We reached out to businesses in the community for support and we were able to get funding from Chick-fil-A along with many generous donations. The funding will help stock and organize the school store so students can fully participate. One challenge we faced with figuring out how to ask for donations professionally and clearly explain our purpose. We work through this by communicating respectfully, being organized, and explaining how historical events. Through this project, we learned skills like communication, teamwork, and responsibility and planning. We also learned how powerful community support can be when you advocate for something meaningful. >> If we were to continue this project, we would like to help the long-term organization and possibly expand the store. Genius hour showed us that students can make a real life difference when they're given the opportunity. Thank you for listening. >> Nice job. So when we introduced the whole program to the kids, I talked about how you could look inside your community and see what was missing and what might be important to do or something that you might always have wanted to achieve.
And so these are some of our featured episodes that I think highlight us the most. Being Ottoman's robotics club, we went and kept with a lot of the students and asked them what they thought they enjoyed about it and they learned a lot about coding and a lot of things that they want to take into their future. Uh crossing's kindness train every week they have kindness train where they go around and the students get very excited about that because they find it it's a very good school spirit booster. And then our third one is Bent Central's auto mechanics which highlights a lot of the students that are taking place in that and will improve their careers. a lot. And so just working on these videos has helped us three and all in a lot to just we've learned a lot how to use Premiere Pro, a lot of the other Adobe things, a lot of the other programs and it's helped us because a lot of us I know I'm going into marketing, she's going into journalism and digital marketing and so this is really helpful for and beneficial for our careers.
So out of those 10 areas, they're going to bring basically 50 teams to the state contest from around the state of Indiana. Um we had a good day. Um, we had some some students that's the first time that they competed. So, I feel pretty good about what they did. Um, but anytime they get a chance to do that, it's it's it's an opportunity for them to grow and build some problem solving teamwork and all that. And then if you look at our other team, the enmology team is the other one that was going to highlight. If you're not familiar with what that is, that's that's insects. Um, they place second in the area. And then it uh which was really kind of disappointing because I really thought they would probably win because they did the year before and the year before that but they kind of stumbled a little bit but they made it for in the state contest there where they finished eighth overall which is good.
[applause] From our cafeteria staff, we will call up the Garland. Well, I will still go ahead and read the statement. Um, she started the middle school cafeteria and now has been at the elementary for many years with a total of 14 years working for the corporation. She hardly ever misses work. She stays busy, does a great job getting all the practices ready and serving the kids every day. She interacts naturally with the children. A joy to have on our staff. >> [applause] >> And next is Carrie Walters. Um Carrie is also in our cafeteria um for eight years now. She only works a few hours a day is a big [clears throat] help at lunchtime. She shows up every day ready to do anything we need done and we enjoy having her at the elementary school. [applause] fingers cross ro [snorts] is a special education teacher.
You know, I know quite a few of you on the board and I know you're all good people. I know, but I like the moral aspect of it. >> I've had to make him tough decisions before. >> That's not the fun part of the job. >> Just think about Anyone [clears throat] else? >> All right, I'll turn [snorts] >> over.
Let's see. Swimming. Uh we have some uh diving uh students moving on student athletes and some what else? >> Swimming, diving and oh and then the wrestling. So yeah, lots of athletic success lately for sure. >> Thank you. A lot of good things going on in the corporation. Thank you. Next is uh public comment and uh live from the Southern office uh is uh you all recognize him, Pat Shers. He he does work here and work I use really kind of a that's a flexible term. So Mr. Shers, >> thank you, President Duckworth. Uh tonight we have but one individual who has signed up to speak. He needs no warning from me nor introduction to you. A few minutes with Larry. [laughter] Going back for just a minute, I'd like to mention that rights beat Castle at Castle to win that sectional. Uh I'm a member of the Westside Improvement Association.
Zero. >> Under report items, the high school junior Jessica Bosshaw is the CTE is in a CTE photo on the Department of Education updates. Email that went out from February 6th. Jessica was at the Indiana State House on February 5th representing Indiana TSA for CTOSO day. Now, uh TSA is the technology student association and CTSO is the career technical student organization as and she represents uh KV and the organization as the Indiana State Reporter. So, nice state office there. So, congratulations. We appreciate her being at the state house. And congratulations to the KV Lady Cougars basketball team on being named and winning the 2026 IHSAA Girls Sectional 18 Championship. They play at 3 PM Central in the regional versus Fairfield on Saturday at Winnamak High School. Resignations. We request that you accept the resignation as listed. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Bill Jill. All in favor?
