001Now uh if it's the pleasure of the board, I would ask you to approve accept and approve the consent agenda as presented with ABC, CD, and E, your financial reports and claims, minutes of our previous meeting and work session, and also the principal and uh director reports for the month of March. Okay, you've heard the request. Is there a motion on the consent agenda? Move to approve. Thank you, Liz. Do I have a second? Second. Thank you, Dina. Okay, it's been properly moved and seconded. Uh we will proceed to a roll call vote. Uh so we will be doing roll call votes this evening since Jack is virtual. Uh Dena, yes. Rick, yes. Liz, yes. Derek is a yes. Jack, how do you vote? Say that again. Yes. All right. Thank you. Motion passes five
002to zero. All right. Next up on our agenda is the you make a difference nominee. Uh again, I will defer to Mrs. Sam this evening for that presentation uh uh and overall uh uh a presentation of that information. So, and we are live. Oh, we are now live. Let the minutes reflect that we are now live. Uh microphone. All right. So, Angie, I lied to you. Sorry. Um so, I think you have guests, too. Linda, are you out there? Oh, she's back there. I'm sorry. Yeah, she kept my secret. She knew about it before. Yeah. Well, we we had a Yeah. Well, I ran into her the day that I was doing and so I said, "Hey." So, anyway, um so as uh most of you know, I picked up a little side gig this
003year at Patrick'sburg. And um it's been just a great experience. I love the Berg. Everybody knows I got my shirt on here. So, um if I could give the you make a difference to everybody, I would. Um because everybody's just been so supportive from day one. Um, but there's one person who's been instrumental in helping me transition into this role, and it's our secretary and bookkeeper, Angie Amadore. So, around the office, I like to refer to her as Mary Poppins. And why? Because no matter what random thing I ask for, she somehow pulls it out of a purse, desk, or cabinet like magic. It's kind of freaky sometimes. So, you need um, you know, you need a form, she has it. need a supply already in her hand. Um, it's it's freaky in the best
004way possible. So, one time I was filling out a form and I made a mistake. I was just leaning over a desk doing it. Before I could even think about asking for help, she would hand me white out tape so I could fix it. I'm like, "How did she even know I made a mistake?" And um, yesterday I got a box um, from our, you know, UPS guy and I was getting ready to rip it open like I usually do. I look up and there's a box cutter being handed to me. And so, I mean, she just does stuff. She's very proactive, always, you know, trying, you know, just takes initiative. Couldn't ask for more help. So, I I really appreciate this year. So, beyond um let's see, I lost my spot. Moments like that
005um capture how attentive, prepared, and supportive she is every day. So, beyond keeping the office running smoothly, Angie's always friendly and welcoming to our parents when they stop by or call the school. She also never hesitates to step in and help students like today. Um whether it's giving extra assistance assistance when needed or offering an enthusiastic high five to a proud pre preK student who stops by to show off their work. Angie helps make Patrickburg Elementary the caring and supportive place that it is. Her kindness, preparedness, and willingness to help truly make a difference each and every day. For these reasons, I am happy to nominate Angie Amidor for the You Make a Difference Award from Patrick. That's okay. I told her she forgot about a battery pack for your, you know, inflatable lobster. I
006don't. Yeah, I had it. I was a inflatable lobster, but I left my pack at home. And she goes, I have one. I'm like, who has who has an inflatable battery pack? Can I send someone take the picture? You don't mind? Let me take a picture of the two of you. I would, but all three. There you go. Congratulations. Thank you for all you do. I had told Angie that and I feel kind of bad because I said, "Well, we're going to do our presentation." And I said, "I I wasn't here last year. I don't really know, you know, how the grant money came or any of that." Which I could easily have found that out, but I didn't tell her that. So, she did. I hate lying, but I'm like, "Well, technically, you could
007come and give me that. I apologize. Okay, good. Please. Yeah. Well, Angie, the running joke is that we have to lie to a lot of people to get them to show up to schoolboard meetings. So, you just won in a long line of people. So, congratulations. All right. Next on our agenda is our Patrick'sburg Elementary School student archery presentation. So, um, April has these, but I I've sent these, um, I've emailed them to you to have, but we have a couple things. I have Mrs. Hower here. Um, tell you a little bit about our archery program that is unique to Patrick'sburg Elementary. We um, brought some very special archers here with us. And Mr. Smeltzer has volunteered to put an apple on his head for you to practice with. He said it when he first
