001I'd like for the board to pull um C450R, policy C450R, which is the drug prevention and drug testing. Um we're going to pull that for the June. Uh so we'll we'll have that in standalone. It'll be a second um reading which is approval. Um, the reason we're pulling that and just as an FYI, is because with this particular policy, this is a new policy that we're we're bringing in, but we also have handbook and we also have Trojan code and we might want to make sure that handbook, Trojan code, and policy are all on the same page. So, we got consistency with it. So, it's taking a little bit more time to um work that work that through. All right. So, do we have a motion uh for the approval of the agenda as amended?
002Yes, I'll um approve move that we approve the agenda as amended. Amended. Second. I'll second. We got two seconds. So, all in favor? I I uh next we have the uh approval of minutes from our special session on April 14th, our regular session on April 14th, and our special session on May 2nd. Uh we we received all those minutes in our packets. Does anybody have any questions or amendments to those minutes? I think I think one just one comment and that is the regular session April 14th it started at 6:30 instead of 5:30. It reflects 5:30. Our Yeah, our special session may have started that time, but regular session was at 6:30 p.m. Can we approve all the minutes at once? Yes. Okay, then I'll move that we approve all three minutes. Second. All in
003favor? Hi. Hi. Hi. Uh, next we go to item two and we have the uh approval of the routine uh consent items uh and reports. This is our travel uh monthly personnel bill list, payroll claims and donations as well as field trip requests. Uh were there any questions uh regarding those items in our packets? If not, all I need is a motion uh to approve those. I move to approve the uh routine consent items as presented. [Music] I'll second. All in favor? I I uh next we have the submission of monthly corporation uh extracurricular receipts and dispersements as well as the fund uh reports. Uh this doesn't require approval. Uh it's just an opportunity for us to ask any questions uh if we have any uh about that. Okay. So, what we'll do now is
004we'll move on uh to item three, which is new business. And at this time, I'll uh allow Dr. Shoemaker to cover our uh retiree recognition for this evening. So, at this time of year, we typically get um a few retirees. Um and we've got three to honor tonight. One could not be here at Tammy Aliyia. Uh she spent 39 years as our school psychologist. So, we want to thank her for um her work there. I know Dr. Blake is going to honor her at a at a um gathering here upcoming. So, we want to thank her. Um also, we have uh in attendance is Tina Durham. She's been here for 15 years uh at Sunnyside and Westwood. And ironically, both teachers being recognized were Sunnyside teachers. So, it's really cool. Have you been Well, that
005that predates me. So, maybe not Sherry. So, I don't know. I'm sorry. So, um, but yeah. So, um, outside of being an Ohio State fan, fantastic employee. So, why don't you come up, Tina, and let's get a picture for the paper. I assume you're Ohio State fan, too, right? No, he's from Indiana. Oh, good. Good. But I'm from Ohio. All right. smile. Thank you. Thanks. Thank you. So, um I always think, you know, and this goes for both of you. I always think not only the employee for their dedicated service, but families because there is a big sacrifice uh being married to a teacher, an educator. Uh there's a lot of extra work, a lot of extra extra hour hours and performances and whatnot. And typically, uh we're dedicated group. So, uh, we don't just
006clock in, clock out. So, thanks to the Panda members for fing up with this this profession. So, next we have, and I'm going to yield to our president to present this um, as a point of of personal pre privilege, Don Lee. And Don's been an employee for 27 years at Parker, Eastwood, Sunnyside, and Westwood. All right, here we go. [Applause] That's right. I'm gonna hop in one picture if that's all right. I'll hop out. So, uh, real quick, I did just want to say, um, she's been a a great teacher. Um, she's a phenomenal mom. Kleenex. Uh, teaching has always been her passion and her goal. And I remember going as a four and fiveyear-old to Franklin College with her uh, in the evenings uh, when she was studying for test. And, uh, at the
007time she had three kids. Um, and then she finished and had four. Uh, we moved back to Newcastle and, uh, she had the opportunity to be a, uh, a full-time sub, I think, for someone who's on maternity leave. And, uh, spent a couple years trying to get in, uh, to the to the school system. And I still remember it pretty clear as day. Uh, we lived down on Midway Drive. It was during the summer. Uh, she had just got a phone call that she was going to uh, get a teaching job. And everybody was excited. We everybody's pumped up. And uh the only the only caveat is that it was in Greenfield. Greenfield was offering. So later, like not even an hour later, probably uh everyone's screaming and yelling because uh Newcastle had called and
008said, "Don't take don't take the job." And Brandy Wine, I think it was, "Don't take that job. We want you here." And uh I had friends over and we're all in the front yard playing, screaming, and celebrating that my mom had just got a teaching job uh here at Newcastle. And she spent a lot of time uh dedicating her life to that. And not just uh in the classroom, but the way she's touched students outside the classroom. I got to see it firsthand. Dealing with troubled students uh not just in a uh in a teacher student but also doing what she could to make their lives better and even uh improve them to where we would um we would we would take them in uh when we could and just be positive influences on them
