001You guys may want to put your purses down. >> Huh? My mother-in-law says I'll never have money if I do. >> All right. You ready? Okay. >> Just put Yes, we're ready. >> Okay. Call to order the uh special school board meeting for today, which is Thursday, February 12th, 2026. If you would please silence your cell phones that are out there and stand to 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. >> Secretary Batty, could you uh do roll call, please? >> Yes, sir. >> Mr. Arnold, >> present. >> Miss Jackson, >> present. Miss Farley, >> present. >> Miss Batty, myself, present. >> Vice President
002King, President C. here. All right. So, we have a couple more. There is no public comment. So, we roll into new business. So, the first item of new business is the recommendation for approval of candidacy for school board vacancy. Um, so last or yesterday afternoon, we interviewed uh Nate LaS, Ma Batty, Kyle Kazlowski, and Wendy Norin. And uh I am going to open it up for discussion. Uh so we'll do a little bit of discussion here and then uh when our discussion is over we will uh seek motions and approvals and things and a vote. So uh go ahead and open up for a discussion. >> Jim, I just have a real couple of quick comments here. First of all, I want to thank everybody that applied for this vacancy. It it it takes a
003little bit of courage to get involved in in public forums and regardless of who selected it tonight. Uh all four of you presented yourselves very well last night. I mean so we can't go wrong as I'm concerned as far as I'm concerned with any one of the four. So uh you haven't taken this position and you didn't you express yourself well last night. But don't be discouraged if you don't get selected because I want you to remember this seat that is going to be filled tonight. I have no idea who it's going to be at this point. Whoever fills it, if they decide they want to stay, they're going to have to seek re-election to the public election this year in nine months. So, don't get discouraged. Plus, there's four seats open on the school
004board coming up. And if you're really interested and really committed, dedicated, I would suggest and encourage you to reapply and get yourself involved again. Don't give up. For the first time in Indiana's history, though, I want you to keep this in mind. If you run for election on a school board now, you're going to have to declare yourself in other capacities, either a Republican, Democrat, independent, or nonpartisan. You're going to have to fill one of those out on the ballot. Uh that doesn't mean we agree it. I actually don't agree with this at all because this board has never been involved in politics. We've never discussed politics and that's the way we plan to keep it as long as I'm here. And I would encourage you folks to to do some soularching. If you want
005to uh you want to put yourself and offer yourself to the public, do it. If you don't get selected this evening, uh so we've kept politics out. Unfortunately, the powers to be in the state legislature have decided differently and they want to see people declare themselves. So, having said that, thank you all again for participating. It was an honor to hear you and meet you folks that I didn't know and it it was an honor. So, thank you very much for for actually showing us that your dedication, commitment, and concern for the school system. And keep in mind, you know, attend some of the board meetings and know what's going on if you're going to do it because under the leadership of Dr. Wood, Dr. Tangle, Dr. Oni, and this board, we've made I consider
006some great great strides and there's more coming in the future. So, thank you, M. Any else have any comments? >> All All are really great candidates. I really feel like everyone that applied um are they're great candidates for sure. Um, I was just going to add similar to what they both said, we are tr it truly was very encouraging and exciting for me to see how many to see all four of you come and present yourselves the way that you did with the letters of intent that you wrote and just to have I truly don't think that there's anything better than having such highc caliber people be interested in being part of serving your community and serving the schools and we we really need that. We need all four of you and more to be
007part of the school community. Um, so just as Jim and Jen said, I honestly wish we could pick more than one person, but I do sincerely hope that whoever um is not selected tonight stays engaged and um you know, yeah, it's we just appreciate your time and um and all of your effort. >> Anybody else? I would just like to say that um as a board we didn't pick Jim to be the spokesperson, but I think he said everything that is on the sentiments of all of our self >> for sure. >> I I mean it it's going to be a hard decision. I think that we're up for a pretty lively discussion. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, I would just pile on what everybody else said. And so, uh, we we we can only pick
008one. It's just the way it goes. And it is a about a 9month tour. And, uh, if you choose to run again, you would be running there will be four, uh, four available seats. Um, and just for for timing for you that don't know, you have the your ability to file candidacy opens on May 19th and it ends on June 18th. So, they did move that up. uh that used to used to be uh later into July you had. So they did move that up. So if uh if any of you want to run for uh for uh school board, you know, in the general election in November, uh just pay attention to that. So any other further discussion? Okay. Anyone want to make a motion? I'd like to make a motion um to recommend
009Nate Hux as the candidate for the school plan vacancy. >> Okay. Is there a second? >> I'll second that. >> Okay. So, we have a uh a motion and a second so we can have some discussion. So, anyone want to discuss Nate? Not Nate. It's hard. There's a lot of really good candidates. Um, >> I don't >> I'll just make a comment. It It is hard. Um, there were four really great candidates. The reason that I made the motion was because I think at this juncture with some of the things that we have coming up, the ties that Nate has to the community could be very beneficial to us moving forward. But I sincerely mean that I hope everybody runs and stays involved. Any other discussion? Okay. So, we have a uh a motion and
010a second. So, all those in favor of uh Nate LS uh for the candidacy of the school board say I. >> I opposed. Okay. Motion carries. So, congratulations to Nate. Um Nate will be our new school board member. Um is there any other business? Uh, any board comment? >> I would really like to see all of our previous candidates apply themselves this fall. I think I saw some really strong talent and I would love to serve with any of you. >> Agree. >> Yes, 100%. >> Okay. Our next meeting is March 9th, 2026 at 6 p.m. Is there a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Jen. Second. >> Second. >> Thank you, Amy. All those in favor say I. I opposed.