001earned a trip to the state tournament. Um, awesome for them and congratulations to Ella Lop who uh recently broke a swim record from 1987 in the 500 free swim. Way to go and we'll keep it uh short tonight, Mr. Rididgeway and administration. >> So, just a couple communications. First of all, our policy committee meeting had was moved to October 20th. I had a conflict when I we went down to Chattanooga uh to check out the uh the program that Blue Woo suggested. Um we are meeting tomorrow morning about our cardiac emergency response plan with a task force. So it is written it's something that the board has already authorized but now we are going to into implementation of how to do that which is required by law. Uh this Friday is the hall of fame
002induction um starting at 4:00 in the high school library. We have a few people inducted being inducted. I think there's four and then they'll be recognized at the game later. High School Boo Bash, Jazz Band, and Choir concert the Octo uh October 23rd at 7. We are hosting a countywide PD Tuesday, November 4th. So, basically all teachers in the county will be coming to Harper Creek on that day to have professional development together. And then Harper Holidays, Friday, November 7th, and Mr. Bess has already talked about the athletic success, so I'll leave it at that. >> Thank you for that. And madam secretary, do we have any >> a couple of items? Um, we have uh a thanks to Dennis and Tina um Johnson for their generous donation to the Harper Creek Radio Club. There's
003Jim. And an anonymous donation to the Harper Creek Champions Project. And there is um some correspondence in your board packet from Marshall Academy that um please take a look at board of education members. And that's all. >> All right. Thank you for that. Presentations are audit 202425. Uh Christine Kratzer from Willis and Jurers, please come on up and u review your results. >> Okay. Well, thank you very much for allowing me to have a few minutes to present our 25 audit report for you. Um I understand as a full board you're just receiving these uh reports tonight, but your finance committee has had a chance to review a draft, go over it with your business manager. So, I will just hit the highlights for you this evening. So, uh you ended the year in your
004general fund with about $6.9 million, which is about a 16 and a half% fund balance. We had um one new standard that we had to implement this year related to your compensated absences, which is the payment of your leave time to your teachers, admin, um staff. Uh you've always had this calculation, but they changed the um the the methodology this year uh for the way it's calculated. So, it doesn't really impact anything that you're doing uh your policies. Um doesn't impact your general fund in any way. It really just impacts our annual statements with the audit. So, but we did have one uh item that we were um updating your reports this year with that your food service. Um we had one item in our report for you. You are still have uh what we
005call an excess fund balance which I'm sure you're well aware of working with the state to spend that down. Uh but your program is still um out of balance with that requirement. Um, overall our audit went very well. Um, I'd like to thank Ginger and her staff for for providing us with all of our documentation that we requested. Uh, the records were wellmaintained, well organized, and we didn't have any issues obtaining, uh, the items that we needed for our audit this year. So, overall, it went well. Um, as you are just receiving them, if you have questions, as you have a chance to look at it, um, talk with Ginger. Uh, she can put you in touch with me if you have questions that you'd like us to address. Um, but overall, it went very
006well this year. High five to you, Jinger. >> Anybody have any questions, comments, concerns? >> I will note one more item. I apologize. I wanted to mention for your federal audit this year, you did have a single audit this year, we uh looked at your grow your own program this year. So, uh that's a new one for us this year to really dive into. Um but we had no issues, no findings with that program. So, your federal audit was clean as well. And just to share, I believe it was you that I talked to that um this is the second time in my tenure on the board that I've been asked to uh some different questions related to the financial um portion of of the school district if I thought there was any malfeasants or
007anything like that and uh of course I was happy to answer the questions and and give a glowing report. So >> thank you very much. >> Thank you. I appreciate your time. >> Thank you. >> Can move on to curriculum and Mrs. Williams, as my understanding, is uh under the weather this evening. Mr. Rididgeway is going to take over for her. >> Get the work here. >> All right. So, hopefully you had a chance to take a look at um Laura's report. Really, the biggest thing in the report that I saw was uh the report on our NWA scores, which are um what our kids do three times a year to check progress. uh you can see the entire scores here on this link. But then if you went into the report a little bit
008further, you can see a comparison from last year to this year on both reading and math. Green scores indicated they went up. Yellow uh indicated they went down some but generally the scores have gone up on the NWA. Specifically, if you look at the middle school in all all grade levels, all subjects uh they the scores have gone up. So, we are feeling good as I said at the last meeting with our MSTEP scores that we're in going in a good direction. Um, I'm not sure if you've noticed this with Laura's reports, but they they uh follow our strategic plan with the under drive student prior achievement priority. We have the benchmark data building thinking classrooms and if if you have listened a little bit, we're taking a hard look of how we can get
