001Andrew Smith. >> All right. Um, we are going to kick it off. I know we have a lot going on over at the high school tonight for all of our youth, which to me is exciting. I love it. Um, so we're going to move through some things pretty quickly to get some of these kiddos out of here and some of our administrators as well. Um, first up we are going to have student celebrations and we have the early learning center. Well, we have the handsome Mr. Luke Huskinson with us tonight. He is our January student of the month. And Luke, like his big sisters, is a very good example of um just our youngest nights. Mrs. Miss Olivia says, "Luke is such a gentleman. He is kind to all of his friends and his teachers.
002He loves to step in and be someone's friend when they need someone to play with. He sets a great example to all of his peers and has the sweetest smile and personality. Luke loves the color blue. And his favorite thing about school is playing blocks and cars with his friends. And what do you want to be when you grow up, Luke? >> Um, firefighter. >> A firefighter. Firefighter or a police officer. And his favorite food is mac and cheese. So congratulations, LUKE. You come give all of us a high five and a high five. >> Do you like high fives or [clears throat] fist bumps? >> High fives. Good job. Good job. >> Can you come out around that way and come get for us? >> We have plaque and everything for you. Big smile.
003>> Smile. [laughter] For sure. Congratulations. [applause] >> You guys get to hear from me twice tonight. Mrs. Stevenson [clears throat] be here. So, she asked me to introduce the lovely Miss Annabella Shephard. Um, Annabella is in the first grade and Annabella belongs, shows belonging through being involved in cheer and helping her teacher in the classroom. And she also plays baseball. She grows because she eats healthy, she gets a good night's sleep, and she works hard every day. This is true. I know this to be true about Annabella. And she contributes because she gives always gives her best effort. She's kind towards others and she's always willing to help. So, things that Annabella loves, playing with her baby brother, playing with her sister, and Christmas. I love that you love Christmas. I love that, too. Her
004favorite food is spaghetti. Her favorite color is pink, and she loves to read. Annabella is such a light to all around her. She is always willing to jump in and help others, and she is a kind friend to all. She is always a good role model to her classmates by listening to directions, participating in class, and putting her best effort into everything she does. She always takes her time to make sure her work is neat and organized. And if someone needs help, she is always one of the first to volunteer to help. She has uh the classroom routines and procedures down to a tea and shows this during inside recess because she loves to play teacher. and she will read to the other students, making sure they follow all the normal classroom rules. Her kind
005and caring nature is an asset to both our classroom and the school as a whole. Um, Annabella's teacher says she's so proud of her hard work and growth so far this year and she can't wait to see all the future has in store for her. I always said this too when I had Annabella. I could miss a day and Annabella could run the class no problem. So congratulations Annabella. >> [applause] >> this way. I love your shoes. [snorts and clears throat] Couple more. [laughter] >> Thank you. Good job. We will go into middle school. >> Yeah. So, my student Colton Ket is in uh up at Randolph Southern for the sixth grade basketball game. So, they could not make it. But um hot off the press, Colton is a true example of a middle school
006noble night. He comes to school every day with a positive attitude, prepared and ready to learn. Within the classroom, he challenges himself and is engaged in each lesson. Outside the classroom, he is constantly displays outstanding character. Um, you can see the different ways he belongs, grows, and contributes as well as his favorite color is pink, his favorite food is chicken, and his favorite subject is math. Um, he obviously loves sports, too. So, he was sorry he couldn't come and his parents were very appreciative. >> We do have some activities going on um this evening at the middle school and high school. So, I'm going to have Mr. He go ahead and give his uh board update. >> So, the first one on my update was the girls basketball team is recognizing uh their youth participants
007tonight. So, I'm going to go and see them at halftime. Um, teacher, sixth grade teachers last week started a I read mini PD session um during their teen time and then we gave them um their SRT time um so they could work with a a person from Ivory to learn the new enhancements of the program um so they could use them this semester. So, sixth grade did that last week and then seventh and eighth grade are doing that this week. Um, and then the I had basketball updates in there. The boys are six seventh grade or sixth and four while eighth grade are seven and three and the seventh grade girls are eighth and one while the seventh grade or eighth grade girls are three and five. Um, [snorts] Addie Spurlock, an eighth grade student,
008member of the Girls, Inc. Wayne County Leadership Development Group, has been invited to the state house in February for the Day of Advocacy. So, we're excited for her. Um, and then also, I missed it last month. I wanted to recognize and shout out to our counselors um at all three buildings as well as Mrs. highway for doing the holiday boxes and Christmas gifts for families. So that is what I have. >> Thank you. Do you want to take Colton's with you and get >> picture if you want to go through and give all of us a high five? >> Yeah, [laughter] >> thank you. So, unfortunately, [clears throat] Miss uh McComes came up and she's going to present tonight. So, I get to stand. >> So, I we the ad department chose Kaylee Perry as
009our high school student of the month. And so, Kaylee contributes to belonging at North Eastern High School by bringing a unique perspective to all of her classes. She is always willing to help out her teacher or other students in my classroom. Uh she does this by sitting next to students and helping them work on the assignments to help them stay more focused. She's also one of the very first students to always volunteer to uh with classroom tasks whether that's passing out papers just helping other students um giving other examples um during group discussions. And so she's also a member of the northeastern mate chapter and the archery team. Kaylee grows uh so she sees herself growing at NHS by learning new skills that will help her with her future career which is welding. She hopes
010to use these skills and knowledge not only to make her a proficient welder but also a better person. The way she contributes uh she brings a different perspective and new ideas within the classroom and the FFA chapter as well. In doing so, she's helping expand the opportunities that students have, making events and activities more accessible and enjoyable. Outside of school, Kaylee likes to go hunting and spending time with her family. And then she hopes to attend the Western Wellbeian Academy in Wyoming after high school. >> [laughter] >> It's >> all right because I'll seal it off Facebook later. >> [laughter] >> It's always >> congratulations. [applause] Would you like to go ahead? >> Um, also, as we know, uh, tough week last week with the passing, Mr. Franklin, um, I want to compliment our community.
