001I will call to order our regular monthly meeting and this is the June 2026 Richland Bean Blossom Community School Corporation monthly meeting and we do again welcome you all here. We already pledged our allegiance to our flag so and the roll call remains the same with the board members that are present and once again there is visitor comments were there any visitors that >> I had two. >> You had two? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Christie Alderson. If you please come up to the microphone. Now the mic microphone is not does not project your voice in the room. It is for cats and so feel free to project your voice so that we may hear you. >> And are you Brad? >> I am. >> Brad Parker. >> Hello. We I'm Christie and this is Brad
002and we're both members of the Music Warehouse 50th Reunion Committee and we've been working hard this entire year on putting together a celebration that will be July 25th in our high school auditorium that will celebrate 50 years of Music Warehouse and the legacy of Vertis Linkerd. So we we have started a petition and kind of been talking about this to members of the community, members of the alumni groups and each other about the possibility of renaming the auditorium after Vertis. So I wanted to I know I did send this letter via email but I'd like to read it to you. Dear Dr. Sanders and members of the school board, 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of Music Warehouse, Edgewood High School's mixed show choir. Over those five decades, hundreds of students have been part of the
003program as performers, instrumentalists and stage crew traveling coast to coast while earning more than 35 grand championship honors and countless additional honors. Beyond those accolades are the memories made, lessons learned, music performed, and friendships built in rehearsals, travels, and reunions. To mark the golden anniversary of Music Warehouse and celebrate the founder of the group, Verda Savage-Slinker, alumni are planning a special reunion event in July. As part of the milestone occasion, Music Warehouse alumni respectfully propose an official renaming of the Edgewood High School auditorium to something that recognizes Verda's contributions at Edgewood High School. This honor would affirm the commitment Verda has made to the program over the years, including her recent tenure as interim director of the high school choir program, as well as her impact in the choral education community. In addition to founding
004Music Warehouse in 1976, Verda Verda also established the Sophisticated Ladies Show Choir, Edgewood Singers, and two large annual events, Contest of Champions, Edgewood's annual show choir competition, and the Tiz the Season um holiday concert, both founded in 1993. She continues to be an active competition judge and clinician for choirs nationwide. Many of Verda's former former students have gone on to careers in education and music because of her guidance and support during their formative years. The alumni committee, as well as numerous alumni, hope this recognition may be considered and approved in a time for a formal celebration at the July reunion event, and respectfully ask that the board to consider the matter and vote to approve the naming. Our research has shown that this recognition may be accomplished with an affirmative vote of the school board.
005On behalf of the alumni of the entire Edgewood High School choral department, your consideration of this request is appreciated, as well as your continued support of music and arts education. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Is there anybody else that we might have missed? >> Okay. Well, thank you very much. I I appreciate that and um that uh concept has been brought up before and I think it does deserves some contemplation, so um we'll uh but uh so thank you for coming out. Um Next we have our consent agenda. Um we have the approval of minutes from our May 19th, 2026 regular school board meeting. We have our treasury's report for May uh 2026. And Mr. Durnell, our claims, please. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Gross wages as of May the 8th, 2026 is $839,164.82.
