001I have a few things about it. All right, guys. I got six o'clock, but got six o'clock, so we'll go ahead and get started. I want to welcome everybody to the March meeting at the Monroe Central School Board. Uh, as usual, we'll start off the meeting with a word of prayer and the pledge of allegiance. Uh, if you'd like to join us, please stay in. If not, you're welcome to step out. Mr. >> Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for today. We thank you for the the nice spring day that we've had, even though we're still in winter. Um, just be with us this evening as we u are expecting some weather. Just keep the families and the community safe. Um, just be with us as we make decisions this evening that can benefit
002the community and the the kids um that walk into school every day. Um, just guide us and lead us and let us do everything in your name. In in your name of Christ. Amen. Amen. To the flag of the United States of America and to the stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all right. Everything on the agenda is the approval of the agendas. >> Well, Mr. President, just one addition be letter F on your agenda after ECA personnel sent one late transportation, not late, but it just came in and I'd like to go ahead and get approval for it tonight. >> I'll entertain a motion on the agenda. I move to approve the agenda with the addition. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All in favor say I. >> All opposed.
003Motion carries 5-0. >> Okay, lots of great things going on Central. Couple bare positives I would like to share. Uh, one had a really nice FFA week. Thank Mr. Wiler, Miss Whmer, and Mr. Middle to help those guys. It was just really good week. I think Mr. Swalla, did you did I hear you judge some tractors? And he called that. I looked at him anyway. So, great for those kids. They always do a nice job with it and it's fun fun week for them. Want to congratulate the boys basketball team on another sectional championship. They will try to win a regional this Saturday. So good luck to them. And then last night if you were around or in the building evening for our academic teams. Um we hosted how many we have Mr. was 15,
00416, 17, somewhere. 18 schools participated at Monroe Central last night and we um what do we call that? The conference meet. >> Yeah. >> Uh well, it's not conference meet. It's just I don't know. There was a I mean it's all the way down. >> You don't host that meet every year, but it was our turn running around every 17 18 years. They did a really nice job hosting pups kids and just a big event. Put a good for forward last night. So congratulations to academic teams, older coaches, administration all that's all I have on their positives. Good stuff. Thanks. At this time, we'll take comments from patrons. Anybody would like to address the board, please step to the podium, give your name, address, and be able to make your remarks for three minutes, please.
005>> Mr. Thank you. >> Break love 402 Beachwood Drive farmland. Um I have two quick things. First one, um as a mom with three children in the corporation, but also as an educator and somebody that works with children, I place great value on social emotional development and character development. There was a situation this weekend at a basketball game where the kids maybe um the student section was maybe doing some chance that for me didn't personally feel good. I didn't like them. It wasn't the character that I think our community values in our in our youth and in our population. And um that's been a trend throughout the basketball season in other schools. It's the first time I've noticed it with our students. And each time I've noticed that, I've thought to myself, I really wish
006that building level administrator would go over there and tell those children that it's not appropriate. And this weekend I witnessed that. Um, and I want to thank Nick. Um, he heard the chant, it wasn't appropriate, immediately went over there and told I don't know what he said, but I'm assuming it was something like, "It's not appropriate. This is not who we are." And it stopped. Um, and I just want to thank you for that. Um it makes me really proud that my children soon to be three of them will be in this building and that's the leadership and the example that they are having. So I want to thank you. Um also there have been some rumors that um the arts department is being eliminated. Uh I don't usually fall into the rumor mill. However,
007when my child comes home and a their teacher tells them the arts are being eliminated from the school day programming and that if the music program doesn't increase, then the music department will also be going away. Um, my child was worried he's not a sports kid. and that's that's where he gets to connect with other kids and kind of do his thing and be who he is and celebrate those victories. Um, and so I just want to bring that forward and before it could just be a rumor. Um, but if that were ever on the table, I would really hope that um, the community could be involved in that conversation and we could maybe try to find some alternative ways to address whatever issue is there. So that's all I had. Um, but again, Nick,
008I really want to thank you. Thank you for being a leader for our children and for not hesitating for that. >> The timing can practice that. >> Timing was great. >> Not many times in my life have I saw you look at it a couple times. I know you started for that o'clock as I was walking. >> Good evening. Uh I attended a couple of months ago. My name is Andrew Dale. I'm from Muny. I'm running for Indiana Senate District 26. I'm not here to to showboat or anything. I just wanted to say that uh I'm learning and I'm getting around to every of the every of the five uh school school corporations in Randolph County. And uh I've met with a couple of folks in this room and I I'm open to meeting with