009best the best that I could. sometimes probably wasn't a great thing. Uh but um I I still have contact with some of her first students from Eastwood and I know she does too. Uh some of them have had very troubled lives and some of them uh where they are today. You would never guess that's where they would be. Uh, and um, I know those students are just as special to her as the ones who she's even taught even as recently as last year where she achieved the highest math scores in the third grade class. You know, I know those things. I make note of that and uh she's just been awesome and I'm proud of her and uh happy that she gets to enjoy her time off now. And the school didn't buy these. I
010did not feel slid. So I got you. Okay. Where am I looking? Look over. All right. One more time. Thank you. She didn't leave you in the [Laughter] car. Cool. We always, you know, and we don't ever rush anybody out. Um, and you can, you're welcome to stay as long as you'd like. Um, so if you'd like to leave at this point, you can you can leave and it won't be awkward. And we thank you for coming. Thanks for coming. That was great. That was great. M. McDaniel said, "You got to stay." Congratulations. Okay. I'm too big, Joe. All right. So, next we'll move on to uh item B, and that's the uh high school math curriculum, and I'll turn it over to Mr. Amon and Mr. McDaniel. Go ahead. We're really excited about this
011new curriculum. We've spent about a year um working on this and just have more unified approach to our curriculum. We've got a lot of great math teachers, but we've been kind of scattered in some of the materials we've been using. We feel like this uh new new curriculum that we've worked together with consultants, outside people, um committees, we feel like it's really going to um be a good answer for us and we're just really excited about it. Have a lot else to say about it. Yeah. And I'd say the high school teachers have been very excited about the curriculum, too. They've been heavily involved in making those decisions. and uh they're very they're ready to go. They really want to get that professional development going and learn as much as they can about how to
012implement the classroom. All right. So, do we have any questions? Um are there other corporations using this? Is this is this a new curriculum? It'll be new to us. Okay. But other corporations do use SAS. Okay. Foundation of education, right, John? Right. The most important foundation of civilization according to actually we got science and math here. So I try to stop the All right. At this time uh we just need a uh a motion to approve the new high school math curriculum. Um I move to approve the new high school math. All right. Do I have a second? Second. Jackie. All in favor? Hi. Hi. All right. So, next we're moving right right along here. We'll move to uh the reimbursement resolution and I'll turn this over to uh Mrs. Bell and Dr. Shoemaker. So,
013part of we've had several discussions regarding the 2025 um building lease and the use of those funds. There are some projects we would like to get done over the summer uh just timing wise and then also pricing wise. So this reimbursement resolution will allow us to go ahead and proceed with those pay from either raining day or operating funds and then once the the bonds are sold and uh we receive those proceeds we can then reimburse ourselves. Uh this is something we've done before and had uh great success doing so helps us get the processes uh started. So, at this time, uh, if we don't have any questions about that, uh, we just need a motion to approve this resolution. So, moved. Second. Second. All in favor? I. Uh, next we will move to the,
014uh, notice of the hearing, and I'll turn that back over to Bell again. Included in the packet was a timetable for those 2025 uh the lease process. Um and we also included the notice of hearing which will kind of kick off that that first initial um step to um getting to the point where we sell those those bonds. So we just need approval to publish uh the notice that was included and again like this the timetable as to you know each step each board meeting u the approval process um the selling of bonds and so forth. Okay. Can I uh get a motion to authorize the notice of hearing as presented? I move to authorize the notice of hearing as presented. Second. All in favor? I uh next we have uh item E and that's
015the approval of the interlocal real estate lease agreement with the city of Newcastle. And I'll turn it over to Dr. Schumer. So this is exciting. Um, and I want to thank the members of the parks board and the city council and the mayor. Um, and uh, all the various people, Mike Bergam, all the various people that have been involved in this. It's been a few months. We've actually talked about it for Joel included. Yeah. Yeah. Long time. And I want to thank Joel for his paperwork on this too. So, um, it's just bringing together and saying, you know, that we're going to be leasing the facility, the softball facility for a period of 50 years. Um and um and that way we can um make um improvements to it and uh have a little bit
016of uh a little bit more control in terms of who's used or who's using that that field as well. So I want to thank them for that because it it's already been approved by the parks board. It's been approved by the city. Now it just needs our approval. Yeah. Uh I'm really excited about this to be partnering officially with the city. uh they've been uh great since I've been on here to to work with and uh I think this just further solidifies a common vision for our for our youth and community and it's mutually beneficial. So, I'm excited about it. And we should have had lights uh in They're going maybe. Are they? No, they're going. Okay. Yeah. I knew it was going to be today or tomorrow. I talked to Corey today, so he
