Um so that seems to be the what's considered reasonable. So there's a limit on how how much of the seven hydroxy product can be in theratom product. Um it would ban like I said alkyoids, anything extracted, any adulterance in the product, um any synthetics, child resistant packaging, um behind the counter um have it situated behind the counter, offered behind the counter. There'd be, you know, we could decide on what the penalties might be um enforced by Ashton's uh Board of Health um according to Department of Public Health standards at state DPH standards. Um and so I I think that these would be considered by a lot of people fairly reasonable and again I think most importantly is that they would be aligned with that House bill that we talked about. So, I know that that was lot.
Uh seeing none uh members any questions? Uh uh debate please. [clears throat] I didn't so would this co would the cooperative development program be a program for the department and would who would staff who would staff and run the program? >> Good afternoon sharer deputy director at DBED. So I'm looking at the bill. It would look it looks to establish a new program and we don't have current capacity or current staff to transfer from. So the resources provided in the bill do provide for some administrative staff but then that reduces if the bill goes through the a lotment for the grant program. So our testimony we would have to we request additional resources plus permanent positions to stand up this new program. So I noticed the bill also appropriate 750,000 for fiscal year 2627 to establish administer the program. If that's the case, do you know what type of grants you'd fund given the 750,000 for appropriation provided in the bill?
So, everyone should be working right on that edge of their development where it's just enough of a push that they're learning something new, but it's not so hard that they can't do it by themselves. Um, we ran our usage reports and they're quite low for both Freckle and Waggle. So, that tells us that that's something that teachers need additional training or support with. So, coaches are working on that. Um, >> those are all Sorry. Um, >> go ahead. >> Crackle and Waggle. That's something that the student would get on their tablet to use. >> Yep. Those are both things that are on their iPads. They also have they can also access them at home tomorrow night at community council. We're going to learn how to access Freckle at home for families and what that would look like. We have a super simple bilingual bookmark to be able to share with families.
Then for music and drama, there's always something happening. That's where Kaya is right now with swim singers. The government inspector, I think it's the next slide. Um, Government Inspector was the play they most recently did. I went. It was hilarious. Kaia got to like help direct it. I think she was assistant director. It was so fun and they did their whole There's so many people in it. It was It was great. Our drama program is just so strong. Um, so there's some pictures. The bottom middle and bottom right, those are from it. And then the mustache, that was like the little theme. And they gave us mustaches when we came in. It was super fun. Um, there's been like concerts galore. There was a choir one, orchestra one, band was a while ago. I think there was a choir one. Not 100% sure, but yes, we've had lots of concerts in the BFAC.
I will tell you that parents who have those schedules hate that because they've already planned that three-day vacation to do college visits or to do other things. So, um it's it's a it's a kind of a no-win situation at the end of the day. You're never going to please everybody through those processes. And while there's other schools who do different things, the same complaints exist there, too. So, um and we are our future topic, uh was going to be uh well or will be on possibly the superintendent visiting the DT meeting and the CAT meeting. Um she's hearing that verse here tonight. Uh and then we're going to be talking about some e-learning examples that we like and want to to put forward. [clears throat] The CAT meeting was very similar. Commun community advisory uh committee was also um virtual except for two members who joined me in my office uh because they read their emails wrong which was totally cool.
>> No matter how far off it is. >> That's why I would ask for how do you how do you reone the districts by elementary school in order to utilize the facilities we have first and what's going to be the cost of that versus building another school. I'm sure I mean for years we bust a corona to Auburn. Now today fuel was a lot more expensive than it was back then. Then busing and labor is a lot more expensive. So even if we wanted to do that [clears throat] there's going to be a cost >> and over 20 years what's that going to look like? >> Does it make more sense to build a school with less driving again? I don't know. And I don't even know if he can do that. I don't know if that's one of the things he does. >> Probably provide information that would support the growth and where it's happening the most.
If anybody has any questions or comments, um, or even if you want me to back up a little bit, I I can do that, too. >> Have you opened a public comment? >> Nope, we are not. >> Okay. Uh Jay, one question I had was around the uh uh fourth clause in the in section 9 for enforcement, which is the standards for testing uh Kraton products. So a lot of the regulations um in this draft are you know around sensible things like establishing sort of a a number for both um like an acceptable level um for the seven hydroxy especially which is which is appears to be the the most common um and dangerous uh you know uh ingredient in these sorts of products. But and and there's there's plenty of uh language around the labeling requirement, which of course um is important. But I guess what I'm trying to uh figure out is like what is the recourse if somebody mislabels something um and and says that there's you know that they have less than say you know whatever 2% or or so forth of the seven hydroxy but they actually have more.