009anyone in this room at any time. Happy to come to you and just learn what's important to you and uh because I I support public education. Thank you. >> All right, moving on. Um, next item on the agenda is the consent agenda. Anybody any questions on the consent agenda? >> All right. I will entertain a motion on the consent agenda. >> I move to accept the consent agenda agenda as presented. >> I'll second discussion. All in favor say I. All opposed. Motion carries 5-0. >> All right, the transportation request. This is actually from Officer Ryan Davis. Um the state police will put on a law enforcement camp each year at the conservation club and they just ask local schools provides a school bus and a driver to transport kids out to that camp. We did
010I know we did this last year. It's just a good program. They've asked us once again to provide a driver on transportation during the week of June 22nd for the law enforcement games. >> And are they just going from the school like it's a drop off here and they enter? >> I believe so. Know that. Sure. They pick them up at >> they stay out at that camp area and then they transport >> transport from camp the old campa. All right, I'll entertain a motion on the transportation request for the law enforcement youth camp. So second any discussion all in favor say I. I. >> All opposed. Motion carries 5. Personnel certified staff appointment would like to recommend an high school teacher Lucas Lions. Lucas comes highly recommended. His references are outstanding. He will graduate
011from Purdue in May. This is a new position. So, this will be a third act teacher. We are recommending this new position and this individual due to the new requirements for high school diplomas including the pathways that exist. This will also help us to extend um our RAZ programming to the other schools that available because the plan is I don't want to get too far ahead but whether it's this individual or one of the now three ACT teachers will um be doing our capstone programs for a which is tied to funding also tied to graduation requirements for those kids and will open up doors for not only our kids but kids in some of the other schools. So Mr. Melton, I know you conducted the interviews. Mrs. Taylor can tell you more about the capstone
012program. You have any questions for them about this? >> Any comments from either one of you? >> No, I just a couple of things. First of all, you know, a couple references at Purdue uh just the common theme was is that uh he was just the top tier, you know, some of, you know, one of the top two or three best that they've ever had in that program. He kind of blew us away in the interview and just how he conducted himself and all that. But uh story I like to tell is the night that I called and offered him the job. I was stopped to get a haircut and uh I was just in there. It was kind of later and there two young ladies in there and one of them was from Jay
013County and said, "Hey, I just got off the phone with Lucas Lions, you know, and offered him this job and even a dad." She was like, you know, a classmate of his. He's like, "He's the nicest, kindest guy in the world, you know." So just good character. It was good to hear and and that kind of related to what what the references said. So, we're excited to get him. He's ready to go. He texted me last night wanting to know if uh he needed anything. So, if I had any questions about the position or the hire. All right. I will make a motion to approve the certified staff appointment of Mr. Lions. >> A second. >> Any discussion? >> All in favor say I. >> All opposed? Motion carries 5-0. >> It's student apprenticeship. Speaking
014of pathways, um these students are in our early childhood pathway. I included in your packet, the board's packet, the program guide for uh the registered apprentice program, the early childhood program that Mrs. Taylor and Miss Haney and others have developed in that once students get to a certain level criteria. Um we incentivize that by recommending that their pay increase. So these student apprentice uh folks have been getting $10 an hour. Next level um after they've completed these competencies is $12 an hour and these three have met that. We'd like to recommend the rest of this school year. Obviously, this doesn't go beyond graduation. Correct. We're saying that unless we do anything with them in the summer, but yeah, pretty much this ends at graduation. >> Like to bump these kids up to and ladies up
015to $12 an hour. >> All right. I'll entertain a motion on the student apprenticeship pay increase. Still move. >> Any discussion? question. Where are they at now? >> Sorry. Where are they at now? >> Where are they at right now? >> 10. Did I miss that? >> Any other discussion? >> All in favor say I. >> All opposed. Motion carries. 5-0. >> Unpaid leave absence. So, um, Miss Moore is a a elementary music teacher and, uh, per the Did I say that right? Okay. I thought I heard you correct. Sorry. Um, per the master contract with our teachers, really to take a leave of absence, an unpaid leave, the board has to approve that. So, exciting news for Taran. Taran was a um, Lily teacher creative fellowship recipient, which is outstanding. that program Lily puts
016on to um and teachers can apply for it and basically it's just a renewal. um they can uh write it to to travel and she wrote hers I can't remember exactly what the gist is but she's basically traveling out to Vermont for is it sur >> yeah cooking basically is >> yeah so she uh she's out of days due to other some other circumstances but she would obviously like to do this in May Lily pays for everything but uh in order to miss school she's going to have to take unpaid leave So, um, four I think four total days she would be missing. Obviously, we would hire some to cover the class. Um, but I'd like to grant these unpaid leave days to Teran so she can take this trip to Vermont. >> Four days
