001Everyone, we'll call ourselves to order. If you join me in a moment of silence to the flag of the United States of America and to theublic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. Please be seated. >> We will call our role. Dr. O'Neal, >> present. >> Mr. Heater, >> present. >> Mrs. Barnes Griffin, >> present. >> Dr. Washurn, >> present. >> Uh, Mr. Urban, >> present. >> Mr. Low, >> present. >> Okay, wonderful. Uh, we have everybody here. Dr. Rel, your report? >> Yes. Uh, just a few things. I'm going to yield most of my time to uh to Miss Ward today, but um I do want to recognize a few folks and um send some accolades out to some of our students. Um
002Solen Ensemble, I think Mr. Grim mentioned that last last uh month for me or earlier this month for me about our state soleno ensemble kids. Had lots of students make it to the state competition for choir and band. Choir was last weekend and had some wonderful showing. had a wonderful showing there. Um, and the instrumental kids go this weekend. Um, they go down to North Central in Indianapolis and and get the chance to perform at the state meet there. Uh, we're beginning to to wrap up all of our winter sports from from elementary through high school. Um, boys sectional draw was this weekend. We play on Tuesday at Greenfield Central at six o'clock versus Richmond. That's a that um that's a good game. I think one that I know coach and the kids would like
003to get back. We let slip through our fingers in Richmond. So, that'll be a that'll be a fun game to to check out. Um our elementary I I look up and see a a former elementary star sitting there. Right. That uh we we have our girls basketball um final game. Is that right? Its final game is tomorrow night at the fieldhouse at >> 345. >> 3:45. So >> um another exciting game, Longfellow EWA battling it out and I think that will wrap up our elementary sports. We're in a final week or so of our middle school sports. Um but certainly one of our capstones from our uh winter sports season is Gavin Cook, a swimmer, uh boy swimmer at Muny Central, who qualified for the state meet in the um 50 and 100 free. He'll
004be heading down to the IU Indie Natiatorum to swim at the um state final at the state finals meet which begins on Friday um at 6:00. Uh so he'll be traveling down to participate and if I recall if I looked at the schedule he's pretty early. >> I think they have I think they they maybe start with the 550 free with the 50 free and then then a few races later we'll do the 100 free. So, wish him the best of luck and certainly very proud of all of his accomplishments. Um, I read three, we're we're doing our practice test this week in our elementary schools and I um going to get out to some schools tomorrow and Thursday and Friday, but uh they're doing their practice test this week and they um start the
005test next week. So, I I know that that's a high stress situation for our principles and our teachers and certainly our students. in second and third grade and um appreciate all the work that everyone has put into that and um certainly wish everyone the best of luck on that assessment next week. And then finally, I want I want to ask if Miss Ward would come up and share some of the some of the happenings. I see a special guest in the back, too, an award-winning special guest. Um if if Rhonda would introduce uh and walk us through some of those accolades. >> All right. Thank you, Dr. Reynolds. And good evening, President Williams, members of the board. Thank you so much for giving me a couple minutes to showcase some special students. And earlier this
006month, we had the Black History Month kickoff at Vinister Cultural Center. And one of the events at that um kickoff is the Black History Month essay contest. And um M Community Schools participates in that event every year. And this year we had some winners. And before I bring up the high school winner, I would like to acknowledge um two other winners from the other divisions. In the elementary um division, we had a fourth grader by the name of Nariah Osborne. She's from Longfellow. And then she got second place. And then um the middle school division, we had a second place winner in the person of Gianna Williams. She is a seventh grader at North Side Middle School. So we are very, very proud of those two students as well. And I'm extremely happy that MCS
007um was able to place in both those divisions. And now I would like to bring up a sophomore from Muny Central who won um the essay contest for the high school division. And there's something special about her that I will let her tell herself because I'm sure she will not have a problem with that. So at this time, I invite to the podium Michaela Gibson. Hi guys. >> Um, okay. So, my essay is titled Be a Hero Like Hrix. I needed a hero, so I became one. Audrey Feay Hendris. Audrey Feay Hendris may have been just 9 years old when she made history. Her courage and determination continues to inspire me. Hendrick was the youngest known child arrested during the civil rights movement, but she doesn't deserve to be categorized as just another activist or
008just another person. Audrey was the hero she needed. Showing herself in the world that bravery and conviction have no age limit. Her history reminds us that standing up for what is right often requires strength, sacrifice, and faith in the power of change. Born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1952, A grew up in a city deeply divided by racial segregation. She was the daughter of an active civil rights advocate who worked closely with leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Reverend Fred Shadowworth. Surrounded by individuals fighting for freedom and equality, Audrey learned about the importance of justice and fairness. When she heard about the children's march and organized protest in May 1963 that encouraged young participants, she was determined to make her voice heard. She even told her mother at 9 years old, "I would
009rather go to jail than walk around in a world where I wasn't seen as human in a white supremacist society." Fighting this in a white supremacist society. By fighting a battle for civil rights, she truly became the hero and the hero that so many needed to become that hero. On May 2nd, 1963, Audrey marched out of her school and joined hundreds of her children demanding to end segregation in Birmingham. She carried only a toothbrush and a sandwich knowing she might go to jail. But her bravery was exemplified when she was arrested and sent to jail for a full week. Imagine being only 9 years old, separated from your family, somewhere unknown. Anyways, her bravery was exemplified in so many different ways. This is why we don't categorize her as just another activist. Yet, Audrey never