006For gross wages on May 22nd, 2026, $859,454.47.63 for total in that area of $1,698,712.45. For vouchers, claims, pre-pays from 5/1/2026 through 5/31/2026, $1,338,300 $337.41 for claim and vouchers on 6/16/2026, $527,451.38 for total in that area of $1,665,788.76. For grand total of $3,364,501.21. Thank you, sir. >> Thank you very much. We also have personnel, resignations, retirements, non-renewals, leaves, and terminations. C1 through 26. And personnel appointments and transfers, D1 through 54. Um Let's see, there's nothing under E. And F, we do have out-of-state and overnight field trips F1 through 6. Um so we know what those are. Dr. Sanders, could you give us a a description of those trips? >> Yes, and Jerry Bland, our athletic director, is here. So if he has anything he wants to add or if you have any questions, feel free to
007to say so. Uh so we have several of our athletic teams who will be going to have their camps this summer. Cross country team is going to the Indiana Dunes for their camp July 13th through the 16th. Uh football team will be going to Rose-Hulman uh for their camp July 20th through the 22nd. Uh volleyball team is going to the Muncie Muncieana for their camp July 20th through the 22nd. Uh girls basketball team is going to Indiana Wesleyan for their camp June 16th through the 18th. And I don't know, since we have a new coach, we probably haven't decided about the boys, but that will be coming down the road. Uh and then in addition to that, um this is an annual request for fifth graders to go to Bradford Woods. The dates would be
008May 3rd through the 7th, 2027. >> Thank you very much. >> If I could clarify the item >> [snorts] >> E, um we're no longer listing students on the agenda. >> Yes. >> Um but there are some student appointments in the packet for the board to consider. >> Okay. All right. So, within the uh packet for the board, uh only thank you for bringing that to our attention. The There are some students for employments uh for educational purposes. Um and so, for students um confidentiality, we're won't post those in the agenda. Um but, since it is positions within the corporation, the board will still vote on them. So, the board sees them within the packets, uh but they are not uh specified. So, for those appointments that are in the packet uh under E uh
009for the board, those are being voted on as part of the consent agenda, as well. So, do we have a motion? >> I move to approve the consent agenda. >> [clears throat] >> I'll second. >> Moved and seconded. Any discussion? >> A lot of names under the hires, the the uh appointments and transfers, and I know we have some of them that we'll acknowledge here in a moment. >> Yes. >> Yeah. A lot of familiarity >> Mhm. >> Okay. All [clears throat] those in favor, say aye. >> Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. And Dr. Sanders, I'll turn it back over to you. It looks like you have some recognition. >> Yes. Uh so, uh we'll be um recognizing some of our new hires uh tonight, and also in July. Uh tonight, we uh have um uh
010Elizabeth Beth Sedwick. Beth, could you stand up real quick? And by the way, uh Uh, each of the new hires, I told them they have a 30-minute talk to give. So, Beth, you're first. Now, Beth Beth is our new payroll, uh, uh, specialist, and, uh, she has just knocked our socks off in the short time that she's been here, and, uh, she's going to be a very valuable member of the team. So, uh, welcome, Beth. >> Welcome. >> Um, and then, uh, I think that I will let, uh, Jerry Bland come up and introduce, uh, our new basketball coach. >> Yeah, uh, really just want to start off by saying that, uh, we feel our basketball program, uh, is [clears throat] one of the better ones out within the state. Um, at least opportunity-wise for
011coaches, um, that didn't disappoint. We had over 20 applications for the position. Um, we narrowed it down the the committee narrowed it down to four. Uh, we brought in those four candidates, and after those interviews, there was no doubt who our choice was going to be. Um, I'd like to introduce Connor Basey. Connor comes to us from Chrisman Athletics, uh, state runner-up a year ago. Um, still kind of sticks with him a little bit. Um, but, uh, the [clears throat] energy level, um, the relationships he's already built with our players, uh, are very contagious. Um, also the the the relationships he's building with our other programs. In the two weeks, he's kind of hit the ground running, uh, literally. Uh, we introduced him to the team on Wednesday and sent him to Vincennes on Thursday
012to play games. Um, so, I'll give him a second, but, uh, bottom line is is we feel very fortunate, very privileged in the fact that we'll be introducing, um, Connor to our, uh, school community and in our teaching, um, classrooms, but the energy he brings, the relationships he brings and and really some of the toughness on the court. I think you're going to enjoy to watch this winter. Conner Basey. >> Hey, just wanted to thank everybody. You know, some of the board members were in my interview process. They were great. Mr. Sanders was awesome. You know, principal, athletic director, assistant athletic director, everyone's just been fantastic. Super excited to work with the guys. You know, it's been a whirlwind so far, but we've had a blast. We're going to have fun. We're going to play
