001To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Welcome everybody. We have first item of business student. Thank you, Mr. President, members of the board. Uh tonight we've got uh a couple of teams to celebrate and highlight their accomplishments this year. Uh fittingly uh academics and athletics uh together. So uh first we're going to introduce uh VHS athletic director Mr. Stacy Adams in order for him to celebrate the gymnastics team. Mr. Adams. Thank you. Good evening everyone. It's an honor and a privilege to stand here today to introduce to you the 20 25 state runnerup gymnastics team. First would be coach Chloe Oman who is working. But Chloe has competed for BHS from 2020 to 2024. In
002her four years, her team had won two state championships and one seed runner up. Next would be coach Kristen Ripley whose daughters competed in uh their talent show at Cooks Tonight. But coach was a member of the gymnastics team from 1993 to 1997. She first started off coaching gymnastics here for us and then started coaching varsity in 2021. You may also see coach Ripley coaching Warner wrestling and strength and conditioning as well. He's very wellrounded. Next line standing coach Megan Nelson. Coach Ellison was a gymnast at Mville High School. Well, we don't hold that against her. Anyway, um Megan started teaching career here with BCS in 2009. Megan started her coaching career in 2015. Megan has no problem reminding her husband, Boomer, who has the most championship rings in their house. Thank you, coach. Next,
003coach uh Becky Jurgerson. Uh Coach Jurgens, where am I standing, please? Uh Coach Jurgensson, for 44 years. Yes, I said for 44 years. Coach, you heard that right. Coach Jurgens has dedicated her life in teaching and coaching to the same community, impacting generations and generations. In the world of change and consistent people to move forward and moving from place to place is nearly unheard of for a person stay in one place. We thank you for that in your years of service. Coach Jurgis have also been a mentor, a role model and a motivator for so many. Coach Jurgensson record is nothing short. Coach Jurgens have coached teams of 13 state championship, 10 state runnerups, and 23 individual championships. Thank you, coach, so much. [Applause] Will you please introduce your team to us? Absolutely. Stand here
004because I have a lot of All right, girls. Coming up. I can stay in the pyramid. How about [Music] So, thank you, Mr. Adams, for introducing my coaches. Um and Megan is the only one here today. But um before I start with these guys, I just want to say thank you to the board. Greatly appreciate that you recognize our accomplishments and thank you to the athletic department and the high school because they greatly support us and we couldn't um get the equipment that we need and um have all the support that we need without them of course and um the community of course. Also, I also want to say congratulations to you guys. I have two children and you guys might remember that my kids were in science when they were at TJ Middle. Um,
005and I think they were both athletes also, but they were in Science and I think it served them well. So, congratulations to team. Um, okay. So, gymnastics is a tough sport, you guys. It just is. And, um, there's a huge mental piece to it. There's a huge physical piece to it. And these girls work so hard and um it's it's kind of a two-edged sword because I'm really proud of our tradition. Um but at the same time, everybody expects it of them. And so it's kind of like not a big deal to a lot of people. Not a big deal that these girls were state runner-ups this year because they did it last year. state champs before that they you know so it's really interesting to see as this plays out how um it is
006but let me introduce the team. So they had an undefeated season. They were conference champs. They were sectional champs. They were regional champs. They had the highest team score in the state from the regular season. Our freshman girls, how about if you just step forward a little bit and kind of wave. So, um, our freshman are, well, I'm introd to have some young blood on our team. Then we have sophomores Emma, Olivia Madiraa. This is Olivia's first team or first year on the team even though she is a sophomore. and Cameron Smith and it's also her uh first team on first year on her team. We have juniors Ava Bur and Ava Mo and then we have seniors Iona Stfish the two with the trophy and Megan. So um four of these girls I'm going
007to give some individual accolades because they earned them. So, four of these girls were off conference team, which is I'm not sure, but I don't remember. I don't have a real good memory. Remember, he said, "I've done this for 44 years." So, um, but I don't remember us ever having four people. There's only 10 DAC all conference team members across the whole conference, and we had four of the 10. So, I'm really proud of them. I raise your hand again. Megan, David Mo, and Tuck. So, those guys were all conference for the BAC. We had two allstate academics, and only seniors can get that. So, our two seniors, raise your hands again. Um, we had three allstate members, which is the athletic side of it. That was the academic the athletic side of it. Um,
008thing too, Megan and I and I We had Megan as an individual safe champ. Raise your hand really high [Music] because that's that's hard, guys. Hey, how about round of applause? So she was an individual state champ on vault. Um Mo placed 10th on vault. On bars Megan was fourth. Mo was sixth on beam. Mo was sixth. Megan was eighth and I only was ninth. So right up there on floor. Megan was fourth. Megan placed second all around. Second all around. And Mo was sixth all around. So really great accomplishments at a tough meet. So things that I wanted to point out. Um Megan I don't know if she I'm going to say this but Megan was nominated by the Indie Star um to be the MVP for gymnastics. They nominate a few um individuals
009for across the state and then they go to a banquet she's going to go to in a week and a half or and um then she'll find out. So, but just being nominated is really really a absolute great thing. So, great. Good for you. [Applause] And then the last one is um there's an award called the Mildred Ball um award and it is the mental attitude award for the state. Um and the Mildred Ball um was our commissioner for many many years in gymnastics. So that's why it's um named that. And in in a lot of the sports it's just a mental attitude award for the state. But um they they have to be nominated. It has to include um their gymnastics ability, their community service, their academics, their mental attitude. Um it's just all