010gave up or regretted any decisions that was made. Her small but powerful act of courage contributed to a massive movement that would end legal segregation in the United States. When I hear the name Audrey Fe Hendris, I think about determination, courage, grit, metal, backbone, spirit, and strength. Audrey makes me want to fight for what is right, even if the fight is little. Audrey makes me want to stand up to anybody who has ever been intimidated or made feel small as a person. She inspires me to be different and go against the grain. She was willing to never be free again rather than live bound by invisible shackles that held her back from being unapologetically authentic. She wanted to be free, so she fought to be free. She fought to be treated like a person. And
011it's sad that at just 9 years old, she put her life on the line to do so. This is what inspires me most about Audrey Fay Hendris. Her never- ending determination and fight. Even after she grew up, she still made it a mission for equality. Audrey's story teaches us that age should never limit our ability to make a difference. She reminds people that we have power to speak up, to take action, and to shape a better world. Her willingness to whisk her freedom for justice serves as a shining example of determination and hope. Even today, when young activists stand up against inequality, environmental destruction or injustice, they walk in the footsteps of brave children like Audrey Fay Hendris. She is an inspiration because she proved that courage can come from even the smallest voices. Her
012actions during the civil right movement helped her change history and inspired others to believe that justice is worth fighting for, no matter your age. Every person should aspire to be like Audrey Fa Hendris. She once said, "Never let anyone write the music to your own song. Listen to these words and never be scared to stand up for what you believe in. Michaela, >> why I won last year? >> Oh, yeah, guys. I won last year, too. >> Back again. >> Your goal. Your goal for next year is to >> Yes. Well, right now we got our fingers crossed on integrity. I did submit a essay for the integrity one, so we gonna see how we doing on that. But next year, definitely three years in a row. >> I love it. >> So, Michaela, you're
013a sophomore. >> Yes. >> What are your plans? >> Um, at the moment, I've signed up for the MAC. I'm going to the MAC next year for CNA. I'm going to um get my CNA license, finish out high school, have two more years left, some simple half days, and then I'm not sure if I want to do my CCMA yet. I wasn't thinking about it. I was thinking about just working as a CNA my senior year, then go to Ball State using my 21st century scholarship. >> That's right. >> To um pursue nursing. I wanted to go into nursing. I want to become a registered nurse. And I don't know where I want to take with it. I just know I don't want to stay here. So, I don't know where I'm going to go,
014but I'm going to go somewhere. It's going to be big. It's going to be beautiful. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Well, you uh you really are you're a gifted writer. >> Thank you. you you have a great pacing and your vocabulary is rich. Don't don't leave the writing behind. >> I'm not. >> Okay. And uh just you know what um Audrey Frey Hendricks did for a living? >> What? >> She was a teacher. Of course she was. >> What's that? >> Of course she was. >> Yeah, she was a teacher. So, and I think you'd be a wonderful teacher, too, if it's nursing or anything else. >> So, thank you for really just blessing us tonight. Anybody else have any great questions? >> You're welcome. >> I have a comment. So, she she uh
015>> Hey, how are you? So, she when she did her um essay at the minute at the Black History Month um event, she of course they get Northwest Bank provides them with the financial uh prizes. So, she got a check and she was like, "Well, I got one last year, too." And and it they wouldn't cash it. And I was like, >> "Mr. Reed Levitz, let's talk." Right. And it was mostly just because of some miscommunication, but uh just not only does she write well and talk about advocacy like she is an advocate advocates for herself. So, yeah. Great. >> Where my $100? >> She's like, "I need my money." >> Did you ever get last year's cash? Yes, please. >> Okay. Cuz if not, come see me and I'll represent you. >> Until it
016actually finally came, which took like months. >> Okay. >> So, your mom fronted it and then you got and then >> Okay. Well, you've just you've made this meeting so much brighter for all of us. >> Oh my god, they have. >> Thank you. Thank you again. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. Have a good day, guys. >> You too. Okay, President Williams, we also have another special um event and that was the Black History Month decorating contest. >> Yes. >> And we have some winners here from Mr. Allan Kids Japanese class and they won the overall division. As you all may or may not know, but we have judges and the judges are community leaders. Um, we have some district admin that help us out and they go around. Um, we have a rubric.
017They go around and they judge each building. And so we pick a building winner and then we look at all of the displays. We put them together and we try to come up with an overall district winner. And so this year, Mr. Alan Kidd and his students um, they won for the overall winner for the contest. And >> what did they do? >> I will let them tell you all that. >> We didn't get the video, the picture. >> Oh, darn it. >> No one wants to talk. It's okay. >> Well, um Okay. Uh well first first of all uh Della Summers and Somay Oan were two of our many members. I think we had 25 uh students that contributed to uh the display and uh um you know I thought it was very important
018to participate in this and and the students just like wanted to add did a lot of extra things. I said, you know, just why don't you just make us and and we since a Japanese class, we try to make sure we're still practicing Japanese, so make things uh bilingual. It's we got to practice our characters anyway, so why not uh kill two birds one stone and be participating in Black History Month at the same time? And so, but uh they I said make a sign that says Africa. One of the things we had was uh different different things about African animals. Uh the Nile River uh uh we had some currency um some of the things on the different countries of Africa and what was portrayed on the currency and see the great rift valley.
