School Board Work Session - Tuesday, March 31, 2026

001I now call to order our uh whatever the work session uh the Spencer Owen Community School Boards for March 31st, 2026. Uh next first agenda item for the work session is recognition of visitor patron comments. Uh does anybody uh we do have members of the public present uh you get two opportunities during or well for work session beforehand on on what we're here to talk about or after we adjourn on any item. Does anybody wish to make any agenda or comments public comment this evening? Okay. None. Okay. We'll move on to our order of business here and turn it over to Superintendent Klein. >> All right. Thank you all for making time this evening for a work session to really start talking about start talking about the past but then focusing on the future uh

002of our projects that have been completed uh prior to my arrival here and then through up to this point in my time here. Uh just a again for the public to be aware and you have seen all of this with some of the major uh projects that have been completed since 2019 through 2024 and the graph that's in front of you uh paper copies and then on the screen um we look at some of the major projects from 2019 with safety improvements that Dr. Briggs had overseen uh video camera improvements, uh roof replacements, uh the wastewater treatment facility at Patrick'sburg, and then again roof improvements at Spencer Elementary along with phase one HVAC and um improvements to the STEM labs. You jump into your 2020 bond uh with improvements to the auditorium. Uh I believe

003also that's when uh lighting conservation took place with LED lighting at the sports fields and in the buildings. Uh you also started in on your soccer and football turf. Uh you had major improvements with fire alarm updates at the high school. Uh the middle school locker collab collaboration space. So you had the maker space that was put in place there. Uh and also parking lot improvements. Again, our board has been uh as I've studied this, you've been diligent in your planning to maintain what we have and then also progress forward. And then we jump into 2021 where uh you had improvements to the press box at the high school, middle school, uh additions to the green or the addition of a greenhouse to put back in or additional pathways for our students. We continued with

004uh phase two and phase three, excuse me, I have a typo there on uh Spencer Elementary School phase two and phase three HVAC classroom improvements. Uh you also had uh that year we replaced all of the chillers at the middle school and high school. If you remember the big cranes that were parking lot in the middle of December. Uh and then we also tackled securing all of the entries uh at the four elementaryaries and we accomplished that. We jump to our most recent bond. Um, again, we've had uh major construction and renovations to the middle school with the secure entry and improvements to classroom spaces. Uh we continued with phase four of HVAC and classroom improvements at Spencer Elementary and also uh tackled the uh challenge that you kind of presented to me when I

005first got here of how do we build a transportation building and uh make it useful for our families and think about going into the future. So um again, you've done this uh me go to the next page here. Come on. There we go. You've done this in a way that uh you've managed your debt, superintendent and boards have managed the debt so that it has been for all practical purposes tax neutral. So you look at our existing debt right now uh uh with the proposed this is an older copy of the the 2024 bond but you can see the existing debt at the time when we put the before we took on the 2024 bond you we were right at 21,599,000 in debt. When you add the 2024 bond it's at 11,347. So that gave

006us a grand total of three $32,946,000. A lot of money, but you also did a lot of improvements to our facilities and infrastructures and uh items. What becomes a discussion for tonight and going forward when you look at the debt schedule and this is our current debt schedule. Uh the orange represents the 2024 Excuse me. Uh yeah, excuse me. Yes. The uh the orange represents what happened when we added the 2024 bond to our debt schedule. So one of the goals of this board was to remain tax neutral so that we did not impact the public by raising the tax rate, let's say three cents or a nickel or whatever it may have been. It's always been this board's uh preface to remain tax neutral and we've been able to do so uh with uh

007what's the word working with Baker Tilly and working with Ice Miller to to manage our debt and stretch it out through the course of time. So, um, you will notice though that you're going to have an opportunity really beginning in 2028. We would need to secure bond funds in order to maintain the tax rate or maintain the levy which then will give you an opportunity or us an opportunity to do further construction or further improvements uh with a similar borrowing capacity or a similar borrowing uh history. So you think about um forgive me here the borrowing capacity for 2020 or excuse me the 2024 bond was a 10-year repayment. So we will have all of that debt paid off in 2034. So you will have the opportunity to start adding debt back on or levy

008back on in order to progress through different projects. We've collected those project ideas from all of you, from all of the principles, from maintenance directors, transportation directors, and that was what was given to you as well in the next summit set of pages. So, are there any questions on kind of the financial history or the borrowing capacity that we've had up to this point? >> I think this question would fall in that category for new your mic on >> timing for u any new bond. You're talking about 2028, but when would we actually start that process? In 26. >> We would start it in 26. Well, really 27 or the spring of the spring of the 26 27 school year. And Christine, correct me if I'm thinking improperly, but we would need to secure we

009would need to secure those monies in 2028 because then we would start paying back in 2029 at whatever the the lifespan of the repayment would be. So, you know, you've done looking at some of the historical things, we've done five-year repayments. We are doing a 10-year repayment. You've even um the um Oh, sorry, I got to remember the name of the bond. The uh the general education bond that's been paid over for 20 years and it's coming to a close. that will be paid off here as we look at going into 20 2627 or excuse me 2728 that's the bond that's going to be paid off first and then you'll have the opportunity to put it back on. So to answer your question Jack yes we'll need to do our due diligence in 27 uh

010and then secure that bond in 28 so that we start paying it back in 29. >> Okay. We'll we'll start having payments if you choose to do this in 29, which again, I wish I had a laser pointer. You can take that orange bar graph and take it all the way up to the $3 million threshold and it would still remain tax neutral talking to our financial advisors with Baker Tilly and also with Ice Miller. So, any other good question. Any other questions on that? >> So, that would be shovel and dirt. At what what point then on those projects securing the bond >> really 2028 in the at some point in that year? >> Okay. >> So that's the soonest that's the that's the earliest we could could pursue this type of endeavor. >>

011Yes. If we want to maintain this type of a >> tax neutral >> putting putting debt on and taking debt off. >> Okay. Anything else on that? >> This is not really along that line, but I've got another question here. Uh, with the transportation facility that we've built, will it create any cost savings opportunities? Can we take on as a corporation more bus routes, pay less vendors, and and save any money? >> That would be the ultimate goal. Yes. uh as we look at our current contractors, we'll still continue to work with them, but as they begin phasing out and as Mr. Floyd, our director, continue starts to really uh look at the routes in detail to see how he can refine them and make them more efficient. That's again one of the one of

012the overall overall arching goals that we've talked about in strategic planning of making those routes more efficient. So, long story short, yes, that's that's the end goal to to try and eliminate some of the crisscrossing of routes and some of the efficiency of routes uh and make the make the routes more efficient rather as we go. >> But it seemed to me like we're kind of at our capacity with the old uh bus facility, old transportation facility. I thought the the building of the new one might provide us some opportunity to do more inhouse and save some money. and it it's going to and it's uh we'll see that on on the flip side of that repurposing the original transportation building to the maintenance hub where we're going to bring in uh a single point

013of ordering. So ordering chemicals, ordering paper towel, ordering toilet paper, that's going to show us a cost savings as well because we'll be able to monitor our use of those products uh much easier than what we what I've been seeing with, you know, we're buying things and we're keeping them in the buildings and, you know, we've got a stockpile of this at building A and we've got a stockpile of this at building B because it just went slower than what we thought, but building C really could use it. So, in lie of us ordering for building C, we're just going to take it from we're going to put it all in one place and then we're going to ship it out to the building that needs it the most. So, my my goal is as

014we go through the next school year, 2627, that we're going to see a reduction in cost for items like that. >> Okay. Uh, this is going to sound a little more Kurt than what I really mean it to sound, but uh, what are we waiting on to look at those bus routes? I mean, we've got the facility, we've got the transportation director, I don't understand what we're waiting on. >> It's just a matter of Mr. Floyd sitting down and be a being able to analyze them and he's at finally at that point where he's starting to look at them because we're also getting ready to go into this uh fall uh contract bids for 2728 28 20 yeah 27 28 28 29 for bus routes. So that's he's been tasked with that and that that

