Board Meeting - May 14th

001would you please stand with me for the pledge of allegiance. [music] I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. Can we have roll call to confirm that we have forum legal meeting >> present >> and I am present all four members >> five members here we have forum begin the meeting. >> Item number 2.1 on our agenda. Is ite Thank you. >> Apologize for the technical issue. Thank you. Approval of tonight's agenda. Please entertain a motion. >> There's a motion on the floor. May I have a second? Second move properly second. Any discussion? >> Yes. I move that we move 5.4 the consent agenda. Let note that item 5.4

002has been moved off of the consent agenda. Let's move to item three on the agenda. Gary, you ready? Snapshots. >> Mrs. Willington. Good evening, Mr. Suds, members of the board, Dr. Stokes, and this robust crowd here today with us and those viewing virtually. I'll ask that our team we have a little bit of reverberation. >> I'll ask that our team Okay, here we go. Good evening, Mr. Suds, Dr. Stokes school board members, this robust crowd before me, as well as those tuning in virtually. My name is Chelsea Whittington, and I proudly serve as the chief of public and community relations for your Gary Community School Corporation. [clears throat] This is my favorite part of the agenda, Gary Ready snapshots. is our opportunity to look back and look ahead at all of the exciting things taking

003place in the district. We are at the close of the school year which means that there are a lot of activities taking place and a lot of accolades being doled out to our scholars and today we have a fantastic lineup. I'd like to extend before we go into the slides a special congratulations to the young people at Gary Middle School who were in inducted into the National Honor Society today. [applause] Some of them are here tonight, but they're here for another accolade which we will hear about momentarily. I'd also like to extend congratulations to our validictorian Jamie Jones as well as our saludiatoran Jaylen Corals on being honored by the Gary Common Council today at city hall. All right, Crystal, let's roll into these Gary Ready snapshots. Everybody ready? The very first thing that we

004want everybody to know is that we are hosting a resource fair on Friday, May 22nd from 200 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Westside Leadership Academy, 900 Jerry Street in the gymnasium. The resource fair is for not just our Gary Community School Corporation family, but for the entire community. We will have a host of vendors. We will have music and food and fun and activities for our children. But most important, we'll have information for parents to help them with their scholars during the summertime, opportunities for them to continue to grow and learn and also information about next school year and all the opportunities that will be afforded to them in the 2627 school year. So, please visit our website to get more information. There's no need to register. We just want you to show up and

005show out on behalf of our children and bring your children with you. Next up, we have Real Men Read. On Friday, May 8th, we have more than 50 men across all of our elementary schools reading to our children. And as we toured the district in the various buildings, we saw some sad faces and tears. And why is that? Because they didn't want the men to leave, which means there's an appetite for this type of interaction. And so, we have committed to continue to make this a periodic uh happening. Here are some of the men who are reading. And we're going to keep this going and going. And at the resource fair, we'll talk more about literacy and all those different types of activities for parents and families to read to and with their children during

006the summer months. So, we keep that desire for reading going until we come back to school. Next up, I'm especially proud of the facelift project. Face meaning family and community engagement team of which they are a part of our team. We had a series of um grant dollars, a few tiny bucks, and we were able to do a facelift in every face room across the district. This is a room designated for youth parents and family members to come to the school, get information about resources for you and for your child. And so, as you can see some before and afters, I want to call up a couple of my face team members. Miss Fuller Love and Miss Cotton should be here as well as Alyssa. Crystal is running the video, but know that she was

007in the throws of this as well. But I am very big on giving credit where credit is due. Mrs. Whittington did not pick up a single book, chair, or anything. It was these ladies right here who spearheaded the faceelift so that parents can come in, get coffee, be comfortable, or even just woo off before they head on to their next destination when they leave our school buildings. Miss Flo, if you want to say something, Miss Cotton, about this real briefly about the the team that you all put together to get this done. >> Uh, hello. My name is Miss Susan Cotton and I um did the facelift at the schools at Williams, Westside, McCulla, and Banaker. Um and what we did is uh we just kind of organized the spaces to make it so it

008felt more warming to the parents as they come in, felt more inviting. Um, we also created it so that it's easier for our face team to be able to get the things that they need, uniform supplies or whatever because, um, one thing that I realized was when you come into this position, uh, and we work with a wonderful group of ladies, but when you come into the position, you come in working for the parents and the students. A lot of them in especially in the elementary need uniforms. So a lot of times uh from the old phase to the new phase liaison they didn't have the time to deep dive into their spaces. So this is where this was created for them to be able to see things clearly. All right. Once again thank you

009so much for this faceelift and know that every building in the district has a face liaison. Parents, if you're not aware, please contact your schools, connect with your faith liaison to ensure that you get the resources and most important, the support that you need. Thank you. I appreciate you ladies. [applause] One thing that our leader, Dr. Yavon Stokes, has been very clear about is professional development. We want to ensure that our staff members are learning and getting all of the knowledge that they can get to be the best representation for us in the district for our children. On this past Wednesday, it was professional development day. It's always the second Wednesday of the month and a parent cafe was hosted at Westside Leadership Academy. Here are a few photos of our parents who came out

010to again learn strategies and how to interact with their scholars, especially with the summer approaching. So again, I want to thank the FACE team for putting together the parent cafe. They're happening every month, even in the summertime. So parents, be on the lookout for your next invitation to the parent cafe tomorrow. We have partnered once again with Faith Farms, Faith CDC, as well as the city of Gary and the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana for our food distribution Fridays. If you line up in the parking lot of Westside Leadership Academy on tomorrow from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., they have some food that they will food baskets that they give to our parents. We know that we are living in times where groceries may be a bit pricey. So, we are working to fill in

011the gap for our families to support the whole child. So, on tomorrow 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 pm, we'll see you in the parking lot at Westside Leadership Academy. The prom boutique. Prom is coming up for Westside Leadership Academy. Coming up on next Saturday night, May six. No, ne to tomorrow. Not >> day after. Tomorrow, Chelsea. May 16th. And I know some of you are already reminiscing. Good old Marquette Park. And what we did for our young ladies is put together a prom boutique in our face room. And we'd like to thank Amy Core and Vivian Afric. There are two young ladies from our community who donated all of these dresses, accessories, shoes so that our young people would have no barriers to attend the prom on Saturday night. So, can we give those two ladies

012a round of applause? This right here takes me way back. As you know that the United States government often has honors flights for its veterans. Well, I am pleased to report that we have a retired teacher who recently went on one of those honors flights to Washington DC as a World War II veteran. But here's the caveat. Mr. Langford. He was also my US history teacher back in 190. And he lives with his daughter in Kentucky, I believe it is. But his daughter reached out to me. I know she's watching via Facebook. And I want to thank you, Miss Ashley, for doing this for us, sending us photos of Mr. Langford. There he is in the center. 94 years young, honors flight westside teacher, retired as well as a veteran. Can we give it up

013for this community? We love you, Mr. Ler, and thank you for laying a strong foundation for me. And last but not least, I am so pleased to turn over the mic to my colleague, Dr. Reita Craig. We have some scholars in the house tonight who have done some tremendous things that are garnering national attention with their accolades and I am calling on Dr. Craig to share more information about Bible and Blue Street. Dr. Craig, take it away. >> Good evening school board members and Dr. Stokes. Good evening to our community. I am super duper proud to be able to share the awards that our students have received for two of our district-wide programs. The first one is for our beable program. I'm going to read just a little snapshot of what beable is. It is

014a program that became available to us through our school improvement grant that we have uh for the next three to four years as we complete our program tenants of ensuring that our students have are able to achieve and increase their reading abilities across the district and in math for grades K through five. So, Vivo is an innovative career connected literacy platform designed to accelerate reading growth while helping students explore realworld careers and future opportunities through engaging differentiated lessons and personalized learning pathways. Vable supports students in developing literacy skills, vocabulary, comprehension, and academic competence. The platform also motivates students through interactive challenges and competitions that celebrate achievements, growth, and consistent engagement in learning. Specifically, this particular round of the BABOS's power up spring contest um was was a contest to get students to read the most

015stories, articles, and books online, answer the most comprehension questions, and compete against 100,000 students nationwide. And I am extremely proud to be able to share with you the number of students that we have received awards for, which I believe are 15 students who have received awards from all of our elementary schools. We also have a super duper award for two of our students, which I'm going to save for last. All right. All right. So, we are going to start with we're going to start with Bat Elementary School. Our first award goes to Promise Haymon. When I call your name, please come on up to the front. Promise if you are here. Principles, if you are here as well, [applause] having some of that Next we have Kennedy Crumble. If Kennedy is here, PLEASE. [applause] And

016lastly, we have we have Isabella Bell. [applause] >> [applause] >> Chelsea, before I continue, I did want to give the opportunity for the parents. Can we do that afterwards? >> Absolutely. >> Okay, perfect. All right, our next school we're going to go to Beverage Elementary. We have Ayana Smith and we have Danielle Smith. [applause] Our next school we have is Williams Elementary. We're going to wait till the end to do that student. Next we have Daniel Hill Williams Elementary Journey King. We also have Kingston Wilson. [applause] Congratulations. And we have Merrick Amaya. Congratulations. [applause] Yes, Scholse. >> [applause] >> Next we will move on to McCulla Frankie Woods McCulla Elementary. We have Maya. Sorry, we're going to go to Nyla Gilbert. [applause] And then we have Trav's spear. [applause] Moving on to Glenn Park Academy,

017we have Kristen Who? Caleb hair. [applause] this evening. And then we have Deamari Winslow. >> I'm right. [laughter] >> Thank you. >> [applause] >> Now, as I stated at the start of this presentation, our students who completed who competed in the Bible Power Up Spring competition competed against 100,000 students. The students who are just who just received their awards, they were the top winners for their schools. >> Okay. Gary Community School Corporation had two worldwide winners. [applause] So, starting with McCulla Elementary, we have Maya Barnwell, who was the third place winner out of 100,000. [applause] ABSOLUTELY. [applause] ABSOLUTELY. >> [applause] >> And our last student, our last student is from Beverage Elementary School. And hold on, I know you're excited. Our beverage student was the number one student to win. Over [cheering] 100,000 students give

