001did not participate in the final action of the referendum resolution, which I just think >> I've got it indicated that she was here online, but she's barred from that vote. >> Good. And it shouldn't be. This is abstain is what I just wanted to make sure we had because this vote is key. We don't want it to be inaccurate. >> Roberty rules word for it, but I just am not aware. Thank you. >> Um, where are we? We are on the next item, which is item 11, the chiller, and that goes to Mrs. Ross. >> All righty. Included in the board packet was information from creative engineering regarding the bidding process for the junior senior high chiller project and the final recommendation for DA Dodd to be awarded the bid as the lowest and most
002responsive bidder of the three companies submitting bids. Also, please note DA Dodd was awarded the bid for the board for the chiller at Happy Hollow. Note acceptance of this base bid, its selected alternates, and the issuance of a letter of intent directing the contractor secure material labor and insurance and pending the preparation of the final standard AIA contract is recommended for approval. You are asked to approve DA Dodd LLC for this project work based on the bid and we will proceed with the contract process which will be overseen by John Becker of Church Hitlin and at that point. >> Okay. Thank you. Having heard that is there a motion please? >> To approve uh proposal by by school administration teams regarding the replacement of cheaters. Thank you. >> Great. Thanks. Is there a second, George?
003Thank you. Any discussion? Awesome. I will go ahead and start the vote. >> Oh, shoot. You're right. >> Is she still there? Dr. Yian, are you here? >> Yes. >> Okay, I'm here. >> Can you turn on your camera to vote, please? >> Yes, >> there you are. Thank you. Um, we're voting whether or not to approve the chiller. A yes vote approves the chiller for the high school. >> What's your vote? >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, Dea, >> thank you. >> David, >> Rachel, >> yes. >> Lawrence, >> yes. >> And George, >> yes. >> And I am also Yes. And that is seven. Thank you. >> All right. Next item. us to proceed in a timely manner with the information. The next item is not provoked, but it is
004for we thought it would be relevant. Based on feedback from the WLC insurance committee, the district has notified Marathon Health that it will end its partnership with the clinic. The district will begin a new partnership with First Stop provide virtual medical and mental health services to employ staff members and plan users involved in the insurance committee indicated their belief that this transition will result in both reduced cost but it will also result in improved access to convenient virtual service options which was something that previous staff members had expressed and at the request of the committee information about this ship was already shared with staff we just everybody to be on the same page that Dr. I remember was very interested in this Marathon Health was contract relationship that was entered into prior to um during
005co with funds and that was considered it reached a point where people really were more interested in something that could provide quick and easy access and expressed interest in virtual care. So ending one relationship and beginning with the cost savings was of interest to everyone involved in the decision. >> Great. Thank you very much for that information. The next item on the agenda is lucky number 13, policy A301, wireless communication devices. Um we're going to move into the first reading and talk about any word smithing we'd like to consider for the policy itself. Um there are no votes, no motions. We're just going to give our ideas. Um, and we may ask if they're lengthy that you email them. Um, this is the policy itself. The guidelines will be a separate discussion and um, Mr.
006Rogers has volunteered to um, come up and talk with us when we get to that part. So Rachel, I'd like to make um just this observation that it'd be wise to not proceed with this as a first reading. Uh at this time, the IDOE has made it clear that they're going to be releasing um both uh clarity on both the um definitions used as well as the um as their guidelines that they are putting out to help school corporations. Um, and I just think it is perhaps not the most fruitful conversation to have until after those guidelines are are shared with us. That's supposed to happen this coming Friday, the 12th. >> I understand. And because of the pattern of our meetings, in order to get something in place before the start of school, we
007have to have somewhere to start. >> You're already outside of that window, though. You won't have it in place. You won't have time for a second vote before the first day of school >> on July 20th. >> If that's a consent agenda only, you're not going to have a vote on a policy is how it's listed on our schedule. >> If you do a first reading now, I mean that the way that it's scheduled right now is the first reading now, you have consent agenda only on July 20th. Your the next meeting where you could have a second reading is on Monday, August the 10th. So you're >> chang >> Yeah, >> we could always Yeah, that would we could change the July meeting. I hadn't I think that's an artifact from uh last year.
