001One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Father, we thank you for this day. We thank you for this school year that we had. And we thank you for guiding us along and helping us to find the right candidate for Adam Central so we can move forward in 2026. I just pray that you will help us tonight to make the best decisions for our students, our community, and our staff. In your name I pray. Amen. All right. The first thing we're going to begin tonight with is our public hearing. And pursuant to Indiana law, we published the details of our proposed contract for our superintendent in the county newspapers and on our school's website. That notice included the actual monetary value of the contract, benefits, and any additional forms of compensation
002for each year of the contract. We held a public hearing. You can do that now. I don't have the date in my head. Sorry. >> Uh September 9th. >> September 9th. Thank you. We held our other public hearing on September 9th or we announced that and we have that published so that we can move forward tonight. Uh right now, is there anyone who would like to speak from the public about the contract that was published? Okay, then I this will conclude the public hearing for the contract. All right, we're moving on to our regular board meeting. And first we have our approval of the agenda. And this does need to be amended. Um, letter E for the esports um, under the public I'm sorry, under the uh, consent agenda. We need to have that added
003there tonight. It was not originally on there. So, is there a motion to approve the agenda? >> Motion to approve. >> I'll second. All in favor? >> Opposed? Okay. Motion carries. Next, we have our minutes that have uh been sent to us for our September 9th public hearing for collective bargaining, our public hearing for additional appropriations that was on the 9th, the public hearing for the budget, and the regular session minutes for the September 9th meeting. Is there any discussion or questions about the minutes that you have received? If not, is there a motion to approve the minutes? >> I'll make a motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion carries. Uh, next we have our public comments and our signin sheet. Did we have anyone sign in or sign up
004to speak? Okay. All right, we'll move on then. Uh, back a couple months ago, we voted in policy for a consent agenda, and tonight's the first night we're going to do that as a board. So, in the next section that we have the items, we're going to go through each of them just like normal, but we will have one set of motions and voting on those things. Um, if there's a conflict of interest or there's an item that we want to get out, pull out for discussion, now is the time to do that. Um, I believe we have two coaches rosters that we will pull out the winter and the fall because I believe some people need to abstain from that if I'm correct. And is there anyone on the spring one that I missed
005as a volunteer? Okay. So, uh that would be letter I one and two. And then looking at the other items that were sent to you on the agenda, does anyone have anything in there that they would like us to pull out and vote on separately tonight? >> I would like to pull out H7. >> Okay. H7. Okay. Thank you. Anything [Applause] else? Okay. All right. So, then we will go through the following items. Uh start just as usual with our payment vouchers and fund reports um that we have already received and been able to take a look at. But are there any questions or clarifications about those? Don, did you have anything you wanted to share with us? I think you noticed a little bit of some of the bigger ones. So, okay. All right.
006We'll move on to the grants next. Um, we have our first one is the Everlast climbing boost grant that Mr. Richie has been working on um for additional climbing wall uh things for our students in elementary. And we also have our drug-free Adams County middle school high school. Um I believe Mrs. Zish has been working on that. Uh any questions or clarifications on those two grants? Okay. Next we have contracts that I know you all have seen many times. The alive and well high school and middle school. And I don't think there was anything different in those that we need to point out. So, those are the same. Um, but any questions on those two from Alive and Well. All right. Next, we have our Raymond James placement agent agreement. First is the agent agreement
007for the GEO bonds for 2025. And then next, we have a a form that's the G17 procedural. This is procedural steps that are required by law uh with Raymond James that we take a look at and approve. Um Mr. Layman, was there anything else on that that I'm missing? >> No, about those. >> It's you said it well. It's legal steps that we have to take because that's what those people tell us we have to >> Okay. All right. Any anyone from the board have any questions on those documents? All right. Next, we have our Western Governor's University Placement Agreement um for student teachers. That's a pretty typical one that we've seen in the past, just maybe not from that university. And we have ourou from IvyTech that states all of our dual credit um
008agreements with IvyTech and has listed our teachers. And hopefully you had a chance to look at that. Any questions on that? Okay. Okay, next we have our esports league. Um, this was a like started as a club from my understanding last year. Some students started out in that and um, it's grown and it's been a popular thing for our students. There's been a really good response. Um, and we would like to make that an official ECA activity that is listed. And to do that, we have to we need to vote on that tonight. So, I don't know if anyone has questions about the esports league. >> I do. So, budgeting wise, does is that going to flow through our athletic department for that typical ECA or how does that >> where does that fall into?