009kids to critical think in the classroom. and our teachers are doing some different things within the classroom uh so that they they can work on that. Educator training um cognitive coaching is something that Laura does with our staff. She's a certified trainer and that saves us thousands of dollars a year in training. So I I do appreciate her doing that. There's the student successes we believe. uh collaboration. Uh as you know, we do meet uh every Wednesday after school um with our early release time and it really is a vital part of of what we do, but we also have our staff meeting all kinds of times so that we can create that culture. Um I don't believe there's anything else that is, you know, new um within uh the report, but there's always nice
010to see our staff, you know, do doing their their uh their meetings and things that we're doing. There was an announcement right here under the MDE MTSS. So that is the Michigan multi-ter systems of support. U all of our buildings are receiving an award on the work that they're doing there. I think that we are at either the bronze or silver level. um which means that we've implemented almost all of the MTSS as required by the state and if you talk to the county we are ahead of other schools around us so we feel pretty good about that and so I think that's it if you have any questions about the report >> my only question is uh in the first grade um it that's appears to be a soft spot in the numbers um
011are we attributing that to anything particular >> um I I guess I'm unsure to to to get to a causal factor on that or what exactly is causing it to go down from year to year. Um, you know, we did implement the new reading ELA curriculum and sometimes we do go down a little bit, but other grades, you know, did go up, but kindergarten and first did to go down on that. So, maybe that's a piece of that pie. In terms of the math, I I guess I'm unsure exactly why. I'd have to dig a little deeper to see >> the why. I just wondered if if there had been any uh hindsight put in and was it possibly related to COVID? I mean, anything like that. But >> interesting enough, this year's kindergarteners um
012would be the kids that were born during CO and the other and then from there on up are kids that live through it. Now, kids coming in next year have not been in CO. So, we can no longer use that as an excuse. >> We don't really look at you. >> Yeah. >> Your average is about a three to 500 basis point increase year on year. I don't ever remember seeing anything that was that good. >> Yeah, I I mean if you look at the stuff that's going up, we really are it's much better data on the NWA scores and it is a really good indication. I know that when I talk to staff, the implementation of the new the new curriculums and the math curriculum which was implemented five years ago has really made
013a difference. Now the areas where it's down, we need to take a look to see why. I mean, what what's going on? But I I do want to celebrate the fact that we do see some good improvements that are occurring. >> I know that she's following strategic planning for her reports, but I'm very excited to hear about the countywide PD that's going on. Um, I think that that's amazing that we're doing something for not only our teachers, but across the county. So, if she can just give us an update, that'd be cool. >> Oh, on the county PD. It's a it's a county effort. It's not just us. It's a planning commission that's happening around the county and 1,500 or so people >> vital >> will be here on that day. So it's it's pretty
014cool and we'll be in the high school, you know, using our facilities for that process. So I'm I'm pretty excited to see how how it comes off. >> Yeah. >> It's something we haven't done since well 1996. >> Oh wow. >> It's been >> And I'm old like that so I remember things. >> And you said it's going to be held where? >> At our high school. So, we're going to get all the teachers in from all the >> Yes. So, we'll use most of our classrooms, the auditorium, uh the library space. >> That's awesome. >> John's going to be really busy in food cooking, but >> that is going to be one big task to >> It is. Yep. >> Other counties have done it for, you know, I think Branch counties done it
015for three or four years. And the good thing is like going to a conference where you can choose your session. You don't just have to go to the ones that you know we have one thing that we're doing all day. It's you choose what you >> your passions are. >> Uh it depends. Some are are set up for two hours and many are set up for an hour. >> Okay. We just three hours is a long time for conference. So I feel like a session conference. I was just going to suggest that if >> you refer to any four-letter organization. >> Yeah. So, so Rob, do we have comparisons versus other schools in the area with this testing or >> so the NWA is a is a test that is nationally norm so we can
016compare with the nation as well as as Michigan schools. Yes. >> Be interesting to see that. >> Okay. >> Because I mean this is you're starting off this meeting in on a really positive note with the finance update and this I think >> yeah this has been something >> see where we're at. We've been waiting to see these the achievement course jump because of the the work that's being done by our staff. So, it really is nice to see and and Laura, I mean, she's not here, but this is really her brainchild of how to make this all work using researchbased, evidence-based methodologies. So, >> I had parent teacher conferences last week and I asked all the teachers that I met with, you know, how knowing that they've implemented new curriculum and like how do
017you like it? how and I heard across the board from middle school math to um you know the elementary school with Amplify that everybody was really pleased with with the process with the professional development and it was nice to hear it was nice to see >> like that full circle. >> Yep. I will I'll definitely pass it on to Lori. She might be watching online who knows. I also like the simple the very simple approach how this is laid out. It's easily readable and and um it tells the story very quickly. >> All right. Anything else for Mrs. Williams via Mr. Ridgeway? >> I feel better. >> Okay. Let's move on to facilities and Mr. Robinson. >> Thank you. Pardon me. I don't have much of a voice left, so bear with me. Um, oh,
