This promotes kindness, unity, and respect throughout our school community. Activities will include a Random Acts of Kindness Wheel and an American Sign Language Learning Table and many other interactive stations. Thank you. Thank you. >> [snorts] >> Um and I I hope you will stay for our next agenda item, but if you have to leave before then, that is fine. We understand. Cuz next up, we have spotlight on kids kids at Dartmouth High School, and I'm going to turn it on over to Principal Shea. Good evening, everyone. Um luckily, I don't have to speak much today cuz you're going to get to hear an amazing presentation, and our senior leadership is going to talk about all of their performances. But, um the origination [laughter] of this is we kind of start to think about what we want The spark of creation. >> [singing] [music] >> The spark of creation.
Any questions, please? Great. Thank you, Lee. Lindsay? Um really big thing in special ed is after spring break we really start shifting our year for next year and looking um at some things. We've had some setbacks in the last week, so we've had to kind of triage a little bit um to just fill some great things. Like baby being born and different things have taken staff out, so we kind of triage through that today and kudos to these two admin next to me because it's affected their buildings the most and so um being able to regroup and make sure everybody's needs are still met. Um and that went pretty smoothly today and and I I just pray that it continues to do that. Um as far as openings um from the professional standpoint, we um had three sped teacher openings this year, three and a half um and we've filled two of those already, so um have one and a half to fill and we won't be able to start them spring break, but so we lost some time.
Please join us in congratulating Mr. DeLaubell and Miss Major on this well-deserved recognition and thank you both for making WES a great place to learn. So, it's been a good month. Lots of fun things going on.
With the help of the district's insurance broker and finance consultant, the administration decided to move to MetLife saving the district $67,000. Annual cost to the district will be $355,000 for the 2016 school year. And they will provide a $400 administration credit prorated per employee that could lead up to a total of $20,400 of additional savings to the district as shared with us by finance consultant, Mr. Tyler Moore, Uh this could result in a rollover of $87,400 to our contingency reserve for '27-'28 to address the potential increase in medical costs for the upcoming fiscal year. So, um we're um very fortunate. Uh we're able to go to a provider for the hospital and the medical and the dental and the optical. And I know up here it's the same with the prosecution as they they all agree that they agree 5%. Is that correct? One concern I have about it is the video if everyone would show up or what happened.
Um here's our e program in action. I love the kid in the bottom left. [laughter] I'm like, dude, Jose, that's not sad. That's okay. It's just you didn't quite get it, but that's fine. Um >> opposites. >> We're opposites. There you go. Look at you. Silver lining. Um you know, these are kids and and um one thing I would point out that um that is happening and this is actually something to see throughout the year is what they practice during the day. They're required to interact with an adult two to three times and come back the next day and say, "Hey, I practiced emotions with these two adults. these three adults and they have to find people on campus and um oftentimes that's me and Matt, but that's fine. Go ahead. Um we are also blessed um if if you don't know obviously art and music and PE were taken away several years ago and then brought back by the board which is amazing.
Um I did want to point out over the past couple months talking to community members um community feedback on this refined approach has been overwhelmingly positive during my discussions. However, I've been informed that Dysart is um already losing some students up in the Asante area um to homeschooling and to the Peoria Unified School District. Uh parents in the Asante area are opting out simply because they don't want their children on long bus rides um which further impacts the the need for another elementary up there. Um the lack of in infrastructure in North Surprise is creating a what I would consider a domino effect that could be impacting our district's enrollment instability in that area. So, that's why I I I support this bond. So, I'd like to ask you said that this is bond is reduced for critical infrastructures. Correct. So, why is the um concession stands at our high school considered critical?
Uh this is just some procedural items. Uh this this screen it does say after after a successful referendum if it were to pass in November within four months we would start seeing revenue coming into the school district. The revenue goes to the state first to the department of revenue. They determine how much comes back to Lake County. the ROE then it goes to the ROE and they determine then uh they determine how much goes to each school district and they get the money transferred into our funds all in that process. There is a and this has come up I'm I'm want to make sure I'm transparent about this because this does come up as a negative from people that don't like the taxes that the re department of revenue will get a we'll get a piece the ROE gets a piece for managing the transactions that 1.7 million you see on the figure that was after those pieces were taken out so but they do get they do get a piece of it just as they do for all taxes that go to the department revenue they get a piece to manage it before it goes back.