009>> I can tell you how that works. the the district has to approve something new, but if it involves someone being paid, that will go through negotiations to determine an amount um and then would be paid like all of our other ECA um or clubs or or any of those things. But tonight, you're simply approving that this is now an activity that is school sanctioned. The conversation of the pay is a whole different conversation going forward. >> Good question because we haven't approved a new ECA, I don't think, in a long time. If >> No. >> And and I will say one thing that's come out in this is there really wasn't a good process for if somebody wanted something new. Um, so I'm working with the leadership team right now. We're trying to lay
010out a step process of if somebody has an idea or they would like to do something different, here's what you need to do because then it has to go through the principles, has to come through superintendent's office, come to the board. So then everybody knows here's here are the steps to that doesn't mean it the answer will be yes, but there are steps they they'll need to follow. So hopefully that'll be clear going forward. >> Thank you. >> All right. Next we have our outofstate professional development. Some a couple of conferences that um have been requested from Mrs. King um and from Mr. Richie to attend one in November, one in December. And now we've come to letter G, our resignations. First we have U Mrs. Kelly Ferman in first grade. Um then we have
011Miss Carly Black, assistant girls basketball coach. Mrs. Ashley Stafford, assistant athletic director for the winter, and Mrs. Brandy Grover, the eighth grade volleyball coach. Anyone have anything on those? I just want to thank Brandy for coaching. She went really went out of her way to do that with me this year so that we had a head coach. Um, and she did awesome. The girls loved her. She was like the team mom and brought snacks every every day for every girl on the team. every single day. Um, but she was she was great and she was wonderful to work with and >> and they had great success. Yeah, >> that eighth grade team is doing great. Yeah. And Mrs. Ferman, we want to thank her for her time at Adam Central as a teacher. Um, she
012was in our central office and then moved into that teaching position. Um, so we thank her for that. And the other two, um, athletic director, assistant, and basketball coach. Next, we're going to do our recommendations for hiring. We have Miss Julia Brown in M maintenance. Miss Tamila Christian in maintenance. Uh Mrs. Eric Mary Beth Irwin for the latch key billing. Mrs. Ashley Stafford for JV girls basketball coach. Ms. Alexa Brotherton for assistant girls basketball coach. Mr. Matt Reinhardt for seventh grade girls basketball coach. Miss Emma Gentis for assistant track coach, Mr. Eric Westeries for girls basketball volunteer, Ms. Grace Fischer for girls basketball volunteer. And I don't know if anyone wanted to say anything about any of those or Okay. All right. Next, we have our We can do our spring coaches roster. We'll we'll
013circle back here for the others. Um, and you all should have that and been able to look at that for approval. Any discussion or questions about anything in our consent agenda? Because this will be the stopping point for that. >> If we pulled out the um softball, >> should we pull out the spring coaches one too, though? >> Oh, shoot. That was on there, wasn't it? Thank you, Jeremy. >> Yeah, we can we can do that. >> Yes. I appreciate you saying that because that slipped my mind. Okay, good. Okay. Any other discussion or questions about the consent agenda so that we have Okay. Is there a motion? >> I'll make the motion. >> I'll second it. >> All in favor? I >> opposed. Okay. Motion carries. Okay, we're going to circle back here to
014H7, Miss Kristen Shane, for our high school varsity softball coach. Is there a motion to recommend? Is that something that we need to table then at this point in time if there's not a recommend not a motion? >> Okay. All right. We will table that item and return to it. Next, we have our fall coaches roster. Is there a motion to approve the the fall coaches roster? >> And and since when we get to all of these, when we get to the spring one, we can still do the spring one, noting that on this table. >> Okay, >> I'll make a motion for the fall coaches. >> Okay, >> I'll second. >> All right, all in favor? I >> abstain. I Okay, motion carries. All right, next we have our 2526 winter coaches roster. Is
