001happy to have a conversation whenever. >> Uh, please join me in a moment of silence. >> Thank you. pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands nationy and justice for all >> thank you please be seated roll >> Dr. O'Neal >> Mr. Heer >> present >> Mrs. Barnes Griffin >> present >> Dr. Washurn >> present. >> Mr. Irvin >> present. >> Mr. Low >> present. >> Welcome everyone. Uh it's been a significant um amount of time since we've communed, so I'm pleased to be back at it. Um Dr. Reynolds, your report. >> Great. Thank you. I uh I do have a number of items today. I will try to be quick, but lots of lots of great news to share um from across the district.
002Hey, uh, this time last year, I went back and and and took a look at my notes and we we we touted the fact that we our attendance has has had improved and I'm I'm glad that I can say that again this year. We continue to see improved attendance. Not where we want to be yet, but compared to year to year, monthtomonth, we continue to see positive gains. So, if if folks are watching at home, we'd like to uh thank the the families and students for uh making a conscious effort to do that. and I of course our buildings and teachers and student support teams for their efforts to help eliminate barriers for our students that may not be um showing up as as often as they could. So, um on track to to to
003have another have another good improved year of attendance. Uh like to celebrate a central student. He was actually at our last meeting as an observer. um Clayton Dick, if you recall that young man, he was recognized as the Lily Scholar winner, um central student. He is a just a fantastic student, is active in the in the school community. He's in band and marching band and it does all the extras. Works at Menard's part-time. Um bought many of many items from him out there and is just a a fantastic academic student. um plans to attend Rose Hullman now, which is which is now a possibility because of the scholarship. I mean, that was his number one choice, but wasn't quite sure how that was going to happen, but uh Clayton is just a tremendous young man
004and who has certainly certainly earned that honor. Um like to uh send some accolades to our girls wrestling team. Girls wrestling team two weeks ago had we hosted sectional at the fieldhouse. had um a handful of champions or a handful of uh regional qualifiers and one champion at the sectional. Then the next weekend we hosted the regional. Um it was a fantastic crowd. Um great to see so many people in the fieldhouse enjoying sporting events. Uh we didn't have as as many places at the regionals, but we did have one. Uh LRA uh or Lierra Liera Rollins is the um she was the sectional champ and a state qualifier. So next weekend or this weekend, excuse me, this weekend she'll be competing at the state uh girls wrestling meet at the it's not the Pepsi
005Coliseum anymore. It is the has a new name, a new title, >> which >> the Pepsi Coliseum at State Fairgrounds. Uh, nuts. Oh, I didn't write that down. And I >> I still I still call it >> Oh, Cortiva. The Cortiva. >> Cortiva. >> Coliseum. Yeah. >> The fairgrounds. The fairgrounds. Uh, >> so I was >> the coliseum. >> I was going to say it's where the racers play hockey. >> Well, that that would have been that's a few moons ago, too, right? >> The original Pacers, ABA Pacers used to play basketball. Uh let's see what else. Uh like to recognize our swim teams. Our swim teams last weekend had a tremendous weekend at Lafayette Jeff um where we they they hosted the the conference meets there. The girls team um had 15 podium finishers.
006Uh number of personal best and a tremendous season. A small team but a mighty team. Uh proud of those kiddos. Our boys came back as back-to-back conference champions. So, they were the swim conference champions. Uh champ, we had individual champions in the 50 free, 100 fly, 500 free, and the 200 and 400 free relays. That sound right, Katie? >> Um we had 20 uh four podium finishers for the team and a 51 point margin of victory um at the conference. just so proud of those kids. Um and the work that they pour in. Uh I mean that is a that is a tough sport. They start early, end late, have a long season. Um but anyway, just just tremendous accolades for those folks and appreciate all they do. Um have some exciting MLK events coming
007up this weekend. We'll have a Saturday at 10 a.m. a a MLK citizenship award program for students. those students are nominated um by their teachers for outstanding character and making a difference in their school in the community and that's all um Delaware County is that true or just the city of Muny >> Delaware County so that we we will host that at central um number of number of my students being recognized just for being great citizens and students of character. Monday, we have the MLK kickoff breakfast at that's hosted by Ball State where we'll recognize some of our top academic seniors at that along with the other county schools. Um, just another awesome opportunity to kick off the day usually of giving um and recognition for outstanding students. Speaking of outstanding students, the North Side
008Choir was selected to be a um performing group at the Indiana Music Educators Association IMEA Conference in Fort Wayne this weekend. They will perform on Saturday. It is um it is a pretty prestigious honor to be recognized um to be selected as an ensemble that performs. I I believe they're the first ones ever in the in the history of Muny schools to be rec to uh be selected to perform at IMEA. Um and that's on Saturday. I went to their preview concert this week and I mean they're just they're just fantastic. They are a just a wonderful ensemble. And of course, Mr. Dennon is is just a a tremendous educator. And finally, I'd like to take just a second to recognize our board. It is board appreciation month. Thank you. >> This so this is
009uh since 2018. So the what would that be? Seven six years or no see eight years. Eight years of service and that is cotton. I believe the gift of cotton is the recognition for eight years. Um you find you a nice uh half to purple sweatshirt at at your place. disruptions in >> delicate cycle. Yes. Yeah. Delicate cycle certainly. So, uh it in and serious seriously I I appreciate our board. Um not a harder working group of individuals uh selfless um always working for the best of kids and and pushing us to to do the best for kids. So, thank you all so much. Um, and hopefully hopefully you get some accolades and some appreciation this much this month for all the work that you do. So, thank you. >> You >> any questions for