015will probably not probably that will take up a lot of his time this summer is looking at the efficiencies efficiency of the routes. >> Okay. >> So >> and to I think to Jack's question the transportation facility was built with increased capacity in the future in mind >> in the correct in the designs and >> the space and everything. >> Yeah. Because I We've talked with our contractors and I'm and I've said this to all of you publicly and my concern is when they're done, they're done and there's nobody behind them to run five routes or run six routes or run 10 routes and you're we are going to have to have that capacity to take those routes on and then house the buses and service the buses and uh you know hopefully knock on

016wood with the anticipated housing additions that I keep hearing about we're going to have a we'll have a good problem to deal with and that we need to transport more children to the different schools. >> And just adding on to what you've been saying and Jack is asking how this is going to save us money as a corporation. We're going to have a mechanic inhouse and that will save us a lot of money on our our bus upkeep. Correct. We have a mobile mechanic right now and I don't know that I'll be able to convince him to be an in-house mechanic, but we will save money in as much that he will come to our facility. We're not taking stuff to a facility. We will purchase all the materials in advance which will reduce our

017cost because it'll be a wholesale cost. Uh and then we'll progress through that as we can go here. So, and I I'd like to get him as a permanent mechanic, but and we but right now I don't think that's not in the that's not in the cards right now for him. So because he's uh working between three school districts and maintaining everything and you know if we need him it's he's a call away but then our our service agreement and our service management we our costs have reduced because of of putting in the service plan that he's put in place. So good question. Anything else before I go on here? Got to watch my time. All right. Now, as we look at the current bond, what I had given to you and I'd like to

018have a discussion about this is, you know, the current bond, our projects are 99% done. I'm waiting on a circuit to be replaced at the transportation facility. Uh, and that will be that'll be the last punch item, so to speak, that needs to be finished. >> What was it? >> Circuit in a CO2 sensor. >> Oh, okay. >> It is it's the wrong amp. It needs to be a bigger amp. So, they they the contractor and uh the electrician worked that out and they're finishing that up. But what I had put in front of you and this is again I wanted you asked me to look at prioritizing needs for the district and immediate needs uh with things that have been brought in front of us or brought in front of me and the items

019I put there to spend the remaining dollars of our 2024 bond which must be spent by March of 27. those items I presented to you uh for discussion before I start bringing them to you for action. So, I'd like to hear as we go through these uh you know the items. The first item, the glass entry glass entry replacement at door two and door three at the high school. We have water seeping through those and it becomes a safety issue because those are covering stairwells. >> Are those the two side doors by the staff parking? >> Yes. they are. So, it's just it needs to be replaced. It needs to be repaired. Uh or, you know, we're going to have somebody slip down a stairwell or whatever it may be. So, I put that on

020there as a a point of emphasis. I also put on there a point of emphasis replacing the auditorium roof because we have fought that now for the last year and a half of leaks developing around the smoke hatches. Uh there are actually roof hatches that will open in the heaven forbid in the event of a fire they open so that you uh you can exhaust the space and we have so much leaking there now where it has to be dealt with because if we don't then we're going to be dealing with replacing sound equipment or replacing lighting equipment or whatever else in the guts of the auditorium. That's a ballpark figure of $150,000. I also bring back to you one of the things that was kind of left in the I'll say the hopper when

021I got here was the tennis court repair. Going back and reading through some of those notes, uh it was suggested set aside a small amount of money from a previous bond uh 2019 if I remember correctly. Uh and the amount that was suggested would not touch fixing those courts. I think it was $20,000, $40,000. Uh, but regardless, uh, I would say to you with this money available, this should be something you consider. And I put a range there because the low end in talking to uh some tennis court companies that do this, the low end would be taking the existing court and going over it with a new uh layer of black top and then resealing everything. raising the tennis court poles, raising the gates on the existing fence, then resealing, restriping the tennis courts.

022The opposite end of that at 350,000 would be taking out the two layers of black top and redoing the subgra base, coming back in and putting new two new layers of black top, and then putting in the new post and and resealing it and having having a playable surface. So I know Dr. Briggs as the previous superintendent that was a I think a key project at that point in time. Uh but it has not held up. Uh and I know I think there was some discussion with some of you who were here about tinsel concrete which uh being used in place of black top. my personal opinion, I wouldn't recommend it because it's it's just too darn expensive. And if we're going to stay within our means, uh I would I would ask you to

023entertain one of the two options that I'm kind of giving you an overview on. Um a recent concern that has been brought was looking at improvements to the wait room for high school and middle school students and afterchool uh use. Um that cost And I've got working quotes would be in the $120,000 range. And that also would include with one of the quotes because I know Rick, you and I talked about this and you went over and visually inspected the space. One of those quotes would include the company doing the work repairing anything that they would find underneath the old rubber matting when they bring it up. As I did my research and talking to Jeff about this, I didn't realize this. I didn't realize that's where the old kitchen was, which that makes perfect

024sense now because if we've got some concrete that's cracking, it's probably right around an old drain. So, I I I I present that to you as well. Uh, and stop me if you have questions on these as I go. Um, the the next item looking at wall wall repair and painting the hallways at the middle school. We're talking about the main hallways upstairs and the main hallways downstairs, taking the old wallpaper off, which was done in part of the update with some of the walls closest to the front entry, and painting a consistent paint scheme throughout those those corridors for the students and the staff, both upstairs and downstairs. And again, you know me well enough. I'm I'm telling you this because from my working, the way I'm working here is that, you know, we

025try and make things as best we can before we walk away from it. And this building has been neglected because it was the oldest building or uh >> It's the newest building that hasn't been touched. Yeah, that's what I was trying to get out. So, uh, and, uh, the same thing goes for the next bulleted point, floor improvements in the main thoroughares upstairs and downstairs for, uh, the middle school as well. Removing all of the carpet and going to that LVT tile that you see when you first walk into the middle school, the gray with the interlace red, the interlace blue with a color scheme. It's a whole heck of a lot easier to clean because uh I I laugh at the head custodian because they kind of fight over the summer of who's going

026to run this floor machine uh up and down to make sure it's clean. So, and it it just goes much quicker and it's uh you can use a BTC product or a pH neutral floor cleaner and you just go over it once and we're not dealing with allergens in the carpet and we're not dealing with particles left over in that respect. So, >> how how is it holding up to to use? Now, >> the new the new LVT has been great, you know, and Mr. Arthur, one of his concerns that he had when they put it down, especially at the second floor landing was how much noise or how much echo would be in the building and you there is none. It's he was he's pleasantly surprised because it was not there's no there's no

027echoing of the kids walking to and from class or being loud or anything like that. So um one of the other items here um that doc or Dr. Mr. M and I were talking about with GPort Elementary, similar to what we did at Patrick'sburg Elementary is going in and removing the old unit ventilators in the outside classrooms and capping those from the outside so cold air is not just rushing in in the middle of October, November, December, January, February. Uh that has made a tremendous difference and I'll let if Chris wants to chime in here in a minute. It's made a tremendous difference at Patrick'sburg as far as the the room temperature and the controlling the climate of the building throughout the course of this really this first winter where it's been put in place

028and I I think it's something we should consider and uh Mr. M has put it high on his list as well. I don't do you have any >> and I I didn't realize uh um one of our new first year teachers has one of those rooms and I was in the room kind of walking around and it's like why is it so cold? And then I Mrs. Watson kind of pointed out to me it's like they're just air rushing in. So the the outside vents have never been plugged. It's just been it's open to the outside and you know it's it's just inefficient. So if we if we do this, it'll make the overall heating system more efficient in the building. >> Documentation safer. You ever had a shelter in place situation? >> Right. Yeah,