018it. [applause] Let's have the students come on up and take a picture WITH [applause] [cheering] [applause] >> [cheering] [applause] >> DR. That's the back of smile. [applause] >> I did forget I did forget to say one thing. Today is also Kiara's birthday. [cheering] >> Happy birthday, Kiara. [applause] Thank you for spending part of your birthday with us. [laughter] >> Okay, so moving on to our next award. We also are awarding our middle school students from Gary Middle School and from Bailey STEM Academy. I would like to share a little bit about the programs our students are have been competing in. It is our blue streak math competition which is a comprehensive educational platform designed to strengthen student achievement through personalized practice, skill development and standards aligned learning experiences. The program supports students in building fluency

019and math fluency and confidence through consistent academic engagement while providing opportunities for friendly competition and recognition of student growth and perseverance. I am excited to be able to share with you the winners of our Blue Street contest. Beginning with Bailey STEM Academy, we have Andres Malone. >> Okay. [applause] CONGRATULATIONS. [applause] You are very welcome. >> There are two more students that are coming up. >> Oh, my bad. Please take a picture. We also have Rashawn Hunt. [applause] >> Jaden Robinson. [applause] And was the sixth grade winner who completed and completed correctly 388 math problems. Rashan completed correctly 365 math problems. And Jaden, who cannot be here with us, completed 225 math problems correctly. [applause] Smile face. [laughter] >> There you go. >> Congratulations. [applause] >> All right. And now we have our scholars from Gary

020Middle School. We have David C or say, please help me say it correctly. [applause] >> And and you were inducted into the junior middle school national honor. [applause] David Middle School National Honor Society as well today. >> See, it is David C. Thank you. Stay up here. Hold on. Hold on, David. We also have Jaden Carr [applause] and we have Ariana Jackson. [applause] We have one more student, Ratliff Doson. [applause] >> Red Lur, please. Thank you for correcting me Dodson as he should get his name correctly stated as he has done an amazing job. So David completed 520 questions correctly and completed [applause] 513 questions correctly and was also inducted into the middle school national honor. [applause] Congratulations. [applause] Before we conclude this this evening's uh awards, I just wanted to give one opportunity for

021all of our awardees to come up to the front so that they can take a a group picture and then the families can take a picture and then you all can celebrate birthdays and have a wonderful evening and get some rest for school tomorrow. Everybody, >> all of our awardies from elementary school and middle school, you're welcome to join us at the front for pictures and parents can take down pictures as well. You want to be in the midst of all this excellence. >> Our administrators who are present, feel free to join in the back of this photo if you would like. Pull it down. your eyes open. Shoulders back and cover your faces. Two hands. Congratulations to our scholars and congratulations to our parents and staff for supporting you. You guys are truly getting

022ready as we say. Thank you so much and have a great evening. [applause] Dr. Stokes, Mr. Sugs, this concludes my report of Gary Ready snapshots. Are there any questions? >> Thank you so much. You got a question? >> That's my >> Mr. Johnson, would you uh read our comments for public comment? >> Yes. Pursuant to Indiana code IC 5-14-1.5-3 Community School Corporation Board of Trustees welcome to come. board members statement shall not be abusive or argumentative. Persons making comments shall not deate statements made by other persons. It shall not be permissible to orally present or discuss complaints against individual employees of the G community school corporation at any board of school trustees meetings. Issues related to personnel, individual circumstances or an individual school will be referred to the building principal or an appropriate administrator in

023attempt to resolve the issue prior to an appeal before the board. Speaker cannot transfer the remaining time to another person. or president will enforce these rules and may take actions necessary to maintain order at the meeting. Such actions may include but are not limited to interrupting the speaker if the state is too lengthy, unduly repetitive or otherwise violates the rules. The president may terminate the address of any speaker who violates these rules or limit the total amount of time devoted to public comments if there's large number of people wishing to address the board or if there's a large agenda of business before the board. Thank you sir. We will begin with El Tindo. Greetings. tomorrow. I'd like to ask the board, well, superintendent of the board, where do we stand regarding a swimming pool at

024Westside Leadership Academy? What's the status of the virtual teaching? How are our students doing? Where do we stand regarding supporting the remodeling, refurbishing, repurposing of the historically renowned, architecturally profound, historical landmark, the great Roosevelt High School of Indiana, I challenge you, board and superintendent or at the next meeting. I've had some questions about the quality of the yearbook in the last two years and I want to know if those issues that I brought up have been resolved. Thank you so much for your time. Good evening. >> Dr. Na Birthary Education Coalition. We clearly have some wonderful students. I want to say first of all and and that's a credit to them that like they're phenomenal and they deserve the absolute best. Um in light of that I do want to make sure that again parents,

025community members can actually be able to view the docs on board docs because they're still not there and it's still super weird. I've never heard of a school corporation in which that has been the practice and somebody told me it's an aside. This is a new explanation that they weren't up there because they're uploaded after the decision is made. But that's not the purpose of it. the purpose of the entire everything with board docs, agendas, ODL, it's about transparency and community members understanding what's being considered because we have no way of knowing whether what's on board docs afterwards was what was on your guys' board docs beforehand. Um, we have wonderful students in part because we have wonderful parents and I don't think our parents get enough credit and I I think that if those

026parents are are given more transparency, nothing bad is going to happen from them. Only good things could happen. Um, the financial report, it's a little bit unclear. I I wonder I think there might have been a couple of columns that were uh and maybe there could be clarification on this later. Couple of columns that were mislabelled like the what looks like it's an abbreviation for unexpected slash over. Uh I would assume I think it's an abbreviation and it could be an abbreviation for something else. That looks like actually what our remaining funds would be. It's abbreviated also on the chart too which you know it just causes confusion. I'm also not quite sure because we have this term financial keys that is used in two different places. And keep in mind because docs are on

027board docs. I can't sit there and try to figure it out for any period of time. I just like the rest of everybody show up here and I'm trying to make sense of things in a limited window of time. But financial key is used on page one is also used on page six, the last page, seemingly to mean different things. And so I I just think a little bit more clarification would help there. Um, I also think there's something about how there's an item called state grants that's on only the education portion of the cash flow that I assume is our basic tuition support and maybe other state things, but I don't know where our title funds are and I don't know why that's not also in operations because we have safety grants too. Okay,

028bye. >> Dr. Vanessa Alan Mloud. >> Good evening, Mrs. Ph, board members, Dr. Stoke, Superintendent, and all of you who are here under the sound of my voice. I'm Dr. Vanessa Alan Mloud, president and CEO of the Urban League of Northwest Indiana, and I'm also a previous board member of the Gary Community School Corporation, which I humbly served faithfully. Um, I'm thankful to be here, and I'm only here to say thank you. I'm here to say thank you to the administrators, the building principles, the teachers, especially the parents, and all of you who get up every morning and you're at the door and you're greeting those students that come in. I witnessed tonight the celebration of them receiving awards and that only comes from a collective effort of administrators, teachers, principles, parents and all of

029you who touch the lives of those students who entered. So these were elementary students who were achieving at the top level. Just continue to wrap your arms around them. I know it's hard work. That's why I couldn't be a teacher because I couldn't get up early in the morning and be on my post at 6:30 and 7 o'clock a.m. every day to welcome in those students. So, I just wanted to say thank you. Last but not least, Urban League has a couple of events coming up where we will be awarding scholarships to students to Westside Leadership Academy seniors. They're getting money, money, money, and more money. Last but not least, there is a partner agency called Hard Rock Casino. Hard Rock has deposited $250,000 in the Urban League bank account to support any student that

030graduates from Westside to attend IU for four years. Did I say free? [applause] IF your child is undecided about where they want to go to school, some of them may want to go away. You know how our children say, "I just want to get away from home." Well, I is just right down the street >> and they are going to pay to full tuition. >> Full tuition. >> You don't have to pay anything. [applause] Full tuition. I encourage you to encourage your child to apply to IU. Even if they say they, I don't want to go to IU, have them apply to IU. I see Dr. James Wallace who's in the audience here. [applause] Have your child apply because there's nothing like a quality education. one, starting with Westside Leadership Academy and the entire district,

031and two, transitioning right over to Indiana University Northwest, where your child will receive a full paid. Did I say free? >> Did I Did I say I have the money IN THE BANK? >> [applause] >> WE WILL MOVE NOW TO ITEM number five on our agenda, consent agenda items, which will include item 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.5, 5.6, and 5.7. I will entertain a motion for those items. >> So moved. There's a motion on the floor. May I have a second? >> Second. >> Been moved. Properly second. Any discussion on the motion on the floor? >> May we have roll call for approval, please? >> Dr. Woods? >> Yes. >> Attorney Black? >> Yes. >> Mr. Johnson? >> Yes. >> Mr. Suggs? >> Yes. >> Can I say yes? The vote is five to zero. >>

032With a vote of five to zero, the consent agenda items named have been approved. We will now move on to item 5.4, approval of the personnel report, >> Mr. Chair. >> Yes. >> I'd like to make a motion that we approve item 5.4. >> There's a motion on the floor that's been properly second. >> Discussion on the motion, please. >> Yeah. I um Joanna, if you could speak to this what this is. >> Joanna. Joanna, sorry. >> No, that's okay. You can call me Joe. What specifically do you have a question about? >> Yeah. So, this is the 5.4. And so, for the um people who are watching, we may not have the documents. This is the um Thank you. This is to delegate the I'm sorry, I'm probably getting my my dots in my

033hand mixed up right quick. One second. So, we're on 5.4. And 5.4 is for approval of personnel reg >> personnel report. And so then in this report this is uh for the issuance of adjunct teaching permits. There are additional recommendations inclusive of the personnel report that does include adjunct teacher recommendations. We currently have artists who are working in our district and so Indiana code allows for us to professionalize these lensures and provides them the opportunity and the incentive to further in their trade. >> When you say artist, you mean artists? Is this something a term of art or something? Because you say art. So, I'm just curious. >> So, this was something that we inherited from the previous administration. It's uh the reason why adjunct licenses and positions are a part of the Indiana code

034is that we do know there's a shortage of teachers out there. So historically what the previous administration did was they employed artists which they were individuals who had a background in a variety of different artistic kinds of um expertise in meaning they were let's say uh experts in sound or voice or dance or theater. So, historically, these artists were teaching theater, choir, and a variety of different um positions within our district. What we looked at is to professionalize this and to incentivize our artists to eventually become licensed, we did look at an individual with a minimum of four years of experience in a particular area could be considered an adjunct teacher. So what we've also done in order to incentivize them is to provide them a stairst step to um further their education to eventually

035become a fully licensed teacher. Do you anticipate or is it written in here or is it limited to only artists or do you envision sometime because how it reads to me is it can be anybody. >> You are correct. So when the uh law was put into place it again is uh in line with the fact that we are had a shortage for a variety of experts to come in and teach our children. And some of our experts might not have a traditional teaching path. And so it does not limit it to that. Many other districts utilize RTS to teach things like exercise science or sorry adjunct teachers to teach things like exercise science or health or any other number of subject areas where an individual could benefit from their background for our students sake.