010Dr. Reynolds? >> Any questions? Really proud of all the students and the accomplishments here of late choir, the swim team, the wrestlers. The basketball team's having a having a good year. >> Having a good year. Um, so lots of really really good things. I've been to some other middle school events and and both North and Southside seem to be good spirit. >> Yeah. >> Around the school and we'll wear our 8th anniversary sweatshirts. >> A degree of pride. >> So, uh, thank you for the gift of cotton. Is it really is really cotton the eighth cotton? >> It is. Yeah, >> I bet this is more of a blend. >> I'll have to ask. I had Big Al's athletics to see if that kind of blend that is. Okay. Um and no public signups this
011evening for participation. Okay. Uh we have our consent agenda. Um, and always a pleasure to welcome uh new teachers and and new employees. We have Ashley Guard and Jason Holly tonight. Ashley's going to join us as the master teacher at Southside Middle School. And Jason um Holly is going to join us as a social stud social studies teacher at Southside Middle School. So, uh Ashley, you want to start and come on up and introduce yourself? Hello everybody. Thank you so much for having me up today. My name is Ashley Guard. I come from Randolph County, born and raised. I have 13 and a half years of educational experience. That's everything from subbing pair professional. Uh I taught a year of kindergarten, went to two years of second grade and back to kindergarten for eight years
012and then spent three and a half years uh in administration. So, I'm really really excited to bring um th that experience and those skills to Southside and continue to build capacity and connection as well as uh building and growing instructionally as a building. So, I'm very much looking forward to it. I very much appreciate the opportunity to do so. Um so, thank you so so much. >> Well, we are pleased to have you uh at at Southside and pleased to have you in the role of master teacher. Uh where'd you where'd you go to high school over in Randolph County? >> Winchester. >> Okay. And do you live in Delaware County now harmony or still live over in Ren? >> I still live over in Randolph County. >> Okay. So, uh if there's anything um
013as you get started that you need, let us know. Sure. >> Uh start with Dr. Reynolds or or uh Eric. Uh Eric is the guy I go to for stuff that I really need. So, uh where was your last assignment? Um I was assistant principal at Randolph Eastern, the elementary prek building and ran uh I was director of the pre-K there as well. >> So is Randolph Eastern uh Union City? Is that okay? >> Okay. Well, welcome and uh we are just really pleased to have you and and the students down there will I'm sure benefit from having you in the building. >> Yeah, I've really had an opportunity to get into some classrooms and meet students and meet the teachers. The teachers have been extremely welcoming. Um so it's been a it's been a
014really nice welcome there. So I appreciate that. Well, those students need you and and and you know, just uh take a breath. Some days it will be different than Randolph Eastern. >> Sure. >> So, but thank you so much. >> You're so welcome. >> Thank you, >> Jason. Come on up and tell us about yourself. >> Hi. Um my name is Jason Holly. Dr. Bell was gracious enough to send me the invitation to come along tonight. Um let's see. Uh again, born in Randolph County. um still live there. I inherited my grandparents house and if I can get away mortgage free, hey, we'll do that. Um let's see. Graduated from Ball State after that. I taught in Dayton for a few years, Trotwood, Richmond, and most recently over in Randolph Eastern. And um the opportunity
015came to work at Muny at Southside. Jump on it. I mean, this is a experience that people dream about. It's a place that you come and teach fearlessly and really make an impact on some students that really needed it. >> And so far, everything that I've seen and the people I've interacted with are warm and gracious and caring and very supportive. So, I'm thrilled to be here and happy to be as supportive as I can. >> Awesome. >> So, uh, social study social studies, uh, middle school level. What's your favorite thing to teach? >> Oh, geez. U, >> couple things. >> I guess we'll do it this I said in my interview, um, a lot of people look at social studies as teaching, you know, government or civics or history. I teach citizens. My favorite
016thing to do is teach people or teach young people what it means to go in the world, how you be respectful to others, how you compose yourself, how you carry yourself. And if I can bring along the economics and geography and the history and everything with it, the more the marrier. But I'm really there to teach young people how to be good citizens in >> wonderful >> the community. >> You don't use UNIPACs, do you? >> I hope not. >> Have you remember UNIPACs? >> Oh, yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I was a UNIPAC master. I could cut through that in no time. So, >> yeah. >> For those of you who don't remember, UNIPACs were a late7s social studies module where you would pick up your packet on, I don't know, Norway. Yeah. >>
017And you read a little bit about Norway. You fill out the paperwork. You hand it in and you move. Your teacher then moves you on the graph on the wall. The UNIPAC graph. >> And then you pick up another UNIP pack. And the teacher doesn't do anything except move the graph. >> All right. >> That's my memory. >> I'm not much of a graft mover. I am. >> So, uh I What are you doing right in Eastern Rolph County? Are you like >> Keep going. >> Those poor kids over there. So, >> hey, they're lost. Well, yeah. >> Well, welcome. And same thing, uh I told Miss Guard, if you need anything, let us know. >> We'll do. Thank you so much. >> Thank you so much. >> Very exciting. Uh any other Oh, I