029it would. Yeah, because you know, my good example is right before I left Indian Creek, we did a mass casualty uh drill and um the event was a farmer with two ammonia tanks that got flipped over and one of them ruptured and you had to you had to send a group of responders to that. But then the schools had to figure out how to shelter in place because of a uh an airborne particle. So, it was I agree with you. It was really interesting to watch how we reacted to that. And I I was I was pleasantly surprised that our custodial team at that time and our maintenance team at that time, they knew exactly where to go up on the roof to turn the ventilation system off so that nothing would come into that

030building. And but, you know, we we don't ever think about those things until something like that happens. But >> it's proximity to >> right possibility. Uh the last the next to last item, the the door mullions at the high school, the posts that are in between the doors, we have some that are rusting and they've got to be replaced. Otherwise, I could walk up there and kick it with my foot and get right in the building. So, and it's just age and it's just we just need to replace it. Uh the last item there overall in doing uh update VAV which are V or variable assistant valve updates for the building management system uh which we just put in. This is a control mechanism that will help make the heating and cooling system that much

031more efficient across the district. Specifically this building and the high school in particular. We need to update about 85 of these VAVS. So there and I won't get this correct and Jeff couldn't be here tonight, but it's it's like a circuit panel that's sitting there on that heater or on that cool or on that air conditioner and it can be controlled from a computer on Jeff's couch or a computer in the office or wherever it may be. They just need to be updated. So, I that is what I would recommend to you at this point that we focus on with the remaining bond dollars. >> You you skipped over fencing updates. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Fencing. Yes. Uh $15,000 of some fencing updates uh back here in particular so we can close in the preschool

032uh fencing. Uh we've also had some uh requests for putting some fencing, some small amounts of fencing on the front entrances uh on hillside uh with a safety gate. So if we do happen to have a prek or a preschool runner, they can only get to the gate. And again, Jeff, Mr. M has already met with the fire marshall to talk about the specific mechanism that would need to be in the gate latch uh that would allow us to do that. Also using some of that for some additional fencing at uh the track to put in a gate on the fence. Uh what would it be to the left of the visitors bleachers where there's a covert and a gravel drive. put a gate there so that emergency vehicles be could be parked there for

033all soccer events, football events, track and field events, and then it's just a it's it's another access point for an emergency vehicle to get in. Uh and again, these are all approximations. Um, and some of which I've tried to estimate just a little bit high because I I know they're going to come in lower. But I I just I wanted to give you a sense of here's the money we he here's the money we have. Here's what it can be spent on or what I would recommend we spend it on in order to close out this bond and then still take care of multiple things across schools. So, uh, what questions do you have or comments or apprehensions or affirmations? Uh, >> well, I saw two things on here that I wonder how um how

034much time we need to get them done sooner than later. That wasn't on this top sheet here. One of them was the um the plumbing at McCormix Creek. I was wondering if that was something that they're having an issue with that needs to be done sooner than later. And also the freezers at Patrickburg Elementary. Um, are they working? >> Yeah, the plumbing at McCormix Creek and I know Mr. Smeltzer went you went on a tour I think with Matt and take a took a look at those. I mean, >> the plumbing is working properly and fine. It is a it's just a matter and it's it's just like this across the district. They're beginning to get old. So, yes, they need to be updated, but >> So, it's preventative. >> It's preventative. And no, in

035my opinion, they're not the most needy bathrooms at this point in our schools. Uh I I can take you over to the bathrooms at the middle school and uh those of those are going to have to become a priority as we start looking at future bonds because they are uh they've got to be improved. Uh, and I if there are folks here I know who have had children and they can attest to that and you've been in and out of it. So, the freezer is working, but uh or no, excuse me, we have a walk-in cooler at Patrick'sburg. We'd like to try and add a freezer. So, that would be that would be uh No, I have that backwards. I'm sorry. We have a walk-in cooler at Gport and we'd like to add a freezer

036there, but the the freezer at Patricksburg is working, but it's at a point where, you know, we're going to have to start looking at it to and it's it's a minimal a minimal cost compared to what you're seeing on that proposed list. Uh, and again, my hope is, and I'll write it down, is if we come in under budget, if you approve these things, then I'm gonna start pulling money for what you just said, a freezer or something else that has caught your eye to to look at that can be fixed in the short term. >> Mr. Gazelle showed me on the primary wing there in McCormic Creek, he said that the sewer line is has sagged and that's going to have to be a floor cut in order to fix that. So that needs

037to be done before any removing of the carpet, you know, replacing the carpet, >> right? And >> they said they put a camera down there and and down that sag. >> Yeah, it's starting to settle. And uh I I agree with you. It needs to be done. You know, heaven forbid I don't want to go through what we've gone through the last two years at the high school where we had a mini excavator in the main lobby digging an eight foot 18 foot deep hole because of trying to fish out vapes and other things. And then last year we had to do the same thing outside the athletic trainers office because we had a student flush a vape down the down the drain and it you know 4inch pipe that was put in there when

038they built these drains don't don't handle uh a vape probably as wide as this and like a big uh as wide as that and probably as thick as the phone and the mouse put together. So it's uh uh I don't I agree with you. It's going to be we'll have to put these things in order to to take care of these. So, what else? >> Um, not on the list, but an observation that an observation that I continually have is out there at the transportation building and still the runoff when it rains and it's >> it's covering the road. I mean, it's almost >> pretty bad. It is the county highway department is aware of that and that is a responsibility of the highway department. So it's there. >> Yes. Because that was one of

039the there is a French drain on the edge of our property that's pulling water but uh Mr. Warner and Mr. Walker have had a discussion about yes, the county really needs to come in and clean that out because if you notice at the other end, the gravel drive entrance into the lift station and back towards the the goat farm, cattle farm, we cleaned out those culverts last last fall if I remember right, and we've not had any water standing, but those were our culverts on our drive. So they've they've ran the way they should have run to pull water away from that. So, but no, I appreciate that and it I'll circle back to to Norm and to Chad and kind of see when are you going to be able to get to this? >>

040So, there's 10 items on this list. What was your 11th item? What's something that didn't make this list or that you know? >> I didn't I wasn't going to tell you that. I didn't really pick one out. >> But out of priorities, I mean, are there is there another priority that you kind of have, let's say, and I asked this question because if you estimated high and >> right? >> Yeah. And you get a few that are lower, you know, what is something additional that they that you have in mind? If you look at the the page with the board common areas of concerns and then my recommendations back from June, if I had to focus in on some of those items, I I would say trying to renovate or upgrade the the middle school

041public restrooms. And if there's not monies available to do that, then I think also you look at general updates to just faucets and fountains across all of the buildings because you have failing faucets in a lot of our buildings where if you go to Patrick'sburg for example with the press button faucets, they've been used so much they don't they don't put out enough water for a child or an adult to wash their hands with uh consistency time and you know you look the middle school's a foregone conclusion their faucets are they're all mismatched and things like that but it's and I I would look at things such as that if we had a small amount of funds left available to to look at >> what are the cafeteria finishes what is >> he's talking about

042flooring and then also uh just wall wall painting Okay, >> I'll go ahead and ask it. I think the elephant in the room is uh project management. >> I don't know where we are on that. >> I know there was some talk about it a few months ago and you kind of had an idea where you were going to end up with that, but I >> right now >> who's going to oversee these event? >> Yeah. I mean, right now with this type of project list, Mr. Modern or not with the bond list, Jeff and I feel that he and I can do that. Uh but as we as we you start planning about going back to a larger bond and larger projects, I would recommend we bring back in Stephanogle or a similar group