So, if you don't know, just inform you what a cooperative team is. So, our our schools, Oswego High School and Oswego East, we come together to form a team. And largely, it's because of either resources or participation numbers are low. But together, we can form a team and participate and participate in the IHSA state series and individual awards in our conference, all of that. There has been a change based on this, and this is bylaw 5.141. And we can go through this in this very short presentation, but essentially, every fall, people propose bylaw changes um for whatever reason. And there are some reasons why that uh uh an athletic director proposed that it's a competitive advantage for teams to form these co-ops. Specifically, I made a fatal flaw. I didn't turn my pointer on. Sorry about that. They warned me about that as well. Um one of the one of the aspects of the new bylaw is there has to be 3,500 or more students for the combined enrollment.
Nancy was a co- captain of the 2526 Avon High School speech team. Nancy has demonstrated perseverance to achieve excellence at a high level. NY's demonstrated excellent work ethic, determination, and commitment. Nancy has earned the respect of the entire school community for her high standards and expectations. The highest level of distinction given by the Avon school corpor community school corporation is accommodation from the board of school trustees. Nancy Oregon is hereby commended for her success and achievements. And I mentioned before that we've been fortunate to have certain individuals who've actually had two state championships in the course of their time. When she was just a sophomore, Nancy was a state champion. She said, "Why not do it again as a senior?" So, she did. >> All right. Board members, I will entertain a motion. >> I move I move the board of school trustees approves the commendation as presented.
And there's a need locally for your folks to to have those opportunities for their children to be to to be in that type of facility. So really what we're doing here today is just to talk a little bit about an early childhood education program uh that would be created here at Covington and shared and where students would come in and receive their training and also assist to to learn in that early childhood setting uh here at Covington. Um, so right now, uh, there are students, you know, we did a a survey and we really did did a lot of work to see are there students interested and these numbers are solid for a first year program. Those are those are right on target for what you would hope to have in a first year program. Um, six students from Fountain Central as of today, uh, two students from Seagar, and whenever we printed this, it was three students uh, from Covington, but I did get noticed that there would be a fourth one added.
He had a little girl. He had a little girl. So, very beautiful. We'll hear personnel recommendation. Personnel recommendations. Do I need a motion to approve? I'll make the motion to approve. I need a second. I'll second. Any further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed the same. Okay. This evening really quickly just to let everyone know, we're missing a couple of our principals. They are at a career fair at USI. So, just to let you know that. They did skip out. Steve is with the golf team. Steve Rose with the golf team and Allison, her daughter had her first softball game tonight. So, So, lots of things are going on as we go into the spring and I know Mrs. Rose is going to go to a baseball game. So, you have there my report. A couple of things I just want to point out.
We ask that you approve those donations. So moved. Second. Joe Miller, all in favor? 7-0. We'd ask for your approval in hiring three summer helpers to assist with IT task for approximately 10 weeks. This is an item we traditionally do every summer. So moved. Second. Dan Keating, all in favor? 7-0. We recommend your approval to replace carpet in the middle school and Wheatfield Elementary as listed. So moved. Second. Joe Dan, all in favor? 7-0. We'd recommend your approval to repair the terrazzo at the middle school. So moved. Second. Joe Dan, all in favor? 7-0. Mr. Spahn has been working with our teachers in the buildings and he has presented a recommendation based upon the buildings teachers responses and recommendations to for English and language arts textbooks beginning for the 26 and 27 school year listed. So moved. Second. Joe Keating, all in favor? 7-0. In F, we recommend your approval to the current honors advanced science course progression at the middle school.
Thank you. I appreciate it. THANK YOU. >> [applause] [laughter] >> WAIT. WE GOT SEPARATE THE DRESSES. THANK YOU. STOP. It's a thing. All right, we're going to switch seats. All good. Good job. No more certificates if you thought you were going to get one, Pete. >> Sorry. Not this time. You can draw one for him. Uh at this time is public comment period. Um This opportunity is for agenda items only. And we have a lot of agenda items. So, if you would like to make a public comment, please come forward, state your name and address. Okay. With none, moving on. Uh next up is the consent agenda. And the items contained therein, the categories are conflict of interest from board numbers, minutes of the March 9, 2026 executive session, minutes of the March 9, 2026 regular school board meeting, personnel recommendations, treasurer's report for February 2026, and claims.