010comprehensive of the type of person that they are and the type of gymnast that they are and their leadership skills for their team. And um she was nominated and received that award. Ioni stand [Applause] I could not be prouder of these girls. They worked really hard to accomplish what they accomplished and um congratulations girls of achievement and recognition for uh the state runnerups. Uh and you know obviously the words that you say really ring true that you know having a tradition of excellence it it bears greater weight. Uh you know but it's always new know it's new for these kids. It's a new team every year that you have to galvanize and lead. Uh it gets everyone moving in the right direction in the same direction together. Uh, and I mean pound-for-pound are some of
011the toughest athletes we have uh at the at the school. And so we're just so proud of the effort they put in day in and day out, year round in order to get these achievements. So congratulations. Here's the certificate. We'll take a picture. Dr. Allison will be the official photographer. I do not have to be on the elevated platform. Uh, and then he'll email this out to everyone as well. Three, two, congratulations. Before we begin, uh, there's cookies that the food service made. They are excellent. I went through a rigorous taste testing to get to this point. All right. They are delicious. All right. So in the theme of tradition of excellence and bearing the weight of teams that come before you and you know expectations get higher but it's always new for the kids
012and this time it's new for the coach in a different way. Uh we're going to bring up the Thomas Jefferson Middle School science and team with Thomas Jefferson Middle School principal, Mr. Mark Mlin with the introductions. Thank you very much and good evening. 37 state competitions in science Olympiad. Thomas Jefferson Middle School has finished first or second since 1980. Since 1988, with the exception of the year of COVID, we have finished first or second in the state. And I guess I would challenge anyone to find another team, academic or athletic or otherwise, that has had that success. That's quite a remarkable run that they've had. And as Dr. McCall alluded to, we've had change on our leadership of our science olympiad team this year. Uh our previous coaches, Coach Hower and Coach Bender, retired. and
013coach Kate Sanders, a former science Olympian herself at TJ Middle School, has taken the helm and kept the ball rolling and is doing a wonderful job and you're going to hear some exciting results. They finished second in the state just recently. Uh, April 5th, I believe, was the date of the competition and it was at at Purdue Northwest. And I'd like to introduce Coach Kate Sanders. All right. Thank you very much everyone. Uh thank you for giving me an example that I could come stand over here. Appreciate that very much. Uh so as um um Principal Mlin said, uh this is my first year coaching the Thomas Jefferson uh middle school science Olympiad team. Uh, stepping into the shoes of Richard Bender and Carol Hower was no small feat for me, but it's not about
014me. It's about the experience of the kids who are able to have a science Olympiad season uh this year and an excellent one at that. So, as as was stated, we've kept this going first or second overall in state for many many years. And that is enormous pressure on the one hand, but also an inspiring sort of thing. We've done it. We've done it every year. And I was on the teams uh that had that success and I know what that means to the kids. So, I'd like to invite all the students. I know some of you will enjoy this more than others. Please come on up front. Come up here. You just saw the gymnastics team do it. So these wonderful students, their parents and a whole cadre of volunteers and event coaches uh
015that we assembled this year all showed great patience with me and enthusiasm for these events. students spent uh somewhere between 4 to 10 hours practicing each week since November, as did some of the volunteers. Uh and we competed in 23 events at each of our competitions, regional and state. And the low score across all those events wins. So, I'd like to introduce each student and the events they competed in at state. I'll ask them to show off their medals and ribbons from regional and state as they're introduced. Aisha ali anatomy disease detectives air trajectory experimental design. Excellent. You've modeled it for the rest of them. Nathan, code busters, optics, wind power, metric mastery. Excellent. And I believe Nathan, is this both regional and state here? Yeah. Look at this. Where's this hardware? Cora Barger, Crimebusters,
016Experimental Design. Potions and poisons. Aana Bardwage, Anatomy, Crime Busters, Disease Detectives, Experimental Design. Adelaide Cra, Mission Possible. Metric Mastery and Scrambler. Hunter Fandry, Mission Possible, Entomology, Reach for the Stars. Road Scholar, Liberty Laughofner, Fossils, Write It, Do It, Reach for the Stars. Aelia Li could not uh be with us today, but she competed in fossils, meteorology, and ecology. Emily Lena, ecology, micro mission, and ready to do it. Caleb Regal, road scholar, dynamic planet, potions and poisons. Charlie Row also cannot be with us this evening. Meteorology towers code busters air trajectory. Blake Seagris towers enthmology helicopters. Reese Taylor could not be with us uh tonight. We have uh for her Scrambler wind power and optics and Adam Warren last but certainly not least modeling several years worth of metals there. Dynamic Planets, Code Busters, Micro Mission,
017and Helicopters. Thank you to all of you. Olympia has been an absolute jewel of this school system since I competed uh back in the day. It's amazing to see it going strong today. Thanks to everyone's continued dedication and support, we do always welcome new volunteers uh to help coach events that I just listed. So, please let me know if you're interested. But thank you very much for this opportunity. Coach, before you go, obviously we have a a photo and a certificate, but those event titles are electric. Uh could you just pick three and explain more in depth like what that entails? just to give our audience a little more depth. Absolutely. So, Hunter, can I ask you for the 30 second rendition instead of the hour you got quizzed on about our mission possible device?