018know there was um on the um consent agenda, I want to take a moment and uh specifically thank our donors to Panther Pantry uh who are listed in your agenda. and uh Jane Bots who many of you know long history with my community schools for her donation to the basketball team. Uh again, the pantry uh was doing I spent some time with Deb Houston uh in December and they were very busy and so thank you to our donors uh to the Panther Pantry um that really meant a lot to the broader community and they were very busy and and obviously helping people that needed to receive uh some assistance. So, thank you to our donors. Uh with that any additional thoughts, changes, questions regarding um the items in the consent agenda? If not, would entertain
019a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> Second. >> Been moved and second. All in favor signify by I. >> I. >> We'll show that passing. Um so, Mr. Grim, are you doing the calendar? >> I am. I know it's everyone's favorite topic. just the just the most fantastic thing we do every year. >> So, uh yes, uh President Williams, board, cabinet members, uh my job tonight is to bring you the 2728 school calendar. So, we're a ways in the future here, but uh over the last several years, we've done kind of a had two years in advance with our school calendars. Uh last year we adopted the 2627 for next school year and uh we're already on to the year after that. Um so with your approval tonight, we would like to adopt the
020the calendar that's in your packet 2728 calendar. Uh no major changes or surprises with this calendar. We've over the last several years kind of gotten into a a calendar that seems to meet as many people's needs as it possibly can. will never make everybody happy, but shouldn't be too bad. 180 school days, 185 teacher days, same fall fall break uh five days. It is a week later than it has been the previous couple years. Uh that is due to count day being on Friday, October 1st. Uh that wouldn't necessarily affect us. We would be in school. However, many of the county schools and uh schools that send kids to the MAC and some of our co-ops, they use the day before fall break as a um as a e-learning day. So, uh they don't have
021kids that day. So, um we moved our calendar break back out so we all all would align there to the second week of October instead of the first. So, we're definitely in school on Friday, October 1st because that was a a requirement from the Department of Ed that schools are in on uh count day. Twoe winter break, fiveday spring break. Uh first student day to be the second week in August, which matches the upcoming 26 27 uh school year and still ending before Memorial Day for students. So, um, still having early releases, four of them is been the magic number that seems to, uh, work for schools and families. Uh, one day summit in September. Um, makeup days would be then after Memorial Day, we are allotted three asynchronous e-learning days. We've used one of
022those this school year. We've got two more if we need them. Uh after those three, we must start adding days on to the end of our school year. So those would be after Memorial Day there as well. So uh any questions on the 2728 calendar? >> I have a memory of when we did the calendar maybe a year or two ago where we went away from e-learning and and just had classic snow days. Am I dreaming that? >> Yeah. No, that's correct. We did. We did do that. >> So, and you just mentioned three asynchronous e-learning days. Tell me. >> So, those are technically kind of like your oldfashioned snow days because there is no learning on that day. Kids are off. When they return to school, they have usually a week, a calendar week,
023five days to make up any posted assignments uh that teachers would give. And we are uh the state allows all schools in Indiana three of those days a year. One factor you get into though if if one school uses that because they're closed like last year Northw had a water issue and we had to close one day for them that counts as one of our three days for the whole district. So um we have and then we also used them last year when North Side and some North Side elementary schools were out of power for a couple days. those schools closed, but we had school throughout the district. They did asynchronous learning where assignments are posted online, have a week to to get those done, and but that did count as one of our days.
024So, even though really we weren't out days last year, we used all three of our asynchronous days. Uh this year, we used one on December 4th or 5th when we closed uh for snow that day. >> So, that's >> how we avoid makeup days on the back end, I presume. >> That's correct. We get three of those. >> Get three of those. So on the calendar we're at 180. >> Yes. >> And so if we miss more than three, >> we add them on after after Memorial Day. Yes. >> Okay. Any additional questions? Any uh further discussion concerning calendar? >> Can you just remind us the process you go through? Yeah. So, we have a calendar committee. Mr. Irvin, uh, Dr. Washburn were on the calendar committee. We met a few times in the fall.
025Um, some years we do a survey. Last year we did a survey and and had pretty good results uh and built the 26 27 calendar. Um, with this calendar not really changing based on the survey results, we didn't do a survey out to uh families. The members uh of the committee represent every school building. you have different uh you have teachers and administrators and support staff all there. They then go back to their building uh ask for calendar recommendations and then bring those back to the meeting. Uh we did have a few uh recommendations that we kind of did look at uh that I presented to Dr. Reynolds as as potential possibilities uh and then kind of decided upon this calendar uh here for 2728. Next year we'll probably go back to surveying again since
026we took this year off and see kind of if there anybody's unhappy with the last calendar over the last couple years if we need to make changes for the 2829 calendar. So >> okay. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. Yeah. I I don't remember the calendar changing my entire 12 years of school. Uh when are we going to bring back teachers institute? >> Teachers Institute. Now I remember it was called that back in the day. So that uh that was back maybe when I was an elementary student. It was called teachers institute. >> It was two days in October where fall break is now residing. >> Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Um, need a motion. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor signify by I. >> I. >> Both. Same sign. >> Okay. Mr.