017five, right? >> Is it five 13 through 15 and 18 things? Yeah. I think it is it it's not Is it separate? Is it too different or is it the whole >> breaks probably breaks for a weekend or a weekend between them? >> Yeah. >> All right. I will make the motion to approve the MC leave absence for Aaron Moore. >> I'll second. >> Any discussion? All in favor say I. >> All oppose. Motion carries 5. And we have one continuing education tuition reimbursement request tonight from Rick Johnson. Again, this is per the master contract. Uh he's completed his requirements and we'd like to reimburse him $3,000 for his work. >> What What's the reimbursement per year? Is that >> It's a max per two every two years. Uh 1,500 for one course, 3,000 obviously
018three or more. three max over two-year period. >> All right. Entertain a motion on the education tuition reimbursement for Mr. Johnson. >> I move to accept the education tuition reimbursement. >> I'll second that. >> Any discussion? >> All in favor say I. >> All opposed. Motion carries 5. Mr. Murphy, thanks for coming back. Welcome. Um, in 2024, the general assembly decided that the Union School Corporation should be dissolved and that is uh why we have been required because of the fact that Monroe Central would gain a Union Township if it happens uh as part of our school district. It's still up in the air. There's a trial scheduled, believe it or not, in November of this year to determine whether or not this will happen. And uh one of the school board me I was
019here last month. We talked to we went through the amended uh election plan. One of the one or two of the school board members mentioned can we make this contingent on on it happening? And yes we should and could. I'm glad you mentioned that. And so I have tweaked the language a little bit in the election plan so that it's contingent. If it doesn't happen and we may not know I mean it could go up on appeal. It may take a while but if it doesn't happen then we just carry on the way we are. if it does happen, the the election plan, and by the way, I've met with the clerk's office, the voter registration people in your clerk's office here in Winchester this this afternoon. They're aware of what we're doing. They're fine
020with it. What we would do uh is it wouldn't really start until 2028 and we would have one member from Green Township, one member from Stony Creek Township, one member from the Parker City area, one member from the Farland area and the member who is now at large that position would go to Union Township. Um we have to there's a couple little variables in there depending on certain things, but that's the general gist of the plan. Uh Mr. Bolton and I worked on it quite a bit to make sure that we felt like it made sense and I think the board members have had some input. So the purpose of tonight's meeting is for you to either approve or disapprove of this plan. If you approve this plan, then tomorrow morning I contact the news
021gazette, publish the plan in the paper. uh it has to sit there for 120 days to give the taxpayers a chance to review it and to uh if they decide they want to oppose it, they can file petitions to oppose it. If they don't, then it goes to the Department of Education in July and to the clerk's office and uh and then would become effective for the future. uh it affects the 2026 election only in the sense that if the dissolution does not occur, then everything just stays the same. If the dissolution does occur, then the uh 2026 election of the atlarge representative would be for a two-year term only. So other than that, I think it's a pretty simple plan and I welcome any questions or any input, but you should vote one way
022or the other on this plan and then we'll move accordingly. >> If union does win their appeal, the atlarge stays on the 26 or it goes on >> it stays on the 26 >> and then it goes to 30. >> It actually would go to 30. That's correct. That's absolutely correct. I appreciate you taking our feedback. It was well written. >> Yeah, I think it makes the plan much better. >> Thanks, Steve. Appreciate it. Entertain a motion on the school board reorganization resolution. >> I'll make the motion. >> Second. Any discussion? >> All in favor say I. I. >> All oppose. Motion carries 5-0. >> Thank you, Mr. Murphy. You're welcome. >> Other business item number two, sixth grade. So, there's been a lot of discussion the last two to three months on the location
023of the sixth grade for the 26 27th school year and beyond. Um, I shared at length last meeting quite a bit of information. Uh we did our SWAT analysis as a as an admin team and uh we also sent out a communication I know Miss Bison communication to her parents and I did as well uh just kind of outlining some of the highlights from that that SWAT presentation last month. Um I'm sure that some individuals likely have reached out to board members. Um I've had discussions. It's been good um with with folks here and and obviously people in our community. Very positive feedback overall. I would say positive to neutral on this um idea. I think there are great opportunities for the sixth graders in this building and then also it it gives us some
024opportunities to expand our programming at the elementary building with daycare and some other things down there. So, I I have the SWAT up here, but again, I went through that at length last meeting, so I don't think I need to do that again. It's available if anybody has any questions, but we went through those points pretty well at length. So, again, I don't want to get too ahead of of the board here on a decision. So, we talked about where this would look, where classrooms would be. Um, if approved tonight, then then we will go to work tomorrow as a as an admin team meeting with the teachers on Thursday to start hammering out the specific details of that. I can tell you we have thought through this. We've given this a great deal of
