An excellent teacher not only delivering strong instruction, but also building relationships, setting high expectations, and inspiring a love of learning, qualities that Ms. Gorski consistency demonstrates. She goes above and beyond to meet the diverse needs of students, support academic, social growth, and fostering independence, confidence, and critical thinking skills. Drive by number seven and you will see our garden growing in the front of the school. We have a nice tomato garden, vegetable garden. She got all the kids digging, all kinds of stuff. So, it's incredible. Through her dedication and professionalism and passion for education, Ms. Gorski represents the very best of our school community. She is a collaborative team member and reflective partner, uh and practitioner, and a role model for both students and colleagues. Without further ado, I'd like to have you join in congratulating Ms. Gorski on doing a fine job at School Number Seven in part of our community.
Why is the district in cohort three? The Illinois State Board of Education does not go in alphabetical order. Districts are placed into six different cohorts based on a risk-based assessment. Being placed placed in an earlier cohort one, two, or three indicates that the state has identified specific data points that require closer attention sooner. There are many examples of why districts such as ours could be in one of these earlier cohorts in this program. Some of the examples could include performance gaps, recurring issues with meeting legal deadlines for evaluations and secondary transition programs or plans. State complaints a history of formal complaints or due process complaints where the district was found to be out of compliance. Equity concerns, data regarding how the district identifies or supports specific groups such as minority or underserved students. Another concern could be lack of transparency. Of grave concern to me is that the outward-facing communications to the community from the district is that they care deeply about the students' overall well-being, specifically including their mental health.
And so, first off, I want to thank the team. I'll let uh Mr. Mr. Bell, who uh for Kinderquest, it was an incredible turnout. Uh I had a chance to get there at the end and meet students and families uh who were leaving, and just the level of commitment and excellence that they experienced and getting to know who their future student their future school would feel like um is really an exciting event. I think the number is 600 we had, right? 600 people showed up. Uh it was Do you have the exact number, Jeremy? Do you remember? It was Exact number, um and I want to absolutely consider that communications, schools, and all departments had a huge uh impact on the success of that. Um but yes, uh there was quite a few families that walked through. Um we have we're able to capture prior to the event up to 600 names, families on that list to be able to send out communications out to.
Thomas and Mr. Sheepard for their um leadership so in these last few months. So, I want to also thank the Dear Path Garden Club and choir. They did an awesome job. And this Saturday, we have the speech tournament here, which is always a a really fun um morning to see our students, fourth grade through 8ighth grade. Um you know, get getting up the courage to give get in front of a group of adults and give um you know, a speech. And we always have the high school um speech team over here helping. and it's it's just a really fun morning. So that that is all. Okay. Uh Dr. Thomas, his superintendent update. Thank you. So um we've been talking about the change in the administrative staff and we have been working as the board knows very hard with Dr. Catchi, Dr. Burke Meyer and Dr.
Um, so congratulations and keep up the good work. Congratulations on all of your accomplishments including a full scholarship to DePaul, which is outstanding. Um, and anyone that knows me, I am an Olympics junkie. Um, I have been to the Paris Olympics. I have tickets to go to the LA Olympics. Uh, so I would love to meet you there. Um, so Okay. Um, I'll see you there. Congratulations. What a resume. I mean, number one in the nation. Amazing. Also, um, in the top 13% of your class. I mean, that's high achievements. Congratulations and thank you for being such a well-rounded student. Speaking about a well-rounded student, Caleb, my wife is Mrs. Langford and she has said amazing things about you. So, it's nice to finally meet you in person and I hear Caleb's a really good speaker. So, maybe at some point you could tell us how you do all the things you do.
Hi, my name is Isan Juja. I plan to go to IU Bloomington to major in neuroscience on a premed track with hopes of ultimately becoming a healthc care provider. Right now, I'm thinking dermatology. Seems pretty interesting. And um some of my favorite organizations and memories in high school include my participation with Academic Bowl, Indiana Math League, and the American Mathematics Contest, which I was able to place pretty well in. And I qualified for the second round of that my junior year and almost did my sophomore year. And uh in IML, which I part participated in all four years, um I placed each year. And this year we our school was able to place first place in the state and I was able to place second place uh in states. And I would say that my favorite teacher is probably Mr. Schiffer because through his teaching he taught me for three years I was able to develop a strong conceptual understanding of math which really supplemented my interest in it.