019What else did but but I asked make make a nice map. Make a just make a sign that says what we're doing and it could have been done one minute and and she brought it home and made a beautiful uh How long did it take you to make that? >> But be a great artist. Uh please come back and and see. Uh she had stuff there last year. I know she'll have stuff there this year for our the field house. What is it called? >> City. The city. Yeah, the art the art show in the fieldhouse. >> That's great stuff. >> Got you on the spot. >> Somaya here made some really nice things for Nile River and did a lot of extra extra stuff that were really nice characters and and they're also members
020of recycling club. So >> So both of you love art? >> Yes. Is that I I'm sorry I couldn't hear. >> Yeah. >> So, would you rather speak through your art than through the microphone? >> Okay. >> That was an easy answer. >> They're actually quite quite talkative. >> Not Not in a bad way. >> Well, we will we will try and make it over to see it. Um >> I'll leave it up. >> Yeah. And tell me where your room is. 444 right up the stairway from the cafeteria world language and I'll certainly leave it up. It's a good opportunity for kids. I take my first year students out there just have to do some reading practice with the new with the characters they learn in first year and and >> cool >> but
021they just did a lot of students just took the initiative and made it a lot more than than uh >> so you've got 25 students in your class. 25 students that participate. Yeah. In two and we have a split we have split section but >> and what did you get for winning this this contest? >> Oh, I was Okay. So, I was going to offer to provide pizza. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> So, so you get pizza this Friday. >> Um >> Okay. >> It's a delight being with these students every day. Is there anything to be said for doing something like we do at Christmas and making some cards >> off the winning door? >> Good idea. Like that. >> Yeah. Why don't >> a picture? >> Yeah. Why don't we >> Yeah,
022I love that. >> We can include it in something that goes out. >> That's cool. >> I love that. >> Yeah, that'll that'll make you guys uh copyrighted, so you want to sign it at the bottom. >> Yeah. I'd like to thank the family members for coming out today, too. >> Thank you both. And enjoy your pizza Friday. >> What kind of pizza we getting? >> Do you guys want pizza king or Papa John's or which is it? >> This is a mistle. >> The most expensive is Pizza King, so I'd go for Pizza King. like >> pizza. >> I don't like pizza. >> If you don't like pizza, we need to have an alternative for pizza. >> So, donuts. Donuts are healthy. >> Okay. Well, thank you for joining us this evening. >> You
023good? Um any more events? Uh >> Rhonda? >> Yes. >> And long long fellow has a program? >> Friday. Friday night. >> So where's the immatil exhibition and when are we taking >> it's okay. So and uh students are going over >> in March because Joshua is coming back. >> Okay. >> Um where are we on um HB.CU visits? >> Need money or >> Okay. That was Purdue and Europe outside. >> But aren't you having the HB.CU event on at the YW onch. >> Okay. would be great. And so I had alumni comes able to ask questions. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> And there's also the Ball State and MLK Dream Team. They have the journey to freedom exhibit kind of rolling through community. I I think it's with us at
024the YW and our community room through the 26th and then it's shift IvyTech. So there are some things happening. We'll >> we'll send you some >> send me a note on the the event and sponsorship opportunities. Okay. >> Thank you. >> East Washington Academy, you're up. >> Well, I got to do the judging at EWA and I had a blast being there. I interrupted every class. >> And you know what? >> Literally, >> we actually had a great participation. And shout out to Carrie Bradford. Yes. >> She's our building's winner. >> Yes. >> So, shout out to Carrie, one of our resource teachers. So, >> great. >> Yeah. Thanks, Tasha. >> And good evening. Thank you, President Williams and the school board for having myself. I'm so proud to be the principal at East Washington
025Academy. I also have Tori Hernandez here, our assistant principal. She's going to be presenting tonight as well. She's extremely excited about doing that. I also have uh some representatives from Kids Hope with us this evening. A wonderful program that we have partnered with for many, many years at EWA, Denise and Merl. I'm going to invite them up here in a few minutes to explain our unique partnership at East Washington Academy and what they do for our kids. Um school goals. We'll just start here. Um obviously I read three, Dr. Dr. Reynolds said it earlier, that is on our minds all year long, especially within the next two weeks. I know Heidi, our director of elementary education, it's on her mind right now. So, we're all kind of singularly looking toward uh this week with our
026practice test, which is tomorrow. And then next week, round one begins. That's going to be Tuesday of next week. And boy, our teachers are excited. They're more excited. I know that they're stressed, but I think that from hearing them talk, working with them, being with him every day, I mean, Tori, you can agree with this, I'm sure, but they're excited. They want to see the results. They want to see the growth. They want to see that our kids can read proficiently. So, our goal by the end of the school year, by the time we've had the admin, all administrations of I read to have 90% of our students pass I read 3. Um, I'll show you here in a minute, but we've had a steady progression throughout the last three years of improvement in reading
027rates at EWA. Last year, we ended at 82 82.5 something like that, and we think we can get up there to 90%. We hope 95% is just the norm. It's just what we do every year. That that's our goal. Attendance, uh, 94%, we are still really pushing hard for that. Um, that's a buildingwide effort and that's something that we've built capacities within everybody to monitor and take charge of. We don't just have one person that sits is dedicated to attendance all day. You should see the emails from teachers. I haven't seen so and so in two days. Can we follow up with this? I mean, Clyde Harris, our student assistance coordinator, leads a lot of that effort as well, but it takes a team effort this year. I mean, we're we're on track where we