018I I submitted a report. Um, one thing I want to touch on is, um, everybody, you know, we just heard of another donation to the champions program. The weight room, uh, we removed all the equipment last week. Um, the flooring was installed last week and over the weekend. So, the flooring is done. Tomorrow, the equipment will start arriving and we're hoping to have it completely open by the end of the week. >> Well, that's awesome. >> I do have some pictures. I got crazy today and I didn't get a chance to get them to Rob, but I'll have stuff for us for the next board meeting to show them before. >> Will there be a ribbon cutting? >> It's pretty amazing. >> Yeah, ribbon cutting. >> Ribbon cutting. There you go. >> So, um, but
019there's, you know, thank you to all the donors, too, for that to >> Mrs. Fasel and her team. They've they've went after it pretty hard and heavy and along with coaching staffs and stuff. So, they did a great job. >> Um, I think we're talking about bound stuff later, so I won't beat on that too much. [Music] So anyway, we did a steering committee meeting um as most >> I'll talk about that in a little bit. Sh, you have a question? >> Yeah. Are we doing anything for the donations? Like are we recognizing I know we said ribbon cutting maybe jokingly, but I don't think that that's a crazy thing to to do, especially because it was funded by people, you know, in the community. Are we, >> you know, I we haven't really discussed
020it yet. Okay. Um, at least in as far as me know, I don't know if >> I think I think uh Fi Director Melissa Fiso, I think she is in process of figuring out how to recognize folks that had Okay. >> Um, outside or inside of the weight room, probably outside because it's a little more visible, but we have definitely discussed that. Um, we can see if she has a finalized plan. I'll bring up the ribbon cutting idea though >> as a potential thing to do. >> I like that. I think it'd be a great way to recognize donors. >> Um, the press. >> And so just our our our basic stuff, we're still plugging away at the filter first legislation. U we have some new legislation about storm drainage and we have to be
021all of our buildings have to be certified and that's going to be another ding to the to the pocketbook um that the state is coming down with. Um but we're working on all of those things as well. Uh, but all in all, we're in good shape and we're excited to get this room open and get our kiddos back into the training facility. >> They're ready. Planer Fitness is closed right now. So, they are ready for the weight room to open. >> So, we are doing everything and then like I said, we'll talk the committee later. >> All right. Anything further, Mr. Robinson? Not we'll move on to finance and Mrs. Overber. >> All right. I do have my regular reports. I'm gonna talk a little bit about uh the cash balance. Sorry, I always mix
022things up on them. Um I just wanted to let you know that I open five CDs um through Southern Michigan Bank and Trust uh at 4%. Um there's no I can withdraw at any time without any fees or anything like that but it was equal to where my laugh was and so might as well be local and um I can transfer it same day where my laugh takes the next day. Um and it was the same percentage uh locked in. Uh and then we earned around 19,000 in interest which is down just a slightly but only because the CD money didn't it'll show up next month. Um the other reports, are there any questions on the regular reports? I was going to talk mostly about uh our state budget versus our bottom line um a
023little bit. The state budget did finally um get released. The per pupil um was $10,50 per pupil um where we estimated 10,000. So that uh helped helped us out a little bit. 37,000. We're also, this is not a um uh the pupil count is not done, is not audited, but we think we're up about 30 from spring count to 2740, which would help at 300,000. One thing I did want to I should have started talking about first was um we just had the audit. We did add 631,000 to the bottom line, putting us at just 6.8 6.9 uh million. So we we're at 16.6% fund balance. Um so we're in a better shape than what we originally thought we were going to be at. Um so then I I came down into this these revenue
024and expense adjustments based on all of my assumptions in June and based on what was released. One thing that um it's great our per pupil is up, but one thing that they leave out in the news headlines is that they cut the retirement revenue for us um 1.2 million. If you remember when when I presented the budget originally, I just didn't touch the retirement because there were so many things floating, I kept the revenue and the expense line item the same. So 1.2 is being taken out. Some expense adjustments. I won't go through each and every one, but uh I budgeted I made up for some of that. Um but then if you look at the bottom estimated retirement percent decrease, I estimate it to be around 600,000. So, even with all of us being
025up 30, with the uh pupil foundation being better, um we're pretty much breaking even with where the original budget was. Now, if you look at the other factors, there's still things that I'm not presenting you a budget, right? But I wanted you to have an update of what the state legislature meant to our actual budget, and that's kind of where we're at. >> So, is that a $600,000 hit then if you just take the 1.2 two versus the 600 for the >> Yes. If you just >> 600 we didn't we didn't really count on correct minus 600 we didn't count on >> correct >> yes >> I think that in if you take everything in concert with we finished last year a little better than we thought and what we have here we're almost even
026>> yes >> when when we get to the revised budget probably in December >> I'll deep I just every month I'll probably come with some of the some of this when I get closer and clo you know what I mean and then when we come in December >> you said the extra $50 per student equated to 130,000 >> 137 7,000. Yeah. >> So 600US 137. So 4 460 something. So >> So the bottom line like it was 33,000 with these major things,000 compared to where we were. We the original budget had us atgative798. I still have us atgative800,000. But I want to point out those factors are like I haven't I think the new hires they did a good job of of hiring a mix of higher and lower end and you know things like
