001Every time I get in here, I feel like I don't know what I'm doing. >> We're going to call to order the uh Leaport Community School Corporation uh school board meeting. Today is Monday, June 8th, 2026. We'd ask that you please silence your phones and please stand and join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay, Secretary Batty, can you do a roll call, please? >> Mr. Arnold, >> present. >> Mr. LZ, >> here. >> Miss Jackson >> here. >> Miss Harley >> here. Vice President King. >> President Seabird here. >> You have a quorum. >> Okay. Uh Dr. Wood, do you want to
002tee this up? So next order is I learn National Math Stars recognition. >> Yes. So Dr. Tonagle is going to present some information this evening about some wonderful students that we have with us this evening that we are highlighting. An amazing recognition. >> All right. Good evening everybody. uh Mr. Huber, Mr. Shabel, if you would please come up with your students and parents. And as you come forward, I want to tell a little bit about what you're going to be introducing. But we are very fortunate as a corporation to have students from Critzfield and Hyman and their families here to celebrate a very uh big accomplishment. I'm going to let the principles introduce uh these students, but these wonderful mathematicians scored in the top 2% on the iLearn checkpoints throughout the year. and so have
003made uh quite a significant um achievement that we want to recognize. So, Mr. Huber, uh Mrs. Shabel, I'll pass the mic off to you. >> This is Jay Ramirez and his family and Mariah Hart and her family. Uh she really wanted to do math, but I told her, "No, no, we're going to wait, not do it right now." >> I have Charlotte Huffman and her family and Isaac Cornet and his family. And this program is a part of the national stars mathematics program that is a partnership with the Indiana Department of Education. And so throughout the state, they are recognizing students for achieving the top 2% of scores across the whole state. So congratulations to our students and their families tonight. >> That's amazing. >> Congratulations. [applause] [applause] >> Well, thank you so much. Good
004job everybody. >> Good job. Congratulations. >> Well done. >> I'm sorry. I almost forgot. I have uh award packets for you all uh with medals and some decals and a letter from the DOE and the National Masters program. I apologize. Thank you. >> Almost forgot the best part. >> Yeah. >> [applause] [applause] >> Okay, next we have a uh a school spotlight uh Leaport High School. >> All right, Mr. Up is here this evening and he is going to come forward um starting out his school spotlight with a very special recognition this evening. Good evening. >> First of all, thank you for the opportunity for allowing us to highlight one of our um highlights of the port high school this year. Uh this highlight's a little bit different. It's it represents a slice of community.
005Very But it also represents an individual's heartfelt passion to make a difference. back in October, we were not notified by representatives from Riley's Children's Hospital that was awarded and recognized as Riley's as one of Riley's champions. Riley's Children's Foundation created the Riley's Champion Program. [laughter] >> Riley's Champion Program to recognize and honor remarkable Riley Hospital patients who translate their courage during a medical challenge into philan philanthropic actions in their community. We are very honored to have O'Reilly's champion, Tessa Keepky, from our high school and in our community. I'd like to welcome and introdu introduce Tessa who just graduated recently and Olivia Mosy from Riley Hospital to tell us more about the outstanding honor. >> Cool. >> Thank you for having me with your school community today. Um more than 15 years ago, Riley Children's Foundation
006started a program called Riley Champions presented by Kroger. The program honors Riley Children's Health patients who demonstrate courage and a commitment to giving back to the community while navigating their own medical obstacles. Tessa has been donating books to the medical and molecular genetics outpatient clinic at Riley Children's Health since she was three years old. She has a rare disorder that prevents her body from converting certain fats into energy. Thanks to specialized care at Riley, Tessa has led an active life as a varsity volleyball player and plans to study radiography at college in the fall. Riley Children's Foundation chose to honor Tessa as a 2026 Riley champion presented by Kroger. In this role, she shares her personal Riley story to share why Riley Hospital is important to our state and why it needs support. Last December,
007Tessa was interviewed live on camera during, excuse me, lost my bounce there a little bit, was interviewed live on camera during the NBC Chicago morning show. Today, we are thrilled to celebrate Tessa and her school community. Congratulations, Tessa. When we have a gift from Riley Children's Foundation and Kroger that will hang proudly in your school. That's awesome. Yeah. Very, very cool. >> Very cool. [applause] [clears throat] >> Thanks. >> Well, thank you so much. Great job. >> So Tessa, I just want I can't go without saying this. So I know Dr. Wood and I both have kids that are Riley kids. >> So this is awesome. So thank you so much. >> Congratulations. >> Okay. So the next order business is public comment. We had one public comment sign up. Um Katie Talbert. [clears throat]