015there a motion to approve that? >> I'll make the motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I abstain. >> I >> motion carries. And next we have our spring coaches roster. Is there a motion to approve that? And I don't think that would have any changes actually to it. >> I'm looking. >> Okay. You're right. Ch. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> All right. I'll make that motion. The table name. >> Mhm. >> Yep. I'll second. >> Okay. All in favor? I >> opposed. Okay. Motion carries. All right, moving on to the 2026 budget. We've talked about this quite a bit. Don's helped us through that. Mr. Layman's helped us through that. Um, it's now time to approve our 2026 budget. Uh, but before that, are there any questions or clarifications? All right. Is there
016a motion to approve the budget? I make the motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I opposed. >> Okay, motion carries. Um, next we have our approval of our budget resolutions and we will we'll do these separately. Our first one is the bus replacement plan, the 2026 resolution. At this time, I believe it has two buses for purchase uh with our geo bond. At least that is the plan right now. Are there any questions about that resolution? If not, we'll need a motion to approve. I'll make the motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Okay. Motion carries. Next, we have our capital projects plan for 2026. Um, these are our kind of our wish list things, our next three years. These are things we would like to do and what
017we have hopefully planned on on making happen. Um, I know that you've all seen that a few times, but are there any questions about anything that's listed there on that? Right. If not, then we'll need a motion to approve the capital projects 2026 plan. I'll make a motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> opposed. >> Okay, motion carries. All right, to policies. >> Uh, I would like to make a comment before we get into these because you see a whole bunch of them. >> Uh, as usual. Um, but we, uh, this is obviously a special night and we want to be able to celebrate a little bit later this evening. So I will assure you we will not go beyond 7 o'clock with our meeting tonight and we have some reports at
018the end end yet. So in the interest of that I'm pretty sure we probably won't get through all of these. Um we'll go as far as we have time for and the rest will just move to November and that's not a problem. Uh and then we'll we'll move on from there. But in the interest of time, I I do think we should start with the second readings because of those are up for a vote and we can have all the discussion we need and we can take care of those and then with whatever time's left, if there's no time left, we won't do any of the first readings, but I'll just take that as far as time permits. >> Okay. Thank you. So, we will um skip down to the second reading policies. Um 5430
019is our class rank policy that we've been discussing and 5451 is uh student recognition and um I've asked Mrs. Ish if she will share those with us since I they haven't really ever been read. Um so we would like those to be read aloud please. >> Thank you. Can you hear me? Okay, good. Okay. So, I'm going to start with um policy 5430. It was entitled class rank. We're making the recommendation that it be switched to academic recognition. So, for this um the first two parts are just word changes. So, I'm going to go ahead and summarize that we are um recommending in the first part where it says it did say the board authorizes a system of class ranking to now say the board authorizes a system of recognition. Then if we skip down
020there is in letter B of the second section where it states a system for fairly averaging makeup courses. We recommending it switch to a system for fairly transcribing makeup courses to better reflect what's done in practice. And then I'd like to read what we are recommending for the graduating class of 2029 and beyond. So these would be students who are on the new diplomas for the state of Indiana. So what we are recommending is the superintendent shall develop procedures for the computation of gradepoint averages and the assignment of recognition to implement this policy which shall include a a provision for students graduating before their class. B. A system for fairly transcribing makeup courses. C. A statement of the methods for such computation and assignment to be made available for those to whom a student's grade
021point average or kumlady ranking is released. One, sumakumlady 4.5 or above. Two, magna kumlady 4.3 to 4.99. Three, kumlady 4.0 to 4.299. D recognition of the heavier burden of certain work classes courses etc. One AP weighted 1.0 2 priority dual credit.5 e a release of class rank of attric on official transcripts effective by August 1st between the students junior and senior years. >> Would you like me to read the second one? >> Yes, I want you to go ahead. >> Okay. So the second policy is 5451 student recognition. This is just one word change. It currently reads the school board values excellence and wishes to inculcate in students the desire to do their best in all things. We are recommending changing the word inculcate to instill which is what inculcate means. >> Okay. Thank you.
