Yes, so >> Take it away, Leslie. So, >> [laughter] >> thank you for having me here tonight, and um I just want to share with you what we're doing in the business department, helping our student engaging our students, and helping our students make correct connections to the curriculum that they're learning in our classroom, um and it's connections that they're going to use, they're real-world connections that they will use now, in college, um and in planning for their future careers. So, I um if it's all right, I'm going to share with you or one of our students at We the I'm going to share with you my experience as a senior here at Cheshire High School. Over the past 4 years, I've taken AP Macroeconomics, Dual Enrollment Accounting, and Personal Finance. I've also been an active member of the FBLA and DECA since my freshman year.
>> [applause] >> In the cross country, we had an individual league champion on the eighth grade girl side and runner-up in the eighth grade boys division, while three others three others placed in the top 11 at our conference meet. The Scholars Bowl team won the Pioneer League with an individual answering over 90 questions correctly this year. The volleyball team won the Burlington Invitational, placing third in the Pioneer League. The football team won the Pioneer League back-to-back titles with a career record of 13 and 1. Girls wrestling, there was one individual Pioneer League champion. Boys wrestling, they had two individual Pioneer League champions. The girls basketball team finished 11 and 3 and finished as runner-up in the Pioneer League tournament. Three students earned first place honors in the Daughters of the American Revolution art contest. Uh three of them actually moving on to the national stage and placing there.
Outside of school, Belen serves at the altar at her church, and was a success coach at Myokinetics, a physical therapy clinic. She is part of the National Honor Society and Math Honor Society. Belen is also this year's unsung hero for GHS softball. Beyond her academic and extracurricular achievements, her kindness and ability to connect with others sets her apart, making her a role model for her peers and a deserving recipient of this recognition. Belen, watching you grow into the generally kind, respectful, hardworking, and determined young woman you are today has been incredible. This award recognizes what you've accomplished during your four years here at Garfield High School, but the people who've known you the longest are just as proud of the young woman you've become. Belen will be attending Seton Hall University next year to study nursing, a fitting career choice for a young woman who treats people with dignity and sets the standards for others around her.
[music] Well, I've been [music] afraid [singing] of changing cuz I've built my life around [music] you. But time makes you bolder. Even [music and singing] children get older. I'm getting older, [singing] too. [music] Oh, I'm getting older, [singing and music] too. Did my love take it down? Climb a mountain and turn around. And if you see [singing] my reflection [music] in snow covered hills where the land [music and singing] bring you down. And if you see [singing] my [music] reflection in the snow covered hills where a landslide bringing down. Oh, [singing and music] let's land bring him down. [music] Another turning [music and singing] point. A fork stuck in the road. Time grabs you by the rest you [music] where to go. So make the best of [singing] this test known [music] as why. It's not a question but a lesson learned [singing] in time.
Um and then our hope was to get through these policies as well. Um and then I think the expectation this part I'm unclear Mr. Man I don't know what the date is for it and then there was like a back and forth. It sounds like this is going to be something that we do have to present in person but then there's also maybe it would be recorded. So, I'm gonna hand that off to you to let us know what we're doing. >> Fair enough. Um, and just um for Heather and anyone new that's listening. So, I'm not a member of the committee, but I am here exeicio as a resource. Um, sometimes Katie Gibson Mlan from our board sits in as well. Really appreciate um you know the having a family where a parent and a student are joining us is amazing because we always want to have more parents and we love having a student member.
Most recently at Terrace Elementary, but she'll be returning to her home at Central in the fall. She In the fall, she has led and supported initiatives focused on academic and behavioral supports, social-emotional learning, best practices in special education, instructional interventions, and data-based decision-making. Shannon is passionate about fostering inclusive learning environments, supporting staff development, and ensuring that all students have access to meaningful opportunities for success. She holds an undergraduate degree in psychology from Northern Illinois University, master's degrees, and an education specialist degree from Loyola University, and her leadership endorsement from the American College of Education. We had 50 applicants for this position, which is a lot. And Mrs. Okonek participated in a robust and expansive interview process, where she met with a number of district and Central staff, and where it was clear that she'd make an excellent EP at Central. She's joined here this evening by her husband, her children, and her nephew.
And yeah, I think she just helped me a lot become a better journalist and a better designer. And where are you going next year? Oh, I'm going to go study journalism at Northwestern. >> [applause] >> Yes. Before wait before Yoldi walks away from us, I have two proclamations for you. Uh the first one is from the Village of Downers Grove recognizing uh your achievements at IHSA Journalism State Finals. And you didn't know it or yeah, tomorrow will be named in your day in your name in Downers Grove it after you. >> [applause] [applause] >> And so that was Mayor Barnett in in Downers Grove. Uh Mayor Cunningham in Woodridge. This is the one you didn't know was actually happening. Today was named after [laughter] you. So today is your day and tomorrow is your day. >> [laughter] >> THAT'S AWESOME. >> [applause] [applause] >> UM ANOTHER JOURNALISM STUDENT THAT we have here tonight is Joy Hadleton and she placed third in feature writing.