008>> So Katie, uh the rules are you have three minutes and you got to keep it clean. >> I'm trying my best. Three minutes might be a struggle. Just kidding. I timed myself. My name is Katie Telbert and I'm a Project Lead the Way teacher in the corporation. But tonight I am speaking as a parent. My husband Rick and I Oh, wait. Now I'm going to start to cry. My husband Rick and I have lived in Leaport for 31 years and we've raised four daughters here. All of whom attended Leaport Community Schools. Although I was not born here, Leaport has become my home. Tonight, I want to sincerely thank the school board staff, teachers, and administrators for the education and opportunities my children have had. We now have four grandchildren who attend or will attend
009Leaport schools, and education continues to be a central part of our family story. My daughter Justine graduated from Purdue University in 2021 or from Leaport High School in 2021 and earned her an engineering degree from Purdue in 2025. She now works for Rathon in Tucson, Arizona as a quality engineer for the Department of Defense. Tonight, I want to focus on my daughter, Emma. Emma recently graduated from Leaport High School and will attend Purdue University School of Nursing this fall. Purdue nursing is a direct admit program with an acceptance rate of about 8% and is one of the and is the top program in Indiana. Her acceptance is a tremendous accomplishment. Emma is enthusiastic, determined, and hardworking. And she graduated from Leaport High School in the top 10% of her class and was active in school
010and the community. If you know Emma, you probably have seen her in action. Standardized testing was a challenge for her and she did not initially initially believe Purdue was possible, but she applied anyway. I had to write it down because I knew I would choke up. As a boiler maker myself, I encouraged her not to limit her dreams. When the decisions came in, she had multiple ch college options. One of the biggest reasons she had those options and choices was because of the opportunity she experienced through Leaport High School and the Health Pathways program. On January 15th, she learned she had been accepted as a direct admit into Purdue nursing. And we were incredibly proud of her and she was proud of herself. Many of the opportunities Emma pursued were things I did not even
011know existed at Leaport Community Schools. Once she discovered health pathways, she fully embraced it. Do I have to stop? >> No. No. >> She I'm almost done. >> That wasn't That was not the timer. >> Okay. >> She earned her CNA license. She gained real world healthcare experience. And if you were here at a a different school board meeting, she took us on a tour of the facilities located here at Boston. She built a foundation that prepared her for college and career readiness. At the end of this school year, she will have her medical assistant medical assistant and her phlobotomy license as well. combined with her work eth ethic, her personality, these experience helped her stand out in the admissions process at Purdue. Emma now works as a CNA at Brickyard Healthcare and it's not
012an easy job, but she loves it because the education re she received through Leaport Community School Corporation. She's already prepared to work in healthcare. If she chose not to attend college, she would still be ready to enter the workforce with valuable skills and credentials. I'm incredibly proud of Emma, but I'm also incredibly proud of Leaport Community Schools. Over the years, I have watched this corporation invest in students, create opportunities, and help young people discover what they are capable of achieving. Tonight, I want to say thank you. And thank you to the school board administrators and teachers and staff for believing in students like Emma and preparing them for the futures they can be proud of. >> Awesome. Thank you, Katie. [applause] [applause] >> I had to write it all down. I didn't think >> I
013quite know that's okay. >> Did Did you sign up as well? >> I just did on the paper. >> So, you have to get it in by 6. We'll make an exception for you. So, come on up and maybe state your name. [laughter] Good afternoon evening. My name is Elizabeth Rassel. I'm a chiropractor here in Leaport, right Kitty Corner over here. I've been practicing for 25 years and I'm here with my husband Tony Echovich, lifelong Leaportion and my three children, Frank Echovich. Raise your hand, Frank. Lynn Reker and Tony Anne. Tony Anne, raise your hand. All three of my kids are adopted. We adopted them locally through six degrees of separation. And that means God had his hand on the adoption process. Um, that's not why I'm here. The reason why I'm here is I
014received a letter in the mail. And if I could read it to you, um, out loud. It says uh May 2026. Dear parents and guardians, the Indiana State Health Department of Health has im has immunization requirements for children of the age of entering into sixth grade for 2026 27 school year. We ask that you please be sure to provide proof that your child had just received the TAP after the age of 10 and the MCV4 um something vaccine. And this is where it shook me and my son because he can read. He's going into sixth grade. It says, "Your child must have proof of receiving these vaccinations by the first day of 2026 27 school year August 14th. These immunizations can be obtained by your family doctor at or at the Leaport County Health Department
015by calling this number at this extension. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact Kristen Ramos." So, I did contact her and I and I asked her why we received this letter. Um, basically saying that you must have proof of receiving this and she thanked me for calling and she said, "To be quite honest, I don't know why they word it this way because it's implying that in order for it to go to public school, you have to have these vaccinations." And that's not the truth. In the state of Indiana, it is um I don't even know the name of the rule, but it basically says due to the first amendment of a religious exemption that children can uh go to public school without being vaccinated. We choose not to vaccinate our children.