Couple of the big themes were transparency, uh making sure that we listen to the public. Uh there were some questions regarding uh the Some of the same questions we're discussing tonight came up. Um and then there were some questions about um just generally the process we went through to get there. That That That people weren't necessarily hearing what was being said publicly. Um so, there was some pushback on that. Big A big thing was class sizes. That kept coming up. Uh there's some there's some discussion There was some big discussion about uh if we consolidate, will class sizes get bigger? And I've tried to be out in front of that by just saying, you know, there's no intent of cutting certified staff members. Um and if enrollment doesn't go up, and we don't cut staff members, I'm not really sure how class sizes can go up.
Uh Natalie. Natalie is also going to be on our editorial board. And Sophia Snyder. And Sophia was the one collecting and managing the money this year, our business manager for us. Thank you. All right, can Can we please have uh CPHS, CPTV, and radio come on in? >> Welcome. All right. Um, thank you for being here tonight. We're going to read your resolution of commendation first, and then we'll have your sponsors come up and say a couple words. Uh, the Crown Point Board of School Trustees is honored to commend CPHS CPTV and radio for meritorious achievement. Be it hereby resolved that the Board of School Trustees for the Crown Point Community School Corporation wishes to express sincere congratulations to CPHS CPTV and radio for receiving the 2024-25 Hoosier Star Award, the highest award in the state of Indiana in the state at Indiana High School Press Association competition.
Hi. Um so, we had our first inaugural uh induction ceremony back in February, and it was awesome. We um We only chose eighth graders this year, and so we have 34 students. Um so, what National Junior Honor Society, like the whole purpose of it, is to honor and exemplify those students who have excelled specifically in scholarship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship. Um we hosted a dodgeball tournament back in March that Alex is going to tell you about. Um and then Corbin will briefly tell you about what we've done this semester, just uh different service projects. So uh the dodgeball tournament consisted of 10 teams and dozens of spectators. Along with the tournament, the students also uh set up a bake sale with volunteers donating sweet treats to raise additional funds. In total, the fundraiser made $2,316 for the Cantline family. >> [applause] >> Uh NJHS has volunteered in uh several different capacities this semester.
Um I'm in third period, which is one of the smaller classes, and throughout the year we've just all become really close to each other, but on the trip, I don't think there was one person I didn't talk to from third and fifth period. There were 25 students and I think each one of us ended up having a deep conversation on the trip and we all just became so close. Um I was very grateful that this trip allowed me to branch out and meet new people, create new friendships, and good memories with everyone in having to experience everyone's first with them.
Ashton Burns, uh Dylan Clark, David Sullivan is here. He was all MIC and also an IHSAA state qualifier. Corbin Donald, Brody Deckard, Stephen Senseny, and Devin Kelly. Uh also, Rich Austendorf, Jason Flores, Anderson Slocum, Jace Russell, Mason McFarland. That's our boys swimming and diving MIC championship team. Our girls receiving postseason accolades include Lydia Quinn, all MIC, as well as Lacy Say it again, Lacy. I like I'm sorry, I thought you said Leah. What's your last name? Nebrija. Okay. Leah Nebrija, I wanted to say it correctly. Next, we have our boys wrestling team. Uh we have uh Stephen Hunter, Ollie Miller, Eric Grady uh were all named all MIC, and Stephen Hunter was an IHSAA qualifier. Michael White is here, and I'm going to spend some time on Michael. Michael was the Marion County champion, MIC champion, IHSAA state champion going 47 and 0 this year.
We got Maggie McInness. I think that's uh Lily Vidy and Pain Trip around the circle over there for the faceoff. Maggie McInness getting the honors. It's a nice win by Maggie over to Lily Vidy. Got 17 seconds to score a goal. 13 seconds. Good pass from Lily. Uh just missed. Just missed. Maggie McInness moving a little high in that pass. We got 3 seconds. That's probably going to end the first quarter. And it does. So ending the first quarter. We got the Wolverines six, Ashlin two. We got two goals from Ashlin. Uh Ashley Forester senior with one goal and Maggie McInness with the second goal. So, we're just at the break over here. We're going to uh turn to our sponsors, Townhouse Pizza, for uh a quick little word from them and then we will be back. >> Give me the pizza right now. >> Brought to you in part by Townhouse.
He's He stopped it though. Solid play. Here comes Atwood. Big chop. >> Yeah, got a little chop there. Atwood bring it all the way back behind the goal line. Pass to Olson. Olson to Cavallaro. >> Another really good freshman. >> Yeah, he's great. He gets some big minutes, too. Cavallaro. Oh, good save. I think it hit off the shin again. >> Yeah, I couldn't tell if that hit the goalie or defenseman that took that one. By the way, good good block by Bellingham. >> For sure. Here's Fowler. Down Fowler, looked like he was about to tee up. He still might. And he hits the post. I think he hit the goalie and the post. And good save from Landergan. He is making some good saves here today. >> Yeah, and I like how he slows it down after the save. He kind of just goes right behind the net.