>> The bill outlines the activity. It seems to be like agriculture as one of the primary. Um, we would have to [clears throat] go through the final bill and see what that process would entail. Also, what that process would look like. We would need rulem. Um, it' be through like RFP process. Um, we do have programs attached to agencies that currently do grants, but there is a process that includes the board for approval too. So, this would be internally within DBED the way the bill is structured with the director approving. So, help me um understand or at least um maybe elaborate [clears throat] on it. Um with some of your attached agencies that do do grants. >> Mhm. >> How would you prioritize like within the cooperative? Who gets the grant? You know, for one reason or another, I can see some people might not be able to qualify um within the cooperative.
So, that's something that students could do on their own if they have any device at all. And just one more question just to elaborate on that one. Do we have any textbooks or any stuff that's not um online or an iPad like Freck Freckle or Wiggle or Waggle? I'm sorry. Freckle wiggle um that the kids are using as math or manipulatives in person or how how is that are we offsetting that >> for parent night? Tomorrow night? >> No, no, no. Um the kids in general. >> Oh. Um yeah, a big focus this year has been on going concrete and then pictorial and then abstract. And so that's something that we have trained on and reinforced and had coach support. I was just in a meeting today with a coach where the teachers they brought their data and they sorted out what are the strengths of students, what are the things that they're needing.
They've been super fun. And then Swing Singers has been in full swing with their well actually that works. Swing Singers full swing. Um, they've been very ready off doing their competitions. Their combo like the band that works with them won first place at their most recent competition, which is wonderful. There's a picture of Kai up in the front. She has a bunch of solos. She's great. Um, so yeah, they've been practicing a lot. And then Rock the Runway, that's kind of like media, so I put it over here is March 13th to 14th. It's a super awesome show. They do at the BFAC. All of our students are making the different outfits and then they go and have the students model. It's awesome. They'll be there March 13th to 14th. I recommend everybody comes out because it sounds awesome. And then RMS, there's not a ton of things.
Uh it was nice to have company. Um, we talked Dan gave his presentation uh about the facilities update and Jeff Gorman was was uh also participated in that. We talked about e-learning. We talked about safety and security and just some of the things that the EPC is doing um and some of the tabletop exercises that for school safety that will be occurring. Um the work with the the local police and sheriff's departments, etc. We're going to continue some of those conversations and um talk about future plans and future Sorry, I'm clicking through things. Partnerships with local first responders was a conversation too that was was held. Um we also talked about the technology plan. We are currently on a four-year cycle of replacement for the Chromebooks. Um the price of RAM has actually increased about 600%. uh and computers. We got our order in. We will be getting our shipment this summer at a at a a rate that's good.
>> Yep. [clears throat] I I made a note of that and I'll send that to Jerry and see if he can add that to it. >> See what's the typical timeline that it takes to do this? >> I think we could have it as as early as next month. >> Pretty quick turn. >> We could do like a work session. I do think this is like very valuable information and might be very helpful for like some of our redevelopment commissions as well. Um just for planning and >> yeah purposes right putting it in longterm >> plan I have a second and a first and a second. So any other discussion? Okay. All those in favor signify by saying I >> oppose. Motion passes. Item H4, special education consultation services recommendation. >> So my last item this evening uh is a continuation from an earlier um approval from the board to explore um the opportunity to withdraw for from the Northeast Indiana Special Education Cooperative.
like this is a common problem with nutritional supplements and so forth and I don't know whether the town has the resources to >> that was actually that's actually in here um um I saw that >> there's there's a good faith defense clause um but you're asking I think >> how would it be tested right >> right >> like so so so yes it's entirely possible that a merchant might believe that the product that they're selling is, you know, accurately and legitimately labeled, but it still may be mislabeled. >> Correct. >> Um, so there so the the crowd products that I've seen, at least the ones available on the internet, um, many of them now are are contracting out the analysis to third parties. And so they're doing um you know whatever if it's HLC or whatever they're they're doing um to to look at concentrations um and so I think that they're getting a certification that way and I mean to me that's the best you can do and then that goes somehow on the product either as a stamp.