016Um I work with a lot of parents that choose not to vaccinate whether it's COVID or natural or immunizations, inoculation, and it it really shook my son Frankie. He actually teared up and got emotional and he he said, "But mom, it says must." And it's highlighted and it's bolded and it's italicized. So, I'm here to request and I know the school board submits this information. And the lady that I spoke to, um, Miss Kristen, she said that she got exactly the wording that needed to go on this documentation and sent home with each and every child. Um, I'm requesting that you remove the must or put afterwards or pro have an exemption form signed and released so that we can, you know, let people go to school and that we're not to telling our children
017that vaccinations are a must in order to go to public school. So, I just wanted to say that out loud and and hopefully we can have this written a little bit better um for next year hopefully. >> Thank you. Okay. Um, next board of business is the uh consent agenda. There are eight items on the consent agenda. Uh, the first is approval of the minutes of the May 11th, 2026 schoolboard meeting. Then the financials for ratification and approval. The treasurer's report. The approval of extended contract days for health careers instructor position. Revised administrative and support staff handbooks. Out ofstate and overnight field trip request, personnel recommendations and travel request, and 2026 summer school personnel updated. I will be abstaining from this vote, but is there a motion for the consent agenda? >> I'll make a
018motion. >> Thank you, Nate. Second. >> Second. Thank you, Jen. All those in favor say I. >> Opposed. >> Motion carries. >> All right. Uh there is no special personnel recommendations. So the next order of business is the superintendent report. Dr. Wood. >> Thank you. Tonight I'd like to begin by recognizing a few additions once again to our leadership team for the 2026 2027 school year. Um so first I'd like to formally introduce Christ Bruin, our new director of business to the board this evening. Um, so Chris was actually approved by the board last month in our May board meeting. Um, but unfortunately he was unable to attend that meeting because he was on his honeymoon. >> Um, so he's joining us this evening to be able to meet everyone. Um, he brings extensive experience
019in school finance operations and long-term financial planning. We're very excited to have him join our leadership team as we are continuing to update the administrative structure that was approved by the board this spring. So hopefully you'll have a chance if you haven't already to meet uh Chris this evening. Um second, I'd like to introduce Shawn Pluto who is here this evening and was just approved as part of our consent agenda as the new director of human resources. So Shawn is joining us with a unique background that we will believe we believe will be a tremendous asset to our district. He began his career in education as both a classroom teacher and a school counselor before transitioning into human resource leadership roles in the private sector where he has spent the past decade leading HR departments,
020managing employee relations, developing organizational culture, and overseeing workforce development initiatives. So, we're very excited to welcome Shawn back to the education field where he can kind of combine um the two areas that he has spent his career in so far. Um, and we uh believe that he's really going to bring a unique perspective as he's succeeding Gina Tits following her retirement on July 1. Um, so join me in welcoming both of these gentlemen. We hope you have an opportunity to talk with them. We've got some slicer gear for them, too. So, it's in my office, so make sure that they're all decked out in black and orange when they start. >> Welcome. [applause] And next um as part of my report we have another um small spotlight this evening. Um we would like to highlight
021once again to for the board our slicer ambassador program. So we have a few of our ambassadors here this evening. Um so those who participate it participated in our ambassador program if you could please stand. So we have Tony Drew Buchanan and Dan Big who are here with us this evening. We had a total of about 12 ambassadors that went through. This was cohort two of our ambassador program. So, we appreciate um these gentlemen showing this evening to to showcase a little bit about what we were able to accomplish with this with this group. So, as you know, we launched this program two years ago in response to community feedback requesting greater transparency, stronger communication, and more opportunities for community members to learn about the work that's happening within our schools. So that since that
022time the program has become one of our most successful community engagement initiatives and I hope that um our participants would agree with that. The ambassadors this year have had the opportunity to go behind the scenes and learned about district operations, curriculum and instruction, finance, special education, career and technical education, facilities, transportation, and many other aspects of our organization. Most importantly, they've provided us with valuable feedback and perspectives that have helped us to continue improving as a school district. So, as part of our spotlight this evening on the ambassador program, I'm also happy to announce that the applications for cohort three of the slicer ambassador program that will take place within the 2627 school year. Um, those applications are now open and are posted to our website. The applications will remain open through August 1st. Um
