Because when you introduce something new into your system, it changes your whole system. how you operate, not just cost, but how you operate. How does it impact other things? What's a tradeoff? If I've got adults up here doing this, then I'm gonna lose them doing this. And part of that trade-off is climate and culture and connectedness. So, obviously, we're not going to rec not recommend something that we feel strongly about, but we do take that into consideration. You could have one of the differences of having school security consultants come in who specialize in preK through 12, which is all we do. We don't do colleges, universities. We don't do anything but prek through 12 versus corporate is you could come in with a physical security checklist and just sept check, crime prevention through environmental design checklist. >> As Chris knows and it's like, yeah, you need this, you need more cameras.
So, >> yes, good point. Thank you. >> Do we have any idea of a I mean a comparable corporation and what they may sit at as opposed to where we're at? >> So ISBA has has basically seen the writing on the wall that this is coming. There's also some legislation out there to do some other financial studies that uh the legislature is planning on having DOE kind of do about that. ISBA is also planning on doing a major study as well just to get comparables because this is a complete change in how we've done things for a long time. So, they're going to start doing some of that. And I don't know if Mr. Brimberry has some uh additional thoughts or not. So, >> well, I would tell you Mr. Allen um John and I's previous two districts um two different scenarios there, but one was about a buck three and that was low for the area and um John at Concord it was far higher than was.
So as we are now exceeding that into the 1.3 million, that is why it is formally coming to the board for your review and approval. Um, we do want to identify funding sources as available and so we do receive those developer donations which that is a perfect use of this is what the funding is for. We've received those donations specifically to that community and so we're wanting to reinvest that into that into that community. And so um that is where the $1.3 million will be coming from. So in looking at this over time, we we recognize that in this type of project, we want to do what we can to make it as least disruptive to the school community up there and while students are in school. So uh when we say project launch, that's the permitting elements, uh beginning the initial stages. Uh you'll see in in April, we start to do some uh site preparation and delivery.
But the team and the principles have all acknowledged that uh you know the te the committee that's made of teachers and administrators and the principles are part of that committee all we all know that there needs to be time for expectations and planning and okay >> you know and modeling and whatifs for you know answering some of the like what ifs things go wrong type of thing. How do we handle that uh as we start up the next school year? But we haven't built out like the structure, the timing, the that kind of >> but as long as we know that there's >> it's a known that it needs to occur. >> Okay. >> Question for you, Hank. Yeah. >> Uh you know, you were saying some of the families really value walking the students schedule >> and obviously the earlier in the school year you can do that as a parent the better.
And so at that time a decision was made to remove the uh ADA ramps from here and here and from there because they were non-compliant. And uh in over the past couple of years we've uh come up with a new plan to replace that ADA route. And it'll basically extend from this point here all the way across to the playground over here. Um, you know, because currently there is just there's not a way for the students to get out through here if they have a handicap to get into the playground from this way. They're coming right now around the front of the building to get to that lot. [clears throat] Um, I do have a paper copy of the plan if anybody would like to see what that looks like, but it's basically an 8 foot wide sidewalk that extends through that green space area right up against the building.
And I do want to say uh literally a a week or two before we were doing the interviews, we were in an administrative meeting and our current interim director of special education held up a book and said, "We're going to use this to work with our staff on IEPs and making sure we get them really tight and we're doing them really well." And coincidentally, the co-author was Dr. Bordinero, which is kind of crazy. So, we're very excited to have her aboard. Um she was the unanimous first choice uh candidate in both rounds of interviews which included administrators as well as the special education staff and special educators uh from the district. Um her contract will begin on July 1st, 2026. Welcome. Thank you. >> All right. May I have a motion to approve Dr. Kristen Gordonro's contract to begin to become the next assistant superintendent of special services beginning July 1st, 2026 as presented.
They put in a lot of time and care uh to honor the work and showcase the talent of our young artists. Um, we're very grateful for this continued partnership with the public library. Uh finally tonight, it is that time of year. I read uh assessments are approaching. Uh the window for the spring I read is the first two weeks of March. So um for the second year, our second graders will be taking this uh this assessment along with some students in grades three through six. Um for many students, this is their first experience with the high stakes test. Uh just a big thank you to our teachers and and our school staff for helping students balance all of that pressure and approach that uh assessment with some confidence and calm and encouragement. So uh lots of big things happening. Thank you very much. >> Thank you Dr.
