So, we had about 50 vendors um and and a few staff volunteers and our families came through and were able to um get some information from those folks about life after high school and maybe some supports and services available now to them. Uh I'd also like to thank um the Wheeler National Junior Honor Society in partnership with Ben's Blue Bags. Um and I don't know if you're familiar with that organization, but it's one of our uh fireman Matt Kodicek here in Crown Point has started a project where he creates bags for first responders to carry in their vehicle um and it contains all kinds of sensory items. Um so, when they respond uh to try to help out maybe a student or child that struggles with sensory needs. So, the Honor Society at Wheeler took time to put together bags and um he made 25 I think they made 25.
We could just maybe have a touch base on that and see where we're at and how we're doing and how the year has progressed. Sure. Can do that. But other than that, everything else looks good. It looks like we've got a couple of good good months in there without three pay periods. So I was watching those numbers come through. Everything's looking good. And I like you I'm watching the operations fund and hoping for their June settlement, so. Yes, absolutely. All right. On that note, is there a motion to approve the financial reports for March 2026? I make a motion to accept the financial report as presented. Thank you, Gary. Is there a second? Second. I got Ken first. He was closer to me, so. Any other comments?
So, tonight I will ask approval to try that plan out for next school year, and I would be happy to take any questions you might have. Thank you, Ms. LaPlant. Um board questions or comments? I do. Um question concerning the cluster sites and transportation. >> Yes. Well, Ms. LaPlant, I was going to say that that the students are not going to walk. Ms. LaPlant is talking that to the board. >> No. They They are not. And we have worked in close collaboration uh with transportation and Mr. White um to find the best solution. And so, right now, for an example, um when you look at Brook Park-Harrison Hill, a Brook Park bus will go to Harrison Hill at 2:20 to load the children and then go to Brook Park. Those children will be unloaded at Brook Park when the other children get on then to go home.
So coming up on WACA, I know at least we're going to have on Wednesday, I haven't checked the whole schedule, we'll have tennis at the Ashlin Middle School. I think that's a 4:30 time. I know the girls lacrosse, they will be back on Wednesday as well against Grafton. Again, if you can uh come support that game for Morgan's message and that will do it for um for today. So, the Westwood Wolverines win 18 to N. We'll just kind of go over some quick stats before we uh call it a day. Alana Duffy, our number 50 junior goalie, one of the top goalies in TVL, at least 10 saves. Again, that is definitely unofficial. I wouldn't be surprised if it's more than 10 saves. Maggie McInness, two goals and at least one assist. That makes Maggie's points total points 98. So, I might have missed an assist or two.
So, I wanted to let the school committee know. >> So, this is justformational. We don't need to vote on anything, right? >> Any questions on this, please? >> I know the fingerprint was a big thing lastly. >> Yes. >> Yep. >> No. Any further questions? >> Okay, moving on. We have uh five uh out of state travel. Uh if you bear with me, I'd like a motion on each one of them. Um the first one is for out of state travel, Manny Malave to travel with students to Chevy Salem, New Hampshire to expose students with new experiences. May 14th I believe is going to be for one group and May 24th 22nd will be for the second group. Uh the only thing he's requesting is the buses. Two buses for a total of 1338. Can I get a motion on that please? >> Make a motion to accept a second.
So, I think that this is pretty shocking to see and this is the first time we've ever seen it like this. >> I just want to make a comment about the field trip. Um, why is the high school just taking the hit at it and that falls under one of these budget cut items to consider where it's not equitable across the buildings, right? So, I don't think that's really fair and I was I wasn't told that. Um So, I think when we're looking at equity, too, we have to look at those items. >> I can answer that, Joy, if you like. Um, so at the elementary and the middle school, the vast majority, and when I when I say vast majority, I mean like 98% of the field trips are not um are not funded through the operational budget. They're funded through parents put, you know, sending in a a payment for those field trips.
Um and that's it for us. >> Thank you, Mr. La Bouf. Uh with that, I'm going to open up the meeting to public comments on the agenda items only. Any of the public members wish to speak on agenda items only? Seeing none, I'm going to ask for a motion for resolutions 8.1 through 8.10. Mr. Gabba? There a second? >> Mr. Gabba. >> It was this way. Okay. >> Mr. Forcarino, just clarification. Motion by Mr. Gabba, second by Mr. Kilis, Mrs. Hassan. Okay. >> Got to yell it out. >> Roll call. Okay, Mr. Otto. >> Aye. >> Mrs. Hassan. >> Aye. >> Mr. Kilis. >> Aye. >> Mr. Gabba. >> Aye. >> Mrs. Petire. >> Aye. >> Mr. Forcarino. >> Aye. >> Uh motion for finance resolutions 10.1 through 10.17. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Petire. >> Uh I'm going to give it to Mrs. Hassan.