025thought. I can tell you we have not made decisions on anything yet because again, we ultimately want to know if this is the direction of the board before we do that. So >> those are the two buildings and again I I think we are we've analyzed this long enough. >> Can you put it back on opportunities? >> Sure. Just leave it there to continue. >> Nope. >> Yeah. These are some of the opportunities we we outlined um last month. Again, this is not my work. This is the one of pretty much the entire admin team, feedback from teachers, feedback from parents that have reached out and expressed an opinion on this. So, it's been discussed for many, many years. Uh the opportunity is here with the graduation pathways. There is room in this building to
026accomplish this. Um, we have an excellent leader in this building that's background both the elementary and the junior senior high school level. The staff is right and our our junior high teachers are outstanding. I think they can pull this off. I think it'll be a good thing for Neuro Central. So again, I'd like to make the recommendation tonight that beginning next school year, the 26 27th school year with the sixth grade um be moved to the junior center high school building. I can attest to we've been talking about it for years before we built the preschool wing. That was a big conversation and and we were very close at that point, but we needed the bathrooms where they are for our preschool and we we had to meet those certain things. So, I've heard several
027people have contacted me just like you said and there was only one question that could have been taken negative and it was resolved. So, I've heard very good feedback from the community. Yeah, I'll second that. A lot of good feedback and and I think it's because of the work that the admin team did on the SWAT and I think people were having a hard time seeing the positives past the fear of their sixth grader moving to the high school. But when people realized the opportunities that this was going to open for both their sixth grader and their K through fifth graders at the elementary, I think that kind of opened some eyes and a lot of positive there, too. So, I appreciate all the work that you guys put into that. >> Yeah. And I
028to mimic that the the work that was put into this, the SWAT analysis, the timeline, the communication, I thought was handled very well. Very, very well. We could have voted on this last month and that would have been that would have been a mistake. But to discuss it last month, to send out the letters, to vote on it this evening, I think is the opportunity was there for concerns to come and to have multiple discussions. >> And honestly, another exciting thing about it is just like the vision series, when you did the vision series, the idea was to to really educate people in the community to be an ally for for the school. And it was really cool to see allies at work in social media about this. >> Well, with that said, I will
029make a motion to approve the sixth grade move to the high school for the 26 2011 school year. Second. Any discussion? All in favor say I. I. All opposed? Motion carries 5. for good. Uh all right. Um so we run into this every year. Um the common school loan we have applied this goes way back to Mr. Macani for technology helps budget. We we're able to budget our technology items through this and it's just a it's a good tool that we use each year. Unfortunately, we have a very short window when they issue the state of Indiana issues common school loans twice a year and you can they're small loans that you can use for construction or technology. Um we just got this loan on Friday. I think it was Friday and the turnaround is
030April 6th. So Brent has to fill out an application for this and so that it goes to the state board approves all of these school loans. Again, these are roughly and this based on your your student count, but these are rough roughly around 100,000. So, we're not talking like a full-blown million-doll project. These are around 100,000. And what we do is we roll those every five years. So, if you look at our debt right now, we have five school common school loans on there. One will roll off and if you approved tonight, one will roll on. Again, we use these for a a variety of technology needs that we have. But again, this helps. The reason why you would do this is because it it it takes the burden off your operations budget because otherwise
031you're buying this either out of education or operations and you can use debt service for these technology items. So Brent is working on the application now. We will bring it to the April meeting for your approval. U we would like for permission to go ahead and submit this loan. If for some reason you decide we do not want to do this then we will with withdraw our submittal I guess in April but in order to meet our deadline April 6 is when it has to go in. You have anything else you want to say on? >> Yeah. So in the past we've done various things on it. This year we're going to kind of streamline it. There's been some new restrictions kind of put on it from last year. So this year's come school loan
032that you guys will see will be for Chromebooks and then take carts as well for the elementary. So that's going to chew up that whole 100,000 plus. Thanking us. Any other questions? >> All right. I entertain a motion on the permission to submit the common school technology loan. >> So moved. Second. Any discussion? All in favor say I. I. >> All oppose. Motion carries. 5-0. >> Uh food service management company. We've had two years now with Chartwells after making the move to this company for our SFA. Um I'm sorry for our food service management company. And we've had this is a good relationship. I think we're continuing to make some improvements. Obviously, as the newness wears off, comes get set in, but financially it's not hurting us. I think the quality of product is much