Yeah, put some more alarms over here. Do this. Put some weapons detection and you're going to get millions of dollars worth of recommendations that a you don't have the money to spend. And B, it's not going to really address anything other than that. But we look at that balance and that for the 40 years I've been in this is a balance. How do school administrators create a supportive welcoming environment where kids want to come in doors and learn and without feeling additional trauma and stress and anxiety? And how do families feel comfortable with it while at the same time reducing the risks? And it's not a perfect it's it's a tension between those two things. But we're not doing our job if you don't look at both of those and try to say what's reasonable. >> Thank you. Is there any other questions or comments with Dr.
So, we've been really good stewards over multiple boards, over multiple superintendent here with the rate being low here, but also maintaining raises, cash balances, and operations and so on. So, Huntington has been uh relatively low compared to uh both mine and John's past. Mine was low for the area I was in as a superintendent, and it was uh 15 cents higher than here. So, I would tell you it's a good question. I don't know where the area is now, but that's something we could certainly bring back to you. >> Yeah. And I would also say too, it's again to have those conversations about consolidation. We're also good because we're getting the tax base from the entire county, not our small little area. It's going to affect those other smaller districts as well because they get to only the AV that's in their particular area. So, it's going to it's going to hurt some people.
Uh this is while normal operations of school is going on so that we're not disrupting the actual area where the students are asked. So we have to put in temporary fencing and do some other things to make sure that students are still safe and they're not accessing any of those things that are happening on the initial side of it. But you could see that the majority of that project would be happening May through July in the installation and construction of the portables and restroom modules. We know that time always when you're doing construction can get influenced by weather and other, you know, if there's other uh difficulties, but the attempt is to really have the project completed by the end of July. Um I I know that our experts in the room could always answer questions that are related to that and and how much they're doing to make sure and they've worked on plenty of projects where you keep school going, but that's the intent.
So October is better than November for that perspective. Are there other opportunities earlier in the school year or beginning of the school year for parents to walk their child's schedule with >> that would be the August 27th date to meet the teacher night. Okay. So, um you know parents have walked that schedule before and you know they could still do that that evening, right? Um it's just the way we do it now. Everybody walks that schedule together. If that was an experience that they wanted to have to walk the building and see where their kids are going to each class and see what it's like to traverse the building, they could still choose to do that in the time that that evening and there'd still be people in the hallway to help them find their way around and and everything else. So, it' still be that August 27th night early in the school year where a family could still choose to use some of that time >> that evening.
Uh there are some detectable warning strips that are included with that where the driveway uh for the delivery uh area is in this right in this location here. Um that's really about the extent of the project. Short and sweet. But yeah, like I said, if somebody wants to see what this actually looks like, I apologize. We did have a graphic just didn't make its way here for you to see this evening.
>> Moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Hearing none. If we could take a vote, please. >> Darling, >> yes. >> Mindy Hartman, >> yes. >> Bridget Sandlin, >> yes. >> Stacy Salt, >> yes. Katherine Potter, >> yes. >> Jason Jansen, >> yes. >> And that motion is approved. >> Next up is item 8.4, the approval of the agreement to phase out trademark logo. Dr. Thomas. Um, so as you know, we have come to an agreement with Tiffen University on the phase out of the use of the Dragon logo at Kerry Junior High, which apparently was copyrighted by Tiffen University at some point, but has used been used in District 26 for more than 10 years. Um, the phase out includes removal from the website, which has already been done, removal of the Dragon Front posters, uh, starting next year, and then longerterm phase out of things like sports uniforms that the logo is on.
Kina. >> Nick the uh I read as just tagging along with the previous discussion. >> Yes. >> How many days is that? I know it's a it's two week window but how many days actual testing? >> Two days. Um but that that's maybe about 45 minutes one day and maybe about an hour a little over an hour on another day. So yeah, there's three test segments. Um >> so it's not a school day by any >> correct. Yeah, just a small portion of a couple days. >> Thanks. >> Thank you. Moving on to uh item 7.03, director of secondary education, Mrs. Ramirez. >> Thank you, Mr. President and board members. There are so many great things happening across the school corporation. I'm constantly taking like screenshots of things that I see that are posted on our social media. So, I'm so appreciative to Brooke and to our social media kind of representatives at each building who are highlighting the great things that our students are doing and under the kind of um I'd say leadership of very talented and caring teachers and staff members.
