing Indiana Soldiers and Sailors Children's Home



Dear Governor Daniels:



As a law abiding tax payer and former student of this institution, I was saddened and surprised at your decision to close down this facility, which has meant so much to so many people since its founding during the days of Abraham Lincoln. I was saddened because of the connection that I, along with thousands of other Hoosiers have with ISSCH. I was surprised because during your campaign for reelection you liked to talk about what a friend you were to the kids in the state of Indiana . You talked about how laws you passed have helped to keep children in a safe environment and safe from harm. If this is the case then why now would you want to close an institution which prides itself on helping at risk children?



I'm sure we have all heard the stories on the news how the ISTEP scores at Morton Memorial have been in steady decline for the past eight years, or how there is no clear vision, or no clear admission standards. I ask you this, Is this a failure of the students or is it a failure of the state government, which has essentially sat back for 9 years and watched this school fail? I don't think you can fault the teachers of the school either if the state failed to step in and stop this decline.



Governor Daniels, if you truly care about the students of this state and their wellbeing I ask you to carefully reconsider this decision. ISSCH isn't a line item on the state budget that can be vetoed at will. If you truly care for the kids in this state and the environment they are raised in, I ask you to meet with us and discuss other ways to bring the budget under control without putting hundreds of kids out on the streets or back into an unstable home. Not to mention the countless faculty and staff who will lose their jobs.

