Next on the agenda, we have so many recognitions. It's a very exciting night. Maybe the f favorite board meeting of the year. Um I think first up we have our robotics team. So if I can have the team from Smith and Central Middle School, all the impressive kiddos please come up so we can see you. Okay. Good evening. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to share news about two of our robotics teams from BCSSE that will be attending the World VEX Robotics Competition in Texas this year. These teams have worked incredibly hard and we are excited to share a little bit about their journey, their roles, and their passions for robotics. So now, Coach Kyle will speak about the central team. I um my name's Kyle. I've had the honor of coaching all these kids both at Central and Smith this year. Uh, but I'm going to speak about the central team.
It offered a hot dinner every night to our students and then after that we would transport them home. There were also very good enrichment programs that the students could participate in while there. Things that our families would not be able to afford otherwise. things like dance, ballet, golf, tennis, coding, Spanish, oh, and so much more. We had two full-time licensed mental health counselors on staff to help our families deal with situations outside of our school. See, we also served the women and children's battered shelter and we served two other homeless u projects that kept our women and children in the local area. So they were all housed twice as well. So there was a lot of things happening outside of the school that we were able to help with. We had programs like Weiss's eyes where eye doctor came every year and would give eye exams to students.
The role of interventionist must be filled by a licensed teacher. However, the role does not offer a teacher contract. The role of an elementary interventionist is similar to that of an exceptional education teacher. One difference is that the EE teacher follows an IEP and must meet a certain amount of instructional minutes by law. That teacher is also in charge of writing the set IEP as well as implementing it. This role requires an additional certification on top of holding a current educator license. These roles are contracted by the district. Another role that is similar to that of an interventionist is the high ability teacher. We have a high ability program at the elementary level where a licensed teacher goes to one elementary school two days a week. They meet with every grade level K to 5 for 30 to 40 minutes for ELA. Then the next day they do the same for math.
Quinn's truthfulness, even when it's difficult, has great courage and leadership. Thank you, Quinn, for always being a student that is honest. [Applause] for the middle school. It's Enrique Cerna and he's not here today. Um, he had an injury over the weekend and he wasn't at school today. So, I will make sure and give him his plaque at that time. Enrique is, if you don't mind, I'll just tell you how wonderful it is. Enrique is one of our most honest uh students that we have at Greencastle Middle School. He uh works above and beyond. He asked for help when needed. He's coming through the door right now. So, if you don't mind, we'll wait. Okay. This is Enrique. He is one of our seventh grade students. He was nominated by his entire seventh grade team. So, we do a form where they just they don't know who they're voting for and all of a sudden it was like boom boom boom all started coming through.
Lane emerged victorious in the Huntington County Spelling Bee after an intense 10 rounds of competition. Lane's dedication and perseverance are truly remarkable, having won the schoolwide spelling bee for four conse consecutive years and the countywide competition for the past three years. Again, congratulations, Lane, on this outstanding achievement and your incredible three repeat as at the county level. Lane Canvan. Next, we'd like to recognize our Crest View Middle School Junior Vikes Swimming um Northeast 8 Conference Individual Champions. Um, as we celebrate you, if you would please come forward. Uh, the team captured the Northeast 8 Middle School Conference Championship, showcasing hard work, talent, and teamwork. Individual and relay highlights include, and when I read your name, if you'd please come forward, Violet Kowalsski, who placed first in the 100, individual medley, and 50 butterfly. Congratulations. Micah Smith who placed first in the 200 freestyle and 100 freestyle.
We have them open for public use uh throughout our district. Thank you. Any other questions or comments regarding the blue ribbon updates? Um I did have one on just a comment on slide 14. Uh Craig phase two. Just a fun little point of clarification. Um the the picture on the left, the chute, I believe that was utilized because the moving process for the public to be aware is starting to begin. Correct. Everyone's starting to box up and the foundation was um had great partners from the United Way helping to um get rid of some items and get ready for the move. And again, that move will be happening in June. Is that correct? Okay. Thank you. Like I said, that was just a fun little It was popular. It helped people um help get rid of their trash. I need a shoot for my house.
That's the Hollist Panthers in red. DS Raiders in white. All right, we're looking to see what Hollist's offense has. This is their first bit of uh control. for the most part. Oh, big hit right there. Clean, too. That was John Kramer with the hit. Got to give him credit. Great play. Little Sy on the side getting some getting some love from the team. Love to see a a nice hit. Clean check. All right. Raiders working it. Showing good fundamentals. Nice passing. Good play. Panthers keeping him at bay. Oh wow. What a play by Fowler. That was very impressive. He made uh made the defenseman slip on a little deak right there and took advantage while he was down. That was Kellen Deetsz getting getting slightly deaked out by Fowler. Big finish too because we know he can shoot. All right, a big face off right here.