023so anyone who is interested can go to our website and and access that application, fill it out. We are always looking for engaged community members who want to learn more about our schools and become informed ambassadors for public education in Leaport. And so if the board knows of any individuals that might be interested in joining cohort 3 of the program, um please send them our way. we'd be happy to um reach out to them directly to encourage enrollment and we're very excited to continue building this program. It's been very successful. Um I don't want to put anybody on the spot, but if there would be something that you'd like to share just for our board and for anyone that might be listening about the program and maybe the benefits that you found in it, we'd
024be we'd love to hear that. >> I was giving it to you. Uh I just want to say thanks to the administration and staff for taking the time to do this uh once a month for us. It was having kids in the school. You think you know a bit about it, but you you really learn a lot once you're in the uh in the midst of uh the daily life of the staff and uh the certain things that just stood out to me was the the cafeteria uh lunch program meeting, the science behind it and the the finance behind all of it that you just uh the state regulations that they have to follow. So, uh, it was really eye opening and I appreciate the time and and it it helps us, uh, as community
025members be able to have discussions and stuff and answer questions to others. So, thank you for that. >> I would just echo what Drew said. Um, I think I was probably most impressed with what goes on in here in this building and the expansion of the CTE programs going on here at Boston and the future planning that's going into some of that. Um, as well as the special education aspect. It was just a whole different side of of the school corporation that I think most people don't get to see. So, it was a great opportunity and I encourage everyone who's interested in the schools to apply to the next cohort. >> I was really impressed u really with the depth of the presentations uh from each one of the uh meetings that we were at
026and I think it it it's really a great program. I would highly encourage somebody if you either get invited or that you should get into this program because uh things look a lot different from the inside out than they do from the outside in. >> And um it it was very beneficial and very helpful to me and thank you very much. [applause] It is a time commitment for those that participated and so we're very appreciative of all of you that participated as well. Um it is about two hours once a month and so um they take time away from their busy schedules to prioritize this program. Um and so we're we're very appreciative that that they took the time to invest in our schools in in the way that they did. So thank you. >>
027Thank you. >> And that concludes my report. >> All right. Thanks guys. Um, okay. Next order of business is the assistant superintendent of student learning report, Dr. Tonagle. >> Yes, good evening again. I have a quick report today for you. Our summer learning program is underway and I want to share some numbers with you. Right now we have 80 students in grades three and four who are gaining uh important reading skills, foundational skills to uh do uh well on the I read summer assessment which will come up at the end of the month. Um those students are working at Hanley and this year they have some special programming through the Leaport County Public Library who is bringing in books and doing library time. We have guest speakers. We have STEM uh hands-on STEM experiences. So
028very engaging program that's every morning uh throughout the month. At our high school, we have over 115 students that are completing credit recovery. So gaining back credits that uh they did not get for one reason or another throughout the year. Um that is not an in-person uh program. So we're excited uh that those students are getting back on track to graduate. We also have a supervised agriculture experience through our FFA program and that's an important part of our students um agriculture experiences with 4 and the national FFA program. And that concludes my report. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Any questions for Dr. Tonagle? >> Any questions Dr. Wood never asked after she was done. >> Okay. All right. Next order of business is assistant superintendent uh assistant superintendent operations report. Dr. Oi, >> thank
029you. Good evening. Um, for my report tonight, I have the financial dashboard update for you um for the month of May. So, we have uh about 6.5 million total cash balance. Uh for the month of May, revenue was just over 5 million. For expenditures, we have just under 5 million at 4.95, which brings us to about 10.8% of cash uh as a percentage of our budget. Um the next slide you can see the breakdown of each fund. Uh our expenditures there no change in the rainy day. And then on the next side slide following the exact amount spent through May uh we are at 2.97 million uh for the month of May. And in operations fund we spent 1.35. So education fund we're at just about 41%. Uh we should be at 42% by this
030time of year. So, we're under in the education fund operations is a little over at 43.4%. Um, on the next slide points out again, we still have not yet received our tax draw. Um, I guess it's a little late this year. Normally, it comes in May. We haven't gotten it yet, but once that comes in, that will change things significantly. So, if you have any questions, I'd be happy to entertain those. >> Maybe the former senator can call his friends and ask a little bit. Where's our money? He's not listening tonight. >> He's been ignoring me all night. [laughter] >> Any other uh questions or comments? >> All right. Thank you, Dr. >> Okay. So, we're moving on to new business. The first uh order of new business is the recommendation to approve appointment of