028want to be. We're already point higher this time of year than we were last year. let's uh survive the flu season and I think we'll be able to hit that goal 94% for the first time in many many years. Uh obviously our behavior goals up there uh for you to see. We just want to reduce out of school suspensions and this year we really wanted to focus in our special education population and reducing the amount of times that those kids are being sent home. We all know that when they're at home they're not learning so we want to keep them in the building. Um can we go ahead and scroll next page? Uh this is just raw attendance data, just total absences so far this year. Obviously, we're over halfway through the school year and
029our trend again is looking positive for our building. Um anything to add to that? >> No. Okay. U deep dive into student support. I'm going to let Tori take this for a minute. >> Good evening. So, I'm just going to talk a little bit about the support team at EWA. Uh I work really closely with them. And so looking at our special education OSS, like Mr. Shroyer had said, that is something that we're trying to decrease this year. So looking from February of last year to February of this year, we do have a decrease in the amount of times we've suspended um incident wise. Um but we have narrowed it down to just a few kids now. So we've been pretty intentional with the sped department and our resource teachers. I have to give them
030a huge shout out. they are really trying to put um behavior incentives and behavior initiatives in place with their students and that partnership between them and myself and our behavior coach has been really positive this year. Uh something that we have implemented this year is upon the kids returning to school from an OSS, we're doing re-entry conferences. Obviously, not every parent or family member can come to the building for the conference, but I at least have a phone call with them before the kid can return. If it's coming back from a multi- like they've been suspended before and they've been sus, this is their second suspension, I bring Mr. Collins in, our behavior coach, and we put some type of plan in place. So whether it's just an informal behavior plan that the teacher, the
031parents, the guardians and students are all a part of or if we need to look at like an FBA or something with our special ed department or Abigail Dale. Um that has been really positive. Parents, I know they get frustrated when we call and we're sending kids home, but they really do appreciate that we're trying to help. We don't want to send your kid home. Uh so we want to bridge that gap between the home and school and do whatever we can. And what I found with our reantry conferences is some parents just don't know the supports that are out there. Uh Meridian has been a huge uh blessing to EWA because they've helped us a lot with getting connections to families. And once those families have those connections, I mean Meridian's coming into our
032school and doing assessments at our school. Um the skill builders, we have two this year. Um so I just until the families know more, they can't do more. So I feel like that's our job as a support team to make sure we're pushing out all those resources to them. Uh myself and the behavior coach, like I said, we work really closely together to ensure that we don't wait until the last minute to where okay, we're calling on our bed department and our school psychologist. we're putting multiple plans in place before then. So then we can at the end if what we're doing isn't working, we can go to those people and say, "Hey, this is what we've tried on our end and now we've exhausted all of our resources. How can you help us or
033what are you know what are we missing?" Uh something that we do at EWA for PBIS is we have our four houses. So all of our kids are divided up into houses. Everybody's a part of a house. at the house of compassion, integrity, perseverance, and courage. Um, each week our student council team has taken on they draw do all of our weekly drawings. So, kids earn Wildcat cards throughout the week from teachers, other staff members, and they all go into a drawing. They get to pick from the book vending machine. We have prizes down in our supply room that we raffle off, and it's just five random kids in our building. they don't know who it's going to be. So, we shout out right now compassion is our theme and that's the role that we're
034looking for kids to take on when they're in our building. So, that's what they're earning the wildcat cards for currently. And then we have monthly house meetings. So, we had our house meeting today. Uh we brought in therapy dogs from ARF. They came in and they taught on the skill the core value of compassion. Kids really loved it. They had such a great time. It's just a time for grade levels to be integrated. So it's kindergarten, first, second, third, fourth, and fifth. They all are part of a different house. So it's not like all of second grades with second grade. So those fifth graders are getting a chance to, you know, be that leader for our kindergarteners. And during the house meeting, it's just to reiterate those core values and take some time to really
035teach those Just a quick comment about our support staff. I I don't think you can find a better team around. I just don't think you will. From our assistant principal to student assistance coordinator, family navigator, school counselor, behavior coach, etc. You're just not going to find a better crew. And the way that they work together is so inspiring. We just have a unified feeling in our building. and you can come and see that product and you can really know that we're on the same page. We want kids to be successful. Thank you, Tori. Uh team meetings. This is something new this year that we that we have implemented to drive academic growth. So the kind of flowchart in the previous years where we would just have a PLC or professional learning community meeting every week
036just because um we have been more intentional about that this year. So the way this works is our our teachers will progress monitor once a month those students uh that are either in in intervention or that are bubble kids or that are you know in need of continual follow-up. Those teachers will meet as a team meeting with one team leader a data team data leader and um they have some items to discuss. They send that to our master teacher who then plans our PLC. So, the comment I've gotten most often from teachers this year about this is, "Plc's really matter to me. PLC's are really useful to me. I feel like PLC's are tailored to what I need to improve upon." And that's because that's the way they're designed. So, if you were to come
