Um we wouldn't be targeting anything at grades six through 8. If there's a significant thing that would be figured out through a conversation um between a parent and a counselor or an administrator. >> Sorry. So just to be precise then if there's a newsletter or a blast that goes out about this new virtual school it will not make mention of 67 8 it will only make mention of 9 through 12 and then only if a parent reaches out about middle school would that opportunity be indicated? >> Yeah. And again we would be looking at middle school medical need or a dis I mean it would have to be it would have to fit specific criteria that we currently use. Um, so if I have this straight, then of the 55, is there is there an approval process right now for the 55? Does the school corporation approve each of those 55 being able to do virtual schooling?
Um, so we als we pass those out in the student section or we just pass them out throughout school on the Friday of the game. And then Mr. Dale helped four of us students at the beginning of year get a little club together um to kind of help with our school spirit. So we make videos and post them on Instagram for game days. Um just just kind of help promote the game days, get more people involved. And then football season we have made like the dress up day um on that Friday. So if the theme was like camo, we dressed up in camo for school to get kids more excited to going to the game. And then for our Christmas spirit week, we offered a drawing for a gift card every day. So if you dressed up on a day, you got to put your name in a drawing and then draw to see if you can win a gift card.
Um during the I guess that was the winter of 24 into 25, we had to take a couple little mini loan type of things for very briefly for literally like a maybe a week and all of those were paid back and those that has not happened since. Um so it was just that really brief period of time that we were really kind of underwater frankly. So um just so everyone understands and I guess public understands that the corporation pays into the trust um the premium portion that they owe. Um so the 80% roughly that they owe and then the employees pay into that as well and then all claims are paid out of the trust accounts. Um so there's like we utilize like currently we are utilizing Anthem's network but we don't we pay Anthem for usage of their network and to process claims but they are not paying the claims.
The teachers are getting the results and so we're just we're making it more meaningful. And then one of the next steps is that we just tested kindergarten last week of which that's a state mandate surprise. And um we are going to be looking at what's called a total school cluster grouping model. And what that is is that it allows teachers to basically sort kids into five different clusters because right now we get kids who are this ability level and this ability level. And so what the total school cluster grouping does is it intentionally groups kids and lessens that variance. So maybe I have kids in clusters five, three, and two or I have one, three, and four. And so as a teacher, it makes it easier to differentiate when you have like ability kids within your classroom versus just having everybody. So it's been a really exciting and fun project to work on.
So, you know what's like also awesome? >> What is also awesome? >> Our sponsors such as Adam's Wells. So, a huge shout out to our local internet provider, Adams Wells, Internet Internet Telecom. They are directly responsible for our esports players to be able to compete because of their incredibly fast and reliable fiber internet service. If you are in the market for internet or phone service, check out adamswwells.com. That's adamswwells.com. And I will say it is really good that they help us out, especially considering the types of things we do. Online gaming is really important to us. You know, >> it is it is very important. >> Like thanks to them, we're able to compete with all of these schools all over the place. Like imagine how it would be if you had to drive to, let's say, Leville High School for one match and go all the way to Nightstown High School for a different match.
I think I in the past there were 17 acres, but >> that's right. per acre the chemical was like if I was a custom spray or whatever in that aspect it would be like $25 an acre to for to buy the chemical and the application fee. >> So it really is only worth your money if it's a longterm deal. >> Right. Right. And even I mean there's some fescue there that's grown. Well that stuff like your yard I mean you fertilize it the better. Well it's like $50 an acre for fertilizer. So I mean it all adds up and all that. >> So >> carry on year to year. >> So let me do this. I would propose that we accept his bid, but should we need to get out of contract reimburse expenses? >> I'm talking for a threeyear contract for years. So, okay.
I have, and I venture to guess that a number of other people in town are also unaware of those conditions. You see the pictures, you hear the description, you understand the process. Uh when this petition was being circulated, there were two primary reasons that people wanted to sign. One was cost, questions about the cost. Another was people didn't want to see that old building destroyed. You know, they have an emotional attachment to it. People who've lived here their whole lives. So, um, I still have questions, uh, as do some others about what the final cost will be. Um, you know, I think I mentioned at the last meeting that, uh, when Highlands built a facility of exactly the same size that we're proposing here, uh, their cost was 775 and that was a few years ago per square foot. So, we're likely to be beyond that cost.