018Can I ask you for that? Uh, sure. Basically, the mission possible device is a rub Goldberg machine that we have to keep within a specific parameter of areas and it has to fit all of the different events that we need with a specific start action, specific end action, and many many things you have to count. Thank you. This is an excellent impromptu rendition. have I'm going to target you for the next impromptu rendition of codebusters. Can you talk about how you practice codebusters and what that was? Yeah, so basically code busters it's like cryptography. Uh you're tested on knowing a bunch of different ciphers and you just have to try to decode as many as you can within a certain time limit. Excellent. Thank you very much. Do I have a final volunteer? Seriously, which
019one? Optics. Optics is fun. So, optics is a optics is a hybrid event uh where we do two different tests. One of which involves taking a test on uh different uh forms of um uh like optical tools and optical concepts. And uh thank you for nodding your head, Mrs. [Music] Warren. Um and then uh the second part um entails uh basically setting up laser a box of mirrors and shooting a laser around this box trying to hit a target on the back on the back wall of the box uh in four minutes. And and came first in the state on that. This is particularly extraordinary. Excellent work explaining those. The board can come forward picture. You can get organize them. [Music] Did you understand what did All right. File off this plate. Grab a cookie.
020Hey, take one over. Any siblings in the audience? [Laughter] All right. Good job. We got more. We got more out here. We got more cookies out here. Yeah. Wow. Thanks for coming out, guys. Congratulations. Good. Good stuff. What are you doing? Hey, uh, government class kids, if you want a cookie as well, grab one. Don't leave any crumbs. Brian, if you would like a cookie. [Music] Okay, welcome back to morning open for public comment. Brian and my little diddy is as a reminder to patrons of the Valasa Community Schools will be given 30 minutes to give the board give board comments on educational issues. You're reminded a forum is expected and discussions, charges or complaints involving personnel litigation and student discipline will not be permitted. We expect you to address your comments to the board
021and not to the audience. Patrons in attendance are asked not to provide any comments, remarks during the speaker's address or afterwards, including the applause. This is an opportunity for you to provide information to the board and not to enter into a debate or personal attention. Good evening board and Dr. Um my comment was or question comment was on the board item donations. I was going through there. I noticed that the um DHS girls basketball team had gotten a donation of mental fitness training and I was intrigued by that. I thought, hey, that sounds really cool. Um because certainly the issues of mental illness, mental health, mental fitness are out there today. I was thinking this is great. And so I went online to look up the uh the group that was providing it. Um and
022it was frustratingly their website was frustratingly vague as to who they are and what exactly they do. Um so but besides that the concept of of providing mental fitness training for that team and other students I think is fantastic and hopefully the the group is does a good job. Um maybe one of you would like to look into that or or comment on that. Um, but in any case that that I I'd love to see that issue of mental health, wellness, well-being spread throughout the district. I I've mentioned that before and I'll probably be getting back to Drs. McCall and Hawkins and bugging you to I once mentioned having like a a forum a communitywide forum for addressing these issues because they're they are things that that affect so many students as we've seen and
023and dealing with them. Mental wellness is a great thing. That's all I wanted to say. Thanks. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Next item is consent agenda. We have to approve the consent agenda board. Take must take action. Motion move to approve the consent agenda. I have a second. I'll second. Thank you. Um do we have any discussion about the consent agenda? Seeing as there is no discussion, all those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. All those opposed. Thank you. Next item is recommendation for employment of candidate pursuant to IC20-26-5-11.2 call. Information is in your packet. It is something that is a statuto requirement. We would recommend this move forward. This does require action. So I have a motion. So moved. A second. A second. Any discussion for Dr. McCall regarding this employee? Seeing
