001Not reference to I was just telling Chris the mayor and I spoke at the planning commission last Thursday night and he does a really good job with running that commission. Steven Bran's on it. So he's on this committee with the mayor and myself. I think he wrote up some of the changes and Kylen Kylen is really what's that now? Have you met Kylen? I have not. Yeah, she does a wonderful job. Excellent. She's a good She's good coming in after we lost Marta. That's all pretty interesting stuff, right? It is. It is. It's so important. You tell people the decisions they make. I was walking out with Jesse Land Landis and a couple others, my buddy Jerry Dishman. What's your name? Um Ricky side was on there when I was in the 1990. I said,
002"You've been on this thing like 40 years." She said, "Oh, I said, "You guys make so many decisions that are so impactful." I don't I think people take that for granted what they do. You know, I think you Welcome everyone. We'll call ourselves to order. It's 5:00. If you'll rise and join me in a moment of silence. Thank you. Joining the pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisibley and justice for all. Thank you. Please be seated. Call our role. Dr. O'Neal present. Mr. Heers out of town. Mrs. Sparsn Griffin present. Dr. Washford present. Mr. Irvin present. Mr. W present. Okay. Um, we have administrative reports. Dr. Reynolds. Yes. Thank you. Just uh uh we have a full house tonight
003of new hires. So, I want to make sure we can uh we get to them in in quick fashion. But um just a few updates. I I I can't um can't start today without talking about our commencement ceremony from um last week. It was just a tremendous day. We had 318 graduates. Um just a wonderful evening to to celebrate our kids and and their accomplishments. some of their accomplishments that were shared at the um at the ceremony. We we had uh class of 2025 earned $4,264 dual um credits from IvyTech and and Ball State saving them about $830,000. Um and that was just an IVTech uh tuition. We awarded uh not just high school diplomas, but um earlier that month, we they awarded uh 22 Indiana College Corps one-year degrees from IvyTech in that for
004that class and 37 associate degrees. Um the total of scholarships that have been offered to that class is $11.4 million of scholarships. Um and that was um prior to um anything else that's come out. And in fact, we we heard about five new scholarship recipients today. Um we have five of our students uh are going to be awarded the next generation who hoos your educators um scholarship. It's a $10,000 a year renewable scholarship for um Indiana students who want to become teachers. Um and then renewable for four years. So that that's that's very exciting. Um those students were in the educational professionals pathway and and some of them were even folks that we had hired on through a grant to cover preschool classes at the end of the day or do some um immersive uh
005teaching and um support experiences at East Washington Academy. So those those students are set up on a on a really tremendous path to to be educators. Um, uh, want to celebrate Emmanuel Taylor, speaking of the class of 2025, E-Man, affectionately known as E-Man. Um, he is, uh, had a tremendous track season uh, at Muny Central. He, uh, set the set the school record on several occasions. Broke the school record and set it um on several occasions in the discus throw. um qualifying, winning regionals, winning conference for the last two years, won regionals or um won um uh sectionals the last two years, won regional this year and placed sixth at the state track meet last weekend in Indianapolis. So um tremendous job to to Eman and congratulations to him. And then just lastly, summer school
006is off and running. That's when I'm going to pass the baton to Mr. Grim. Um, but summer school is up and running with our I read threemmies at all of our elementary schools. Camp Adventure is well underway with our uh Ball State summer partnership program out there. Captain Irving was here there today. He he didn't spell his name correctly, but Captain Irving um flew in to the airport today and had a had a really immersive experience for our camp adventure students. We have um about 85 students out there participating in that camp. Um, and then you made it out to you got to see him today, didn't you, Dr. Bell? So, she made it out to the to the airport. I missed him. I was in the wrong spot, but um made it out to
007the airport and got to see that experience with those students. So, um, summer band kicked off this week officially, too. Um, along with our summer learning programs as look at Mr. Smith back there keeping, um, keeping our summer online program at the high school um, churning and burning. So, um, Mr. Williams, if we can, if you have any questions, is Mr. Grim going to tell me who Captain Irving is? Uh, no. U, he wouldn't know that. So, C, he is a, um, I read I read Andy's post. Oh, yes, he is. He's going to do that. He's going to be able to update you. The first Africaname. That's fantastic. Great picture at the airport. Cool. So he came out to Did he go out to Camp Adventure then? Yeah. He Yeah, he flew into the
008airport. Uh they had lunch and activities out there. Then they went to Camp Adventure. That's fantastic. Worked with the kids out there, too. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you for sharing. Yeah, it was awesome. I assume I wasn't the only one here, didn't Nope. I He was here. I think he I think he came last year and I that's 22 Okay. Awesome. Well, uh, if he comes back, Yep. Let me know. Okay. We could do that. Like to meet with me. Well, I'll tell you the right parking lot to go to. I tell you the one not to go to sat there for half hour and thought, man, watching the planes land, I don't see. Okay. So, Mr. Grim, Mr. Graham will give you an update on other summer school activities. Just give a brief rundown of
009summer summer programming. We started summer programming this week on June 2nd, I guess, last week on Monday. So, we've been going a little over a week. Um, looking at our elementary programs, uh, we have our I read literacy camps for grades two and three. So, our second graders that were kind of far below, not on track or didn't pass, required by the state to attend. And then our third graders who had not passed one of the opportunities yet were required to attend. So, those are off and running in all of our schools. We're getting close probably tomorrow to start that final round of testing. So, they'll have that third opportunity for third graders here at the end of this week, their last opportunity to pass. And then second graders only get two opportunities. So they
010if they haven't taken their second one they'll be if they have they'll just continue with their program. How many second graders have we had pass total? We have 140 second graders in summer school. I have to look and see. I don't know off the top of my head how many have passed. I think I think we're I think we're near 50%. Some schools are over 50%. Yeah. And that's what I'm driving at. I think there was it's it's a pretty significant number. Yes. It's gone up. Yeah. Unofficially, of course. Yeah. Unofficially. Um second graders total passing had 186.26%. And what we do last year? [Music] Well, that's a fantastic number. Uh, last year we had 89 students. So, we have over That's really wonderful. Nice work. Longbow leads the way this year. That's wonderful. Awesome.