So, um I'm going to have Mr. Lundy introduce the Applebee's teacher month from uh media school. >> Yeah. Um thank you board, Mr. Starky. Um, it has been a uh it's been a long kind of strange uh trip to get us to this point today, but uh you know, typically when we do our presentation in January, we recognize our Applebee's teacher of the month. It just so happened that um I believe it was literally like the Friday before that meeting. Um Lissa and Gene, your mom were in a in an accident on their way to Cooko. Um that left Lissa with a a shoulder injury. Um we're it's an unfortunate accident, but we're very fortunate in the outcome um that they're both here and they are both uh safe and and on the on the way to recovery. Um and then the uh Applebee's representative ended up hurting her knee and had to have some medical things done.
>> Okay. So, the move will get to happen quicker than over the summer. >> Yep. >> Okay. Thank you for that. Any other questions or comments, board? >> All right, that's great news. >> 2.02, um, request for RFP for mental health services. Miss Neee. >> Yes. Good evening, everyone. Good evening, Madame President, Dr. Smith, and members of the board. Tonight I'm bringing information to you regarding school-based mental health services. For the past 20 years, we have had a partnership with Community Health Network, specifically Galahue, and we've been very grateful for that partnership, but Community Health Network has made the decision to end this service. Um, this the contract end date as of right now is June 30th, 2026. Due to this decision, we do need to move forward and secure another vendor for this service. And this is critical. Um, one of the main reasons is we know this is an effective and efficient way to service students especially during vulnerable times.
Second. All right. All those in favor? Rachel. Okay. Jenny, >> yes. >> Sarah Bess, >> yes. William, >> yes. >> And Margaret, yes. So, the motion passes unanimously. Um, I will this needs to be done to Thursday is our deadline. So, I will communicate back with the attorney and we will proceed to do this. And I would just like to add that I think the asks are things that we have started to talk about. Um, and we've made a lot of progress in a year. you know, we never were able to make the meetings available virtually for people where they're recorded now. Um, we've actually created a goal to improve our communication. Um, so I think and if if at some point it seems appropriate to reach out on an individual basis, we can consider that. My hope is that it will be visible to people as we move forward that we are trying to to be more available and to communicate better with people so that they can communicate with us.
I mean, who doesn't love a good infographic? You have support here. We are trying, but we need you to do some of that outreach work, too. These meetings are one way people can be informed, but they can't be the only way. I hope you will consider a new venture that will help everyone understand your role, the district, the school district's budget, and our needs, especially ahead of town meeting. Thank you. >> Okay, who's this guy? >> My name is Peter Nolton. I'm 35 Buttonwood Road. I'm also a town meeting member and I'm just here to voice my support for what's already been said. Uh and I've had two kids who have gone through the Dartmouth school system, lived here my entire life uh with our families. We understand the uh the purpose of the school system, the importance of it to our town. Uh when the majority of the budget of the town goes to education, it's something that we need to begin to elevate and to discuss as a town more.
Um which accounts for another large driver um utilities have gone up bringing on this building that that I'm in right now is a huge utility driver as you can imagine it's fully airond conditioned um and that's something that you know over the course of the year we're seeing that those numbers are up. So, uh, in addition to the mandated services, you know, across. So, yes, the enrollment is starting to trend down. It's in a category and it's spread ac across the system. We may see more gains once we kind of break a threshold where we're past um just ratio reduction and we we can consolidate and collapse some areas, but we're not we're not quite there yet. And I will um keep the board apprised as we as we if we should reach that. Um, I don't want to forget to mention, you know, the picture on the the lower hand right corner of the slide.
And then at the beginning of the school year, we had a goal of 75% particip participation for lunch. We are currently sitting at 67.4%. So we still do have a little bit of work to do on that. Um serving a total of 25,800 lunches this year so far. Um current programs, their national school lunch program. Um, we've got a great we've done a great job my girls I mean following the open menu which has been really tough because some of those menus are like restaurant I don't know things so but they're doing it with small um we did have really great participation during the national school lunch week brought out a lot of our new menu items. Had some tasting tables and the kids were pretty excited about that. All the little samples we gave out, that was a good time. Um, and our daycare also does include lunches that are also served to toddlers.