With a combination of all of those, we then wanted to make sure that the resources also aligned to our curriculum maps, our scope and sequences, and the common assessments that we were creating, um and the course objectives. When we were actually going and diving deeper into the resources, we wanted to make sure that they were hands-on. We wanted to make sure that they were inquiry-based and that they were interactive. When I was first came into the district, I realized that the last time we had done any type of curriculum um renewal for the science department was 20 years ago. Um so we really needed to update where we were, make sure that we have an online platform for the text so that we would have textbook resources in our classroom, but that students would then be able to use their Chromebooks and have access to the text at home.
>> I have uh notated my notes and I will yes, we'll talk about that and make those changes. Thank you. Thank you. >> Our projected rate compared to state averages or similar districts of our size. >> Those are two different questions. Um and I'll say that uh with the state we surpassed the state last year. So when we posted the 90.01 two years ago, that put us neck andneck with the state. And then when we posted the 92.41 4-1 last year, we actually surpassed the state. So again, without knowing exactly what the how the state's moving, I'm going to say that we're going to stay a ahead of the state. Um and then similar schools of our size, um those that ranges, they're they're kind of all over the place. So, I truly appreciate your work on this and the cohort's work on this and I also appreciate getting the update before we know the the official um we realize it could change possibly even go up.
So, each of our applied skills rooms will get a bag. And the Honor Society students and um Darlene Varga, their sponsor, are going to take a bus Friday morning next Friday morning and deliver to our five in-town elementary schools and meet the kids and deliver them to the rooms. And then just make sure you have in your calendar Wednesday, May 20th, best day of the year, Crown Point High School, 10:00 to 1:00, Unified Game Day. Thank you. >> Thank you, Ms. Paskis. Move to item 6.05, Assistant Superintendent, Mr. Gene Farmer. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Well, you know, after the directors are done, they have picked the bone pretty clean, but thankfully, we have a lot of good things going on in the school corporation. I usually can find something, so No, that's great. They're They're doing a great job and they they love to brag on our kids and our teachers as they should.
Hearing none, all in favor of the motion say aye. All in favor of the motion, say aye. Aye. Opposed, same sign. Motion carries 6-0. Moving on to the renewal of the Synovia Solutions. Um yes, so this Synovia Solutions renewal is for our transportation. Um it allows us to have our time and attendance, um dispatch monitor, um navigation systems, different things like that are tied to our transportation. And this is continuing on with that service. And so with that, I ask for approval. Thank you. Is this a This is a yearly fee, too, right? It's annual. Yes, that 43k is annual. Yeah. Cool. Is there a motion on the floor to approve the lease agreement? Or the agreement? Thank you, Ken. Is there a second? Second. Thank you, Gary. Any further discussion?
Perfect. Thank you. That was my question, too. So, thank you. Yes. First of all, thank you for being so innovative. I really appreciate the fact that if families have said that they choose MSDLT as their after and before school provider, that we're making it work. My wondering is, are parents aware of the clusters, and how do they feel about that? We have not made them aware yet because we wanted to do this tonight. Um one of the things that I do have to say, part of the reason I think that our families prefer us is because of the amazing site leaders we have. And um our families have made connections. And um luckily, when I was talking to the site leaders to get their input I learned that years ago before my time this was tried out and Brook Park and Harrison Hill had done that and so you know unfortunately this has been a challenging year for child care in the state and I think most families will be just happy that we are working to make sure everybody can have care because it is so crucial.
We shall see. Lily Viddy at least two goals or two goals for Lily. Um Ashley Forester four goals. Pain trip one goal. So, I think that's it. Did not get any of the stats for the West um Westwood Wolverines. >> And that's going to be it. So, again, we want to thank our sponsors today. Uh Townhouse Pizza again, always such a great sponsor. Definitely check them out. You can order online, call them up, visit their uh location. Want to thank our incredible, hardworking crew. We got Paul and Jeff. Again, we got Garrett and Vivian on the cameras doing a great job. Kind of got lucky today because it's a gorgeous day. It's not always the uh easiest over here on top of the um the broadcast booth over here, especially in the fall time in the winter and then the early part of the spring.
>> Second. We'll go to discussion. >> Second discussion. Yeah, about how many students is my first question. >> I believe it's the whole shop, A week and B week. >> And the second observation is the next one is going to Eping and are we using the same bus company? Because >> All right, let's let's vote on this one first. >> Yeah, but I there's a difference in price and I I just want to know. >> Yeah, but the difference was only like four or five dollars. It's for two different weeks. A weeks and B weeks. >> Am I wrong? >> Yeah. I'm just making an observation that there's difference in costs. >> Okay. >> Help me out one at a time. We go to the second one. >> Okay. We got a motion. We got a second. Right. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I.