024as there is no discussion, all those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. All those opposed. Thank you, board. Uh, financial reports, form of budget funds. Mr. Thank you, Mr. President. Each month, we present our financial report comparing year-to-day revenue to yeartoday expenditures for our tax supported funds. Our year-to- date performance of funds report as of March 31st shows the following. In the education fund, year-to- date revenue 13,422,991. Year-to- date expenditures of 14,146,700. Uh expenditures have exceeded revenue by 5.39% at this point. Uh the expenditures do include the monthly $645,000 transfer to the operations fund. And just a reminder that we did have three paydays in June. The debt service fund has no year-to-ate revenue expenditures were a payment [Music] of1,925,781. Uh expenditures have exceeded revenue. All debt service payments due to date have
025been made for the fiscal year. And we do have a tax drop coming in. And the pension debt fund year-to- date revenue was $150,000. That's a temporary loan for cash flow purposes from the rainy day fund. The year expenditures was a payment of $76,842. Uh the temporary loan will be paid back in December. And this fund also has a tax the operation fund year-to- date revenue 2,310,390. Year-to- date expenditures of $6,62,604. Uh revenue does include the aforementioned $645,000 transfer from the education fund. And again, there's a tax draw in June in the operating referendum fund. Year-to- date revenue of $1,42 and year-to- date expenditures of1,521,671. Uh, does have a tax draw coming in June. The capital referendum fund has had no year-to- date revenue nor year expenditures. It does have a tax draw in June
026and then payment will be due in June as well. Uh the rainy day fund has had no revenue for the year and the only expenditure is the $150,000 temporary loan to the pension. We believe a review of the fund shows a positive financial position. If there are no questions, we have for approval of the finance reports for March 2025. Any discussion or questions from Mr. This item does require action. Motion. I have a second. Second. Any further discussion from Mr. Hol. Seeing as there is no further discussion, all those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Next is contract considerations. None this evening. We'll move straight to grants where Dr. Allison will do his best. Dr. Park connect. Yeah, definitely can't do our voice, but uh um I'll
027do my best here. So, we are seeking approval for two grants this evening. Uh the OS behavior grant, the office of special education grant is a state sponsored grant. BCS has been awarded $51,247.70 in funding to support behavior interventions for students with individual education programs or IEPs. Second grant is the RDC challenge grant. The Valpareza Redevelopment Commission's annual school challenge grant will provide a pupilbased award of [Music] $441,278 to support Valparezo Community Schools commitment to delivering highquality STEM learning experiences for all students while also advancing the district's onetoone technology initiative. This funding will help ensure equitable internet access and connectivity while enhancing STEM learning environments that foster problem solving, collaboration, and analytical thinking, skills that are essential for future success. This year's grant will support the addition of 3D printing technology in all eight elementary
028schools, provide MacBooks and professional design software for the Valarezo High Department, expand the use of the anatomage table to include lab opportunities in chemistry, physics, and earth and space science, and enhance the virtual reality labs at middle schools. We're seeking the board's approval for the we have any questions? No, but I think these grants offer us amazing opportunities. Absolutely. The RDC grants the same that we pretty much get every year, right? It's not not just us, but Washington Township. Fantastic. Thank you. board. This does require action except the grants. Um, do I have a motion? I move that acceptable. Do I have a second? Second. Thank you. Any other further discussion for Dr. Allison? Seeing as there is no further discussion, all those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. All those opposed. Thank
029you, board. Thank you. Okay. Next item is donations and gifts. Dr. McCall. Thank you, Mr. President. Uh Heinland Elementary received two gift certificates with total value of $160 to be used for PE equipment from the American Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge. North View Elementary received $626 to be used at the principal's discretion from the Balpo Schools Foundation. Valareerezo High School received for their girls tennis team jackets $3,900 from Charles and Jessica Grryer. the aforementioned uh gift to the girls basketball team for mental fitness training of $2,500 of from the Aea Institute. Eric Formy uh Byak Hospitality LLC country in and suites donated $300 to the art club. Banet Kirk donated $50 for the robotics trip to the World Championships in Texas. Dr. Nikki Templan donated $2,34 for practice shirts for BHS softball team and coaches.