027Jerome, financial report. >> Presented in your board packet is u our compilation of our financial results for the the year of 2025. So that is u not an estimate. It's all actual numbers. Now um so I'll just go over some of those highlights with you. Now I have a few more charts and graphs than I normally do. Um but it does represent the end of the year, the 12 months actual results. So on the the highlights on the financial dashboard, just reminding you our enrollment count from October 25 versus October 24, we were only down 14 students, 4,894 students. Um the state basic grant revenue um which represented that ADM count in October uh was up 47.7 million almost up $600,000 uh compared to the previous year. Um that is supposed to incorporate the new
028textbook rental being incorporated in that which kind of gets lost and blended. We used to get a separate we used to get a separate uh uh amount of money for textbook rental. We used to get $160 per ADM count. That previous year was $785,000 just for TDR. That really doesn't happen that way anymore. It's kind of blended in. So anyway, $600,000 state basic grant revenue was up. Uh the headcount is up. Um here you see it 681 versus the prior year 603. Uh obviously we did add 61 folks that were formerly the SSC maintenance facility custodial. our all funds total cash balance that's 40.6 million. Um that's the highest it's ever been in eight years. That does represent uh in November we did receive 9 million of the bond proceeds that's in that number. Uh
029but certainly and we'll show a charts and graph in a moment that'll show that trend where it's gone over the last uh seven years. Our state loan outstanding, we started out with 12 million that we owed the state uh back from 2019. It's now down to 5.7 million. Uh these payments are backloaded. Uh we're now paying over 2.2 million a year uh back to the state. That's subtracted right out of the state basic grant. That does affect our cash flow in the uh education fund, but at least we're following the the original schedule on paying that back. Some of our other financial notes that uh Cindy so good to put those up behind me. Um we the one thing I wanted to just item number two there the payroll um for the whole year you
030know our total payroll for my schools 36.5 million of payroll that's up $749,000 from the year before that's only up 2.1% in total uh even with adding uh for 6 months the facility maintenance custodial group uh formerly with SSC. Um so that's still fairly modest. We paid all our debts uh in um item number three there, the debt payments. We paid our long-term debts in June and December. That was 8.8 million of debts uh debt payments. And uh that just blends right into our cash balance. We have uh I mentioned that 40.6 million. That cash flow was up 5.3 million in our cash from December the prior year. Obviously, a lot of that was receiving the bonds. uh education fund and that's really that used to be called the general fund a number of years
031ago. It's been education fund now for about six years. Uh that was down cash flow-wise 1.1 million. We still ended uh the December of 2025 for education fund 14.3 million. Uh we started the year with 15.5 million and I can explain why the cash flow was negative. Um we did make a conscious effort to transfer money uh from education to rainy day. That was a $600,000 transfer. We transferred 300,000 more from education fund to the operation fund. That was to a total of 7.2 million versus 6.9 million was transferred. Uh we were trying to get as close as we can to that 15% cap because that's still the the guard rail we have to live under. And we also spent 399,000 for TBR. The other thing I didn't write down in your packet, but it's
032it's worth noting, we also paid 2.1 million 2.2 million paying back the state loan. So, that is embedded in those spending numbers. Um, anyway, rainy day fund, uh, that drove drives the balance down to 3.1 million. Um, that was one of the questions I had earlier about, uh, how low do we want to go in the rainy day fund? Well, we never like to drive it to zero, but we're trying to at least uh put in there as much as we need for the next year's uh spending. Uh next year, um our spending out of rainy day, it'll probably get about a million8. Uh so we will have enough to for our plan on that. Uh we're still spending for our operational expenditures between operation fund and rainy day about right at 13.9 million. Um
033since operation fund obviously can't support all the operations, we have to use rainy day. Um so we're still managing that. Um that's what we've been able to do. Um I've already mentioned that about the uh let's mention the the property taxes. Uh we did receive just right what was that total item? Just a little over 12 million in property taxes for the year and 12.3 million in property taxes. 12.3 million the year before. that represents 53% of the actual levy. The rest goes to the tax cap. So, we've kind of been living under tax the severe tax cap for a number of years. Um, so anyway, that's very consistent. We received 12.3 million this year, 12.3 million the year before. Uh, some of the other uh items behind us, that's just the summary of funds.