011We've got many more which will make it that much easier next year. So, how would you all how would you board members feel about a board meeting maybe in early August, maybe the beginning of school where we celebrate our second and third grade teachers here and maybe with some of it um ice cream social or something. Maybe ice cream. Yeah. But to celebrate them for really an amazing year of growth and I read three. Awesome. Y So let's let's see if we can maybe that first meeting um after school starts. Yeah. Are you all okay with that? Great. Okay. Great idea. Okay. Thank you. Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you. Robotics camp finished up last week. It's only a one week camp. They had 28 fourth and fifth graders attend that school classroom camp
012adventure for June which is hosted by Ball State is is going on right now. We have 61 second graders out there which does count as their second grade required. I read literacy because they do literacy at the B state camp. We'll have our July camp for third through fifth graders camp adventure. We have about 120 kids for that. And then our refugee camp has 40 kids that full day. That's that's grades three through eight. So they have elementary, third graders through middle school that secondary schools. Uh Dr. Reynolds mentioned Mr. Smith. He is working hard right now in summer academy six weeks long. Um, I believe we have over 120 high school kids signed up for that, just taking remediation classes if they didn't pass a class or possibly working ahead of their subjects. And
013then later this summer, we have Titan camp, Panther Camp, and Bearcat camp, which are all orientation camps for our incoming sixth graders and freshmen. That'll take place at the high school. Uh finally, uh partner camps. We we have middle school gear up camp in July at both North Side and Southside, math camp at Paul State, writing camp at Ball State. Boys and Girls Club kicks off their summer programming tomorrow at East Washington Academy. MP3 is going at Longfellow and the YMCA day camps at North Gome also. Bless you. Okay. So on the BSU June camp at at Camp Adventure, my understanding that's the last year on that grant. So do we have a sense of is that cost about 12 grand? I think it's about 60. 60. Yeah. So significantly more than 12. Um are
014we going to run that next year or and if so? So, you might let's find out what that number is and see if we can find some funding outside to to do that. Um, and then tell me more about Ross Center. I understand there's quite a bit of there's opportunities for tutoring down there as well. Yeah, so they have a full summer uh program in English learning. So most of our Afghan students close to about 40 of them are attending in the morning they get uh writing and reading instruction throughout the day and then in the afternoon they're joined by just other muny peers that come into the raw center and they have afternoon more recreational kind of programs in the afternoon. Okay. For the kids and it's a great time for our refugee students
015again to socialize with other teachers for the beginning of the day instruction. Yeah. I I Yeah, I'd spoken to a couple of teachers. Okay. Thank you. Any questions for M Dr. Reynolds or Mr. Grim? comfort, right? But then also what you were talking about and his accolade on the field. I guess if I can excuse his trip because he's amazed in other areas, right? I think I think we were all pretty nervous when he tripped, knowing what it really was or wasn't. And then we're like, you have to throw in four days. What are you doing? How old is he? I see you. Brain still developing. Yeah, still developing. Yeah. Um, we were all 18 once. Um, any additional questions? Okay. So, we'll proceed at this point uh to the consent agenda. There's one additional
016item that is not on your agenda that um is anformational item for the board. Uh the leadership pipeline in um conjunction with Ball State is a program uh at the teachers college where uh MCS uh employees faculty can obtain what a principal's license administrator's license. You have a masters in educational leadership. Masters in Educational Leadership. It's a 36 credit hour program. In discussions with uh President Mers and Provos Mari with the assistance of the dean at Teachers College, the university has agreed to open that program up to MCS employees who are interested uh at 50% off for all 36 credits. So um that was the original uh deal I believe was 50% off six credits a year. Yeah, that's what we that's what we are uh our faculty's offered now. Correct. So I think we
017have do we have 10 uh people in Tim that are already enrolled and and um signed up to participate in the program. So in inducing the university to do this, one of the issues that was important to uh leadership at the university was doing certain things or committing to do certain things which we can address as a board at a later date. um intention incentives, intent retention incentives. And what we have suggested is that MCS would offer a one-time $1,500 bonus if the employee completing the program is still employed with MCS at the start of the third school year following the completion of the program and then a onetime $3,000 bonus. um if the individual completing the programs is still employed by MCS at the start of the fifth school year in any capacity. So
018potentially up to $4,500 in bonuses. Uh there are some other uh non-financial uh commitments that we have made uh in order to um participate actively in the program with Teachers College. That's a really significant benefit or potential benefit for those faculty members who want to um seek additional education through the university and that was just I guess I received the we received the approval email on Sunday. Um so that was one item. The other item on your consent agenda, which uh I've alluded to, is Camp Adventure. Uh Lily Endowment put out an RFP uh in early May uh with up to a total of $160 million which is going to be given away or they they would like to give away uh as grants to uh overnight camps uh within the state of Indiana. Uh
019that spurred my interest on Camp Adventure um which was formerly an overnight camp uh and had not been used as an overnight camp um since co uh spoke to Dr. K and Dr. Reynolds and Dr. Kay agreed to uh draft the grant materials for us which was due last Friday. We had reached out to the Opus Optimus Club which had held ownership of Camp Adventure for um nearly 80 years. So going back to 1939 or so. Um and they uh indicated that as their club uh has continued to age uh they were not really interested in pursuing the grant uh but they would they agreed to work with us uh and eventually uh agreed to transfer ownership to uh Muny Community Schools and we have leased the property for the last 21 years since 1994.
020uh they transferred ownership subject to board ratification, our board's ratification of that uh transaction. Um this evening uh the consideration would be that we would seek through private funds uh the funding of the Optimus Cub scholarship uh countywide for 20 years starting in 2026 uh which is uh a total of $5,000 a year. Uh we will be seeking to obtain that funding through the Lily endowment grants or other private funding. That's a 40 acre camp. And I want to thank the Optimus Club for their their foresight uh their commit their commitment to uh youth education in the community in the county and their trust uh in Muny Community Schools. And our commitment is to continue to operate it as a youth camp. And if it ever ceased to be operated as a youth camp, it
021would be sold in a commercially reasonable manner and the proceeds would be deposited to the community foundation to fund youth scholarships in the name of the optimism club. So that's the summary of that transaction. Any questions regarding that? Okay. Uh then we have other personnel items and we have a number of u individuals who are uh switching positions here. moving up or coming back to us or starting with us. So, we'll start with JD Craft. Come on up, JD. JD is going to be um or is taking the job of principal at Southside Middle School. And we are very pleased by by your willingness, your your commitment to Southside. You've been there how many years now? Um I've been back there for about three years now. a little over three years now. Okay. But but
022taught there for years as well. Well, um thank you. Um tell us a little bit about yourself. We know quite a bit, but uh those folks at home may not know. Yeah. So, I'm uh I'm I'm born right here in Muny. Um I was sitting back here just a minute ago and I was looking at that backdrop behind you there. Um I was a student at North Side Middle School. I graduated from Central High School and now I'm lucky enough to get to lead uh Southside Middle School. So, I'm Muny born and bred. Um my goal is uh to educate as many kids as I can and uh and lead Southside with with pride and um elevate those students for the years to come. Well, we are very happy to have you and if there's
023any way that we can assist you in that process, please let us know. Uh you and I have gotten to know each other a little bit through the years and um obviously we're very committed to seeing that school continue its its pattern of growth and um we're excited you're going to lead it. So thank you. Yeah. Thank you. I uh Miss Mafy, come on up. uh going to join us as an elementary teacher or come back to us as an elementary teacher at Westview Elementary School. That's correct. Okay. So, excited. What grade? Kindergarten. Kindergarten. Yeah. I think it's been eight years. And that's what I taught when I was there previously. So, I'm super excited to come back. And where have you been the last eight years? Monroe Central. Well, we're very happy you're coming
024back. So happy. I'm feels good to poach another school. We're just tickled pink about that. Yeah, I'm super passionate about science of reading and I just completed the 80hour course, took my practice exam. I haven't got the results from that yet, but um I'm really excited to implement a lot that I've learned through that and just get back to teaching kindergarten what I love. Well, we're just very excited to have you back and Westview is going to be the beneficiary of that along with our students and their families. So, thank you. Thank you. And welcome back. Thank you. So, I see you sitting back there with um Miss Charles, and I just want to take a moment and tell you how proud we are as a board of what has happened to Gryom uh with
025the i3 and I, you know, I unofficially we've seen some really incredible results um in terms of your passage rate and uh that's just magnificent. So, thank you very much. So, thank you for your work. [Applause] Uh, Mr. Phillips, come on up. You're going to join us at Southside Middle School. Have you met JD? I have. I actually um I coach with Coach Ho Settler, John Hostettler. He coached here for a while and he actually knows Mr. Craft, so I've gotten to know him. So, yeah. Do you work for Coach H? um with his lawn business or No, no, actually I coach with him atach. Yeah, that's where I graduated from. Central. So, so tell us uh a little bit about yourself. Where'd you get your degree? Uh I got my degree from IU East.