011We had um we found out about within an hour we were able to put a plan together and then bring all the kids together and still dismiss with the help of maintenance and a greeting counselors here within 20 20 minutes easily and I'm talking from all the churches around there they were very quick to come to help and anybody else center here I say we probably had 10 to 10 to 15 people within a half an hour here at the house and then they continue to stay. So, I I just really want to thank them as partners for coming out and helping um our staff. Shout outs to all our staff. They've been there for kids. Um some kids process it differently and so there's been um you know, my son stayed after school with
012Mr. Horn for about another hour even though they were just Mr. Just talked about the fun things that they had in Miss Franklin's classroom. And so, it's been good for the kids to be able to talk about it. Um, I think yesterday was a it was a tremendous show out of the kids that came and saw. Um, and some kids were struggling to handle it. So, I think there's that part of it, but they've done a great job. Um, and our staff's just been awesome. Staff, you know, many of the staff have known who worked with Carla for years said that um, we'll grieve in our time, but we're going to get here for kids first. So, shout out to all them. So, um, this past week I was able to attend the Chamber of
013Business Ed meeting. Uh there's several upcoming events that are uh for students. Chamber is hosting a hiring an intern fair for seniors do not have a plan after high school and for juniors that are applying for local internships for businesses. Um we also have the everyday counts senior celebration that'll be on May 6. That's for all of our seniors with good attendance. Um and then that's a chance we've had a kid had several students in the past years that have won cars or taking the scholarship. So we're looking forward to that. I think the last two years we've had or the top six, we've had at least three in the top six the last two years in a row. So, and those are a minimum of $500 that the kids walk away with and gift
014card of some nature. Um, we also had the counselors and I and Mrs. Cox had a great meeting with Mrs. O'Brien talking about upcoming juniors and seniors from next year and scheduling. and we're excited to be creative and start working towards work based learning and getting kids opportunities outside of Nor Eastern to really kind of give them experiences that they're that is an opportunity that they don't always see. We know that a lot of kids only know careers based on what their parents do. And so we want to try and expand that as well to juniors so that way we can if they want to go be a nurse and they find out nursing is not for them, great. They didn't go to college for four years to find out or at least a year.
015Um, so it's it's really exciting about the opportunities that we'll have for our juniors and seniors next year and then working towards the new graduation requirements. Um, our girls bowling team competed along with the boys. The girls bowling team is sectional champs. So they advanced to regionals. They play this week or they bowl this weekend at the Rose Bowl at Newcastle. If you've been to bowling sectionals, it's an all day thing. They start at 8 and it goes to about usually two or three o'clock. So they do individually then they do the team. So we've had several girls that did really well with that. Our boys came up about 66 pins short. Um but they were it's fun to watch them and some kids that that you wouldn't think about. Um so to see them
016in a different light is always fun. Also we recently competed in the Wayne County tournament. Um our girls basketball team were Wayne County champs. Um and I think this is seventh >> seventh year in a row. Um, so they did really well. Some of the other wrestling and the boys basketball came up short, but with boys wrestling, I know it's rebuilding here as well as basketball. So where we're at, >> right, thank you. >> All right. Um, community comments. >> I have to offer this once, offer this twice. [clears throat] There are no committee comments. Um, with that said, I know there's a few left. I think are some are speaking, some are not. If you would like to leave, this would probably be the best time to unless you want to stay on. All
017right. So, we are going to now get into reorganization of >> Oh, I'm sorry. I missed three administrators. Two left. There's three left. Sorry. Back up. Um, let's start with superintendent. Um, last week I met with the Department of Transportation and I'm pleased to announce that we're getting a stump light um at the intersection of US 27 and Road. Um, I do not have an estimate um on the date, but I can tell you that they have been out this past week. So, if you've seen the Department of Transportation truck and the lights and things, that's what they're doing. They're surveying the area and and preparing um for that. So, exciting news. very much. >> How much has that been shared like within the community or how soon does that something like that go out?
018>> I need to share. >> Yes, I'm [laughter] now Can you tell how many viewers we have right now? [laughter] >> You just lost our whole audience. >> But thank you, Jennifer. I mean, it's been many years that a lot of people have tried to get that done. So, >> so just thank you. We appreciate it. >> Yeah. Thank you to the Department of Transportation. >> So, uh Leah Melton [clears throat] is a high school student and a member of um FFA events committee. Um and she contacted me about bringing back drive your tractor tractor to school day. Um, [clears throat] so I've approved the request um and want to thank her um for reaching out on behalf of FFA. And the date is February 24th, 2026. So um they have a lot of exciting
019um activities that they're um planning and building up some momentum and and they felt like that it was time to bring back. So >> how long has that not been happen? >> Uh five years. >> Five years. Really? I didn't realize >> I didn't realize >> still seems cold. [laughter] >> Um, also there's been uh activity in the greenhouse. Um, our new teacher, Miss Spog, and the students have cleaned it out and it's being in the process of being revived. So, um I'm looking forward to bringing back um some updates and maybe even a tour once they um get things underway. >> That' be awesome. >> Yeah. Um I received word last week um that um the Purdue Indiana Mack grant that I submitted um was selected. Um so we received a check for $2,000
020um for our manufacturing program. So, um they're planning to purchase some new tools and and supplies and as well as um the u transporting students um to the different manufacturing sites. So, um we're thankful for that. So, this time I'll have early learning center give their update. So, it was exciting to welcome all of our students back after break and it was fun to see that our excitement coming back to school. So, we just quickly settled back into our routine. Um, I'm very excited to share that we had our licensing visit on January 6th and we passed with 100% compliance. I'm very very proud of my team because it really it takes all of us to make sure that we're keeping up with those safe practices and everything for our building. So, I was I
021was thrilled thrilled to get 100%. Um, and Mrs. Kay and I will lead the lean and grow teacher training and we'll start that next week and then we expect to roll that program out um midFebruary and um teachers are working together to prepare a community helper week and we've invited um you know Mrs. more to come over and talk to the students and officer Davis to come over and talk to the students. And we've reached out to um a couple of firefighters in Fountain City to see if they'll come over and share. And uh we've got we do have our preschool graduation scheduled, which is crazy to think that we're thinking about that for um Wednesday, May 6th. And that will be in the high school gym. And we are really looking forward to our
022preschool Valentine's Day dance, which will be um Friday the 6th at the Nor Eastern gym. That was a really fun event last year and it was so fun to see, you know, all of our little friends just dressed up and and they just had the best time just dancing and running around the gym. So, we're really looking forward to that. Um, today we did do our 100th day of school celebration and that was just a lot of fun classroom activities. Students had their t-shirts and we did a class uh, you know, a parade and they showed off their t-shirts that they made and then we rotated classrooms and students got to do different activities in different classrooms. So, they were excited about that. Um, but again, I just want to give a shout out to