6533 Signatures

  • George A. Kirksey
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • former student
  • Tara (Martin) Dieterman
    • Name
    • Tara Dieterman
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • Former student
    • Address
    • Indiana
  • Patty Pasch
    • Comments
    • Don't let this happen to our future
    • Name
    • Patty Pasch
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • Grandson attends the school
  • Tracie Boles
    • Comments
    • Closing ISSCH would be devastiting to the kids there now.
    • Name
    • Tracie (Weinke) Boles
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • Alumni
    • Address
    • 410 Roosevelt, Greenfield, IN 46140
  • Harold D. Jordan
    • Comments
    • I'm a 1982 grad of Morton Mem. and without this Home I would have b
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • een in jail or maybe prison. My question to Mr. Danials is"Have you ever been to the Home and talked to the kids and staff"? You have hurt a lot of people. I though you were in touch with people but now I know it was just to get in office.
    • Address
    • connersville In
  • Susan (Jackson) Yagher, Site Administrator Official Alumni Site
    • Comments
    • Morton Memorial Alumni Homesite--1040 Alumni Listed
    • Name
    • Susan Kay (Jackson) Yagher--1 of 5 Children Placed
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • Class of 1971
    • Address
    • Ormond Beach, Florida
  • CONNIE TRAUTMAN
    • Comments
    • MY SON HAS MATURED AND DOES WELL IN SCHOOL. IF IT WASN'T FOR THIS SCHOOL HE WOULD PROBABLY BE IN JUVEY . PLEASE DON'T CLOSE THE SCHOOL
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • MY SON GOES TO SCHOOL THERE
  • Sean Vance
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • alumni
  • Savannah DeMore
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • alumni
  • Brenda Spangler
  • Mark Brinkman
    • Comments
    • PLEASE CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES!!!!!!
    • Name
    • Mark Brinkman
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • Alumni Class of 1986!!!
  • Diana (Holden) Bossingham
    • Comments
    • Please tell these kids they are valuable. Keep the Home open!
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • President of the ISSCH Alumni Association ~ lived at the Home for 5 years
    • Address
    • Southport, Indiana
  • Louise Annita RedCloud
    • Comments
    • It isn't an "institution it's a HOME and SCHOOL
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • 6 Year student alumni
    • Address
    • 640 Ridge Crest Ct, Bloomington IN 47401
  • Dale Edward Jacobs
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • alumni
  • Teresa Wright Gray
    • Comments
    • this is the only home that many children has ever known, the only place they felt safe and loved, where they return to when they need to "go home again", This is a terrible mistake because there are still many children today that have found ISSCH as "home", A place they could be safe and away from harm.
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • daughter of long time employee, now retired
  • Tiffany Henley
  • Rebecca Fuson
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • son went to the home
  • Josh DeMore
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • brother went to the home
  • SHERRI POWELL
  • STEVEN JOHNSON
    • Comments
    • I DIDNT GET 2 GRADUATE FROM TE HOME...BUT THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT I BUILT THERE AND THE LIFE LESSON I LEARNED THERE ARE LIFE LONG...THERE ARE PLENTY OF CHILDREN THAT COULD USE THAT ALONE 2 MAKE THEMSELVES BETTER IN THIS WORLD...AND THAT IS WHAT TRUELY MATTERS...PLEASE DONT SHUT IT DOWN...
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • STUDENT
  • Kimberly (Frenzel) Patterson
    • Comments
    • I am speechless to know that someone actually thought of the one place that has impacted thousands of peoples lives...as a budget cut. The Home is such a critical part in my life as well as thousands of other people that grew up there....that is where I became me. (it was my HOME for 4 yrs) I plead with you to please reconsider.
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • Former Student
    • Address
    • Indianapolis, Indiana
  • Lisa Fleenor
    • Comments
    • Former student and graduate of Morton Memorial High
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • Lived at ISSCH from 1998 to 2001
    • Address
    • 8837 e 16 th place indianapolis indiana 46219
  • April Sexton
    • Name
    • April Sexton
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • Fiance went there
  • Joshua Bailey
    • Name
    • Joshua Bailey
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • went there for 5 years
  • Mandi Gomaras
    • Comments
    • В
    • Name
    • В
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • my brothers went there for a couple years and it changed there lives
    • Address
    • В
  • Mervin Stoddart, Jr.
    • Name
    • Mervino
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • many friends who are former residents of the Home
  • Renee Whitehead-Henderson'96
    • Comments
    • I wish I never voted for you. No child left behind. I would of not been here right now if it wasn't for the home. I left there for 1 semester and had to go back. When I went home I lived with my aunt and I still didn't make it. The home is a place for the kids it is to escape stress and have the other kids to help you as well, but you all having money wouldn't understand. Put money aside for one moment and think about the kids. Why don't you visit them and see what you are doing to them. Some of them abused and raped and you are putting them back into the community now . Foster homes are not for them!!!!!!! Why not keep the home and put all the fostered kids in it.
    • Name
    • Renee Whitehead-Henderson'96
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • Graduate
    • Address
    • 1030 Seagull Way ; Cicero, IN 46034
  • Angie (York) Bokelman
    • Comments
    • Please reconsider this decision. These children need to feel secure. Do you really think that putting them in this situation is going to help them in the end? To shuffle them from one place to another. Is that anyway for a child to live. This isn't just about the money...Kids are more important than the almighty dollar.
    • Name
    • Angie (York) Bokelman
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • Graduated of the class of 1998
    • Address
    • Greensburg, IN
  • Leah D. Ellis
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • former student
  • charles goff
    • Comments
    • one of 7 that was in the home please make your cuts else where the kids and the alumni needs this home
    • Name
    • charles
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • alumni
    • Address
    • Tulsa Oklahoma
  • Monica Mead
    • Comments
    • Please save our home
    • Name
    • Nee: Monica Hough
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • Student, Resident
  • Raymond Klinge
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • student for 15 years
  • DebraBoone
    • Comments
    • This is outrageous,hurting the children,the very ones who need a hand up in life!
    • Name
    • Debra Boone
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • Grandfather lived there in 1903-1917
  • Deborah A Vespo
    • Comments
    • We have such a problem with our Welfare system today and there are children out there who need real help. The home is an answer to dealing with some of the issues that we have regarding those "problem" or kids who are in situations that they can't get out of. The home will give them stability, love, encouragement, an education, hope for the future, family, and not to mention the very basic things they need -- a good solid warm shelter, three square meals a day, and clothing. I was in a terrible situation with a mentally unstable and physically abusive mother. This home saved my life, it gave me hope for the future, helped me see that someone out there really cared about me, and provided me with the years of counseling I needed so that I could be the strong person I am today. The home has raised many hardworking, wonderful people that make great contributions to their community everyday. Why would we not want that? How can the state totally disregard a home that would offer a child so much that has little?
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • Grew up there from 1977 to 1989
    • Address
    • 114 Goldenrod Lane Fishers, IN 46038
  • Tina M. Stevens
    • Name
    • Tina M. Stevens
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • Family Member to 8 former students
    • Address
    • 119 Lansdowne Rd.
  • Christina Fletcher
  • Wendy Borgman
    • Comments
    • This school has helped so many children. Let's keep it going. Our children deserve it.
    • Name
    • Wendy Borgman
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • mother of a student
    • Address
    • eastside Indianapolis
  • Laura Holmes
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • Friends son attends there
  • Chuck Chapman
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • Student 1969 - 1979
  • Michele Perkins
    • Comments
    • Families, more than ever, are struggling and the Home is a place where children do not have to suffer. Please, please take another look at all the Home has to offer. It made such a huge difference in my life.
    • Name
    • Michele Murphy Perkins
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • Former student (graduated 1970) and member of the Alumni Board -- it's Editor
    • Address
    • 2504 West 42nd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46228
  • Patsy Estes
    • Name
    • Patsy Skipper
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • I was in the home for 5 yrs
    • Address
    • 1913 Nathan Drive Kokomo, IN
  • RICHARD C. SPENCER
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • I WAS A HOMITE FROM 69-76 GRAD
    • Address
    • 7511 CANE RUN ROAD #36 LOUISVILLE,KY 40258
  • Debi Neale
    • Comments
    • ISSCH completely changed my life in 1964 and made me who I am today. This was (and is) our family. The bond of former graduates, teachers, administration, staff and current students far exceeds the confines of the ISSCH. This will be a tremendous loss to these children at risk and to the thousands of other adults linked together because of this wonderful institution.
    • Name
    • Debi Neale
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • Graduate of the Class of 1970; ISSCH Alumni
    • Address
    • 6400 E Edna Mills Drive, Camby, IN 46113
  • Barbara Requenes
    • Comments
    • I spent all of my childhood at ISSCH and it is my home, not just a school, but my home. A place I can go back to and see all my brothers and sisters together at one place. A place that offers home to many students now who may not otherwise have a good foundation home to go to.
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • Alumni
    • Address
    • 5319 Scatterwood Court, Indianapolis, IN 46221
  • Tim Brown
    • Comments
    • Please Save This Very Important Facility We All Call Home
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • Graduate of the Class of 1955
    • Address
    • Palm Springs, CA
  • Susan M.Games
    • Comments
    • Please dont close our home.
    • Name
    • Susan Esselborn
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • lived there.
    • Address
    • 77 Adkinson Dr. Pens.F.L
  • Don Buckley
    • Comments
    • A good institution is better than a bad home.
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • Graduated 1959
  • Barbara Wayne
    • Comments
    • One of six children there and all of our lives are better for it.
    • Name
    • Barbara Wayne
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • Former student
    • Address
    • 185 Wellington Parkway, Noblesville, IN 46060
  • Caroline Santana
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • Student - 1977 until graduation in 1984
    • Address
    • Wheaton, Illinois
  • Pamela Atha
    • Name
    • Pamela Atha
    • Connection to ISSCH
    • Graduate Student 1974
    • Address
    • 9909 Tanglewood Ct., Camby, IN 46113