026Okay. Richmond. Yeah. Yeah. And what are you going to teach? Uh eighth grade. Seventh grade science. Um I don't know yet. They haven't told me. But it's seventh or eighth grade science sweat. What' you say? Seventh grade science. Seventh grade. Okay. Perfect. There we go. There we go. There you go. Yeah. Mr. Raiders told me it was probably going to be that. So, what do you teach in seventh grade science? I forget. What? What' you say? Sorry. What do you teach in seventh grade science? I completely forget. Is it more general? Um, I I haven't looked at the standards yet because I actually I I have a degree in social studies, but um I just passed the science practice. Um, but I can't wait to look at them and because that's what I've been waiting
027on to see which one I need to kind of look at more in depthly and kind of I can't wait to actually get to the PD and talk to the science people to see. Well, if you need any help uh with that, let us know. Any additional professional development um and Mr. Craft, if you need somebody to like do social studies and science, you've got your guy. So, thank you. Welcome. Yep. Thank you guys. Mr. Seal, Lucas, how are you today? I'm well. How are you? I'm well. You're at Gryom Elementary School. Yes, sir. And tell us about yourself. Uh, well, I am also born and raised here in Muny. I went to Well, no longer on the board. I went to Store Elementary Store at Northside Middle School and graduated from Muny Central. Uh
028I just this past year graduated from Indiana University uh and kind of just stumbled into teaching by accident. I got a job over at Gryom doing intervention work um and fell in love with it and the kids and here we are. So what grade are you going to do? Uh first grade. First grade. Well, we are very excited to have you and uh I my wife and I's first house was on Riley Road about 200 yards from store. So, I'm very familiar with Store. Um your family with you tonight? Yes, sir. They're back there. Um mom and dad or brother and sister? Mom and dad. uh there I guess appreciate it. Big reason I'm here as well since they both were educators for Muny Community School. So, well, congratulations and we're just really very happy
029you're continuing a family tradition and let us know if you need assistance as you move forward. Absolutely. Thank you. U Miss Prior, come on up. Tell us about yourself. Hi, I'm Bri. Um, also born and raised in Muny. Um, went to Longfellow, went to Wilson, which is now no longer. And then Southside, I was the last class before the consolidation, then graduated from Central. Um, my dad is currently a instructional teacher at North Side. So, I kept saying I'm not going to fall. I'm going to get out of my but I just keep getting roped back in. So, you're going to be aggressive, right? Yes, I am. Well, congratulations. Um, behavior coach. Yes. Okay. So, I currently do ABA as a RBT up in Anderson. So, I want something closer to home. Well, welcome and
030we're glad you we're glad you're still in my [Applause] any other uh new folks with us tonight? Um to those of you again who uh we've just talked with um the the people who commit themselves to uh caring for and educating our children. Uh as I've said in many communications, there is no more important job. Um, and we're deeply deeply appreciative of your commitment to Matzi Community Schools, uh, to our learners and to their families. Um, it is not easy, but, uh, the commitment I see every year is just remarkable. And when I, you know, talk about Miss Charles and and the work at Gryom, uh, this past year, there's been really tangible progress that has been made, uh, with our learners. And uh the credit goes to uh those people who will be your
031colleagues next year and and leading the buildings. And um so when you see someone who in your building who is good at what they do, Model them. Uh and there's a lot of it there to learn from. So, um, as a lawyer, I think back to to all the lawyers I've learned from, both good and bad, um, and things I want to avoid. The same goes for educators. But again, just thank you for your commitment and, um, we wish you the very best uh, in the coming school year, but have a restful summer and, uh, we'll we'll see you back. Um so that um any add no additional personnel items. I do want to take a moment um I saw on the retirements Ronnie How uh East Washington Academy uh 29 years with East Washington
032and a number of other years at other places before that. So Coach How has committed nearly three decades to my community schools and we want to wish him well in his in his retirement. So, thanks Ronnie if you're watching uh for um for for really devoted service. Um deeply appreciated. Uh with that, any qu any additional questions concerning the consent agenda? If not, would entertain a motion to approve? Move to approve. Second. Second. Moved and seconded. All those in favor signify by I. I. I. Okay. So, we will uh show those passing. Um here is um those documents for Cindy on the Camp Adventure stuff if you want to make copies and make sure Brad has a set. Um and then I think I've scanned a copy to Amy Fox and Julia at Church Hill
033as well uh for recording. Uh I've got them electronically so I think I'm good but I do want to have a hard copy here in our file. Okay. Okay. Um we are on to strategic planning and it's that time. Uh we are at in the fifth year of the uh strategic plan that we adopted in 2020 and Dr. Reynolds has been working um very very hard on that uh with um his uh leadership staff. So let us know where we are. All right. So on your your uh on your places in front of you today, you'll see a couple of items. I try to try to create a little summary for our discussion in the in the slideshow which is a um you have a two on a page slideshow that that we can use
034as as talking points for reference and then you have the um the most current iteration of the strategic plan um that we've been working from. Not the uh um the 30page original plan is not included in what you have up here. um it's elect we can get it to you electronically of course if you if you want reference to it right now but we thought it'd be best to to kind of go through where we are with the strategic plan and then also have a hard copy of of our current draft. So just just as a quick reminder for for the strategic plan we have a few plans that guide that guide the district. So um the strategic plan um is what we're going to focus our discussion on tonight but that is different than
035our innovation plans. Our innovation plan is also listed on the website. That that is a a a larger view of a how about a higher level view of our um affirmations best practices and innovative innovation supports our career to or our cradleto career approach to how we're going to do things. Um that helps us guide the strategic plan. Um, now there's also the strategic plan dashboard. So that's that little um center color-coded picture on the middle of that first slide. So that that will be set out by years that um and you can see where we are in the strategic plan, not yet begun um early stages on track or completed and we'll we will complete that for the for the new uh strategic plan. but also not to be confused with our strategic plan
036update that we have to do by October for the legislation. So just I wanted to make sure we laid the groundwork on what it was because it could be I mean there's a lots of lots of strategic plans and plans and dashboards. So just to lay the lay the foundation. So what what we we're talking about today is are the is the strategic plan for the next um course for the next three years really on the on the action steps under each pillar. Um so um do Jim do we want to anybody else want to snack or anything else before we move on? Snack, sandwich, chips or anything? Are we good? You going? All right, let's go. Okay. Um, so I I think it's important to kind of frame up we just just didn't uh
037create the strategic plan or we just didn't decide to that we needed to update the strategic plan. Um, you know, we we started in 2019 and 2020 with our listen and learn sessions, our academic innovation council with Ball State, um, our our weekly meetings with the provost and the dean of the teachers college and um, President Williams, Leanne, myself, um, Dr. Lowry at Ball State where where we were shaping the innovation plan and the strategic plan for for direction for the years to come. So that was what guided us from 2020 to 2025. So the next three-year iterations we the foundation is the same. Um we through our process checks again that's why we're where we go out to our buildings and sit down and have conversations with our u with all of our teachers
038about um about their needs and their resources and their um barriers and their achievements. Um we do that every year sometimes twice a year depending on um the building and the need surveys that we've collected. Um are we this this year we um if you remember we did a listen and learn session. We we did three listening learn sessions and a number of other community conversations that I presented and and had conversations with a number of community groups. Um and then we take that with the the strategic report that we do each year and and really helped us guide the guide the decisions that that we're making on the on the current strategic plan on the updates. So I guess another just a brown f a broad broad foundation on how we landed here. So
039pillar one um high quality pre um pre kindergarten education. Um just a few key accomplishments. We we continued to grow that program. Um 111 students in the 20 2020 2021 school year and uh for this year we we ended up at 246 students. Just just tremendous growth. We recognized that our students weren't coming in ready for ready for kindergarten with the right kindergarten skills. So, how can we address that? Well, we we partner by by um offering a terrific terrific pre-K programming in-house for our students and ensure that our students and families are um have access to that. So part of that strategic plan was to have a um a marketing campaign that um solicited our families to get them in um make them feel welcome once they were in and then pro provide a
040quality experience. But that first step is marketing and then the second step is our voucher program. So that so we that was a focus. We were not collecting voucher funds, which we'll talk about more a bit in a minute, but um we just were not doing a good job of of capitalizing on that with our families. So, with um Heidi and Aaron Bowsman, her assistant, we really worked hard with our families to to capture for them to capture more of those voucher dollars to to help sustain the program. So, uh, three years ago, we collected about $180,000 in in voucher from On My Way PreK and and CCDF vouchers. Um, this year, we collected nearly it was I I want to say it was nearly $95,000. Um, now that it's super exciting right now, but