030The veil received four bags of clothing and shoes for students in need from Hannah Cornfeld and they also received $250 to be used at principal's discretion from the VP of Sunrise Kuanas. The career center received from Sha Nova 1999 Chevy K3500 valued at $450 for the automotive program. Districtwide Powers Health donated to the healthy heart screening program prize health and fitness tracker valued at $120. The John and Vicky Lubec Living Trust donated $25 each to school nutrition services as well as the Backpacks and Stacks program. And the backpacks and stacks program also received $2,000 from the Valareerezo Elks PPE number 500. discussion for Dr. Discussion. Um, need a motion to pass the donations and gifts. Do I have a motion? I standing. Any further discussion for Dr. McCall? Yeah. Again, we have a very, very
031generous community. Very, very generous community. And and a lot of times I, you know, I've been doing this long enough now that there's so much repeat people doing it every year. At the same time, I know the Templins have given before and I want to say thank you because, you know, I don't think I think girls are already out of school and they're still helping the girls softball team. That says a lot about what power is here. So, mention on that. Thank you very much. Um, any further discussion for Dr. McCall board? I would just if someone wanted to give to you know is it just because they're already connected to they're they're already connected to uh the backpacks and snacks program also does a bit of effort to raise awareness because again that is
032a 100% donorfunded initiative. In fact, we cannot use school dollars for that purpose. That's one that spreads awareness as well. Um, but even if you just have for the word of mouth generational science Olympiad, they have a lot of their uh supporters that are generational and been giving for long time. Um, and a lot of times people might approach us with with a a want as well, a desire to help something close to their heart. Um, and you know, small or or large, try to partner with them with that um that their their heart is more important. I think a lot of times the music department does um programs out in the community for different organizations and they receive donations from that like Kowanas or Rotary or others. interested in know you know what uh
033I've fielded many calls like that and I always start by listening what I want to give to the schools uh what do you guys need what what what is your passion what what is your what have your kids benefited from or what did benefit from when you were a student and then we try to uh their gift to that. Um so this item does require us to vote again. Um all those in favor please signify by saying I. I. All those opposed. Thank you board. Okay. Old business board consideration permission to advertise for bids for elementary playground projects. Dr. McCall, thank you. Uh the playgrounds at Central Elementary, Flint Lake Elementary, and Northview Elementary are in need of renovations, including replacing existing mulch with pred soft clay surfaces and the addition of accessible playground. The
034work portion of this project is estimated to exceed the $300,000 threshold, but requires that the bid process be used. The funding for the project will come from our 2025 capital projects appropriations and/or proceedings from the 2025 bond issue. If acceptable bids are received and approved in May, renovation of these playgrounds is planned for this summer with substantial completion by September 2025. So, the administration requests that the board approve the advertisement for bids He's playing. Okay. This item does require action. I move that we advertise for bids playground equipment. Or do you have any discussion from Mr. Well, Flip Lake, I know one of the concerns raised by parent is their playgrounds are not will not this is just surface to prepare for um any further questions. So we do have vote for it. Um all
035those in favor please signify by saying I. I. All those opposed. Thank you board. Thank you. Okay. Uh this would be public comment for non-aggenda orformational and Williams revisited. Same rules. Good evening once again and thanks again. Um I just got a grab bag of a few things. First of all, since they're here, kudos to you high school students for I know you're assigned to come, but you're here. And I think that is very important, too, that I wish all of you, not just you who are assigned to come out, could come out and and see civic life in action, democracy in action. And you're lucky tonight, and I won't take you too long. You're going to be out of here quickly. Sometimes these meetings can be extremely long and boring, but even that is
036very important. Um, so I hope you will after your days of being assigned to come to meetings like this, I hope you will continue to come to meetings like this. Um, it can actually sometimes be fun. Um, so good for you all for being here. Um, next item, the the signin list that I and others who speak after the agenda items have to sign in on. Um, I would s I I would like to suggest eliminating that because one, how can we sign in beforehand? How do I know that I want to comment on something until the meeting has happened? Um so um either eliminate that or also add the option of well who else is here who would like to speak um tonight because something might not occur to people until during the meeting
037that they would like to let the board know about that. Um thank you for listening to my concerns last month. I appreciate that. Um but a suggestment was suggested to me following on that um for questions that are posed to you that are of a general interest not just a say specific person or family. Um in it in an individual question where you mentioned that you would you know think about it and then get back to that person by phone or email. Um, that's great. But for a more general question where many people would have interest in that answer, it was suggested to me that the board could should then at the next meeting address that issue and and and tell everyone what your thoughts on that question or concern was. Is it because I
