001[clears throat] We'll call this meeting to order. >> Today we are here for the proposed superintendent contract. >> Um yes. So this um [snorts] special meeting of the board to hold a public hearing on the proposed terms of a contract with Mrs. Katie East um board's candidate for superintendent has been um published in the in two newspapers and has been posted in the district um in accordance with Indiana code. Um after the hearing today um the board and and there can be public comment on the on the contract on the proposed contract. Um and then following this hearing um after seven days the board may approve the contract formally. Um so as far as the contract details in the notice of hearing there were um some some parameters of the contract. Um we'll go into
002a little bit um more detail. Um but I will say from the beginning that the um the contract with Mrs. East is very much mirrors the previous superintendent's contract that Mr. Ketchup had. Most all of the um benefits provided to the superintendent are the same as provided to our other administrators. So part [clears throat] of the reason for this hearing is because some uh superintendent contracts get some kind of crazy things included. Um and so um I want you to know that that is not the case. um has not been the case at Batesville. It is not um with the proposed um contract that you're considering. Um the contract with Mrs. East um would is tenatively set to run from February 23rd, 2026. An initial superintendent contract can run for up to three years. This
003um is proposed to run through June 30 of 2028. So there would be an initial period from February 23rd through June 30 of 2026 and then two full years the 2627 and 2728 school year. um because of this initial pr-rated period, the initial um amount of the contract for the period February 23rd through June 30th amounts to $58,385. That is prrated off of $165,000. That would be the the contract amount for the July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 period and then increased to $170,000 for the period from July 1, 2027 through June 30, 2028. Um like I said, um benefits for the superintendent um are similar to other administrators. the the biggest difference being that the superintendent is a 12-month position. Most of our administrative contracts have a set number of days that they
004work throughout the year. Um, so because of the uh 12-month nature of the superintendent's contract, there are 10 paid holidays and the superintendent will be granted 20 vacation days each year, which would be prrated in this initial period. [clears throat] And both of those are are the same benefits as our 12-month classified employees, which mostly includes facility staff and central office staff. Um there's life insurance provided um in the amount of two and a half times the annual base salary um which is the same as for other administrators. the um health insurance the school board would contribute the full amount for there the plans that we have available. There are three different plans a PO plan and two HSA eligible plans and the board pays for the administrators the the amount of the HSA eligible
005plan so not the highest cost plan that would be the case for Mrs. ESUS also um in addition will deposit $4,020 per year to an HSA assuming that is the the plan that is enrolled in. There's a 2 and a half% match. If the superintendent contributes at least 2 and a half% of their base salary, the board matches 2 and a half% in the 401A plan. That is the same for all administrators, all certified staff and all classified staff that are eligible. And then there is language for transferring um accumulated sick days from previous employer which we have with with our teachers and and other administrators. I think that highlights the salary and benefit areas. Are there any questions um that I can answer from the board members or comments that you would like to
006make? >> No, I appreciate you kind of explaining that pr-rated first year because I think that's probably the only thing that's maybe a little different than a straight boilerplate contract. So, thanks Tim. >> Good. Got any questions? When you mention uh the holidays, are the principles on that same program? >> No, they they work a certain number of days. >> Okay. >> We work 225 days. >> Okay. >> So, it kind of takes that into consideration. >> Okay. So the 4th of July is not a paid holiday. >> Yeah, >> it is. Okay. >> We choose the days that we're >> okay. We have more we have more choice. Okay. That >> that's what >> that was my only >> um when we talk about the uh carryover sick days from the previous employer. Is
007that right? That is correct. >> So they get a chance to use up all of those. So eventually, yeah, in the contract it states um that if the superintendent is still employed and it has several dates over the next over the course of the next couple of years, that at the initial signing of the contract, um >> 25 >> that 25% of of days currently held with the with the current employer could be transferred over and then 25% more at three additional times through that contract. >> Okay. >> [snorts] >> And does it state how many uh sick days they will have to start with? >> That is prrated um based on the same I think it mentions the administrative um benefits package. Our administrators get nine per year, which is basically the same as
008our certified staff >> um that are granted. And typically for um for someone that comes in mid year, whether it's a classified staff like an hourly employee or a teacher, there's prorating of some of those days for the initial period. And you mentioned somewhere in here about a handbook for uh >> administrator. >> Yeah, >> we already see that the Batesville Community School Corporation Administration compensation and benefit package. >> I will check to see that you um that you do. >> Okay. >> See that? >> All right. That was my only comments. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. Anything else? >> At this time, we'll open it up for patron comments about the contract. >> Anything? >> We're good. Anything else? >> Nothing else about the contract. I was going to say I