027that. So, uh, I'm just saying, um, it's not suddenly all this money because of the great per pupil foundation. They left out some of the other things. But, um, with the increase in we added 631,000, we were at 16.6. Even with this information, if we were to end it and not if the other factors stayed the same, we'd still be at 14% fund balance. uh with uh 800,000. >> Of course, budgeting conservatively will probably finish better than that. >> That's the goal. >> It's just unfortunate that we're picking up the one minus 1.2 million and being offset by 600. That 600 that could have >> made us >> correct >> get in front a lot faster. Anything further for Mrs. Over? >> We are in good shape. I was kind of negative, but like overall
028we're in good shape. >> I I imagine that those numbers will hurt some other districts though. that didn't come up last year. >> We had just had a meeting and I I was like, did you look at all of this? And yeah. So, >> and you think that estimation on the estimated retirement percentage decreases >> is that conservative number you think or not? >> No, I don't I mean I tend to go more conservative, but I think that's >> so that could get better. >> Yes. >> Uh technology and Mr. Maynard over there. >> As it gets better, I got something we could use it on. So we we budgeted our our student devices conservatively last year as well as well. And so we just kind of took a look at what would it take
029to to make back to where we would have been um because not we ended up not purchasing the first grade devices that we would have bought and so we took the fourth grade devices that came out use them in first grade again. And so we we've got everything covered right now for the most part. But um should we, you know, get to that point, these numbers I gave you were basically what it would take to get the first grade the new computers that they would have got as well as our kindergarten devices, our touchscreen Chromebooks that we keep on a much longer rotation because they don't get used as much and they're much more expensive. So we've got those. Um some of those need to be replaced. So we're going to be we have some
030money allocated to do that already. And um some requests we've had for additional carts of computers at middle school and whatnot. So what you're seeing on the list is basically what it would take if we were going to do everything. Um two options we had some first grade staff were talking about could touch screens be an option for that grade. So we looked at that as well and presented about it's mostly just for your information at this point. Um the vendor is not getting back to me as fast as they should with actual pricing. So I used the last numbers I had. Um so it could be a little better than that. Could be not. But I think I think we should be set there. But with that, I'll take any questions you have. >>
031Which which which option are you recommending? >> I I would like to do a little more digging before we pick one. Um we started out the one to one program with the kindergarten having touchscreen and everybody else having first grade. That was after consulting with the various grade levels. Um kindergarten because it's before they're typically able to read, right? Touchreen makes the most sense there. um first grade is when they start using the computer to type and log in and whatnot. So, we went with regular ones. The downside of the touchscreen besides the 50% cost increase, they can't really be really be repaired because the screen is glass and it's all glued together. So, when you break the screen on one of those, which is the most common failure we have, it would cost more
032than the computer to replace it. So, we try to use those sparingly, but I don't want that to be the only criteria, right? their curriculum needs dictated then I would look at it. >> All right. Any questions for Mr. Maynard? Thank you. Comments related to agenda items? >> No comments. All right. Hearing see none. We'll move on to the consent agenda. Madam Secretary, >> chair calls for a motion that the Harper Creek Board of Education approve the consent agenda as follows. Approve the general fund checks, school service fund check, school lunch, and student school activity fund checks in accordance with the list discussed. Approve the general fund check, school I just approve the following minutes as reviewed. September 8th, 2025 public hearing naming of facilities meeting minutes. September 8th, 2025 regular board of education meeting
033minutes. October 9th, 2025 budget meeting minutes. October 9th, 2025 budget committee meeting minutes. I think that's a typo. >> It's been moved and supported. Do we have discussion? Hearing and seeing none, please call the RO. >> Mr. Hverson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Risner, >> yes. >> Mrs. Wat, >> yes. >> Mrs. Alward, I vote yes. Mrs. Wallace, >> yes. >> Mr. Smith. >> Yes. >> Mr. Bess, >> I vote yes. >> Motion carries 70. >> Thank you. Um, move on to information and discussion. Item A, school safety. Mr. Ridgeway, >> just a quick update. Um, we did talk about priority priorities for the bond issue or the potential bond issue with the safety committee. And Mr. uh Robinson shared this. This is what the the film looks like for window film. And what the film
034does when it's on the window is it makes the window stay. So if somebody tried to break in, let's say with a hammer or device, a sledgehammer, it would take them a long time. And Jim said he watched a video like a long time to get in. If somebody shot it with a gun, it would not break and open up. It would stay >> up. So the same kind of thing, it would take a while because every second counts. And that was one thing we talked about. The other was shades on every window there. Um the interior windows. So if somebody was in the school, we were in lockdown. We pull these shades on every window in the school. It would keep the people, you know, visibly secure. Okay. There's never been anybody hurt behind
035a locked door in a school um shooting. And so we know it's how critically important it is to get kids behind locked doors. We talked a little bit about Wild Park pickup and drop off and came up with we brainstormed lots and lots of ideas of what to do, what not to do. We did say we're going to talk to um Officer King because he he was one of the people that was um he works over there the most and we don't want to do something and say we're going to do this but we have some ideas that he can at least consider because it does get backed up on the road and we can't well it's hard when things get backed up on the road and it's hard to say. We did talk about
