Any opposed? Motion carried. All right, it looks like we have some donations on hand. Looks like we have Putnam County Community Foundation to the high school band endowment for $937. Jeff and Denise Sigworth to the high school athletic department for $1,100. And Putnam County Community Foundation Sherry Walton Holly endowment to Deer Meadow for $1,507. Can I get a motion to approve? So moved. The motion. Do I have a second? Second. All right. Motion and a second. All those in favor? I. I.
I want to emphasize that we aren't asking for new construction. We are asking to utilize the 48-in by 98-in brick base that is already a part of the Horseman landscape. Third, we have included a scale drawing. While we aren't architects by any means, we have been careful in our calculations. The proposed plaque is 23 and 1/2 inches wide by 35 inches high. As a drawing illustrates, it will fit proportionally and elegantly on the wall. It is designed to look as though it was always meant to be there. Finally, we included a brief history of the school taken from our local historical archives. This document reminds us that from the moment those doors opened in 1925, that school was a corner cornerstone of Huntington County's commitment to education. >> [snorts] >> I want to emphasize two critical points that I know are of importance to this board, quality and cost.
Board, any questions on the CTE? I do have a question. And this is more about just holistically about our adoption and the cost. Um we know that the state of Indiana has moved to um reimbursing us for textbook adoption. We also know that that um is not nearly enough to cover the cost. And so, I am curious as to do we have the money to pay for these adoptions, or do we need to go out for another GE loan Board, we will have the money. How we will pay for that, uh you will instruct your superintendent. We'll work with you. We can say as of right now, we're not making any recommendations that we cannot afford to do. We will have to do that. Uh as textbooks as um our board member is explaining, the textbooks are technically free. Parents don't pay for it. Uh the state of Indiana funds us up to a certain point.
I don't see why. Maybe a pushoff. Thought that was pretty good defense, but got the call. Looks like number seven on Westwood, Emma Fitzpatrick. Good shot. They would have cut through the middle, fake down, and went up. So that actually 17-7. So that's a 10-goal lead. Again, Westwood is a top scoring team. Ashlin is not quitting though. They're playing hard. They they uh always have a lot to play with. Very well coached team. coached by uh we got Katie, coach Molly, Foley, we got Michelle and coach Tess. So, a lot of those coaches are also involved with field hockey. So, very involved with our fall and spring athletes. 17-7 going on over here. Maggie McInness with the faceoff. It's a win by Westwood. get those face offs are usually they're critical in this game over here just because uh so tough to defend but also the uh offensive team can just use up a ton of clock.
OH MY GOD! >> TURNS IT AROUND REAL QUICK. And he had three Raiders on him and he was still just moving forward, so >> that ball like he was doing crazy stuff back at his own at their own like 40. He just didn't stop. It's exciting. Daily with a nice pass right up to Kraus. Kraus passes to Bowles. >> Or Bowls. >> It's Balls. >> My apology. All right. Cavaliero passes up to Kraus. New Cavaliero. Cavaliero going towards the center, fires one off and it whistles. >> Yeah, we get Huh? They're going to say Bellingham ball. >> Huh? Yeah, I don't under- What was that call? >> I don't know. I I initially thought it was going to be a penalty against Bellingham. >> We just uh >> From the hack, but >> Yeah. >> I was confused. Sometimes I To be honest with the game, sometimes I have no idea what >> Yeah, I was going to say I don't always know what's on that ref's mind.
Yeah. Nope. So, one, two, five. That's all. That's So, we're hiring the seven. So, right now, six, four of my teachers are bilingual. Two are working on their proficiency. >> Okay. >> All right. Thank you. >> Yeah. Cuz I I just I asked just because of the population of students. I think it's important just in terms of when you're building that relationship with the kids to understand their language and their cultures and where they come from. So, >> that's important. But I also see my other question was already answered on the slides in terms of the credits. So, two of the students that I met at graduation last year got the seal >> and they're now at UMass L >> and they got credits in their Spanish requirements. So, now they don't have to take >> absolutely >> Spanish classes because they met the requirements and are able to take classes that are focused on what they want to want to want what they want to study in college.
This was an additional opportunity for some of that training. I can't speak to the specifics because I don't know the specifics and I am currently working with Dean Randa to look into opportunities to perhaps use some title funding for that. >> Okay. >> I think it's just a really good program and we see the kids come in and I think they're getting a lot out of it and I think it is great for mentorship. And then 35 is vocab grammar. What are we using and we're getting rid of it? I I looked it up. I mean I'm only asking that >> research on that. >> we have um children who struggle in that area. Um so I'm just curious what we're going to supplement there. >> So this is a vocabulary um book basically um that we do already have some copies of. We um Dr.