008>> I I mean I I also just think that you're going to you can have a lot of conversation about tonight, which is great, but when you get to the second reading, you're talking about potentially a substantial revision, which is going to push you to a second a third reading essentially. I mean, I'm all for the conversation. I'm just saying everybody be aware the whole story could change on Friday again. >> So good. >> I mean, you know, based on the law that was passed, we have a pretty fair idea of what it's going to look like. And there may be, you know, call it this instead of that sort of changes. But I think this is a policy that the administration has looked at and our principles have looked at and it's a good
009place to begin. So if >> just just throwing it out there, I expect you're going to see something significant come out to explain it further and I just don't want you to be surprised by it. >> Okay. Do you know what's coming by from IDO or from uh ISBA? >> Um I I have not seen the actual text yet. Um the kind of second in command at IDOE was at the ISBA board meeting and indicated that while it was not going to be a lengthy document, it was going to be substantive. But then I asked a couple of follow-up questions and he indicated, "Oh yeah, we haven't thought of that." So, um I would say that they're still writing it u probably as we speak. Really, as he described it, it was almost more of
010a negotiation uh between different legislators and school leaders um because there was just a lot of question and concern about it. um very few of the school boards actually of all of the directors at that meeting there were only um two school corporations that had already passed a policy and the rest of them are kind of waiting to see what happens. So we're not behind if that helps you at all. Um but their intent in having these kind of negotiations with legislators right now is to hopefully avoid an edit to the to the pol or to the legislation in the next session so that schools corporations can have a little stability with it as that that is how he described it. So if >> it's shocking that that happened after they passed the law. >>
011Yeah. I I look I can only tell you what was discussed. That was really what what the what what the idea was. And so >> I just I don't I mean obviously they're not going to give you language that is going to be contrary to the legislation, but I I just expect that there will be more information. >> Okay. >> I would struggle if you said to me, "Hey, vote on a phone policy." I would struggle to do that at this point in time without that information. >> Right. And we're not voting right to be clear. We're just we're a little bit talking theoretical right now. >> It is theoretical and there have been a lot of emails with a lot of ideas. So I wanted to give us an opportunity to discuss that in
012person in public and also to raise any questions that we may want to particularly pay attention to in the guidance that comes through and also to get us on track to be able to pass it. And I'm I don't believe there's any reason why we have to have a consent agenda only meeting on July 20th. Is there? We could certainly >> we could add one >> add >> we could add one item to vote and then just advertise it as such. But we also regardless even if you're outside the window, it takes you to August as opposed to um September if you determine that this is a first reading. >> Right. So I'd like to go ahead and proceed if that's acceptable. Does anyone else have anything in particular on the policy itself that we
013need to discuss in public together? >> David, did you >> I had raised some questions by email, but I I am I'm fine us calling this the first read. Um, and there are typically revisions that we've that we make between first and second read. And I think we can make a judgment call if it requires a third reading if it's subst so substantially changed. My other worry is that this is a policy that a lot of families will likely want to have some input on and the next month to two months um may be um >> an un ideal time to no fault of anybody in this room. >> Um and so that's why I do have some concerns. I do wonder though if it's something if we're able to implement a policy u like
014maybe building level policy to start the year with the plan to formalize it as the corporation policy in September. That way we can make sure that families have had the opportunity to provide feedback in August to September. Mhm. >> That way uh we can refine it, but we could still implement the expected plan at the start of the year. It would also give some time um if during that first month um building administrators felt like there might need to be some tweaks that that could get changed prior to us formally approving it. Well, and our policy could simply be West Lafayette schools will follow the law concerning um cell phones and then put it all in the administrative guidelines. >> And the point is that our uh legal council is going to align with the
015law. So what you see is an alignment to the law and it's very um legal and from there we would go into the administrative guidelines. So if a definition were to change then that definition would just be changed specifically legally uh to whatever the definition was changed to. So if you're comfortable with this particular policy currently unless you learn something new then and it's a first reading we're beginning to make families aware and then uh I know that the board had various um perspectives shared and I've passed those along particularly to the high school. So, I passed those along uh to Mr. Rogers and Mr. Rogers had stated that he'd be happy to come up and talk back and forth with the board regarding perspectives because the key here is going to be that as