038if you just reply to an individual or a couple of individuals privately then the general public doesn't who who also as I was told have the same question. I have the same question. I want to know the answer too. They want to know the answer. So if you could please share that that would be great. Um, oh, and I would like to also like to encourage those people out there in TV land who um, watch these meetings to every once in a while come out to a meeting there. There's plenty of seats here. Um I I was and this was prompted by I was reading something this morning about our the state of our country, community, democracy and mentioning that we need more than just ping ping pinging around on social media but actual um
039conversation discussion. And this would be a great opportunity to come to the meeting, you say something, you hear someone else say something that might create a a friendship or a conversation with others. So I would encourage the people out in TV land to uh come out and and attend meetings as they are able to. Um three minutes, three minutes more. If you can wrap up, you can. Um, and also just a note, thank you for the agendas that you put out. I This is an old thing, but your agendas are very um informative, helpful. Um, you've got the links to the documents um, which is great for getting letting people out in the community know what's coming up, what the issues are, what the information is. Um, and then finally, uh, I'm just wondering if
040any of you in your comments to follow will have any comments on SB1 and what how that how DCS might address the the the the effects of possible potential cuts to the budget. Thanks. Uh, Jason Solomon, can you repeat the rules one more time for me? I did not hear. Sorry about that. Sorry, [Music] I already shut my computer down. Basically, um, you've been g you'll be given three minutes and I'll try to give you advanced warning. I forgot to with Brian when it's about 30 seconds left. Um, just please speak to the the school board on matters um concerning our school not involving personnel, student discipline or per uh what was the third one? Personal personal attacks. There we go. Yeah. So, well, first of all, I want to thank you for hearing me
041out. I'm sorry that I had to get to this point. Um, it's kind of a failure all around. Um, I've lived in Border County since, uh, 1981. We moved in from Chicago and, uh, graduated, uh, from Portage. I'm a member here. Uh, father was teacher of mine, uh, that I look highly up to. Um, then we moved out in 1994. Um, we shared three kids. uh one graduated went to Rose Hullman on uh engineering um then some things went arrive um without getting into specifics um it's been a long two years um stuff has been dragged through the school system um it's been what I feel failure on my part uh my ex's part and then also the school part um and I'm reluctant to be here today that it's actually gotten to this point
042where it was suggested by outside party to address the school board. Um Dr. Allison has been very helpful. I want to make that very clear. uh he has tried as hard as possible and I know I've probably been uh you know the past trying with everything that's going on and moving parts and stuff with having a child at middle school and then having um my oldest one my my daughter um being moved around. Uh and that's why I wanted to address here uh without getting into specifics. Uh I wanted to see with Mr. McCall. I never met you before. Uh I want to request a meeting with you because I think it's gotten to a point where um the specifics without bringing names and all the things that have gone on and documents and everything
043else that's gone on forth. Um because where I'm at right now is like I said, we've been here since 1994 and I do have a son that's going to be entering high school. um and uh work with everything that's gone on and just the toxicity. Uh we're actually thinking about moving out of the area. Um and my family has roots here. Um I played sports back in the day in Portage High School. I know it's a rival, but you know, Coach Hoffman, I do know a lot of, you know, Shawn Nova, I heard his name, played baseball against him. You know, I have long roots into this uh community. um what's going on. Um there's stuff going on outside of the school, but there's also stuff going on inside the school and you know, out
044of professionalism, I would like to address those matters. Um and uh some have been taken care of and then some have kind of, you know, it's like the 20 seconds, you know, kind of in there. So my whole point of this is is uh wanting to get a meeting with Mr. McCall um if that can be set forth if Dr. Allison would like to be part because he has been you know going through but uh I thank you for your time um and you know and Mr. McCall if this is something we can please get set up because this is going to be direct outcome for my son because he wants to be a Viking. He wants to play football. He wants to play baseball. you know, he's we work strongly in the community. You
045know, we helped with CO uh around here. Um you could catch me type my name Portage Police Department along with many of the other places we helped out during CO uh during the time of need and along with other stuff that we do for the police department and everything else. So, I'm just asking the board just to hear that and Mr. McCall if I can have you know some of your time I would appreciate it and if Dr. else and wanted to step in then you know I would be more for it because like I said he has been very helpful and I want to make sure the board does know that thank you I'll reach out to you uh to schedule something here in the near future okay thank you and then I guess
046just response to Brian I mean long and boring really fun despite that you can go beyond that. Okay. The riches are beyond boredom. Power through it. Uh as far as uh superintendent comments go, uh tonight's just a wonderful night of celebration. Uh obviously I alluded to the 4A uh with the academics uh and the athletics. You know, arts uh has been prominent this spring. We've had uh some great productions uh uh with our theater department uh as well as uh the API art show that was last week was just phenomenal. um the quality of art that our students put on, uh their displays, but also their readiness to engage with the patrons of the art show to talk about their uh artist statement, their theme, their evolution as an artist and where they want to