023my building for the entire building for everyone just working hard and being in compliance. Very proud. Very proud of us. >> That's awesome. >> Thank you. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> I do have a question. Is [clears throat] Is the preschool graduation earlier than normal? >> It's a little bit earlier [clears throat] because and we talked about that. It just seems as the May gets later, it just gets so busy with so many activities that we thought it'd be better if we had it. I think we might have had it the first week last year. >> Yeah. >> Um but it just seems like it would be better for families because it just gets so hectic as the month goes on. So [clears throat] >> then elementary do that. Um so elementary um they
024have rescheduled their um K to2 music program. Um so the new date is Tuesday, February 26th at 6 o'clock um at the high school. Um says um Mr. Day and Mr. Stevenson have worked more on an idea of an NES choir. Um he talked to classes and did an interest survey and there is a lot of interest. um they'd like to move forward with planning an element to require next year. Um it says we'll um keep you updated on what this looks like, but you can see the survey results there in Boardocks. Um they want to do a shout out to um Vanessa Curtis and Bonnie Drake for working on their attendance policies and information. Um they have a better process now for communicating with families and having attendance conversations. I learn checkpoints start again
025next week and upcoming event IU East is hosting hosting a literacy symposium um that a few staff members will attend. Um they're looking forward to hearing what is new and updated at IU East in regards to education programs. >> And then for our last measure report we have technology with us tonight and give us some updates. >> Good evening members of the board. Um, technology is a very difficult one to just give a a quick update on. So, I figured that we would just kind of go over a couple of the major upgrades that we've done recently. Um, just that we've successfully finished up the the phone upgrade, which was a huge huge upgrade. It was definitely something that we needed to do. Um, huge benefit for the district. I'm glad that we were able
026to get that done. Uh, we had the camera uh reworking that we've done, which was typically just doing a a total refresh with the camera system. And we're I'd say we're like 99% done. We have a couple outdoor cameras, but the weather is definitely not um cooperating with putting those out. And I I I don't really think that being up on ladder and the ice would be ideal. So, we're waiting until the weather gets better, but literally the public cameras can be done with that one. And that's that one is also huge because the um the elementary just did not have good coverage. And I know we never want to think about like the worst case scenario, but uh when we did have that scare, that was not an actual real event. Thankfully, um you
027know, you couldn't look on the camera and see anywhere in the elementary school. So, that's been taken care of. Now, every hallway, every area of the elementary school has, you know, the ability to be visualized in case something were to happen. Um, and then I know, uh, I'm not sure how much Jen or Miss O'Brien has talked to you guys about the Chromebook idea. Um, but I did provide everyone with a handout that kind of breaks down more of the financial aspects of the idea of looking at Chromebooks. And I also wanted to just kind of just kind of give everyone an idea of why Chromebooks would be very beneficial. Uh right now we do struggle with quite a few things as far as how iPads are not always ideal for kind of the security
028um for students um between the idea that they're not able to be locked down as much as the Chromebook. You can't like keep students from getting another accounts like you can on a Chromebook. They it offers so much as far as what we can do to ensure that the students are secure at all times. Um, a lot of the third parties don't work with iPads as far as if we wanted something to alert the administration that a student's looking up self harm things or that they're sharing inappropriate images. We you really don't have those abilities with the iPad and it's just because that's how they're built. Uh, another thing too to keep in mind is that it's it's been really saddening. And you know, I've I've only been here for like this is my third
029year being here now, but I've I've noticed there are students that we have leaving our high school that don't even have any idea how to type. No clue. Um, we actually had a student that came back looking for the tech department to ask how to use a laptop for college. Um, so those things to me are that they're disheartening. I I I don't like the idea of thinking I'm I'm 41 years old and when I was in school throughout middle and high school I was learning how to use a computer. I was typing. I was very proficient in typing. And then to think now we've got kids that you know are leaving and haven't even had like an inkling of learning how to type or learning the basics of a computer really. Um, iPads do
030have their place, but it really it really feels out of place in education. And I feel like it's becoming more and more that way as I feel like a lot of students look at it more as a toy than a tool. And I feel like a Chromebook. And again, there is no 100% ideal uh platform. Uh, you could say Windows would be great, but again, there are things in a Windows device that you're not going to be able to lock down as well or the safety and security of our students. Um whereas the Chromebooks just give us so much more that we can work with. It gives the administration so much more that they can work with and it it gives us a way to hold ourselves more accountable on ensuring that that safety and
031security of the students. And on top of that, there's like the whole cost thing to take into uh into consideration as well. Um those costs that I showed you, they're they're they're not guaranteed. Um, especially now technology, the prices are insane. I have never seen the fluctuations I've seen within the last year. Uh, just since July of last year alone, prices of RAM has risen about 440%. Uh, that's unheard of, but that also affects those prices. So, they may look okay now a month, two months down the road. It's not it's not necessarily going to work that way, but that's not saying, you know, oh, let's go go ahead and jump on and try to do it right now. I'm just saying I want to give you as accurate of a price and expectations as
032possible. Um, and that, you know, you can't get quotes anymore where you get a a 90-day guarantee. Now, they're like, it's 30 days and it's probably going to be different if you don't do it soon, which is understandable. Um, but really there's there's so much that I could go on and on and drone about when it comes to like Chromebooks versus iPads. Uh, some of we had Mrs. O'Brien had sent out a survey to the students and we actually had some very constructive responses from some of the students that were like, I would like to learn how to keyboard. I have essays and my essays are really hard to write on an iPad. Um, you know, just things like that. And it's there there were quite a few like the ones that said they wanted
033Chromebooks had very good things to say and I I kind of wish I would have planned better but I I don't have a laptop. I do most myself on my desktop but I would have liked to have shown you some of those responses and we have them. We could if you guys ever wanted to see them, but there was really good responses that came from some of the students and they they were really really adamant that they would like to see, you know, like they were even ones that pointed out they're more secure devices, you know, they're they're better for locking down and keeping students out. So, even the students are pointing that out. So, it's it's just one of those things to keep in mind to consider. Uh we we really would love to
034have the opportunity to do something better for the kids. >> So we just did an iPad upgrade this year, right? Is that >> It was a couple years ago. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> And what what you upgraded were two generations behind. >> Yeah. Right. >> Yeah. So um so we're not to the point where we have we have to do anything at this point. we are to the point with it being two generations behind the longer we keep them the less the buyer. >> That's what I'm more interested. >> And so I was just curious like if we wanted to switch, what would what would the cost be? What would our buyback be versus the cost of the netbooks? And so that's what I asked them just to pull some numbers just because I