036>> Okay. Okay. So, just so we're clear for everybody listening, these adjunct teachers are going to be people who do not have a degree at all. Correct. Some of them have degrees uh in a bachelor's level. Some of them have uh you are correct as as a minimum as a high school diploma. But similarly, we also have individuals that is example qualify for a workplace specialist license that is very similar when they're involved with CTE. So, as an example here at our Gary area center, uh, one of the individuals might not necessarily have a full bachelor's degree, but if they have if they're an expert in welding or let's say they they are a current EMT and they can certify our students to become EMTs, they may not have a full bachelor's degree. That is

037correct. >> I think one key that I want the board to know because we are very much about people having a pathway to being fully certified and highly qualified as teachers. We've made that clear when we talked about the emergency permits. For example, the adjunct um not only gives us a way to support staff members who as we say are already working for us um under actually under the direction of um Senator Mark Spencer. They actually work under his department. um we are trying to encourage them to go to school and we have some of them are already attending and enrolling but it's because they have already been here and we are trying to support a path forward not only to support them but it also helps us in terms of the fact that we

038can pay their stipens out of the education fund in terms of their salaries. >> Um thank you for that um superintendent. Do you anticipate that any of these adjunct these adjunct teachers would teach any core subjects like science, math, reading, uh anything like that? >> I do not anticipate that. >> Okay. So when you say not anticipate this authority that we would be granting you would be giving you the authority to do so if you decided to tomorrow >> which you as a collective board can actually vote on whether or not adjunct teachers get approved. Okay. Um, so this would give you if we approve this then you all will be approved to hire adjun professors and then oh I'm sorry adjunk professors adjun teachers and then when you decide to like what's on the

039personnel report here with the RTS um then we vote on it. That is correct. >> Okay. So, but normally the practice is to have this on the consent agenda. So, it wouldn't necessarily if I'm not here, it's not going to be discussed. So, I just um I suppose my my my issue is I I would hate to see a situation where our kids don't have certified teachers, not even people with bachelor's degrees, who are in the room teaching math, let's say. Um, so that's all I wanted to say. I wanted to hear more about this. This was on the consent agenda, too, which you know, I think is important. I know. Oh, well, you're above human resources. How many virtual teachers do we still have? >> Nine. >> Okay. And how many did we start

040with? >> 14. >> So, did the other five get their license? I mean, did we have teachers that have licenses that were hired and they were then not needed? >> That's correct. >> Okay. So, I do want to interject. If you guys know anything about me, you're not gonna have to worry about somebody who does not have at minimum a bachelor's degree teaching our students in language arts for math because we are very much pushing as you know from the virtual situation the proximity. We want highly qualified educators. As I've shared and as Joe has shared, these are teachers or artists as they were termed who already work for us and we have been working diligently to find a path forward to have them be professionally licensed. Okay. As an example, other school districts also

041use adjunct teachers to teach subject areas like health in order to support students for a credit that is required for their graduation. >> Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. Any additional questions? May we have roll call for approval, please? >> Dr. Woods, >> yes. >> Attorney Locket, >> yes. >> Mr. Johnson, >> yes. >> Mr. SGS, >> yes. >> Can I say yes? >> With a vote of five yes and zero against. The motion for approval of personnel report has been approved. At this point, Dr. Craig Please know board members that Dr. Craig is standing in for Dr. Trewell. She is actually out at a conference and so Dr. Craig is is backing up for her in a great way. >> Thank you Dr. Stokes. Good evening again. It's a little for me. Okay. So, and

042now that the uh personnel report has been approved by the school board, I may now announce the new principal for Westside Leadership Academy. The new principal for Westside Leadership Academy name is Candace Lily. CANDACE [screaming] [cheering] >> [applause] [cheering] [applause] >> Candace comes to us with 22 years of experience in education. She spent 10 years as an administrator in Maryville and she graduated from Gary Community School Corporation. >> [applause] >> Candace is still a resident of Gary, Indiana. [applause] She was a teacher for 12 years. She was an assistant principal at Mville High School and is currently a principal for the middle school in Mville. She uh was also over major operations when she ran that when she was an assistant principal at Mville High School and she was also the director of student services.

043Please let us congratulate officially the new president of the principal of Westside Leadership Academy. [applause] [applause] >> [applause] >> Thank you so much and good evening everyone. >> Good evening. [snorts] >> First of all, I would like to say thank you to the board, school board of Gary Community School Corporation, to Mr. Sugs. I want to thank Dr. Stokes, Dr. Treadwell, Dr. Craig. I want to um acknowledge the teachers, the administrators, uh the students, the staff who are all a part of this process and choosing the next leader and I am honored now to serve as the new principal of Westside Leadership Academy. [applause] >> So, as was mentioned, um I am I was born in Gary, Indiana and Gary Methodist North Lake. Um I attended Emerson School for the Visual Performing Arts. uh went

044to Webster Elementary uh and I'm a proud product of Gary Community School Corporation and there have been a lot of things that have come out of Gary besides the Jacksons that are great and so Rita is going to I'm just proud to be on this team now and do what I can to help continue to move Westside Leadership Academy forward. So, I look forward to meeting uh the rest of the students, the parents, the staff because we're going to do this together. We're going to move forward and continue uh all the good things that are in place and build upon that. So, I just thank you all so much. I am proud to be back home and be a part of team. [applause] Thank you so much. >> [applause] >> Thank you for the introduction

045and welcome to Gary Community Schools. We'll move to item six on our agenda, action items. Item 6.1, uh, Miss Sikovich, please. >> Good evening, board members. Again, community at large and Dr. Stokes. This is an annual occurrence that happens across school districts across Indiana and across the United States. We are going into hiring season in Gary, Indiana. At the Gary Community School Corporation, we are always hiring, but this is the really big time for us to be hiring. So, delays in approval processes can significantly impact our district's ability to maintain appropriate staffing levels. So this uh this is requesting for the board to approve the temporary authority for the superintendent to approve staff recommendations for hire. Again, this is a common uh resolution that is put forward in accordance with Indiana code 20-26-5-4.3 titled delegation

046of authority by the governing body. >> Thank you. I would entertain a motion for approval of item 6.1. >> Mr. President, I move. >> There's a motion on the floor. May I have a second? >> Second. It's been moved and properly second. Discussion on the motion. >> Yes. Thank you. Um, we meet monthly here. We do. >> So, are you saying that the 28 30 days in between is too much time. >> 1,000%. What I tell you, what I will tell you is that hiring in school districts has become a full contact sport. So, the same candidate that I am vying for is being vying for by all of our area school districts. And if they can get this person onboarded and get the offer in front of them and be secured without having to

047worry about board approval and making sure that they can give notice to their previous school, yes, it does inhibit Um, does that happen all the time? >> Any additional questions? >> Roll call for approval, please. >> Dr. Woods, >> yes. >> Charlie, >> yes. >> Mr. Johnson, >> yes. >> Mr. Sug, >> yes. >> And I say yes. with five yes and zero against. Item 6.1 has been approved. Item 6.2, Dr. Stokes. >> Yes. Um, Crystal, you can put the um, so we we talked about these policies. It's actually been a couple board meetings ago because we were going to do them last time and we decided to just hold them over. So, if you look on the screen, there are just several policies that have been revised or rescended or replaced with some minor

048things to make sure that they align with the Indiana code. I do want to say that um in your agenda down the road, we do have some volume 38-2 policies that have come forward. So, unless there's a specific policy that you have a question about um if the board will so approve, you have all of these policies. If you will, I ask for you to approve these policies, understanding that later on there are a couple more policies that are part of a volume two that we will also need to have you approve. >> Thank you, Dr. Stokes. That being said, item 6.2, I will entertain a motion. >> I did have a question in regards to that in terms of the staff dress and appearance. I see that nice shirt that Mr. Johnson has on.

049And I'm just wondering there going to be a poor policy in terms of style. [laughter] Mr. Irving, we have to approve the motion. [laughter] >> A second discussion. >> Yes. >> Having been familiarized with most every one of these policies and have attended the policy committee meetings. I so make that motion. >> I'll second. >> It's been moved properly second. Are there any questions on the motion that's on the table? >> Yeah. Um, where where are these policies at? >> They're in our boards. They're in the board dons, but until they are actually approved, they don't show because they're not official until the board approves them. >> I haven't seen them is what I'm saying. >> You have them on your we have them in your on your desk, >> Mrs. P. Sorry. Just tell

050me where it is. Just so I can see because I just show her where you welcome. >> Any additional discussion? >> May we have roll call, please? Dr. Woods, >> yes. >> Mr. Johnson, >> yes. >> Attorney Black, >> no. >> Mr. Suggs, >> yes. Can >> I say yes? >> With four members saying yes and one no. Item 6.2 has been approved. Item 6.3, Dr. Stokes, please. >> All right. So, um if we can have um the board Can we put the 6.3 up request for approval of the board posit if you guys look in your um notes there? This is the Crystal, can you blow it up just a little bit? >> Okay. Well, you have it actually on your desktops, but we have our board meeting set. We're just basically recommending to

051follow that same schedule unless the board's private to do a different schedule. So we basically put the schedule that we have now which is what the second Thursday of every month. We just need a schedule for the 26 27 school year and it starts July one. We didn't want to wait till June, you know. So we we're bringing it in asking for approval. If you do not choose to approve it, then we would have to bring something back in June that would then have to be approved. So this is the continuation of the schedule that we're on now. the second Thursday of every month. >> Thank you. I will entertain a motion on item 6.3, the approval of the 2627 school board policy meeting schedule. >> So move. >> There's a motion on the floor.