036we're adding a video door entrance at the uh alternative ad at the end of this hallway. Um we think that would be a good thing for safety. Um we are going to meet at building. So next meeting is at Snow Elementary. Um and then I talked a little bit about the cardiac planning team meeting that's happening tomorrow morning. Uh so that we can be ready and be all set for anybody that has heart issues within the building. >> Questions? All right. >> Strategic plan update. Yeah, just quick and quick and quick quick and dirty. Uh administrative staff is working on succession planning. So the grow your own program, we know we talked about it at length. So we know that's all about certified teachers and we have lots of people who will be graduating I
037think nine this uh spring. Um and then we are also identifying administrators at the same time. And so there is a program through Western that I had had mentioned but really looking and encouraging people to step up into the next part. And it could be, you know, we think administrators, we think principles, but we have administrators like in the office here, you know, who's going to step in for those folks as they potentially retire or leave the district. Um, we are in process of hiring an assistant superintendent. Uh, we did first round interviews um, last week and excited. We have some finalists and we will be doing second round interviews in about another week and hopefully I'll be coming to you with a recommendation at the next meeting. So, >> Mr. has sat on the
038interview committee for almost all the interview. >> Very very good candidates. >> Yep. I'm excited. I am excited. You know, it's going to be sad to see Laura go, but I am glad that we had some uh really good candidates come come in front of us. And then I've been talking with our communication vendor about the next round of videos. I've I've mentioned that to the board. I mentioned to the community and setting those up so that we can get ready for the bond issue that potentially could be coming up so that we can answer questions as well as keep a positive front for the for the school district so people know all the great things that are happening. The fiscal stewardship is one piece of that pie making sure people understand that this board
039has been diligently working to get the district in great financial position. When I started we had a 5% fund balance, right? It's not and this wasn't me doing it. this was this board um our finance directors at the time as well as getting us to what 16.8 is what she said >> 16.5 >> that's pretty impressive for a 10-year period. So I I think the board has done a really nice job of not spending too much money. Um so those are really the things that we're working on toward strategic plan at this point. >> Questions? All right, let's move on to um bond discussion. Okay. So, our bond steering committee did meet last Wednesday and um the group is meeting once a month, but I am trying to update weekly as to the progress. Right
040now, the biggest thing that I'm doing or I say I'm doing that we are doing is getting information from staff. So, here's some here's what we're thinking. Give us your thoughts on priorities. What are we missing? And so, we're going around the district doing that. I'm doing it through the my donuts program. Um I'm also in in process of scheduling community meetings. The first community meeting will be um on November 5th at Sonoma and then I am going to talk to the administrative staff tomorrow to schedule the others. Tenatively I'd like to do the 12th of November at Beetle Lake, the 19th of November at Wspark Elementary and then pick a time at the middle school where we can have the community come in and do walkthroughs of the building. So have a conversation and
041walk through. I think the walkthroughs are much more powerful than the conversation. So that's the part of the next step. Township meetings, uh any other organizations that meet, if you have people you think I should meet with or organizations, just please let me know and I will work on that because the goal is to come to you in January with a potential um recommendation for a bond issue. Trying to think anything else in the bond meeting. We did look at the technology piece this time. So we have that part of the coin in. So theoretically, one of the priorities is to change all the projectors in the classrooms. If you've been in the classrooms, they're pretty pretty light. You have to have the lights off to see them. Um we did hear at the donuts
042and Bo had happened to be there with me that some of the document cameras might need to be replaced and Jim said they do have document cameras on the priority list. So the Wi-Fi as well, update updating the entire Wi-Fi because we've heard that here at the board as well. I think that's it. Um, so instead of having a steering committee meeting, we're going to be meeting at Sonoma Elementary and 115. That is going to be the steering committee meeting at Sonoma next time. >> I think it's been really good. Uh, as as we've done the first two donuts, like just as a small thing, we heard that there's a classroom in Beetle that doesn't have a toilet, right? >> Yes. And so I don't know that that was on anybody's radar necessarily and that
043makes that classroom maybe not usable like others. And so I was impressed that some of the little small things that got flushed out that maybe even the um construction manager and architect um are not seen. So >> one small one small one. So our press box right now we don't have open windows that open and what that means is we cannot host a band festival like a marching band festival. So if we just simply put in windows that open we can host and that would make some sense and it would show off our district more. So small things like that that don't cost very much that we could do really get people behind the effort. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh summer tax levy resolution. Yeah, this is an annual thing. We do summer tax collection.