016Mrs. Wit had said, if there are specific guidelines that are helpful or or guidance if there's specific guidance that's helpful that's provided to the IDO, that's what we've been waiting on. But at the same time, teachers have brought to the discussion table where are we with this? are we doing anything? And so if we continue this dialogue and we have a policy that's aligned to law and that the community can see that there will be no cell phone use during the day, which is what the law says, then we've begun to have the conversation. So the first reading here, just at the level we're having is appreciated. So thank you, >> Lawrence. Yeah, I think uh we can treat this as the first readings at least we put this policy into the pipeline so people
017can seriously think about that and when we have the guidance we can just update that. So next month I mean if there are not big change maybe we can do the second readings but at least uh uh our school have the policy specific policy uh for these issues because a lot of people this kind of significant change of the cell phone use in the school. So we want also parents to know that and I after I look at that uh policy what we have right now is pretty general and also as you said pretty legal. So I think it's pretty good uh uh school board policies at this point of time. So I think first reading maybe is good starting point for that. Yeah. Thank you. Anybody else have anything to share with the rest
018of the class before we move on to um the administrative guidelines and how those are expected to shape up? No. Okay, great. So, we first reading. Do we invite everyone who may be watching to share their thoughts with us via email? Um so, we can take those into consideration as we move through the process. Um Mr. Rogers, would you like to come up and and share with us how you expect this to how well you expect this to work at the high school, >> right? I just clarity policy. The policy, right? That's what you all do. And then the guidelines whether >> this is what we'll discuss now. Is that right? The guidelines. Okay. >> And then >> my understanding is kind of what Dr. I said like we see guidelines that aren't working. Um
019we're not changing policy, but we can we can adjust those as administration. Um done that before. I do it again if things are not not working either for the the detriment or maybe too strict. So I have we have no problem making adjustments if we if we need to especially if we get some guidance from the state. So okay, I'm up here. So how do you expect this to work >> on a daily basis? >> All right. So what we did was our guidelines and our expectations just simply follow the law. We didn't get into interpretations. Um basically and I said this in parent council for you were there Lawrence, right? I said this has been a little frustrating. The law was passed and it was like no cell phones at all on top. Then
020they kind of walked that back. Then it was like, okay, no cell phones during school day. They can't come in and then they walked it back a little bit more and then all right, they can go in the lockers. So this has really been kind of changing as it's gone through and now there's a debate between lockers and backpacks and all those kinds of things. And so for us as we asked neighboring school systems and then schools within our conference, the the lockers were pretty much a no-go. Uh and and that made sense to us as well. Our our teachers would not like cell phones in their classroom even though they're in a lock even though sorry backpacks were a no-go and they would not like cell phones in the backpacks in the room. Most
021of our teachers prefer that anyway. They have like the red sign on their door. Uh, and so basically we we interpreted the law in the spirit of the law that this was locked away in way. Um, there were a couple schools that even looked at the lock boxes or the the magnetic caddies and I looked at those briefly and just the magnetic caddies was somewhere in like $60,000. Um, that was just for the pouches, not not even the I think it's like $200 for each deactivator. Um so that financial burden I think that was on family or that it were on schools I think also kind of helped the state want us back. So um outside of that that it would just be kind of your normal cell phone violations first time and second time
022and it just increases as we get up at some point and I had said again in parent council I really we really wanted to resist uh suspensions. Uh we just really feel like fights and cell phones are you know pretty different. Um but at some point that insubordination piece came in like you know the rule you understand the rule and now you just keep sneaking around in the phone and so at some point I think we had it like on the fourth fourth one was we would start to do like an inschool suspension for insubordination. Uh we think our kids will learn this pretty quickly. This is a big adjustment for everybody. Um, we've allowed them in the hallways, we've allowed them in the lunchroom. Um, that's also been kind of standard in most schools
023as well. Um, and and so this is going to be adjustment by all kids, all faculty members, parents, and everyone's chomping at the bit to know what we're doing. I I think you said we're not late and I I think you're right according to what the state's done, but the faculty thinks we're late, the parents think we're late, and no one's upset. It's just can you can you let us know? Can you let us know? Because we kind of don't check our email as much in June and July, rightfully so. So, that's pretty much what I have so far. >> Okay. Thank you. Any questions for Mr. Rogers? What I think you're going to find out is that the advice is um turned off in backpacks. That's what I think's going to come as well.