Hunt this time? I'm sure we'll have other times to meet and discuss and ask questions and I do want to say this. I think it would be very easy for this corporation, like you just said, do a knee-jerk reaction to uh neighboring um corporations and others within the state that put metal detectors in. Our approach is a little more methodical and it is uh for us to to learn about more about that facet of each and every school to utilize our experts out there, our teachers and our administrators and to get the the full picture from them so that we can do a a proper study and and then implement what really can be done to mitigate anything that can happen. Like you said, you're not gonna it's not going to be 100%. We we get that, but putting metal protectors up isn't 100% either as you already stated.
Um thankfully, I think we're good because we get the entire county to do off. Just other things to think about. >> Thank you, Mr. Wall. Um, yeah, you know, I think, uh, wouldn't hurt to have a bit of a debrief about this in the next few months just to kind of keep us keep our focus. Um, I'm proud of the work we've done to be careful with our finances, but this is really uncharted territory. Um, and at the same time advocate. Okay. So there's a we have voices and uh we have representation that we can reach out to. Don't be afraid to do that. Um I'm certainly going to so >> uh we have a brand new senator that is very willing to listen and have conversations. So I had the pleasure of having him at lunch. I was going to talk about this during board, but I had he came to lunch at the IPA lunch and and sat and listened and asked how things were going.
Uh but we don't we we're also looking at we don't have to have these portables open and ready to operate, you know, at the the first day of school. We still have a little bit of time. Um but it gives us the ability to get this done, lease disruption, and then we can begin that process and having some of those discussions about that expansion in that community. So um with that, I will uh uh I will yield for questions. but also our guests as well. [snorts] >> Just to be clear, this is for the purchase and the installation as well as any prep work that would go into it. >> Yes, that is correct. >> All of it. So, would that that would include um I don't know if you have to have a a foundation, I'm assuming, like cement, concrete, or is that already in place?
But if that isn't an experience that a family found valuable of like trying to run around and follow their kids schedule, then they could choose to structure that evening differently or, >> you know, just go to the teachers that they wanted to see or go meet them informally in like a large space or, you know, it's kind of a choose your own adventure as to what you as a family feel like you need out of that night rather than us determining every family needs to just follow their kids schedule. >> Got it. Cool. Can you just remind me how many staff do we have? I was just that we I see that there was 109 staff members that did this and I know this was a quick turnaround. >> So how many total staff were given the >> all of them? So you know all staff but generally teachers would be the ones commenting on this right.
I know there's a couple board members here that were at facilities meeting last that >> I'd be happy to answer any questions. >> We actually have it in our docs. >> Oh, you do it. >> We have the site. >> Fantastic. >> We appreciate you. >> Yeah, I was just sorry. >> Go ahead. >> No, I was it it came up. It's um it's not having that in the back is caused some issues at the site and this is something that be uh last for a long time. the ADA sidewalk that they're putting in is wide enough for you know like uh >> two wheelchairs to pass >> you know so it's it should be set for years and years be >> so I have a question >> the other ones used to be too steep >> um I understand and maybe this is more this is more I understand I understand that we needed I don't question it at all was this picked up on the long range facility plan at all >> no it was Uh we are >> that's discouraging.
For example, we just purchased uniforms, I believe, for basketball. um and those last for a while. So we will do a gradual fade out of those over time. Um so the um agreement is in the board packet tonight. The process with Tiffen was very cordial. I think they used AI to look online and see who's using their logo and that's how they saw it and we had no idea that's where it came from. Um but as I mentioned earlier, our logo contest is underway at Kerry Junior High for a new logo. Um that could be a dragon or something else. Um, so, um, we're looking forward to adopting the new logo. And, uh, the agreement, as I said, is, um, in your packet, >> right? May I have a motion to approve the agreement to phase out trademark logo as presented? So moved. >> Second.