035was curious. Um, >> and with upgrading that's just going to that's going to continue to >> the value of what we have is going to continue to drop. So we don't have a regular >> uh process of upgrading these things, right? >> It's always we're always behind. >> Is this something that could potentially be done? >> Yeah, I mean I'm not asking for any action tonight. I just wanted to bring it to your attention. Like I said, we've surveyed um the students. I've sent a couple surveys out to staff. It's kind of divided. Um I think some staff um said some of the very same things the students did that that um you know it may help on state assessments because students have to write essays and um and they need the real world skills
036of being able to you know use a laptop and and typing. Um, but there was also um some hesitancy with, you know, they're used to the iPads. It's what they they've was had. It's what they're comfortable with. Um, sorry. >> Yeah. >> What does that look like for like our computer classes, especially like elementary school level where they're being introduced to the iPads in first place and typing skills, introductory to typing skills. Um what did our computer teachers think of a change? >> Same thing. I mean they um actually we have we have just replaced within the last year um have keyboards that they use with the laptops to try to um incorporate keyboarding. >> Um but it's just you know that's a rotation. It's not a a constant throughout their day. >> Yeah. >>
037I I agree with Brandon. Like when I worked here in high school, I thought the same thing. It's like our kids are leaving here knowing how to use an iPad and it happened with my son. He had an iPad for four years that because he started ninth grade when they introduced the iPads 2011 2012 >> and so he didn't have a laptop. So when he went to Ball State, first time having a laptop. So it took a minute, you know, to figure out. So I always thought that that like here we're not teaching them that. Um, I kind of thought like my opinion is it's kind of okay for the elementary to have the iPads. >> Um, as long as we kind of start them on this at middle school, you know, and up, then
038then they'll get it. So, so if we have the iPads, they can all go to the elementary and we can still use them since we just kind of updated. It's kind of what I was thinking when I when I saw this. >> I would think it's somewhere like in the when when the writing skills begin. what would probably maybe fifth grade, fourth and fifth grade when they start bringing some of those writing skills in because I I would wonder what a transition from >> iPad to laptop or computer device how that might affect writing and and the progress of that if there's a transition there. Now, if they're using, you know, keyboards with their laptops, maybe that's >> just in just in the technology class, but not like when they do assessments, they're they're not.
039>> So, they take I learn starting in third grade and have to have written responses. >> I would think that would be beneficial just to look at to consider to say when when would be the best time. I don't disagree with you. I think earlier on you can get away with no computer and mom and dad have devices. Kids are more uh used to having devices because everybody has a device in front of them, a a tablet like device. >> Um I'd rather see them have computers. They're learning that skill. >> I agree. And typing is really I mean I'm I I feel fortunate that I learned to type in high school. >> Yeah. Me too. Yeah. [laughter] >> But I can type pretty well and I do on a daily basis. So I think
040it makes a difference for you know careers talking about buyback. So is are Chromebooks are there new and used versions of those too or is that just a new you have to have new devices? >> So there are new and used. I honestly would not recommend getting used. Um, and that's just because they're used so heavily uh anyway with being one to one devices that you're putting more of a chance of having to, you know, repair them pretty early on. Um, and also the other thing about getting the newer ones is the one thing that you get with a Chromebook that you definitely do not get with any other device is your licensing. So for instance with our to be able to do any like mobile device management at all we have to pay a
041yearly fee or a yearly subscription fee uh for the iPads your Chromebooks you pay a onetime one and done and I included that in the cost that of the estimate. So it's one time that is the life of that device. So yes if that device breaks you have to pay for another one but that's cheaper than a yearly thing because you're not going to necessarily have every single device being broken every year. you know, so that's that is one huge cost savings there. And also when you pay for that, that's your entire management. So that's you know, all the stuff that we have to pay for all these separate pieces for managing it all goes into that one one and done payment for that. >> How long do you think they would last? >> Typically
042it's the life cycle. They had just increased it not that long ago. It was like six to seven years is the life cycle one. So once that life cycle is done, you should buy another one, especially because you you outlive your your license as well. So >> I think so we can always get data from them. >> The wonderful thing is I'm the one that introduced Chromebooks at >> Yeah. J and I actually did it together. So like riding the bike here. >> Do they have them all the way down to second grade? all the way down to kindergarten. >> And the thing was, so second grade was the reason I like the idea of stopping in second grade is just like she said, you start your I read, you start all your your real
043testing in third grade. Second grade gives you that opportunity to start that transition and then to be ready to start learning like actually getting into it once you get into third grade. kindergarten and first grade, I could see definitely keeping a cart of iPads for them because they're still learning the the introduction. And I even at that point in time, maybe it would be worth investing into keyboards for them to kind of have the key like those attachment keyboards. They're not as ideal, but it would still kind of give them, you know, the opportunity to maybe learn how to type their passwords to start that process. just give them one or two things at that level to start learning and then really pushing the idea of actually getting acquainted with the people at the secondary
044level. >> I would very much be in support of exploring more of this. >> Yeah. >> Do we know are there a lot of grants out there to help with that kind of cost? Because I know like right now the technology is included into book fees. So that would that be a cost to the families again through book fees or would is there something out there that could help us with that? >> Well, um since we don't charge the fees, see I'm used to paying fees, right? Yeah, that's part of and that's what we have to we have to look at, you know, sustainability and do we want to continue um to sustain and spend money on um iPads, you know, and if that's the way we need to go, then, you know, we need
045to consider that, you know, from a budgetary standpoint. Um Chromebooks are um less expensive. Um but it wasn't just about the money. it was also just looking about looking at student needs. So, um there you know there were some um really good comments, you know, in um favor of iPads as well. Um you know, I know with some of the math classes like it just from the standpoint of being able to work math problems um you know, able to use different colors and and save the notes that way. Um, so like I said, we've sent out um a district survey, a student survey, and then we sent out surveys today to each individ to the elementary, to the middle school, and to the high school um to get additional um feedback. And like I said,
046we could share that with you and and uh and just kind of weigh the pros and cons and but I was curious to just from a cost standpoint and thank them for um working on that. Are there any programs that we're currently using that switch [clears throat] to the Chromebook would would keep us from being able to utilize? >> Is that there's quite a few that actually perform better? >> Yeah, sure. Yeah. >> And that's just because as as things progress, more and more of what they use as apps are moving to be browser based. And when you're working with an iPad, it's in like it it considers it more to be like a cell phone. So how your cell phone operates differently on a website, same thing with an iPad. So some sites are