024And that's becomes the guidance. Then then I can like look at my teacher that just said I can look at our faculty and as administrators, we can say this this was the guidance and this is what we're following as opposed to going a step more strict. But without that being the guidance, we are trying to support them and and how they're educating and how they're managing a classroom and also supporting again the kind of the spirit of the rule which was we don't want kids on cell phones and we don't want them easily accessible and that temptation there and we tried to just be real consistent with what with what we read. >> Yeah. So, you've been using the term cell phone, but um the actual law is broader than that. They're wireless communication devices,
025gaming devices, all that includes watches, which makes sense. Um but um it it it's not clear exactly how this covers things like the schoolisssued laptop on which you can play group multiplayer games at lunch >> which I know that there are lots of students who do that in a very social way. >> Yes. >> And but it's not clear how the law covers this >> um or how the guidelines cover from the way that I read it. >> Okay. Um what is >> so the way we interpreted it is any it didn't say school you know given or any device that can connect to Wi-Fi you're right the smartwatches the meta glasses which we had a few of those this year um or even our schoolisssued device anything that can get on Wi-Fi um that's
026not for instructional purposes or something like that so we would interpret and through the instructional day so we interpreted that even our schoolish devices should be for construction, not for gaming. Now, if you're asking me, Mr. Chad Rogers, do I think that those are bad things? No, I'm just we're just as administrators trying to interpret what we felt like the law was saying. So, you bring up a good point. And again, um these were discussions we even had as an administrative team. What's this look like? What's this look like during lunch? What do these things look like? you know, um, and we just tried not to to kind of dice up the the law. We just tried to go with what it said. These things shouldn't be here. They shouldn't be connected or they if
027because even says you can have a cell phone if you're going to bring it into the classroom for an instructional purpose, right? Um, and so we're saying none of these things we're going to say are being used for instruction unless for some reason we said this was appropriate. I don't know if that answered your question. That's >> not completely. So the answer would be no. >> No. >> But does lunch count as instructional time? >> So the school day, >> right? But it's but does it count for the total instructional time for the year? >> It's the school day period is the new law. School day. >> Bel changed. Yeah. Bel. >> So no longer than an instructional time. So that's the way we interpreted it. >> Yeah. >> We could go back. Is there
028a sense of how many students already have a electronic device in their IEPs or how many of them would have to have an IEP revised because that's a lot of work at the start of the year for students who are struggling. >> No, I would I I wouldn't know that. >> The only thing I could give you would be the the IEP conferences on an end and that that's very rare, but I can't think of a number of people. I think it's an important question to ask because I think there are a lot of students probably with IEPs who do use their devices throughout the course of the day. This would prohibit it unless an IEP specifically said it or it would prohibit it for a child with a medical need where it is not
029got a note from a doctor as I read this and that's a rough start to the school year for everybody all around and after what special ed had to go through last year at the start of the year I kind of hate to see them get another like big bubble. So I just I just throw that out there with whatever policy you end up with. That's something to consider. >> Yes. >> So clubs meet at lunch, >> right? >> So they can't use is they can't use any devices during that time period. Right. I assume that there's a gaming club of some form. Um >> right. And so they they their club could no longer function because of the time that they're meeting. They wouldn't be allowed to it. >> We can check with legal
030counsel on something like that. Obviously Dr. I hear >> the gaming club educational experience due to that club. >> I know. >> Okay. Yeah. No, I I think these are just things that have to be thought through before >> I totally agree with everything everybody's saying here. This is why M Mr. providers really want to entertain it. Yes, we want to work with our special ed teachers and make sure that we understand that we understand the IEPs and that they're carried out correctly. Yes, we want to make sure that if there's a club that really needs a specific device that we're able to do that and not break the law. I think it's a great point. I have no doubt that we would research that when the time came. >> These questions, like what you
031said, these are good. I I don't see any time that we are going to make life more difficult for oursel because of this. We're we're really trying to interpret what the law says. And then the the common sense approach just like you're saying, of course, if we have a gaming club, they'd be able to to game. And of course, if they need if they're needed in IEPs, >> there's a new texting club, isn't there? >> Love that. It made you laugh toast master. >> I thought like with the questions I thought this would be a good time to listen and see what you what everybody's thinking. >> Yeah. >> Having met some of our legislators, I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't see it as a problem that gaming clubs got banned. But um is
032there a worry that if we proceed with a device ban that any student that still has a device is automatically going to be flagged as either having a health issue or an IEP because they're the only ones who have them. >> That's interesting. >> Yes, it is. >> Yeah. >> No comment. >> That's that's a legitimate concern. It's identifying. And here's the other problem that I think is going to happen in the classrooms is yes. If a student has it in their IEP, um, yes, they need it for that educational purpose, but it doesn't just work for that educational purpose, right? They've got it in the classroom and the teacher has a completely different issue of classroom management because here's one kid or two kids who have it. >> Let's remember that nobody in this
033room thought this was a good no piece of legislation. >> I'm not I'm not I just don't want poor Chad to feel. This is not a This is not a thing on Chad Day. >> I don't take it that way. >> I just want my my whole point of of coming at this is I understand and I fully support having policy that aligns with state law. That is not the question. I'm just concerned about the impact in the classroom and everything sounds like a good idea and I know that phones are tough for teachers in classrooms. I know that they are. I just don't know that this is going to fix it. It'll fix some things but create other things. And that's my only question to you. >> Well, we know that and the the