017was excited. Yeah. And those are through donations, too, largely. So, a lot of good partnerships. Yep. Former go ahead. Uh I move that we approve the interlocal agreement as presented. I'll second. All in favor? I I uh next we move on to letter F and that's the uh approval of final reading of new school board policy patch number three and I'll turn that over to Dr. Shoemaker. Right. And just to um uh just to for um the public uh we're in the process of moving from a national company that houses our policies which is Neiola to a local company which is Church Church HD and Antrum. They kind of specialize in uh board policies. So uh we have what's called batches and it ranges between 12 and 15 um policies that we'll approve each month
018for a period of about um 6 to 8 months. So as we transition those in and this is just a reminder this is for batch three with the exception of C450R. We're going to we've already pulled that one. All right. At this time do I have a motion to approve the U schoolboard policies batch number three? I'll move to approve the school board policies batch number three as presented. Second. All in favor? I I I uh next we move on to the school board policy batch number four. So this is batch number four out of the uh series of batches that from church church hit and again just you know for the public um anytime we approve a policy it goes through initial reading. it's not voted on and then one month later um then
019we're able to to vote on the uh policy um for approval. So this is just the initial first reading. Uh so there's no vote required. I I did have a couple of questions and we talked a little bit about this but I was going to ask Sherry because you're the chair of the wellness committee. Okay. um the the people that are outside the school um staffing that are on the committee. Who are some of those? Um and not necessarily who by name, what are they? Parents. Okay. We have a representative from um 4 Purdue Extension. Okay. Um we have help me. Who else do we have? Oh, do you count probation? No, that was my parent. I know who also works well she's outside. Yeah, I feel like I'm missing somebody. Those are the primary
020look them up. Yeah, I was specific. We have two students. We have, you know, teachers, administrators, Dioration RN specifically wondering about a medical provider that's not Oh, health link the health coach. Okay, thank you. And also the answer. Okay. Um and also about an emphasis the school policy reads mostly that it's it's about nutrition and physical but there is a an emotional component. Just wanted to kind of and we're in the middle every three years it has to be revised and brought to you and we're in the middle of that because we did that. How often do you guys meet? Um it varies I'll be honest about at least quarterly. I just had him in here last week so Okay, good. Well, again, board policy said once a year. Oh, yeah. I bet that's more
021than that. Yeah. And actually, it was really great last week because I invited the new A institute teachers to come because I really think there's things we could partner with like farm to table and things like that. So, we had a really good eating last week and I served a very healthy lunch for you. Uh oh. He caught me. I was packing up the pizza. I'd have to say I have to make them want to come here. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We do have two students always on the on the committee too. The other thing I just um feel the need to comment on is personal background checks and um as we as we uh transition to um to different pathways, graduation pathways, some of the I have had some questions come to me about how
022do we keep track of people that our kids are interfacing with outside of school? Because at school we make very sure that we background check everyone everyone that's has any contact with our kids and Adam was was talking about that there there is an attempt made I think an authentic attempt made try to keep that as um as safe as possible and just so for the public you want to describe a little bit about what we do. Yeah. So the students who are with um any organizations or businesses outside of the school, they any member of that organization or business representative that if they will be supervising the student exclusively, then they do receive a background check. And those students uh and we we do vet those businesses and those partners to make sure that
023it's a right fit for the student, but also that they have the correct credentials. And a lot of businesses do their own background check. So, it's not even an necessarily an extra step for those uh businesses to do that, but uh we we do have that as a piece of of the work that that those businesses do. Um it is a a necessary component of this work moving forward for us to be really concerned about that. Anytime a student goes on a field trip and they'll have exclusive uh one-on-one access with someone at a different site, we would do that anyway. So, since it's long term, we make sure that's in place as well. Okay. So we can't we can't limit all the people they come in contact with but we do our best right
024because a lot of times we work with businesses or students are in in businesses where they have you know customerf facing roles right and so we can't control every customer that might come into the into the business. Exactly. But and we've got pretty good um background with this with the career center, right? Because that's always been and and even if a student is with a customer that we don't have background checks on, they're always with that supervisor or with the person at the business so they wouldn't be alone with a customer. And so that's a it's a big important piece of the work as well. So we do it as much as we can to try to keep them as safe as we can. Yes, absolutely. Thank you. That's all. All right. So now we'll