008or you can let the birthday boy Yeah. And you know, so this is something special to Patrick'sburg. And what I really like about um archery is that and as you'll see when they're being passed out, it's accessible to everyone. It doesn't matter, boy, girl, all physical abilities. Anyone can do this. Um, and what's great for elementary improves your focus and your concentration, self-control and listening because I mean when I go in and see this, I mean they are listening and they because it's, you know, they take it very seriously. Um, it helps our students shine who may not thrive in traditional sports. So, it's something that everybody can do and we even had the staff do it on our wellness Wednesday one time and it was it was fun. Um, didn't hurt anybody. Um, one
009other thing before we get started, you also get this packet and inside it, it's an August to March kind of overview and you won't see any testing or any scores or anything like that. There's just a what I could fit on each page about what kind of makes Patrick'sburg Patrick'sburg. So, the Berg and it's just some of the fun stuff we do, some of the memories that that we make with the kids. So, um I that's what I'm sharing with you so you can look at it at your convenience, but it's just just some of the things that that we've done this year so far and we got a lot more fun things planned. So, just something to share. Um so, enjoy that. And then Mrs. Hower, if you'd like to come uphead in the
010kiddos here in just a second. Okay. Um so, we started this program last year. um we received it through a grant and so um there were three of us that went through or four of us that went through the training um to start the program out and then we um say I can help you. I need to they're getting it. Um so we went through the training, we came back with our certification. um we had a grant and so the the startup cost of it um that was not factored in with the grant was $500 and um Joe Fry with Fry Towing um he sponsored the extra $500 that Patrickburg needed to get the program going and so it came with the 10 bows um all of our gear to repair the bows and the
011arrows. um came with uh all the arrows, everything we needed, five targets, um the net, everything um for the program. And so with the program, we'd eventually like to start an afterchool program with it um to where the kids can compete all across the state and all across the nation. Um I know Bill Brown has helped us out with that and he's really good with um competition and all the kids competing at the high school level. U middle school has it, but our elementary school is the first one to have the bows and the NASP um in our school. So, this isn't set up exactly like it should be um because we have everything set up at our school. So, we have 10 kids um shooting the bows and arrows at once. And so, like
012we said, the kids, even if they're a little bit squirly in class, anything like that, it doesn't matter because they all want to be able to shoot the bows and arrows and participate. And they know it's a nononsense thing. So, you mess up once, it's a warning. You mess up twice, you're done. And so all of our kids, we've had a couple only two kids this year that have had that warning, but they've continued on with the programs throughout all the weeks. Um so it's it's an awesome thing. Um because they're all focused, they're all excited, they're all cheering each other on um and paying attention the entire time. Um so it's it's been quite interesting and a lot of fun. Um I was going to say so I can explain this a little bit
013before we have the kiddos come up here to shoot. So the kids know um when we start out too that we have the waiting line. So I put down the piece of tape here. Usually our bows are on a rack, a hanging rack. So the kids will all wait here. They know they have to have their toes behind the line. Um and I do have my whistle. It is really loud. We'll do it tonight anyway if that's all right. If it's not, then it's okay. Just as we go through the whole program. Um but then they have the waiting line. They'll get their bows. Um something special about the bows. We have all different colored bows, but the kiddos who are left-handed, they know that they have the orange bows only. So, that's one thing
014um that we have. And one of our kiddos tonight that's shooting is right-handed and the other one's left-handed. Um and then we have our shooting line here. And the kids know to straddle the line whichever direction they are going. Oh, sorry. I'll stop moving around. Um you move obviously. I keep moving a lot. And then once they get up there as well, um, with the net, there's another line, the waiting line, um, for the kids to stop when we blow the whistles and then they'll retrieve their arrows and pull them out and then wait and then wait for the next person to go ahead and pull theirs out. But once we go through the program, um I was going to say I think on your sheets that this is same account ready, it it tells
015the whole process um the 11 steps that the kids will go through um when they're preparing to shoot. So if we're ready, I was going to say Jasper and Rose, you can come up here and I'll move the arrow curtain a little bit before we get started on that. Well, I'm just going to pull back a little. That's all right. Let me set this over here real quick. Or would you guys like to introduce yourselves name and grade? Not really. I know better. They've said my name though. Okay, this is how you brought with you. And what's your name? I'm Jasper and I'm in fourth grade. Rose, sixth grade. Rose is in sixth grade. So, we did the kids know too, like if they happen to drop the arrows, um I did set extra arrows