033better. Just again, and that's not any knock on our people. It's just the buying power is much greater for the food um service company like Chartwells. So, we do not have to take this back out to bid. We will after so many years, but all this is is a renewal. This would be year Mrs. Swift is now our food service rep at the school level. She's been working on this. You have anything you want to say about it or >> comments? I can just say that being new in this position, it was a little intimidating at first, but I have been so impressed with the communication with Chartwells, their guidance, their help with just kind of showing me the ropes, but then also to our state, um the the school uh nutrition program is just
034been amazing with trainings and followup with questions and understanding of just this new position that I'm in, you and helping me along the way. So, um I've just been really pleased with Cindy uh Batty and Nick who are um with Chartwells and I don't have anything but good things to say. And the kids I think the feedback that we're getting with the different things that we are presenting to them um getting to know what they like and don't like and being able to customize just having that power of ordering and customizing the menu. How do you get the feedback from the kids? How's that work? >> The ladies in the lunchroom, I mean, they they tell them they, you know, and then they ask questions, too. And I did um just recently um on-site review
035for both schools. And, you know, just kind of standing back and watching the interaction with our our ladies with the the students and their um relationships that they've built. Like, it's it's good. It's positive. All right, we'll entertain a motion on the food service management contract renewal with Chartwells. >> So moved. >> Second. Any discussion? All in favor say I. I. >> All opposed. Motion carries 5-0. >> Okay, just a couple items to report on tonight. First two go pretty quickly, but uh we've wrapped up our audit. Mr. Laura said on the pre pre- audit meeting as well as the post audit meeting every two years state board accounts come and send in any public entity like schools towns or whatever get audited um at at the taxpayer our expense. So, we get a hefty
036bill for this. Um, if you've been in the building, you've seen them because they worked out of this this room for about four weeks. There were anywhere from uh two to four of them in here at a time. But I want to thank Mrs. Cheeseman. She works very hard to provide this information, Mr. Swift on the food service, just everyone involved. Um, it went really, really well. We were bound by confidentiality and can't really talk about it till they release the official report, but it's a great audit and I'm really happy for our team and it's a relief off of them to know that we're good for another two years until we have to go back through this. So, job well done on that. Again, those will be made public here soon, real soon. Uh
037legislation, the um general assembly wrapped up the 26th session. Oh, about a little over a week ago now. And I'll be bringing these to you here. Maybe one or two each month between now and probably the start of next school year. Uh again, this was not a budget year, so there wasn't a lot with school finance. There were some things in there as we get into the budget later on in the summer. But I guess one of the big items um that we need to start talking about. We've already started um at the building levels as they bring you the handbooks here in the next couple of months to approve. This is the telephone legislation. There's already legislation on books um against this strengthened the cell phone policies or legislation. So really what and again
038I'm not asking for anything tonight. I just want to prepare you um and if you do get board question the board gets questioned in the community about this just so you you're armed with some of the facts but um my understanding is that ultimately the Indiana Department of Education will be providing guidance on exactly what schools will need to do. But what we are being told early on is that the schools will have to have one of two things. You're either going to have a no device policy which says you are not allowed to have a device on school property during instructional time. Okay? Or you can have storage policy where during instructional time during the instructional day devices must be stored away powered off and inaccessible throughout the school day. >> This has nothing
039to do with after school activities. And again, the board can make that policy, but the legislation is not saying anything about before or after school activities, weekend activities, ball games, dances, but during the 805 to 305 school day, you either have a no device policy or you say they are stored. Now, what do we mean by stored? Well, again, we will look to DOE for some guides on this, but we know that it's going to have to be these three. stored away, powered off, inaccessible throughout the day. Okay, questions on this? Now, this this applies prek through 12. This is an elementary policy. This is a high school policy that we're going to have to to make sure we have in place. So, comments from principles and questions. I mean, I think the I'll let
040you guys talk while you're thinking, but good intent here. I think intent's good. it is going to create some issues. But with two-factor authentication, which is a big deal now, um it's going to be a problem. All right. Many of our um dual credit kids have to do two two-factor authentication through IU or IvyTech and without having access to their phone. It's going to be create some issues. >> But it's the same problem at every school. >> Correct. Oh, yeah. It's not not just going to be our problem. It's going to be everybody's I think from what I'm hearing I think there's going to be some some grace here for those kind of things but for kids that have to have that every day to log in >> create kind of some issues. So >>