044Um the board has to act to do a summer tax collection. And so when we act and Ginger will notify the townships that we would like to do that for next year. Um and what that does for us is it by collecting the money we don't have to borrow to get through September. We don't get paid a school aid payment in September. And so if we have enough money we don't have to borrow, we're saving money for the district. So nobrainer in my mind. All right, let's move on to school choice second semester. >> We can as a board open up school choice second semester. Um I don't believe it's worth it. And my reasoning is when it was open, we would get five to 10 students that would apply. And so and I I
045said it will. So the the teacher group, it's a little bit anxious to say, well, why are you adding more kids? Are you just worried about the money coming in? And by getting only just a few kids, it doesn't necessarily help the budget that much. We can only get I think it's 25% based on the formula is for the spring count. So, it doesn't make a lot of sense for us to open it up for the spring. I think we just continue on with what we're doing, which is summer um uh school choice. Um but the board could move forward with doing it. If we did it, we would target just the classrooms that had space. My only question, Rob, is um do we know what our our fellow districts around Battle Creek do? >>
046Um, you know, I I don't I don't think they're open because I don't I haven't seen those advertisements, but I I could check to see. >> My only worries is it that we're going net negative every time and they're accepting students and then keeping them for the next >> coming year. But I I don't see a problem with with a recommendation. One thing that we will share with you, um, so our people accounting person, Michelle Burkart, she gets the information about where kids go. So I want to make sure when when that information comes out typically in December, you can see where our kids are going and what kids are coming to Harbor Creek, that whole school choice map. We typically receive about 800 students, but we typically have 500 students that go elsewhere. So
047it's about a net 300 in difference in population. All right. Uh programming. >> All right. So, we talked about AP testing at the last uh meeting. Uh some information about AP testing. So, um currently we're paying half of the kids that pass the test. That's our current situation. Um schools that do not do not uh uh I'm sorry, schools that charge parents 100%. Coldwater, Northwest, and Jackson, Marshall, and Athens charge 100% for AB testing. Battle Creek, Penfield, Union City pay for the entire test. So, that's kind of the mixed bag of what we have. And I don't have it on here next item, but my recommendation is that we pay 50%. Now, right now, we're doing 50% of those that pass. I think we should just go to 50%. The hit to the budget is
048just a couple thousand dollars. It's not like it's a huge hit. And then Ginger's department doesn't have to go through the reimbursement process. So currently parents pay 100% and they get reimbured 50%. So we send a check out to parents. Uh I think that would be that time savings would be helpful and it would be a nice gesture in the right direction. Jen's looking at me. She's saying it's just for this year if we did it. >> Well, no, I'm just saying it's not just our department, the counselors, the secretaries that. So it is a time saver. I didn't want to say it was only because of >> I thought you were going to tell me this year only. Well, >> it's a year-to-year case. >> No, I I was just trying to say that
049there's a lot more hands in it than >> And I speak in estimations. We currently have a $4,000 budget item for this. It would make it a $6,000 budget. It's not like it's a giant >> right >> now. If the board says, "No, we want to pay for all of it. We're going to pay the 12 to 14,000." >> All right. So be it. >> So would this uh potentially knowing that we're paying 50% upfront no matter what, is this going to grow our number of kids that are taking it then? And that might increase the number as well. >> Um, most of the kids take it. >> Okay. Most of the kids take it. >> Yes. There's not that many that don't take it. We do have a I'll call it scholarship program for
050kids that can't afford it based on free or reduced lunch. So that that will stay in place. So some kids are definitely fully paid. >> Okay. >> Oh, other programming ideas. Um, I'm kicking the idea about adding or adding back a middle school athletic director. And reason being, it's not because athletics are just so important. We need this. We we used to have it. We cut it in about 2013, but we're finding we're having some issues because we have a lot of off staff coaches and they need support. And you know, our high school athletic director is in charge of middle school sports, but unfortunately because of location, um, she's unable to meet with or see these people on a daily basis. I think it's critically important. Um, when I was just having a brief
