Um, but then I'm I'm talking to my one of my other teachers, um, Miss Hansen, because she has made multiple picture books using Canva. So, um we're hoping to well I'm hoping to um have her help me figure out how to make a picture book and then um so we're going to like meet up and do that sometime. Um >> did you have any issues? Like what was difficult for you? Any difficulties you had to overcome? >> Well, um I kind of had trouble like figuring out where to start at the beginning um because I didn't really know what to do because I had never like tried to make a picture book or anything before. So then I just kind of like like started by writing like like a like kind of an essay story story because that's the way I know how to write.
These were for sale through the athletics department, and this was given to the parents as a chance to just, hey, I wanted to shout out my senior athlete and just give some small little words of wisdom. We also have all of our senior highlights. So, we worked exclusively to get these. We sent out forms, questionnaires, and even interviewed some of our senior student athletes to ask about potential accomplishments, some goals they have for the season, and another thing like if they had any mentor they wanted to thank. So, we had to get these pictures and write all of this copy. So, that kind of helped us explore our journalism side. And finally, the last thing I'd like to highlight on here is just all the nitty-gritty information. We have a team picture, the roster, the coaches, and the varsity schedule. So, anyone who picks this up would know when and where they get support.
And that's that's a pretty good accomplishment because, you know, they they put a lot of time in and they're really good and they they do take some pride in what they're doing and that's what you hope that they do. You know, when you get them started in this that they they just run with it and make it their own thing and and and go. So, um there's other career development events that we compete in during the year, but I just I just picked out these two. We had livestock skillathon at the beginning of the year which we did pretty well. I mean there was 500 it was straight to state this year so there was like 580ome participants and I think we had one one of our individuals was 67th and teamwise we were we were in the top 30 cuz there was 90 I forget how many there was more than that 155 teams I think but so and then I just thought I'd share that with you each year since it's nice and convenient for us to make a trip to Indie try to get as many students in our chap after to go which is a really good experience for them uh at national convention uh downtown Indie.
Uh she has been a vital part of our school. [applause] >> Last but not least, Carrie Jones. Carrie was another one of our very talented instructional assistants. She has been with us for four years. So this is your second message. What do Carrie Jones's job duties include? Everything. Carrie does a little bit of everything and always has a smile for staff and students. While usually working with the younger grades, she creates an atmosphere that is calm and inviting to students. Carrie gets to know all of the students she works with, she is greatly appreciated at both ECES and CBCC as an integral part of our team. [applause] We're gonna head this way to do some >> [cough and clears throat] >> Um, what is One, two, three. Smile. One, two, three. Smile. One more. One, two, three. Okay. [laughter] >> Next, we'll move forward with our student recognition and we're going to start with the kindergartener from Mrs.
>> Any questions or comments? Not any motion to approve. >> I'll make a motion to the treasures report. >> We have a motion of second. >> All those in favor say I. >> All right. Thank you, sir. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. this evening underneath O business. Um during the last board meeting, you tabled the U school board stipen [clears throat] in 2025. The legislative session approved the [clears throat] increase in the school board stipen to [clears throat] go from the statutory previous amount of $2,000 up to 10% of beginning teacher salary. which for us our beginning teacher salary is 45,000. Um so um I need a motion first of all to unt piece of old business. >> I'll make a motion to untot. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Okay.
You'll see some nice tulips there in April. But they had the Christmas light display and this year when they had the opening ceremony, the choir from Helry Park School came to sing Gina more some Christmas songs. So we have new leadership at Westside Improvement. We're looking for more collaborations with the EVSSE and uh PTAs and neighborhood associations are in the same boat. Uh they need members and uh I do more than just go to ball games. >> Thank you, Larry. >> Thanks, Larry. [applause] >> Next on the uh agenda and consent items with Dr. Hoop. >> Good evening, President Dworth and members of the board of school trustees. We have four consent items for your consideration tonight. They are 3.01, 01 consideration of the minutes from the February 2nd, 2026 executive session and regular board meeting. 3.02 Consideration of the allowance of payments with invoices net payroll payroll obligation for a total allowance of payments of 9,765,12346.