Um just a few short weeks ago I spoke in front of about 270 at the FFA alumni banquet. And I've since overcome my fear obviously from high school. Um I graduated in 2011 and was fortunate enough to have 3 years of FFA and it was a life-changing organization for me. The FFA program taught me a lot and I had an awesome teacher and mentor who helped me so much. I learned a lot of life school life skills, met a lot of friends and connections through the program. When I was in the program, we didn't have a lot of outside help. We were brand new. As we talked to other FFA organizations in the area and we were trying to plan our first banquet, we realized we didn't have a lot of help or resources that we needed from the community. Where other people did and we realized that we could have a need for that.
Uh well, congratulations to our Calculus champions. Um two seniors and a junior always representing Avon very well and I'm um sorry that Mr. Record couldn't be here today because he's an exceptional educator. You know, you um we have our top 25 students um every year that we recognize in April and Mr. Record is almost always uh one of the teachers that is recognized just because his students really uh appreciate his teaching style and certainly this award and these smart kids are the reason I think that um that we get to uh celebrate you. Um in high school, I could spell calculus and so that was about it in my high school career. I really um am happy that we have um such great math instruction at Avon High School and um certainly love to recognize many of you for multiple times um this season. So, congratulations on this award and thank you so much for being such a great representative of Avon.
Each team member has contributed to our success through their individual areas of expertise. In addition to being passionate about literature, individually members of this team are intrinsically motivated, humble, hilarious, and hardworking. Our team captain, senior Gabby Wilden, demonstrates unflappable focus at all times. Before traveling to Purdue on May 9th, she casually quipped, "I'll just reread the book again this weekend." Quiet confidence, experience, and leadership exude from senior Eleanor Dixon. She shared practice ideas, competition rules with me cuz I really didn't know anything, gently guiding me with coaching tips. Senior Marin Williams and her relentless positivity adds to our credibility with her perfectly timed British accent, which she applies as needed. Junior Halen Moore, surprised a little bit by her own success, has blossomed from a bit unsure to confident resilience in just a few short months. Junior Reagan Moffett, who is not with us this evening, her self-confidence and consistent reassurance of teammates raises up our entire team.
We don't make you stay unless you absolutely have to. Thank you so much for the such a treat. So nice meeting you. What a cute girl. >> Okay, moving on down to item C1 donations. Part of communications. Okay, it looks like Benton Central again has really smoked some big donations totaling just shy of $15,000. Recipients High Mileage BPA, Blue Prairie Preschool, Student Services, Health Services, Drafting. >> The BPA I believe that helped them with their national trip to nationals. >> And a couple to auto auto department. And then Prairie Crossing just a little bit over $2,500 and those backpack and other recipients. We have to really thank all those donors. Amazing amount of money being donated to support our schools. C2 curriculum update. >> If you think um I just wanted to uh take just a moment. We are at a transitional point. We are finishing up all of that testing.
Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor of accepting the consent or approving this consent agenda, signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed, same sign. Abstentions? Motion carried. Action items. The mowing bids. Do you discuss them first and then motion or how does that Uh you can do a a motion to um bring them into discussion. Yeah. I thought we were going Yep. Is there a motion to approve the 2026-2027 mowing mowing bids Van Buren Elementary, Watkins Glen Career, the Brown County Schools main campus, G Wagler Landscaping LLC, as well as Holmes Boyd and Sprunica Elementary uh by G Wagler Landscaping LLC. Is there a motion to approve those mowing bids? So moved. Is there a second? Second. Discussion. Yeah, Mr. Steels with us tonight. Do you want to walk us through [snorts] um the process to arrive at at those? Yeah, sure. I think it's important to know um one of our main campuses that we have contracted out in the past is Eagle Park.
So, we've had about 60 days uh to learn the new matrix, um see some changes already made to the matrix, and then hit the ground running because the new accountability system went into effect for this graduating class to some degree. So, we put some plans in place to meet it this year and then more plans to meet it in the um coming the years to come. The [clears throat] system of this is shifts focus from just being beyond proficiency alone, so beyond just a test score, and places greater emphasis on things like growth, progress, and then how we're preparing students for after school. Lauren, Ashley, and I will all be presenting tonight because it's really taken all of us including Austin and Jim Cain, the junior high guidance counselor, to just get through the information that we needed for this year, to make a plan for this year, and then figure out how we're going to move forward.