047go next. um sometimes with their art, sometimes um without the art. Moving on, but it's always going to be a hot. So, um you know, it's a great reminder of what we do and how we do it. Um I know we also have uh some recognition. Uh if Dr. mind uh interject on the USA skills competition skills USA. Uh yeah, thank you Dr. McCall. Um just something to highlight um kind of a a new thing for us uh as we have delved into having some of our own CTE programs that are BCS driven uh CTE programs. Uh we had several students who earned a state championship in their level of competition. Uh one of those uh bore out of our new graphic and print shop. Uh the young lady was actually from Washington Township but
048print shop down in the Veil. Uh she produced a design and an advertisement that won her state championship and she'll be moving on to nationals. Uh we had several other students as you can see in advertising design not only the gra graphic design piece but um also in Mr. Guiney's classes. Um so VHS students Cat Dailyaly uh Chris Simuk uh both earned a silver which is basically second place in state and then 3D visualization and animation uh VCS CAD program. So Mr. Guiney's CAD class covers a lot of different digital design aspects. Uh so they were able to get down there and similar to science Olympia, there are multiple facets to the competition that they can choose to. Um we also have students who competed in other categories that didn't land quite in the top
049one or two at state. Uh we but we did have several top 10 finishers in culinary that we're excited to see hit that state next year. Just as a shameless plug for Mrs. Casselli, um they are working on sandwiches right now. Told Dr. recall about this. They're their focus is on hamburgers. Um, and as they're creating some of those creations, they're starting to market some of those, make those available to the community along with their breakfast uh things that I saw Mrs. Watkins at. Um, and I would strongly encourage you as those advertisements go out to go and participate. kids are really proud to show off, get your feedback on how they did with their patients. But we're going to see a lot more of that here in the coming years, not only with new
050diploma requirements, but CT programs that we have really gotten behind and added some equipment to are really starting to generate some amazing products. Just one last little piece of information, our teacher there on the far end on the right, Miss Amy Jones, she came from she was in the Hammond High School CTE program for graphic and design print. And when I went and talked to her, she could not have been more excited to tell me about how she competed against her former teacher and came out on top. So, um, just some really cool stuff going on. We have some amazing teachers in those programs. And if you get a chance to go over to Vale and see what they're doing, not only are we excited about what they have going on right now, but we're
051also excited about the prospect of a project we give them uh in expanding their programs and adding the other programs over to that location. That was great. And then I mean that's just your final statement there. It's all about exposure and opportunity which um you know drives uh us. It is our why and we we want to provide uh exposure opportunity for our students. And just maybe one final note, uh next week is the VHS uh career fair that they're going to put on with uh what 60 70 uh partners in the community on a different careers for exploration for our students. Um that is what next Tuesday or so thereabouts. not advertising it, just talking that it's forthcoming. And it's uh it's just one more thing that that we're doing for our uh students,
052connecting them with things that they're interested in, things that they're passionate about, finding out what they're good at, and giving them opportunities to explore those all the way through. We're we're very excited about what we're doing. I can't believe that it's already April and uh we're going to be the final throws of the school year and all the bump and circumstance and traditions with exciting time of year. What's the day again? The 23rd. Let me give you the times real quick. Yep. Wednesday the 23rd. 8:30 to 10 is the first session. Second session is uh 12:30. That is the high school. Yes. Field house. Thank you. Know there was reference to Senate Bill one. I guess I would just remind everyone that generally some is still in session and we won't know the extent of
053everything. Um, and I think some of the estimates that are out there, I think some of my other colleagues have mentioned that I'm not sure they're the most accurate and so I think we have to kind of wait get some more better information. But I would say based on my observations, I may ask Mr. Holyfield. I think because of our financial position I think um based on what we initially saw we have some time to weather um and we won't need to make you know huge drastic cuts initially and we'll just have to see what happens in the next number of years. We do have a lot of arrows in our quiver right well try not to say you know I I do know that how well we are positioned it's nice to know that
054we have a lot of barrels in our equipment but now I think about the entire state and its effects and so uh we may have some some truth in saying that we would wait until we hear, you know, the final results or the effects. But um but it's always great to be in conversation and continue that dialogue, you know, with the community because it's not just going to affect, you know, small setting eventually it affect all of us. So we want to be mindful any cut is a cut to what we have become accustomed to and hopefully we don't get to a point where we have to visit that but clearly any dollars that you you lose you have to make some finan I I would hope that we would be able to continue but
055unfortunately to what we've seen even though estimated it is still going to be effect how how much is that going to affect what we become accustomed to is still concern whether it be a little or a lot is still going to affect some way or another. So um as we wait to hear the full detail on the response of this we do know it's going to impact and I think we do have to be aware and always looking at those quivers and how we are going to make up because um we got word today that in 26 the budget state budget would have a2 billion dollar shortfall and that has to affect us again. So, we're really going to have to look at ways to adjust to function doing the same quality for less money