025move on to uh item H and that is the uh approval of the 202526 middle school and high school handbooks. And I'll turn it over to Mr. McDaniel, Mr. Aman, and Mr. White. Well, uh real quick before I let them kind of describe just uh quickly what changes there were. Uh we have uh not for this year, but in past years, we have um have these handbooks vetted by attorneys. So are the partners that we have through church hill they go through those um and provide us with quite a bit of feedback and support for reviewing those uh handbooks and um this year we had our the teams at the middle school and the high school they have committees that go through the handbooks and suggest revisions uh talk about the different policies in place
026uh before we move forward with making those recommendations to the school board. So real quick I'll let um them kind of describe uh just briefly the changes. there weren't a lot of significant changes at all really to the handbooks this year. Um, but I'll let them kind of briefly describe what that looked like. Um, our first significant change is really centered around attendance. You know, it's been a big focus and motivator for us. One thing we've encountered this year is that we've had a significant number of families that have wanted to take additional days away from school for extended vacations. And so, we are removing out our pre-arranged absence form. So really as you know from the state while we still code them differently within the school within our school day absence is an absence.
027So that um that's an element that we have taken out because it previously said that you have five days excused absence in advance and that's almost a third of the number of days or half the number of days that you might have over the course of a year which hurts our attendance rate. So that's something that we're moving. We recognize there might still be opportunities a family need to take their child out of school. We'll work with them on that. But to say there are five days that they could have kind of gives them that green light like I've got five days I personal base I can take off. We want to move that language. Um the other which we've kind of already had in place with those attendance review committee meetings making sure that
028that's reflective of what the state is outlining that essentially that's something that should happen after the fifth on the fifth day of unexcused absences this year. So those were kind of updated. It's really what we've been doing throughout this year, but just when we have our AIM meetings, which are those 12 days of an absence, which that's going to be a standing appointment we'll have next year with juvenile probation as well, so that way we can just always be on the docket to support uh students in needs. We'll still make referrals to centerstone or at least make that available to students and families as we see that there's a continuing pattern of absences. And then within our consequence ladder, when we see that there are students that have an out of school suspension, the first
029tier for fighting was typically one to two days, we've increased that from three to five for OSS or OSSP or four to six at the second occurrence. Um those numbers have gone down as far as the number of altercations we've had in the building, but we also we are elevating our standard as far as what we expect for behaviors with middle school. Awesome. Thank you, Mr. White. Mr. a lot of the same things with attendance for the high school. Um again um staying consistent with um the middle school. Um our big change probably is just that we um have allowed backpacks and bags to be carried around school and not use their lockers. Next year we're um requiring students use their lockers again and put their backpacks and bags away during the school. I've got
030a couple of things. Um, when you have meetings with parents about absences, um, how often or does it happen that that the parents will choose to just remove their kit and homeschool them, their student? Um, I would say that that's gone down significantly this year with the the use of the virtual academy that we've we've provided students. Um, you know, again, not promoting that throughout, but as needed, we needed that. So there are students that that when they have reoccurring absences to choose virtual. Yes. Okay. And so a lot of that has been they may depart Newcastle schools and enroll in some type of home school or enroll in some type of virtual. Um not in every situation. Um but when that is presented we've been able to retain I can think of I think
031about the 13 that we have. There were uh six that I recall that remained with Newcastle through that virtual capital. Okay. Same for the high school. Yes. Okay. Um, who's on the committees for the handbook? Are there students and parents? Um, we have staff that are a part of that. We have had one student representative that's been a part of that. Um, I don't know that we have any parents that are part of that. Staff, do you have students and no parents? Okay. for the handbook. Um, I know sometimes students that are bullied will retaliate with an altercation. Are there any allowances made or is fighting fighting? Yeah, we have a discre, you know, discretion as far as the number of days. Like I said, they're going from three to five within that um to
032use that. Uh, I think one of the most common that parents want to know is who started it. Was it self-defense? And you don't, right? And so that's I think that's a big part of where we're at. bullying pattern. Obviously, that looks that can take a different form because we look at is there repetition, is there a pattern, has there been documentation for? So then it may be more of a bullying than it might be of the finding as far as what the primary consequence and how we code it. If that makes sense, too. But um yeah, we're going to address there's physical altercations, there's going to be consequence no matter what. I'm just wondering would it be appropriate to have parents or more students on the handbook or is that I I'm just asking.