034point of it is that we have to follow the law. So if when the board adopts the policy that's aligned to it, that's where then and they've got a starting point per school. And all three administrators said this isn't about an I gota like no administrator wants a student to just have one more thing working against them. This is about what is the law. Legislators are watching. That's why it's gone from instructional to school day. They're watching. So, we have to respect the law and respect what they've put in place and then respectfully develop something that's hearing voices. I want to commend you too, Mr. Rogers, because I've seen you speak with parent councils, the parent council, I believe, more than once, haven't you? >> I thought so. and I I I was able to
035witness one and the way that you've listened uh and and kept your mind open uh is impressive. So, because this is important and there's varying views on that among families, too. So, you've done a great job and I want to commend you for that. And this is a tough situation as every board member has shared with me in one way or another over the past few days. Uh and I'm going to close my mouth so they can continue to dialogue with you. But my point to you is uh the board gets it in the way that you three talked during our administrative meeting and together we're going to get this figured out. But we recognize it's not something that anybody within West Lafayette schools came together and said let's ban this and make something more
036difficult for families or children. >> Yeah. You know we're not picking on you, right? >> Oh, I totally I'm fine. This is important and this is again one of these things I don't know that any of us asked for it. It sounds really really good in theory or when you read it and then as like I said no phones at all in schools and then that's slowly kind of changed and that's what you all are asking me about as well. We made a draft based off of what we interpreted what we thought it it it was or it is and what are other neighboring schools doing. Um and if you're going to ask me did we all like it? Um did we debate pretty hard? I think some of the questions that you're saying um
037we debated and at the end of the day we tried not to well this weld this weld this. We tried to just be consistent. Um, and if the state comes out with some different guidelines, which would be great if they do in a timely fashion, um, then we can adjust, prepare. >> Um, I agree that hopefully the state's going to give us a little bit more guidance so that it's not um, us floundering because whatever the law is, yes, everyone will just obey it. I think this I appreciate this conversation because once we get that, it is going to be a very quick turnaround to what it looks like. And um what I hear most from students and families is anxiety >> and stress. And what they're worried about is we're trying to take kids
038and put them back to a place and time period that doesn't exist anymore. >> They good point. >> They depend on their cell phones. As parents, we depend on our cell phones. And honestly, when we've dealt with some emergencies, the kids that didn't have cell phones and the parents that didn't have access to those kids, that was very emotional for them. We have a lot of kids in our high school right now that went through that. So, for them to think, we are going to have a situation like that. You're going to make us exit the building. Am I going to sneak to my locker even though the administration's yelling at me, but I have to talk to my parent? Are you going to put >> We don't yell. >> Well, I'm just saying. So
039yeah, but just when people are saying we got to get out of the school, this is serious. That's the yellow level. Um these things I've students have shared this with me. I mean they were like this policy is causing me anxiety. I don't want to go to school anymore because of that. And that's where I would I'm hoping once we get official guidance that we'll be aware of what this is doing to kids. And I'm hoping it will be clear like our policy because to me the policy is like powered off, stored away, inaccessible. Bottom of a backpack, very clear. Second the teacher sees it, it's gone. I mean, it feels like it's very clear. I feel like when we take if I just don't want us to go stricter than we have to do
040because of the world we live in and what our kids have been trained to live and they've been trained to be dependable dependent on their devices and don't use in the classroom but they're like I want to be able to have it and like I said is what I am hearing um with students and they're not students I work with in our schools but outside of our school district and parents is anxiety about those emergency situations. is what I'm hearing. And so that's why the locker to me is taking a step too far. Unless we're told that's what the law says, then we no longer get a say. >> And I I appreciate understand it. >> Yeah. >> But we will and I again I I would bet on that the backpacks as we fine
041and then we will handle that the best way we can in our school and and we'll go from there. I mean the cell phones really even though we don't like them as educators at times they don't dominate our day uh we do not have just you know 30 cell phones turned in every single day our kids do a good job with it overall our teachers do a good job with it and there's a whole lot of learning that goes on in schools um this is just I think I think it's a good step to bring everybody back to the table and have a little bit of a reset And that's what I heard you saying a little bit, just not a whole lot. That's what I heard you say. Makes sense. >> Yeah, Dea, I'd
042like to say I agree with you 100%. I think the anxiety of children today cannot be understood by people who didn't grow up in this time period. And that's our legislator legislature. Um the kids who were in kindergarten and first grade when Sandy Hook happened sophomores and juniors in college right now. and they spent their entire school career in fear of school shootings and those goodbye messages to mom and dad that we've all read in the news are real and that's their lived experience and for us to take that away or to be forced by let's be clear to be forced by the state to take that away from our kids is in my opinion horrendous. So, I just wanted to echo what you said, George, you had something. >> Yeah. To to turn the
043conversation around just to give us all something to think about. Um, I've heard exactly what you all have heard about that, but I've also heard from a small group, a group of parents who are actually really looking forward to this and really looking forward to their kids not having access to mobile devices or any other kids. And their main concern is digital bullying. >> Um, >> which is also real. >> Yeah. I've heard I've heard from most parents as well. So, yes, it's there. It's just like anything else. We can't make everybody happy that the bullying is a is a frustration. I can Yeah, I can hear that. It that's one of those things that we we will handle as it as it shows up and we will try to educate and and and be
044proactive as much as we can. But that's unfortunately that digital piece is here to stay as well, unfortunately. And it's just we try to educate and uh work from there. Yes. >> So I do have one question. I'm assuming it's in your guidelines, but when a phone is confiscated, is the child able to pick it up or a parent? >> Um child. And then I honestly I can't remember. I don't see the draft. >> Child, >> I might say to you that that um you're putting it in the parents hands a little bit. If it's a parent who said, "Hey, you broke the rule. I don't want you to have your phone anyway. I'll go get it next week." That fits. But if you have a parent who's like, "Oh my gosh, hey, do better.