043to oversee those things. And I I said to a couple of the board members before the meeting started because my concern is Jeff is adamant and feels strong about being able to oversee some of these projects as the summer progresses into next year but or next fall rather. But at the same time, I do not want him overwhelmed because I watched that happen to my maintenance director at my previous school district where we were we were ramping up doing projects and then we got to that $30 million fieldhouse and auditorium project and he was he looked like death warmed over. And I I'm I'm saying that sincerely because he was just run ragged because he was a working foreman just like Jeff is a working foreman. So he'd be running the plows when we had

044to move snow or he'd be uh up on the roof to turn a unit off or turn a unit back on uh with that. So I but I think right now and I again had said this at the beginning right before the meeting started. We're 99% 95% done with all the major projects that were under underway with Stephanogle and FH Passion and uh Hannig as our general contractors. So these are coming to an end and really I've not seen any of them in about three or two months, right? probably about two months and that's not we're in a good spot where we can take a breath and pause and then come back in and focus on these things and work with our general contractors and other other laborers that we would get get uh estimates

045from. >> I know things happen and things change. Um have you talked to Jeff? Is he going to be here through these projects or because he's of that age? I knock on wood he tells me he is. So uh it's just uh that is >> a man of his word. So I think I think we can probably trust that. >> It is uh it it's a worry because our our maintenance department is a seasoned crew. I'll say it that way. without and it it's got to come up with a a plan to take care of that as they decide it's time to do something else or not do anything at all. So, but >> Okay. >> Question about the Patrick'sburg exterior basement acess. Um I guess I didn't look hard enough to know they didn't

046have one. Is this a project that would make it safer for the kids? Because I know they go to the basement whenever there's like a natural disaster. Would it help make it the building more safe for them? >> It would give a group a second exit. Uh, and actually again, Mrs. Sam and I, she met with the fire marshal and earlier earlier this year and a single exit entry point is permissible. So, we still use it for tornadoes or or uh sec or lock down lockout drills, but uh I I think it's something we should look at going into the future just because I >> It's not ideal. That's Yeah, that's I mean, you think about if you have a basement at home, you have to have an egress in that basement, whether it's a

047basement window or a basement door. And you know, if I I think it's something we need to look at now. >> Yeah, that's what I'm saying. I I guess I didn't realize they didn't really have an egress option, >> right? It's it's just the main entry in and out. So >> So that be steps down. Is that going to be ground level or there going to be steps down into that basement? I can't remember exactly. >> There's also which is the interior. >> So there is there is two now. >> And the second is usable. You could door functions and to get into it. >> So, this is more like a walk out, >> right? But you were running a walk out one, so >> I didn't want anything. that was on there. But yeah,

048>> sorry. >> It was I mean Patrick'sburg represent >> it's way better than the old >> it was discussed with Dr. Robinson and then also Stephanogle group because having an egress out we would have to cut into the hillside in order to put a door for lack of a better way to say it where there could be a push bar out into an opening. I'm trying to remember on the side of the building closest to the playground if I remember correctly. >> Yeah. >> So dirt retain wall >> it would. Yeah. It's be some excavation and I we didn't take that any further other than just a concept of uh I didn't even we didn't even consider estimates or cost on it because it was at that point it didn't really I didn't have any

049bond money to even think about it. So the original purpose was storage and that that's changed now. >> It was for storage. Yes. Why aren't you doing that? I mean there are other places but you know we can all >> So you think so right now we've got um on the late the 24 bond we've got a million 38,000 left. All these things come in 16,000 over that. But you figured a little bit high and that's figuring on the tennis court on the high end. >> Um, >> talking about that tennis court for a minute, >> what's everyone you've talked to, what do they think really? I've talked to three different companies. Uh, Burn and Jones, which is out of St. Louis, they do collegiate and high school projects. Um, >> get my cheat sheet

050here. I have I haven't been up there since you and I were up there. I think Derek, you might have been there, too. And that was several years ago. And at that time, >> there were big gaps. I mean, it to where a kid could probably I don't know how the ball would go where it's supposed to. >> They've got the concrete cuts or the the black top cuts for the compression the compression cuts, but then what we're dealing with is the playing surface is just peeling and cracking and popping up. So, uh, to go back to your question, Vernon Jones out of St. Louis. Uh, outdoor court specialist out of Franklin, Indiana. And then, um, Protra and Tennis out of Bennington, Nebraska. And I talked to these people on purpose because Protra and Tennis

051out of Bennington, Nebraska, was in charge of doing all of the tennis courts at the University of Southern Indiana. Outdoor Court Specialists is a local Indiana company. They do a lot of the high school courts. Ironically, they just redid the courts at Indian Creek. So, I'm going up there to look and see what does it look like after sitting through a winter and what, you know, how is it held up? >> Did they go over their old court or it hold? They they did the more expensive uh they went down to the top soil, did the uh gravel base and then did two two two uh two levels of black top and then resealed it and put the fence back and they have lighting on their court. So they they were they stayed right where

052they were in order to do that. So >> nice. >> They are very nice. And because I I took a peek when I went up to see my nephew and his musical and was out there in the snow, but I want to go up there and see it when it's clean and being played on. Uh the other company, Vernon Jones, is out of St. Louis, Missouri, and they work in a cooperative purchasing process. They were of interest to me because we'll talk a little bit about this on another pro future project. Uh but they also were in charge of the tennis courts at Indiana University two recycles ago and they were also in charge of the the turf at Memorial Stadium two recycles ago. So the turf that was put down this past year was

053not them but two two recycles ago was them that was doing it. >> Is there reason that they weren't reused? Uh just competitive bidding and uh well I'll just say competitive bidding. >> Was that the original turf when they done did they do the actual foundation and >> they replaced the turf that you and I would remember that coach Mallerie and all of those that type of turf the stuff that was just once you went down on it you were going to skin yourself up. And then Burnon Jones came in and used the like a prograss or something similar to what we have on our field where it's more texture. It's more lifted. It's got sand and all that in it. Um, heaven for heaven forbid I cannot remember who just did the recent one,

054but they went to the NFL model with coconut silk and sand and all of that built into the into that type of turf. But that's regardless. So, uh, but no, I Yeah, I mean, we've I've budgeted high and I I know some of these are going to come in low, but I I'm a little I'm a little leerary on uh the floor improvements to the middle school because I've not we've reached out to two or excuse me, three different no two different vendors and we still don't have numbers back from them yet. So, and that those could be summer projects. They could be over break projects, whether it be a fall break or a Christmas break ideally because you pulling up the the carpet. It's going to come up quick and they'll go back down

055over it in in a two week time and and do that. So, other question back on the tennis court, do you feel like it's more cosmetic or superficial or more structural foundation type problem because we put a significant amount of money in that when Dr. bridges here >> and I I don't understand why we're over million dollars again investing that >> and I don't know that that's you know look having the the gentleman who looked at it it's I'm going to recommend that we would take it back down to the to the gravel and redo the base because I don't know if it was improperly prepared or if you've had movement underneath it. uh or the the the compression gaps when they were cut so it would expand and contract properly if those were cut

056too thick which then or yeah too wide rather which then would allow water down into it. I don't know, Jack. I I just >> I was told this is hearsay. I was told there might have been a situation where when they were actually like compressing the asphalt top, the timing of when they did it was a little bit off and they did it a little past the time that they should have, which is why it's a little wonky. That's what I was told from other people. I know that the track when we do the turf and the track, it cost an additional amount of money because a base >> under the original track. >> That was the >> that would probably been done about the same time as the tennis courts. No, that was that

057was my first challenge if you remember because I remember when we were doing the interview, we walked down to look at the field and then you all hired me and then three weeks later I'm back down at the track and it's like uh the base is not proper and I still remember Darla and Annette and April and I kind of we came in here and locked the door and it's like how do we figure out how to pay for this with existing bond monies and we did but that the The tennis courts I think were a year or year and a half before I got here. >> I didn't explain that very well. I mean when they were originally done and the original base wasn't sufficient. I'm talking 70s. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> You