033Yeah, I think that's always something you know to get input on. I know that we have had when we were looking at some meetings last year leading up to some more significant changes specifically about cell phone that was something that we scheduled and sought uh a number of parents to come in. didn't get a huge response, but I I will say that's always taken into consideration if there's ever anyone that asked that. I I will say that I had a parent just within the past week that was some questions or was citing information from the handbook. Once I explained it, um they didn't question it. They were just wanting to make sure that we in line with where that was. But we'll always always listen. Thank you. All right. So, at this time, I just
034need a motion to approve these handbooks. I move to approve the middle school and high school handbooks as presented. I'll second. All in favor? I. Uh, next we'll go to letter I, and that is the approval of the track project recommendation. And we'll turn it over to Mr. McDaniel. Yes. So, uh, we are really excited to be able to, uh, have have a recommendation for the board regarding, uh, resurfacing and expanding our high school track. Um, you received a letter in the packet regarding that recommendation that we received from our architect who had been working on this project with us. Um, we it it wasn't originally a part of a larger project that we had going on. um and we knew that we really wanted to get this done. So, we pulled this out and
035had it as a smaller piece. One piece that we're really excited about um as well is um the the ability that we'll have as a school corporation to host more events on our track um more more track and field events uh and and sectionals that we'll be able to host. Some pieces like that. And then also as a part of this bid, uh, one of the alternates is replacing all of the, um, asphalt around, um, the the ble the home bleachers. Um, and that's something that's been needed, uh, for a while and we're excited about making that, uh, even more accessible, and that's one piece about this project. We know we'll will definitely be a hallmark of it. Um the project is actually was bid out and um is the the bid that we are
036going to go with by Precision Construction and Contracting LLC. And we actually have a representative here uh for that company. I don't know if you want to introduce yourself or say anything. Uh I'm Brad Whitaker. I'm PCC regional operations officer. My kids all went to New House, so I know Newcastle schools quite well. Very good. Awesome. Awesome. Uh but we're just seeking uh approval to move forward with this bid. This is I'm sure past the time to do this kind of stuff, but I'm going to ask anyway. Um we put a asphalt sidewalk like from the um parking lot um at the tennis courts to the uh fieldhouse parking lot. Um it's it would be beneficial because a lot of people part have to park over there. Um it's it wasn't part of the project
037and we've had we've had discussions about that component in other projects that forthcoming as well. Okay. This project given the nature of where it is, they actually won't be touching those areas. So um it'll make more sense to to put that in in another different something different. Okay. Good question. I move that we Sorry. No, you're good. We're okay. I move that we approve the uh track renovation as presented. Do I have a second? Second. All in favor? I I All right. And then next, uh we have our buildings, grounds, transportation, support services. uh update and I'll turn it over to Mr. McDaniel. Yes. So, um we we have the high school restroom project still moving along. They're going to be finished in mid July. I'm sorry, mid June in that with that piece. So,
038we'll finish out the school year with those renovations. But um excited about that piece and uh there's been a lot of excitement uh even with the staff. They've been very patient putting up with all the noise, but they're excited about what what it's going to bring for them. So, uh moving forward with that piece. uh the athletic restrooms, that component. We are continuing to work and planning to in the fall have our building trades uh program at the career center run that uh that piece for us. And we're actually it's getting it's pretty neat actually how this is happening. Coordination with the architect. They're they're going to be they're going to allow this to be an education component for them. And so they're going to actually work with our students, the architects will on this
039project. And it's going to be an incredible experience for our kids. um CEC roof here in in our in this building. It's going to be changed uh hopefully May 20th will be the start for that project. It'll be pretty quick, but we're excited that uh Clem's roofing is actually going to be taking that project. So, we're excited that a local company will be doing that work. Um we are also looking forward to um uh some um updates and renovations to Pasman Gymnasium. So, those will be coming up in late summer. Um some more details about that will be forthcoming but excited about that project. And then uh we actually have our three-year every three-year visit from the fire marshall came uh last week at the corporation uh did his walkthroughs. Uh very minor minimal things