034I've already talked about the total cash, total checkbook balance, a little over 40 million. Uh the appropriation remaining slide, I'll just talk about that briefly. Uh we pretty much spend up to right what our budget cap is. That's what we have to do. We don't usually budget for any more than we need. Uh the education fund um had about 986,000 of budget appropriations left. We rolled 984,000 of those appropriations over to the next year. That's authority to spend is what that means. Rainy Day fund. uh we rolled that 754,000 over into the next year so we have enough appropriations to spend in 2026. So we basically tried to be good stewards of our approved budget and that's that's the game we have to play appropriation wise make sure we don't spend over the approved cap
035uh in December. Now you'll see some charts and graphs behind us. The first one just shows the trend of our total checkbook balance over the last since 2018. Clear on the far right up there in that blue column. Even if you can't see it, the trend it's going up. It's 40 point a little over $40 million. You'll see the the in the middle of the screen, you'll see the red going down. That represents the state loan. Started out clear up up to 12 million. Now it's down to 5.7. So, we're trending the right direction. Obviously, I I mentioned the spike in November. We got the bond proceeds um because those were general obligation bonds. When we sell the next piece of bonds, their lease rental bonds, the lease rental bonds will not be sitting on
036my books. They'll be over at the Bank of New York as a trustee. So, that's just how the bonds were were set up. So anyway, the next chart just shows if you take the the red out there, you can take the state loan out, that just shows, you know, the net cash without the state loan. It's still trending up. The next couple charts and graphs just once again kind of shows the same thing. It shows our total cash balance. This particular graph just shows it from 2011. Obviously clear on the far right, we're at 40.6 million. Um, obviously it's trended up. You can see in the middle there when it was negative in 2016, you don't want to have your total checkbook balance negative. Um, we already endured that. The next slide just shows this.
037I probably redundant. It just shows from 2018 to now. So, if you want to look at our history from 2018 to now, we're still trending up. That first month in closing, year- end closing in December of 18, our total checkbook was 11.6. six, we're now at 40.6 million. So, we have been good stewards of the money. We have been good stewards of creating surplus and and generating a cash balance. Uh, and it's been trending the right direction. The next graph shows your education fund cash balance by year. Uh, that's the one I said we finished just a little over 14 million, which obviously it's down from the 15 million before. uh when you compare that in context to where it once was in 2015 and 2016 when it was a minus 10 million we've come
038a long way. So I presume in those years they were rating the education fund >> and the bond proceeds >> and the bond proceed those that was the the 2014 G >> fund operations >> right >> yeah so that's you know we can't run away from that but that's the chart and graph and that's I just like to show that it's a uh even if I don't show it to you I always have it in my office to remind me of where it's been as the history and we're we're We're making progress in the right direction and that's the point I always like to reassure the board. Um the next graph just shows Yes. >> We also also need >> sure right I mean I just >> Right. Right. >> Yeah. The 40 million also
039has in it in the total checkbook balance the 9 million of the bond proceeds we just got in November. Yes. So that's in the total checkbook. It's not in the education fund balance. So uh that next chart behind me is the education fund cash flow. It just shows as long as our cash flow is above the line that's been positive. I've already mentioned that we were negative by about a million dollars and that was explainable. You know, we transferred more money into rainy day. We transferred more money from education to operation. We paid our 2.1 million for the the state loan. So, it made our cash balance go from a little over 15 million to a little over 14 million. And that's why it shows a negative. And obviously, the big skyscraper the wrong way
040was back in 2016 when it was a minus 10 million. So, that's not a good that was the history though. The next graph I want to show the rainy day fund balance. Probably gets back to the question Jim asked me before the meeting. uh we see the ready day fund balance of almost what almost 14 million back in 2022. Now we finished at 3.1 million and that's that's what we are doing. We're spending money out of rainy day to help offset operational spending. Um we put the hay in the barn back four and five years ago. We put as much as we could in rainy day trying to get us to 2028 2029 after we pay off those state loans. Um we know it's not sustainable. Uh your question for me was how low do
041we go? How low do we go in the rainy day fund balance? And we're trying to just go u not trying to take it to zero but we're trying to at least put as much as we need to pay the rainy day expenditures the next year and have some left over. So you never want to see to have it all go away or be zero because the ready day fund balance when they created that for schools allows you to handle things that are unexpected or at least it really does help us. The next chart I wanted to show u just for your own information property taxes and how we collect um once again very flat almost the same amount in 2025 versus 2024 it was 12.3 million and it's been all over the board that's
042you're probably going to ask me again what was so special in 2017 I can't really answer that it was over 14.6 6 million. That's the spike way back on the the left side there. That was a big number. But you can see from 2018 through 2025, it's been about 10.2 million to 12 point little over 12 million and it's been very very consistent. That's because we are basically receiving just a little over 50% of our gross levy. The rest of it goes against the tax cap. So anyway, property taxes collected. Your next chart shows your state basic grant revenue. That is the revenue we get from the state for our education fund based on our enrollment. So once again, fairly flat the last uh two or three years. And I guess I did stick on