045I'm going to go get your phone today." But a parent had needing to come into the school. Changes conversation a little bit. So, I just want to throw that out there, too, as an idea is parental control. >> Try to be equitable. And that's the other piece to it. >> Yeah. Not all parents can come and do it, >> right? Um, but to your point, I've I've had those conversations when parents need to pick up. It's like, well, you know what? I will let wait a week going into the weekend and Chad can just wait and stop. So, I've had those supportive parents as well. >> I think I heard the tone that indicates that UI wants to say something. Is that correct, >> Dr. Yen? >> Yes. >> Oh, okay. All right. Never mind.
046>> That could be. Okay, good dialogue. Does anyone else have anything before we let Mr. Rogers sit back down? David, go ahead. >> One more thing. I do fully agree with what Dean and Amy had said about um backpacks versus lockers. I think that the locker issue will also add um a fairly especially early in the year a fairly decent number of kids who are coming back to school after hours because they've forgotten it in the locker. Um there there may be times where the school is not accessible u versus other times and I I think it's going to add complexity where we don't need complexity and >> interesting >> I I think you can always go more strict You could go both ways where you start with the stricter and then uh ease up
047or go e or start with the um the strict letter of the law and then get stricter if if it's become more of a problem. Um I think either direction could could work but from my perspective I I I think as long if it's working with just meeting what the law is saying I I think that that's probably the ideal way to go. >> Sure. No, I I appreciate it. We were thrilled that blockers didn't even work based off of where they started. So, um, again, if the guidelines become very clear to us, um, then I I know we can revisit and then we're not looking to be more strict than what the guidelines say. So, >> and it may be that at the elementary and the middle school that lockers or cubbies work great
048and at the high school we have to adjust because they're a different population and different age and don't know their locker combinations. So, >> they will we all did back then. >> I still remember mine. >> Yep. All right. Well, thank you for your time. Thank you all for the dialogue. I felt like that was uh very productive and was exactly what I had envisioned. So, I didn't have a locker in high school. >> What? You didn't have a locker? >> I went to Tech. Um Oh, 17 buildings. There's nowhere to put them. >> There you go. That makes sense. All right. Last up is our reports. Dr. Grryer, you go first. >> Thank you, Mrs. Austin. For my report this evening, I'd like to extend my thanks to several groups. I'm going to start
049with our high school administration, faculty, and staff for another outstanding graduation ceremony. It was a wonderful celebration of our seniors and their accomplishments. I'd also like to thank our board members who were able to attend graduation as well as those who were unable to attend. We appreciate your support of our students and if you were unable to attend, we know that you were celebrating this important milestone in spirit because you reached out and told us that. So, thank you. Finally, I want to thank the members of the sounding board committee that met several times for their participation in recent discussions regarding the district's finances and potential referendum planning. Their thoughtful questions and valuable feedback will help shape our communication efforts moving forward. We appreciate their engagement and hope that those who are interested will uh
050continue working with us uh through participation perhaps through the pack as we move ahead. And that concludes my report. Mrs. Roth, would you please report out on accounts payable and fund reports? >> Certainly. Claims for the period of May 5th through June 3rd, 2026 total $4,578,215.13. This amount does include both corporation and Wabash Valley Educational Center expenses. Salaries and benefits for the same period totaled $3,470,66342. A final fund report is included in the board packets for the month of April 2026. Total funds on hand amounted to $25,941,168.79 with the education fund balance of $8,440,194.86. As usual, a preliminary fund report for May is included in the board packet, but please note the month has yet to be completed and reconciled. I will share there was a question about fund balances that might be in the