>> Probably trying to look let her do something behind the net. She decides kick the ball off Eddie turn. Good work by Eddie to me almost getting girl out of bounds come she's up with the ball looking >> go by Marino Marino like a wall [cheering] >> throws the ball over I don't know who that was that was a one time goal by I don't Nice feed by Fedz. I don't know. I'll go with Brain. I don't know who it was. I'm not hearing who to announce who scored that goal. So, we'll go Brain. Nice one timer by her. So, ties ties it up with 918 to go this time. Keney comes away with it. Keney making headway. Gets the ball over the restraining line. Looking to set up offense gets the ball over to Whitler. Whitmer over to Marino. Marino last time playing Northampton scored four goals.
We all work together to make sure all of our kids are getting everything they need. Um, and with that, I'm going to pass it off to Tina Nutter to talk about special ed and all the amazing work that's going on. >> Good evening. Thank you for having me here tonight. My name is Tina Nutter. I'm the director of special education. I've met a few of you, but not all of you. Um, I want to thank you all for the support that you've provided to the special ed department. It really is making a difference in the work that we're doing. Um, and I appreciate you giving me this opportunity to update you on both our literacy programming as well as our transition programming. Um, this before we move forward, I want to ground our work in this visual. This is one of my favorite visuals because it really captures how we think about supporting our students.
Uh also financial because they would require negotiations, especially Good Friday, uh would require contractual negotiations. And the concern for both, um that many staff would be absent during those holidays. And um what would be the question kind of came out, what would be the quality of education if we would have that many subs in the district and/or can we find that many subs in the district on certain ones of those days potentially. So, those were just the myriad of concerns that came out. Yes? >> I I just want to clarify. Um I know it's just kind of threading the needle, but financial negotiations obligations that I don't think that's true because you can superintendent can work with the union president to do an MOA or MOU or a legal would not have to be involved. >> Correct, potentially. >> Potentially if there is uh an agreement that can be reached through that.
So. >> [applause] >> Yay! >> [applause] [cheering] >> All the flowers are in the back. My son is afraid to walk up here with people here, you know, so. You'll get them in a minute. Para professional of the year, um I got a lot to say about uh Miss Yuri Lopez. Um she's become part of the school uh seven family. Um we're slowly building a family there. It's a very community oriented place and it gets better every year that we're there. Um I take great pride in with announcing Yuri Lopez as professional of the year, para professional of the year. She's invaluable support in her classroom and our entire school community. She's consistently goes above and beyond as well to assist both teachers, students, helping to create positive structure, support, learning environment, on and on and on. A strong classroom management skills and caring patient um approach.
However, internal communication is quite different. Should a student go to receive the treatment that they need to care for their mental health, behind the scenes, the district could refer to that student is going to a psychiatric ward for help, which is very stigmatizing, very disappointing. It's not going to encourage students to go and get the help that they need. Another reason why districts could be earlier or on have risk-based assessment early in the cohort could be restricted placements. High number of students being placed in separate or segregated settings rather than the general education classroom. For example, say the district's transition programming. If it defaulted to 100% special education, that would be a violation of least restrictive environment, which is something that the Illinois State Board of Education takes very seriously. How this is different than it used to be. In the past, monitoring was a desk audit.
So, that's way more than we've been able to capture at this point in previous school years. Um and so, that just is another foot in the door for our newest learners uh to be able to really understand and access what we have to offer. And this building was very busy that night. We had junior [clears throat] high track going on. We had softball games going on. We had a play going on or a musical going on. We had a volleyball tournament going on. And so, uh everybody showed up and showed out, for sure. It was really wonderful, and and I think it's What I think is important is that we're we're making intentional efforts to coordinate the opportunity for families to know what's happening in our district. Um that's also mirrored or we are doing screenings earlier than we've ever done before in terms of language acquisition.
Bordinaro who have already been hired and are stepping in and doing amazing job already. It's been a pleasure to work with them side by side on hiring our next group of administrators that we're recommending tonight. Um there's three of them. I believe all three are here. Um I'm going to start just briefly with our principal from Three Oaks. Her information this that is uh Kristen Herrick. Her information is in the consent agenda. The other two folks, the director of human resources, Belinda Kenyon, and assistant superintendent of finance and operation, Matt Glansman, are going to be talking about a little more detail in section 8 because uh when we have uh uh administrators who are in the central office staff, they go into section 8. But I do want to just highlight a few things about uh Miss Heric and uh thank you for being here tonight.