052May I have a second? >> Second. >> Been moved. Properly second. Discussion on this motion. >> Mr. Chair, just for clarification, you indicated that it was for the policy meeting, but it is actually board and policy meeting. >> Board and policy. >> I'm sorry, I misspoke. >> Thank you. Any discussion on the board and policy meeting schedule? >> Yes. I just um think that it is a bad idea like I've been saying since I got to this board that we are having meetings at 4:30 in the afternoon when we want to be inclusive of our audience which are parents and students and a lot of parents I'd venture to say the majority are not even off work by 4:30 p.m. So, us having these meetings at 4:30 in the afternoon, I don't know what why

053we do it that way. We're at this point now where we can approve a new um a schedule. Is that the right word? A new um schedule for our meetings. So, I just will voice my continued objection to having these meetings um at 4:30 in the afternoon when parents are still at work. We want parents to be involved. We want them to show up. We don't show them that when we schedule our meetings at 4:30 in the afternoon on a weekday. So, I'm going to object to this um agenda. This this uh what am I saying? I am going to object to the school board meetings and the policy meetings. The policy meeting is even worse. That's at 4:00. So, I'm going to object and my objection will be because I do not think that

054the meetings starting in the middle of the afternoon are a good idea when we want parents to be involved. I think that is a hindrance to it. Thank you. >> Any additional discussion on this motion? >> May we have roll call, please? >> Dr. Woods. >> Yes. >> Mr. S. Yes. >> Attorney Lockett. >> No, >> Mr. Johnson. >> Yes. >> And I say yes. The vote is four to one. >> With a vote of four yes and one no. The 2627 school board policy meeting schedule and policy meeting schedule has been approved. Item number 6.4 on our agenda. Mrs. Wington and Mr. Richards. Good evening uh board members Dr. Stokes and Jerry community. Um, first of all, I must say after all of these wonderful awards, I almost hate to be the person that

055has to bear this news to the students that we are um banning cell phones during instructional time, personal devices, all personal devices. Thank you, T. Um, so with that being said, um, Miss Whittington and I are here this evening to request approval for the revised uh, board policies 5136 and 5136 2021 which is which deals with the personal communication devices and electronic equipment uh, for students during uh, instructional time. Next, please. >> Correction, please. >> Yes. from bell to bell. >> Not just instructional time, the whole day. >> The whole day. Bail to bell. >> And so this revision uh is set to align the district with um the new Indiana updated um statutory requirements and best practices for students uh devices during instructional days and bailto. Next one. And that policy uh 5136 is

056personal communication devices also known as PCDs applies to cell phones, smartphones, connected smart watches, which means that they can still wear a smart watch, but if it's connected to any type of uh other device or any other uh internet, that that will be banned. also tablets, gaming devices, uh web enabled devices. So these are what is called personal communication devices and they are the subject of condition policy 5136. Next please. Also, uh no devices during the school day. They'll bail. Uh under policy 5136, students are prohibited to bring these devices. But there are also some exceptions uh to the um to the to the law. and that is if there's medical needs uh with proper documentation a licensed health care provider from a licensed healthcare provider also IEPs um accommodations as outlined in the students

057individual education program also section 504 uh accommodations where there's disabilities as outlined in the student section 504 plan emergencies authorized by school administration doing emergency language translation um and also teacher directed instructional use which will be approved by the administration. [clears throat] Also uh this law also says that devices are restricted on um school buses. So students may not use personal communication devices on school buses during the school day. This will also have um the the um oversight of the administration pertaining to emergencies. >> So, >> what are you asking the board to do? >> Uh no, I saw attorney lock shaking her head. I thought she had questions. >> I definitely have questions. >> Go ahead, Chelsea. I just wanted to emphasize my role in this as this is effective July 1 and this

058is for the entire state of Indiana. We do not want to make the mistake to believe that this is just the Gary Community School Corporation. So if you have any thoughts of exiting the district, which we don't want you to do, you will encounter the same law at every school across the state. We will be working with parents and families to have you to have this information ahead of time, which is why we are announcing and making this request in May and not waiting till the first day of school in August so that parents and families can be advocates to assist us with the messaging and also give input on how we monitor and oversee this so that we have a seamless transition into this. We know it won't be 100% seamless, but we have

059an opportunity now with our signage and all of my communication vehicles through the district to help parents and families help us to administer and to implement this law if approved by the board of trustees. >> So, I do need to make a comment about um the approval. Um, I've been asked by some representatives and family members and community members as well. If it's an Indiana law, why can we then ask the board to approve it? Two reasons. Why? We want to be able to share the impact of the proposed law. And two, just out of courtesy or oversight, we want our board to be aware of the fact that this policy will exist and the board does exist to approve policy. So, I get what they're saying. Legally, we have to do it, but we

060ask our board to approve it. Preparatory ways of doing things and just because we respect their oversight. >> And I I also do want to show that this covers the student privacy and safety act where it prohibits unauthorized recording or photography, protects privacy in the locker rooms, restrooms, and changing errors. Also, this is a big one. addresses cyber bullying, sexing, harassment, and academic dishonesty. And this supports a safe school climate. Okay. Next week, so also we have the enforcement and discipline violations may result in complication or disciplinary actions. Parents, guardians may have to pick up the phone, pick up the cell phone if it's compensated. Serious violations may involve law enforcement. district is not responsible for the loss or stolen of devices. Okay. And also 5136.01 uh which is the revised of 5136 um deals

061with other electronic devices, personal uh electronic devices like headphones, gaming devices, cameras, radios and similar devices to uh personal devices. Okay. Next. But with that said, the district technology will still uh be used and issued for instructional learning and will remain permitted within the classroom doing instructional things. Okay. And so that being said, we are uh asking and requesting uh that the board approves policies 5136 and 5136.01. Thank you for presentation. This point I will entertain a motion on item 6.4 the approval of wireless communication device policy bail to bail. >> Mr. Chair, I would like to make a motion to pass item 6.4. >> There's a motion to pass. and support approve item 6 four. Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> It's been moved and properly second. Discussion on the motion. Uh

062Mr. chair. Uh, I just want to let the the public know that Indiana School Boards Association fought this law vigorously and many of us actually testified before House and Senate subcommittees in regards to this law because many school districts have onetoone devices that the students bring in themselves. the district that doesn't provide the device and it's going to place undue hardship on those districts. Also, the intent of the law they said was safety, but with the amount of incidents that happened on school property. I believe it would be safer for students if they had their devices. Unfortunately, the law passed. We have no choice but to follow the law. But just know that ISBA is still working trying to get this law to change. >> Additional comments? >> Yes. Um just in terms of superintendent

063when you said that this is kind of fun and it's the law. There are different options that you can choose in here. So it's not that this is the way that you all and I'm not saying what you did is wrong. I'm just saying that there are other ways that you can implement this law instead of the way that we are going forward with implementing the law implementing this law. And so part of that is that the the options that that are being chosen that we are being voted that we're going to vote on is that they don't have the phone like she said from bell to bell or um this here says that they can't even use it when they're on the bus, right? Um, so it could have been that they could have

064used it when they were on the bus. So it's not just that this is the law. The law doesn't say you have to not let them use it on the bus. You can choose. >> So I just want to correct. No, the law says they cannot use one of the buses. Also >> right here in the law that when we chose our exits or not on here there's an option students are permitted to. So it seems to me that you could have checked A or you could have checked B. So, and I'm not even trying to argue that point because unlike you, I think it's a great idea that they don't have their phones in the classroom. Okay. Um, but there also is an option that >> hold first of all, what I'm saying is

065that they have their devices on. Did I say that they have them out in the classroom? No, they shouldn't have them out in the classroom, but they should be able to have their devices on. >> They do. >> They can. based on this they can have it on them which is exactly what I was going to say. I don't think that's a good idea. Maybe they could have a home that they put it in when they walk in class and they got to put it there so the teachers know that their phone is right here at the top but we did right here at the front of the class but we didn't choose that way but that was an option. So also though, I just feel like like even when it came to the uniform

066policy, if you're going to have a policy and it's not going to be inforced, then what is the purpose of the policy except for to make the children think like I can do what I want. They don't care what I do and I'm just going to carry my phone when you're going to have teachers um when it's not in the front and they're going to see people with their phone and they're going to be, you know, at some point it'll be like I don't care. there's 30 people with their phone, you know, but if they had it up front, maybe they wouldn't see their phone. They wouldn't have it. They wouldn't be pulling it out. Also, when you're talking about they can't use their phone on the bus, the bus driver is driving. Who's enforcing

067that? So, that's all. Um, so can I speak to that? >> Yes, please. >> All right. So, the reason we are going the route we are going is because here's the reality. You're right. It takes you, it takes me, it takes all of us, including the parents, to make sure our students follow this law. We're not going to go in the child's purse and say, "Do you have phone in your purse?" We're not going to do that. We're not going to go in somebody's pocket and say, "Do you have a phone in your pocket?" But the reality is it should not be out if there are emergency situations or kids who need them for you know as he shared for bilingual usage or is in their IEP for medical reasons or what have you. We

068will know that and we understand that we do expect and you just met our new high school principal. We do expect to inspect what we expect. So you're right. It takes you, me and all of us. Our teachers have to understand, our students have to understand. And we've talked about the fact that as you just shared, if we don't hold our students accountable for what we're asking, they will just do what they want to do. So, we're not saying that we don't want children to be children, but school is important. Our students need to learn how to read. And quite honestly, the phones have become a distraction. Not just the phones, but other things. And even if we unfortunately have a situation where kids get in a fight, I want to share with you something