Hearing none. I would entertain a motion to approve the invoice presented. >> So moved. >> Motion by Alison. >> Second. Second by Josh. >> All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any oppose? Same side. Motion passes. Six here. And there are no visitors. Oh, wait. Sorry. Reconciliation of the cash balance report. >> That is all on there for you to review. Okay. Now, there are no visitors. So item number eight, administrative reports. >> Afternoon everyone. Good evening. I guess um so we've had quite a bit of sickness when we were talking about that our numbers have been sitting between 11 and 15 about every day. So we'll just continue to monitor that. um sounds like we're kind of in line with when you look at our attendance um with with Hollywood. So I think hopefully maybe we'll get up over the hump of all this.
>> Silia Sylvia Hendricks >> second All those in motion >> yes >> motion carries. >> Thank you board. Call to the audience number four. Ben, do we have any? >> Did not get a call the audience. >> No call to the audience for the record. Number E,formational items. Number one, Bobri High School student council report. Um BL event at this point I would like my student councils to come up forward. Please give him a round of applause to introduce a board uh to our student council. Suko please come up for your presentation. Okay. >> Hello. Good afternoon. >> Okay. Go ahead. Oh, hello. Good afternoon. My name is Abani. I'm the junior class, class of 2027 class president. And this is what we're talking about for as of how things are going this year so far. Our vision is to be able to represent our school community and in the best way possible.
The first two years, good. Were there issues? Of course. All right. But this last year has been a never- ending litany of functions, broken promises, unmet commitments, u missed opportunities, people who frankly are not taking pride in their sports programs and the kids who participate in them and in some cases active interference from outside with the coaches administering their sports programs. I have personally witnessed, been involved in and been party to um doing work that coaches should not be doing because if we didn't do it, it wasn't going to get done. Dealing it with issues that we should not be dealing with. Many of those issues should have never even existed. And in some cases, employees, and yes, I said employees that is plural, not doing their jobs to what I consider a minimum acceptable standard. All right. This is not what I signed up for.
And in terms of the students aspect, what value do we get from it? Well, a lot of times when students start the school year, they're nervous about, you know, who who my friends, who's going to be in this class. And that's the same for this Odyssey because it's almost like two new days of school. You have no clue who's in your classes. It can be a little nerve-wracking and and you know, if you don't go with your friends, it can be nerves for some students. But Odyssey this year shaped in a way where you go with your extracurriculars or you go with your math class with people that you already know. That way, you're already comfortable so you can experience the arts in the best way. And so Odyssey, I think it was a really cool shift that they did. tomorrow for class board. We're making senior boxes where you put things in that you remember in your senior year.
Anybody have any questions? [clears throat] >> Get these every year. >> This is something we have to approve every year at this time. Yeah. Melissa puts it all together and uh has our staff review it before we finally bring it to you. So for its accuracy, [snorts] >> can I please have a motion to approve it? >> [laughter] >> Can I please have a motion to approve the certified and support staff seniority list? >> Motion. >> Tiffany and Doug. All in favor? >> I. Any oppose? I have it. >> Uh the IG with Fox Lake >> and this this is just for um they they park their buses on our property. We get a they pay us a monthly fee for that. And then it the only other agreement here is just in case they borrow. There are times where they're short a driver, short a bus, we send one over and we have this agreement spells out how much we charge them, but there's no like longstanding uh support we're providing them.
And we purposely said, you got to bring the kids up first. Like that's just such a great program. And we got a chance to read about it and hear about it when they were nominated. >> [laughter] >> uh and it is overwhelming uh unanimous in terms of selecting the program for the building bridges award just like the same for the Herman Graves award in DuPage region. Uh I had the privilege of uh meeting Courtney Dement back in the summer of 2002 her very first day in education because we worked together at Addison Trail High School. Uh and from there our careers uh have always been uh parallel and worked in the same district for a while until you all had the benefit of hiring her here. uh and she is an absolutely outstanding principal along with Arwin uh a great team and duo that I have the honor of working with uh in so many different capacities.
And then later on at the end of this great month, we're going to be going to Tennessee as my other board members have told you guys. Okay, so a little bit more about the ball. What that is, as Autumn Kaida explained, is that all the honor students of a black student association who have over a 3.5 GPA will get a certificate and they will get honored with a crown. And we've done this for the last few years. My mom has really taken account of making sure that every student gets to be seen throughout the school. Even if you're not in Black Student Association, you still get invited because you want to be seen and you get honored and you get recognized through dinner and all everybody gets to show up. You get to have dinner and then you have a party afterwards and it's this great thing that we've gotten to do for the last few years.