016back here because they already Jack can see here. You guys may want to know. You got this. Rose is loud. It's the electronic crystals. So, what we do when we start out, all the kids are waiting along the waiting line. Um, and usually as the instructors, we'll stand up here by the bows, but I'll stand back here just out of the way. So, the kids know um get bow. So, that's two whistles. So, yep. So, you guys can go ahead just like the same. Oh, he needs to get the orange one to match his shoes. So we know the orange one. So the kids will stand this close when it is the competition. And so they know to wait on the line until everybody's ready. As instructors, we'll walk across, make sure they're straddling the
017line, their bows are on their toes, and then when we're ready, it's one whistle, and they know that's So after they do that then again the same routine they go back behind the waiting line and then instructor will walk up So in class after we go through a routine most of the time as the instructor to other leg cover. So several I know the fifth and sixth graders most of them here and then the uh the fifth and sixth with the arrows and we'll just stand there and we'll wait for the kids to put their toes behind the line and they are very eager to go ahead and get ready and do things quickly and safely so they can shoot multiple times. So usually during the PE class um the kids are able to shoot
018the bows and arrows five to six times. So they'll go through this and we have 10 kids shooting at once. And so it's really neat to see the kids all lined up. If they're not standing at the line, then they'll be like toes or back and just kind of keep each other in line to do this. So we would like to ask any of you like she did a great job. So purple or green? or left eye. So, the way to tell is make the triangle shape like this and hold it in front of your face and look directly at your I can only see your left eye. It's okay. And then you don't want your fingers touching the We don't want to dry. I know. I got you already. Oh, I know. I'll follow
019the rules. Okay. All right. So, two whistle. I guess we should tell you in case somebody walks through the door, if we press the whistle like five times or more, you have to stop. So, yes. Okay. So, two whistles for get and then you'll through the line and straddle the line. Your So when you pick up your arrows your boat and then I didn't forget to tell you the kids. MC. No, I already Oh, yeah. Whenever you're ready to This might be a good board retreat activity. Oh, beat that one. I'm good. I didn't hurt anyone. on the ground. That's a great That's great. So our program is fourth through sixth at the school. So, we have that representative here as well. Do you have any questions? Anybody else? Or can you only use the
020orange one because your left eye? Are they different size bows? So, all the bows are the exact same. They're the Genesis bows, and we have them down to the eight pounds. Okay. On that, just so grades four through six, those aren't used to it, it makes it a little bit easier and better. So, but it can be adjusted for any age group. Did you ever get a bullseye yet? Yeah. Do you uh do you have uh competitions amongst yourselves to see who has bragging rights at home? They don't shoot at home, but they do. All right. Any other questions? What is the distance in the gym? You may have said it, but I think you shortened the Well, this one, so starting out for all of them because our fourth grade as well as it's
021a couple feet. So, I the door. Okay. So, we usually have all across the line. Yeah. I And then with competitions, they do scoop back and so eventually if we do the after school program versus just Then we will have the kids and uh schools competing. Are there elementary schools? Yes, there are. I forget the total number this year, but I know each year it's growing their programs and so they have elementary kids fourth through six. That would be something we like are there entry fees if you go to a school to shoot? There probably are. I can check but that's something we haven't but once we start the after school program like Joe Is there any left hand bows? This one is left. That's a left hand. Okay. No afterwards, too. Okay. And um
022what um we haven't had any injuries? Okay. All right. We'll follow the rules. Follow the rules. We do have our classes. Okay. Anything else, board members? Okay. Thank you. Thank you guys. Okay. I didn't know I was going to get to shoot a bow at the board meeting tonight. Exciting. Um I have not prepared a a written legislative session summary um for you all tonight. Uh but we're going to keep it brief. Um the legislative session wrapped up uh for the 20 uh 26 short session. Um, probably the biggest uh impact locally uh that our students are going to feel is the uh increased uh focus on banning cell phones from students hands during the school day. Um, that was probably one of the bigger K12 um that I think people are going to notice.