022All right board. Um, I know you had a chance to read this, too. And if if there's any clarifications or questions, I know this has been worked on a lot. Um, I would like to ask just about because I think maybe I just maybe this I'm thinking back to way back when we first started the whole process. the part that that's E that by August 1st >> between junior and senior it would be on their their class like the the class rank and it would be on the transcript >> on the official transcripts. >> Okay. >> So the official transcripts are something that the students would get from the guidance office that we can um that can be used for any kind of scholarships that they would want. They can request them just to have
023as well at home but it's what could be given to colleges. And so does that have to be listed? >> So it does not have to be. It can be. So there may be some students who you will see have really strong transcripts, but maybe their rank um wouldn't be as high as you would wish it would be um if you were that student or their parents, right, trying to get into colleges. So it does not have to be listed on there. So they could request that it be left off >> and that's not going to cause a problem for like for applying to a college or >> No. >> So if that's on there and I'm just going back to our other conversations. >> So our one and two people, they're still going to
024know like you know what I mean? Like I know we've talked a lot and heard about a lot of concerns about mental health for students and students becoming very fixated on those things. But in this so they're still going to be able to know and they're still going to be able to but we're just not we're just choosing not to recognize those people like at graduation as one and two. >> We would choose to not release it until August 1st. I mean it might it could potentially be released before then but August by August 1st. Um so that would be when it would be available on their official transcript. Um but then at graduation we are um still going to work with the team to decide. We've had multiple possibilities of how this could be.
025Most likely though it will be summ um students. So those with the highest honors who would be able to have an opportunity to speak and then we would do the recognition as far as standing up to recognize by the different recognition systems not the top 10 that is currently will be has been done and will be done >> for the next three years. So with the with the decision between the junior and senior year, I think the mental health piece um it's between choosing classes. It's between what are you ranking in? And so I think um the decision that was made or I guess the senior year was ultimately um you know it's it's student driven and so students are going to be able to then choose which courses they would like to take without
026trying to decide what frame And so I think that's where that junior and senior year kind of stepped in that we we discussed um because at that point they say request um there's not much room at that point. Um but again these are official transcripts and so only students that are requesting their official transcript >> at that point. Yeah. >> So it's it's lessening that. >> Okay. And then the benefit could be seen, we always talk about the top kids too, but right, but the benefit could be seen for maybe kids who aren't at the very top of their class as well because you will see going into classrooms as soon as you hand out transcripts now, well, what are you, what are you, what are you, which can cause some problems for kids who
027maybe aren't as high as well when it's listed there. And in this case, when you go into a classroom and hand out a transcript, it won't be on there. Any other questions? >> Well, maybe. >> Okay. So, I I I've I've gone back and forth on this for I've flip-flopped more than I've been on both sides of the fence in one quick thing, though, because I Doug and I may have just had this conversation as well, too. Are we taking away Are we taking away someone's opportunity to feel like they're competing in something if they're not competing in anything else? Is are we taking away someone's ECA? Are we taking away someone's opportunity to feel like they're in a competition? And and I'm not saying that that's bad to take that away. I just I
028guess I don't >> I would say no. If you look at the data for those topic in school and I think that's the answer I'm kind of looking for and I think you the three of you have have sent me information on that too is is you know what is a well-rounded student? It's not just the valadictorian or the saludiatoran of the class. it goes down to other things that they're involved with with clubs and ECAs and and and whatever that may be. So, that's I think that's the answer I was looking for tonight is just to make sure that we're not leaving someone else out of that piece of it. >> We offer academic Super Bowl and Quiz Bowl. I mean, as far as even academic competitions go and, you know, academic things like
029BPA and FFA and um so there's definitely competition that way as well. I I guess I have a comment about it too. The as far as some of the u arguments that were presented the last time, you know, why this was a a good place to go, a good direction to go. Um was was, you know, taking pressure off of kids and getting rid of that mental health piece. And um I I I guess I'm just going to say that like kids need challenge. they they need like life has pressure and life has stress and like I mean the sooner you uh maybe learn how to cope with those things and still succeed is like something I don't want to see us just let go of um you know there's there's high achievers um that