047don't function as well because they're running on mobile view whereas you would be running a full bump browser at that point on Chromebook. So and I was I was actually we were looking at that earlier and there are quite a few that are now rebranding themselves as full on like browser things. uh something for some of the STEM kind of things that you know in your project lead the way and stuff like that that are now moving to a browser based model instead of trying to be an app. So there's quite a few that may actually perform better on Chromebook. >> Well, thank you very insightful and good information and I think sending out the data you guys came across after you finish all your surveys will be good for us. And again, like if
048any of you have any I like she said, this this isn't my first review on that. And um honestly, I there's there's a wealth of information as to why they're beneficial. Um and I'd be more than happy to share whatever you guys need me to at any point in time. So just reach out to me or you know you can talk email like send an email let you know like breakdown of things and it's whatever you guys would like to know. I I'd be more than happy to get to you. Um and with the pricing that you guys are looking at right now. I went through quite a few vendors and that's the absolute best I found both both with the cost of the iPad or the um the Chromebook itself and the buyback for
049the iPads because most seeing as these are two generations behind most of them weren't even willing to give $100 per device for perfect ones. And that's that's them saying that's the best they'll do now by March it'll probably be less than that. uh this company had really really good buyback but he said the same thing like I I had to reach out to him um here before cuz I just changed this talked to the guy over the weekend and um he was like okay but I can't promise you anything. So you know these these these prices are good now but I'm not sure what they'll look like in a month to a year down the line with these devices. So, >> and buyback aside, what's like the general cost of a new iPad >> right
050now? Like your midline iPads are around $400 and something dollars, okay, a piece. >> And then a Chromebook. >> So, this Chromebook is more of one that what I look for in a Chromebook is one that's got like it's more ruggedized for a student to be able to drop what. These are $220 for the device itself and these are 15inch ones. So these are like decent size. You're not looking at some tiny screen. Um >> a little bit bigger than your >> Yeah, bigger than the MacBooks because those are only 13. So they're 15 inch. Um and the reason I did the cost at 250 is because your management for the life of $30 per device. So it kind of comes around to that 250 mark to do the entire thing for 15 >> versus
051400 for the >> is there this is um when we make a switch like this we're talking about switching all of our devices at once. Um what would it look like for us to be to to create a cycle of replacement that would help us to utilize buyback like higher co higher rate at buyback if we're rotating devices like every so many years is there benefit to that you would >> so once you move to Chromebooks no and this is just being totally transparent Chromebooks do not retain any sort for value as far as like selling them back. Um they pretty much at that point you're you're just looking for um but again it's it's kind of the same depending upon the timing and how new of iPad. So if you're buying the top of
052the line most expensive iPads that are the newest generation every single time you're going to be spending a premium but you're going to get more money back as far as a buyback if you keep a cycle but your cycle is going to have to be a lot shorter too. you're going to have to look at probably a four year cycle instead of that potential sevenyear cycle. >> So you're kind of weighing it out there at that point in time. >> It's like so better to keep the the Chromebook for the seven years of its life. >> Exactly. >> Than to try to sell it after three or four. Okay. >> How how um how old are iPads now? These are so they are for us they're only a couple years old but I'm trying to
053think uh the year that we purchased them is the year they discontinued them if that tells me anything. So we got a generation that's completely not even valid anymore. They don't even make the ones that have um the old connector that that one does anymore. They're all USBC now. So that just shows you we're like >> that's my frustration at home is turning the triggers. >> Right. [laughter] Right. [clears throat] >> For that alone. [laughter] >> Well, thank you very much. Do you have any questions for David? Did you have anything else to share? >> No, but if you guys have any questions, feel free to reach out to us. Um I know each one of us has a little bit of different aspect. I I've worked with a lot of the student safety stuff
054the past few years and it's been a pain with iPad trying to get a platform to work properly. So, if you guys have questions about that, I'm your guy. Um, all the the third party companies I work with always push Chromebooks on that they have full support for. So, speaking of um I don't know if you guys have seen this, I it was just something I was I popped in my head. There is currently a state bill that is probably going to get passed that we would be out of compliance with with the iPads because so far we've not been able to find a company that is able to integrate with an iPad in a way that we can do um a sort of parental control on take-h home devices. And as of right now,
055if this bill does get passed, they're saying that it's probably looking like it could be around July of this year that it would end up being passed, which means we would need to be in compliance probably pretty soon afterwards. Um, even the company that we currently have, we have Line Wise for our filtering, uh, they offer that, but it only works on Windows devices and Chromebooks. They do not have the ability to do it on iPad. And unfortunately, that's what we've run into with every single company we've looked at. They work well with Chromebooks. They work well with Windows devices. They just don't work with >> What is the plan that you guys are suggesting? Like, are you wanting like if the answer is yes, we should do this for the fall? Like, are you
056want to get this going? >> We will do whatever because we could get it done. I mean, if we had the devices and we could get them here in time, we would get it done. Even if we had to work tirelessly, I this would again I've done that before. I ran the midnight oil to get >> prom books set up on the radio for school. >> Is your but are is your suggestion that you want to get this to a vote soon. Is that what >> my only our thing is is that we don't know what the the lead time is. So the further we put a decision off on this matter depends on the quantity that we need when they can get it to us and turn around buyback as well. We got to
057work that's a very thin timeline especially getting closer and closer to summer if there are four to six month lead time on getting us devices and that it's not doable. >> Have you seen any lead times yet? The problem is is without having an answer, they're they're only going to give you a quote. They won't know that until they put the order in, pick, you know, and they're ready to go. So >> So what's so what's next step? Next step, are you bringing us something or do you want us to to say something to you to say, "Okay, bring it." Like what's >> So next steps, I would think, would be to look at the surveys that went out and see if we where we need to go. If we wanted to go middle school
058up or if we want to go down to second grade up, we need to know numbers that that will weigh heavily on how many we need to order. >> So, so you guys >> we really need to see that data to know which direction on quantity wise what we need to be looking at. >> So, a lot of it right now would be dependent upon like your conversations with this with Brian just that kind of where because again we're just we're just wanting to make it work. So then once once I get that all the vendors I've been working with I can say either hey we're not going to do it we'll reach back out to you later time or I will go immediately be like hey you guys get started with whatever you can