023Um, but actually not a lot uh of of legislation passed in the short session. Uh it was kind of a quiet year. Um we're they're gearing up for a long session next year and anticipate a lot more with uh we had our presentation from pol policy analytics there. I would anticipate more more things to come on uh school funding as uh things get leveled out there. So all right we will move on to old business. Uh there are no old business items this evening. Next on the agenda, new business uh uh donations. And we'll uh if there's no objection, we'll take A, B, and C together. No. If it's the pleasure of the body, then for letter A, the monetary donation uh from an anonymous couple who would respectfully like to remain anonymous as a
024$2,000 donation that would be used to pay off remaining uh school meal accounts. Uh that item. Uh the second item is a physical piece of equipment donated from Boston Scientific, a Wazer water jet valued at $12,000. It's an advanced piece of equipment used for STEM programming uh for our students. It will be uh put in the uh industrial excuse me, the industrial technology shop for Mr. Beckwith and all and the YES lab uh on that item. And then the final item this evening is a local is a donation from the local VFW post in the amount of $2,000 for the use of purchasing art supplies at the middle school. All right. You've heard the request for items A, B, and C. Is there a motion on those items? Move to approve. Thank you, Liz. Is
025there a second? Second. Thank you, Rick. Is there any discussion? I'd just like to say thank you to to the folks who have donated those items. Okay. Um it's been properly moved and seconded. We'll proceed to a roll call vote. Uh Dena, yes. Rick, yes. Liz, yes. Derek is a yes. Jack, couldn't hear you? Yes. All right. Thank you very much, Jack. Motion passes. 520. Okay, next on the agenda, item two. Uh item two, we would ask you for an approval to declare the uh folding machine, the Braden folding machine in this office as surplus. It is no longer operational and uh the cost to repair out outweighs the need for us to have a folding machine. Okay, you've heard the request. I have a motion on that request. Move to approve. Thank you, Dina.
026Do I have a second? Second. Thank you, Liz. Right. Any discussion? What's a folding machine? Uh, for us, we use it primarily to fold uh letters that go into envelopes or the fold the Yeah, the W2s. And since we're at a point where we have a handful of W2s, we're folding now, it's uh I don't want to spend about $10,000 to replace a machine that will probably be obsolete in another couple years alto together. So, okay. Okay. Any further discussion? Okay. Hearing none, we will proceed to a roll call vote. Dena, yes. Rick, yes. Liz, yes. Derek is a yes. Jack, how do you vote? Yes. Motion passes. 520. Okay. Next, uh, new business item three. Item three is a request to accept from the Department of Education the Career Coaching Subrant uh for uh
027continued uh in the amount of $112,476. These funds will be used to maintain the career coach at the high school uh through uh the at least the 2026 20227 school year. Okay, you've heard the request of a motion on that request. Move to approve. Thank you, Dina. Do I have a second? Second. Thank you, Rick. Is there any discussion? Okay, hearing done, we'll proceed to a roll call vote. Uh, Dena, yes. Rick, yes. Liz, yes. Derek, is he? Yes. Jack, yes. Motion passes five to zero. Next on the agenda is item four. Item four before you is a request for an outofstate field trip sa Saturday, May the 2nd uh for our jazz band to travel to Kings Island for their performance. We would ask you to approve that. This is a yearly trip. Okay.