013hard and can't wait to win and get the community involved even more. Thank you guys. Thank you. >> And my nephew even emailed me and told me what I or texted me and told me what a great hire we had. So, that was >> We made running the last coach we had our local radio announcer quoted the Gene Hackman line from Hoosiers. We We're sure you are a god-fearing man, but do you play a zone or man-to-man [laughter] defense? >> Okay, John Sigler, assistant principal at Edward Junior High School has a number of folks he'd like to recognize. >> We've had a great hiring season. We appreciate you guys supporting and being able to fill some positions that we had open this year. Um Autumn Daughtry is joining us from EPS. She's going to be
014teaching um sixth grade ELA for us. Um Madison Shackelford, I don't think Madison's here. Um she'll be joining us as an eighth grade English language arts teacher. Caitlin Richie is here. Um she's going to be joining us as a seventh grade language arts teacher. Um Sadie Baxter will be our new um choir show choir director junior high. Um Rebecca Myers, I think she's in Aruba tonight. Kent's in Florida and so here we are in Indiana. We're going to enjoy tonight but and then we've got Alida Boltinghouse joining us as our seventh grade inclusion teacher. >> [applause] >> I I was joking with the Boltinghouse family that last month it was Robert, tonight it was Alida and I wanted to know who was next. Well, come to find out their oldest daughter is getting ready to
015do her student teaching so we may be hiring her sometime down the road. Spencer Yeah. Wonderful. Well, welcome all of you. We're so glad to have you and it's we're really looking forward to a great great school year next year so very very welcome. And great somebody turned the light down. temporary If I could jump in there, Christy and Brad, you're you're welcome to stay for the whole board meeting as well as all of our new hires. We'll take what you you shared with us tonight and under consideration and and we'll I'll talk to each board member individually and we'll see what what we can do. You're welcome to stay like I said but we won't be discussing that tonight. All right and you're all welcome. The best part is the superintendent's report at the
016end. Thank you. You all take care. >> I just wanted to All right, Larry, it looks like the spotlight's on you now. >> [laughter] >> Okay. >> What's he doing? >> I'll just duck a little bit. >> Yes. >> Get out of it. Okay. Um well, we're going to move on to our construction update and we have Martin Truesdale here this evening to walk us through where we're at and where we're going. >> Thank you. Um as you know, we've got more than one project going on. Um and I'll go go ahead and jump into it and start. Um the early childhood playground is complete. There's a view from the south. So, in the last 60 days we completed everything. I won't run through the list. Um there's a view from the north. >> And
017it is getting used. >> Oops. >> First kid got the regular one. >> And there's a playground in use. >> Look at that big kid. >> He was held back once or twice. >> Yeah. >> What What we have everything is done. On the left side, you see the seed and straw. The seed and straw was done in June, which is not the most um advantageous time to do it. So, we probably won't see much growth in there until the um until fall. Other than that, everything's done, ready to go. >> Looks like he's tired. He needs to take a nap. >> [laughter] >> Um the another project we've got is a roof roof replacement and mechanical renovations. Excuse [clears throat] me. Um at the junior high, we have both roofing and mechanical. At the
018junior high, the submittals are done. Um if you recall, we did through wall flashing around the gym. The through wall flashing is complete. The masonry is complete. We have um discovered that we need a little bit different coping detail, which is the edge metal around the top. And um we've reviewed that, and the architect has approved our approach to that. That's something we'll do time and material. Um at the junior high, we also have mechanical. The um mechanical we've completed the submittals and getting the equipment on board now. This was the uh through wall flashing. The The photo on the left is um they they laid down plywood to protect the existing roof while they're working on it. And it's a little hard to read, but what they took did was took three or four
019four courses of stone out, put new flashing through to the existing block behind it, and then brought that out. So, this is This just shows the new flashing. Once um it's completed, the the stone will be back in place, and there'll be a piece of counter flashing, which is more cosmetic on the outside of it, and that'll clean it all up. But, the flashing itself is all all complete at this The through wall is complete. Um at the um next 60 days at the junior high, the entire roof membrane should be complete, uh counter flashing should be complete, and the coping will probably complete. Uh mechanical, we actually started mechanical demolition yesterday. They're receiving equipment now, and in the next 60 days, we will continue and try to see if we can't get that completed.