040that need to be adjusted. Just a few things here and there that need to be taken care of but nothing substantial and we're really happy with uh the principles and the staff at each school. uh their their willingness to to make just a few adjustments as we move forward as a school district with those components. And then um one one last piece, really excited about the partnership we had this last weekend. I'm sure if you were driving around Newcastle, you noticed it um the IvyTech commencement happening at the fieldhouse. Um it was a really neat opportunity for the school corporation uh to host that especially for our students who were part of that graduation who our current current seniors who graduated from IvyTech this weekend. So I'm sure Dr. Schumaker will have something to say
041about that. But um really neat opportunity for us to collaborate together. That's all for me. Okay. Next we had the uh superintendence report. Cue up the uh the slideshow here. Sorry. Just give me just a moment to We've got a lot of lot of great things going on as we close out the school year. Want to thank Rama for putting this together for us again. So, um, the first on the list is you're going to see restaurant wars and, um, want to thank Robin Bucher and and, um, Jessica Felts. Um, and they are weaker. Oh, in your hand, Wait just a minute. Don't Don't tell me that. I'm I'm But it's that. Sorry. Yeah. See, there you go. So, we got Restaurant Wars and this this had a lot of acclaim to it. I we
042had teachers bragging about this and community members. I heard about it when when we had the uh the May 2nd career fair and and you'll see pictures of that, too. Oh, I just want to interject. The corn on the cob. Was anybody there? Oh my gosh. Okay, I'm done. See, we had people all kinds of people raving about it. So, uh they had a good time with it, too. really excited. On May 2nd, we uh approved our new basketball coach. Want to thank Daniel Fox for all of his service for the last 12 years. Really excited that Matt Loose is picking up uh the uh the reigns and gonna do a great job for us. A lot of excitement with the boys and um you can say see their intent listening right right as as
043you speak. So really excited about that. Um uh next we've got fifth graders. So, we've got the eighth grade students that went in and uh presented to fifth grade in some of our schools. And that's that's fantastic because they can see, you know, uh what they have, you know, they can see the the Trojans right there. And it it kind of uh they get to answer uh questions and or ask questions to the eighth graders and it's a great experience for the kids. Um especially as the the fifth graders are going into middle school. Panther roundup. Uh, I'm thinking um Holly probably took that picture because I don't see her in there. Um, but uh excited about all of our kindergarten and prek uh students coming in. Uh sweet little face on the right there.
044So, uh this this one is um I don't have the information on this guy, but uh it's the uh Treasure Island, the reading treasure island. Uh Bailey Wman doing a great job and uh Treasure Island and related activities there. um chamber career fair. What we're talking about, Justin Helman right there, he's the the uh the chair for this and and it gets bigger and better. I don't know how many um um companies were were represented, but it was a full fieldhouse and as you know, the fieldhouse is large, so um we're pretty happy about it. Um it's the largest and finest actually. Um so, a lot a lot of uh good information. um checked in with a lot of local people there and um really good uh exchange of information. Um and actually Justin, I
045was at a chamber meeting and Justin said that he's being contacted by several people outside of Henry County um because this has become a model for how to include you know so many county schools. So it's really cool. There's uh more pictures of the career fair building butter futures. I love I love to be like that when you haven't that that was Rama and so these are little little kids at um Riley kindergarten and um it's the reading about colonial times and a culminating activity they made butter and they feasted outside on it so it looks really good. It's too bad Tina Durham wasn't here because this is her team. um and uh really excited that they this this group beat um everybody in the county um in the um math bowl. So, congratulations to
046them and and um it's a it's a nice way for Tina to go out as a champion. This is really cool. Um this is um at the career center and uh they they can get um certified uh robot operator certification. So, um that is that's a neat device and that was through a grant. Was it Was that not through a grant? Yes, I believe it was. First time I had a grant, too. Yeah. All right. Great things happening there. Um, want to thank Mr. Harvey. I knew this was in there. I was like, that's that's nice. That's nice, isn't it? So, um, you know, wife Kelly and Karen. Um, so where is she headed next year? Uh, deval. Yep. Fantastic. So, uh, and we got a couple of track meets left, I think. Um, so
047too bad we don't have a new track for murder, but but that's okay. But we we appreciate all you do and all the hard work you've done for us. So, thank you. I All right. This one is three hours. Uh, the reading, writing, and arithmetic. And so, there's reading, writing, and arithmetic there. And, uh, this is Robin Wilson's first grade class at at uh, and we got students that placed third. Jesse Allen's team placed third at the high school math context test at the state. So fantastic. A lot of proud kids and deservedly so. Um and then last we've got Shakeup Salsa. We want to thank you know the food service department. Get a thumbs up for the food service. Uh she always does a great job. Um and D's always looking for ways to