051negative. I want to share that for federal or state grants those funds do run in the negative because we have to first expend the money um out of our own funds and then request a reimbursement. So we make reimbursements on a regular schedule. >> Great. Thank you. Um as far as my report, uh the redevelopment commission met in May. The public safety center is um coming right along. The crane has come down, I believe. I haven't verified that with my own eyeballs, but that's what they said. Um they are in the design documentation phase for expanding Fire Station 3, the early childhood education center. Um they have some listening sessions coming up on June 17th and September 2nd. Um it is their goal to include 24-hour child care, which is something that this area lacks
052and um which will become more necessary as SKHEX and the hospitals are operational. Um the Lummel Park restroom is almost done and the completion date is uh targeted for June 30th and they're moving forward with 425, the new road that will be going um just north of here. Um and unfortunately due to a family emergency I was unable to attend um discussion. So George, do you have a report? Um, nothing to report as far as legislative activity, but I will have a lot more once I return from the ISBA school law seminar. I'm heading to that tomorrow. I'm also now on the ISBA's legislative committee, and so the legislative priorities will get released once that committee is met. >> That's terrific. I think you're going to really enjoy that process and be really helpful. Um,
053Lawrence, what you got? >> Uh, for the public school foundation. >> Oh, yes. microphone please >> uh for the public school foundation for typical no county uh I have been uh in their last meeting it's online meeting it's pretty much just a regular um uh day-to-day business there nothing really uh uh really euro so uh just regular short meeting online meeting and for uh west school education foundation I joined their uh attend their uh award ceremonies so this year's uh scholarship ship. So totally uh we have 42 scholarship awarded and totally we have 38 recipients and also total amount award awarding scholarship award is uh 57 uh,000. So I it's very nice um uh award ceremonies uh we can see the student and the uh sponsors they can meet each other uh mingle each other.
054So that's very nice uh ceremony and uh our foundation did really good work in terms uh connection with the student and um our school supporters. So that's really nice and also there's some other you want to report that Rachel regarding the education foundation >> from foundation. >> Yes, sure. >> Thank you Rachel. Um, the foundation was featured nonprofit of the game at Lafayette Aviators on Friday night and ninth grader Joseph Perura threw out the first pitch which was I heard lovely and they won the game. Um, in July the alumni association will host a class of 86 for a reunion tour and um the foundation will once again assist with collecting school sky school supplies and students for preparation and back to school. There will be more information coming out in July, but if anyone
055has any interest in contributing to that, I know that they would be very grateful for contributions. Um, and also this is likely my last meeting. Uh, this is my formal notification of my resignation for the board effective July 31st of 2020 or 6. Uh, because I will no longer reside in the school corporation boundaries after that date. Um so briefly I just want to say that in my time uh about 12 years I've been through two referendums and tonight the third third start of a third referendum uh built a new school two major renovations in schools hundreds of legislation changes on education matters two full revisions of policy two new principles one new superintendent in fact no member of the central administration remains from when I began in our board u and a pandemic So,
056I just want to say I am I am really proud. I'm very honored to have been a part of this board for this long. I am very grateful to voters um for electing me three times. Um and it has really been an honor and a privilege um to serve. Um when I came on the board, I really didn't know well anything. Uh it was a learning curve. Um, and I got to serve along some greats like Alan Carpick and Karen Springer and Brad Marley and some other wonderful former members of the board. Um, and I would like to thank Amy, George, and Lawrence for their leadership. This has not been an easy time to be part of the board and I really appreciate that from you. Um, as well as David and UA. Um, they
057continue to to show sincere attention and care um to to whatever is best for students and I really appreciate that. Um, and really that is what I would end on is I would hope and I've seen this board over more than a decade keep students at its focus and and I know that that's going to continue. Um, especially under our fantastic current administration and thank you Dr. Griner and I have been through some fires together. So, I don't know, we're trauma bonded now. We'll just have to be friends or something. But, uh, really just appreciate uh appreciate my time on the board. I'm very grateful for it. So, thank you. It is an ending of an era for me and it's all good. >> We appreciate your uh >> Oh, thank you. >> your service.