041you set up property off and >> uh it's a good question. I mean I think probably out in your car would probably be fine. Again I've not seen any guidance from DOE yet. It's way too early, but like probably if they leave it out in their car, probably think you would be okay for sports. >> Yeah. >> But not going out to the parking lot to give like during the school day. >> So, >> well, my question is going to be Yeah. What's instructional time to find the >> do they have to fight this battle between classes in the lunchroom? >> I think it will be first pretty much >> I think what the law says is first bell to last bell. That's how the legislative >> I don't know if easier. Again, this is
042I mean I I know we we have discussed this even before there was legislation, you know, the pros and cons of kids having cell phones and all those kind of things and but there are safety concerns. I mean, >> but this is the legislation and we're going to have to craft a policy that fits this legislation. Now, there is no political room to really debate now. We'll have to follow this again. I'm sorry. Be quiet. What do you guys got? >> As good as the feedback is I saw on the sixth grade move, the feedback I've seen on this is not >> a Monroe. >> That's why I'm sharing this tonight. the state >> you you need to be prepared and anybody in this room or listening tonight I understand that the board will have
043to craft the policy but it'll have to follow the legislation that's just passed when do we have to implement >> I'm sorry when do we have to implement our policy that would be the beginning of the school >> beginning this school year >> August that's what I was asking >> so we'll need to do the handbooks that will probably come to you in no later June Yeah. >> Anyone else? Okay. So, and then um some data here tonight. Those that don't like data, I apologize, but I've got to go through some numbers here. Spend a little time on this. And that's kind of our sixth month overview with solar. Solar was energized in August. So, we've got we've got a half a year of solar, a little a little more than that. Then I also
044want to talk to you about turn the um the tax return. So most of of what's in your uh folder up here and none of this was in your packet because it was just too detailed. I wanted to give you hard copies tonight, but most of what's in your packet will also be up here on the screen. So let's just kind of go through this. Stay with me if you I'll try to make this as painless as possible. But so you've seen this before. I shared this back in January, but just overall KWH use at NCHS just here at the junior senior high school. Obviously, we've made some big changes and we've reduced our KWS over the last three years. So, that is not all directly related to solar this last year. It obviously has
045to do a lot with the LED transition, the new boiler, the new air handlers. Lots of effort has gone into this and it saved the corporation great deal of money. So this this is switching from KW to MW. These are megawatt hours. So a thousand times that is what this solar field out here behind the elementary which is actually used to power the high school. Confusing but it's where we had to land. So, from September to February, again, I've left August off because it wasn't a complete month. We energized in the middle of that month. This just kind of skews things. Just wanted to give you a six-month look. So, these are this is production MW for each month. And this goes pretty much with what you would expect. I mean, obviously longer days in
046the summer, shorter days in the winter, lot more days in the winter. So December, you know, was almost what a fourth of what we produced, a third of what we produced um in September. So and that that you can expect that. Okay, you're going to see those numbers again. This is a screenshot of what is on our website. This is also displayed as you walk into the high school and the elementary on the screens and the entryways. But this is an excellent tool. I encourage the board if you have not looked at this to please do and anyone in the community that has any questions about solar and how are things going with it, play around with this. It's painless promise. It's pretty easy to navigate, but it gives you a good picture of how
047things are going. So, we energized eight of 25. The blue line or the line on the left, the bar line is actually what we are producing. The green line is is what it can be expected. Okay. So for that short period that we energized, we were actually slightly below what they would project. Again, this would be variable August would look like right here in Randolph County and Monroe Central. In September, we were a little above what was expected. Blue line, obviously, is a little higher. Um, October was a good month. November was pretty much right on. December, not so great. January, not so great. February was out of this world. Okay? I mean, we doubled what was projected. And obviously, we just we just started with August. But you can see this. You can look
048at the current days and you can lit you can really tell if you look at a current day on a day when the sun is out. I mean everything is you guys have seen this but it is off the charts. This over to the right hand side if you see these numbers I took this screenshot I think it was Friday morning. This was like before the sun didn't even come up. This was this was pretty early Friday morning. So, at total capacity, if it was a beautiful day, perfect, everything set just about right, um 660 kW. Okay, this morning when I took this picture, it was only producing just just shy of 20 KW. So, obviously suning, hard to come up, very little. And and obviously that day, the energy that day, two, three kilowatts
049is all it had produced. Then it'll show you what what the entire MW for that month to this point for last month for this year and then the lifetime generation and then obviously some graphics and comparisons of what it's done for us um over the life of it since since August. So any questions on the website portion of this? Do we have a link on our corporate photo? >> We do. Thank you for asking. So, it is on the corporation page and I think it says solar array right there. It goes straight to light level and this thing is live. I mean, like I said, you will be able to tell, you would look out and it's sunny and you will be able to tell if you hit current, you will see lines of all