048to engage kids with uh food and learning about food. So they really do a great job. Lastly, we've got senior activities. Um, give the board a calendar. There's information on our website. Um, commencement's June 1st at 2 o'clock on the fieldhouse. Kirk, anything else for senior activities? A lot of great activities the whole week of um the week after Memorial Day, the Tuesday through Friday there, last four days of school. Um, we're really emphasizing the parade this year. We're trying to make that more of a community thing and and getting um middle school and elementary involved that they can come. some of them some select grades are going to come watch and things. So, it's really really exciting um things for the seniors. We try to spice it up every year for them. You do
049a great job for that. What you a ballpark and I know things change because of grades and whatnot, but how many associates degree and how many uh Indiana College Bo? Um I'm thinking around 50 on the IC. associates. I don't have the exact number, but higher than it was last year in the 20s. Wow. That's a lot. So, doing great work and um you're not going to find that hardly any place else. So, wonderful work. Very excited. Yep. And we'll announce that at the at commencement, right? We'll have those we'll have those more exact numbers. Yeah. Yeah. Sounds good. Sounds good. Good bragging numbers. That's all. All right. Uh last we have uh item six and that's the budget uh the approval of transfer from the education to operation funds. So this is our monthly
050transfer for um the month of April and the total payout to $330,000. All right. Do I have a motion to approve that transfer? I move to approve the transfer as presented. I'll second. All in favor? I. Okay. And then uh the the last item of the night is uh public questions and comments. Uh before if we have any of those um just stand up, state your name, uh your address, and then you'll be given three minutes uh to speak. Do we have any? I we've got a speaker. There we go. I'm Matthew Mullen. I'm with Grace Baptist Church. I'm the one who proposed the release time Bible that is that the superintendent has put before you guys in future agendas. And I just wanted to take a couple just minutes just to talk about it
051and let you ask questions about it. So, Release Time Bible is a Bible class that takes place offsite. It's off off campus and it takes place at our church and it is fully funded by us and at the same time it it it needs parent requests to participate in it. But I think there's a lot of benefits with it. I think one benefit is we're we're going to teach kindness, forgiveness, love, very important things to many of these kids. I I think it's not only going to be a benefit for the kids, but also their parents, the schools, and the teachers. So, if you have any questions, I'd love to answer on it. I I've got a comment on it. And that is Matthew and I talked um Thursday of last week, Friday, something like
052that. Maybe Friday. Um so, um what we're going to look at is and this is um by state statute. Um it's new law. Um, and I know that um I I when I talked with Church Church Hill and Antrum, they're actually revising theirs because of the updated um language and legislation. So, um, as far as I know that there's a loud release time up to 120 minutes per week. Um, but it needs to be during non um core instruction time. So, that's what we're going to the challenge for us is going to be um how do we how do we work that? So, we've talked about a zero hour. We've talked about um maybe piloting it because we've got five elementaryaries. Logistically, that may be a challenge um but you know to at least start
053and um try to figure it out. So what I'm what I what I told Matthew was is that um I would give you all of you with the information and then um work with the attorney to find out what um what changes or what not changes but what how they how they're guiding schools. And then on the 22nd we have an administrative meeting. Uh, and I'd like to talk with secondary principles because there could be an easier solution for middle school, high school that, you know, um, uh, and the same for for elementary. But one of the things that I want to do and my goal in this is, um, we need to be consistent uh, so that we've got something if it works for them, it would work for other um, uh, church or
054affiliated organizations that would want to do this. So, um, again, we we've talked about like at secondary level, um, and if it works out, a zero period would be would be nice. So, they're not missing instruction. Um, uh, but we'll we'll work through that with our, um, with our administrators and then, uh, with Grace Baptist Church, any questions or comments or with the new law? Um, as I read the law, I thought it said secondary. Have you looked into that? Uh it does say secondary, but it says it it talks about uh the time frame for secondary. I don't think it I' I'll check, but I don't think it limits it to secondary. Um I think what it does in terms of secondary, it defines um like a a period. Um um some something along