043the far right. You'll see that our estimate of where we think on a calendar year basis it's going to be about 47.8 million. That's just a guesstimate. Uh but it's pretty consistent with how we budgeted because we budgeted flat pretty much on enrollment. Uh I think I mentioned earlier our enrollment from October to October, year to year was only down 14 from the year before and I think that's how we budgeted is a minus minus 10. So very very consistent. So the state basic grant revenue it's like you you never have you never have enough but at least it's been it's been consistent. The next graph I wanted to show you our student enrollment where that's been uh versus clear back in September of 17. If if I use that as a benchmark in September
044of 2017 we had 5100 students and we just finished under 4,900 here in October of 25. So, a little over 5,100 in 2017. We have nearly 4,900 in October 25. So, we're down uh what less than 200 200 students or so. Um so, it's not falling off the cliff. It's not really >> Well, it's higher than it was in 1920. >> That is exactly right. So it's if you look at it like that, we're just that's when when Chuck and I get together and we try to forecast the future when we do our budgets like the first thing we start out is what's our estimate for enrollment and we usually try to estimate fairly flat because we're not really predicting large growth. I mean you don't want to over over predict your revenue. So we
045try to be conservative and predict uh either flat or not a large decrease. So that just shows you the enrollment trend. Uh the next the next >> So I would take I would make that vertical axis more compressed >> because really I mean when you go from 4,000 at the base >> Yep. >> to is that 5200 >> 45 to 52. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I mean I would cut that down to a centimeter as opposed to an inch because I mean we've only lost >> and and I I'm only being part partially facitious here because >> when you look around the state >> Oh, yeah. >> This is a win. >> Oh, sure. >> Yeah. When you look at other similarly situated districts where we are and what our teachers have done in terms
046of keeping students engaged and families committed to MCS, um that that is that data is pretty favorable. Um, again, when you when you look at similarly situated districts, you know, I've met with clients in southern Indiana in rural areas who are losing, you know, they only have,00 students. They're losing 50 a year. >> Yeah. >> So, it's this is not terrible. Sure. >> That was Yeah. the student enrollment chart. Uh, the next two charts uh was really my financial statement charts and that just reflects the total cash balance. If you'd like to see a financial statement, uh I prepare those. Uh some of those are leftover from uh the state duab how to do the all cash flow of all the funds. So that's what slide number 17 was right there. It just shows all
047our funds and how it moves together and how it makes up the 40 406 million the total balance. Um I love doing financial statements because that's the world I came from. So that's what chart 18 and 19 were. But that's how we follow that trend. That's how we try to track it. So actual results um uh are real numbers now. It's not just an estimate. So um didn't finish with a positive cash flow in education fund, but as I've explained, we we had our reasons why. >> Okay. Any questions for Mr. Don? So, we got our AV set our assessed valuation numbers late 2025. >> Yeah. Preliminary over two billion. Uh it was up over $300 million from the year before and it drove our tax rate down uh 7 cents. >> Um any preliminary
048sense what that will mean for property tax distributions to the school? Not yet, but I have a meeting tomorrow with my Baker Tilly folks. >> Okay. So, >> uh and we have I think or at least we're working on getting a meeting set late >> uh in the month. >> We do. Um, in terms of the rainy day fund and the operations fund and the burn rate visa v the education fund and those transfers which we're going to talk about in a moment >> and the continued use of the operations or pardon me the rainy day fund to to make that work. >> I know you were all talking about uh whatever economies are available to the district. Uh I would also encourage you as those discussions continue to challenge your building principles to uh
049deliver ideas regarding what may be available within their building uh for possible cuts. I and understanding that um every nickel is going to count here and the way and for the rest of the folks at home listening uh we had preliminary projections from Baker Tilly last fall that given the legisl legislation Senate ruled act one which is properly known as SP1 um 2026 was doable 2027 almost doable. 2028 became very dicey. 2029 uh was not sustainable. Um so that's creating some uh pretty serious conversations around the state for a lot of districts including including this one. Uh now we're going to visit with Baker Tilly uh late January to discuss discuss pardon me I am disgusted. Yes. uh but to discuss um what impact the AV may have had on their analysis. I suspect it
050will have some uh given the increase, right? And so we'll we'll see. But u we are going to have to be in a position to uh demonstrate to our constituencies that we are running as efficiently as possible. And I know that's challenging um for our our leadership, for our teachers, for our faculty, but um that's the reality that we're we are all facing uh in significant parts of Indiana. So um any additional questions for Mr. Derome? Very good report. appreciate the the detail um and I appreciate the work that we've done over the last um eight years. I just want to make certain that as we shift into the next two or three uh we are prepared uh to meet those challenges that are going to be very real. Um okay, I would entertain a
051motion to approve it. Do >> I hear a second? Moved and second. And all in favor signify by I. >> I. >> Post. Same sign. Show passing. U. Mr. Derome. The transfer uh fund from the education fund. The operation. >> We do this once a year in the first uh usually the first meeting in January. This uh gives me the permission to transfer amounts from the education fund to the operation fund for this calendar for this calendar year 2026 up to 15% of the total education fund revenue. So this prevents me from having to come to you every single month. So, we do it as a blanket transfer tonight. So, that's what this uh resolution gives me the authority to do. >> Any questions regarding that? If not, would entertain a motion. >> So, moved.