041that's going to be a barrier here in a second with recent legislative changes. Um so that was key accomplishments in that um part of the part of the program and then also our curriculum. So we were offering a a program and and high quality f folks leading that program but we were inconsistent in the curriculum that we were offering. So, we we um adopted a a curriculum, provided professional development, and then implemented a a prek assessment to see to to see how we're doing, see if these students are ready for kindergarten. So again, there's, you know, two pages of strategies, but I think those those key bullet points digest um what actions and what successes that that we've had to begin with. And please uh stop me anytime, mid-sentence, whatever, if you have questions about
042about um about anything that you see in there. So um so key updates to the strategic plan on that next slide. Um so while we've selected a curriculum updated and embedded um curriculum from the DOE list uh we still need to do a better job of monitoring and ensuring the implementation of that. Mrs. White, Miss White still see some gaps there. So, um, we're going to want to make sure that we're work, we continue to monitor, provide professional development and feedback for those teachers on on that curriculum implementation. Um, our current building configuration is at capacity. That that is a that's a good thing. Um, I guess the the one of the concerns here is that we don't have um any more spaces in our elementary schools to house. So, we were in a um
043exploration phase with George and Francis Ball about trying to find another space in one of our facilities to house that. Um and then all of the state budget information started to come out and and I think we begin to worry a little bit about sustainability. Um so, we're going to continue to work with the vouchers and um will be critical for our continuation to offer these programs. when we look at barriers and some things that we're going to have to address through this next iteration of our strategic plan um is the all my way prek funding and the child care development fund the CCDF um how can we that we know that that's going to be cut the all my way prek dollar amount is going to be reduced from I think it was a
044little over 300 to 150 max amount 150,000 150 I'm sorry $300 um per student cap or max to now it will be $150 per student per week. Per week. Per week. Yep. Okay. And then CCDF funds. Um I I don't have the numbers on on that, but um they're also going to reduce the number of vouchers that are available which will impact on my way prek and the CCDF. Okay. So when we look at on my way prek is there a per district cap cap? I do not believe so. So if we are able to get as many of stu our students as possible 150 $150 per week we can that's we can take advantage of that. Correct. Yeah. Uh um before we would need um yes, we can take advantage of that. Before we
045needed about um a little over half to qualify and receive all my way prek vouchers to fund the program because those those soft cost utilities, right? Um all of those pieces were already covering in the building, but just to pay for the teachers, we needed about half of them to receive that. So we will need more than that to do that. I would say probably three quarters at least to receive all my way prek vouchers. Um and so last year all in we had just under 100 pe 100 students on vouchers. Yes. Okay. So we were close to covering our cost with vouchers. Yeah. We probably didn't quite cover it. Right. Okay. And so this year the challenge is going to be to of that 200 if we have 250 students in prek the challenge
046is going to be doubling the number of students we have on vouchers right and that it is a um it is an arduous task to that no that the voucher system is tough but um Aaron Bowsman is very good at supporting our families. Let me ask you this. Would it make sense from an administrative standpoint if Aaron or Heidi or both can identify another individual at an aid rate to help run those vouchers down? Because if we're paying, you know, if we pay that person 18 bucks, 20 bucks an hour, that's $800 a week times whatever 36 weeks. Um, and that person's able to help double that number because getting 200 vouchers for one person and all the paperwork that's involved is a task that I don't think they can meet. So, I would look
047at if ask them if staffing that up with one additional person would make a difference. Okay. And I'll we do have a mechanism qualify. Yeah. I mean, I think the targeting is one step. The but the the actual completion of that paperwork and getting the everybody to get their documents in. The state has not made this easy. God forbid. I mean, we don't want to um numbers from last week. She said that last year 5,700 vouchers were given out across the state. This year that number will be down between 2500. She said last month already had 20,000 vouchers. So but that's but that's CCDF, right? So our focus should be on my way prek, right? Can Can I make sure I got the math right? Last year we had 100 on vouchers, right? Um I
048think it was about 100. Is that right, Eric? Did she share that with you? I think it was right at 100. And the the amount that is going to be given for vouchers is dropping by 150 bucks. Yeah. So that was 100 times. That's $15,000. 147.82. So we're losing $15,000. Did I do the math right or wrong? Um I I I think we would up to half is what we could lose if everyone qualified for the max amount again like they did this year. Okay. I think we we could lose as much as half. Okay. We had 147 between CCDF and on byway prek, right? Yeah. That's both. Oh, no. The 147 is the dollar amount. That's the dollar amount. Oh. reimburse it next year for and it was 298 or 303 or something this
049year for the dollar amount per week per child. That's per week. Yeah. So it does grow to be a big number. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Know it gets to be Yeah. Per week. Per week. Yeah. That's not So Mr. Kinghorn when we originally started emphasizing this, right, clearly established the the notion that we could fund the program with voucher with on my way prek, right? Um now I we can sit here and gripe all day about why um those decisions have been made, but that's not going to that's not going to run the program, right? But I I do think if if they think another body would help Okay. Let's look at that. Yep. And I'll look into the cap number, too. I don't know if there's a district cap or a provider cap on who
050on who you can get, but on CCDF, if we have families who are in and their children are already seeing receiving vouchers, do they stay? I mean, obviously, usually we just have one year of prek, right? Yeah. Three year olds. They're not eligible for on my way prek, but they are eligible for CCDF. So, okay. I think Gryom and South View, I'm not sure that any of our other buildings, just because the seats are so limited, has three-year-olds, but I think South View and Gryom have some three-year-olds. So, what are we collecting off families? We were charging 40 bucks a week. Are we Is that still our number? What is our $50? Right. Do you remember that number, Brad? What we collected? I don't remember. Understood. We also in the here. Okay. Um and and
051and the hits just keep on rolling. So, we do supplement some with Title One dollars. Um we have not heard words about that being cut anymore, but we we we've had some cuts there. And then we were fortunate enough to to receive the school improvement grant, the SIG grant at um Southw Grisman, Longfellow. We used that to help supplement some of the salaries as well. So um still in a little bit of dark of continued funding. Um it's still our goal to um at least continue what we have um offered um in in um in our buildings. Okay. Well, let's if it looks like as we start the year that we're going to need to find other sources, let's see what we can do. Any other any other questions about pillar one? So, I I
052it's interesting. So, from the listen and learn session, we didn't we didn't gather a whole lot of feedback from pillar one. So, which probably tells us people are pretty happy and pleased with the direction it it's going, right? One, I think one one prek comment and they and they were it was positive, but so anyway, that's good. All right. Um, pillar two, the recruitment, development, and retention of teachers, leaders, and staff. Um um just a few few key um accomplishments. Revised the the teacher and um leadership evaluation tool. We moved from the risebased model that we had in the past to the NIT model. Um really it is a student centered rubric. What are you doing to meet student needs? student engagement. It it all centered on student um actions, intera interactions and um achievement.
053The old model was was really based on teacher action. So um spent a lot a lot of the time developing um best practices with our team. Very excited about the work that that's going on there. Um but that was a a key accomplishment to that um pillar uh literacy numeracy and best practices. So our PDS liaison with Ball State the the the cadre work in the elementary schools with our literacy teams with um IDOE and Marian University and and lots of others folks that that we have poured into our that have poured into our teachers for best practices. um must got to talk about the science of reading. So pillar two when you talk about recruitment and pillar three um when you talk about instructional practices a lot of those tie together. So you'll see
054me talk about hear me talk about that a couple of times. I think the science of reading adoption is is a key key piece to that. Um adopted new resources and we'll talk more about that in a second and um for classrooms and then technology use in all subject areas. Um you got to have those tools to be successful in a classroom. New devices were were issued to students and and teachers since the um implementation of the strategic plan. We've transitioned to classroom sets at the middle school which was a barrier. Our middle school kids would struggle sometimes with bringing them back and having them in good working order when they brought them back. So we transitioned to classroom sets. And then our interactive boards have really been a a a gamecher in classroom engagement.