058know, so that base that tennis court may have been done about the same time by the same people or something. >> Okay. >> So that base may not be sufficient. >> I'm not talking about >> No, you're not talking about what I walked into. talking about Ned Smith, Jim Fulford. >> If I remember when you're talking about the track, that was the same day that we that we looked at the tennis courts, too. And at that time, it that was the unknown. Is it is it the foundation or is it the the top of it? Um, yeah, it's it's hard to tell. It's almost e double the money, but if we took that whole thing up and redid it, I mean, that's the safest bet. >> It is. And it I hate to say this,

059you're you're darn if you do and darn if you don't because I I'd hate to say to you, well, let's just take the cheap route. And that sounds wrong. and we do $180,000 top roll and raise the poles and raise the gates and everything and then six years later we're right back where we were >> the track to find out what we need to do. Amber was super involved in that wheelhouse there. >> Yeah. But then they then they put that equipment on there and it it just rudded it up too. So they after they corded it and thought it was okay and then they put that equipment on and we had tire ruts going. >> I thought they after that to find out how far what >> how far down it was. It could

060that could have been that could have been. >> So you don't think a cord tennis court and see really what kind of problem you got. >> Yeah. >> And I can ask for that to be done. So just to be a little bit more investigative and figure out what >> okay anything else on those items or other discussions I want to again respect your time and um the other items I'd give it come on the other items we had given you this is you know taking what you all looked at individually and then conglomerating it into one list on the potential project summary listing. You know, you're going to see what we've kind of already talked about here with building level interior improvements, a lot of painting, a lot of finishes improvements, uh flooring replacements,

061uh and then some of the other pieces that uh Liz talked about with basement egress, freezer replacement. Um, in respect to gym renovations at Spencer Elementary, that's really painting the walls and then updating the lighting to LED lighting as far as what's above the court, which you know that we can look at as well. Uh, as I I think as we move forward into the future with a potential potential bond in 28 because we still need to have the final phase of work done at Spencer Elementary as far as uh improvements to the library, improvements to the main office, improvements to the cafeteria with respect to um heating and air, and then also finish updates because that's really what's left in that building as far as classrooms being updated. Everything else before I got here

062and over the course of my time, we've we've updated it all. So, and you know, the the fact that mother nature helped us out a little bit with hail damage and we basically had the entire roof re-roofed under insurance Ospice. You know, that that took a burden of cost off of us that would have been built in probably would have been built into the 2024 bond. We wouldn't have been talking about that first list. We would have already spent the money on replacing the roof at Spencer Elementary and other buildings. Um the exterior improvements. Uh again, one of the things I would like to have looked at for this building is to look at the exterior metal uh around the building, having it painted or updated. Uh similar to the ephus at McCormix Creek, which

063for lack of a better way to say it is the stucco that goes around the perimeter of the building. It needs to be looked at. It's starting to show some age. Um, and we I've got a a company out of Indianapolis that will be coming down to give me some numbers on both of these. And no, we're not I'm not going to ask you to do them right away, but I want those numbers so that you know when we start really zeroing in on projects, this is probably what it's going to cost. Or this is the cost in 2026. Let's do a 6% or a 10% increase for 2028 when we get to it. Um the other item the other items there that came from uh some of the administrators and some of the discussion,

064you know, I throw it out there. what's the what's the appetite or the uh the caution of considering a softball relocation and a turf of that or turfing the baseball field. Um, one of the things I'd like to build into just capital projects on a yearly basis is building a small storage shed down at the end of the football field behind the scoreboard so that we can store all of our hurdles on all of our mats and all of those pieces so they're not sitting out under the bleachers or uh stuffed away in maintenance buildings. Uh, I I threw in there solar capacity. I I I have no pinchant for that, but I put it out there because it was a hot commodity per se, things that schools were doing in the last five to

065six years. Do you want me to look at something like that to see if we could reduce energy cost? U and the last item that has I every time I go out is like when are you going to build a fieldhouse? >> Okay. Yeah. So >> I was getting that was my next >> or some type of structure at the high school middle school. So >> I don't see a pool on the list. Is there >> if somebody's going to throw something at him? >> Well, I have been asked repeatedly about this fieldhouse idea just because the surrounding schools, a lot of them are building one. Is that something that we could even look into with a 2028 bond? I mean, is it feasible in the next few years? You could and I my recommendation

066to you as a board would be that we go on a field trip and I would I would say it'd be like House Hunters. You watch House Hunters on HGTV. >> I would say we >> we would have more realistic expectations about what we could afford. >> Yes. Because, you know, I take you to Indian Creek and show you what I would consider the Taj Mahal of field houses in this area. That was a $30 million 85,000 square ft uh fieldhouse. We can go to Martinsville and look what they just built, which was about $16 million. I would suggest you go to South Putham and look what they just finished constructing. Uh And then also I would suggest we go to Cloverdale and look at what Mr. Linton is currently constructing there. He is constructing

067a fieldhouse with two courts. A wood court with bleachers and then also a rubber court or uh so that you can have multiple sports whether it be >> yeah composite whether it's indoor baseball, indoor softball, tennis, whatever it may be and a threelane track around the perimeter of the of the of the uh building uh there. But I I guess my you know you said it. What's the appetite or what do you think is the need or the necessity as you look to the future? >> Where is Edgewood's falling? I know they have a cafeteria and some other things incorporated into their field house. I'd like to know what you know about that. >> You know, I really I don't know because I haven't I haven't been over there. area. >> It's It's connected to

068It's connected to their updated cafeteria and there's a a walkway into that facility, but I've I've never really stopped to ask the question, how many courts is it and what else do you got? And I I can certainly do that. That could be something as well. So, >> I was beat off anything, but he finally told me that there was cafeteria involved there and other things other than just sports. >> Yeah, they did they did do an improvement to their cafeteria. >> It was that wing of that building that was due for up updates, >> but a lot of for the field house >> there's courts and bleachers and >> they can host a basketball tournament there. Yes, >> I would say yes, but uh without me going over there and looking because I I'm

069not even sure if they've had an open house yet. Uh because I know just like with us trying to finish up punch list items with transportation. I I know they've been trying to finish up punch list items with things over there as well. So, but um I I I just I want you thinking about these as which direction you want me to take you or or say, "Heck no, don't even think about it, Mr. Klein." >> Where would this thing fit at this fieldhouse? >> That's what I was just getting ready to ask. >> Well, >> that's only >> if I had my brothers and we could do this, we would relocate the softball field to next to the baseball field. And if you look at the last page of your document, come back to

070that. Burn or Burn and Jones from St. Louis, they came out and did some field measurements for me uh a year and a half ago. And it is possible to relocate softball up on top of the hill. There would have to be some excavation and sloping and all of that. Uh, and I was very specific in talking to them about this, that the scoreboard that Mr. Babs had just donated less than three years ago would be relocated and reused. All of the poles and LED lights that were just put in in 2019 would be taken down and reused up on top of the hill. We'd still have to run conduit and all of those things, but um last year's rough estimate for these two fields to do something like this, you're talking about a million

071dollars for the softball field and you're talking about a million and a half dollars for a baseball field. And that's also with doing some additional add-ons of uh dugouts for softball, dugouts for baseball, and then a central press box. Or you can do you can maintain the current press box for the baseball field and we can put a press box in for the softball field. So those those are just estimates, but I I want I want you to see it because it becomes a domino effect if if we really, you know, if we really want to look at a fieldhouse or classroom additions or whatever it may be, that parcel of land where the current softball field sits, that is your best option in my opinion to add on to the footprint of the high