009think we have a patron comment, but maybe not about the >> but it's not about the contract. >> Okay. >> So, I I didn't know. >> Okay. That's fine. Yeah. So, uh my name's uh Tim Schwab. Hold on just a second. I hate to read this, but um I'm I'm from out by St. Mary's, kind of the northeast corner of the school district. Um I manage the cattle farm for the Cop family. I don't know any maybe know them. Know that, >> right? So um I've had two of my sons go through uh Batesville School Corporation. Um FFA changed both of them. They're both past presidents of the FFA, but I'm not here to talk about Miss uh Waly, but I just so you guys know, I think that lady is tremendous and there's a
010lot of schools that are envious of her. So, what I'm here to talk about is House Bill 1137. It's going through the the House and it actually passed out of the House and now it's going to the Senate. Um, and it's in the Senate Education Department or committee, I guess. Uh, and I'm going to read the summary off of the uh, Indiana website, uh, Indiana government website. It says, "Food and beverage on school property provided that schools that participate in federally funded or assisted meal programs may not serve, sell, or allow a third party vendor to serve or sell a food or beverage that contains certain ingredients uh on school property during school days. Um so this bill um I think has the right premise you know I think we all can agree that um
011these ultrarocessed foods need to be taken out of our school lunches you know um the 13 ingredients uh that are part of this bill are like potassium bromate now there's a few I can't pronounce titanium dioxide then you go into the colors the yellow five, yellow six, blue one, blue two, green three, red dye three, red dye 40, and then there's words that are as long as my phone, and it's BHT is the one that I'm concerned with. Uh there's also one called TBHQ and another one called ADA. The um BHT is used as a preservative to keep fat from going rancid. So, it's used in sausage, uh, ground beef, stuff like this. And, uh, many of us know, maybe not in Batesville School District, but it's maybe more common in other school districts, but
012protein served at school is some of these kids' only source of protein. Um, BHT is a federally approved food additive. Um, but it's once you get to looking, it's also like in peanut butter, it's in bread, it's in cereal, it's in vegetable oil because it extends the shelf life of all these products. Um, so being the nerd that I am, I printed off the primary school uh menu >> for the month. And if we go through it, I mean, cereal bars, some of it have it. Uh, many frozen pizzas, doughnut holes, chicken tenders, chicken tenders actually contain BHT and TH or TBHQ, sausage link, spaghetti and meat sauce. It's every day. They couldn't have their main course because it contains this BHT. And um I was up at uh the state house on Thursday um
013for the bacon breakfast or whatever. And uh it was amazing to me and I I hate we're being recorded but uh I talked to both of our senators from Franklin County because Ratz has just a little corner of the North Keys corner and Jean Lys and Lindseay Patterson. All of them had the same comment. They're like we're just rushing through stuff. We lost two weeks on the redistricing and stuff's just getting rushed through. And uh one of them told me a lot of times I vote with a majority. I don't know what I'm voting on, but I vote on with a majority. That that's no way for government. But I think this bill got pushed through the House really quick and it's now in the Senate uh education. And I just I guess I want
014to make Batesville aware because this could change your whole school lunch program, you know. uh it's actually stricter than the federal uh whatever mandate or guidelines or whatever. The federal is going to take out all the colors. >> Uh but they they're not messing with BHT um and some of these others. And if you if you Google search BHT, there is some concern that it could cause liver damage. I think it's liver damage, but you have to consume it at an extraordinary rate. You know that they fed uh laboratory animals at at an extraordinary rate and they showed some signs, but it is an FDA approved food ingredient. So, I guess my ask is is that you look into this bill and maybe contact uh Senator Ratz uh and talk to him since he's the
015chair of the education committee. I I Mr. Ketchum would be super to talk to probably about this and maybe even the state school board to see what the plan is going forward from here. Um, and as far as I know or what I've been told is Texas has a similar bill that's already passed and Governor uh Abbott has signed it, but they're into a bunch of lawsuits over it. >> So, I I think we need to, you know, be careful where we walk. So, that's my comment. I appreciate everybody's time. >> Yeah. Thank you for bringing it to our attention. >> Yeah. >> Anything else? Any other comments? >> Sir, do you know what the So, if we take these out, what is our alternative? >> Yeah. So, there is some like organic alternatives and
016don't quote me because I I looked it up a while ago and it's like rosemary extract can be used or something really odd like that, but then you Google that and it's got the same warning as BHT, you know. And the other thing that the other good point is is that a processor is not going to make food without BHT specifically for the state of Indiana, you know, or specifically for Indiana schools. Uh I I just think we need to follow the national law, you know. >> Okay. Do you have any questions for me? Now, I know you sent this to me previously and read through it, so it all appears to be the same. That's changing this. >> Anything else? >> Thank you everyone. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. Okay, >> this
017is the intermediate. Our privacy.