055our classroom teacher can be be anywhere in the room and cast to the interactive board and it does a does a lot more than than just cast an image like our smartboard. So again, I think that is a um a key accomplishment. Dr. Dr. Bell continues to work and develop her new teacher orientation, which is one of the um one of the positive things that we hear out of process checks is that they they appreciated those new teacher orientation days where they learn about um the nuts and bolts, but also our norms and expectations. So, she continues to work hard to um to make that new teacher experience a a good one. continue to do science of reading refinements, um learning walks where teachers learn from each other and um observe other classrooms, talk about
056best practices and then have those in the um have those in the classrooms or or apply what they've learned to their classroom. Started creating our our student and parent advisory councils. I know that that seems kind of odd about recruitment and development and retention of teachers, but you really have to have teacher voice and parent voice or or student and parent voice um to really have good instructional practices, which I think goes back into teacher retention. Um leadership pipeline is in development for teachers to become leaders through master and mentor teachers um department chairs and different type of leadership opportunities. And then it two new um Oh, I skipped a page, didn't I? Oh, no, I didn't. Um, M. President Williams talked about the the leadership pipeline for for teachers to leaders in partnership with
057Ball State. IvyTech and Ball State are offering transition programs for instructional assistance to transition from instructional assistance to teachers. Um, uh, Lucas I was an example of someone that came to us with a bachelor's degree already, but was really an instructional assistant. Um, fell in love with with teaching is and is now going to transition um to teaching program. And then Dr. Bell is going to expand her new teacher orientation to to consist with uh monthly meetings directed towards um developing our new teachers and supporting our new teachers and then implementing a round two introduction in January for the folks that come on in in January and not just in August. So that is a um that's something new to teaching that didn't always happen before and it's becoming a little more common. So, we
058want to make sure that we are um are doing the best job to uh to support our new teachers. And then finally, just a couple of barriers again that that SIG grant has provided some some very much needed and tremendous resources to professional development, teacher recruitment, um additional learning opportunities. Um, and the same thing for title funding. Just always keeping an eye on our federal funding and and how we leverage that is important to the recruitment development of our of our teachers and our leaders. Um, how much feedback did we get on this pillar? Um, it was yeah. Um, so we we after listening learn sessions and our process check, we compiled those notes. Um and it it was a pretty fair amount. Was this originally positive? Yes. Because we've really focused heavily on development.
059Yeah. It's and you know, one thing that we don't talk about, I mean, that's kind of part of the the fiscal responsibility plan, but teacher pay has been tremendous. Those first couple years, um that was a topic of discussion at all, the process checks, I would say. Um in the last three years, it has not been a topic of discussion. So I um I think the compensation model that that that has been implemented here um has been wellreceived and and certainly has has helped with the development and retention of our of our teachers and leaders. Quick question. Is there one particular theme that resonates when we have a teacher resign overall? Um they just don't want to teach or they're going some or they're moving. Well, so we're we're our our district is is pretty
060unique, too, where you don't have the typical bell bell curve as far as, you know, first five years, middle of the career, end of the career type of bell. Our our our curve is shifted. We're about 50% of our staff is in the first five years, which I think has to do with that leadership, teacher leadership pipeline that we struggle with. But, um, so most of them are one of two two reasons. they're either relocating to another city um for family reasons or um life-changing reasons, getting married or something. Um and then the second is they they're leaving teaching. It just was uh not the right fit or not what they thought it would be. Um I'd say the majority of them are relocating when they come through. Society tends to be more mobile. Yes.
061Okay. We were I talked to Brad about that the other day. You don't have your Ron Hows that stay, you know, 40 years teaching, you know, in the same classroom doing I mean, they just that's not the norm like it used to be for sure. More options and that's true too, right? I mean the market is very very competitive. So again makes it important that we are our pace has been competitive and remains competitive. Good question. Thank you. Anything else, guys? Right. Yeah. Now they're coming back. Yeah. Oops. Jim said it. I was thinking it. I mean, it feels nice to to get some of those folks back. Absolutely does. He said poaching. I'm just I'm just dying to get him back. It's um in the method it's occurred. It's not a crime. Well, right.
062That's right. Yeah. um you know, I continue to uh have anxiety and about um making certain that we give our younger teachers support as they're adjusting to that change in their lives. And teaching is hard, hard work. Yeah. Um and there's always been going back to the beginning of the country uh an unfortunate um proclivity at times to not appreciate the role of teachers in our society. So I just want to be continue to be sensitive to that in these in every plan that we develop that they are provided with support and appreciation for uh their efforts as they again adjust to what it means to be a professional because that's that is not an easy it's not easy in any circumstance but it's it's very challenging at times. Um, and I I know when
063we see those resignations oftent times, um, when you look at the duration of their time with us, it's very short and that always worries me a little bit that is this just somebody who uh feels completely disillusioned with their career choice. We um part of the round of questions that we ask during process checks if they're in their first year teaching we'll ask how they how prepared they felt to come into the you know the teaching profession. Um most of them are feel pretty good about it but um always want to know more about how to handle student discipline. Um and just the pace of of the day-to-day is are our are always big commented um themes that that we hear during process checks. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. All right. So and again so part of
064two and three I think teacher retention also goes to some of this and some of you the the components that you'll see in in pillar three student centered teaching and active learning um something that we heard at the listening to learn sessions and then at process checks is is just access to high quality resources um not only access to them but that were reflective of the students that we serve and the community that we serve um and the and then some PD to to support that. So for the first two and three years of the strategic plan, we worked really hard on finding the best curriculum, working with our teachers um experts from Ball State University, the DOE um to to finding and adopting terrific resources um for our teachers to use in the classroom.
065And I think you you'll see that reflected here. Science of reading adoption for for Kada to K of six or K of five for the last two plus years. And then uh six to eight this year at the middle school. We we adopted science of reading CLA and um Amplify. Um writing curriculum was something that popped up last year. So during process checks, we folks were really enjoying science of reading, but they they felt like they needed an additional resource for writing. So um Heidi and her team of principles and teachers worked hard to find find that resource. Math, middle school science, um are are some of the big cores that we did. Um but really all subject areas. I mean, we we sat down and had conversations with all subject areas and all teachers
066and and made sure that they had the resources um and supplies that they need to be successful in the classroom. The um I guess we'll talk about what we need here in a second. um learning stations. That was another focus at our elementary schools to set up learning stations within the classrooms that um you'd have small group, individual and independent work times happening simultaneously in the classroom. Um that was implemented and um flexible seating and seating alternatives were certainly um a focused as opposed to the traditional rows and combined desks settings. Um, we're moving in that direction with that. And this flexible seating certainly helps with our learning stations to go to go in an elementary classroom. It's not uncommon to see a teacher working in the back at a the old kidneyshaped tables and
067there's one to three or four kids working with that with a teacher sitting at some um some of the class sitting at more traditional desks and then the last third of the class sitting on these um alternative seats under tables or on bean bag chairs or little rocker little rocker ground seats or something. Um so really really classrooms look much different than they did five years ago and and as you see from the results I think I think those are starting to um make a difference and I would think with that style of teaching we we saw that in the universities where they socially disconnect if you don't teach them that way. I mean they now socially can connect with one another and learn off of one another which is also the advantage is they
068don't hibernate. Right. Right. either you know and hide in plain sight where you just just straight lecture and just no you no one pays any attention right you're not you're not causing a clamor so I'm not worried about it has anybody looked at standup workstations for elementary students um we have a few of those we have a a few standup workstations we have a few uh bicycle workstations where they're little bikes with a desk on top Um, lots of desk bands that goes across the the front legs of the desk so the kid can bounce their feet as they're sitting at the desk and doesn't shake the room or the desk or anything. Just just the the like an exercise band at the front of the desk. But um, we ordered some standup desks for
069administrators to get them out, get them going in the hallways. it's taken often some locations better than others, but yeah, but it's a um certainly any type of flexible seating is um is is good. Um some other So, this is our largest pillar with our most strategy. So, it's got a couple of pages of of key accomplishments. Look at our secondary school. Our our partnership with uh project leadership and the chamber has been really really tremendous. So, project leadership helped us rewrite our planning for college and careers class at the middle school that counts for high school credit. Um, really interactive, up to-date, real life scenarios for students and for that first year of implementation. They were in our classrooms all the time watching the watching the implementation and making those in-flight adjustments for our