028You've heard the request of a motion on that request. Move to approve. Thank you, Rick. Do I have a second? Second. Thank you, Liz. Is there any discussion? Okay. Hearing none, we'll proceed to a roll call vote. Dena, yes. Rick, yes. Liz, yes. Derek, is he yes. Jack? Yes. Motion passes 520. Okay. Next on the agenda, item five. Uh item five before you is a request to approve summer school courses. And I'll defer to Mr. Taylor here in just a moment uh as part of the discussion if you have further questions. Okay. You have heard the request. Do I have a motion on that request? Move to approve. Thank you, Dina. Do I have a second? Second. Thank you, Rick. Okay. Uh, properly moved and seconded. Is there any discussion or Mr. Taylor, do you
029wish to make any comment? Um our request is uh as as it has been in similar years that we would offer uh summer school for um credit recovery for students at the high school. And then as the state requires um if we have students that have not passed the I read three test uh we will offer that to them as second graders and then third graders are required to attend. So that's only if they do not pass the IRA 3 test. Um and we will be getting those test scores um here soon um to make those decisions. Okay. Any questions from the board, comments? Okay. All right. We will proceed to a roll call vote. Dena, yes. Rick, yes. Liz, yes. Derek, is a yes. Jack, yes. Motion passes. 5 to zero. Okay. Next item
030six. Excuse me. Item six before the board is a request to approve position control number 11660, which is currently a math teacher at the high school reassignment to the workplace specialist cosmetology instructor. Okay, you've heard the request. I have a motion on that request. Move to approve. Thank you, Liz. Do I have a second? Second. Thank you, Rick. Okay, properly moved and seconded. Are there is there any discussion? Okay. Hearing none, we will proceed to a roll call vote. Dena, yes. Rick, yes. Liz, yes. Derek is a yes. Jack, yes. Motion passes. 5 to zero. Okay. Next on the agenda, item seven. Uh item seven before the board is the request to uh approve andor accept the first reading of NEOA policy updates for volume 38 number one which is a non-discrimination update. Those policies
031are listed on the agenda and are available as part of the record and would ask for the approval. Um well first reading this is a discussion only uh for this evening. So uh we do not uh we cannot take action on it until this is uh on the agenda for second reading. So does any board member have any uh question or comment about the policy or wave of reading? Actually we do not. I uh in my new job asked our policy director and I she said you don't need to do that. So uh I'm learning a lot uh working at ISBA. So Oh, um so no first for first reading we only need to have discussion about it and comment so that we could make changes if need be uh between now and the second
032uh second reading at the next meeting. Okay. So no comments. Okay. All right. Uh lastly, under uh new business, item eight. Uh item number eight is a request to approve the cont contract with EdTech Quest for the program Sculu subscription agreement for Gasport Elementary School. Uh Principal Watson had provided a an overarching memo and of that program and we would ask for you to approve. Okay. You've heard the request. I have a motion on that request. Thank you, Dina. Do I have a second? Second. Thank you, Rick. All right. Uh, been properly moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Okay. Hearing none, we'll proceed to a roll call vote. Dena, yes. Uh, Rick, yes. Liz, yes. Derek, is he a yes. Jack? Yes. Thank you. Motion passes five to zero. Okay, next on the agenda
033is personnel. Uh, as I' as I've always asked the board, if it's the the pleasure of the board, I would ask you to approve personnel letters A, B, C, and D as one motion or if there are items there that you would like to take individually, we can do so as well. Is there any objection to taking them all together? Objection. Okay. No objection. All right. You've heard the request to approve uh items A, B, C, and D under personnel. Um, do I have a motion on that request? Move to approve. Thank you, Rick. Do I have a second? Second. Thank you, Dina. Okay, properly moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Okay, hearing no discussion, we'll proceed to a roll call vote. Dena, yes. Rick, yes. Liz, yes. Derek, is he a yes. Jack,