069that is very troubling. Phones go out. Absolutely. >> Kids are recording. And you know what it used to be? If there was a fight and let's just say a student quote unquote lost the fight, they might get teased a little bit and that would be it. Not in today's age. Somebody puts it out on social media and that kid is continually being traumatized or bullied in some cases. this rule will help with all of that. So, I hear what you're saying, but for us, the reason we say bus and bell to bell because when they leave the house, they're technically when they get on that bus, they're under our leadership in the buses. And not just, you got to understand, we going to build experiences on the bus and we didn't want to start trying

070to say here, yes, no, there. It gets confusing for children. >> I'm just saying how do you ever enforce that? >> You're right. Unless some of us have AIDS on them, those who don't, you're absolutely right. There's probably not an enforcement, but we don't want them to get into the habit of saying, "I can do this here and then here I can't." And I've already been asked about what about the bathrooms? Well, we're not going to peek under stalls, but the expectation is that kids know the rules and they know they shouldn't have them out so that if they get caught with them, they will have to deal with whatever consequences come with that. >> Dr. Stokes. Also, with the buses, we have cameras on all of our buses. It may be after the fact

071for monitoring, but as we continue to monitor that activity, we can identify those students that are violating through the um surveillance and our director of security is also here tonight. And if I can ask a question, was the motion board member Johnson to pass on this though we would not vote on it today? Was that the motion? >> No. To approve. >> Vote to approve. Okay. Okay. I'm sorry. Any additional discussion on this motion? Roll call, please. >> Dr. Wood, >> yes. >> Mr. Johnson, >> yes. >> Attorney Black, >> yes. >> Mr. Suggs, >> yes. >> And I vote yes. >> With a vote of five yes and zero against, the approval of the wireless device policy bailto bail has been approved. >> Thank you. Let's move on to item 6.5 on our agenda.

072Distant administrators will share >> district administrators. >> If you can all go up just in case I need you and Crystal, can you go to the next slide please? >> So essentially what has happened and what happens all the time I feel like yeah all of you go up please. Um, we have a new volume, volume 38, number two is revised corporation updates. And because they are revised, they are actually policies that we have. So, we don't have to do a first and second read. There's already been two readings. We're going to just do this today as an approval because of the revisions. You have all of these policies in front of you. Um, but I want you to look and if there is something that you want further explanation of, my team is here

073um to explain. I'm going to look and now Joe talked already about the adjunct teachers. I'm going to see if there's one that I think we may need to mention. Um Mr. Facing, are you here? >> I do want to mention the school safety one. I think just that particular one unless there's another one that you guys are interested in, Mr. FA because you know all of them are important but school safety is most important. Can you hear me now? >> Yes. >> Good evening everyone. The active safety one we have here is basically just talking about the actual um notes here. Sorry. Uh so the SRO basically talks about the actual um not allowing weapons into the school um if uh what the circumstances are if the weapons will be allowed in the school.

074It talks about what the SRL can and cannot do. Uh it just actually gave them power to if they are to are able to pursue someone who's at the school leave grounds and go and check that person to make sure to make an arrest. Um And also it talks about if we decide which has not been done yet if we decide to have a committee that will come together to uh have a city plan or committee plan for the school. >> So the one thing I wanted to emphasize is because there's a belief that the SRO's are only bound to like the high school or the middle school or elementary schools. He just shared if something was happening they can pursue them. Is that what you just said? >> That is correct. Even though it's

075here now, it has always been that way because they have police powers, not just at the school, but throughout the state. >> Those who don't have police powers though, you might speak to that. >> The security officers, no. Um, they cannot perform an arrest. They cannot actually leave the grounds and testing. >> Thank you. >> All right. That's what I want to clear. Is there any other one um that you all would like us to explain more? >> Right. Thank you, team. >> I'll entertain a motion on item 6.5 for our agenda. >> So move, Mr. President. >> It's a motion on the floor. May I have a second? >> Second. >> Moved. Probably second. Discussion on the motion, please. >> May we have roll call, please? >> Dr. Woods. >> Yes. Mr. Johnson, >>

076yes. >> Attorney Lockett, >> yes. >> Mr. SS, >> yes. >> And I say yes. The vote is five to zero. >> With a vote of five, yes and zero against. >> Item number 6.5, volume 38, number two, revised corporation updates has been approved. Let's move on to item 6.6 on our agenda. Dr. Craig, Mrs. Zarowski. >> Good evening, Gary Community School Board members, Dr. Stokes, and community members. Um, this evening, I would like to request a preapproval of a payment to purchase supplies for two of our schools. It is um whiteboards for uh Bailey Middle School and Gary Middle School. Um there's a little backstory to this. Um all the other schools were updated with whiteboards and other forms of whether it be technology or instructional supplies in the classrooms. Um these two schools,

077one of them was written into SR3 and the other was not. So this would now make them up to speed with whiteboards in their classroom instead of using chalkboards. And the company that Dr. Trek had chose um we we received three quotes. Um one of the quotes would not do any of the um taking down of the chalkboards and then the installation. We could only purchase the whiteboards. Um the other two incorporated taking them down the labor and then installing them. Um and we of course chose the lower priced one um which is Kingdom Kitchen and Bath. Um and so and part of the um requirements is that a prepayment before the supplies are even ordered must be made. I spoke to Indiana State Board of Accounts and there is a form that we fill

078out for this. It's called N form 98P. So, I have attached it for your review. Um, we partially filled it out. I did not fill out the vendor information or anything um until this was approved. Um, and I have Dr. right here just to talk a little bit about why we want to put these whiteboards in the classroom. And if I might just for more clarity, we typically don't prepay for things. The state board of ed of accounts said this is one of the new ways that you can because some companies want some of their money up front. So now we have to deal with that. >> And the reason we fill out this form 98P is because this is probably something that would be pulled in an audit. So this would be more accountability

079that the board has reviewed and approved this. >> Thank you. The the reason why we want to ensure that our schools are updated with the current whiteboards that we are requesting to be approved is because the whiteboards allow our teachers to be able to present their instructional materials in a more updated fashion. Um it allows us to be able to present things like this onto our students um to our classroom walls. The students have the opportunity to utilize markers or dry erase boards to be able to communicate and write their answers and the teachers are able to utilize that also as a smartboard screen if need be. Additionally, for health concerns, chalkboards are very outdated. Um it does release that dust in the air which does trigger students with uh breathing issues. students who have

080asthma and causes other allergens in the air that we do not want our students to have to deal with which may cause them to miss school. We 100% want our students to be present in school. We want to have the most upto-date materials for our students to have proper instruction. >> Thank you. I will entertain a motion from the board for item 6.6 6 prepavement of classroom upgrade for Bailey and Gary Middle School. Are there any questions or discussion? >> Yes, >> please. >> Um, you said that Sorry. So, looking at the documents here, you said that the Kingdom which chose which you all chose was Kingdom Kitchen and Bath LLC. Um their price was 9,200. Chalkboard removal, materials, supplies, installation, labor. Um comes to 139. Correct. >> Okay. So then um here it says

081school fixed catalog. I suppose they come to 108. Correct. But that is without labor. They will not take down. So then it's 108 minus the labor. Is that what you're saying? >> No, it's 108 for the actual supplies. They will not do any of the labor and taking down of the chalk boards. So that would us have we would have to hire another company to come in and take down the boards. So it would be more expensive. and our staff. Unfortunately, there are how many chalkboards? >> There are approximately 30 to 40 chalkboards in that building. >> So, if they come in, if the Kingdom Kitchen comes in at 13, 138, whatever I just said, 139 >> and they came in at 108, but they're not going to remove the chalkboards. But the line item

082on Kingdom is 9,000 to remove the chalkboards which maybe that's very industry what would be expected. I don't know. >> According to the research that Dr. Treadwell did that is extremely reasonable. >> So if 108 and let's say you got somebody else to do the removal then we're still I don't know about 10 20,000 below. But I'm just saying you'd want to have it all in the same one. I'm just saying that agreed. I'm not maybe it couldn't could have been cheaper. >> We don't want to split hairs because it makes it then it avoids any kind of warranty or anything that we have when you got two different companies because who's to say that company A didn't make the vault versus company B and then we got to argue with who's going to fix

083it and who's going to pay for it. It's more streamlined and clean to have one company doing it all. when you said that who's gonna what's they're going to argue with or who's going to argue about whatever happened um in Kingdom Kitchen they have in here a line that if they remove it and it's more of a problem than they thought then they're going to charge us more >> and that's that's standard >> that yeah I was going to say those are what's that word we use change order type deal that comes with anything Mr. S in your area >> yeah what I'm saying though is that um so It sounds like what they're saying is if they remove it and it's, you know, I don't know, they got to fix the wall before they

084put something up behind it or something. >> Yeah. So, they're going to charge. So, what I'm saying that if it was down and they came in, they're going to charge you anyway. It's not like their 139 includes whatever the condition of the wall may be behind it. So, that's all I'm going to say. I'm not trying to do your job, so I'm going to leave it alone. But, um, just in terms of the cheapest, I don't know. Well, I suppose from these quotes with the second quote here, >> there's actually two components to it. So, they are more expensive because they they I believe it was labor, right? >> It was 42 and that that was 42 for just demolition. Well, 15 for demolition, I'm sorry. Dumpster fee and labor. 42. >> That's That's the

085second quote I >> They can't hear you, right? >> Yes. So, yeah, there there was uh demolition for 15, dumpster fe >> and then labor 24, which came out to a total of 42. >> Yeah, that that second quote doesn't make much sense at all. At least not to me because >> But no, that's that's just what they're doing. That didn't include any materials. >> It did not include any materials. just the removal >> because if they have demol demolition price per per board is $65 and then they have labor price per board like those seem to be the same thing but I mean they didn't even put in the femal did her research on this and she felt that Kingdom Kitchen was the best solution for our students and to have it also done

086before school starts. >> Thank you. I I do have a question, Dr. Craig, >> for you. I believe you shared that the new boards will be like a monitor, a screen, and also a dry erase board. You can do all of those items. Yes, the monitors will be multiaceted where you're able to do multiple things on them where students can write on the boards, things can be projected on the boards and the students will be able to uh the teacher will be able to utilize it for her presentation >> and often times you can also use them as touch screens. >> Yes. >> Wow. Okay. Any additional questions? >> May we have roll call? >> No, we didn't. discussion. No, you didn't. >> Would you? >> I'll entertain a a motion, [laughter] please. >> I

087will make that motion, sir. >> May I have a second? >> It's been moved and properly second. Any additional discussion? May we have roll call, please? >> Dr. Woods, >> yes. >> Mr. Johnson, >> yes. >> Attorney Lockett, >> yes. I say yes to Mr. Suggs. >> Yes. >> All right. The vote is five to zero. >> With a vote of five yes and zero yes, the prepavement has been approved. >> Thank you so much. The teachers are going to be ecstatic, too. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Item seven,formational items. Doesn't show any on the agenda. Items eight, administrative report. Mrs. Zarosi. >> Yes. Thank you. Um I am providing a financial update for March 2026. Um this first slide shows um our three major funds, our education fund, referendum fund, and operations fund.