070families or for our kids. Um, and then we started doing college and career coaching through project leadership at the high school where they're sitting down with with the um high school kids having conversations about future plans um the um and and in conjunction I think with the guidance counselor. They're not doing it in isolation but they're working with the guidance counselor to do that as well. Um and then and then the chamber. So, the chamber is a is a new piece where they're having u additional college and career conversations uh with our seniors to find workplace learning experiences. That could be a one-off observation or a more immersive opportunity like going to a law office several times a week and visiting with Jim. But, um we we practically adopted it. I I wonder if he
071was on payroll. Yeah. Yeah, I think we I think we did give him some money. Um so that that's a that is a um a tremendous asset for the high school. Not quite where we want it to be yet. Um still have plenty of room for growth, but I would rather get some of those growing pains out of the way now. Um as we bring in that new graduating class, um of new freshmen for next year. Um, we continue to grow our project lead the way and our STEM activities across the district. Uh, we're just getting much much better at providing those opportunities and having high quality instruction and and growing the program at the high school offer. Our our fine arts are just top-notch. No one else around has the ability to offer or
072offers the the quality of fine arts programming that we have from from licensed teachers at the elementary schools teaching math or teaching um um music, physical education, and art um all with all of the offerings that we offer through the secondary. So, I was thinking about that at graduation, how blessed Muny Community Schools are to have a high school band in the pit playing for graduation. I mean, that is people. That is very unusual. I don't know how many high school graduations you're going to go to and see that and with that level of quality. Uh, and we try I try not to take it for granted, but um, but it is remarkable. Yeah. And I, you know, and I, as a former music teacher, I loved that opportunity to perform. I mean, the Emmons
073is a world class facility. I mean, so the our choir to perform there and our band to get to perform there is um, it's just tremendous. But I try not to take them for granted, but um, they are they are fine groups. I mean, they're playing college level literature at the high school in the in the top concert band in the top choir. By the way, while we're talking about graduation, just for a second, um I know that we've been in a lot of locations here. It feels like we were more than a year. We were at the Fieldhouse and Emmens. Uh is any thoughts on staying in Evans to do graduation? Oh, yeah. They they like Emmens a lot. It just feels like a much more formal setting. those conversations that we've had. They
074were nervous at first because none of those folks had hosted a the commencement there before. Um, and I I I would I would like to sit down and have some conversations about even limiting the tickets. I thought we had some seats up top. I don't not sure that we would need to do that anymore even with that bigger graduating class. Yeah. Um, but it just feels like a much better venue. Well, and I thought our parents and their families um it felt like a very very nice environment for them. Yeah. And they uh it felt like the the students it was just a special location for them. Not that the fieldhouse isn't special, right? But it it a gymnasium just by its nature gymnasium. Is a gymnasium and you're seated on hard wooden benches. I
075mean by the Yeah, we can work on that. Yes, I'm not I I I'm confident that that we wouldn't have to do tickets, but maybe maybe not. Maybe there's a much greater demand that I'm aware of. I think kids from all other schools would Oh, that's a good point. I didn't think about kids. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. I like the venue. I think it's it honors our our students and their families in a really unique way. Getting closer. Getting closer. Fill in that sinkhole. Got a single slab jack. Gota slab jack it up. I just like saying it. I think um Okay. Um our English learners and dual language program continues to to expand. Um I think our they'll be in eighth grade. Our our first dual language kindergarten class that we started, they will be
076eighth graders next year. So that will be the extent of the program and that offering. So we're excited about excited about that and you know since uh 2022 our English learner population has continued to grow and expand. Um certainly love that they they enhance our corporation. So we continue to to work to meet their meet their needs. Um but a new uh a new population to our community that I think only makes us um stronger. um continue to offer our uh dual credit and advanced placement opportunities. I shared a little bit about that tonight and at course graduation. That youth science is new. So that youth science aptitude assessment is um is a opportunity for students to have conversations about their interests and maybe their their skills to what they could do after high school.
077certainly don't want it to to pigeon hole them into something that they don't necessarily want to be in, but um it's a catalyst for conversations. Sometimes students are shocked on the skills that they have and that what things that they they could be good at. Um so I certainly happy with the way that's rolled out and the um experience that's been for our students. So, I had to go to the Mac Awards and there it was so cool. But I like the part where the kids after they were announced with their certificate or whatever they do and if they were going to college, they wouldn't sign with like their company or their school or anything like that. I would love if we could like even expand more to the kids at Central, you know what
078I mean? Like they could if they were going to, you know, we have an I table at you're going to sign. I just I just thought that was such a cool experience, especially for some of the kids that, you know, that'll be special. They were so excited to sign, you know, wherever. Yeah. That was so cool. They had the Yeah. So, Mr. Walker, oddly enough, we just talked about how how maybe we could revamp that senior night experience. Um, I think I think that could be that could be a part of that, maybe even a a sit down dinner for those folks. I mean, to make that senior night experience a little more special. So, we'll we'll put that on there. I think that's terrific. um excited about our extended learning opportunities, our our afterchool
079programming, our summer school programming. Um certainly had lots of partnerships, one of the foundation foundational pieces of of what we do. Um we talked about the the Ball State summer camps, Muny Parks and Rex uh are um hired a number of our kids to to do some work and then to do some education about financial responsibility and of course teen works is another one of those programs that that we are um very appreciative of. Launch of our innovation summit. So that was one of the one of the biggest and first things that we did after the partnership was announced. We've we've been able to leverage funds from from many sources to continue that. Most recently, we we've uh worked with the Ball Brothers Foundation to help sponsor that. That is one of the I think
080the truest distinguishing characteristics of our of our district. No other district. They might have PD days where they offer sessions, but no one is no one offers a full national level conference for their district. So, um, something that the teachers talk about, um, during process checks. Um, so we're just proud of that work and and hope to continue that and we'll continue to work to find, um, find opportunities to fund that. A few other key updates. We're going to continue to grow our teacher and principal fluency um, in CLA and the science of reading and the new writing curriculum in grades K to five. um our middle school math instructional focus. Um we talking about teacher turnover. I think that's probably one of our our biggest areas of teacher turnover is middle school math and
081and maintaining those teachers two twofold. I think um we have a lot of folks that are transitioning teaching in those spots um and they're new teachers um both. So, how can we better support them through uh instructional leadership, new resources, um a person dedicated to the middle school math teachers, um and that's going to be part of a new George and Francis Balkan grant that that that work is going to begin um and will be listed in the strategic plan. Yeah. Yes. Absolutely. They um that cradle to career approach they embrace and have just been alongside of us on just about everything that we've done. It's unbelievable. Unbelievable. Uh one of the things that we I won't say that we've neglected, but we've not put an emphasis on is the revision of the high school
082maps. We take time and we spent time with social studies, math, English, and science uh right at the early stages of the partnership, but we have really been laser focused on our elementary maps and middle school maps. Um so this in the next iteration of our strategic plan, we're going to spend some more time revising all of the all the maps at the high school level. per se, but yeah, on the curriculum handbooks. Yeah. Offering the correct courses to match the the new graduation requirements. Yes. But now we need to do a better job of revising like the nth grade English math. Yes. [Music] [Laughter] science. science. [Music] Um, one strategy that's not quite complete in your strategic plan yet is our um strategies to support our special education students, teachers, and staff. Um, uh,
083we hope to have that done in the next week or so. We just didn't feel comfortable. Uh we've gathered in input from from teachers during process checks from principles um at at principal meetings and and um have worked with Jenny Smithson on on some of those strategies. But now we need to bring all those pieces together and write two to four strategies specifically um earmarked for support of our special education students. So that will be in that next iteration that that we share. We've talked about this in terms of special ed challenges that are some pointage hard way. How do we how do we do this manner that best serves our students respectively but also doesn't detract from Right. Those are really really tough questions. I just think at some point we Sorry for the
084interruption. That's just that's been on my mind. I continue to brainstorm with with Leanne about about strategies and you know we we have some unique factors. Our our special ed population is high. I mean we're in 22% special ed. I think state average is is 14. So um and then and then we are also the kind of the hub of the consortium where where we have some of the students too. But yeah, and so much of this comes down to service to those most vulnerable of our students and managing the resources available to the district as a whole. And that's not an easy those are not easy questions. You're right. Y um continuation of the education summit. We want to continue to do that as as I mentioned earlier as a as a defining characteristic