How how do you guys prioritize that? >> That's that is a challenge. We do have bylaws or procedures in place that set parameters on the type of activity based on the program itself whether if it's in statute or was outlined through legislation. Um the board can set policy and parameters as well. There's also um consideration if the applicants were awarded a grant in prior years and at what amount. So that's all vetted through board and the staff of the attach agency. Thank you. That's um Senator Kim. >> Okay. So, the $750,000 to administer, establish and administer the program. Um develop chapter 91 administrative rules, design grant criteria, scoring systems, monitor compliance. How many people sta how much staff would you require to stand this up? >> It's off the top it would be about three. You would need you would you would want odd number for vetting.
The coach had some strategies and the manipulatives. The teachers practiced the problem together so that they're ready to take it back into their small groups. Thank you. >> Sorry. >> Um, as far as the pacing adjustments go, when you're talking about more time for prioritized standards, how much wiggle room do we really have for that? Depending on how many prioritized standards there are, >> I imagine it's pretty tight. >> We don't have a lot. There are a lot of essential standards in sixth grade. >> Okay. But it's going to mean it's going to mean figuring out okay where first of all some things have to be sequenced in a certain order obviously because they build. Um but then also what are things that maybe our students it's an essential standard but we could go back and look at our data and see is this something they're usually pretty successful on.
We just heard about their flag football. That's wonderful to see so many people here. February 20th is their Legally Blonde performance. Basketball is always going well. All our sports are super strong across all levels. And then they have show choir competitions. That's all for me, but I will stick around because I know we're talking about my job later. [laughter] >> Thank you. >> All right. According to our board policy, we designated a portion of the action items on the agenda as consent agenda for those items that usually did not require extensive discussion before board action. items are generally routine, recurring, and can be grouped together for efficiency. Steve, would you please take us through the consent agenda? >> Yes, absolutely. Um, before we jump into the consent agenda, I just want to comment on the personnel report, which I don't often do, but I think it's appropriate tonight.
Um others who are delaying that computer costs have gone up about 200% for for Chromebooks with everything. So um thanks to Brian Tobin and his department for you know getting all of that stuff ordered um and everything. So those were those two meetings. Then we had CCC today. Um CCC today heard a presentation from Anita Bliss regarding the heritage uh for spa Spanish speakers class 2. We spoke last spring about the Spanish for native speakers or heritage class one uh that was approved. So they'll be bringing that forward um for that class that will be for the 2728 school year. Um, in addition, we had conversations regarding something else related to health and it was important, but but it was not important enough to take any action on. So, Stephen will talk about that later at some other point when it becomes relevant. Um, and then we spent the rest of the time talking really about the bylaws for CCC um, and working on those and kind of updating them to to address um, the CCC that the district wants moving forward.
Knowing that that is it's an 18-month process. The first six months of that process is to evaluate our current needs from a financial standpoint, from a programming standpoint, from a method of delivery standpoint. And so we're currently in the middle of gathering as much information as we possibly can. Everything from how much would it take to reoutfit a room that is currently a co-op room that would have to be a decal central [laughter] room. How much would it cost for the furniture or would we purchase furniture from the co-op to so we're trying to cover every aspect of it? And so this ask is for contracted services of an individual by the name of Dr. Angela Balsley. She's uh an expert in special special education and she assists schools in who make the same decision of maybe moving away or analyzing if it makes sense to move away or what you need to consider moving out of a co-op situation.
I I don't know if you know we're talking about food products now. I don't I mean at that point right so I don't know if you know more about Raj what is required. So Dr. J say again you know u this is my understanding according to the food code right you cannot add it to the food it's similar to you know anything like cannabis or this this we have dealt in before right it can be cannot be additive to the food so any product that's coming right it should be in different form if you're going to be allowed you know if if I don't think so that we can surpass or overpass what what the food court dictates and you have people sell anything in food. >> I don't think I don't think that's the case because the these are all would all be considered food products and there's definition of food as this isn't a food product just like you know you know cannabis or CBD would be in a gummy for example.
Um but someone to administer you would need expertise on drafting um and then administrative capacity at least two to three would be up the top but we would have to vet and come back with a final [clears throat] >> no more than no more than that. >> Right. How many vacancies you guys have right now? >> Oh I don't have the the number off the top of my head Senator. um roughly uh I'm going to say maybe 40 or 50 vacancies uh departmentwide. We're I think we're at we're about 18% out of 400 FTE. >> There's no guarantee that we give you these positions you're going to fill them right away. Especially if you need expertise in a certain area. >> Correct, Senator. Those and I also caveat those vacant positions um they're not afunded. They're not general funded vacancies. Um majority of them are non-general funded.