020That's basically just boilers at that building. Um roof replacement at the primary school, we started off at the high bays, which is the gymnasium, um the cafeteria, the kitchen, those areas. Uh we've got all the submittals in, the high bay areas are roofed, and we began the coping or edge metal on those high bays. At the intermediate school, um same thing, except for there was some damaged insulation, and that that was removed and replaced. We had an allowance in the contract for that, so you will not see that as an extra cost. Um and here you see him On the left, you see him running the membrane up and over the roof parapet. Um on the right, you're seeing a section of of wet insulation being replaced. Again, we had thought that there was wet
021insulation on both buildings on their high bays and it only showed up on the intermediate school. So, we're actually going to have a little bit of money out of pocket to take care of some other issues. Next 60 days of roofing, we're going to try and get the whole thing completed. Now, I will say we've had an extremely wet May um and we are probably a week or so behind schedule right now. Worst case is they would extend out into the school year, but because we're just taking the membrane off and replacing the membrane, it would not be something that would be particularly disruptive. Uh we're going to try to catch those days up. >> So, so they dropped down there? >> They do it on all three of them? >> Yes. >> Okay, you've
022been happy with them as far as I knew I knew it was a new one it came out of the gate. >> I wish they were moving a little quicker. >> They're working Saturdays? >> Saturdays and Sundays. >> They've been working Saturdays and Sundays and they've been um working from like 7:30 in the morning to 8:00 at night. What they do is they bring the crews up, they put them up in a hotel, and then they just work the heck out of them. >> Right. That's >> Um but the the challenge is if it looks like rain, then they don't bring the crew up. So, um we're actually having a discussion about that tomorrow because they need to keep going. >> Looks like it could be storms tomorrow. >> Storms tomorrow. I think later in
023the day. >> I'm sorry? >> I think later in the day. >> Yeah. >> So, is everything for get secured uh in this project? >> What what they do and that's one reason it appears that they're moving slow is they'll [clears throat] well Uh so, you can I could move back. Um, you see they've got this section torn off and the replacement insulation in. They only tear off as much as they can do in a day. And if it looks like it's going to start raining at 2:00, they'll tear off enough that they know they can get it covered by 2:00. So, what you end up doing is if it looks like it's going to rain at 2:00, they tear off, they cover up, it doesn't rain till 6:00, and you're going, "Well, what did
024you do for the last 4 hours?" They can't take that chance. So, that's one reason it's been moving slow. >> Thank you. >> Um, softball turf, we did the bid process. Um, you guys awarded the the contracts. Contracts, bonds, and insurance are complete. Um, the application for permits has been completed, and we're working with the town on that. That's going a little slower than we thought it might. Um, and we're approved project signage that will go up. And that signage looks something like that. Um, so, that image will be on a a 8-ft by 6-ft sign, and um, Dr. Sanders has asked that we do one sign at the on the west side, which you'd see from the middle school, and another sign, um, closer to the football field, so you will have two signs
025out there. Those are fairly large signs, and that that'll be the image that's on the sign. Hopefully, we will get going. Um, I've talked to the contractor. We want to get the fencing and the what we call a SWIP, storm water prevention and protection plan, um which is all of the um everything to divert any um silt or mud from the site from going into the storm system. So, that the first thing we do is put that up um along with the fencing and then they'll get their equipment in. We think that we think we can get the fencing up going this week, maybe early next week and probably see some heavy equipment the following week. What we've told the contractor is they need to have all their dirt moved, everything they're going to bring
026out out, everything they're going to bring in in as far as heavy trucks before the first day of school. So, that's kind of what the scramble is now. If they don't get that done, then they have to do it after school hours. So, they're pretty motivated to try to get it done. >> Can you uh mention the mark about what we saw at New Palestine? On the mound, the big mounds behind the softball using some of that dirt. I was I think Mr. Bolt held saw that, too. >> Yeah, there's a there's a little >> New Palestine did. It was really cool the way they set their diamonds up. >> Yeah, we're doing one for or I'm doing one for Yorktown right now where they're they're doing that. >> Yeah, cuz we already have the