034how do you vote? Okay. Motion passes. Five to zero. All right. On next on the agenda is board comments. And I will uh start with Dina. I'd like to congratulate Angie on her make a difference award. And I'd also like to congratulate the retirees and um happy for them that it's a great loss to Spitzer early schools, a wonderful group of teachers who have been very dedicated and and made the difference in the lives of a lot of our our students through the years. Um I'd like to say I really enjoyed the seventh grade band and choir concert today. very enjoyable. They did a great job. Uh and I'd like to send best wishes to the uh Owen Valley varsity guard color guard. They will perform in the state finals. They have with the exception
035of one show, they've placed first in their rounds and looking forward to them bringing home some hardware on Saturday. Uh the will also perform um in state finals as well. Hopefully they'll bring home a goal. Um lots of other things I've seen going on. Wrapped up most of the winter uh activities. I know wrestling is, you know, they they did well and um from what I understand the elementary program is really very a lot of kids participating in that. So, a lot of good things going on. Thank you, Dina. Rick, I too want to thank the award winner and the retirees. a lot of expertise is leaving and I appreciate their dedication all these years. Also, the archery de demonstration was great. And uh everybody have a good spring break. Come back refreshed. Okay. Thank
036you, Rick. Liz, just echo the thank you Angie. She's awesome. She's just an amazing human. Um and she smiles all the time. It's just she just lights up a room. Um, for the uh for the students that helped Rose and Jasper, they're gone now, but they're just they're just such awesome kids. Most like Patrick'sburg just has such awesome kids. I just I love them out there. Um, for the anonymous people who wanted to donate $2,000, thank you. Thank you so much for helping with that. um for the student assistance with their their lunches. Um I know parents get behind and they can't catch up and things like this really helps the community. Um yeah, that's what I got. Okay. Thank you, Liz. Jack, I also like to thank the folks who donate every step up
037and take care of our local That's that's huge. Speaking of huge powerhouse group that's retiring congratulations to them after this and like to thank all them for the many many years of service and that's a great Okay. Thank you Jack. Uh yes I I too uh every year I feel like the retirement list is always hard to see. It's always tough because these are uh such valued educators who have served their community well and it's definitely sad to see this group go, but I wish them all the very best in retirement if if they watch this video if or they're watching live at home. I I wish them nothing but the best in retirement. Uh but actually uh we can never seem to keep Leah Taylor away. So, but I'm thanking you Leah Taylor for
038stepping in again to to fill in a temporary need there. Um, I'll echo uh Dena's comment. I was at the uh elementary wrestling event at the middle school last night and uh it's quite a sight. Uh I watched some familiar faces uh out there wrestling and um it is organized chaos at its finest. But, uh, those kids look like they're having a heck of a time out there. So, uh, and I really appreciate all of the adults at that event that are keeping those kids safe. There's always a kid that gets hit in the face and they're there to help that kid up. So, um, I appreciate all the work on that. uh as we exit out of winter and into spring um every year. I I appreciate all the the work um in this
039board update that we get from from Jeff M and his crew for for keeping the buildings functioning over the winter. Uh that does not sound like an easy job and I appreciate their their work at on that. um especially his uh when he said he was in February on the roof at Patrick'sburg three times. Yes, that's dedication to the cause to get up on a roof in the winter. So, I appreciate all all of their hard work. Um and yeah, I echo Rick's comment that everybody I hope has a great spring break. Uh next on our agenda is administrator comments. Uh Chris, anything further from you? I do want to thank thank you Shelley and Dana for coming and Dana for presenting. But um I do want to mention Becky and Kathy and Cara in