Mckne on the 8 meter mark. Knes ball off the post. West Springfield with the ball. But Springfield quickly gets the ball up to speedy Movik. Mohovic right around that 30 30 yd line. Danger with the Esau Mel girls almost knocking the ball out but they keep the ball. Finn gets it over to Po. Po over to Connelly. Back to [Music] Po. Finn loses it, but Canada with the ball. She comes in and Canada will get herself an eight meter. Canada 8 meter is Jenna Holly looking to make her second stop of the day. She throws the ball over. Looked like she threw the ball over the net. I thought it was a pass, but Westside with the ball. Herovic with the ball. Gets knocked away. Kylie Marino chasing Canada down. Canada behind the net. Back to Canada. over to Hermovic. Mov up top. Kylie Marino playing defense with her.
And I hope that someday you'll enjoy coming back to visit the school and have your classmates. I know right now that's the furthest thing from your mind is coming back but you will when it gets to be 20 years and 25 years and 50 year good uh class gets together. So just keep that in mind. We have several scholarships. Uh we had, as you know, you you filled out applications for these scholarships and we had 18 applications out of this class that qualified for scholarships this year. Our first scholarship is a Crandle Ranch scholarship and the amount of $500 goes to Chance [Applause] Heg. [Applause] Our second uh scholarship, Gladiola Bowman Memorial Scholarship. Gladiola was a former teacher and the county superintendent of schools years back and her scholarship in the amount of $500 goes to Mallalerie [Applause] Over the Eddie H. Jack and Rita F.
The uh that additional 15 million below adequacy. So that was and I'm this presentation isn't going to go back through like you know the previous four presentations all covered different aspects of where we were at that moment. All those presentations are located on our website under budget and finance. If you go to departments on the homepage um and go to uh business budget and finance, you can find those presentations. They're also in the ETSSD updates that go out every week. If anyone who doesn't receive those from the community would like to, um please just send me an email or my secretary Cindy Espazito will add you to the community contacts distribution group for those. glad to do that. Um so why do we apply right so just a quick recap um this is again for anyone who's seen prior presentations this will be very familiar state aid lost annually since and this is a a cumulative number that we now lose annually right so over $7 million um rising costs salaries benefits goods services special ed transportation pretty much any aspect, any operational wheel of a district at this point statewide.
Rebecca leads with empathy, purpose, and determination. and she is a shining example of what it means to balance excellence with heart. Um, congratulations, Rebecca. Um, you you deserve this honor. [Applause] Good afternoon. Hello. Okay. Good afternoon. I would like to thank the board members, my teachers, my coaches, my students, and my family. Um, especially Mr. Durr for recommending me for student of the month. Um, and for always believing in myself even when I didn't, and pushing me out of my comfort zone. Um, this uh recognition means a lot to me. I've worked so hard during my high school career, and I'm proud of everything I've accomplished so far. Um, so yeah, thank you very much. [Applause] Rebecca, is your family here? My grandma's here with me. Uh, round of applause for her grandmother. Uh Rebecca, one moment. Um the board would like to present you with this challenge coin.
A time limit of three minutes will be imposed for each individual or group addressing the board. When you approach the podium, please state your name for the record. And I apologize in advance if I mess up your name, Philip White. Mic check. There we go. All right. Uh, hello board and the community. My name is Philip White. I'm a resident of Surprise, Arizona. All three of my children are currently zoned to attend Willow Canyon High School in the future. I'm a former high school teacher, uh, baseball and football coach, student council leadership sponsor. Uh, and saddened by the recent events regarding the Willow Canyon baseball team, I'm here to speak to the character of my good friend Austin Ber. Uh, throughout Austin's time at Willow Canyon, we have talked many times about how excited and proud he was to be the head coach. I've seen firsthand the sacrifices that he's made for the baseball program and the community itself.
That was a quote from a student. Congratulations, Stacy. Next up, teacher assistant Enrique Figureroa. Enrique displays a commitment to students and staff alike. Consistently going the extra mile, he's a team player, collaborating effectively with others. As shared by a nominator, his patience and reliability make him a cherish cherished member of Asiggo East, endearing him to everyone he works with. Congratulations, Enrique. And next up from Asiggo East, Kelly Quirin from the food service department. Kelly is dedicated to providing students with a variety of meal options and ensuring that if a student is hungry, they get fed. Outside of her specific food services, she is a comforting presence as her nominator shared that quote, "The students know that they can vent to her and that the cafeteria is a safe place to be." Congratulations, Kelly. All right, let's give one big round of applause for East Pride Winners at this time.