030climb the mountain and and uh you know I don't want to short change those and maybe one of the other comments that was made or a couple uh uh comments that were made is you know there was a you know a fraction of a of a percentage that separated these kids. And um one one explanation was the timing of it was, you know, boiled down to really just one test. Um you know, Coach Mccclure sitting out there. I don't think Coach Mccclure's ever sorry when we hit a buzzer beater and win a game, right? And it's splitting hairs of who really played the best game. We're happy we won. Um so I don't know. I I didn't really love all the arguments that we've presented and I still think we need to challenge kids at
031the highest level, whatever that may be. >> Oh, I I totally agree. And so I would say that that 4.5 mark like if we go back through and we only looked at we've looked at five cohorts of data. There are years when only one student makes it, right? So we're not lowering standards. We're just making sure that that competition is with ourselves to do our best, not necessarily that we have to beat somebody else. But that the standard is very high. >> And I do appreciate the fact you guys went back and kind of, you know, spun this to where it was, you know, something we could agree on. >> Yeah. No, we we agree. We definitely never want to lower our standards. Doug, if I could make one additional comment on that because I
032was actually part of the committee, one of the things we discussed is actually I think to some extent you could argue that it opens the competition for a lot more kids because when you're competing for a validictorian, a saludiatoran, the reality is on most years that's three kids, maybe four possibly competing for those top two spots. And then if you're competing to be in the top 10, so maybe your kids that are kind of ranked 8 to 12, maybe 13th is kind of thinking I can fight my way to get in there. So really, if you take those two numbers, you have maybe somewhere around six or seven kids that are really competing either for val or to be quote top 10 where in this regard, you might have four or five kids trying to
033get to that 4.5. You might have seven or eight kids just on either side of that 4.3 line and you might have 10 to 15 kids that are really fighting to be maybe even more than that. It would probably tell you to be on that 4.0 because if you're a 4.03 or whatever it is, you know, you're in danger of a bad grade dropping you down. You're here at a 3.97, you might go to town, hey, if I can get an A or an A plus in this class, I might make it. Um, so I think it does open that competitive field potentially if you're shooting for one of those three categories potentially even to have a little bit more more kids competing because if you're ranked number 17, the reality is by your junior
034senior year you're not getting into the top 10, but you might be able to compete and say, "Hey, I can still be Kumady or wherever you're at on that on that regard." So I think it does potentially open that up for a few more kids to give them some hope. Hey, I do have a chance to compete. No different as you kind of relate to athletic seasons. Maybe we had a tough year. Uh but now the sectional's coming. Now we have a chance to almost I can still accomplish something even though this didn't go quite like it did. Um so for what that's worth, we did have some discussion on that. How more kids might actually be competing and just what level are they trying to get to? >> I mean like literally their average
035has to be 4.0 know are higher to get recognized at all. Yes. >> And other schools are that standard's lower and this is one of the higher ones I've seen from the ones I've looked into. So I mean I think our standard is set really high and I very much like that more kids will be recognized. That part of it I feel like is important because it is tough to be that one that's number 11 and shoot you missed that top 10 and that there is a lot of value that's placed on that right now. I think my only hangup is probably the traditional the traditional list of me like what thinking I I I think that those two top people or you know maybe three if there's a tie. I guess I still hold
036on to like that's just an AC thing and I know that's you know that might not be what everyone else thinks and that's that's totally fine but I do like like the fact that we are you know going to split that and and more students are going to be recognized. Any other questions or comments? Okay. Um let's go ahead and do those two separately then. The first one is 5430. Um I guess if there is a motion and everyone's ready for that. Um the first one is the first one that Mrs. shared with us about um the kumlady breakdowns. Heather, are you waiting for a motion? I'm sorry. Yeah, I'll make a motion. >> Okay, >> I'll second. >> Okay. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. I All right. Student recognition 5451. There was
037just the one word change in there. So, is there a motion to approve 5451? >> I'll make that motion. >> I'll second it. >> All in favor? >> Opposed? >> Okay. Motion carries. All right. We're going to move back up to the top here for policies. Um the first here we're going to as long as we are we good on time? Do we want to start some of them or not? >> Yeah, we can do five minutes. We'll we if we get two or three, that's okay. >> Two or three that we >> Okay. >> are taken care of. >> All right. So, first >> the more we don't have done by January. You know, >> you won't be too sad. >> All right. >> I love I can start saying that. It's funny. >>
038First, we have the approval to forego reading the policies allowed. Is there a motion to forego that we read them all completely aloud? I'll make the motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> opposed. Okay. Motion carries. All right. So, for the policy review, we're going to do this like we did the like a couple of other meetings where Mr. Layman's going to go through and explain them. So, I'll just we'll just I guess go right down the line. The first one's the 2340 uh field and other corporation sponsored trips. >> Um Okay. And I want to comment on the foregoing the reading um which some people are a little nervous about that. Some of these policies if you print them out they're five pages long and that gets to be a bit bit