037and sit in our PLC's on a Wednesday, you would actually every group will be different because every group needs something a little bit different. So, we're really really excited about that. Um I won't take you through every aspect of this but um we have a clear and established flow that we have teams that meet together as a grade level. They um assess and look at each other's data, provide feedback to each other, ask questions, and then they bring that information to a PLC where I'm present and our master teachers present and we can dive really deep. And every time those teachers leave with resources and materials, that matters. It matters because those teachers are now equipped to improve their instruction in classrooms every day. Um, a a big area of focus for us this year
038at EWA in terms of instruction is our tier one instruction. If you could go to the next slide. Thank you. I do like it better without the clicker. No more pressure, you know. Um so literacy support this year I do feel like it is um just the backbone of that is that process I just talked about. So tier one instruction when teachers are there with their students the whole class together what does that look like? We want that to be of the highest quality all the latest research says that is where you catch up learners that are behind is in that tier one all together setting that's coming out of the literacy cadre. We hear it again and again. So we want to make sure that that is right. So u in tier one, if
039you were to come in during literacy block, you would see CLA knowledge happening. You all know CKLA by now. You've heard about it for several years now. But it's an interdisciplinary literacy uh curriculum and you will also see CKLA skills being taught as well, especially kindergarten through 2 grade. Um, we have a lot of ways that we're supporting teachers with literacy instruction this year. U, I have a a long list over here on the left hand side, but that's that's not an exhaustive list. Um, and just for your reference again, I read three outcomes the past three years from 23 68% to 25 82 and a half%. So, we're growing, we're getting better. our kids are reading at a better rate year after year after year. So, and we're going to continue that trend this
040year starting next week. Uh the only thing to point other thing to point out with literacy is we've you know I know Brad it's Brad's favorite uh topic of discussion about the budget and that type of thing, but I will say that we're getting creative. So, we're leveraging our relationships with uh outside partners. Um, a lot of tutoring, a lot of teachers coming in from Ball State. That's not an outside partner, that's very much an inside partner, but Ball State practicum students coming in, uh, Ball State student teachers, uh, Ivy Academy students, uh, Muny Central High School students, just had another student from Schaefer Leadership Academy ask if they can come in and and tutor. Yeah. Yeah, you can come in and tutor. So, we're are getting creative on that front because we we know
041we have to. So, we're preparing that. EWA, you can ask Tori. It's a revolving door these days of people coming in and out volunteering to contribute to our effort to improve literacy outcomes. Okay. Um, so I guess they they I didn't realize how redundant it would be to put a picture of my own self on this slide, but here here we are. That's actually a thumbnail from one of our YouTube videos that I communicate with with our families. Every week, uh, Tori generates a newsletter. I generate a video so there's something for everybody. If you don't want to read through the whole newsletter, well then you can click on the video and there's a 40 to 50 second video of what's happening every week in our school. Sometimes we have kids on there uh with
042the video with parent permission and stuff. But um you see the Wildcat Weekly. So the way we communicate with families, the way that we bring community members in is topnotch at our school. Um obviously Kids Hope's at the top of that list for us this evening. U but you you can see the list. There's a lot going on in our school and a lot of ways that we have the community in our building. If you could go to that last slide for me. And so beginning of the year I my premier video to start the year that I sent out to all of our community and when we had our town hall meeting where I invited all parents to join us in August and continue to preach about it throughout the school year is for
043we want your student to get involved. You know, you hear that a lot in the middle school and high school in the secondary level. We don't hear it as much in the elementary setting, but you do at our school. So, getting involved in something we know improves learning outcomes. We know it proves improves attendance, just improves investment from students and families. If you have, you know, theater practice after school, your kid wants to be there, they're in third grade, they're going to show up. I mean, it's just part of what drives a healthy school. And just last spring, EWE, we won an award from I'm really proud of this. Won an award from the from Marian. Yeah. City Connects program for offering the most uh after school and inschool activities um in the City Connects
044program. So this is not an exhaustive list. It's fine print on a presentation, which is one of the things I despise, but I wanted to put as I wanted to put as much on there as I could. Um and you have there's a few pictures there. One on the right is our our drama club. They put on a fantastic production just a month and a half ago or so at Muny Central High School. And and over on the left is a student enjoying Tori was referring to it. Uh every quarter we have a big reward for these students who have been showing compassion or showing courage, showing etc. This was a picture of a uh the ultimate recess. Yes, the ultimate recess. We bring in community people. They come in, they do all kinds of