072school and middle school. >> So, um on the the bottom with new construction, most of it is athletics facilities or is there a academic need for improvement of new construction for academic needs? some of the things that I've said to you or I've written down. Yes, I say we also need to continue doing improvements to existing facilities as far as updating uh what we >> I want to clarify but I I fully you know the top of that whole sheet is act is tied to academic spaces and painting but new construction is there something down the road that we need to you know on a plus side I feel like our facilities we are doing the roof and the HVAC things and we're not, you know, having a building that we go, we just need

073to tear the darn thing down. But down the road, do you feel there's an academic space that we're going to be better served by new construction? >> I I could potentially see um needing to add some space for the arts with the band and the choir if they continue to grow at the middle school and high school. Because again, think back when I got here, we added the music teacher, the choir director at the middle school to invigorate those programs and revitalize or add to those programs. And look at what we now have. We have more students involved with a middle school show choir. We have multiple choirs at the middle school. The bands are continuing to maintain and grow. Uh I I could see that as a potential addition. Um, I don't know how

074to answer the question of do we want to get into the child care business as far as a preschool or a daycare on campus? that's being discussed as part of the coalition here in the county. But I don't I don't know if we want to take that on because history tells me after talking to some folks that we used to have a daycare at the high school and then it sunset it and went away. and you are all very acutely aware of the uh the budget uh limitations and the impact of property tax the property tax impact on what's going to do to our operation fund. So I don't in the short term I don't know if we want to take that on or not. Um, and I I'm waiting for also the potential development

075of some other business and industry that I'm being told would potentially come to the county on State Road 43 in some way, shape, or form. And I I'll leave it at that at this point, but it it's something's going to spark growth. And then the question becomes, are we good with what we got? And then great and then when do we get to that point of where do we start adding on? So >> so you're talking about the different educational programs such as FFA like we did with the greenhouse or maybe there might be need for a barn with a business and the animals in the future. I I just I think when I think about our new construction projects, you know, we we the bus facility or transportation facility, um major renovations to the

076middle school which was in in need of of that work. Um, and as we look at this list, you know, a lot of the new, uh, construction projects on that list are very athletics heavy. Is the, you know, I don't even know. I don't really I don't have an answer. I just throwing that question out there for consideration that you know is there an academic need that we see as a as the board that we need to move forward uh to improve the academic uh programming you know with facilities. I mean, >> off the top of my head, something I did notice is that there might be I don't know if all the elementaryaries have a STEM room that they're utilizing, but that's something that if if they're not, maybe looking into facilitating that at

077each school and making sure they have that space in those things. >> Um, >> and they do they have facilities. But I, you know, going back to your thought, Derek, one thing that I would say is yes, we've done a very good job of maintaining all of our buildings, but then major construction, you know, there in my mind, there should be another phase of consideration at the middle school to update all of the walls, which would be a major undertaking in that building because that those were false panel walls. They could be movable walls and Tom, Mr. Arthur, as the principal has talked about that as to what would it look like, what would it cost to update that building so that you know the walls were soundproof and the walls were drywall and they

078weren't the hollow panels as much as they are. That I I in my mind those would also be the next pieces of major construction that we would talk about. Just like with Mrs. Green at Spencer Elementary talking about removing some of the tile that's down the hallways and updating and replacing those. I I don't I I can't put my finger on saying yes, we must absolutely build something brand new >> to take care of. >> I can't either. I'm just, you know, there's nothing that because I feel like our buildings, you know, are in good shape because the work has been done with the smaller projects through bonding and uh to improve them. Uh it's I can't think of, you know, like I said I said the extreme example of I don't there's not a

079building that we would be better served to just tear down and build a brand new construction building. Um, so Jack, >> I'm not looking to replace any building, but I think the one thing that as a corporation we need to look at is what we're paying Monroe County to send our kids, put them on a bus an hour a day and send them over there >> for >> Well, we can do that here >> for uh Hooser Hills >> vocational or adult ed type stuff. And you know, we've already got the uh cosmetology thing going. I think we could build on that and it might need a structure for that. And that's to me that's the answer to your question. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> That's that's where I think we need to focus. Quit

080sending our money to Monroe County. >> So we and keep it here. We got some say so over those programs because we don't have any say so over them right now. >> Yeah. >> And sometimes that's not good. So, let me ask that the question then because the the career center model was that we were all stronger together to pull resources into career centers instead of each school trying to trying to do that. Um, but I feel that there's been a shift in more schools taking on and doing what you're saying, Jack, is and I asked the administration, you know, curriculum wise, what is what does that look like moving forward? I mean, >> for my >> I feel like the career centers are getting weaker or they're they're kind of losing some programs. schools

081are building their own or I mean >> I think with the change in the diploma requirements and the diploma seals you're seeing innovation you know just like with us as Spencer Owen we're progressing forward with cosmetology and taking that existing art room and transforming it into a a learning lab for a stylist with an outside door so they're going to be able to get their hours on Saturdays with cutting and manicuring and all that good stuff. So yes, we're we're taking the lead there. But when I look at MSD Martinsville, they have what's called a spoken wheel program or yeah, spoken wheel where they're working on putting in place an electricians program or a plumbing program. Um I think about Southwest Park, uh the superintendent, he and I have talked about they put a program

082in place two years ago for CDL license preparation. I I think what we want to be cautious with is I don't want to cut ties to the point that we're taking innovation or opportunity away from our kids, but also at the same time, I don't want to just keep duplicating things if we're already paying for a service. Um, you know, I because I asked Dr. Shimp who's the superintendent at Southwest Park about a CDL. In two years, they have only had 18 students go through that program to get their CDL license. So, it's an in-house very small program. But they also have had to do over a $100,000 lift on that to get it off the ground with a simulator, with a semitr, and then paying the instructors. Uh, I know you're concerned with Hooser

083Hills, Monroe County, kids not being prepared as well as we would like. I think that is course correcting itself. uh because they have a new director, they have a new superintendent. And the example that you and I have talked about in the past, uh there are core there are class- size limits now that were not in place when we had kids going over there and basically not being prepared as well as they should have been. So, I I I'll continue to watch that with with Hooser Hills and um but again, you know, cosmetology and you know, the Coalition for Child Care here in the county, can we do something with that or not? And as I've said to the principles, it's yes, we can have an outside organization and come in and do the the

084the lift to get it started, but when they step away, are we going to be able to maintain it and sustain it financially, whether it's a daycare or a preschool, whether it's a a partnership with uh an outside company, you know, when when when it's all on us, are we going to have the cash flow to to maintain So, and I >> have you talked with um just questioning the early childhood development program. You're talking about the daycare kind of being involved with that as a career >> pathway. Y >> um have we talked with Cook Medical or Boston Scientific because I know a lot of a lot of people are moving here because of that and would need child care. Is that something that maybe we could speak to them about partnering with them

085about that? >> We have not at this point because Mr. Mr. Bolting House is doing an initial study just to see can we what would the lift look like if we just did it here in house for employees >> and I think that that's where we would need it and it would have to be affordable >> right >> for our classified people we would I think our pool for classified people might be better >> if we had if people had >> that was affordable that's you know obviously we can't take sick children But there are times when your babysitter takes off and so you've got to take off and um so yeah, if we could have it for our staff >> but yet be affordable, >> it'd be a good draw. >> Yeah. You know,

086>> and the affordability of child care right now is a statewide issue that >> you know. >> Yeah. And I would just say from recent experience that it will be a money hole. It will not make money. And so taking on I think a huge risk of debt >> that that's what we're going to study >> and the deficit. >> Yeah. I mean you know if in a perfect world if if the insurance agent wouldn't tell me no you're a bus driver a bus driver could let their three-year-old or a four-year-old sit in the seat behind them as they're driving a bus. We never would have a bus driver shortage because we've had five or six bus drivers that we've had to turn away because they didn't have the care to be able to watch