085of our district. um working on a middle school redesign of career and technical education and blending that into science and project lead the way standards. So making sure that we have career and technical education touch points as it relates to those science and project lead the way science engineering technology math standards that they're covering in class. to make sure they're they're seeing real world experiences and applications um in those classes specifically. I think that um uh Phillips spoke about that. He was mentioned that they're going to do some mapping this summer. So, he is he's already heard and marked that on his calendar that that um uh Mrs. Pulmeek's going to lead those conversations this summer. Quick question. Do we do we bring professionals in that are in these careers to speak to the students
086at times? At times we we need to be a little more um intentional about bringing those folks in to do that. That'll be a focus of this schoolific science in sixth grade and robotics and architecture in seventh grade and medical grade. along with that is part of that. And then the lastly, another new piece of the of the strategic plan will be the high school redesign. The freshman academy is um is already picking up momentum. I think one of our most viewed posts and videos is that is that is that um freshman academy video. So putting kids on teams and then just being able to separate them and have a little more intentional conversations in the freshman seminar course about good study habits and being a good students but then selecting selecting a pathway or
087a seal that they want to pursue pursue for their for their high school career. What's our freshman seminar course going to cover this year? Um it's it's a wide variety. It'll it will count for a communication credit and a computer science credit. So there'll be Yep. [Music] Occasionally you'll see programs like that that will have everybody read the same book and I don't I just want to make certain we were dealing with a broader Yeah. Yeah. Oh yeah. I see what you're saying. Yeah. Yeah. There there'll be um and I would say some of the very best teachers at Central have been have committed to be in that freshman academy, you know, which was not typically the case, right? You kind of earned your stripes and you moved on from teaching the lowly freshman. you
088were on to the juniors and seniors and AP classes, but some of our very best folks are are leading those freshman academy. It's good. It's good, right? You know, you put your very best people where you need the most supports. Um, continue to unpack those new diploma requirements and I would say specifically with those learn workbased learning experiences. Um, the state defines that loosely and we want to make sure that we are we like we like that ability to to have some some flexibility with that, but we also want to make sure they're rich experiences for our students that they're just not checking a box because they they worked at McDonald's, right? We want to make sure that if if it is working at McDonald's that it's a a worthwhile experience, not just to um
089not just to check the box. um looking at some pillars. So, our formative assessments aligned with I read 3 and I learn. So, we're we're transitioning to the um I learn checkpoints, which if I had a crystal ball, I'm going to say that that's going to be um we're going to transition to a new assessment, but I'm going to I think that that's going to be a beginning, middle, and end of the year type of assessment that um will might replace I learn at some time. That's not what's been said yet, but um we we need to make sure that that we have a good formative assessment. That's that's a good predictor of student success and their needs. Uh right now we're using I Ready to do that and grades K to three. Um have
090some good longitudinal data as predictors, but um we need we need a better source even 3 to eight for the iLearn. the formative assessments I think will get there. It's not there yet, but um we need to continue to work on that. Uh elementary math resources, something that we heard we while we adopted new math curriculum, there's some challenges with our math curriculum, some some positives and some negatives, but um one of the challenges is that they need some more spiral review and they also need some intervention work. So, we're working um we're going to be working on trying to find that math intervention resource that will help serve serve our elementary math needs. Um for that kind of so so we will we will Heidi will take the lead on that but we'll collaborate
091at a district level but then we'll also work with the building leaders and invite teachers to be in on that conversation too and find pilots Um, come. Yep. It's coming. That's what I was going to say. They'll start to it'll catch up, but like science of breathing, we'd like to be ahead of it. Not not be waiting on it to happen to us, but to be ahead of it with with numerousy and and again like we've mentioned before that just the reduced reduction in state and federal grants for extending learning. Um I I fear that we'll see many of those Ball State summer camp programs types of things that that were offered following CO that we'll begin to see those go away. I'm I'm nervous about that and keeping our kids engaged. So, we're going
092to continue to be creative and find ways to do that, but see that as a barrier. And then then I mentioned unpacking those new diplomac standards and specifically those those workbased uh learning experiences and what that looks like for our kids. Pillar four, um that'll be our student success and resiliency resources um for those social social and emotional learning needs for our students. Um, so we've had some really good growth with our multi-tiered system of support. So you you hear the abbreviation MTSS a lot. So we have good school teams. We've established meeting norms and MTSS handbook to help help those um conversations and those meetings for students. Um, our partnership with Marian University and City Connect has been really a gamecher for our buildings um to provide a a master's level social worker in
093our schools through a robust researchbased program at um Marian and City Connects through Boston University has been tremendous. We transitioned from the compre uh the crisis prevention institute to the professional crisis management response team for our the for our students. That's how you handle students and crisis deescalation prevention re-engagement of our students. Um transition to PCM and that has been a really positive um addition to the uh to our teachers and our our principal tool bags. um had offered extensive professional development for the well-being of our students. We brought in Ross Green, a child psychology expert, and had about an 18-month journey with with him and and lots of terrific takeaways. Still plenty to do, but lots of terrific takeaways from that. We've increased the number of behavior coaches. I think at one point we
094had two. Um, now we have six, I think, across the district, including two district folks that that float and support all of our schools. um launched Playworks, which is organized play at at a couple of our our um elementary schools through a partnership with Boys and Girls Club and an SEAL can grant with George Francis Ball Foundation where they teach them games, but then how to to play and interact with students and have positive compet competitions, competitive um interactions without it escalating. So, uh, a really a ter terrific program that was just just launched this year. So, I think you'll see key updates in the new strategic plan. We'll continue to improve our MTS process. While we've done a really nice job of making progress, there is still plenty to do. Um, we're going to
095continue to do professional development for our teachers and our and our administrators. do lots of continue to do lots of data connection collection and analysis and then continue to work on our UDL our universal design for of learning um instructional strategies to make sure we're reaching all kids. Something new that we're going to try this year is a new digital resource for our school counselors. Um it's it's uh from Quaver. is the same the same same platform that we use for elementary music, but it's a a resource for to promote positive interactions with our students. I think Eric talked about this um Oh, that's not that's coming up. It's at our next next board meeting. So, we'll talk about that adoption at our next board meeting. Little foreshadowing for you. Um, we want to continue
096to engage with our our families and our caregivers through big idea nights, our our um parent councils. I'm going to start a CEO parent advisory council and a student um advisory council at the district office um for the district. And then we want to expand Playworks to um to East Washington Academy and Longfellow to add some additional opportunities for there um for them as well. Okay. All right. Last pillar. Um our family and community engagement. I'd say this is this our pillar we had really had to put on hold once COVID hit. we said we were going to launch and had terrific ideas about how to engage families and and parents and get them into our schools and then we told them they couldn't come in. So, this was probably the slowest um slowest pillar
097that we've that we've worked on. Um but we we have completed climate a climate survey and a family community engagement survey that we just completed last spring and we been working on this school year. um can't say enough about our engagement through the through the George and Francis Ball cradle to career my initiative. It just o opened up so many pathways to our partnerships. It it just integrated so much of the community in into what we do. Um, I don't know that I'd recommend going through what we had to go through to get to that point, but um, boy, but the unattended consequence was cradle to career my just the tremendous partnership that that's offered. Um, something that we heard at our first listening learn sessions in 19 and 20 was that they wanted parent
098teacher conferences back. They wanted to make they wanted to come in have conversations with teachers and we were able to do that. um um through the two-hour early release days. And we've continued to evolve those to um really one day is a they're both two-hour early release, but the one the first day has kind of uh transformed into a late night session for most of our elementary families. Um, we've partnered with Meridian to offer all of our school nurse services and um, additional mental health and physical health services, including that federally qualified health um, school health center at at Southside Middle School. And then we've implemented our new uh, parent communication tool, parent square, which is has been really tremendous if if the the staff if they are engaged in using that, and we're going