050blue basically on the screen. If it's cloudy and it has not had any sun, you're not going to see much on that line graph. Okay, this is a screenshot but the the website you you hover over these lines and it will show you give you additional data. So great resource if you have questions about solar I encourage you to look at this. Now what I've done is I've created a few more things here from this we'll get to in a minute but this is taken from that and this actually comes from very okay same data it's just presented a little differently so this is projected this is what they're saying typically should happen based upon you know the solar field and the way they have designed it constructed it and if things were normal in
051August they were projecting 44 and again this is only for a short period of time when we energized it. So for those days, it should have produced 44.7. It actually produced 46.5 during that short time we had it on in August. And you go down through here. Again, we kind of went all already went through these, but this gives you an idea. We're going into obviously the great season for solar. April, May, June, July, August. You see, you know, digits well over a 100,000 where we've just come out of months where we're looking at 50, 60, 70, 80. Okay. >> Can you go back a chart? >> Sure. >> Please. >> Two. >> No, this is >> Yeah. >> And you said the bar on the left is >> this. I know you can't see
052that, but that >> the left bar for each month is >> actual. >> Oh, it's actual. Okay. All right. Green bar is projected. >> Got it. Okay. I was thinking backwards. So that's why you can see green. >> I can tell. It is. >> I said >> I'm trying. Yeah, I tried it. You caught that too, didn't I? Last month. I forgot. I should know that about you. But all right. Um, so as far as savings projected, if everything just went exactly like it was supposed to up to this point, bears you saying you and and the the rate is 1073, they're saying you should have saved about $48,000 just in these last six plus months. Actual, we have saved 54,000. Okay, this this down here at the bottom again, the green line is our
053production and obviously you're going to see a dip in in the winter time. It's going back up. The blue bars are projection. So, we're getting ready to go into again the big solar months where you're going to see even more production and hopefully greater savings. Okay, questions so far. Right. So, here's exactly what you just saw just in a little different form. And I've taken out the month of August. Right. Because I really want to just focus on six months. And it makes it nice and easy. Easy cut off. >> Six full months. Correct. These are six full months. Actual 462 expected 406. Okay. So, it's these six months produce more than expected. If you look at our utility bills again just for the high school during those six months these past six months full
054months and 2526 this is the KWS that we have used at the high school 334,000 the same six months from 2425 637 so we have reduced and obviously that is a solar field just in the six winter months we've cut our KW W by over 50%. You're going to see that percentage increase obviously greatly during the summer months. You're going to push 60 65%. Okay? If everything's working right, you will see that. Okay. Dollar figures. Now, this is where it does not ver is figuring it based upon this number right here. Obviously, that number is going to change over time. And this is this is the actual number that we have saved for my example that I use here. Let me explain what I've done. I just took again same six months. What have we
055paid in electric cost in 2526 for these six months that we've had solar? We have paid just shy of 54,000 or 55,000 54452. those same six months we spent $92,000 on electric before we had solar. So in my example, I'm just saying based upon those six months compared to the same six months a year ago before solar, we have saved $38,000 on electric. And that's obviously during the winter months that you're going to see even greater savings in the summer question. So far >> good. Was the air handling and most of the LEDs installed? Most of that was in during the toilet. >> 2425 is when those came on. >> Yeah. The summer halfway through or something. >> You'd be amazed over the last three months. How many people said, "Where did you guys put
056the solar p? I just noticed it. We did a good job hiding it." >> All right. So, just some points here. And again, you you can take these figures and and manipulate them however you you would like, but just just bear with me as I kind of run through a scenario here just to give you a picture. Again, this is not a completely accurate picture, but just a hypothetical situation. So, if you take those six months based upon 24 25, we had $38,000 worth of savings. you project that over 12 months. So basically what I'm doing is I am just doubling that number. I'm saying that we're going to save at least $77,000 annually in electric costs. It should be much higher than that because again this this is based on a winter production period
057only. Right? But let's just say hypothetically in 12 months we save $77,000. 25 year expectancy for these panels. There will be some regression. All right? They're not going to produce at the same level now that they will 25 years from now. But if you take 77 times 25, you're looking at $1.9,000 of savings at current electric rate. This factors in no increase to the electric rate. >> 1.9 million. 1.9 what I said I was sorry 1.9 million. Okay. >> Anyway sell it short. >> Yeah they sold us short but three points but total cost of the project was 2.4 just shy of 2.5. This is the big the big news that I want to share tonight. We've anticipated this, but we completed last week our filing with the IRS and this is obviously a big