040particular. I Cara is one of my dearest friends and she's amazing person and teacher and Kathy I I helped her with prom a couple years when the girls are there and man they that was really something and it's just neat to be a part of and Becky is wow you know I mean she's done so much for the middle school and you know what I really like about all those educators is they I mean they they worked hard till you know at the last day I mean there's no slowing down for them I mean every year is something new so I think that's something to attain and and just it'll be a loss. Cornworks Creek is going to take a hit. I mean, because they're all and then um yesterday, of course, we didn't have
041power at the Berg, you know, about half the day. So, I just want to commend the staff because um you know, it's scary for little kids when the sky turns yellow and green and we had them all in the basement and they were pretty calm. It wasn't too bad, you know. So, um you know, and they just made do with what we had and that's just how they do it out there and that's how the staff does it. So, I mean, it was dark in the building and, you know, we we had people bring water out to us and Jeff M was there with, you know, so it's just um we have a great staff. So, I mean, we have a lot of great people in this corporation. So, um I think that's that's it.
042But anyway, thank you. And thank you, Angie left, but I did apologize for lying, but she's been a huge help this year as as the whole staff has been. So, that's it. Okay. and thank you for the presentation this evening. Okay, Mr. Taylor, um just want to echo and share my congratulations to all the retirees. Um fantastic um people to work with and and um best of luck to them in their next experiences. Thank you, Mrs. Hower, for sharing uh with us about archery. That was great. Um, I appreciated seeing and the and the kids did a a fantastic job. Um, this last Sunday was the first ever fine arts festival. Uh, and I want to congratulate our art and music departments at the high school and all of the students. It was well attended.
043Um, and they did a great job. So, the Wintergard, indoor drum line, um the big band, and then our choirs, middle school and high school, um performed, including the show choir. So, their performances that they go on the road and share, um they shared with us. Our second and third grade students are finishing up um iid testing. Uh teachers shared that they certainly did their best and and have uh worked really hard. And so we're looking forward to seeing those uh preliminary results coming up. Um and I I'd also like to share we were talking about retirees. Um over the last few weeks, Betsy Breedlove and I have visited all of our firstear teachers uh and their mentors. And it has been great um to see um the our first year teachers and veteran teachers
044that are assigned to mentor them to see them in that collaborative process and to hear how the first year teachers are feeling supported. Um and they are doing well as we're finishing up um our second semester and they will be uh shortly uh going into their second year. So they won't be rookies anymore. So, uh, it's been a great process there, too. So, I know everybody's looking forward to, uh, spring break and we are finishing up, um, our third, uh, nine weeks academic, uh, period and that finishes tomorrow. So, when we get back from spring break, we'll be into the fourth nine weeks. Hard to believe already. So, thanks. I'm gonna ask you a quick question. Did uh, testing was did the weather disrupt testing? Um so uh Miss Samk answered yes. So uh in
045in some places more than than others. Um we um shared with uh school test coordinators it'd be best to pause so there wouldn't be if they had started it wouldn't so that it there wouldn't be um uh intermittent areas you know the the internet going out or the electricity um so I know that test window runs through the end of the day tomorrow so if we have students to make up there is still time to do had and and almost everybody was able to um to begin testing and continue with it um by about 10:00 a.m. yesterday with the exception being uh at Patrick'sburg. So, okay. Thank you, Mr. Taylor. Uh next on our agenda is the superintendent's report. Mr. Klein, uh just to continue echoing uh the congratulations to our retirees. Again, it's a
046I was going to count up the number of years of experience and did not get that done, but uh we are we're losing a vast I know uh losing a vast number here and uh wish them all the best in their next endeavors and uh I have somewhat joked with Mr. Bergen because he's been my uh co-pilot going back and forth to the insurance trust meetings. So, uh I know they have a a qualified replacement for that, but it's uh the the ups and downs of dealing with insurance. It'll be passed on to someone else. So, but congratulations to all them and their service to our children and the community. Um, also I wanted to thank uh as we've made available the business view magazine uh national article about Spencer own community schools that has