045stuff with our kids and they spend part of their day with their house celebrating. Um, do you have any questions before we bring our kids hope representatives up here? >> Any questions for Mr. >> Yeah, Jim? >> Boy, that is a that is a great question. I don't want to quote a wrong number but last year we were with total participation in activities we were well over like 1100 so like students participating in something a lot of times those are kids that are doing multiple activities we have you know 528 kids in the building so >> this is K through >> K through five yeah so so just a week ago if you were if you were to have been at Muny Central High School basketball varsity game against Anderson halftime show was the EWA
046dance club that that's unique opportunity and yeah we uh and that's Olivia Osborne. Shout out to her. She organizes that and she brings in I mean how many kids do we have there? >> Oh so many kids and they all had their shirt they came out there all grades. So again, at the beginning of the year, I make the pitch to staff, if you are passionate about something, start something because if you're passionate about it, kids will show up. And it's like, who would have thought we would we would have had 50 kids at Muny Central Fieldhouse, you know, on a Saturday afternoon. >> Yeah. And two year last thing is two years ago I actually had a conversation with a student who was a first grader and said what what would you like to
047do? Well that's only for older kids is what their response was. I thought let's let's try to mix that up. Well, you know we can't do boys and girls basketball per se with that younger group. We have a league that's fourth and fifth grade. So that's what we do. But so we we try to fill that gap in someplace else. Thanks Jim. >> Any other questions? >> Kids hope folks. kids hope. >> Just give you a little bit of background. I was a teacher at East Washington Academy before I was principal and it was uh 2019 2020 and I had a student who uh was in the Kids Hope program and I have kind of followed that student through the years. every once in a while we communicate. This program is one of a kind
048and it it really truly makes a difference. So, I I just I wanted to recognize them tonight and I would love for you to explain in just a few minutes for just a few minutes what what you guys do. >> I'm reduced to only talking to kids. Don't talk to adults. So, we're sorry. >> You're good. and I've got bad allergies and that was a long walk in and I also have a bad back and arthritis to it. So other than that, I'm here. I'm good. We um I started 18 years ago at at uh Garfield and then of course it got closed so got sent to EWA. So that's just fine. But anyway, what we do as our community of our church, we do things. Two, three years ago, we collected 750 breakfast bars.
049So all kids would have breakfast who came late or got hungry during the day, they'd have something else to eat they could ask for. Um this year so far I we got her supplied enough from last year that she hasn't asked for any. But I do special, you know, with all these peanut allergies. Last year I took 250 in and I went through every box read all the labels before I bought them to be sure there wasn't anything of peanut butter. So I know I can tell you what cereal bars you can buy for that. But anyway, we work with the reading. A lot of the kids I've worked with children who have been homeless and parents have been in prison. So they've got different home styles and all and a lot of them don't
050get play with games at home, don't do anything like that. So, the child I have right now, we just play a lot of games and we talk a lot about her situation. She'll say what things are going on here, there, and everything. And uh she is when I first got her, she was not a good reader at all, but I think I'm pretty positive that she's going to pass the I read. >> She's gonna Yeah. >> Oh, yeah. Well, I had a book that with my grandson and I a big book and I thought she loves cats. So, I thought this would be a good get good book to have her read to my husband helps too sometimes. But anyway, and I knew what the book was all about. I mean, I could tell you
051and she read that book and it was long. It took her probably 10 20 minutes to read that book, but that's okay. She went straight through it and I said, "Now, can you tell me what you read?" It was like page for page of what she read almost. So she is good. So anyway, but we do we do a lot play a lot of games and do parties, pizzas for the kids. Try to do pizzas once a month, but since I've got all this issue, I don't do as much in my um activities director. I knew you you probably all know Steve Swunger that taught when he passed. So he did all of our activities. So he'd get all the food and everything. So this year I have it's less than what I'm doing for
052the teachers, but we have a group of women that meet once a week and they um she makes beautiful cards and all and all the members that attend the meetings um they sign them. So every teacher, bus driver, custodian, anybody that works in that school gets one of these cards every month. >> So and so they're going to get two because but we I didn't make it in there in January because of the weather, but anyway. So they'll get two. So we do that for them and try to do support the teachers as much as possible with goodies also. So it'll be soon to do them pizza run. >> So So how many how many people do you have working with you and kids? >> Well, right now we only have four high street United
053Methodist Church. We're all an older congregation and all. So that makes a big difference of you know and they all take off for Florida and and to you know wipes us out and all and your commitment is you have to be there 20 we have to meet with the kids 24 times in a year because that's what Jesus gave 24 hours a day for us and that's what we do for them but we normally are there more times than 24 just depends sometimes we're not rural was out of the country for two weeks weeks and then everybody else was sick. So Kevin let us shut it down which is nice. >> Yeah. Why don't you tell us? >> Yeah. Tell us about what your little dude dude. >> Hi, I'm Merl Mantion. I I realized
054before today when I was thinking about this that I've been a mentor through Kids Hope for 10 years. >> Um and I started before I retired. Now I'm retired and actually still enjoying it quite a lot. But the student that Evan was talking about, we shared because I was that young man's mentor. Uh I started working with him in uh January of 2016. He was in first grade. He did not believe that I would come back because that first meeting was a little bit rough. He really didn't want to do anything. So I said, "Okay, that's fine. We'll just sit here and I will just be with you." And I but I said to him that day, I will be back every Wednesday at 3:00 until you are done in the school through your fifth