059give me lead time to give me this because we're it's I want to make sure that when we time it it's more of a fluid thing. So we run through the end of the year, we get the iPads back, we can then work with the buyback company, come out, pick them up, and also be working on setting up those new Chromebooks as we're kind of going around track. So >> normally um I would have had a meeting like with the teachers association prior to the board meeting, but just with the circumstances this week, um that meeting was cancelled. Um so, you know, I'd like time um just to talk to them. Like I said, we've had I went sent out another survey today. Um but just to have some conversations with with staff and and
060but we um and and I let the staff know that we were going to be talking about it tonight at the board meeting. Um just so everybody's aware. Um but we are looking at like if if the the bill passes um and we have to do something different, we just want to be on the forefront of it and I wanted to get an idea of costs and >> the survey >> and preferences and stuff when it was supposed to be like the survey the surve >> yeah I mean we got responses I think I mean the students >> the students were immediate >> I had like 109 responses in 30 seconds [laughter] >> like how like how many days you're waiting, you know, to have all the surveys. >> Yeah. No, I could tell I
061mean there um there's been multiple communication go out about it and so the responses have been quick. >> Yeah. >> What's the reality look like of you said make an assessment of of where that break would be from tablet to iPad if there is one? What's what's the reality of you guys running two systems for a whole corporation? is that >> we could but that it it's it's doable and especially like if we did it at a small level you're it's I mean we we still do multiple systems kind of run things as is. It's just it would be nice to make it where because another thing that you have to keep in mind is we are heavily um like you we heavily use Google Workspace. I mean that's where we do everything. We've got
062our docs, our drives, our you know everything lives there. You move everything to a Chromebook, you've we've already established ourselves. We're already running most things there. So you you just put all your devices within that same environment as well. Well, the majority of them. And then we could still keep because I I know there's not even any talk whatsoever about teacher devices and they still use MacBooks that still would use the same system that whatever remaining iPads we have would be using. So we would still have to maintain that >> depending upon which route that goes. Um there's not been any talk about that but who knows if we change that to do something different Windows Chrome whatever. Um it's it's just we would just have to manage multiple things and it's a it's something
063we could do. I mean it's not it's not that bad. It's just more trying to figure out how to mitigate like high costs on trying to manage too system. >> That that's I think that's what I'd be more interested in with with the official proposal is to know uh how how do we how do we efficiently as as a corporation minimize the number of of systems that we're running? Frankly, for your your guys sake, [laughter] we value what you guys do because we can't do it. [laughter] So, I I want us to be making a decision that uh supports what your day-to-day workload is going to look like uh as well as cost and that sort of thing as well. So I don't I don't I mean if we have to make u of course
064have the conversation of the teachers and everything like that but leave at this conversation but um I'd be interested to know what all that looks like for a best case scenario so that if there even is like a a three-year plan to get us there that we have to start talk about what it might look like to say hey here's where we need to get but it can't happen in one year. So, what can we do to take step one this year and then step two the next and eventually get to that perfect scenario that would equip you guys to run the s all the systems that we need to run appropriately. I hate the idea of you guys having to juggle u tablets for two grades and and teachers on one system. And >>
065I can I can assure you that would not it would not be an issue. >> Well, I know that you can I don't question your ability to do that. hear that. I'm not at all being like you guys can't do that. It's my my desire for you to not have to do more work than what you need to [laughter] do to let us help you equip you with with uh with what you need to do to thrive. That's what we want to do. >> The benefit of Chromebooks as well is that it integrates in like he was saying our Google workspace which we already have. So because of all our accounts live there things are a lot more streamlined. >> Yeah. Um, say a student does break a Chromebook, we can just hand them another
066one. As soon as they log into that with your Google account, all of their stuff comes from Google Drive. So, it's literally just it saves us time because we don't have to set up a whole new device, >> Move all their stuff over. Everything is saved to the cloud through Google Drive. >> So, that saves us in that aspect. For me, I just I want I want to uh I guess communicate our confidence in what you guys do to make this decision. And I I don't want us as a board to make a decision just uh uh because the numbers look right. I want you guys to have the freedom to present what you think is the best case scenario for for you as employees of the corporation and for the students in the school
067as a whole. Uh so please have freedom to do that. Absolutely. >> Let's look at those real numbers. And >> what we could do is provide more information to Mrs. O'Brien about just a a breakdown of how things work. But I mean, honestly, working in technology, especially when you work technology and education, you have to be able to work in multiple systems >> and be very efficient at it. So, it's just we're already used to that. I mean, it was it was no different any any in any technology standing. So you you have to be efficient in multiple which is again why I'd like to see our students more efficient in multiple platforms instead of being more efficient in using a tablet, you know, because once you get out into that world, if you're going
068to be in technology, you're you're going to be lost to start off with. And I'd like to see them better equipped. And it sounds like your suggestion, if I'm right, that your suggestion is do it from grade two up and do it all at one time. >> that would be easier on you. It would be easier on us and it would be easier on the corporation just because we could go ahead and introduce that and start that learning process sooner than later. And we're going to get more money back from the iPads that we sell now and we'd be able to get better Chromebooks at a lower cost than we could potentially get later on. So it it would be more work, it would be more money right up front, but the cost savings is
069there. And the ability to integrate more things into it is also there. So that gives us more freedom instead of having to get something that's insanely expensive that works well with an iPad. We can look at something, hey, is this a system that does multiple things at a lower cost that works on a Chromebook? And we can start exploring those things more too once we have that, you know, that um the idea of whether or not we're going to even go that route or want to or you know, something like that. >> And you've did this with three times the amount of students. >> Exactly. >> And so this would be easy. >> And we've done it twice. Our first rodeo with Windows. We first started when they went >> That was Yeah, that was
070our first was going one to one all windows. That was fun. Then we switched to Chromebooks. And so we went through that process of switching from Windows to Chromebook. So we we know what that looks like. >> We all three still work together, >> right? [laughter] >> You're right. >> Well, thank you both of you. >> Nice to share and hear from you guys and thank you for all you guys do and hopefully like your new area. >> It's It's great. It is so nice. >> You guys do a lot. So, thank you. Thank you. We appreciate it. >> Right. So, we'll continue to have conversations with um with students, with with staff. Um I'll work with that technology and we'll um come up with a [clears throat] short-term and long-term plan. >> Thanks, guys.