039cumbersome. But this this first one I I I bring it up. The the only comment I want to make it's really pretty straightforward. We've had field trips. They have broken it down and they now list them as general trips and uh corporation sponsored trips and overnight trips and all that that and we do all of those. And I want to make sure everybody knows we're not looking to not do those. Okay? But there is a couple of sentences in here where the local school can choose. And I know what the practice has been. The one sentence is the board shall assume the costs of curriculum adopted field trips um and no fee will be charged. And the other one is students may be charged a fee um and we have not for the most part
040been charging for those things. Uh certainly there are some but also then later it says the board it shall assume the transportation costs of all these trips and the other one is it shall assume the vehicle cost but charge people for the driver and the fuel. The reason I bring that up is we've taught a lot of conversations about the current financial landscape. And I'm not saying that we need to change now what we're currently doing, but my recommendation would be is that we do not put it in policy that the board will pay for all of those things. The board can still do that and then maybe someday the board has to decide maybe want to do something different. But I don't think it's wise to have in policy that you absolutely will cover
041all these costs because if you decide not to, you come back to policy, you do a first reading, you do a second reading and all of that. Um otherwise, it can just be a simple vote discussion and and whatever you want to do. So, I just need some direction here in first reading of how you how you want me to select in this policy to go ahead and say we're paying or to just what will happen is we'll just take those statements out and then it'll be silent on that. >> And again, this isn't a motion or anything. This is just I need to know how to prepare the policy for second reading. I like what you said about not putting in there that the school will be responsible for paying for those things. >>
042Yeah, I think it makes sense especially >> not that we won't but correct but that we just I mean we wouldn't we might not I mean I hope that's not true but we might not be able to cover that all the time in the future. >> Yeah. And if it's not written in this policy, you truly can decide on a board. It becomes an individual board decision for each item that maybe and maybe it's different for some depending on what that trip looks like or where they're going. Um, but it now gives you more flexibility to just address things on an as they come basis. Um, so if there's the comments, I I can I can do that when I bring it back for second reading. and we can go through it again. Any other
043comments on that, please? >> So, if they bring it to us to approve a trip, will it be I mean, if if you write the language, so it's not the cost isn't covered, will it will it will they have to bring a >> We'll we'll acknowledge what's the cost of this and they're asking for a bus and all that. And I think for the near future it would be yes. Um, as far as Senate Bill One is, that may have to change. I'm hoping not. I'm hoping that the legislature comes to their senses and make some changes at their next session. But we need prepared, be prepared. Okay, that gives me that gives me guidance to at least how to prepare it and then obviously second reading that can be discussed again. Um is employment
044of um professional staff. And this is we actually did a policy that dealt with just the superintendent on this same topic. And it it boils down to um get the right one up here. Can people at school have personal relationships? Um, the answer is for 3120, yes, they can, but not if that person is your supervisor. So you might have a supervisor and someone that works under them that after they've both worked here, they start to like each other. We're not saying that can't be, but somebody would have to move to a different position so that they are not there. The supervisor is not directly in charge of that person. Um, and I think we all can see where that would could generate some problems. Um, so again, it's not saying that there can't be,
045you know, two teachers could get to liking each other and that's all right, but it's the whole piece is the supervisory role. Um and I will just go as far as to say in case there's qu we also um just down a little bit we have that exa exact same language for support staff that the person in charge cannot develop a relationship with someone under them. Um and we're just clarifying that in these two policies. So any any questions on on that? I'm going to stop right there. We didn't get far, but we got a few checked off. Um, and we have far more exciting things to do tonight because our principles and our maintenance are going to give reports. >> That's right. >> And I know they they they wait anxiously every month to
046be able to share the reports. Right, Todd? >> All right. Well, we'll start with elementary then, Mrs. McColl. I think they probably would hear you better there. Sorry. >> Or use your cafeteria voice. >> I have one. >> Um I first of all want to thank our community. I don't know if you've been on our end of the building tonight, but uh the turnout for parent teacher conferences is always fantastic and a good night to hear the conversations down the hallway and see everyone in. So, thanks for for making that happen for our students tonight. Uh, great turnout. Um, the one thing I want to talk a little bit about tonight is a change that we would that we're pursuing in the in the primary department especially is called a differentiated core. Um, this is