027dirt anyway, so. >> Yeah, and we we may have a little more dirt because the city's asked us to make the or the town has asked us to make the detention area a little bit bigger, so. Um that could turn into mounds. >> Okay. >> [snorts] >> So, in the next 60 days, we got to get the fencing up. We got to hopefully complete that earthwork and and site drainage cuz that's the trucks coming in and out. And then they'll begin the under under drains um and the actual artificial turf installation. That that work will probably go on until Thanksgiving or maybe even a little >> Okay. >> a little longer. Um additions and renovations to the junior high and the high school, design development is completed and we've been doing what Lancer's been calling
028AOCM design meetings and um Dr. Sanders and and yeah, Rick's still here. Um you guys have been attending those meetings. We had one meeting today and I my sense is the design is pretty well wrapped up at this point. We have um our estimating group has gone through the design development documents and we actually think it's down a little bit more from what we had at schematic. So, we're we're comfortably below what our budget was for that work. We're We're We have a meeting in house to firm up those those numbers tomorrow. Um unfortunately, we got the design development a little bit later than we thought we would. Um but it it looks real good at this point. Um what what we will do with the additions and re and renovations, we will complete page
029turns and that's essentially bringing in the architect, the designer, um and the interested parties from the school and going page by page through the documents. That will happen before it goes out to bid. Bid documents are supposed to be ready July 3rd. Um we would complete rece- receipt of the bids on August 6th. And then at your August board meeting, we would bring the numbers to you all for approval. And in the next 60 days, we should be to the part of awarding the con- of completing the contracts. That's all I got tonight. >> Are you You mentioned the the town. We having trouble with the town getting stuff approved or what's going on there? >> Um I wouldn't say trouble yet, but we need to get it done fairly quickly at this point. >>
030Okay. Are we giving them what they want or they are they making it difficult? >> Um they would like to revise the storm drainage was approved. Um Bill Rigert and his crew, which I think you guys are familiar with it, um landscape civil engineers, ran everything through the town, got everything approved. They have come back and asked after after it's approved and after it's bid, they've come back and asked us to enhance the drain drainage retention a little bit. >> If it's already in >> That just came up >> If it's already been approved, you bid the project based on what was approved, that's detrimental to the school corporation for them now to come back and >> Well, what we're hoping and I don't want to be a Pollyanna [clears throat] about it, but we're
031hoping is they want us to dig the detention a little deeper and that's what they want. The schools talked about wanting a mound in the outfield. And what we're hoping is the dirt that comes out to make the pond deeper creates a mound um and then they don't have to truck that off site. So, we're thinking it may as far as cost it may we got our fingers crossed but we think it may be a wash. >> Okay. Okay. >> And and the same >> So, that that what that mound what's describe that to you guys. >> Yeah, I I'll show you I'll send you a picture Dana and rest of the board but when we were at the New Palestine uh it was at a sectional regional game uh we noticed that beyond the
032outfield uh was a mound that had a flag on it and it was gra it was had it was grass and there were people that were sitting up there watching the game from the mound and it it just looked like a great idea to use the dirt coming off of the field and create that mound. It's a great vis visual for the community but the flag and all the it just looked really nice. I got excited about it. Robert got excited about it. And uh >> junior high field down there too. It's set up on top of a hill. It's just got a really cool view to watch of over there. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Probably a 40-yard berm, you know, 6 ft tall or whatever. >> Yeah, it's not just a hill. It's I
033mean, my idea was to put it between the softball and baseball field. Just have one mound. Um and I think that's how they had it at New Paltz, too. >> Yeah, their field is Yeah. No, on that back on that drainage over at the at the high school baseball diamond whatever project it was about 6 years ago, there were some drainage problems going across that road was getting those the people's yards. So, we'll make sure that's all been rectified and addressed. So, is that what the town was talking about? >> That's what the town was talking about. >> that was created some headache for those folks that live there. >> Well, Larry, you're right. That's where you live. Those houses are down from you over there. >> Right. [clears throat] >> It was coming from
034the baseball diamond. Right. >> Uh it's probably too much detail, but at the baseball diamond um we have drainage under the dia- diamond >> Right. >> under the baseball field itself to get water away from the field so you can play immediately after rain and all that type of thing. And the drainage was sized to create detention of that water so that it flows slowly out from underneath the fields. Um so toward the northwest. Um so the way the designer has it, it should it should um as designed now, it should have some less um impact on that neighbor, but what we're talking about is maybe even being able to reduce it a little bit more. >> Okay. >> But I had something to do with the backstop and the new bleachers, [clears throat] I