088And to the far left is our approved 2026 budget appropriations. I've listed January expenses, February and March total year-to-ate expenses, and then the unexpensed or over expense. What this means is if I was over our budget appropriation, you would see these as a negative. Then my last column is the percentage of the budget remaining. So as you will see we are very in line after the first quarter of 2026. Any questions about this specifically? And this is kind of just a snapshot for you. And here is another just kind of a view of um our approved budget numbers for the three major funds. um our total yeartoday expenses and then our unexpensed and over if it was over just kind of a a screenshot. Next we have the cash flow for the education fund. We

089are balanced through March. Um there really wasn't anything out of the ordinary that occurred in the education fund other than it continues to maintain a healthy cash balance through March. Overall the education fund reflects stable financial management. At the end of March we have a cash fund balance of $21,19,837. Can I take a point of favor and say something here? Sure. >> Well, Mr. Sugs needs to give me that. >> Sure. >> Thank you. >> Um, I just want to remind us when people see that number and they hear that as you know, Miss Drosski, the education fund can only be used for certain things. So, I don't want people to think, oh, you've got all that money. >> That that is exactly correct. Yes. >> Thank you for the point of clarification. >> Sure.

090>> Next. Can we move that down a little bit? >> This is um this is the education fund. I think all the board members have it in front of them. >> Um the operations fund continues to maintain a stable and positive through March. Um monthly expenditures did exceed our receipts during certain periods of time. The fund remains financially stable due to referendum transfers into here from the education fund and our property tax distributions. I did request an early tax draw um specifically um to pay down the common school loans and our debt payments. So at the end of March, our cash fund balance in the operations fund is 7,317,663. Uh, one thing I did want to note, um, we did not make a transportation payment in March. Um, the first student had some issues with

091the invoicing again, so we did not pay it. So, we're going to do that later then. >> We will. Yep. Yep. Yep. If you look, I budgeted uh I moved it to April. >> And then we have the referendum fund. Um thank goodness for the referend for the referendum fund. that transfer that we make the 700,000 every month and the 100,000 into the education fund is imperative and and that we continue this um a referendum fund at the end of March is left with the cash balance of 4,293,462. Any questions about that? >> No questions. >> Okay. Next. So, here's our future financial keys. I just wanted to bring up a few items um that are in the process um that we'll be paying or or money that we're going to be receiving very soon.

092The area of Westside bathroom renovation is in the final phases. We anticipate and hope that the bathrooms will be completed by graduation. So, the surge bathrooms will be open. I requested, as I stated earlier, an early tax draw, which is 2025 tax money. Um, I would love to tell you that I know the number we're going to get in May and then the remainder in June, but um they do not share that with me. They don't share the percentage. Um, it it shows up in our account and then they send me paperwork. Next, the McCulla tornado renovation is complete. The building is back to normal. [applause] >> It only took a year. >> Yeah. >> Final payment uh to Powers and Suns will go out in June and it's just a few thousand dollar. So,

093we've received all of our reimbursements from the insurance company. >> Yes. Was that on budget? >> Yes. >> Um, generators. Um, we've had several instances where the weather has not agreed with us and it has caused power outages in some of our buildings and we've had to pivot and move the students to the career center. So, what we did was I I I couldn't understand why the generators didn't pop on. Well, they they hadn't been serviced in years. So, um I had my director of building routes and maintenance um call and have a few vendors come out, assess all the generators that we have in the buildings and see what would it take to get them going. So we have Makulla, Williams, GPA, and Vaner that only need minor maintenance done, which is approximately probably

094a total of $10,000. So we will have all of these generators up and running. Westside is a total replacement. And when I say total replacement, the entire generator is cracked. There's there's no repairs to it whatsoever. We are getting estimates on what that would take to get a new generator at Westside. Beverage, Bailey, GMS, Bthoon Career Center do not have generators. I did not work that into the budget, but I could do that in future. Uh GMS uh total window replacement is in process. So, we will make sure that this fall they will not have any issues with the cold. And I just wanted to bring to the board's attention May and October are a three pay three pay cycle. Any questions? >> Yes. [snorts] Anybody? Um >> I just have a couple. >> Sure.

095>> So looking at the um just so I can understand on education. Y in June [snorts] >> June um it says transfers for debt service 5 million446 615 was that >> so um if you recall at several of the last board meetings I discussed the common school loans >> and what we do is when we receive our basic grant money um They the IDOE deducts our common school loan payments. We have 12 common school loan payments that were from previous administration. We have to now that we are no longer under state takeover. We have to pay those back. So they deduct it from our basic grant. So then what we do is in order to pay back the education fund because the education fund should have received all of that money but ideally deducts a

096portion of it. Our debt service fund is the fund where property tax money is received. We are supposed to use that money to repay back the education fund. >> So is that what that represents? So, so I wanted to be transparent. I don't know that I'm going to receive enough to cover that, >> but I anticipate a good portion of it. So, share what the state board of accounts has shared ord if you don't receive enough, it just you just can't pay it back. Right? Statute states that you do not have to pay it back. It >> it doesn't say must. It says may >> you may not pay it back. >> You you may pay it back, but it doesn't say you must pay it back. >> And then and and then good record

097keepers, we want to pay it back if we get it, but if we don't collect enough tax dollars, then we can't. >> So, do you have when you said that it's part of our debt service, is there like a chart like this about the debt? Um, I believe I issu at one of the last board meetings. I believe I did a debt schedule of of the loans. I um I didn't do it this time. >> How about we do it again next month? >> Sure. >> Yep. Appreciate that. >> Sure. >> I have Go ahead. I'm sorry. Please. Just um also um have you been seeing or is it prepared for the rise or I don't know how it goes like the contract with the school buses. I don't know if your contract is that

098they're going to eat this rise in gas or is are they going to um push it on to us and then is there I mean because you could be like I bargain for you know $3 and then it go up that's on you. I don't know what the bargain is, but what's the plan? Because it seems like, you know, things are getting wild um in terms of these prices of gas and electricity, energy in general. Like, what's that doing to our corporation? We are under contract and it is a fixed amount per bus ride there and two. So they cannot increase it on us, but we will have to go out for an RFP after next year. >> Wonderful. >> Okay. >> Glad to hear that. >> I'm not. >> No, I'm glad to hear

099that it's not on us right now. I mean, maybe by then >> the world >> perhaps. >> No, that's all I had. Thank you. >> Just a couple things. Mr. Um, I really like your interpretation of the May payback rules, but Dr. Stokes always speaks of trust, but verified. Have we verified that that is the actual ruling? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yes, sir. >> And I assume >> I am I'm honest. >> Thank you. I assume that um this generator issue where they haven't been maintained in two years. It has now become a standard operating system. >> It has. There's a few things that I would like to implement moving forward. One is making sure we service the generators. Um, also we need vent cleaning done and that also has not been done in

100years and you know there's particles in the air and everything that that is something that I I would like on a schedule. And lastly, the determination in regards to Westside and also the schools that don't have a generator is that we will not have generators in those schools or we will repair or replace Westside. Just clarification. >> Yep. I will I am looking at quotes for the Westside total replacement because I do believe the building that probably needs it is Westside. Um some of the other ones might be a smaller expense and I can gladly get quotes and work it through work it in the budget. >> Thank you. Any additional >> actually we that just remind me to say working it into the budget. Would it ever ever be worked in the budget ever

101for pool and west side? >> Can we just say for not? >> However, I think you know if we focus on things that directly impact our students like right now you know we can't have bees falling on the roof falling in. So, you know, if we can find money for certain things, you know, we've got people who want certain things with Roosevelt and the pool and we want brand new school. There are there are lots of things that we really want for this community and our kids deserve it. Uh but we do have to move forward with the money that we have and try to make sure that we create a safe physical envir environment. And so that's kind of where we're focusing on right now with the resources we have. So, I'm not gonna

102say never, Angela, but we hear you. We actually Linda had somebody look into them. I I didn't >> tell us about it. >> I don't have it in front of me, so I would rather not speak of it right now. Um, but I did receive a report on what it would take to redo the pool. if you could share that with us at the next board meeting because it comes up and it's important to a lot of people including me and um so we just want to know if it's feasible um if it's not you have this report either way whatever it says if you could just share it with us so the community knows you know what the status is or if it's ever going to be one or maybe you come and you

103say it's going to cost $400,000 and maybe the community will say we're going to well4 million what maybe the community say we're going to do a fundraiser for the next three years to raise money for. I mean, maybe that's something that, you know, people want to take up, but if we could just see, you know, what's out there, what it may take, um, and perhaps one day our students can have a pool, too. >> So, um, I hear what you're saying. I do want to make one comment about that. Um the pool is not up to code with regards to it being like a competition pool. Um but it would be a pool that yes, our students could practice in or swim in. So anything we do, we need to consider all that as well.