052>> Hear a motion. Do I hear a second? >> Second. >> All in favor signify by I. >> Same sign. >> Thank you. Uh we're on to the board of finance. >> Thank you. You're always This is always the fun one. uh we have to now >> re disorganize oursel and appoint a new uh board of finance chairman and board of finance uh >> let's see two officers here >> so uh >> to conduct the meeting a board of finance president and board of finance secretary so you can receive my information >> well Mr. Low have you ever been the board of finance chairman >> I have not >> I don't think you have >> and I've never >> I nominate you Thank you. >> Mr. Low will serve this year as our president. Mr.
053President, you can now call for nominations for the secretary. >> Well, I nominate Mark Irwin. >> Okay. Sounds like and I I think Mark would be a fantastic secretary for the board of finance. >> Great. >> Seat's a little hot. >> Yeah, you can keep it. >> Is that good enough? >> That's That's good enough. Would you like me to present present the information to you? Okay. >> Will you send >> Oh, you need a motion. >> Okay. We have on the board of finance, we have uh Mr. Low nominated as our president and Mr. Irvin nominated as our secretary. All do I hear a motion? >> Very second. >> Moved and second. All in favor signify by I. >> I post same sign. >> Mark voted for himself. have to call this meeting. >>
054Well, so now now we can proceed. I will now present the information to the board of finance uh which we are required to meet annually and at the time the board will receive the investment report and any other pertinent financial information to consider for Muny Community Schools. Um the first thing I always like to just mention is showing our investment report. That's really just showing how much interest we have earned. This year ended 2025. We earned over $419,000. That compares to the year before was $684,000. Um, you know, why was it down? Uh, we had slightly less interest rate and we have to parse out any money we have in our bond proceeds has to go back in the bond proceeds. So, um, but the trend is still up compared to what it was in
0552022, which was over 300,000 and 23 was 745. So, that's the interest we we did earn. Um, I'll move on to the cash flow. I know we've talked about that already quite extensively in our December report, but we did end the year with our total cash balance of 40.6 million. Um, we also uh that included the education fund cash balance of 14.3 million compared to its prior year of 15.5 million. We've talked about that particular trend and why it went that way. I'd like to now talk about our long-term debt. Uh in June and December 2025, all of the outstanding current long-term debt payments were paid for our bonds and lease rental. This was a total of 8.7 million of outstanding debt that was paid. This includes the payoff for the 2024 GO bonds. Um
056that means we now own the uh football stadium, so in the the locker room. Um that's we paid those off. That was the two-year term. Uh all the proceeds of the 2025 bonds, that first piece, 9.9 million were received in November of 2025. Those proceeds are in the overall checkbook balance. Our outstanding debt is uh for long-term debt is now 24.8 million. Uh that compared to the year before in December 31st, our outstanding principal debt was 22.8. So, it only goes up about a net of $2 million, but we have since retired almost $6 million. We've added uh another 9.9, but our debt is only up two $2 million. U I always like to mention the $12 million of the common school loan that was loaned to Muny in 2019. Uh this past year, we
057paid $2.1 million towards that loan brings our outstanding balance down to 5.7 million. This term runs out in June 30th of 2028 when it will be paid off down to zero. Uh rainy day fund balance I always like to mention its balance was 3.1 million. That compared to the year before was5 million and yes we did transfer into that fund $66,000 this previous year. Items for the future uh for us to consider that we we've talked about extensively the impact strategies of Senate Bill one. We are continuing to work on that. As you heard Mr. Williams speak, we've been meeting with our Baker Tilly financial consultants. Uh that helps us every year for five-year financial projections. Uh we'll continue to work with them to come up with the right solutions. Uh obviously, we're implementing our
0582025 bond project. Uh that'll get started uh after the basketball seate is finished at the fieldhouse to where we'll start doing the heating and cooling system there. Anyone that was there over the last few weeks might have seen the new the new six scoreboards. We have the new lower arena bleachers which look really really nice. Uh we start also we start a planning meeting in the next week or two to start planning what this uh this second group of bonds 9.9 million I have to meet with Baker Tilly to start talking about the term and when we will sell it. Uh so that's coming up. So those were kind of my three items for the future uh that we are working on. At the moment that concludes all of my financial information I want to
059present to the board of finance. So I have nothing else to report Mr. New >> any questions and Mr. Hearing none, I would uh adjourn the board finance meeting. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Okay. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. Okay. Thank you. One last piece. >> Do we have to do the link? I can show you the fiscal health indicators. I'll show you. >> I know you just adjourned the board of finance, but we >> any I just at least I will mention the link >> the link to the state board of finance fiscal indicators. Uh it's always such a bummer because it's stale data. It's 2024 data which we talked about 2024 a year ago at this time but that's how they do it. So we have the
060link we received the link. Uh it shows the finance. It shows the same trends that I've just spoken about. Um I was able to show you on charts and graphs in my financial report one more year. So at least they put up the these certain fiscal health indicators. It shows our enrollment trend. I have shown you that. It shows our cash flow trend. I have shown you that. It shows our let's say enrollment cash flow trend. I've shown you all those things. It shows the percentage of spending. We have that embedded in our financial statement. Um, and why did why did they do the fiscal health indicators? It was because of Gary School Corporation and and Muny. That's why they came up with fiscal health indicators. They didn't want other schools to have financial distress.