071>> All right. So, we are going to move on in to election of officers. So unless there are any objections, I will entertain a motion for the board officers remain as follows. Um Shantel Baker, president, Kim Claypool, vice president, and Dan Vanine, secretary. >> I make a motion to >> Oh, [laughter] let me read the sentence again. Unless there are objections, I will entertain a motion. [laughter] I make a motion to approve um keeping the slate the same. That's the question. >> So motion made by Miss Clayool to keep election of officers the same. Um Shantel Baker is president, Kim Clayool's vice president, Dan Van Dy as secretary, seconded by Miss Smith. All in favor? >> 5 Z. >> All right. So with that, the following appointments are recommended for board approval. That Miss Trisha
072Thomas, be appointed school treasurer for Nor Eastern Wayne schools for the period of January 1st, 2026 through December 31st, 2026. that Miss Jen Rule, human resources coordinator, be appointed the public records officer for northeast northeastern Wayne schools for the period of January 1st, 2026 through December 31st, 2026. That the board of school trustees appoint the following persons as representatives for northeastern Wayne schools authorized to open and tabulate bids. Miss Jennifer O'Brien, superintendent. Miss Trisha Thomas, school treasurer, Mr. Steve Burge, director of transportation and maintenance, Mr. David Kamiso and Mr. Brandon Perkins, technology support specialist, and that AJ Sikman of Boston Beaver Forest Cross and Sikman be appointed school attorney for Nor Eastern Wind Schools for the period January 1st, 2026 through December 31st, 2026. And I would need a motion. I'll make a motion to
073accept um the recommendation. >> Second. >> Motion made by Miss Bartum, Miss Bartram to recommend for the appointments and seconded by Mr. Van Dy. All in favor? >> Motion passed 5 or appointments pass I should say. The following regular board meeting dates are recommended for the board approval. Regular board meetings will be January 21st, 2026, February 18, 2026, March 18, 2026, April 15, 2026, May 20th, 2026, June 17, 2026, July 15, 2026, August 19th, 2026, September 16, 2026, October 14, 2026, November 18th, 2026 and December 16th, 2026. I'll make a motion to accept the board meeting dates. >> I second. >> Are those all those? It's the same. >> Motion made by Miss Bartram to approve all regular board meetings. >> October is the only one that's different and that's because of fall rate. Motion
074made by Miss Bartram to approve regular board meetings for 2026. Second by Miss Smith. All in favor? 5. >> Approval of all existing policies and guidelines. The approval of all existing policies and guidelines as posted on the Northeastern Wayne schools website are recommended for board approval. I will need a motion for that as well. I make a motion to approve all existing policies and guidelines. Second motion made by Miss Claypool to approve all existing policies and guidelines. Seconded by Miss Bartram. All in favor? >> 5. All right. So now we're moving on to board of finance. I do need a motion to close the board of school trustees meeting and convene as the board of finance. [laughter] >> All in favor? >> Motion made by Mr. Van Dy to close the board of school of
075trustees meeting and convene as board of finance. Seconded by Miss Clayool. Moving on through the board of finance. I do need a motion to elect the school board president and secretary as the president and secretary of the board of finance. I'll make a motion to approve the school board president and secretary as the president and secretary of boards. >> Second. Motion made by Miss Bartram to elect the school board president and secretary as the president and secretary of the board of finance. Second by Miss Smith. All in favor? >> 5 Z. >> Jennifer O'Brien will present the investment summary report, the investment income policy, and the financial report for 2025. Okay. Attached for your review. Um this is just part of the yearly process. Um you have the invest investment summary report. Um also a
076review of the investment policy. There's no change to the policy other than just the the yearly review. Um also I have attached the financial report um for 2025. Um the link is there as well. Um you can see that information. Um and it's the school corporation fiscal indicators. Um for time sake, I know we have an executive session tonight. I'll give you some you can take time and then if you have any questions on that it's also um on the website for the public as well. Um so if there's any questions um feel free to reach out to me. Uh there are no questions. Um I would need a motion to accept the reports and policy as presented. >> Motion to accept the uh investment report, investment income policy and the financial report. >> Second.