The end goal in music therapy, however, might be improved fine motor skills with their fingers on the keys. It might be improved expression. It might be improved communication, talking through the piano class. >> Music therapy gets a little deeper, I think. It's things that we take for granted, social, behavioral, a lot of these kids are challenged with. And music is a bridge that can help them go from their little space into everyone else's space and be with a large population, we can integrate with music. Kids seem drawn to it naturally. It's a good bridge to bring them to the next step in their lives. >> [applause] >> So, so as you can see, you know, I see the impact and you know, what we really been focusing on on it is pilot is really, you know, coming up with structured and goal oriented um activities that really specifically focus on developmental areas.
And they're original to the building. And you know, so >> We know there's lots of organic material. >> [laughter] >> So, Thank you, Mr. Shaw. >> as the as far as the funding It's very dirty. I know that. >> the community can understand that, too. If the board remember back in November of of last year, the the district applied for school uh maintenance grant and we were awarded that maintenance grant. And that's actually paying for 50,000 of the 121,000 Oh, okay. Very nice. uh submission that we get from the RFP. So, we're coming out of pocket for 71,000. But, those carpets were long replacement. And being in the gym, I was trying to just imagine that. Yeah, and the and and again What color? Just out of curiosity. >> Lakewood Creek former Lakewood Creek parent, I can tell you they are absolutely Oh, I can't believe [laughter] it.
um this this change will oh we have new ways of updating um the access that that parents and families will have and they will get information on that with the new school year next year. So we're in good shape to roll that out. And the third one I want to mention is um they legislature has these bills called um education matters that are like hundred or more pages long. So, I won't go through all the details, but there is one um part of one of those that talks about a new requirement to provide a math screener for elementary students and inform parents of students that are below expectations beginning in third grade. This will be coordinated with the iLearn quarterly checkpoints for early grades. Dr. Dr. Laura Hack is already working with her team to choose one of the state approved screeners that will be paid for through a formative assessment grant.
All in favor signify by saying I. I. Okay. The vote carries 4-0. Move on to item information recognition items. Item 6.01, Superintendent's Discussion Groups. Is there anything from Mr. Yerrick? Mr. Angel, anything? >> Mr. Winfield? >> I'm waiting to get a call back from a member regarding some of the redevelopment things that have been brought up in the Winfield area. So, as soon as I have some information from that individual, I will pass it on. >> Okay, thank you. And I know Mr. Vasser's not here this evening, so we'll bypass him. We'll move to item 6.02, Director of Elementary Education, Dr. Cascino. >> Thank you, Mr. President and board members. A few items tonight. First off, I want to take this opportunity, bless you, to congratulate and recognize Maryann Bucko. Recently, Ms. Bucko announced her retirement. She is, believe it or not, finishing her 30th year as the principal of MacArthur Elementary School and her 38th year, I believe, in education overall.
Any opposed? Thank you to all those donors. All right, we have the first reading for job descriptions for the athletic department. Yeah, so no action necessary this month. I've already shared these with you. This is with the restructuring of our athletic department. Those positions just kind of making black and white the duties and responsibilities. And I will bring these to you for a second reading and approval at our meeting. Okay. All right, moving on to first reading for the 2026-2027 building handbooks. Again, no action being taken this month. Just for first reading. We always bring them to you in April and then we bring them back for second reading and then adoption in May. Changes have been highlighted for for each of the schools. As you can imagine, it might include updates for the new state law with cell phones in classrooms and and things of that nature.
We have already contacted a local business, Trophy Center Plus, to provide the quote and the craftsmanship. We believe in keeping the this local project, supporting the businesses that support our schools. We want this plaque to be a testament to local excellence. Furthermore, this project comes at absolutely no cost to the school district or its taxpayers. The alumni board have been moved by the outpouring of support. We have been receiving donations from former students, families, and community members, and are eager to see this happen. I am proud to report that we have nearly met our entire funding goal. The community doesn't just want this, they are paying for it out of their pockets because they believe in the importance of this memorial. Members of the board, you might ask, why does this matter? Why place a plaque for a school that closed in 1966 at an elementary school in 2026?
And then as a community, we have to decide on what we're going to do to pay for that. We have paid for all of our resources without charging our parents since that law has been passed. It is our hope to continue to do that. Okay? And I want again say that this is not a Lawrence Township issue. This is a state issue that we are not getting the funding that we need in order to actually provide the bare minimum for our students, which are curricular resources. In a township like Lawrence Township, we have expectations that our students have very high quality resources. And I appreciate that this board, as well as our superintendent and those that work with us, um ensure that our students have the highest quality materials. And so, I just want to go on record to state that, Superintendent. >> board member.