>> [singing] >> I see a mountain, and I want to climb it. I see a river, and I want to leave shore. Where there was nothing, let there be something, something made by me. [singing] There's worlds waiting for me to invent them. There's worlds waiting for me to [music] explore. I [singing] am an echo of the eternal cry of let there be. >> [music] >> The spark of creation burning bright [singing] within me. The spark of creation won't LET ME REST AT ALL [singing] UNTIL I DISCOVER OR BUILD OR UNCOVER A THING THAT I CAN CALL MY celebration [singing] of the SPARK OF CREATION. >> [singing] [music] >> SHATTER ME. >> [applause] >> OUR NEXT song we will perform will be Beautiful by Christina Aguilera. In the story, we had previously performed Creep by Radiohead to showcase our misfit manner and how none of us belonged.
Um so we're looking for those, but I'm glad we're filling those for next year. That's good. Great. Are there any career fairs at schools or are those all done? They're pretty much done. Um but like here we filled one because when they had openings if they had spread like went inside and on it and actually were able to get one. And so they met with other super one of my openings in the outer districts and so I met with them about if you're filling and you have other candidates start trying to fill one and see what we can fill that way too. So if we're already getting in the door you know, maybe we can for us too. So Um and we've actually done that a couple times. Okay. Thank you, Linda. Anything else, Linda? Great comment. Uh just uh we'll add on there that we did go live with our new e-funds and uh it's been used a lot.
Any questions? Have a great great month. All right. I am taking several students on Wednesday this coming Wednesday to a Build Your Future event in Salina. Um It's area businesses and technical schools for students to be able to kind of connect with those industry people and colleges that are they might be interested in so I I've never been. I've always wanted to go but Salina was a long way. So, I'm excited to uh get to take students to that and then on Friday um Mrs. whoever is taking some kids to a health and behavioral science day at Fort Hays State University. So, we're trying to get some things for our kiddos to attend outside the school to learn about careers. Um a couple weeks ago I took four students [clears throat] the picture on the next page. Um she the CPL honors banquet in Ness City.
Um I believe um Tammy will be helping us get all that taken care of and making sure that we have everything up and we can go to the coalition with the staff. Um to be in compliance so we can make sure that we're everything the last few years or so. I'm almost positive it is. I think that's one of the questions because Tammy's been our broker for like 5 plus years now. So, that's one of his things. When we switched from Blue Cross Blue Shield to United, that's one of the first things that she checked to see if um the students were covered. And I'm almost positive it is. I'll go and check with her and I'll let you know in a sec. Okay, good. So, if the coverage is the same. For the most part, yeah. She was showing us uh the plan we have right now, bronze, silver, gold, and she was she had a side-by-side Do you have that up there?
Again, um those kids who have weekly PE, it's been shown that they have an 11% higher pass rate on state assessments. Um that's a nationwide statistic. Nothing specific to Arizona that I could find, but right now we're playing flag football. Um coach was actually um um going to this week be be teaching kickball. That's good that with the wind that that was. But I um I'm trying to keep him from teaching kickball because we have a fifth grade versus faculty kickball game at the end of the year and I'll take any advantage I can get. Um they're they're young and fast and don't break like I do. Um but um we we obviously have PE on one of the best fields in the uh district. We have our um weekly computer class which obviously is helping with state assessments. Um and then in the entire right side of the screen is our library.
Well, if you uh ever go to a game and have to use the bathroom and for handicapped people, it's pretty difficult for them to get to those bathrooms on a timely fashion. A concession stand is not necessarily the bathrooms. That should have been clearly defined. Okay. As uh Dr. Croto mentioned at the last meeting, I think we're really um I think we're a little late in this game for this year uh to do a bond. I I know that we still have significant needs within this district, but I don't think that the timing is right. Um we're coming up really close to up to deadlines. We don't have a pack formed. Um we've not formed any committees on this. And with gas at $6 a gallon, I don't think that this would be responsible for our community at this time. Don't the concession stands bring in income for the I saw school district?
Um, this next page just talks about the distribution process. Uh, this I will say this has been in place long enough that uh it's a pretty seamless process. Uh, I I was presented with this years ago when I was superintendent downstate and uh there was a lot of questions that time like lack of trust that the money would go to the state and actually get back to the school. those things like that would come up and uh this I have not heard anything negative about the the uh the process of the fund the funds getting distributed uh to super to school districts. Um this next slide says how can sales tax be used to pay for capital? Just to just to kind of give you a general summary, we have a bond right now that our taxpayers are paying a million dollars a year for uh for the health life safety bond that you that we did all the roofs and the HVAC equipment.