104>> Mr. President, >> and and I might add that we did have that information shared with us at a meeting previously. However, I understand the need for others who may not have been here or people in the audience who don't have that information, but we were privy to that information a while back. >> Any additional discussion? >> Thank you, Mrs. >> Thank you. >> I would like to move on to item 8.2, Dr. Streer and Miss Adams. Good evening, members of the board, Dr. Stokes, and community members. My name is uh Janelle Adams. I'm the assistant director of curriculum and assessment at Kan Community School Corporation. >> Good evening. I'm Dr. Jason Street. I'm the director of school turnaround. Um and we are here today to report on our new um crisis management manual for

105the district. Um that's an amazing picture of all of our clinicians in Edgewater Health uh meeting to launch our schoolbased health clinic at Westside this January. Um so I want to talk to you a little bit about the crisis management manual. Um it is focused on behavioral health. So when we talk about crisis management, we are not talking about security. So I want to make that clear. Um we met for some months um as a team and our team consisted of both from the academic department. We had um people from our student services department as well as our special populations department and then we had contributions from our human resources department, our public relations department and our safety and security department. the reason that this matters um and why we are doing this now. So

106earlier this school year, I was called out to a school. I work a lot with our behavioral health with our discipline. Um and I was called out to a school because we had a situation at one of our schools. I won't say the name, but we had a student who passed away over the weekend. Um and the guardian of the student came into the school to notify the administrators. Um, I previously was a counselor. Um, and so seeing everything that was happening, we were all trying to, you know, fill in where we could and make sure everyone was okay. But in the midst of that crisis, um, not only were the guardians there grieving in person, but our administrators had to jump into action to figure out, hey, okay, how are we going to tell

107the students? How are we going to tell the teachers? What correspondence do we need to send out through our school channels to our families? um that's not something that should have to be done on the spot. There should be standard operating procedures in place so that administrators do not have to do that on the fly because they are human as well um and they are in the process of grieving. Um we also noticed that there is no there was no consistent um operating procedure across all of our schools and we do want there to be some consistency when it comes to behavioral health issues. Um and so because that shouldn't happen, we decided we were going to create something from scratch. >> Okay. So you might be asking why is this crisis manual essential? As

108Miss Adams talked about, we need some symmetry across the district. So specifically crisis manual is needed because there has been an increase in student behavior health needs. Crisis are not if, it's when they're going to happen. And so when we have inconsistencies, it creates risk that schools need clear immediate guidance. Without a district-wide system, responses vary from school to school. Communication can be inconsistent and staff are left unsure in critical moments. This manual assures every school responds with the same level of clarity, care, and professionalism. Behavior crisis manual versus security manual. This is different. A security crisis manual deals with uh physical threats, lockdowns, evacuations, and law enforcement response. While the behavioral health crisis manual deals with student mental health crisis, death, grief, trauma response, suicidal ideiations, emotional emergencies, family and staff communication protocols. This

109manual is different. It focuses on behavioral health crisises, how to respond when students are in emotional distress when tragedy occurs, and how we support entire school communities. And so, I want to talk a little bit about what the manual will actually provide. So, in the manual, you'll have some very clear standard operating procedures for our schools. Um, there's a step-by-step response protocols for both suicidal ideiation and homicidal ideation. Um there are pre-written communication templates so that in an instance like what I just spoke about our administrators have letters to go out um to staff to students and the community. Um there are defined roles and responsibilities for a crisis team at the school as well as alignment um across schools is created with this manual and it gives those clear step-by-step procedures um and creates

110that consistency. So instead of reacting, schools can actually respond with confidence and care and they as human beings can be in touch with their emotions in the moment. So these are just a couple screenshots we put up because I wanted you to see the table of contents. Um you all have the entire document. Um but in this manual it talks about composing and uh the roles of the different members of a school crisis team, what the activation protocols are um and what additional roles and responsibilities would be of other school members. It also talks about clearly outlines what to do before a crisis happens um what to do during a crisis even how you respond and speak to uh folks that are coming in during that as well as on the walking um to for

111our security staff. And then what happens after the crisis? So if there has been a crisis with a student um abuse and neglect, we don't just have suicidal ideation and homicidal ideation, but we also have student fatality, staff fatality, and abuse and neglect. After that happens, what should we do? Here are our letters. Here are our protocols. How you communicate what the roles of our school counselors and social workers are. Um guidance around funerals and memorials um on the property of the schools as well as employee assistance program information so that our staff can get counseling if they need it because we want to be responsive to them as well. Um and then there's also a section where there are resources and forms where anyone can easily access those when they need those in a

112crisis. So all of those are in the manual. um we try to make it as comprehensive as possible but that there is no gray area that everyone knows what to do in those crises. So we know that this matters this manual protects the students and staff and families supports our leaders because crisis happens it's very easy to become discombobulated. So the consistency of compassion and response prepares us for the realities that we're facing. This manual is about being prepared, but more importantly, it's about therapy. It ensures it ensures that in our most difficult moments, we respond in a way that is consistent, compassionate, and aligned as a district. >> You all have any questions? >> Thank you. Questions? >> I do have a question. Um, job well done. I definitely appreciate you all being proactive

113in this area. My question is with the manual being there, and of course, we don't wait to happens. So somebody looks at the manual. What would be the procedure to make sure that the people that need to be well verssed on this actually aren't? >> So every month we have um meetings with our administrators and our administrators have regular meetings with the teachers and while I can't tell you with 100% certainty typically our teachers you know have discussion we call it with their students about safety protocols and things of that nature. So um some call them the circles. What we call them the um round robin circles or whatever they have. So that's how we would do at our administrative meetings. We would use portions of this information at our retreat that we have every

114year. We would visit portions of the booklet so that it's not your first time watching it in the middle of a crisis. Um and if I can add Dr. So our administrators, we meet our academic department meets with them monthly. We meet with our assistant principles and we meet with our principles. The team that put together this crisis manual, we've already trained our administrators on this manual. Not only have we trained our administrators, but I have a PLC of discipline leads. So that's our deans, our in school suspension coordinators, our behavior specialists and social workers, and they've already been trained on this manual. Um, not only have those uh stakeholders been trained on this manual, but we also had our um director of special populations was a part of that team. So, she will be

115training her social workers. Um, I'm training the counselors on this because I have them as well. And so, we will be hitting pretty much every stakeholder and then our administrators will then train those teachers and pair professionals. >> Excellent job. >> I I too applaud um the creation of the manual. Um, I do have a couple questions about the uh how it will be implemented. Um, I think that this is a valuable tool and to that point, I think it's great that you had trained administrators throughout the process and receive the information, but I think it's probably necessary for all employees to understand clearly what the manual says and the interpretation of the manual because we can all read it and maybe see things just a little bit different um, individually. So I would suggest

116maybe we would do like a video walk through of the manual and I also would ask that employees sign off that they have reviewed the manual and I would suggest almost annually because you you know it's just like a driver's ed you don't pass until you kind of review that book you know and make sure that you understand the current uh consequences of your actions as a driver and also something that there is a rule for all new employes that should go through the process when they come on to the organization. So those would be just some suggestions that we hope that we consider. >> So I think Dr. Craig is going to share but I believe we were going to add it to the um vector vector training. We have vector holds things that

117the state requires us to train on every year and you have to sign off on it. I believe we were going to add that to vector. >> Yes, that is correct. We are going to add that to vector. But I also wanted to state that when we have our convocation for our institute and back to school, we're also going to include that in our training for all of our staff to be able to cycle through that training. We'll have various sessions to be able to get all of those stakeholders in at different times throughout the day and then they get then we'll be able to sign off on that completion. And certainly and the value of having employees sign off just so that we don't assume that they know and give them all an opportunity

118be aware that their expectation is by signing is that you're accountable for what you have read. >> Yes, absolutely. >> Thank you so much for this. Appreciate it. >> I would like to move to item nine on our agenda. This is board members comments and communication. I'd open the floor for board members to share. I just want to say great job uh Dr. Stokes and the leadership team. I've been so happy with the work that all of you have done this past academic year. I know that the year is winding down very quickly. I just want to say job well done. The presentations were outstanding. I think tonight um you definitely prepared and informed us very well and I appreciate the answers to the questions that the board um had as well. So great job

119everyone. >> Mr. President, >> yes. >> I just like to say also kudos to all the young people who um the scholars the young scholars with who received the awards for the what do you call them and Bruce Streak awards. I think that was commendable. And to say that some of our students competed nationally and came in way at the top. I mean, I think that's admirable. There are good things happening in the Gary Community Schools. And I I applaud all of you, parents, teachers, staff, administrators for making that happen. And I do want to say, I don't know if she left yet, but welcome to Candace Lily. >> She's in the back. >> That's our west side. That's my school, you know. >> Welcome. welcome. So that's about it. And again, thank you guys

120for the great work that you do always. >> Thank you. And I concurred with the excellence that we've heard about today and also the full house that we had today and the support from families and friends of our students and our staff. It's just um very enem Dr. Stokes quotes that mean that maybe there's something to it, but when she says it takes you, it takes me, and it takes all of us to >> provide success, I think that's exactly what we're showing as a team, and I certainly value that and appreciate and applaud your efforts. Any other comments, board members? >> Yeah. Um, I would also like to say congratulations and good job to the students who showed up at their awards. That was wonderful. Um, welcome the new president of Westside. I look

121forward to hearing what your vision is for Westside. Also, um, just in terms of that last presentation, I think that's wonderful. I think that's needed. Um, you know, we sit here and we talk about things are so fantastic and how great it's going and you know, I mean, yeah, it's going great and then it's not. Um, recently we had a a student that was killed. And so what she was just talking about is very much needed, but at the same time we have 17-year-old black boys getting shot and killed in Gary and everywhere else. And it it's it's as such a academic proportion at least in my mind especially being a mother of a child who went to school with this child who was recently killed and seeing how it bothers him and him saying