058>> Thank you. >> Um next Well, if there's a if there is a um a consent agenda only item, I will not charge the school corporation $100 to attend that meeting. So, I will not come for that. That's a that's a silly thing for me to show up for. So, but uh if if there is a matter that requires a bow prior to that, of course, I'll be engaged. I I will be engaged to the end, but uh hopefully my giving you a little bit advanced notice gives you more time to find the right person to fill the spot. So, >> thank you. That it does because it is summer and um the 30-day clock will start on the 31st, which is your last um official day. So, what we will do is accept resumeéumés
059um from the public if there's someone who's interested in filling your shoes um for the next >> It's not very many months. My term is up in December, the end of December. >> So, it' be five months. Um so, let me look at the calendar here so I make sure I get it right. um we'll take resumes through the um end of July and I'm sorry, end of June and then hopefully we will be able to complete the process and vote on someone at that July 20th meeting. That's my intention. Um but if not, we do have plenty of time to bring someone forward at the August meeting. So, um, if anyone out there is interested in joining us for a short time, um, send your resume to the whole board as quickly as possible
060and we will miss you. Um, David, um, Lawrence, go ahead. >> I'm sure a little bit regarding >> Oh, we're doing we're doing a roast. Okay. >> Yeah. That's just a short short I mean really appreciate and actually we have worked together uh as board member colleagues for I think three and a half years and it's really my honor uh to work with um Miss uh that's uh especially um uh she has been in the leadership team in the in the leadership so uh uh for our school board I think u she show her leadership uh patient patience and also um hard workings uh also yes to to us and also uh recent during the last couple years uh we work together many many hours about the policies. So uh her expertise in the old
061policy as also as the new policy and also understand the school business uh that's very uh that's treasure of our school board. So I really appreciate that. So uh so I just um really appreciate we can work together and I just appreciate yeah the time together and I really appreciate that and I hope you can start a kind of new new new new chap new new new chapters new chapters uh I mean uh yeah after after these things I truly appreciate >> those new pol the new chapter will not involve policy >> on every level there will be no policy in the new chapter Thank you, Lawrence. That was very sweet. >> Um, David, go ahead. >> You're always welcome to join the meetings in person or online for fun. >> Parks and Wreck did
062not meet last month because we didn't have a quorum uh that could meet in person. Um, there wasn't a lot on the agenda anyway. Um, we do have a vacancy on parks and wreck. Um, it has not formally been filled yet. there have been some names that have been given to the parks and rec superintendent. So if anybody does have any other recommendations u please let me know as soon as possible and I can share those. Um and then I do want to clarify something that Amy said uh about the early childhood education center. Uh 24-hour care is not individual children 24-hour care like you can't drop your kids off, pick them off the next day. It it's multi-shift care. So, there'll be some space for second, third the plan is to have some space
063for second and third shift workers. >> That's an important distinction. Yeah. Please don't leave your children for a fully for show and everything. But yeah, but I do also want to highly encourage people to go to the listening sessions. they are taking seriously um the feedback and input from the community and it's really important and something that we desperately need more of in the community. >> Thank you. It's an important correction. TA go ahead this past >> Okay. Thank you. And was there a glass meeting? >> No, >> I don't think there was. Yeah. And Dr. >> Glass meeting? >> Yeah, glass is is finished. So, um, Dr. Yin, if you can hear me and you have anything, let me know real quick. Feel like I'm having a seance. Oh, there she is. Hi. Do
064you have a report of anything that you'd like to share? >> Yeah. >> Sorry. Can you say anything? >> Do you have a report? >> Glass. Okay. >> Glass was dissolved. >> Right. Let me know when you get back to town and we'll have a conversation about your new assignment. Okay. Okay, thanks. Um, safe travels to you. Um, our next meeting will be on um >> 20th. >> July 20th. Yeah. Why does it say Tuesday, June 30th? >> If needed. Okay. >> And we do not at this time. Anticipate the need. Right. >> Yep. >> Um, so we will be July 20th at 5:00 p.m. uh here. Um the early hour is on purpose to get people back to their vacations. Um and the work session and the next regular meeting will then uh recommence
065on August 10th. Um having said all of that, I need a motion, please. >> I'd like to make a motion to adjurnn, please. >> Thank you, Rachel. >> Second. >> And everybody. All right. Well, should we do the voice vote? UA, do you want to adjourn? I'm gonna take that as a yes. Deaca, >> David, >> yes. >> Rachel, >> yes. >> Lawrence, >> yes. >> George, yes. >> And I'm a yes. Thank you very much. Oh, there she is. Give me a thumbs up to adjourn. We're adjourning. Thank you.