047not departmentalization. I want to clarify that the differentiated core is um a change in our phonics program. Um so what we want to do is take students where they are in a scope in sequence look at that very closely with universal screening and diagnostic screen or data to determine where students would be placed in that 45 minute block of the day. For example, we have some students in kindergarten who are almost two years apart in age. Um and their their academic level can be that far apart as well. So we have students in our primary department who are reading multi-elabic words and students who are still struggling to hold the pencil appropriately um letter sound relationships. So for that 45 minutes a day we would we would divide students among the five teachers and push
048additional support into our most struggling students to get them up to speed um more quickly um moving them through that scope and sequence at a different rate. So, um, our teachers are working very closely with our, um, literacy coach to make sure that what we are doing in each classroom is exactly the same so that students can and families can be assured that if you're in this class for phonics or this class, you are getting the exact same instruction, but just at a different rate that is appropriate to you. Um, uh, just a few things about that. we would use the same scope and sequence. Um we use Orton Gingham's program through IMSC which is um an online community of information that teachers can pull from to support our students. So we would use the
049same programming throughout. It's just tailoring it to those students so they can move at their most appropriate rate. So I don't know if anyone has a question on that. I just wanted to clarify that it is not departmentalization. They are with their classroom teacher the majority of the day except for that one block. The best I can compare it to is if you can't add and subtract long division is really tough. >> And so it's no different with reading. They have to have those fundamentals to be able to go forward. So just working on clearing clearing that up for students. >> I think I missed you you probably said it. Would this be started this year or would this be a next year thing? >> So, our goal, that's a good question. Our goal right
050now is to get all of our um data collection, how we're going to process and communicate across teachers, ensuring the fidelity of one classroom to another, a short up by Christmas so that we could separate these students then beginning in the after second semester. >> Okay. >> And Mary, I have one question. Is this with the same I'm blanking on the name, but how the new assessments that we just started last year with the elementary with the you know their grade behind grade level behind or they're on level you know when it comes and stuff is it that same assessment or is it a different >> That would be our screener that was the MClass screener that Yeah. and it looks at all of these different areas for um determining how students are reading. Okay?
051And so we would look at those across the broad spectrum and then drill down to specifically what students need so that we can get them in the right placement once they're in those placements. They wouldn't move often, but there may be a student who sometimes it just clicks and they break the code of reading and they could be accelerated faster. It would also allow Abby and her title staff to do what we would call a double dip. So if a student is in a lower um scope and sequence, they would get that with their classroom, the classroom teacher, but then the titled teachers could come in and do that exact same lesson again that day if needed. So that's a communication piece we'll have to work out for clear communication or if they handled that
052well, move them right on to lesson. If they did lesson four, we'll move on to lesson five. And that's how we could close that gap more quickly. >> Okay. >> K5 or just kindergarten. >> Well, right now we're looking at starting in kindergarten. And they would be our model group for people to watch for us to work out all of the bugs to make sure that we have clean communications and things. And then we need to move it forward because we do have students at those upper levels that need those gaps closed as well. So, Okay, that's all I have. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right, Mrs. Okay, we just have some quick updates. Um, first of all, middle school has given or will soon be giving um their iLearn checkpoints for that
053first one. Just to let everybody know, um these are done at different times by different teachers. So iLearn itself we would do at the same time because it's a summitative assessment at the end of the school year. These are formative assessments that are given to let teachers and students know what they mastered so that we can retach. So we want to make sure teachers can give those when students are ready. So if they're over a set of standards when those standards are done being taught we test students then and it just needs some flexibility. That's why they're not all at the same time. The PSAT was given last Wednesday. Grades 8 through 11 took that. Um, so that day went great. We want to thank our guidance department for organizing things for it to go