061So, that's why we have the fiscal health indicators. Um, we know we are spending money out of the rainy day fund balance and that's why it shows a negative cash flow. If you look at that fiscal health indicator link uh for the year 2023 because we spent quite a bit out of the rainy day fund that particular year. So it shows a big cash flow negative that particular year when it looks at all the funds. So that's the only final piece. So thank you for conducting the board of finance meeting. >> Remember maybe you said why is it called the distressed? >> Well it's that's really Distressed Unit Appeals Board, DWAB, was the board that supervised Gary School Corporation in Muny back in 2016, 17. >> No, they never did. And that that department of
062one or two people still exists to this day. And what they do, they take a look at those fiscal health indicators and then they have to start contacting those school districts to say, "Hey, you're on a watch list or we're concerned about the trends um on where you're going on your cash flow or where you're going on your cash balance or where you're going on your enrollment trends." So it just gives them a brief snapshot of seven or eight indicators to show potential issues. So, >> so my understanding is that there are a number of schools who are receiving inquiries. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah, that's true. Yes. Yeah. We we no longer receive those, but from time to time this the second or the person this the second director of the DAB has come, you
063know, has talked to you in passing at different times. Um but we're not necessarily on their radar anymore. >> No. And and I for the benefit of board and and those observing or here um they are very pleased with the financial and academic progress that has been realized over the last eight years. Um and as part of the statutory requirement um coming out of the legislation in 2018, we provide DUAB with a copy of our strategic plan and our innovation plan. And that strategic plan as updated by the board or adopted by the board was provided last late late or last October uh among other places at the state also to do and they they certainly have questions because they recognize that it's a robust plan that has yielded positive results for our students and
064for the community. And when they look at the data, they're asking questions about, okay, can you sustain the the nature of this plan given the reality of the next several years? And we have responded or I have responded to them uh saying we are actively we're very aware of the situation. We are actively engaged in making certain that we continue to provide uh the most robust uh education that's innovative and strategically delivered to our students as possible. Uh understanding uh that the legislation that was passed uh in the session in 2025 certainly provides us with challenges. So, and I I think I said it >> just that nicely. So, um, they they they are watching, >> but we are not alone among those districts they're they're interested in. And, you know, so given the success
065coming off of that legislation in 2018, I think there is perhaps more interest in where we're going. uh again given uh some of the legislation that has found its way to uh to the statute books. So uh any further Mr. Dome? >> Uh that completes my report and it's I know it's been a big dose of finance tonight, but we're that's the end of the year results, so we're happy to report it. >> Okay. On behalf of the board, I want to take a moment and thank you Brad. Mhm. >> Uh you continue to provide just remarkable service to public education in the state of Indiana and specifically to my >> I feel just personally grateful and the board >> uh and the community has benefited um from your expertise in ways that I I
066you know how I couldn't have foreseen them when you I think you came to see a meeting in that maybe that summer 2018 and I'm lucky I feel fortunate you didn't run away. Uh, >> how long was that meeting? >> It was at least three plus hours. >> Yeah, I remember that. Yeah, >> I was like, whatever. >> Yeah. Well, the librarian went on a little longer than I expected. Yeah. >> So, thank you for sticking around. you have provided the means by which thousands of Muny Community School students uh have benefited over the course of the past eight years. So, thank you very very much. Okay. Anything else for the good of the order? Any media inquiries, Mr. Clots? Um Rhonda, are we all set for February? Do we have uh our students coming
067in for Black History Month? Getting there. Okay. It was such a small world. I met a a fellow Tennessee State alum uh the other day at my office and didn't know he was headed down here to say hello to you. Uh so we established an acquaintance and then Rhonda sent me a note. And then I am also I've also been informed that uh the intern we have at our law office um this spring is Dr. Bell's uh nephew. Right. >> Sure. >> At least that's what he's informed me. He is a distant cousin, but he comes to all of our family events, so he calls me. >> Yeah. Well, he is a huge fan of yours. And uh he has a ton of energy. >> Yes. >> Um Yeah. And I like he's he's affixing
068himself snacks like all the time. So, he's got to keep his energy up. I know that the microwave has now been taken over by Kamari. So, >> Oh, Kamari. >> Kamari. >> Okay. Am I pronouncing it correctly? Kamari. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. Well, he's >> uh he's he's he's busy. >> So, he's busy. >> Yeah. No, he's he's fantastic. And we have >> an old soul. Any kind. >> Yeah. He's an old soul. We have, >> you know, >> we have several high school age interns and um they're all pretty good workers, really. Yeah. Um, he just needs a lot of breaks. >> He's my cousin. He's my cousin, too. He be like, "Cousin Tasha." I'm like, "Okay." So, he's just everybody. >> Yeah. So, it's a small world. Uh, anything further for the go
069the order before we wrap up for the evening? >> Okay. Would entertain a motion to adjurnn. So, >> moved. Second. >> Motion second. Uh, again, Ashley and Jason, welcome. We look forward to seeing you uh downstream. Um all those in favor of adjournment I >> post same sign. Thank you. Have a good evening everybody. >> Thank you. I feel