051discussion with with Bo about this and Barry a little bit also, we thought, okay, what if we did a 58 athletic director and had them oversee the um some of the youth sports, try to help with those programs as well. And so that was something I know that that Bo and Barry felt very strongly about. And so I'm going to continue to tease this out and more than likely come with a recommendation if the budget fits. Now, this would be a fairly part-time position. This is not a full-time, you know, full salaried administrator. This would be a really part-time position. Um, but with the expectation of growing the program so that, you know, we feel really proud about how our athletics are doing in the high school and how it's managed, we want to do
052the same with the with the middle school and feel good about that. >> Create more continuity. >> Yeah. >> And accountability by all. >> I I think it's a good idea. It's just a matter of can we afford it and can we can we afford it moving forward. Uh other things that were just being thrown out. Uh esports. I I did bring this to the board a couple years ago. It's it is becoming something that's implemented in most districts. Esports is when kids are playing video games, but the video games are approved and they do it as a team sport. Um and it's actually pretty cool if you go and actually watch it. It sounds different, but it really does work for a certain population of kids that would never be involved with anything else.
053So, last time I brought it to the table, it was about a $10,000 onetime expense and then maybe a 4,000 ongoing expense. So, again, I want to bring that as an idea right now, but maybe tease that out as we move forward. And then the last thing, programming. I did go to Chattanooga uh with the Ford Blue Oval folks, uh me, myself, as well as all of the schools in the area. So, us, Penfield, Marshall, Battle Creek Public, and Lake View. and they have Blue Oval is going to give us a grant um to build what they call a fab lab, a fabrication lab. And what that would look like is a project-based learning um environment where kids would do projects. This is only for high school. Um you may read in the paper that
054Marshall's doing K8 also, but that was with a different grant that they received. But we would look at high school and implementing this and they would pay for all of the equipment that would go in the lab. 3D printers, laser printers or not laser, laser engravers and cutters. Um trying to think of all the other thing, vinyl cutters, some woodworking tools, but we can connect it to our our current woodworking. So we wouldn't need all those tools, but generally making projects and I guess I I'm going to describe it just a little bit. I end up taking a little bit of time, but typically when your kids have made and think about your own kids, they make a project for school, they do it at home, they bring it in, they're done. It's like a
055one one and done. This is supposed to be you make a project or actually you make a prototype, you continue to improve the prototype, you put that prototype into design software, you cut out, you make the you make it using these machine tools, and then you have a final product. So it's it's what what you really do in the real world. You work for a company, you actually have to go through a process. It's not a do it and done. It's a do it, improve on, improve, improve, improve. And typically these were nineweek to to nineweek to semester long projects. One project per student. >> Is it a so it's a class offering? >> It it could be it could be one of two ways and I think I think a hybrid of these would
056so if you think about it as an as a elective class >> where students would go in and do projects. That's one way to think about it. The other way is students are in English class. They're reading a book and they do a project based on that book. So it's incorporated into the lessons they're doing. I think to start with it would have to be an elective and then have an hour or two of the day where that teacher is working with core content teachers doing projects. And I think eventually it would be the teacher doing core content projects or projects with core content teachers full-time. That's how I think it would morph into where we went. Chattanooga they had a school that was completely project- based learning a high school and it was connected
057with Chattanooga State University. So when the kids were 11th and 12th grade, they were on a college schedule. So like their English class was a college English class, not a high school class. It was set up that way. You know, at college, you get what? Two hours twice a week as a class. And they it was all on projects. It was interesting. I don't think I'm going to be quite that >> quite that jump yet. But at this point, it is good that Blue Oval it it's about a 70 to $80,000 grant. So, pretty significant. And it would set us up. We have to find a location in the school and then they'll come in and give us two and a half years of professional development to put it in. >> But they do want
058to have it in place by next fall. >> Where are we going to put it? >> Well, I I don't want to say out loud because I could say it's going to be in this room for sure. I want to at least have the staff give me input. I have ideas. >> Okay. >> I have one pretty good idea. Uh, but I have ideas, but I don't want to stomp on people and say, "Oh, I'm g lose my classroom. What are you gonna do? >> You already made the decision." >> Yeah. >> But yes, I I think we'll we find a We took a There was a myself, uh, the principal, high school principal, and a teacher went and then I know the teacher was very very excited about the program once they saw. >>