>> So moved. >> Second. >> Jill. >> Jeff. All in favor? 70. >> And D. We'd recommend your approval for the recommendation from the building and ground supervisor, the Lesley Codings, restripe the current high school track uh in the amount of $10,630. >> Salute. >> Second. >> Bill Katie. All in favor? 70. We'd recommend you approve the recommendation from the maintenance super supervisor that in order to meet the state fire code, Alli Technologies add an additional exhaust hood and fire suppression system to the fax lab. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Dan Katy. All in favor? 70. >> And we recommend Barton Co. Velma Architects and Engineers. their recommendation for the High School West NX roofing project to Babala for the base bid and all add alternatives for a total contract of $986,825. Salute >> second. >> Jill Jill, all in favor 70. Under routine items, we'd recommend your approval to the two field trip requests as listed.
Um, Lissa builds very strong relationships with her students, understands their individual strengths and their needs. Um, very thoughtful in designing engaging lessons, um, inclusive lessons that support all of our learners. Um beyond the classroom, she plays a huge uh role in fostering positive school culture um through her leadership in things like our social committee um involvement in a uh staff book club um and then also in coaching our battle of books uh fifth grade team. And then what stands out the most though amongst her peers in in all the feedback that we received and it was overwhelmingly um unanimous um that Lissa was chosen is her kindness, her fairness um and tireless work ethic. Um and so um when we got those things back and we announced this out to the staff, we couldn't we couldn't agree more um with their choosing of Lissa. So, I'm uh I'm more than pleased and thrilled now to present Marissa Burke says that January.
Um, at this point in time I welcome any questions. >> Thank you Miss Neyer board. Any questions or comments on the RFP for mental health services? M >> I just want to comment that certainly I'm very disappointed that community has decided to um to not continue these services as I think that they have been an outstanding partner. Our family knows firsthand the wonderful care um that is provided. So, it's um very unfortunate um but I'm confident that the district will find another provider that hopefully will um match the wonderful care that community has done. >> Thank you, Miss Dunn. Any other questions? Yeah, Miss Lawrence. >> So, in the and this is my ignorance here, so I just appreciate some clarification. In the law, you you mentioned that it requires a community health partner. So does that then restrict it to health systems like in IU Health, Community Health, St.
Uh, it's important. Um it's a huge chunk of the budget. Uh the town could save $5 million a year. Uh but that's all part of it is the economics of it as well. It is important for all of us to be looking at regardless of how it's structured, but the most efficient, the most cost effective and most human way to do it. Uh so I appreciate the work that you're doing. Um and I'm just one of those people and also town media members I said that looks forward to keep working on this issue in the future and to support it. Thanks. >> Thank you. Thank you. I see no one else. So, we will move forward. Um, we will now look for a motion for approval of minutes for our regular session of January 27th, 2026 meeting. >> So, moved. >> Second. >> Moved by Mr.
I don't see any questions on this one. >> Great. >> Okay. >> All right, Ken, next slide, please. There's only about five or six slides, so it's not too too not too long, but the comp the answers are are good questions. I mean, the questions are good questions. Um, one of the question is, how are we and this is a big one. It's on my mind. How are we planning for the flat funding of Alliance? Right? So, what are we going to do knowing this? So again, part of our ask um and this kind of goes back to I don't know if Wanita's on the call tonight. I don't see her on the grid. She might be. Um Oh, she is. Hi. >> She is here.
It is federally reimbured and and it could provide 12,000 meals daily and up to $4,000 a month. So that's another option you could look at. Um so in summary we are sitting right now current well as of December current 43% participation um for breakfast 70 or 67.4% participation for lunch and we would like to thank you guys a lot for letting us into your district and it has really been a pleasure and the staff that you provided me with is just top notch. I could not thank you enough. So, thank you very much for your time. >> Thank you. We've heard great things from about so we appreciate you. >> Well, thank you. Thank you. >> Do we have numbers like how much those increased >> like the end of last year? >> I don't have them here, but I could get them for you.