031representative to the Leaport County Redevelopment Commission. Uh this is my new business. So, with Dr. Um well later on getting a new title um and Christa Breuan coming on board. Um Aaron or Dr. Rooney was sitting on the redevelopment uh Leaport County redevelopment commission. So uh we're going to make a someone's going to make a recommendation here shortly that uh uh Jen Farley is going to go back onto the uh redevelopment commission. Uh so the school gets uh one representative on the Leaport County Redevelopment Commission. It is a non voting member. Um but uh um yeah. So does somebody want to make a motion? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Amy. Second. >> Second. >> Thank you, Monica. Any discussion on that? >> All those in favor say I. I. >> Opposed. Okay. So Farley,
032you are back on the uh uh redevelopment commission. Um, okay. Next order of business is the recommendation to approve appointment of representative to the city of Leaport Redevelopment Commission. So, it's the same, uh, same thing here. Uh, Dr. On's kind of shifting jobs a little bit and Christa Bruins coming on. So, uh, does someone want to make a motion that Jim Arnold, uh, goes back on to the Leaport City Redevelopment Commission? >> I'll make that motion. >> Thank you, Nate. Second. Thank you, Jen. All any discussion? Uh, this is again, this is a non voting member uh of the redevelopment commission. Um, all those in favor say I. >> I opposed. >> Okay, Jim, you are back on the redevelopment commission. Next order of business is a recommendation to approve the acceptance of grants, donations,
033gifts, and bequests. Dr. would >> um we have a donation this evening um towards our AED program. So, I'm going to let Dr. Oni share a little bit about this donation that we're presenting to the board. >> Yeah, we're we're extremely grateful uh to our donors. Uh we received this past month um upwards of $20,000 uh to go towards AEDs. Um we are in desperate need of replacing those. We purchased about 40 at the same time. And when you do that with technology, they all go out about the same time. Um, so we saw a lot of schools where an AED here or there was going out. Each school still had at least one operational. Um, but because of this donation, we're going to be able to replace 18 AEDs, which is almost half of
034what we need. Um, so I want to say thanks to Play forJake Foundation. And then the other uh donor wanted to remain anonymous. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Is there a motion to accept the donation? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Monica. Second. >> Second. >> Thank you, Tucker. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. Opposed. >> Motion carries. >> Okay. Next order of business. Recommendation to approve the Franciscan Alliance Clinical Affiliation Agreement. Dr. Wood. >> Um, so this is an agreement with Franciscan Health. Um, we've heard a lot about our healthc careers program tonight in a couple different ways. And so this is an additional partnership that we're proposing to the board that is actually going to allow us to um take this program even a step further um in partnering
035with Franciscan Health who as you know have a facility right across the street from our high school. Um so it is very advantageous for our students who are enrolled in the health careers program to be able to work directly with um the uh nurses, doctors and and just have the the clinical experience at Franciscan. Um so this partnership will create new opportunities for students enrolled in our health careers pathway to part participate in clinical observations and hands-on learning experiences within the Franciscan healthcare facilities. So these authentic real world experiences are invaluable to students as they explore healthcare careers, develop professional skills and prepare for post-secary education and employment. Um so this agreement is another example of the work we are doing to strengthen career connected learning opportunities through slicer CTE. As you know health careers
036is one of the programs we brought here this year. We are now we have expanded to three classrooms um for that health careers program. So I am recommending that the board approve this agreement as presented which will give our students this opportunity to be on site at Franciscan next year. >> Someone want to make a motion. >> Thank you Jim. Second >> second. >> Thank you Jen. Um discussion. Anybody have any discussions or questions or >> I just think it's awesome and I mean just highlighted by Katie's comment. It's just a really cool opportunity for our kids. So excited to see it grow. >> Yes. Okay, I agree. All those in favor say I. >> I opposed. >> Motion carries. >> Next order of business is a recommendation for approval of revised assistant superintendent position
037description and title change. >> So this this recommendation um is aligned to the broader leadership restructuring that we've been discussing over the past several months. So with the departure of Dr. Dr. Tonagle and the creation of the new director of curriculum and instruction position. We've taken the opportunity to redesign the assistant superintendent role that Dr. Oni currently is in to better align with the needs of our schools and our principles. So the revised position shifts from a primarily operations focused role to a broader leadership role centered on principal support, operational oversight, district safety and security, and organizational coordination. So this change creates a clearer division of responsibilities within our leadership team and better positions us to support our schools, strengthen alignment across departments and meet the evolving needs of the district moving forward. So to