058factor in the board deciding to do solar this past time was the the rebates. Um, this was the last year for rebates, but we filed, if you look deep in your packet, it was there. But we, our tax return, we filed for $739,000 to come from the federal government to reimburse our solar project. Again, if we get this, this comes back. It's at the board's discretion on how you spend that. You can put it in a rainy day. You put it to replace air handlers. Great news. That's good. That's even higher than we anticipated. We anticipated 26%. Um, our tax filer is saying that we can make the case to 30. Feels good about it. I questioned him on it. Said we're filing it for 739,000, which is great. One point I want to make
059sure that we don't lose track of is what this did is our operations fund struggle and to keep our tax rate consistent, we needed to find a way to get money from the debt service fund, the debt fund into the operations fund. So even if this was just a break even wash, we are significantly benefiting as a corporation having the funds in the right places. So, for the last three month or six months, you you've saved $38,000 in your operations fund, >> which is what we desperately needed, >> which is going to become even more important as we move forward because of the new tax laws. >> Yes. So, we don't have it yet. Cross your fingers, but it has officially been filed for $739,000. This is also does not factor in the renewable energy
060certificates. Um we project to get any I mean currently the way rates are those certificates are anywhere from five to six to $7,000 a year possibly. Again not quite sure how all those are going to work but we're going to get some. And we are on what's called a guaranteed energy savings contract that is through the state of Indiana. Bear is a and qualified entity that can do guaranteed energy saving contracts. What they're saying is based upon the contract we signed with them a year ago when this was approved they have to the solar field has to perform to a minimum level. If it does not and again it's not dollar amounts it's MW. If it does not fit perform to those minimum levels then they owe us the difference. Now how do you determine
061those those levels? This first year is the commissioning phase. So after a full 12 month they will set that they have time to recalibrate the field if there are any issues out there and then they will likely in August September October of this year after 12 months we'll come back to and present to the board here's where we're at. We've commissioned this thing. We have to meet this mark each year or we owe the corporation. So having an unbelievable February with refraction of snow helps the project. >> I don't I think so. >> I mean and I I have the website saved on tab on my computer at the office. I I go on it more than most. I'm not ashamed to say that. In February when we were having bright bright days with snow
062on the ground, it was doing more than 660 that it's projected to do. But what they explained was they actually have the solar underneath. >> Bouncing up is actually making us money. >> Yeah. >> So snow is a good thing. People get on board. >> So obviously feel really good about this. It's something we work really hard on. Um it's early but the first six months is where we're at. Again, Barie is not Barag is kind of is sitting there for the 12 month commissioning phase. Obviously, they are calibrating this thing, making sure it works because they got to add those marks, but they're not on the hook for that until after the 12 months in the commissioning phase system. All right, any questions? Real quick, I am curious. Did we go knock any snow
063off of any of them at any time? We did not. But again, snow is good if it's on the ground because like you said, it reflects. Obviously, when snow piles up on them, you have problems. >> I was just curious if that's like an unsustainable thing because we cleared them or anything, but we didn't. This is unclear. >> What do we have on there? I mean, how many days would you say >> three? It slides down or half the panel be exposed. Any other questions on sword? That definitely going to help operations desperately needed and what Mr. Co said come stems from debt service but it does not impact your operations positively impact their operations. >> Correct. We got that's all I had. I'm sorry. Anybody Anybody have anything else? >> One more to add
064to the bear positive. Um the archery team competed in their county tournament this weekend over at Union City and we didn't have enough because of an indoor track meet to have a full team, but the individual results were very, very good. Uh Lily Baker won overall for high school. Um she was first in high school, first in girls, first overall girls. Um she shot 283 out of 300 with 18 bullse eyes out of 30. So >> crushed it. >> And I'm going to get real proud here for a second. The elementary competition um was won by Cooper Hinsky. It was a personal best 250 with five bullse eyes. >> So they did. Congratulations. It was awesome. It was neat to see him down for while we were there, but it was it was neat to
065see. We were in the gym, but good job to the coaches and to everybody that does that for. It's an excellent excellent program for kids that don't have the most athletic ability. If basketball is not your thing, archer is going to be. So, can be both, but it's definitely an option. So, great for that. another outlet for ECA at the elementary and high school. >> We have mask and gabas. >> We do this weekend, Friday and Saturday. Yep. And >> school performances Friday. Correct. >> High school in the morning, junior high in the afternoon. We'll have Friday and Saturday. Yep. >> Yes. All social media track teams setting indoor school records. So, a lot of great things happen there. Girls basketball had a great season, great showing at semi-state. Look for them to continue rolling
066that as the years years coming up. And then the boys have the opportunity as well. So wish them luck this weekend. That means we ru >> I don't need He's not an