087their son or their daughter while they drove the bus in the morning or the afternoon because they weren't enrolled in school. And the way the the way our in well the way the law is and the way the insurance is written, you can't let a passenger ride unless they're a school age student or the or the driver. So >> a few years ago it wasn't like that though, right? Or were they doing it. >> Hey Dina, here I'm putting my fingers. >> I drove the board around in an activity bus. I didn't take the test apparently. So, um, >> any other questions from the board or? So, um, I've talked to Superintendent Klein about this, or actually a thought before I go to that is I want to make clear I I think that the

088upgrades and new construction to our athletics facilities are that is important. I I want to make that clear that, but at the same time, when I look at that list, I go, okay, is there an academic need that we're uh that's around the corner that, you know, is a blind spot that we need to consider? Um the uh for the board, I've talked to Super Klein about this that I think we're at a point where especially this summer with our board retreat, we need to be more intentional about uh especially as we get a a strategic plan about goal setting that this board is more intentional about taking time this summer to set goals for the future because as we're looking, you know, we're coming to the end of a I feel like we're coming

089to an end of a cycle of building projects and you know the transportation facility my whole time on the board that's been what we've talked about is the need for that now we've we've done it and I think um we have not been as intentional about setting goals for the corporation for the superintendent and been uh as uh that's not been part of our process and I think we need to to improve on that um this summer because I think we're in the moment where the moment calls for that um and and should we should be doing that more frequently or should be something that we build into our repertoire but especially at this moment in time I think we you know looking at these projects you know what is the goal for the next

090five years of this corporation we have we have not had that conversation as a board and I think it's time I think we need to do that >> I agree. >> Yeah. >> Um and I may just lead us through that process at our support retreat. So >> because I will say we will not be looking per se at some of the academic data as much as we have the past couple of times because we're going to be in a hurry up and wait from the Department of Education until they certify scores and set the proficiency marks and all of those things. So you know, as Derek has mentioned, it'll It will give you and us more time to ask more questions of the principles and myself as to how do we correlate these to

091more specific goals, not only for me, not only for the board, but how do those goals stretch back to the specific principles and assistant principles and directors so that we're all rowing the ship in the same direction. And I know this isn't the topic of this work session tonight, but I I um I've I think I've made this comment before of, you know, as we look at the academic goals of of achievement in our district. Um, you know, we always want to be better than the state average, which is great and a lot of times we are, but what I think we need to have conversation about as part of the goal setting process is is talking about what we expect from our gra our academic process. what are the benchmarks that um and goals

092that we want for achievement five years from now, two years from now and and aligning I don't know that we have been a part of that process enough to help our administration kind of set the bar and and give them something to aim for in the work that they do. So something that I think we need to improve upon as we move forward. >> Is there any other questions or points of discussion or >> what do we what's the next step? If you don't if I'm not hearing any concerns or apprehensions on this bond list, then I'm going to start bringing these pieces to you as a board to officially approve as we go through the April and the May board meetings. Um because it's and I will start doing my due diligence working with

093Jeff on as Jack alluded to going back and talking to my three contractors for the tennis courts and seeing if they'll core it. So if that gives us a little more deeper information, but trying to get >> Yeah. If we need to use this by next March, use this money up that tennis court. We'll need to get moving on that pretty quick. >> And it it Yeah, I mean it could be uh I'm going to talk to him tomorrow because it'll be where do we get in line and is it a summer project or is it a fall project before a freeze >> or does it become a spring project? And if it is a spring project, you know, then we're talking about relocation of a team for a season, but also I can request

094permission from uh ICE Miller as our bond or yes, our bond council to extend the March deadline to let's say April or May if necessary. I I don't I want to try and avoid that. But they so long as they know that we are spending the funds the way they were met and Christine as legal counsel asked the question earlier are we okay with these projects and I said yes we are because the way that we wrote the scope of the project or the way we wrote the scope of the project for this bond so this is money tied to Spencer elementary and valley middle school was general improvements to all buildings. So we were very we were very broad in that portion of the fund. We were very narrow in the scope when we

095wrote it for the transportation building because we knew or I knew it was going to take every dime and every dollar that we had from that portion of the bond to take care of the transportation building. So if you again if there are no concerns on these then I'm going to start pushing on these. I got something to say that I didn't see on any of these lists. And this is going to sound self and really it's not my conditionary permanent. We're kind of we're kind of behind on some ADA stuff like this building in the clinic. You know, if I didn't have the upper body strength I got, getting a walker through one of them, two of them doors right there is not an easy task. And I think we look at handicap accessibility

096like at the clinic >> especially that's where you go when you're >> you know >> so I mean there's you got some issues out there I've noticed only since I've been in this situation >> and and Jack you bring up something that I wanted to point out is that we we often uh put a lot of work into our academic or our school buildings as we should let's not forget this building too um that entrance And you know, when I think about the um you know, the ramp in here of that's been falling apart for many years. And there's things in at this building, and I know you don't want to be self-s serving uh you know, of putting money into your own office. >> The secretaries and the ladies in this building have a

097list of things we need to do. >> We owe it to the community. >> Yes. >> Yeah. I mean, and >> and this is important. This is an important building. And so I I wanted to make that point that don't please don't neglect your own space here because I think this is an important space. >> In my own personal please, one of the things I listed was I really want to see what it would cost to have the exterior metal panel around the top of the building powerwashed and then repainted, you know, a bright blue or a patriot blue so that it doesn't I hate to say it, it doesn't look so dra and And you know, and one of the other things that I have discussed or started to discuss with the the the

098two new a teachers is >> what's it going to take to rip out all the shrubs and everything and redo the the shrubbery around this building, you know, because that that would be student involvement and minimal cost, but buy in and and appreciation for the work that's done. So, >> well, I was just thinking after you mentioned that building that you just equipment building down there. >> We should have students that should be able to they had the supervision. >> Yeah. >> That should be able to do that. I mean, I'll go back to I I have a meeting next week with the director at Hooser Hills and you know, we have we our our our capacity is full next year for construction trades for students going over to Hooser Hills and it's like, can

099I have the construction trade kids come over here and build a building for us? >> You know, was a vocational building teacher in the late when it started in early 80s they built houses. >> Yeah, I know. >> But now they really don't do that. And I wondered I was sitting here wondering what do they do for construction over there at your hills and why couldn't our kids >> be working in our facilities? >> Uh expo projects. I I can tell you last year in a lot of the expo projects that I saw um they built poleb barns and and that was actually part of many of their uh the presentations was >> um building that for individuals or you know that that was a so I know that they have the capacity to do

100>> and I I'll show the the age of my home because when Beth and I built our home Ray Lynn Cutshaw and his son Daniel Cutshaw who are Owen county folks and Daniel tra pass passed away tragically but our home was Daniel's expo project because he came over and worked on all the sighting all the framing and you know it was built from July till December and we moved in on the Martin Luther King long weekend but I still remember that kiddo and his and his dad and it was and I think at the time Mrs. Tucker was the principal so it was He was taking pictures and doing all I said take all the pictures you need. So it's like and I think he told me he got an A on the project. So

101but but no I you know I mean you bring it up. I mean again we have things just sitting outside that if we put them in a building we could get five or 10 more years out of them. whether it's high jump mats or high jump mat covers or hurdles or uh whatever you know the equipment is that this let's get it out of the sun and get it out of the snow and the ice and just make it make it last that much longer. So >> yeah and look better. >> Did we ever get the band thing that they come in and talk about? They were they filled this room up one night like hey we'll get it >> real quick. Real quickly, you will have a board action item next week to approve

102the concrete. So, the concrete pad to go in. That would be a May installation and then the actual tower will be delivered in June >> because it it got delayed from it because the company was behind or couldn't get to the project or >> they they got bombarded with orders >> and I I could have ordered one from Texas instead of Indiana for $80,000 more and I said, "No, we're going to wait for another here. >> Yeah. So, >> that was what happened because I remember them being here. >> Yeah. M >> Mr. Kramer has already asked for the dimension so he can start having signs made to put up state champions. And I said, "Just hold on. We'll we'll get to it, but just let me get it in the ground first." And uh