035thought. >> Well, there'd always been water. >> Yeah, way back even way back before that. >> Yeah, there's always been problems. >> Okay. >> It's It's You know, the school was here first and and >> I know. >> they built that and there's always been a problem. We didn't >> We've not done anything to make it worse. >> Okay. All right. >> We have We have had >> And and we >> We have We have mitigated it. >> Yeah, we've done several things to try to help through the years. >> Okay. >> So, you know, we we have been >> Right. >> you know, responsive to the the extent we could. We looked into it one time and it was like a million dollars to put in a new >> Right. I remember the picture
036and it's like, >> Wow. >> Um that was just >> But >> When when you get to underground storm water, it the price goes up really fast. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> So, but Yeah, I mean, if it's not that significant of a a cost to, you know, >> Well, I'm not promising there's no cost, but we're going to try to balance. >> I said no significant. >> Yeah. Well, it depends on what you consider significant. >> [laughter] >> So, >> Okay. All right. Well, thank you. I understand that better now. >> Yeah. >> All right. Thank you very much. Um Next begins our action items. And we have consideration to approve a new position for a K-12 mental health coordinator, Dr. Sanders. >> Yes, and board, if it's okay, can we talk about both
037of the seven number seven and eight at the same time and then you could go back if you want to and vote on them individually. >> Um we we can take them together. >> Okay. Okay. Uh because it just kind of all goes together. Uh You know, our school corporation we're just uh we're just in a continual mode of trying to improve and get better. So, we're constantly evaluating what we're doing, how we're serving kids, how we're serving teachers, and looking how looking at ways to maximize the funds that we have available to us. And so, we were looking at these adding these two positions, which really is just in the end going to be adding one person. We have some current people in current positions that we would like to uh transfer to these
038new positions. And and so, we've adjusted some job descriptions to meet better meet the needs of our students and our and our teachers. And so, one of them is the K-12 mental health coordinator position. This is something that Jennifer Barrett took over from Jennifer Anderson when she left, but we felt like it's hard for Jennifer and I to um do a great job leading a program an individual program with all the items that are underneath our umbrella. And so, we felt like to better meet the needs of our mental health program, it would be better if we had one person who oversaw the K-12 mental health program. Jennifer will be taking on some additional duties also this year and in terms of Megan Scott is leaving us. And so Jennifer will be taking on some
039of those duties that Megan did which would be um really overseeing our teacher evaluation model, mentor teaching program, HRS monitoring and certifications. And so we need to adjust those items on Jennifer's plate and we kind of knew that last year when Matt Irwin left and we assigned his duties to I took on additional duties, Jennifer took on additional duties, other people in the office did too and and we really thought we would would have to make some adjustments anyways. This helps us make those make those adjustments and we have somebody in mind to who will has a mental health background both in education and experience. She's already doing a lot with K-12 mental health and so she will be taking on the K-5 position also. We of course post do all the requirements for posting
040the jobs but that's kind of the direction we want to go with that position. We have a significant mental health team that as you know you've all been part of it over the years as we've gone to from almost having hardly anything related to mental health that now we have a very exceptional team that continues to to evolve and get better and we think this is a next step in making that happen having a K-12 mental health uh coordinator. This position will be paid for out of the the smart grant. The other positions position that we I guess it's two really, but the other positions that that we wanted to to add were the um EPS and EIS student success coordinator position. And this is has evolved really from a model that we started with
041the Edgewood Junior High School in terms of we have principal and an assistant principal and we added a dean of students to address behavior issues. So this frees up the principals the principal and the assistant principal to be able to devote more time to supporting the teachers in terms of quality observations um being able to um meet with teachers, do professional development with teachers, communicate with parents, all the things that are under a principal's umbrella they will have more time to address those areas. Um that model has worked out really well. Um we had a few years ago I had some teachers who approached me about some concerns with discipline issues and there was no complaint whatsoever about the the principals. They what they shared with me was the principals are doing all that they