056or more with little or less. So, on that note, during our March meeting, um, as everyone knows, I raised the idea of formalizing a legislative liaison position on this board. It's something that I believe is a way to institutionalize our responsibility to monitor and understand the policy landscape that affects not only just public education, but our district's ability to serve our students. And it goes without saying I was disappointed at the unwillingness to include this item formally on the agenda for discussion. I know I've spoken with each of the board members here and I appreciate the willingness to engage in that conversation and share what those concerns and hesitations are and I'm confident that we can address them um over time. I've spoken with Terry Sprdlin at the ISBA who has provided a number of
057resources on the legislative leaison position which I'm happy to share with everyone and he's offered to make himself available to discussion entails and answer any questions that might come up. Um I've also identified a few legislative liaison from nearby districts and I hope to connect any with those people. Um so that you know if you have questions I understand that change can be difficult particularly for a community that hasn't traditionally engaged in this type of engagement. Um, but I can be patient and persistent and I'm confident that, you know, we can build the foundation needed to move this forward over time. Ultimately, I do feel strongly that this role aligns with our responsibility as board members, not only to our district, but to the broader commitment we have to our community and to the future
058of public education. We have a responsibility to build awareness of the legislative decisions being made that impact our schools and just having a dedicated liaison ensures that we stay informed and connected. And that being said, um, as you mentioned, we're now in week 15 of the legislative session. Um, the ISBA is currently tracking 50 active bills. It's gone from the original 174 that they were tracking. As it's been mentioned, SB1 is now signed into law. um still somewhat up in the air, but numbers I've seen it will reduce school revenues by an estimated 750 million between 2026 and 2028. Um ISBA is also monitoring House Bill 10001 and the proposed state budget. It currently includes modest increases for tuition support and special education, but as Kay mentioned, with a $2 billion projected shortfall. It's likely
059that overall K12 funding will be flat um or effectively a cut when adjusted for inflation. And another bill that ISBA has just noted is Senate Bill 482. It's another bill um that would just require school boards to revise their attendance policies to align with a new state defined framework and it limits disciplinary actions based solely on absences and promotes earlier intervention and chronic absenteeism cases which um I know absenteeism is something that's discussed a lot within school districts um you know particularly through Indiana. So that's my thoughts on that. I know I appreciate you guys, you know, chatting with me all, you know, individually over this. Um, and I hope that just as time continues, we can continue the conversation. And I think Ashley does raise a valid point. This may be something we need
060to look into. Um, I don't know how logistically we go about that. So, I'd like to get some information. Do we need to form a committee um to look into it and submit a proposal at a board meeting or I I don't know how to take that next step. I don't know about as far as next steps, but you seem like you are ready for that position. I will say this um being a member of ISBA and and attending the last three legislative lunchins, it is uh heavily attended. Uh it is a full room um usually on a Tuesday afternoon. It starts early in the morning and ends about 12 o'clock. You actually go um to the state house and you get to uh actually watch a lot of uh the bills being presented. There's
061conversation and opportunities to talk to your legislators. Our legislators are invited to come and have lunch with us. Um many times they are not in attendance um overall because sometimes they're in session so they're not able to come. Um but it is well attended and I think it would be a great position for us to have um really as well as you've been presenting the last two meetings to serve in that capacity the information that is given they really take time to uh detail all as you heard Ashley say the number fields that they were watching um the conversation you know there's there's minds in the room those who agree and those who disagree and we get to go to the microphone and share uh those there are panel discussions that are happening Um but
062there are about two panel discussions that take place that morning and there are representatives from both uh uh the house senate uh Republican democrat who come. It really is a great u lunch in that has been taking place. I think this year was the sixth or the seventh. So clearly ISBA has shown some interest um in uh bringing uh that information not only just to school boards to communities uh because the wiser we are u the better decisions um we get to make regarding our school systems. So I and I also think that Ashley has been thorough in informing us but not only the five of us but the p general public as well needs to know what's coming in our community. And I think having that liaison or someone to present it and get
063it in, you know, in Brian's minutes each month, I think that's very helpful. Even though it might be long and boring sometimes, but it's worth it because when you But it is worth it really. You think you're saving a lot of money as a a taxpayer, a homeowner, and you look at it and you add up the numbers and you go, "Oh, I really didn't save as much as they thought." You know, when you're looking at some of these. So, um, I appreciate your thoroughess. Um, intention to serve in a great capacity. Thank you. Any further comments? Basic.