054so smoothly. The end of the quarter was on Friday. How our school is updated with those grades. So, we just want to encourage everyone to check those quarter 1 grades because we do have parent teacher conferences again Thursday night. If you have any questions about your students grades, how they're getting along in class, or you just want to meet the teachers and we would love to have more parents stop by the middle school and high school um to check in. Fall break is next week. Um, so we've made it through quarter 1 really successfully and we're looking forward to that break. And then we want to let everyone know that after fall break, um, we are going to begin our middle school lifewise program. So, we have been working with Lifewise to work out the
055details with that. Seventh and eighth grade will be going during SAP, which is their student academic period. And then sixth grade will be going during their music PE block because they do not have an SAP. Um, so we needed to find a different time for them. And so that will be happening right after um break. If anybody has any questions about anything, feel free to reach out. Um I'm happy to explain more to whoever has any questions. >> Thank you, >> Mr. McDonald. [Music] Well, this is going to be my last construction update, I think, on the pool. Finally, it's wrapping up. Um, we took the construction wall down today, so it's all open. Um, the final cleaning was going on today. The final punch list, the contractors working on that. Um, there's a few
056things that's going to be delayed a little bit. We're waiting on a couple doors and um some door hardware, stuff like that. But um other than that, it's really coming together. Um the coaches have been trained on the new scoring system that's done. My my team's been trained on most of the equipment where we have training I think Thursday for the uh new chemical system. But the pool water's all cleared up, looking good. It's up to temp. Um everything's coming together good. So after fall break, we ought to be ready. So thanks for letting me be part of this one and we'll ready for the next one. >> Thank you for all you've done. >> Yeah, thanks Todd and cheek. >> Yeah, >> I sensed a little sarcasm on that next one, Todd. >> All
057right, moving on. Uh Mr. Layman, do you have anything? >> Nothing to add. >> Okay. All right, the moment we've been waiting for for a while now. Um, we have our approval of our superintendent candidate, Mr. Mccclure. Um, this his start date would be January 1st. And, um, we just need a motion to approve this. We've we've we've done a lot of talking about this and now it's time. So, is there a motion? >> I'll make the motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion carries. Welcome, Mr. McCclur. I just to speak on behalf of the board and then they can as well. But um we're confident and we're excited. Um we're happy with Mr. Layman being our interim. I don't mean anything against him, but we we uh we know we need
058a permanent person in there and we know that you're capable. You're a positive leader. So, we are looking forward to your leadership. Um and yeah, taking us in a positive direction. So I guess any other board members if you have anything you want to share and open that up to you as well. >> I just open it up to Aaron if you have anything you want to say in regards to anything. You don't have to. I don't know if you prepared a speech. You probably don't need time to prepare one. I'm sure you've got some words you'd like to say. I've known you my entire life. because those of you that know me know if you want to be a mic, you would be in trouble. But uh I do just want to say uh
059thank you to the board. Uh thank you to the staff, thank you to the community, uh thank you to some of my fellow educators and other school districts over the course of the last couple months just through the process and uh just through the even the last month since this I made the official slated candidate. Um just the outpouring of support has been uh humbling to me. Um and just the confidence that people have shown in has been humbling to me. So I just want to say to the board, to the community, uh I stand before you tonight honored to be your superintendent. Uh I consider a great honor the trust that you have placed in me. Uh I've been part of this school district for many many years in a variety of roles and
060uh I have uh sincere um just desire to continue helping to uh move us going forward into what is really just a new world of education and looking forward to working with everybody. Uh but tonight I just do want to keep it short. they'll have opportunities to add other comments down the road to various places. But uh I do just want to say that it is a great honor for me uh to be standing here and I say that very humbly because I know uh the expectation of a person in this role and I take that very seriously and I will do my best to uh represent uh all of us in the community in the role that I'm now in um again to the best of my ability. So, thank you so much. Again,
061thank you to everybody for all the uh just the kind words that I've received and I'll do my very best to try to hopefully live up to those uh expectations. So, thank you again. >> Thank you. We we all look forward to working with you um and taking us in that positive direction. So, all right. Um any other board comments or any anything else anyone needs to bring forward? Okay, then um do want to say thank you to all of our teachers because tonight and Thursday night they're staying late. This is a very long day for them and they're staying here for our kids and um that doesn't we we all very much appreciate that and uh hope that those conferences are going well and helping out the parents too. Um and just to that
062so I don't forget to mention we do have some food in the back and we do need help eating it. we can't be taking it home. So, please stay afterwards tonight and enjoy a little bit of food with us, too. Um, do we have a motion to adjourn the meeting? >> I'll make that motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Opposed? >> Okay, motion carries. We will see you in November for our next meeting.