059I have one more question. Sorry. >> Um, for the esport, would it be a club like robotics or would it be like a sport like All of our middle? No. So, are all of our girls sports clubs? >> No. We our seventh and eighth grade are typically sports that we sponsor typically. And I know that's football's a little different because that's lacrosse. >> Um, >> I I would say it would be set up more like a club that we would do like um let me think what what would be a good example? >> Building. >> What's that? >> The bridge building club. >> Bridge building. So we pay the bridge building coach a >> maybe like a quick >> after school probably >> um all right um and move on to if there's no more
060questions move on to action item A summer tax levy resolution madam secretary >> chair calls for the following resolution to be presented whereas the board desires to request that each city and or township in which the district is located agree to collect the summer tax levy of 100% of annual school property taxes including debt services upon property located within the district for 2026. Now therefore, be it resolved that the superintendent or designate is authorized and directed to forward the governing body of each city and/or township in the which the district is located a copy of this board's resolution requesting that each such city andor township agreed to collect the summer tax levy of 100% of annual school property taxes, including debt services, upon property located within the district for 2026. The superintendent or designate is
061authorized and directed to ne negotiate on behalf of the district with the governing body of each city and or township in which the district is located for the reasonable expenses for collection of the district summer tax levy that the city andor township may bill under the revised school code. Any such proposed agreement shall be brought before this board for its approval or disapproval. All resolutions and parts of resolutions in so far as they conflict with the provisions of this resolution are rescended. >> Moved moved and supported. Do we have discussion? >> Hearing see none, please call the role. Roll. >> Mr. Hverson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Risner, >> yes. >> Mrs. Wat, >> yes. >> Mrs. Alward, I vote yes. Mrs. Wallace, >> yes. >> Mr. Smith, >> yes. >> Mr. Bess, >> and I
062vote yes. Thank you. >> All right. Action item B, School of Choice, second semester. >> Chair calls for a motion to the Harper Creek Board of Education decline participation in schools of choice section 105 for the second semester of the 2025 2026 school year. >> So moved. >> Been moved and supported. Do we have discussion? >> Hearing seeing none, please call the RO. >> Mr. Herson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Risner, >> yes. >> Mrs. Wat, >> yes. >> Mrs. Alward. I vote yes. Mrs. Wallace, >> yes. >> Mr. Smith, >> yes. >> And Mr. Best, >> I vote yes. >> Motion carries 70. >> All right. Thank you for that. Action item C 202425 audit approval. >> Chair calls for a motion that the Herp Creek Board of Education approve the 2024 2025 audit completed
063and presented by the auditing firm of Willis and Jur Juriss. >> Thank you. as discussed and reviewed. >> So move. It's been moved and supported. Do we have discussion? And see none, please call the role. >> Mr. Hverson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Risner, >> yes. >> Mrs. Wat, >> yes. >> Mrs. Alward, I vote yes. Mrs. Wallace, >> yes. >> Mr. Smith, >> yes. >> And Mr. Bess. >> I vote yes. >> Motion carries 70. All >> right. Thank you for that. I did not see a second public comment on the um on the agenda. So I just want to give anybody a chance to make a second comment if they wanted to. I see none. We'll move on to items for the next meeting. I think we might have a little discussion there. >>
064Yeah, I think we would be interested in having a discussion or policy that they related to repeat offenses of behavioral issues. >> Okay. Um uh and I'll open up to any of the board or Mr. Rididgeway. Are we thinking through the policy committee first? >> Probably a good place to start. >> I think it'd be a review of what the policy actually states and I think it would be open for a discussion of you know are there amendments or clarifications that might be needed. >> Okay. So, um, any idea on what you think those might look like? Just curious. >> Um, just interested to understand like how we treat repeat offenses. >> Okay. >> And then >> follow up somewhat to a to a point. >> Yeah. And then um in the uh in the
065event that we have an expulsion, how are we treating that as far as repeat offenses after expulsion? >> Okay. I don't know if there's any otherbody's interested in this is very talked about and supported the painting of that mural for the theater. I remember like when that was going to start or did it >> did start. >> We just asked for an update when it was done, right? >> Did we? >> I don't know. >> Okay. If so, Yeah, I'll get your picture. >> Okay, there's a picture of the news this week. >> Well, thank you Carla for letting me know that. And I think there was a little discussion again around um uh student discipline meetings and uh how I think uh we can talk uh at some point in the future and how
066those are run. With that being said, um, does anybody else have anything they want to contribute right now for the next meeting? If not, we will adjourn at 7:20 p.m. Good night.