038note this is just a title change. Dr. Oni is still in the position. Um so we are just shifting officially his job description and title as now his role will shift a little bit with all of the changes that we're making. >> Someone want to make a motion as described by Dr. Wood. >> So moved. >> Thank you, Jen. Second. >> Second. >> Thank you, Tucker. And just to be clear, your new title will be assistant superintendent. >> Assistant superintendent. >> All right. That'll be easier for >> board meetings, too. So, yes. That's right. >> All right. Any other questions or comments? All those in favor say I. >> I. Opposed. >> Motion carries. Okay. Uh recommendation for approval of the operating agreement with the Leaport County Career Center for the 2026 2027 school year.
039Dr. Wood. >> So this operating agreement is with the Leaport County Career and Technical Education Area Vocational District number six, which a lot of you know as AK Smith in Michigan City. Um this is for the 2627 school year. Um so last month you may remember that the board approved moving forward with the application process to seek designation as our own career and technical education district. That process will take a year or more. So while that process is under review [clears throat] by the state um it remains important that we continue participating in the existing countywide structure for the 2627 school year to ensure un uninterrupted opportunities for our students. Um, so the tuition rate associated with this agreement has not increased from last year. Um, and so I would recommend that you approve the
040agreement as presented for the 2627 school year. >> Is there a motion? >> Thank you, Jim. Second. >> Thank you, Monica. Any questions or comments? All those in favor say I. I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. Uh the next order of business uh recommendation for approval of resolution for outofstate resident students to enroll at Leaport Community School Corporation. >> So this comes in response to an inquir inquiry we had for this upcoming school year. Um, so the action item that I am requesting this evening is for a resolution that would establish a former process for us to accept outofstate students as transfer students when they qualify under board policy 511. Um, so as you know, Indiana does not provide state funding for students who reside outside of Indiana. So, this resolution would require those families to
041pay tuition equivalent to the state funding the district would have otherwise received for an Indiana student who is enrolling with us. So, the resolution also establishes expectations related to payment, enrollment, and refunds while authorizing the administration to implement the necessary procedures and agreements. Um so this ensures that we can continue to consider eligible outofstate students for enrollment without creating an unfunded financial obligation for the district. Um so I am recommending your approval included in the um board packet this evening was not only the resolution but the administrative protocol that we would follow as well the as the agreement itself that families would sign upon being approved for this um uh enrollment exception for the district. Is there a motion for the out of state residence as uh enrollment as laid out by Dr. Wood? >>
042So moved. >> Thank you, Tucker. Second. >> I'll second. >> Thank you, Nate. Any questions or comments? >> How how we This is just for one student that we think is coming. >> It was prompted by one student who inquired about it and that led to broader discussion amongst our administrative team about the opportunity. we are so close to the border of Michigan and there are families we believe that might see the great things happening here in Leaport and be interested in enrolling. >> Um and so we talked about just having a process in place that um students will still have to qualify just as any out of district student would um under the Indiana law provisions that are established for um you know the guidelines under which we consider students who are enrolling as
043transfer students. So, um, it it was prompted by by one student's inquiry, but we expect that there might be more in the future. So, we wanted to look at establishing a formal procedure for when it does come up. >> Great. >> Does this have any tiein to potentially to online? >> Potentially, yes. This could also expand to online students that might be interested. Um we did previously, it was a mid-year application, have someone who um had sought uh to enroll from Illinois. At the time, we didn't have anything in place, so we had to deny that. And so this this under this agreement now, we would have the potential to review that. >> We're doing great things here, right? So people are coming from all over the place. >> Um all right. Any other questions
044or comments? >> All those in favor say I. I. >> Opposed? Motion [clears throat] carries. Uh, next order of business is a recommendation to approve the memorandum of understanding between the Leaport Community School Corporation and the Leaport Federation of Teachers for addition of spelling B coordinator position in the 2025 2026 extracurricular schedule. Dr. Tonagle. >> Yeah. Do you ever have that feeling like this came across my computer or my desk before? And if so, the answer is yes. This is a um a revision to a previously approved revision. Um this uh process of cleaning up the EC schedule and I've referenced this in previous board me board meetings takes a while. And so after our last meeting I had a celebration dance and then the next day someone said, "Hey, there's confusion around the spelling