055grade. I know he didn't believe me, but I I did come back. >> Still there >> and I'm still there. And actually, he is still a very big part of my life. And I'm I'm proud to say that. I'm very we're very proud of him. Uh when when he was in fifth grade, of course that was pandemic year. Evan was his teacher and our last meeting before everything shut down. He and Evan were shooting hoops in the um gymnasium at EWA. I was taking pictures because I'm a scrapbooker. And my favorite picture, I need to send you this picture. Well, you did. You did, but it's just you and him together. And um I would be remiss if I didn't give a shout out for the teachers at East Washington. I mean, the place is
056wild, wonderful, invigorating, exciting. The teachers there are incredible. all of the ones that I've had a chance to meet and they know all of the kids. How they do that? I mean, I was a professor. I only had to know this small subset of kids. They seem to know all of the children and really care deeply about each child. My child that I'm working with now is so much fun. I've learned about um everything about Spider-Man, everything. and Miles Morales. >> Okay. >> And uh Sonic the Hedgehog and oh, Annie May. >> And I've also had to sharpen my drawing skills because he wants me to draw something every week. Uh now he's in fourth grade. So I only have one more year with him, but it's a lot of fun. Um I've recommended Kids
057Hope to a lot of people. Uh when I was still working, I I I always said, "When I retire, I'm going to do more volunteer work." Denise got up in church and talked about Kids Hope and said, "The commitment is one hour a week." And I said, "Oh, shame on me if as an educator if I don't do that." And I'm so glad that I have and that I'm able to be at East Washington. It's been my privilege. >> Thank you very much. Thank you, Denise and and and Merurl. Any other questions? >> Any other questions? >> Thank you all very much. >> Thank you. Listen, when I was Can I say one thing? I you know, I got one thing always. So listen, when I was there to do the judging, I put my
058at the front office, I put my coat and bag on a a desk in a chair and it was kind of facing the wall and they were like, "Well, that's typically where a kid that might need to come down. We'll sit." And there was another teacher that walked by and it's like, "Today there won't be a kid there, so please feel free. We'll make sure that we keep them in class." So it was just really good to hear her say how they all like work together in that in that building. And you could really feel that and see that when I was in there. So, >> uh, Denise and and Merl, >> I want you to take back to your church in High Street and to others who may be interested. Uh, we are so
059deeply appreciative of what you do. >> Um, and it's so critically important. And as we think about our children, our students succeeding uh particularly in literacy, that contact with you is invaluable. So I just please carry that back and thank you for your ministry and your work uh with our students. It's it's it's been a blessing and I pray that you know our ranks get refilled. So thank you again. school one day. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, we are on to the consent agenda. You have the items in your packet. Any questions, concerns, um, comments on the consent agenda? Hearing none, would entertain a motion. >> So, move. Do I >> hear a second? Second. Moved and seconded. All those in favor signify by I. >> I oppose. Same sign. Okay.
060Mr. Durham, the financial report. >> Thank you. This is your financial report uh for the first month of the calendar year, January. So, obviously 11 more months to go. Uh a couple items just to note uh really is the actual enrollment in February of 2025. The report there it says to be determined. Our actual count u a few days later when we had it all finalized was 4844,844. It was actually down 50 students from the previous count in October. Um we'll find out um within the next uh month or so how that impacts our revenue for March through June on our state basic grant because it will it will go down. The revenue will go down because if your enrollment count goes down, the revenue will go down. So we we um ended the cash
061balance a little over 39.2 million. Um, and as we have mentioned before, uh, that did include still still includes about $9 million of bond proceeds that we received in November. Uh, the state loan outstanding is still 5.7 million because the state forgot to take the January payment, but they remembered in December, so they uh they didn't give us a free one there. Uh, anyway, so uh like I said, that was just the January. 11 more months to go. We're we're good on the cash balance. Uh projecting uh you know ending cash uh a little over uh what 13 million in the education fund. We and then some of my charts and graphs just show where the cash is. We're good on appropriations. We're just one month into the year. That big chart right there clear
062on the far right is the month we just ended. So a little over 39 uh 39 million. And it shows the red shows the debt. So really that's uh really don't have anything else to add since it's really just the first month. So >> uh any questions for Mr. Durham? >> So what's the balance on the state loan? >> 5.7 million is the balance of the state loan. >> Does that come out monthly? >> Comes out monthly. >> What is being taken out monthly? >> Well, right now for the next uh four months it'll be 222,000 a month. >> Is that a catch up? Yeah, they're going to catch up from now through June and then it'll go to $190,000 a month. So for this whole year it'll be 22,250,000 will be taken out for
063the state loan. Would >> you do me a favor that that lump sum and the payoff is in 28, right? >> That is correct. June of 28 is the final payment. >> Would you see what would you advertise out for me what that would look like if it went out three more years to 31? >> Sure. >> Four more years to 32. Five more years to 2033. >> Okay. >> Don't know that we'll get there, but I want to see the I want to see what it looks like. >> Okay. >> They didn't There was no appetite for that when it was discussed a couple years ago, but circumstances may have changed. >> Right. Okay. >> Um what's the old uh cartoon? Is it wimpy? >> I'll gladly pay you Tuesday. >> That's for my