Harley Rainbold, softball at Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois. Sam Schmookie, basketball at Columbia College in Columbia, [Applause] Missouri. Jack Shane Tag, baseball at Three Rivers Community College in Popular Bluff, Missouri. [Applause] L. Van Bruigan, softball at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville in Edwardsville, Illinois. Hayes Van Bruigan, soccer at Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri. and Reese Wolfful, soccer at Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, [Applause] Illinois. At this time, I would also like to recognize some milestones that a few of our student athletes and coaches have reached during the 202425 school year. Please stand and be recognized. We have some all-state selections. Our first all-state selection for soccer was Hayes Van Bruzigan. We also had a women's basketball third team IBCA allstate recipient Sam Schmookie. We had a men's basketball first team IBCA all state and first team Associated Press Allstate Sam Donald. And we have a girls all state member that we would like to recognize actually from last year because the all-state selections for girls soccer do not come out until after our pencellor banquet.
Um, the central team you see here before you is the most experienced VEX robotics team in the BCSSC district. Um, most of these kids started at Smith uh three years ago and led that team to the VEX Worlds in 2023. Um, so all of the central team has been to this will be their second trip to Worlds. Uh, and two of them this is their third consecutive time to go to Worlds. Um, as founding members of the district's VEX program, um, they've helped laid a the foundation of success that we're seeing today within BCSC. Uh, not only have they helped grow the program at Central, but they've also worked to help grow the program within BCSC by volunteering at several of the elementary team schools and also helping the elementary team other elementary teams at the competitions here locally. Um, help them improve their build quality, their coding, um, and everything that goes along with it.
During that time, if a student was um found to need prescription glasses, they were given a free pair of prescription glasses. And we also had a healthy ambassador program where our older students, fourth and fifth grade, were able to help out in the pediatric clinic. They would do this during school hours. some, you know, throughout the day and then they'd also work after school and on the weekend when the clinics were open. One of the stories I remember so well was a little girl that looked at me and said she had no idea that a woman could be a doctor. And that was so eye opening to me that we were able to expand her world from a very, very small world that she knew of, often not getting out of her housing project that she lived in, and be able to see that there were things out there for her as a young child.
Then the third and fourth day they go to a different elementary school and follow the same schedule. Then on Friday they get an entire day for collaboration and planning. They don't have to attend file reviews or case conferences because the students they work with are exceeding in their grade level work. There is no other certification required beyond a current educator license. This role is also offered a teacher contract at Lake Street. Our turnover rate for the interventionist position is high. Don't you want teachers who are working with some of our neediest students to stay in that position each year? Wouldn't it be great if those students who need so much help had a teacher who knew them right at the beginning of the school year? Someone who already knows their strengths and weaknesses and even their life outside of school. Someone who knows how those students learn and can differentiate the lessons to fit that type of learner from day one.
um his teachers were talking about how kind he is to others, his honesty, even if he might have an implication in that. It didn't matter to him. He wants to make sure that he does the right thing all the time. He speaks out for others. He stands up for others. He also was one of our students that did the ice buck challenge um on us this Friday. If you didn't get a chance to see that, he and a friend challenged us and um this weekend, but he's always thinking of others. He um does a lot to advocate for those that don't speak up for themselves. So that is a wonderful quality that we have for [Applause] [Music] Hi. For the high school student of the month, we have Donald Monroe. The high school went a little bit of a direction of Donald is one that is brutally honest and we absolutely love that.
Isaac Kowalsski who placed first in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke. Lane Canvan, who also placed first in the 50 butterfly, and the team of Isaac Kowalsski, Dawson Husband, Lane Cannon, and Micah Smith, who earned first place finishes in both the 200 medley relay and 300 freestyle relay. Congratulations to Lane, Violet, Isaac, Dawson, Micah, and the entire Crest View Middle School swim team for their outstanding performances. Parents, again, feel free to step out, take a picture. Hold on. More pictures. Are we good? Okay. Congratulations, [Applause] Finally, we are honored to recognize Mrs. Jeannie Poff from Horseman Elementary School, who was named the 2025 Fort Wayne Philharmonic Music Educator of the Year. Mrs. Poff transitioned into the music position this year and has braced the opportunity with enthusiasm and passion. Her energy is truly contagious, transforming transforming even the most hesitant students into eager participants. Her classroom is a vibrant space where learning blends seemlessly with fun, fostering a love for music that radiates throughout the school.
But um yes, so thank you for that and uh thank you for the updates. Um to the tennis point, I know the courts here are finished, correct? Um and the public can use those here at the Craig um campus. So okay, thank you. Well, if that is all on the blue ribbon and updates, we will move over to the request for RFP on cyber security updates with Dr. Gagline. President, President Norman, members of the board, Dr. Smith, you're very familiar with -ate. You've gone out, you've advocated for it to continue. So, you know that that's where we get our funding to connect our buildings to the internet. And bringing the internet to the schools is wonderful for our students. It opens up the world to them. Unfortunately, there's people on the other side who'd like to come in and do bad things. Those are cyber thieves, ransomware, things of that nature.