055those lines. So um I'll get clarification. Will we make any um generally the time that kids have that's more or less free time is is often used for remediation. Will there be any um we say um allowances for kids that need remediation or is it totally up to parents? I don't think I I've got to look at the law. I don't think it mentions remediation, the need for remediation in statute. Okay. And last thing is um do we care what church affiliation would ask for this? If if there's a Muslim sect that comes in, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. Um whatever the church affiliation is, um we treat them all. If the parent requests, we allow them to leave. Uh do you have a do you have any current um uh requests from your
056congregation? Not even a current request. Okay. Okay. I was just curious as to if there was a group that you know five or 10 or whatever that wanted to do this. Um the other thing that's gonna like I said before we have five elementary schools so for pickup times because it's the requirement is that we're going to pick them up and you know I I know you saw on the sheet that there would be um background checks and all that um for the employees that work with the kids but um that logistically that would be a difficult um task to to get to all five places. By the time you get to the fifth place you got to turn around and bring them all back. So, I'm not quite sure how that's going to work,
057but I think um I've got some ideas and I do do know that when we talk to the principles um and maybe that's just a pilot and again I will check to make sure that transportation. Okay. Okay. And you then also will carry the insurance and stuff with that provide all the records we need to whoever we need to. Yep. Well, we appreciate uh your your vision and and uh goals of this. Obviously, anytime uh you can put a wholesome uh product and and time period that gives access to uh youth is is a great thing. So, I appreciate uh you guys taking the time to be here and and presenting this opportunity to us. Well, thank you so much for listening and considering that. I really appreciate Thank you. All right. Do we have
058any other uh Yeah, I wanted to I wanted to congratulate the uh music department. They've got this past week they've had the jazz dinner and the all city band festival that went off well. And then this this coming week is spring sing for Bundy. So, lots of things happening there. And you know, I know that we I know that we recognize our graduating seniors uh so much, but we we have a large number of college graduates that are uh finalizing their paths and some of them are returning to Newcastle, which is great. And uh you know, we've had some outstanding athletes. Uh actually uh last night we have a former volleyball player that is a member of the championship professional volleyball federation of Melanie Shaftmaster. And we've had Mason Gillis, a two-time Final Four participant.
059So, little old Newcastle, Indiana can can produce some things. So, congratulations to everyone. Y All right. Well, thank you guys for uh Go ahead. Um well, I just wanted to the Newcastle Middle School um academic team was not able to compete uh formally because there was a track meet and a um band contest and a choir contest. So, Mr. White allowed us to have our meet in the cafeteria and we competed um with the questions from the official contest. Um, so our we all got together and did that last week and if we had been able to compete um, science would have been first and just saying would have been second and math would have been second. So unfortunately we didn't get to do that because the we ran out of children pulled in other
060directions but it was uh they were very excited to find out the sport. So that's great. Congratulations. Thank you. Thanks. Speaking of academic team it's kind of too late to maybe we'll get this on for next month. This is like breaking news. Just happened Saturday two days ago up at Purdue. Our math academics can finish third in the state single class. Wow. We beat Karma. We beat some big schools. Jesse Allen. Young teacher. So good teacher. Great teacher. He is. So Jesse Allen and company went up to Peru and came back for third place in the state. Impressive. Impressive. We'll get some pictures, too. Yeah, that's great. I think that uh encompasses what Newcastle is about. uh very uh well-rounded community and shows the importance of uh multi- uh sport extracurricular uh students doing we
061need all of our students doing everything we can uh when you've got four four major events happening on the same night. So, um Jackie was talking about spring sing. Uh, I think DJ's back home and talking and moving and he's he's come in to the building and Oh, has he? Yeah. Awesome. Glad to hear that. And I'd like to just finish too real quick. Riley took a field trip to the Children's Museum. And I sent this to Rama, but she probably didn't quite get it in time for the slides. But um a a person that works there that brings a special needs child with her um purposely sent a email to Amy Howard after the class was there speaking of how wonderful the kids were to this special needs girl and jumped right in to
062participate with her and play with her and it was very um very complimentary of our students. Awesome. I wanted to share that on behalf of Riley Green. That's great stuff. I mean, that's that's what it's about. Took the time to send that email and everything. All right. So, if we have uh nothing else for the good of the order, we will adjourn this meeting. Excuse me.