047already started garnering some positive uh reachouts from uh different schools and different companies uh for the district and what we do. So if you've not seen that link on social media or websites, it's uh it's been a very positive article as well. Uh, also want to thank and confirm uh that Congressman Mesmer will be here in April to visit the high school uh to see Patriot Manufacturing. And I know we've alluded to it in the March meeting, but I am waiting on a confirmation from uh our local state representative, Senator Bray, for his visit to uh see the school corporation as well. So been working with them uh to make them aware of uh secondary vocational but also uh our programs at the elementary and middle school with iAre and uh the success we've had
048with our our uh improvement in reading scores there. Uh also would like to thank uh the custodial team at Gosport uh for jumping in last week uh when we met the 20% threshold of absences for our students and I hate to say it, our staff followed right behind. Uh but that group uh did a a fantastic job of cleaning on Friday. Uh when I walked into the building, it smelled like Clorox. It was all bleach and uh I knew immediately what they were doing and happy to see all of our kiddos back on uh Monday. I believe we had just nine children absent and one staff member absent as we returned to the building. So very appreciative of that. Uh updates for the the community and the public. Uh we do have the final accountability
049model uh so the return to an A tof grading scale uh in our hands and we will be looking at that over uh spring break. Uh yes, we're we're supposed to rest. I I look at Mr. Taylor and I but we will be looking at that because the principles are looking at that and then we'll begin updating our teachers and uh parents as well on the impact of that. Um, if I've understood correctly with some of the discussion that's been going on with the superintendent study councils, uh, initial letter grades will not be finalized until November of this year for the current school year. Uh, so we'll have that to uh, look forward to. Uh we'll also be looking at uh the new uh proficiencies and marks for uh iLearn uh checkpoints. Those will not
050be finalized until uh late into October, November as well. So again, the Department of Education will collect their data and begin analyzing their data on student performance and then set those marks for above proficiency, proficiency, and then approaching proficiency and below proficiency. So we'll update you on that as we go as well. Uh but um that is all I have. Okay. Thank you, Superintendent Klein. This time I'd entertain a motion on adjournment to Thank you, Rick. Do I have a second? Okay. Thank you, Liz. Any discussion? Hearing none, we'll proceed to a roll call vote on that. Uh, we have Dena, yes. Rick, yes. Liz, yes. Derek, is he a yes. Jack, how do you vote? All right. Motion passes five to zero. We are now adjourned. Uh, does anybody wish to make any additional
051public comments this evening? We're going to step up to the mic, please. We are we are recording just and make sure the light is green. Um Patrick'sburg just wants to thank Mr. Klein. Did she pay you to say nice things about No. Thank you. Thank you very much. Um, anybody else before we go? Since it's open public comments to celebrate Mr. Cooper was not able to be here, but since it is your birthday and his as well, I have something for you. And I've now set myself up because Mrs. Klein kind of put this on me. But let me uh Yes, I did decide to spend my birthday with all of you today. So, so that's how much I love you all. And it is uh board member Cooper's birthday as well and he did
052not show up. So h happy birthday. Those are chocolate chip and oatmeal scotchy cookies. So are those homemade? Those are homemade. Those look so good. You know, this is a dangerous precedent because all these board members have birthdays, you know. I know. And that's what we discussed at home. So yes, happy birthday. Thank you. Thank you. Um, I'm only a mile and a half from town, so I'd like to run those down. All right, I I'll uh keep that in I'll take that under advisement. Uh, but just for the record, our next meeting uh will be here at central office at 7 PM on April 9th. I hope to see you all here. Have a safe night going home. Thanks, Jack.