122they don't even care. I didn't hear one word about it. I didn't hear not just here just generally it doesn't make the news. I think about the end of um Okay, you gotta forgive me because I'm trying not to sound crazy cuz I get message that's cuz I get emotional about some things sometimes, but so I'm I'm trying not to. I just want to say that if we don't do something proactively when we have these kids, we have 4,000 kids, the majority of whom are black, who are dealing with this violence epidemic, especially for these black boys. And again, I'm a mother of a 15year-old black boy. Um, I just think that we should, you know, it was great to hear the presentation, but what are we doing on a proactive side? That's all something

123happened. Now we got to deal with it. What are we doing to not deal with it at all that they're not shooting? You know, like um we have so much to work against when it comes to the music especially and the the media out here and it's showing these boys that this is what you're supposed to be, a thug, a a killer or whatever. Um just I don't know. I just feel like it should be more pressing, more um like it's a fire. Like um I was so upset when I heard this baby got shot at 17 um and he's gone. It's like, well, what happened? Why did they pick up guns? I don't know. Like, we have these kids. We have each other. We have our minds. You know, we're all smart. I say

124that to say that we can think of something, you know, to counteract what's going on out here because >> these babies, you know, should never have to deal with am I going to die cuz I went to a party, you know. So, I just wanted to say that I think it's fantastic that they have this crisis afterwards. I just would like to see more on the beforehand, you know, um teaching, I don't know, um conflict resolution and you know, just um things of that nature. And also, we have these kids here. We have the opportunity um we have this career center to I don't know expand and have everybody. So, part of it is there you don't have any money. you get out of high school, you try to get a job at Amazon is

125too far, you don't have a car. whatever it may be. If you're not going on to college, I just think that we should push tell everybody that leads our corporation, leaves Westside, since that's the only high school we have, um that they're going to college or they already have a skill that we can give them now so that then they're not put into this other life where quite frankly, they're either going to die or they're going to go be somebody's um paycheck at a jail somewhere. Okay. So, that's all I got. >> Any additional comments for >> Yeah. Yes. I I would want like to give kudos to the students who received their awards today and to the honor society students who adopted today as well. I want to say um congratulations and welcome to

126Miss Lil and u I too look forward to um you know what her plans are for Westside as well. I I will say u to Miss Lockett's point um you know at the state the city address the mayor did announce well actually police chief announce the reduction in crime that's going on and and some initiatives that he has planned for the summer. Um, and so those numbers are getting better, but even one is bad. And so, um, you know, they're addressing it from the city level, but also um, and I think a lot of think they left. We we have members of FA fraternity here today. Uh, there's a couple of members of our fraternity here right now. The fraternities have been doing a lot of mentorship in the community and not to leave out

127campaign [laughter] those phone calls. Uh but no, it it's mentorship programs have been going on and and also the churches. I'm I'm a part of um one church mentorship program. Uh and Miss >> Stling, >> Miss Whittington, [laughter] >> I was with your brother yesterday. So, okay. >> Uh but when when she started off her report, she talked about real men reading and the number of men who participated. And uh Miss O'Brien even told me because I was one of those who participated >> and how the students are asking for me to come back which I'm going to do. >> Wonderful. >> And and so you know people are taking that mentorship role uh you know it so it's as Mr. subs. It's going to take all of us. Uh and it it's not going

128to happen overnight. Um but I I do like the direction that we're moving in. >> Thank you, Dr. Stokes. >> I do just want to comment a little bit. We are doing things in the school district and thank you for raising that awareness because I could feel your pain when you were saying it. You almost had me in tears as well. uh one life loss is too much. It it just is. Um and so we are doing our part as a school district. But there again, you know, the whole it takes you, it takes me, it takes all of us. It is truly truly a mindset shift >> with children about their value >> and them being desensitized to death. >> Yes. >> I mean, and and I I know Dr. could probably say more

129about it than I could. But the reality is as a school district, we do try to teach conflict resolution. We've got restorative practices, different things that we do to try to help our scholars, but we need our we need the help of our community. We need the help of our parents. We need the help of everybody. So, yes, Mr. President, I also like to say this is gives me an opportunity to say, you know, a thank you to all the people who participate in My Brother's Keeper. We've got a number of schools throughout Lake County, Indiana, and actually northwest Indiana, but Lake County schools are the schools that participate the most, including Gary Schools. And there we have men from all walks of life who participate in that program. One of the uh keystones that

130MBK, which has recently been certified by the Obama Foundation, one of the keystones is safety and you know um making sure that we don't have a lot of violence continue to go on in our community and as a matter of fact uh Dr. is really active with that piece in our community and he does a lot of stuff with the Gary schools and again we look for men to continue to work with us to who want to be a part of that initiative to please contact Karen Morris Dr. Morris at Edgewater Health and the other part about that is Bernie Carter is the u the leader of that program he is the chair he took the initiative to chair that operation and he is uh MBK Lake county's champion. He is he is titled as

131the champion by the my by the national My Brother's Keeper Association. So, he is the champion for that. And recently, uh Heart Rock Casino donated $100,000 to kick off um a lot of the activity that they have been doing and they're indicating that they're willing to do more. went back when they presented the check, they had about seven or eight people from their team that attended the meeting, the last meeting, which was actually this week, this week. Um, yeah. And they presented the check and they had a bunch of members of the team [applause and cheering] and they have representatives on my brother's keeper uh stakeholder group. That's right. >> And and Mr. Chair, one last point. U the young man that's now over City of Services So >> Marcus anywhere around 50 students for

132the summer. >> 75 75 that's even better. [laughter] 75 students for for the summer uh paid jobs and and some of them are actually within businesses within community not just with the city. So, it's it's uh and yes, we'd like to see that number get higher, but uh you know, take take a little work. >> Um I I I just had remembered what I was about to say when I said a quote from a movie and I went on some totally forgot, but I always think about the end of Boys in the Hood. And at the end of the hood when Doughboy goes over, no uh Trey comes over to talk to Doughboy. He says, um, you know, I didn't see anything about my brother in the paper, you know, and then he said either

133they don't know, it don't show, or they just don't care about what's going on in the us, okay? Because we know and it shows. That's all. So, I'll conclude that portion out by just giving a call out to all men because here's the deal. I am a woman and I've known this even with my own boys. >> I can teach a young man what women like in men and what we prefer in men. But I cannot teach a young man how to be a man. >> I need a man to do that. So, we're going to give a call out to everybody. If you've got young men in your homes and you need a strong role model, please, please, please find one because we cannot teach men how to be men as women. >> So,

134with that, if you will go to my next slide real quick, a few updates that that matter. Corporation matters of interest. Makeup day. Families be reminded that go back. We have a makeup day. Friday, May 22nd, 2026. Yes, there is school. Please, please, please be here. Attendance matters. Next slide, please. Our last day of school is Thursday, May 28th. Thursday, May 28th. Please be here, scholars. And then we have our 58th commencement, which is Sunday, June 7th. If you want to talk about a little bit about that for me, please. want to make sure that people understand because I know they've all been asking about tickets and that's not something we give out. That's up to the high school. >> Sure. Throw that over to me, Dr. Yes. on Sunday, first Sunday in June, we

135will be uh graduating the class of 2026. I believe it's at 2:00. The slide says 3:00, but it is at 2:00. Um, our school board members will be processing in with us. And yes, for tickets that is at the building level. We we are not facilitating that process. So please connect with the building. And >> what I do need us to do is verify the correct time though. I don't It is 3:00 corrected. So then that probably means that we need to get there around 2 for lined up and the graduates. >> You think about your time. It is 3:00 for the community. >> Yes. Okay. at 3:00 for the community and 2:00 for us to >> board members and us >> board members and everyone to get together and there will be other protocols

136shared with parents such as no signage and balloons and all of those things that are prohibited inside of the Spencer auditorium miss Mr. basin and th those things will be conveyed to the guests. They really know the routines. We just will be there to oversee and ensure that they are enforced. Should I share any further? >> Next slide. >> Okay. >> Um our summer school for those who are in credit recovery and all of the necessary things that they need to take care of will begin on June 8th. Again, that is a building level activity where those impacted students will be um their parents and guardians will be contacted regarding what they will need to do regarding summer school. Oh, and that's a fun slide. You want to kick it off, Dr. Sto? >> I

137will tell you knowledge seekers, we start May 20th. For those who have been selected, we did a thorough look at the answers that were provided and we tried to select a cross categorical group um with great representation from across the city. Um and so our first session will be May 20th and the topics for that particular session are board governance and finance. So, with that being said, um those who have been selected, please be reminded 11:00 a.m. to 1 pm we food will be provided, which is why we limited, you know, how many people we select because we have to we got food and things that we have to have. And then the second session is 4:45 to 6:45. Um so those are two different cohorts. So that's what I wanted to say about that.

138>> All right. And then the last thing, this is for you, Miss Tindo, the yearbook update. I worked with our instructor, Mr. Evans, over at Westside Leadership Academy. Um, and the yearbook, I'm pleased to report, was completed today, edited and uploaded for printing for the class of 2026. And so once that is done and we have our hard copies and our digital copies, I'll be back to give an update this summer. >> Last but not least, um, our draft agenda. Um, as always, if there's anything that we know of that's pressing, we would put on our draft agenda, but typically it's kind of routine activities that you've seen us perform at the board. With that, I want to welcome our new high school principal. I'll spend some time with you. [applause] I do want to

139say that she came highly recommended when I spoke to the superintendent and even um when I was just at a what was the meeting? I was just at a um >> Chamber of Commerce. I'm sorry. I was just at a Chamber of Commerce meeting and there were some people there from Marville and the guy came up to me and said, "We lost a good one. You guys you guys were taking a good person." And I said, "What are you talking about?" And I knew he was talking about, but I really was saying, "You're not even supposed to know yet." But in any regards, he says, "Oh, everybody knows." And we're feeling it and we hate the fact that she's going to be leaving us, but she is welld deserving. And thank you all for giving

140her that opportunity. So, thank you for joining us. you can highly recommend it. >> With that, turn it back over to our board president. >> Thank you, Dr. Stokes. I'll entertain a mo a motion to adjurnn, please. >> So move. >> Move. Second. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. Thank you all for coming.