045be position." And so before you is a specialou with our association recognizing the spelling um coordinator position for this 25 26 year only starting in 2627 those duties will fall under another academic coordinator position which is where the confusion was at. Um some of the committee felt that that should have happened this year and others felt that that was um promised for the future. So to clarify it all, the work was done and we are asking for your approval of this specialou to hopefully shore up this EC schedule for one last time. >> Is there a motion to uh do what Dr. Tag said there? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Monica. >> Second. >> Thank you, Tucker. Any comments or questions? [clears throat] >> Thank you. >> All those in favor say I. >>
046I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. >> Recommendation to approve handbook for Leaport online school. Dr. Tonagle. >> Yes. Thank you. In our May meeting, uh we brought to you and you approved all the handbooks for our elementary, middle, and high schools. We left the Leaport online school off just due to the ongoing nature of a newer online school. And so we've been working to align practices uh with our written guidelines and policies. And it's good to go through a beginning of the year, middle of the year, and the end of the year to really iron out the the gaps and and figure out what do you what we need to do to improve. And so at the conclusion of this year, I worked with Mrs. Koser, our director of special uh programs. And in front of
047you, you have some updates for Leaport online school. I will say that uh the majority of this is just clerical. It's just uh lining things up to make sure that what we say we're doing is written in the handbook. Um, as you know, Leaport Online School is still a new and uh developing school recognized by the DOE. And so I'm asking for your approval of the handbook um changes as noted on the summary document and the link to the handbook. >> Anyone want to make a motion to approve the handbook for Leaport online school? >> Thank you, Jim. Second. >> Second. >> Thank you, Tucker. Any questions or comments? >> I have a question just about our online how what is our what was our online enrollment roughly >> roughly 125 roughly. >> And were
048those most of those students in good standing then? We didn't have an attendance. >> Uh we we're seeing some challenges of some students that are are not as active as what we'd like to see and some of those changes in there I think define the status of students and good >> making sure that they're checking in with their academic coach and making progress on their classes. So we need to tighten that up a little bit. Um, we truly want that online program to reflect the needs of students who who are looking for that flexibility, maybe have a health condition, um, have a special circumstance, and not just kids that aren't doing well in the traditional setting and just are looking for a way to avoid um, dropping out early. And so, while that does fit
049some circumstances, uh, we don't want to just move students into online and not monitor their progress and ensure their success and push that down the road a little bit. So, we're going to tighten that definition up of good standing to make sure that students are are making progress and it is a good fit for them because the online school isn't for everyone. >> Yeah. >> Thanks. >> Yep. >> Any other questions or comments? >> All those in favor say I. >> I opposed. [clears throat] Motion carries. Uh there's one additional uh agenda item uh which is the recommendation to approve compensation of acred benefit days for the port community school corporation child care employees due to termination of child care program. Dr. Wood. >> Yes. Thank you. President Seabourg. As you are aware, we are
050partnering with the YMCA for our before and our afterchool child care program this year. this process of working with the YMCA brought up an issue that we worked through in the spring and I'm I'm proud of uh our director Michelle Dickman for uh doing the best job that she could do once the announcement was made to go with the YMCA. We had staff with acred benefit days and it would be really easy just to want to take those days and and finish out the year, but we had students to watch before and after school. So, we needed to make sure that we had adequate coverage. And so, we talked with them about the need to or or the the want to uh provide uh their benefits uh compensated and so their vacation days, their sick
051days, their leave days. And so, in front of you, you have the compensation that would be provided for any unused benefit days for any of our child care staff who finished out the year faithfully, worked very hard, and provided those services to parents and students. Is there a motion to approve the compensation as laid out by Dr. Tonagle? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Monica. Second. >> Second. >> Thank you, Amy. Any questions or comments? >> Can I make one more comment, President Seberg? So, I want to make sure the board understands, too, as we um kind of decommission this program. We did offer staff other positions in the corporation. And had they stayed with the corporation, those benefit days would have rolled into the new position. But in these instances, these staff members uh
052chose to no longer work for the Leaport Community School Corporation. >> Thank you. >> So, I just want to make a comment more to the public than anything or any of these people that are getting the compensation. Thank you. It would been really easy for people to be disgruntled and stick it to the school corporation and which is ultimately sticking it to the kids and they didn't. So, that's uh that's good. So, I'm glad we're able to compensate them for that. >> Thank you. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. >> Okay. Motion carries. >> Thank you. >> Uh that is the end of new business. There is no other business. Board comment. >> Jim. >> Thank you, Mr. President. >> Dr. Tagle. I believe the correct This is your last meeting.