099to continue to work on that, as you'll see next. um they love it. They absolutely love it as a communication method to to our um to our families. So, something that we didn't quite get done last year, we or in the last plan that we had conversations about transitioning to, we still want to develop some studentled parent teacher conferences. We're looking at doing some pilots um maybe at our high ability program in EWA to start with, but we'd really love to see studentled parent teacher conferences where they're you know the students are having conversations about their own data and what they're learning. Um but that that will that will be a process to do but I'm excited about what that can bring. So tell us what that looks like. Yeah. So, um kind of a
100the students have to keep a dashboard dashboard for themselves and know their progress on how they're they're meeting their their individual school goals for academics or social um but just progressing through that grade level. But at student-ledd conversations that that student works from that dashboard and leads that conversation with the parent and the teacher and then the the teacher can support with experiences or fill in the gaps where the student has identified their own weaknesses and how the teacher is going to support that and then how the parent can support that from home. So and what grade level do you start? Um, well, we're going to try maybe fourth and fifth high ability is is where we would like to pilot that, but once we have a pilot developed, something that we could roll out
101for all of our classrooms, but it it will be we're we have pockets where students are really taking some good ownership of their of their data and their learning. Um, just got to that's got to be more of a normalized practice, doesn't it? where this yeah say it's a performance but it's really I mean when your student is leading it they're advocating for you to make sure you have that parent teacher conference our engagement is good but um it certainly would not be wouldn't it's not as good as the if the students let it and they were advocating for the parent to come into the parent conferences Remember Art Link letter? Yes. You never know. Yeah. Right. I would like to film these because there's going to be some really good stuff. We might film
102some of them as as learning videos, but they all might not get published because you just never know. Could have a blooper in house reel. That was a good show. Yeah, because I would I would report I think I'm doing well. I'm pretty good. Yeah. Well, what about your talking in class? That's fine. I'm talking about good things. I'm teaching teach. I'm teaching. I I really am anxious to hear how this goes. Yeah. Well, so I have ideas. Not all of them are good, but uh it's an idea. No, no, no. I'm not saying it's not good. I'm just I want to I'm I'm actually I think it has potential. Yeah, I really do to be very funny, right? Uh I talked about wanting to create a um a parent uh advisory team or council
103for the CEO. I working on that as we speak. We have some interest forms and going to put together some videos and push that out. Fantastic. through social media working with Meridian to to expand the federally qualified school clinics, school health clinics to um two more of our schools. So, we're um hoping to do that in this next iteration. What other schools you looking at? Um looking at uh Central and Westview. Okay. So, is there a room at Westview? Uh yeah, their their new space is fantastic. their new health clinic is it? Yeah, it's precious. Um, and then, you know, we're always going to continue to expand our our partnerships. There's there's room for always room for more support and more partnerships across our district. So, we can we'll want to continue to to expand
104and look for new ways to engage. So in that vein, what I would like to do, Brad, is once we see the the actual impact of SB1 and the cuts to on my way prek and the CCDF vouchers, I'd like to have a a talking a one-page sheet to talking points. and for board members and other friends of the community to be out talking with parents, citizens, because the impact is real in terms of what's happening to our communities. It's not limited to Muny. It's it's it's everywhere. And I I just want to be in a position to articulate with a degree of accuracy and credibility what's the impact uh in real dollars and cents and then fundamentally what that means and and and do you really mean to put the the real slang on
105it that needs to be put on it at the expense of the legislators? You really want the legislators to hear this? I want them to hear it. You want them to hear it. Got it. Yeah. No, I mean I I'm not sure um they know they fully understand. Yeah. And I think when we start talking about Indiana and its future from the standpoint of e economic survival in the 21st century, what the state itself has said needs to happen in order for the state to continue to be an economic location where where businesses want to come. Um this is what has to happen. they they have the data on those percentages and this last session does not meet that and you know the CEO of Lily has made that clear in some of those conversations
106and I think the more that we can educate our neighbors understanding that um setting aside the moral imperative which is real there are economic reasons for why we need to revisit what's happening there's another session, another budget session in two years. And it's important that we tell that story. So that's we can do that. Okay. And I don't think we know yet. Yeah, I would say we don't know yet because SB1 I mean the property taxes will receive uh this calendar year still. I was talking with Baker Tilly the other day on a related another client and they are hoping to have a little clearer picture by August. So but we all know the impact is yeah we do our budget presentation in second week in August and um because all this so well thought
107out well I know because what we have been told uh is to reduce our assessed valuation by 30% where normally we would reduce it by for our purposes of budget presentation reduce it uh 30% versus in previous years we'd reduce it 15%. and that's to artificially lower your AV to make your tax rate higher because they literally the DLGF is not sure what's going to happen to AV. They're expecting it to drop 30% over the next five years. So, okay. Well, I I just think it's if you want to talk about it, fine. If you don't, fine. But I I think we at least need to have the information. Yeah, that that's a scary thing to say. It's like, wow, I I we don't we don't know yet. Um and and then then then that
108last slide just talks about our next steps. What what I'd recommend or hope that we could do, gather feedback and make some updates from our session today, finalize the draft and get it out to our review team um for any final updates and get it to you and then submit officially to the school board for approval at the July 15th meeting. And then then then it's a quick turnaround after that. that we'll we'll want to we have our administrative re retreat on July 21st which um this is needed to help guide that instruction um and direction and then our opening day for teachers will be August 4th so we'll want to make sure that we get it out and into those hands by then like two months away I know I know less than right
109um and then we we'll still have to do our strategic plan update for our October submission and then once we this strategic plan approved. Well, then we'll revise that dashboard so it's reflective of of the of the new strategic plan that's on our website. It's a lot of work. So, let me ask this question because here's the way I've described it. Traditionally, the innovation plan was put together as a result of the statute in 2018. It is the umbrella under which we operate. the strategic plan, the first strategic plan was derivative of the innovation plan, the the five pillars and the two foundational principles. Yes. And so this iteration of the strategic plan is simply an update of uh the five-year plan that we're coming to an end on, but the innovation plan itself is
110unchanged. Is that correct? Yes. And then um when we report our progress, it is a report of our progress on the strategic plan that was developed derivative of the innovation plan. Yes. Okay. That's right. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Uh any questions concerning uh the items we've covered? I I'm very pleased with uh the progress you've made. Take a look. We all have at our tables the um the handout which has in greater detail. If there are things that you think need to be included or changed, uh let Dr. Reynolds know for consideration. Um you know, we did a state of the schools event in May of 24. We may want to look at doing one in May of 26 as it concerns the the first year of our innovation new the the updated innovation or
111updated strategic plan, pardon me. Um so I would just again giving um our constituencies a chance to be heard and to hear what's happening would be helpful. Yeah. uh and we'll have a full year. What was the progress on the science of reading at the middle school? Um Eric, do you know do you have that data off top of your head for I learn data or just implementation? I just want to know what generally I don't need data. I just I really am interested in how well it was received and what do we think our students how they're addressing it, dealing with it. I would say overall for the first year it's a learning process year middle school next year of it was the greatest challenge in middle school because they have a 60 minute
112period to teach that and curriculous in depth. So they're finding they have to cover it in two days or a day and a half instead of what's done. So as they kind of figure out the ins and outs of that, I look forward to hearing. Okay. Thank you. Anything further before we move to adjourn? Entertain a motion. Thank you. I know it was a lot of talking. Not very that wasn't a very good teacher model. Yeah. Adopt June July 15th. July 15th. Yeah. So, um Dr. Kay has been just integral in helping us pin these strategies and we've had several meetings on each of the pillars, but she is collecting all that information and helping us pin. So, um, next step will be get her get her the feedback from today and move move forward.
113Yeah. I I just think that it's absolutely critical that we really think hard about what we need to do to keep the progress moving at preK and in those early grades. Um and um I I don't those are not easy answers, but we make great progress. I hate to take steps back. Yeah, we've got momentum. [Music] Man, we we had some challenges to start the school year. Yeah, a few challenges. Yeah, the thank you to the leadership team for for really good year. I'm glad it's summer. Uh I tend to sleep a little better. Yes. So yeah, thank you all. Um good recruit, man. Yeah. And what about that retention rate? It is night and day from what it used to be. Um I mean I I want to jinx this, but staffing for next
114year looks really really good. Um yeah. 10 days. Pardon me. 10 days. 10 new hires in two days. Fantastic. Keep it up. Motion to adjourn. Second. All in favor? I. Okay. Thank you all. Good evening everybody. Go Pacers.