Then on the 25th, um, they'll be headed, our fourth, fifth, and sixth graders will be headed to the spelling bee at Ellsworth. On the 27th, we'll have spring pictures. And then on March 2nd, we'll start read across America. Um, our enrollment hasn't changed. We have near Austin. Um, couple things just to note. On the 29th of January, we proudly hosted um, Wilson, our local spelling bee for students in grades four through six. Um the competition was exciting. It was really cool to watch them and intense. We had some kids that were really showcasing their hard work and dedication. Um but Luke and sixth grader are in first place and then Chisum in sixth grade second. Um and then August in fifth grade was third. And then these outstanding students along with some and I listed out the fifth and one fourth grader that'll be headed to the county spelling bee in Ellsworth as I previously stated on the 25th.
>> Any questions? What support do you need from the community to make it the best prom ever? >> Um, supplies really, but that's something that we also like to discuss with our class. So, if you have anyone that's in the junior class, ask them about it cuz we often do have meetings about it with our class to discuss things that we need and things that need to be done as well. But as of right now, we have everything pretty set. >> Let's give him a round of applause. Are there any other questions? >> Any other questions? >> Thank you for your leadership, guys. Very proud of you guys. Thank you so much. >> Next, we go into number two, um, students of the month, >> and this is the the time that we've been waiting for. This is the time that we allocate to celebrate you guys.
I want to keep my remarks pretty, so I'll stop there. But I want to say one more thing. I'm not happy about being here. I do not like the idea of lecturing you ladies on this. I do not like the idea of venting my spleen to you. But after spending this much time with these students this year, I cannot stand by in good conscience and allow them to not have an advocate for the headwinds that they are facing and they're going to face going forward without some changes. And at the end of the day, you're responsible for everything that happens in the district. So, I lay this at your feet. Um, I hope you see fit to look into it. I guess that's all I can ask for. I thank you for your time.
And then in the bottom left is actually what a lot of people have fun with is seeing their friends perform, do all these performances. Such talented students being able to perform these different dances that they have. And it's so awesome. Uh S factor. Moving on. Those are the uh photos on the little right kind of corner there. Uh this is put on by our club and this was a record year number of them for fundraising dollars. So huge performance for them. The winner was Rachel John. She came first place and I was lucky enough to MC MCS factor and it was it was that was an exciting experience in itself. But just being able to see the singers and how talented they are. It it was it was incredible how much how good they are at doing this. And something I said a lot as I mentioned that transition that we're going through the sports seasons where we're going from winter to the spring season and that's the same thing for right now.
[snorts] >> Anybody have any questions on the January employment recommendations? >> Can I please have a motion to approve the January employment recommendations? Motion second. >> Joe and Doug. >> Yes. >> I'll have Matt come up. >> Sound system. >> Yeah. I'll have Matt come up and just share a little bit about the sound system. I think he's got a handout that he gave everybody. >> Uh I believe. >> So go ahead, Matt. So, in [clears throat] the uh middle school gym here at the sound system has been acting up for a couple years, but recently it's really started to fail. Um the the amplifier had to be restarted three times at the last concert for it to get up and running. Um the concern is we're not going to be we're not going to have a sound system that's going to be functional for graduation.
That one's a secret. Uh this is the only one that does not get announced in advance. It's announced at the annual conference. Uh so we'll we'll know then uh where she stands, but we already know where she stands. So Dr. Dement, congratulations. [applause] >> [applause] >> Well, um I I don't need to say a lot, but thank you very much for taking another night out of your very busy nights to be here um for both of these awards. It's really really important and I love that we are able to recognize our students tonight, which is amazing. Um, and I would just say I've always said for my whole career that my best professional development has been with colleagues who are doing the job that I'm doing. And it is so rewarding to be able to give back through IPA. And it's always been rewarding and I love it and that's why I keep doing it.
And I used hues black and blue. And I also added like a 3D touch to show like how um African-American females and how they try to like express itself through their afro and they really can't do that sometimes and how it makes them feel and how the community sees it as. And then this one, this one right here, um I used oil pastel. I was um trying to do something new and I think it's very successful. And basically again with the afro, I was trying to show how afro are so big and expressive and how I feel like it should really be something that we like use in our community to express ourselves even more cuz I feel like in our community nowadays, we don't really use our afro to express ourselves and we use hairstyles that like are influenced on to us and I just really like like kind of like emphasize how big and fun they can be.