It's actually pretty impressive how many students we have that do an amazing job that I think oftent times gets overlooked. So, the first thing I'd like to do, I'd like to give a round of applause to all the great kiddos who do a wonderful JOB FOR US. KIND OF MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO pick our such a wide selection of wonderful students. With that said, we ended up choosing this time Finley Lowry. Finley, if you want to come on up here, Finley, I'm going to talk a little bit about you and then I'll shake your hand. Okay. All right. So, I actually spoke and recommended Finley, and this was a person I had talked to Mr. Lake about for some time. There were several reasons why. For starters, when I first started here last semester, everyone was so nice and caring, but I feel like Finley here went out of his way to make a positive impact and to try to make sure that I was appreciated and that people wanted me to be here.
How about I uh how about we go through this and I'm going to read off your names. Come up here and I hand you your with a handshake and then we'll come back in line and afterwards we'll ask the coaches to say a few words about the team. Alexander G recognize me. No, they're not here. Ara coffee, >> Ariana, Aubrey Dwinsky, Charlotte is Christopher Nogle, Cooper Walsh, Donnie Dlooi, Evan Spazoff. Javanni Salas ripping and custody Jackson Perwin Keegan McKenna Lake Shinderly sorry Lucy McBride Luke Rodriguez Samantha, is it Tiger, Pa Sing, Coach Carrie Lucas, and Coach Robert Lucas. Before I hand before I hand it over to coaches, I just want to thank you guys for coming out this evening and uh representing Crown Point and any of your achievements this evening and anything I mean if you're you're on track to do great things in the future as well.
Uh, this is the fourth governor that has appointed Mr. Watts to the board. This certainly is a board that carries a lot of weight in the state of Indiana because they are responsible for setting policy, uh, for education from one end of the state of Indiana to the other. Uh, and also responsible for the Indiana Department of Education and it is great for us to have local representation on that board. So, congratulations to BJ Watts. Uh, classroom enrichment grants were given out recently at the Evansville Rotary Club, also sponsored by our friends at Liberty Federal Credit Union, supporting more than 20 of our schools and programs. Uh, so, always great, uh, to see extra support coming our way to help, uh, teachers with the work they're doing with their students. Uh, we did another episode of What's Happening with Hoover. This has certainly been one of our more popular ones all year long where Dr.
Um, we appreciate her creativity and she's full of effort um all the time. We are fortunate to have her in class. The teachers also categorized her as an absolute delight. I think she's straight A's this whole year. Um, and she works really hard with any of the teams or small groups we put her with. So congratulations. [applause] >> Hi, good evening. My student is not here tonight. Um we had baseball. Um so they're doing some team things. Um Nathan Sutherland, leading by example. a brief moment at the beginning of the school year which consisted of informal interactions between his staff and Nathan. He led led to an opportunity for his strong character to shine. As a senior in the time when expectations are more common than not when reasons to go against the grain are more prevalent or the fight of an expectation happens because it doesn't make sense.
She was a high school teacher when she was there. Um so we have a position open at the at the high school. She's going to transfer into that position. We'll look We'll open up a middle school counseling position for us. Uh Miss Adams um the case conference coordinator uh that position is going to be evolved or kind of be dismantled um and she's going to move into the attendance secretary at the high school. Uh she will also be the special education scheduler um with that time. She will be at the high school um there by the in the career center office. So that's our transfers. Um when we get to our new hires um Mr. Michael McLendon here is here with us tonight. He has over 20 years worth of uh experience uh teaching experience uh and a wide variety of coaching experiences also. Um Mr.
National math stars earn have earned the top 2% of third grade math in iLearn in the nation. So top 2% of third grade math. We're very pleased to have four of those students and introducing those students are their principal principles again from Amy Beverland. Mr. Pennington will come up and introduce his students and Dr. Carl Ble will introduce a student from Mary Castle. And finally, Mr. Yearwood will introduce a student from Forest Glenn, our national math stars. >> Thank you, Dr. Hos Brown. Congratulations for being in the top 2% in the state of Indiana on your math I learn. Not present Eden Marky, but present Sawyer Rexroth. Eden's here. Eden and Sawyer, come on down. >> All right, from Mary Castle, we have Daniel Slifer.
Um we table a lot. We go around trying to preach to beyond the choir. So, hopefully some of you are not just our choir. I'm a attorney by background, but as relevant to here, more just a guy who takes in information and tries to turn it into useful actions um for myself and everybody else. Before we take questions, can I just put one spin on this? When she They said a couple times it's all the chemicals, but I want to say it's also the microplastics that's causing harm. Plastics were just found in the body in 2018, so we still don't know the um science behind that as much and the um causality hasn't been found, but we're finding that now, so I don't want everybody to think that it's just uh the chemicals. It's been found in plaques, likely increasing risks of heart attack, strokes, uh death.