We still think we can offer raises to stay viable to stay confident to be a going concern to be a thriving school district. I I think we can work this. >> Okay. >> And that um and the average tenure of the of the teachers which was at about 11. So, we're fairly certain we can keep keep that 1.02. >> I I can't say much about that. I know we have some >> We've hired some experienced teachers. >> Most of our teachers are >> This doesn't account for all the cuts either. Yeah. >> This only accounts for actual expenditures. It doesn't account for all of the cuts we've taken. >> And I guess like for me, we I've been on this board for a while and been presented with a financial decision that we didn't have the facts on. And one person was telling us one thing and we didn't really ask our financial person because we were trusting the supervision of somebody and we our district could be in better shape be if we wouldn't have made that decision but nobody really pointed us and we didn't really know that we had the option.
>> Yeah. So, we have to right now they have to have a doctor's note. Uh, I mean, if they were coming with a medical or we're placing them there because of discipline. So, I So, we're the gatekeepers currently of any child that moves to virtual. >> Okay. And that is that is 6 through 12. >> That's currently 6 through 12. >> But under the new program, there won't be a note required for 9 through 12. >> Correct. >> So the moment a student and presumably their parent, unless they're 18, I guess, um, wants to just stay home and take classes, they're going to be allowed to do it. >> No, I mean, it's not as easy as just saying, "I want it now. We're registering you." you're going to be required to have a meeting again with the parent and the student um with their counselor or their um assistant principal and they're going to go through we we're going to have a an agreement that we're going to go through each item um and there's going to be pieces that we're that they're agreeing to they understand the difference.
And we did that for 12 days. So there's 12 gift cards. Then now we're going to show like a video of our win. Nice. All right. So, that's just a sneak peek of what we've been doing this year. And so, this next thing is watch for Mr. Long, and we love the idea. So, we're going to get into that in our spring prep session. So, this is a way for us to make school fun before we get into finals. And it's our our last little break between spring break and summer break. Um, this is where we plan to hand out student council to our next class president or presidents and show all the showcase all the seniors who won the senior most by crowning them with DIY crowns. And we want to make this a new new tradition because I think people have been enjoying them a lot more and it's nice to have because we have a community event really in the spring.
So they are not taking the risk like the financial risk on their part. So um that's one benefit of having a trust is we aren't paying somebody else to take the risk. We take the risk. So, um, if you take a look kind of where we were at last year and where we're at this year, we had three straight years above budget, um, all resulting in a significant deficit. Um, we were losing cash flow in our reserve accounts. And so what we did at the beginning, well, end of 2024 into 2025 is we switched over to the Anthem HealthSync network um, with higher discounts. Um, we have co-pays, so it's a PO network. Um it puts kind of the biggest thing that um again all insurance changes cause frustration with people every single time. It doesn't matter how good or bad they are. One of the things that happened this time was we moved or shifted Park View into the tier two of our network because Park View is more expensive to to go to and that was costing us a significant amount of money.
And uh I've talked a long time, so I guess I'll just say that that's it. I'm so sorry. >> Good. Good stuff. >> You can feel the stairs behind you. >> Yeah. Yeah. They're like, "It's 85 degrees. Let's go." >> Well, thank you.
[music] It would be it would be a headache to say the least. >> It would absolutely suck. Thank you so much. >> Thank you so much. And it looks like we got Jordan aka S RXYXY and Strixie. Dude, that's a huge >> on the left side of your screen. >> And he's going against moderate cape 86. >> That cape is moderate. >> That is a moderate cape. Let's see if Jordan can be better than moderate. Oh, and he's starting off with uh stick spin. I'm pretty sure that uh that is called. And it feels like everyone knows that now. >> Mhm. It used to be all about Pico. >> Oh my goodness. Look, look at the look at the four wide the down stacking from moderate. >> Goodness gracious. Mhm. Doing quite a bit. >> And Jordan even made a cross in the middle. Look at that.