077>> Motion made by Mr. Van Dy to accept the investment summary report, review of investment income and financial report for 2025. Seconded by Miss Bartram. All in favor? >> 5 Z. >> Now I would need a motion to close the board of finance meeting and reconvene as the board of school trustees. Motion >> close. >> Motion made by Mr. Van Dy to close the board of finance meeting and to reconvene as the board of school trustees. Seconded by Miss Bartram. All in favor? 5 Z. Okay, next up is our consent items. So, we were all shared um the approval and signing of the regular board meeting or regular board meeting minutes for 1217, their approval of claims, cancellation of warrants, transfer tuition applications, fundraisers, field trip, um state field trips and then personnel as well
078as it's shared on our website. Was there any questions on any of the consent items or did Miss O'Brien have anything to share with those? >> Is Jason Oh, >> is Jason Allen a teacher or is he is he a softball coach? >> Softball coach. >> He he uh coaches the flash travel team. He's he started that. I think he launched that organization in uh Fountain City area. It has invested in a lot of our northeastern girls for a couple years and early age. So, it's kind of been a great fear program for Nor Eastern softball. Um, >> yeah, he's a good guy. >> I also coach for Flash, so I've run into him quite a bit. I had a lot of questions. Yeah. >> Other questions on >> uh page five of the [clears
079throat] last last month's agenda. The agenda uh >> the minutes. Thank you. That's the word I'm looking for. Uh Miss Claypool might like an edit. I did get that fixed. I didn't do that. >> I did not mean to do that. [laughter] The S did not join on that copy paste. Very well. >> I just looked at it. I didn't >> you got it at the very bottom. >> It was fixed and then I attached the new one. Thank you so much for calling out my fault. >> Well, I just thought, you know, later in the history of [laughter] the decisions made for Eastern School Corporation made all the decisions. >> Any others? Okay. So, if there are no other comments on the consent item, I will entertain a motion. >> I make a motion.
080Consent items. >> Motion made by Miss Smith to approve the consent items. Seconded by Miss Bartram. All in favor? >> 5 Z. We are now going to move on to new business. And I will let Miss O'Brien speak on Raz 32. Um this is just the excuse [clears throat] me um yearly renewal uh for RAZ 32 um which includes u Monroe Central, Randolph Eastern and Randolph Central School Corporations as well as Northeastern um and this is um just combined together for um career teched and um currently um for us it's welding. We do have students that travel there for wealthy. So at this time I ask the board for approval of the RAZ 32 agreement for shared CTE pathways with with P participating school districts u for 2627. >> I make a motion to approve
081the RAZ 32 agreement. >> Motion made by Miss Claypool to approve the RAZ 32 agreement. Seconded by Mr. Vanine. All in favor? >> I zero. >> All right. Policy review and update. Before we go through all of them, because it's first reading, are there any conversations that we would like to continue for a second reading or do we feel? They're not attached on here, right? >> No, she sent them to me. >> Okay. So on a lot of them there are no >> like you have options and there's no nothing's checked on the option. That's what I was going to ask. They're not check so they're not like completed. >> Yeah. >> Well has the discussion happened to >> Yeah, they're in the >> as to which option we would like to see. Okay. I
082thought that's what we wanted to see as as part of our conversation was what option we wanted that to be reflected. So it was 10 um it was 5610 was the policy that gave three >> I think all of them except one one or two had options >> have options that are changing >> no that just were blank it didn't have a check >> so where can I see them >> 5610 it was in an email but >> yeah they were I was able to open mine Like when Angie said she couldn't I was able to open >> I didn't have >> Yeah. If you're not if you're just on the public side you're not logged in docs you don't see the >> I was logged in on mine and I did notice >> when
083you email I try to open them myself and for some reason it was come up an error message out of nowhere. So I emailed them out as well. >> Yeah. There's just there's a lot of like spaces but then now that it's checked. So then that password on the top doesn't want us because normally when we're looking at the policies the last couple that have checked already been checked. >> Yeah. Usually it's done. Yeah. So I would say move into second reading. >> Is everybody okay to move in to second reading? >> Yes. >> Individually [clears throat] we want to have conversation the options. >> Was there any particular one or all of them? >> I mean >> if you were not ready for discuss let's get a second reading. Okay. I I did have
084a question on um how does how does the the the change in several of them that is that students who uh may not be suspended or expelled based on uh regular lack of attendance. Um, Sina State still have a a no hold back policy that we like where we don't hold students back grades. No. Okay. So, a student who doesn't attend school. Um, how's that? How do we typically handle a kid who is negligent in attendance? Um, Let me voice this all differently. >> If it's a impact in their academics, >> yeah, is I there's I I've seen a trend in Indiana schools that because we see that holding a kid back doesn't really help the ongoing development, long-term development, growth of a kid. But if they don't attend school, they also don't learn the
085things that they should be learning, which doesn't set them up for success in later grades either and just creates a frustration for education as they go forward. How do we approach what's our approach to that if this is put into policy that we don't keep a kid out who's not putting in an effort to show up? Um, what does that look like for us? It's really the two separate things. If you're to the point where you would be considered that that retention would be considered, you're probably also at the point where you're being recommended to probation. >> And so there those are just ongoing conversations and what that looks like. And you know, really just just depending on each kid, >> okay? As long as we don't put into policy, I don't want to put
086into policy something that might tie your hands or any of our teachers hands for how we handle a student who's not showing up. And all of this was really kind of based on what I thought was Indiana state policy for not holding kids back. So, I didn't want to put something in policy that would force you guys to move a kid forward. when they're really not prepared to do so, which which in my opinion does not set a kid up for excellence in education moving forward. So, >> yeah, third grade is the only grade that we have that they put back in place that if you don't pass three, you could be. >> Okay. >> So, then >> Oh, sure. I was going to do it on my head, but I don't have password on
087this computer. >> Since we are moving to a second reading, I will need a motion to second. I'll make a motion for policy 5117, policy 5600, policy 5605, policies 5610, policy 5611, and policy 5771 to second reading. I'll second >> motion made by Miss Bartum to move the policy reviews and updates of 5517, 5600, 5605, 5610, 5611, and 5771 to a second reading, seconded by Miss Smith. All in favor? 5. >> All right. Next up is on finished business. We have none. Um board comments. Think I have anything? I think um thank you >> say reiteration of of everything said listening to everything today. I feel like it just shows how special Nor Eastern really is. So just really meant a lot hearing all this stuff tonight. So uh any employee comments? You know you
088have one. [laughter] >> Okay. All right. If no one has any comments, I would take a motion for second. [laughter] >> All right. Motion made by Miss Bartum to adjurnn. Second by Miss Smith. All in favor? >> We are adjourned. >> Thank you. Check your tape. I think I Sorry. [laughter] >> I need you to do a double check on that.