042can and more. They're just not uh, enough of uh, time in their schedule to be able to, to really, uh, address some of these needs. And like I said, it's worked out really well. Um, and we've been trying to figure out how do we, uh, um, do that same model at the elementary level. Of course, you know, you don't hear of deans students at the elementary schools. Um, uh, and so we were trying to look at our needs for the school, and we came up with the idea of, of, uh, utilizing our student service coordinators that we had at the elementary school, uh, both schools, EPS and NIS, to, uh, address, uh, and meet these needs, uh, that the elementary schools have just as well as the junior high did. Uh, in terms of, um,
043you know, as a teacher, and you have a situation in your classroom with a, a student who, uh, is, uh, experiencing trauma, experiencing, um, a crisis, or having a, a behavioral issue, um, teachers, uh, need that support from administration in terms of, uh, being able to address those needs with, with the students. And if you have principals that, uh, uh, that, uh, just don't have enough time in their day to spend time with these students, uh, and and by spending time, I mean, you can't just spend 5 minutes with a student and send them back to class. It often times is, uh, something that you have to dive deeper in with the student. Uh, you have to have conversations with them. Um, uh, who need to address any, uh, mental health issues or crises that's
044going on in their lives and it takes time. And if I'm a principal and I'm required to go out and do so many observations and I have my responsibilities and meeting with teachers and I just all like I said it's under umbrella of of a principal you're just not going to have time to to really provide that support and and truly support our teachers. It's harder today than ever I think to be a teacher. And we we're in our school corporation we're having increase in enrollment. We're also having increase in behavior issues. And so it's just a need that that we need to to address. Now of course with the financial situation that our school corporation is is in like many other school corporations you know yes we need somebody like a dean whatever you
045want to call that position but how can we afford that? financially And so we had one of our student services coordinators she is moving out of state and so the idea came to us to take her position and rework the job description to put in more responsibilities for dealing with behavior issues still incorporating the mental health team into the process and freeing up the principal and the assistant principal like I said to to do all the other tasks that's underneath their umbrella. And so uh this the student services position uh the person who left that position, that position was funded out of the SMART Grant. And so um we had a K5 um mental health coordinator in Jordan Trueax who was over um the primary school and the intermediate school. So, bottom line is we
046would like uh to see Jordan Trueax um he will stay on and be one of our um student success coordinators only at the intermediate school. Uh >> [snorts] >> he'll have a new job description. Um for the primary school uh we won't replace uh the person who is in that position, but uh what we'd like to do is transfer somebody within EPS uh into um this new student success uh uh position. And so um pay for that position out of the SMART Grant. So, in essence we're replacing a position at EPS adjusting the job description. This money will still come out of the SMART Grant. The only thing we'd have to do at EPS if we transfer the person we want to is replace them uh the position that they're currently in. Um and then
047uh for EIS uh if we uh would transfer just just Jordan's title and job description, he will continue to come out of the smart grant. So, in the end, really the only position we would have to hire would be a teaching position at the primary school. And also a counseling position at the at the junior high. Uh Both of those positions we would save money in the education fund. Uh based on years of experience in the people we might be able to hire. So, that's a lot of information and maybe I lost you along the way, but feel free to ask me questions and I'll be glad to clarify anything. >> I just my question. You're You're talking about having >> Have a motion. >> Oh, I Yes, thank you. >> I move approval of
048the item seven and eight. Consideration to approve new position K-12 mental health coordinator. Consideration to approve new position EPS EIS student success coordinators. >> I'll second. >> Go ahead. >> I I just I I want to make sure I'm clear here and I think you suggested that there >> [sighs and gasps] >> the creation of new positions, how many total new positions are we talking about and are we cutting other positions in in tandem with that? >> We're really taking for the student success coordinator position, what we're really doing is taking the student services position and giving it a new title and adjusting the job description. >> So, the other position just kind of goes away. >> Right. >> And then the K-12 mental health coordinator would be a new position? >> It would be