They're self-funded. Um, and >> You said 98%? >> The vast majority. I mean, the I can I can look up an exact number, but it's under, I would say under $5,000 in each building is funded through the operating operating budget in those other two buildings. Whereas, the high school had a lot of larger um pool to start with. So, they still are having more funds dedicated to field trips, Um but it was reduced. >> So, I think that's critical for transparency, right? I I've been in the system for a long time, and I never knew that, right? So, like So, again, that's not equitable that the high schools are getting all these experiences paid for, and the rest of us are paying, you know, when they're at the elementary or middle school level. >> Yeah. >> Well, when they when they get to high school, then those >> If they're in that performing arts or those subcommittees pass those subgroups, possibly.
>> No, it was Kilis. >> Okay, then. >> Roll call. Mr. Otto. >> Abstain on check 021510. Iron rest. >> 21510. Okay, thank you. Mrs. Hassan. >> Aye. >> Mr. Kilis. >> Aye. >> Mr. Gabba. >> No. >> Mrs. Petire. >> Aye. >> Mr. Forcarino. >> Aye. >> Uh motion for education resolutions 12.1 through 12.23. Mrs. Hassan. I'll second. Mr. Gabba? Roll call, please. Mr. Arato? Recuse 12.7, number two, I abstain. 12.7, number two. Okay, Mrs. Hassan? >> I. >> Mr. Chiles? >> I. >> Mr. Gabba? >> I. >> Mrs. Petrie? >> Recuse on 12.7, number two, I abstain. >> Mr. Forcarino? >> I recuse on 12.7, number two, I abstain. >> Facilities resolutions 14.1 through 14.2, motion, please. >> Motion. >> Mrs. Petrie? >> I'll second. >> Mrs. Mr. Gabba seconds. Mr. Arato? >> I. >> Mrs. Hassan? >> I. >> Mr. Chiles? >> I.
We also wanted to make sure that we had multi-lingual resources. Um and we wanted to be able to to make sure that we were pushing and offering those college and career um connections so that our students were still being able to increase their rigor, but also then see what the connections of the different science activities that they were doing and how it connected to careers. And then we wanted to make sure that we had the online resources for both the teachers and the students. I'm going to turn it over to John. He's going to walk you through the three different courses. Good evening, everybody. I will start with biology. So with our biology team, we have Mr. Scott Johnson, Ms. Britney Campos, and Ms. Katie Ludolph. Two resources are being uh proposed for us to adopt uh for our renewal cycle. One is going to be Biology Now by Norton, and then a secondary resource from BioZone, which is Biology for the NGSS.
Um I um well, first of all, to kind of dovetail off what Mr. major said. I I mentioned this before and down the road um I think a great measure for us to see would be the number of our the number of students who graduate with college credit and and then maybe how much college credit they graduate with. I think that's a huge um marketing point for our school system. Um but I have a question. So, as as we um that you and the cohort groups have worked so hard to increase our graduation rate, I would imagine you meet tougher and tougher challenges in terms of the kids who the smaller group of kids who aren't making it. Um what are some of the challenges that that you and the teams face for for the kids that aren't part of that 95%. >> Mr. Edwards, I'll jump in on that one if you don't mind.
Uh but I do have a one really I think exciting thing. Uh we had seven students at Crown Point High School that are National Merit Scholarship Qualifiers. So, let me just put that in perspective, you know, over 1.3 million students take this test and about 50,000 are considered qualifiers. So, that's pretty impressive. So impressive, I'm going to read their names for you. It's okay. So, Aaron Grady, Gabriel Perez, Bernardino Perea, Thirusha Malladi, Austin Hunt, Emma Kaylin, and Brandon Lopez. So, congratulations to those students. They'll go on and potentially end up semi-finals, which gets moved down to 16,000 and then then you get to the national finals. So, congratulations, that's pretty impressive. And then uh just my one other item is just congratulations to Mrs. Buckle on her retirement. Um you know, you can't say enough for her time spent at MacArthur. Um just all the young lives she's shaped over the years and what she's meant to that school and our school corporation.
Hearing none, all in favor of the motion always say aye. Did you have something, Aaron? What What What all does that cover? I know it tracks the buses. Does that have the program that also makes the routes and stuff, too, or Um it does have, I believe, the Come on up, Vanessa. >> Is Vanessa in here? She is. I saw her back. She put her hand up. I told her to come on up. Thank you for being here tonight, by the way. Yep. Okay, so no, it does not route our our routes. That's a whole separate thing. Um so, we're actually kind of switching Um we've had Synovia for about 10 years. I spent the last 2 years demoing all kinds of different products just to kind of see like what other GPS um products were out there, talked to other school districts what they're using.