So I think that's what Westwood's probably going to do right now. They have a 10goal lead. Their goal really is besides getting a win is keep the the game above seven goals. So right now it means Ashton's going to have to start kind of pressuring maybe taking some uh slight gamles at this point. really nothing to lose because they score, they score, but they want to try and get the ball, get that deficit under seven goals. It's either seven or under seven. >> Wow, great save by Alana. Again, that's eight for her. My stats might be completely wrong. We're going to assume that one is correct. So, we're going to go at least eight. That goes from Alana to P into Aaron Hickey the junior junior junior was Alyssa Marcia freshman keeps the ball over to Maggie McInness had the pleasure of coaching Maggie McInness in many sports love to she can break that 100 point mark today just selfishly because I'm on the call and I know Maggie very well know for her parents, even though her sister never got us Yukon basketball tickets.
>> Or any ref for that matter. >> Just uh under a minute left in this game. Score is 15 to 2. And Lundgren might have butchered that name, but he's still got it. >> Oh, wow. Goaltender went deep with the ball. Just a Like Lundgren still still in the zone. He's trying to get IT GO. OH, WHAT A GOAL! NUMBER 17. >> He's okay. Okay. >> Apparently looked dead for a second. >> [laughter] >> But good thing he's okay. That was Zach Hughes with >> with a nice finish. And Bellingham with a strong fourth quarter. >> Yeah, I mean, if you just count fourth quarters, they're winning. So, that is all, folks, as even though there's 5 seconds left on the clock. Calling it. And you know, it was a It was a fun game to call. You know, I'm The Raiders just played amazing.
So, >> and the one thing I also missed on my slide, sorry about that, is the department of ed. If we have a student who is interested in going into education um as their career after um they can have a if they earn the state seal, they also get a voucher for a free MTEL. So taking away another potential um barrier whether it's finances or how to get into the um get an MTEL or any of that. They just fill out a form and the state sends them a voucher for it. So again, uh Joe's a another outstanding administrator. Uh you would think that her and Tina were twins in the way they advocate and work hard for their students and uh have started new programming and again our uh co-eing program has thrived under uh Joe as well. You know, they say that uh lightning won't strike twice in the same place, but lightning struck twice at Greater Lawrence and left two great people behind when they hit us.
Ruby and I brought this into the schools um some years ago. Um so, this was additional um copies. I don't recall the other um sources that we were using in addition um but there are some other um opportunities to use you know, no cost um types of um programs as well as um frankly just online um like AI um components to help with um some of that information. So, that is what the thinking was in terms of um reducing that for now. >> Okay, I just wanted to make sure >> And I just want to comment to that to your question cuz I did research it quite a bit. Um it's my understanding that it's it's for the ENL population. Um they were workbooks for sure. Um but there's so much out there that's for free that can be utilized. So, >> I wanted to make sure it wasn't one of our um you know, we know that there are children that end up at the middle school that have severe gaps in phonemic awareness and they end up in you know, a specialized classroom and usually in fifth grade or now sixth grade to get those gaps.
Uh so, you know, we're looking to just continue to do what we're doing and, you know, aligning, you know, the goal level is aligned with IEPs and also just the, you know, track progress with documentation uh through our partnership with Montclair State. We just recently had a um uh we did a professional development workshop where we invited uh parents and teachers out last month. So, we had a nice turnout to that, actually. It was at the Garfield High School and uh parents got a chance to come out and learn more about music therapy, actually what's taking place inside the classroom, and how it's impacting the students. So, we thank you for the opportunity, and we're doing some other really cool things. I don't have much time, but we've also expanded into some other areas in the high school, doing some cool stuff. Maybe that'll be June's uh board meeting.
Okay. Yeah, that that's why yeah, when the with the long-term plan that they were we were unique in our usage of carpet. Somehow I missed that. I was reading it this Saturday and I said this is a typo. There's not Okay. What is the reason we put carpet in the elementary school? Gym. Gym. It was cheaper. It was cheaper [clears throat] back then. It was the thing to do. Yeah. It was probably just capital you know. I think back then it was also a safety feature. They thought the carpet it might be somewhat softer for the smaller children. K through five. Um but yes, please. >> have to say it was value engineering is what I would say. Value engineering is when you building a building and you looking for every single week of court corners and save money. So the space wasn't repurposed. It's not in a repurposed space.