064time today. >> Me, too. >> I know what you're talking about. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Um, Mr. Grimmer, are you doing the handbook? >> I am. >> So, that's like your handbook guy now, right? >> I am the handbook guy. So, we'll still have the uh student and family handbook coming, but uh we have the middle school curriculum handbook uh tonight. So, uh just wanted to kind of go through some of the changes. Not a whole lot. Again, this year I presented last uh last board meeting on the high school curriculum handbook. Uh like to thank Kianne Pulmeek. She worked with our middle school principles kind of updating uh this uh just a few of the highlights of the changes and updates to this. Um, nothing substantial like last year when we put in seals
065and things like that, but uh, we did align the middle school grading scale to the high school instead of being aligned to the elementary. Uh, there are so many high school courses now down in the middle school, it makes more sense to align the grading scale to the high school uh, than it does the elementary. Uh, so we made that change. uh just changed some language on what what it takes to get a credit uh in mi middle school to to match what's in high school. Uh added some course numbers uh to some CTE courses which actually bring in some revenue for our middle school students. So, it's uh something we didn't take advantage of or didn't do in the years past, but we were able to put some of those uh course numbers in
066our uh project lead the way classes which allow us to cash in on some CTE dollars to the state for our middle school kids. Um and then removed an old business course that we no longer offer at the middle schools. There's just really with the sixth period day, not enough room in the schedule uh for that course anymore. So again, just some language and some simple updates to the curriculum handbook. We would like you to uh approve tonight. >> Any questions regarding the curriculum handbook for the middle school? >> Move approval. >> How often? >> Every year. So once a year. >> Yep. Once a year. Usually about this time of year, we start looking at both the high school and the middle school handbooks. So, I've been alerted that uh in my digression to
067cartoons from the 60s, 50s, 40s, I failed to ask for a motion on Mr. Durham's financial report. >> So, if we will do a combined motion to approve the middle school course of study and the financial report, I'll accept that. >> So, move. >> Okay, we have second. All those in favor signify by I >> I post same sign. Okay. Show that passing. Um I don't have any dialogue for the board this evening. >> Can I say something real quick? >> Yep, absolutely. >> Um so I was able to go with um Dr. Reynolds and Heidi to the literacy conference um in Florida and we didn't really know what it was about going into it, but um uh so much so much. Um, but what I want to say is in listening to Evan talk
068tonight, we are doing good things. Um, Indiana actually was recognized at the conference for like the great things as a state that we're doing and um, as we were talking, you know, they were saying what their pass rate at third grader literacy rate was and I was like, "Chuck, isn't ours better?" And he's like, "Yes." And so, like, we are we are doing great things and I love to hear what they talk. Coaching was a lot of what we talked about. So, um that's great. We took we got some ideas um of things um some AI stuff. They sent me to the data course work and so that was interesting. Um I heard a lot of things I had no idea what they were talking about but um I got some really good stuff out
069for AI and just like helping our data stuff so the teachers can have more real time data and things like that. Um, but it was really good and I felt really good and I did promise Heidi um that we she could find flags um that said like 90% pass rate that we will I will make sure that those happened. So hopefully we'll have some flags that the kids can put up for their pass rate for their I reads. So it's actually 95% in Indiana. So I did say if you could find 95% that'd be even better. So yeah, but it was it was a great conference. Um, and I'm we met a lot of people that were really cool too and uh just had a really good time. >> So along those lines uh for
070the benefit of those at home watching and those here, I'd received a call from a consultant to IDOE in the weeks leading up to the conference and they are anxious for my to tell their story to tell its story. playing that >> um and and I think we were my was invited to that conference and it was an honor uh to be invited very proud of Heidi um Dr. Grim uh Dr. Reynolds and everybody at the elementary level for all that has been happening um and as we move it forward. But that was not that was an intentional decision by IDOE >> to recognize what's happening at Muny Community Schools in a positive way. So thank you >> for being there and representing us. >> I told my I told our story a lot. Good.
071We all >> good. Uh anybody else have anything? I thought I was up in current on like all of the when she was talking about Sonic and Hedgehog, all the things. And then when she said anime, I was like, who is anime? And then I realized that we were talking about anime. >> Anime art stuff, I was like, what am I missing? So >> I didn't catch. >> Yeah. Yes. >> Well, you know, you get >> you get to a certain age >> and you hear things differently. >> Yes, that's true. >> You get to a certain age and you hear things differently. >> Got it. There you go. >> Neil Diamond song for forever in blue jeans. For years I heard Reverend Blue Jeans. >> Reverend Blue >> and >> Reverend Blue Jeans. and
072AC/DC's >> uh dirty deeds and they're done de dirt cheap forever. I heard dirty jeans and dungarees. >> My my seven-year-old thought it was highway to hair. >> So there you go. >> We sing a song at church called Bomb in Gilead and Shaka Senior always thought it was bomb. B O M. >> Yeah. So yeah, I I know where you are. I make that motion. >> Okay. Um, Mr. Clots, I assume we have no media inquiry. One of the sad places of where we are right now. Um, have a motion to adjurnn. Second. >> Second. >> All in favor signify by I. >> I. Post. Same sign. Thank you. Everybody will stand. Adjourn. Gold. >> Gold cards. Yeah, I was like, Annie May, what is Annie? She wanted to volunteer. church. I