103>> hey, got to toot your own horn, right? >> All that. So, >> literally Yeah. End of my Wait, what is it? End of effectiveness. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Pretty effective right there. >> Any other comments or questions from the board? >> Cross country safety. >> Those polls are coming out and those holes will be filled in. I've already talked to Mr. Green and that's what they're going to do. So, >> yeah. What about traffic pattern at the high school? Is that still an issue? >> Uh they I had charged uh Mr. Bolting House, Officer Reinhardt, oh my gosh, Mr. Arthur to look at changing the traffic pattern for next year. So, putting the buses back out front and then having parent drop off in the back and then student parking in the back so

104that they are completely separated. And excuse me, and Mr. Floyd as transportation director and I'm waiting on their plan. Uh actually I'll bring it up tomorrow at our leadership meeting. So because I know it had been talked about and then Dr. Briggs left, I came and now I finally been able to come back to it. So and I don't I I think putting the buses out front would make more sense safety wise. Uh even if you parked them at an angle and I I test uh Mr. Floyd and Officer Reinhardt. It's like, can you park them at an angle or do we need to do side by side and you have a a secure walkway in the middle? Because I've seen it both ways and then once the buses are full and they're dismissed, then

105they go out to 46 and go left to head to Patrick'sburg or go right to head to McCormix Creek and Gossport and get on home. So, >> what what I hear is the people stopping in the back of the high school, you know, parents right there when you're not supposed to. >> Yeah. >> So, is there any any thought about making that a one way, looping it back towards the football field or bringing them in towards the football field and then exiting right there by the >> I will ask that because ideally, yes, I would agree with you that's what should happen. They should come in one way and drop off along the curb there along the auxiliary gym or up towards the middle school, but then go back out towards the football parking and

106the football locker rooms and out to Fulford. One way in, one way out, and then you're making a ride on Fulford to go back out and around to 67 231 to get back into town or to >> southbound traffic only in the mornings and in the afternoons for that matter. And I, you know, it's uh >> So you'd have to have somebody at the back gate. >> Yeah. Or you'd have you'd have to have an SRO or or a principal, assistant principal saying you're going that way. You're not going back out to 46. Or, you know, if you want to wait until all the school buses are gone, then you can leave and go out to 46. But it it's just with more and more families driving and more and more kids driving, I I've

107asked them to come back to it. So, >> okay, >> we there should be something in place >> going into next year. >> None of our buildings were built for uh drop off uh line, the modern drop off line. >> Any other items? >> Off topic. Off topic, but how are we going to implement the cell phone, man? Well, we have a leadership meeting tomorrow and that's going to be one of the topics of discussion and uh I am waiting on the guidance from the department of education uh the model policy guidance um and you know there has been some discussion of ideas of using lockers because it the way the legislation is written it has to be a secure storage. Lockers are a secure storage. We've also looked at the pouches. Uh, and you

108know, I I' I've kind of challenged the principles to think of it this way. if we were able to use the lockers and then we had a divvy or a bivvie of pouches when a student gets caught with their phone out because they don't follow the rules then the phone goes in the pouch for 30 days. So, it's not a permanent, you know, well, from first bell to last bell, it goes in the pouch, you know, and, you know, trying to teach some responsibility to the kids. Leave them in your locker. Leave them leave, better yet, leave them at home because, uh, >> that's not >> I just want to make a comment because I have kids and they look online and these pouches with the Velcro, yeah, they make the noise. Yeah, it's secure,

109but you just take a seam ripper and you just take the Velcro off and then it's useless. Well, then that kid gets in trouble. >> I'm just saying these boogers are created. >> You know, one of the things I've looked at, Fort Wayne Community Schools as the example, because they've had these for two years. Uh they issue one to every student and it's it's just like their Chromebook. If you break it, you buy it. If you damage it, you repair it. But you keep it for the four years or however many years. You know, these these things are going to run roughly $30 a pop. >> Question. Are there Chromebook cases that incorporate a cell phone pouch? >> I've never been asked that question. I And I I can ask technology to look, but I

110would be I would hate to think about the price and I hate to say that >> it would be that much different for a case. Well, but if we're talking about replacing 650 cases at the high school and 400 cases at the middle school, >> uh, >> I just be curious. It was much different cost than the $30 pouch. >> It'd be a chunk. Yeah. I don't know. I'd have to look. >> Okay. >> Lastly, I got just note of a story behind it. Mark socks are worth taking a look at. >> Markck socks are always >> they're always worth look taking a look at >> the other end of the of the queue there. So >> I think we are reaching the end of our effectiveness uh as a as a board. Uh we

111do have on the agenda board comments if anybody I just open it up if there were any final comments or general comments. talk about my comments. >> I know, but we but we do have a meeting uh next um >> Thursday. Yeah, thanks Thursday. Um administrator comments, anything from >> any additional board comment that >> if you're looking at a new mattress or some accessories, the band is having a mattress fundraiser >> in May. So, >> Okay. you or someone you know if you're watching online they also have pillows. My daughter wanted to make sure I knew that. >> Yes. >> Never heard of >> they've done it one other time so they're doing it again. >> Okay. Okay, >> Andy, >> superintendent comments. >> Uh, just very quickly, congratulations to the FFA for their

112banquet last evening. It was an excellent banquet. I was able to uh run from a church business meeting to get to the awards program for the FFA and did an excellent job and lots of great things going on there. And uh um we are now finishing up checkpoint three for iLearn and that's going really well. and unofficially uh our aggregate scores for I read or excuse me we're finishing checkpoint three for iLearn unofficially our aggregate scores for I read second graders who took it last year and third graders who took it this year we are hovering at 90% or better in all of the buildings uh with pass rates so kudos to the kids kudos to the teachers and the administrators and Mr. Taylor and Mrs. Breedlove and all their work as well. So, but

113um that's all I have. >> Okay, we are now at 8:13 adjourned. Um any p any public comment? Uh >> I have a question about how is Flatwoods going to handle the bus going up and down Flatwoods has a ton of problems. >> All of the buses will not necessarily at this point being going up and down Flatwoods because throughout the course of the year right now we are still having some of our drivers park them at home. >> Okay. So, you're only going to see the heavier frequency of buses on Flatwoods like at the beginning of spring break or the end of spring break when they drop them off and then go pick them up or same thing Christmas break uh and then the summer break. Um I know when we went and talked

114to uh the county commissioners when that project started, they had discussed about adding a burm or a shoulder to Flatwoods to widen the road. Um, and again, I'll go back to the current commissioner and ask him if that's where that is on their planning process. So, but we've been trying to watch that. Uh, and I we'll be cognizant of that, but it's also I know there's also been a lot of construction traffic going to the housing addition, but uh, which we specifically when we built the the >> great about not using the bridge and stuff like that. Right. Well, we were legally required not to use the bridge with the exception of the federal carrier uh the instances where we had federal carrier uh travel routes with about four or five trucks that they had

115to go across the bridge or they were going to get in deep trouble with violating their federal carrier uh um paperwork. So, but and we'll look at that. And then I have ALS You just sparred something in my mind. I'm also asking for a date to have an open house with transportation now that all of the paintings done, the room offices are decorated, arts up, and uh all that good stuff. When hopefully the grass settles in or or fills in a little bit more, then we can get folks out and just have an open house so you can come and look at the building. And again, you're welcome to go out anytime and look. It's now fully open and tag me or Mr. Taylor or Mr. Floyd and we can go out and look at

116it. So, okay. Our next meeting is next Thursday here at central office at 700 p.m. and on YouTube. See you then. But be sure to like