053That's correct. >> Well, I just want to bring up that I this is my 10th year on the board and you have always made yourself available to me. He's always return my calls, which is very important, always listen to me and give me direction and so forth. And that is very important. And I I truly and deeply appreciate it. And you're going to be missed >> except my wife's happy because you're going to Chesterton, being a Chester graduate. She's happy you're going over there. So, I want to tell you that I'm just really so so thankful for the leadership you've shown to this board. You've always been there for us. She was g direction. The reports that you give us every meeting are just right on target and keep us rest. So just know that
054we're deeply appreciative of it. And I'm glad for you because now you won't have to fight it with that railroad crossing at Ziggler Boulevard and coming home in the daytime. So I'm glad you're staying in our community living here, but I wish you the best of luck and I hope you'll stay in touch with us. >> You're here. Thank you. Thank you. >> It's been great working with the >> Yeah. I just want to pile on that too, Ben. You've just been great. You were the my kids principal. Um I call you a friend. I just really I wish you a lot of luck. Not too much, but a lot. And uh I just uh we're we're we're going to miss you for sure. >> Thank you. We we we wish that you make Chesterton
055the second best school in the >> Yes. >> Uh I think you turn you you coined the phrase if I'm not mistaken once a slicer always a slicer. >> I can't take credit for [laughter] developing but I got the idea and it took hold and there were there were a lot of people that felt the the truth in that and felt that belonging and so I will still feel that because I am still a slicer. >> Right. >> Awesome. Any other comments? >> Yeah, I'll make a comment, too. Uh, I thought, uh, graduation ceremony was fantastic. Um, kudos to everyone that helps put that on. I mean, there's just a lot of >> worker bees making sure that all of that happens between educators, staff, and um, you know, I feel like we have the
056easiest and best job there is to go up there and and shake hands and hand out. But I did see so many people including uh Scott in the back and um and kudos to also our our uh our speaker um who did a great job too. So >> yes, >> kudos to everyone that did that. >> Anybody else pile on that too? So pronouncing the names is tricky. >> Oh yeah. >> And uh I thought we did an outstanding job pronouncing the names uh this year. That was that was uh that was real good. Um, so I wanted to toss out that uh the Kuanas committee um met a couple weeks ago and uh uh we were presented with four different options of of looks from Schmidt Associates and thanks to the historical society they
057were part of that as well and we're we're working it down to uh to I think one and so uh I hope that there's a recommendation to our board in the in July or August uh from that group. So, um, just personally, I I'll say that I'm I'm pretty happy with with the progress of that. So, >> uh, President Seber on that, will the public be able to see that or will we release some of that to the public? >> So, the the historical society is going to come and present that at our board meeting once that's once they've arrived at a recommendation. Um, >> you know, there's there's multiple pieces to this. There's a recommendation and then there's how do we pay for it? >> Yeah. Um and so uh but that's the plan
058is that once that um once that recommendation is final they were going to come and present that to us. >> So that would be my hunch is August. Um but >> great I think I think the public will be happy. Um, I will say that um it's it's pretty much a consensus with the group that there's no desire to move it, right? That uh we'll stay right where it's at and just be better, if that makes sense. >> Thank you. >> All right. Any other comments? All right. Our next board meeting is July 20th. So for those keeping score, that's the third Monday in July because the second Monday is when the fair is going on. Um, so we try not to schedule this board meeting when the fair is happening. Um, that said, is
059there a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Monica. Second. >> Second. >> Thank you, Amy. All those in favor say I. >> I. You're right at the meeting.