>> I think we're pretty good now because we did have the the field taken care of in terms of getting the trees out and it was sprayed at that time. >> Oh, it was. >> Yeah. So, I don't think we need that right now, but it could it could be future. >> Yeah. It could who knows? It could be something you look at in the fall during if you see maybe the trees coming back up >> or if depending upon how things shake out with the the proposal possible proposal for a new elementary school or you stay with renovations. >> So where do they where the brush was and they mowed it down or whatever? I'm not going to hate that. I'm going to go around that. >> But over time, if you keep it sprayed, that stuff's going to decay. Grass will start growing up.
That's not to say it's not manageable. You know, apparently Mr. Nolan has his finger on the pulse of how to take care of that. But there's another thing to consider perhaps for those people who have an attachment to the old building. Um, if you've ever been to the old high school in Neptune, you see how they use that facility there. Uh, it's kind of a cultural center, an arts kind of thing, that sort of thing. Our building could be the same. Something to consider. Um, and I think that's all I have to say. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Yes. Yes, you do. And you have to state your name and address. >> Sorry, can't make exceptions. seated. >> I'm Liz Wall. I live on 640 Susan Lane. Um, I think part of the concern I came here honestly because I wanted to voice my opinion about the old building.
So I really appreciate you giving us this and showing us what could what could happen and then also letting us know that we're okay to go ahead and make this. um thank you >> to approve this. So, I really do appreciate that. >> Thank you. And that's that's where I accept the job and and I love my job, but I don't know our budget really until this time of year because we didn't know our 100 day count, which determines this count right here until February 23rd. So, if we stick to and member member Inger brought this up, remember John, that some of those expenditures might have been more staff related than student related. So, if we stick to student related costs, I think we can really tighten these clearances up because there's there's not a lot of room for movement. I can't guarantee every year we'll have that 982,000 carry forward from M and I can't guarantee we'll have the 850,000 to bring in from capital, but as long as we just focus on student and student outcomes, I think we can stay on the same page.
We want to make sure we're 100% clear that the virtual environment is different than the in person and that there's expectations with it like one expectation and there's multiple expectations but there's pieces where you have to come in person um for some of the testing and that and we want to make sure we're very clear um of what's expected attendance the attendance expectation and if you're not meeting those expectations then when there's a break I mean a breaking point then we will bring you tell you you have to come back to the inerson environment to continue. So, a 14-year-old, which is the age somebody starts in ninth grade. If a 14-year-old and the 14-year-old parents come to you and they say, "We want to enroll our son or daughter in virtual school >> and they go through this meeting." And they agree and they sign off, then they will they will be allowed.
So, this is something we can do as a school. >> All right. And our last thing that we've been helping plan since July is our senior class trip. The last time we did a class trip was about five years ago, but before that it was a long time, too. So, it's been a while. And we wanted to bring this back as a way to have a last little get together with our class before we all graduate and go our separate ways. We plan to go to King's Island on May 15th. This is an incentive based field trip, so students have to have above failing grades, so anything over an F, and they can't have more than five absences. And then our target goal is to reach at least 50 students. And the cost per student is $40. >> Thank you. >> Like I said, they've been outstanding all year and I'm looking forward to a spring session and and them transitioning to some new leaders for next year.
So we pushed them into tier 2. they are still in network. Um but it does cost more to to go to Parkview facilities. So as you take a look kind of a brief summary of 2024 into 2025 um you can see kind of on the third line in year performance we were at 108% loss ratio um and about a $550,000 deficit in 2024 and then last year after switching over to Anthem HealthSync we were at a just about a 90% loss ratio and we had a surplus of $680,000. So, um, we are on our way, I can happily say we are on our way to stabilizing our stance and where we're at on everything and our our cash position. Um, on that, I guess it's the fourth line down there, the trust catch position. Um, you can see the checking and savings and the operating and reserve.
Any questions for either of them? >> Okay, Cheryl, you're up. >> I would I just have a couple things. Um Well, five, but the grading period ends this Friday, believe it or not. >> Yeah. >> And then it's nine weeks and this one's in the books. It's crazy. Um, we had a great meeting last week with um, the prosecutor and DCS and to talk about attendance and how the legislative attendance law, if you will, we have no teeth because we really get no support. And so talk to them about how that might be helpful or how they could be helpful moving forward. And so, um, it was a it was an interesting meeting, but, um, I feel like they at least listened, um, and we'll see if they come back when we come back to the table kind of where we go from there. So, um, but we did appreciate them taking the time to meet with us.