049a new position. Uh yes. The The person we have in mind has been doing the K the 6 through 12. Uh but by taking on K to 12, that would become a full-time position for her and the counseling position, we would have to hire a counseling position. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Is it Is Is it possible I mean, I'm I'm in I'm in I'm in support of this. Is it possible to get a budget breakdown of the smart grant and the siege grant to see where we're at with our budget because this sounds well and good, more support we can give, but I don't want to be in a position a year from now, 2 years from now that there's no money and then we've got to start riffing teachers. That's what I'm big
050That's I want to see how much money's left in those two grants. I know we're always looking for new grants, which is awesome. But if we don't get a grant one year, I just want to make sure the K through 12 coordinator sounds like a little bit of duplication also. But if I could see maybe how the hierarchy works, like cuz I know we have the special ed director also. >> Yeah, with the with the K-12 program, what they're That person's going to be taking on is uh a lot more administrative responsibilities, too. Uh I think I put that in there for you guys, but um the K-12 person would uh take on the mental health grants, uh the uh evaluating the grants, um and we have some other needs that we were trying to
051to find somebody to uh fill in to to um a need that we have, and one of them is uh a guidance counselor specifically for the Edge. Uh we've also been thinking about having a um starting a virtual academy for students. There are a lot of schools are starting to go towards towards that. Where it's online basically going to high school online. And as more of our neighbors go towards something like that, the more they could pull students away from us. So, we're we're trying to navigate that too, that potential of having a virtual academy. And this person would help with [clears throat] with not only the edge, but also with having this potential idea of a virtual academy. >> We don't have We don't have a virtual academy right now. It's It's being investigated,
052but a lot of schools are There's a lot of schools in the state that are looking at. I get it, cuz there's a way to get more funding. >> Right. >> But if this person is the right person they can get the grants to help keep these programs going. >> Yeah. >> Cuz I'm all for having the success coordinator at the primary and intermediate school, cuz that's I think that's very helpful for the administrators. But that It seems like it's a duplication of efforts here. I just want to make sure >> It's not. >> want to make sure the hierarchy all fits together. >> The mental health coordinator is going to be overseeing a program. We'll still have therapists and counselors and the student um school psychologists in training that will be meeting directly with
053students. >> So, will they be over those school psychologist trainers also? >> Yeah. >> The K-12 mental health coordinator will be? >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, do we need to replace the junior high counselor or can we can we absorb it somehow? >> No, they need that they need two counselors. We tried that we tried that when I first got here they had gone to one and a half counselors at the junior high and that just >> I mean I know we can't do it but we got to make sure we're going to get we got to tighten our belts. That's what I'm really nervous about 2 years from now. >> Yeah. >> I'm really worried about it. >> And Brad you know we we're doing that and and that's why we are taking advantage
054If we didn't have these grants available we wouldn't be talking about this right now. >> Yeah. >> And the other thing that I think is special about Edgewood is where we're located and the partnerships that we've established with Indiana University that um I don't look for that partnership to to go away and you know we you know when we first got our seeds our first million dollar mental health grant you know it was like oh my goodness we'll probably never get one of these again and we have time and time again and and we're going to keep doing that and utilizing those grant dollars and there's two different schools of thought with grants. Some school corporations they don't want to take the risk they so they don't they just don't they're not very aggressive with
055grants. >> Right. >> Um and in my opinion that's not the way to go because you miss out on a lot of money that you could pull into the school corporation to meet your students needs. >> Right. >> And thankfully you know we have a good excellent board that's very innovative you know some of the some of the things that that we've done here in the corporation start a coffee shop, innovative learning center, um that all the student-run businesses, um that's thinking forward, that's part of our who we are being a caring, daring, and preparing school corporation. And um so um when we say that we're using grant money, that's not just kind of crossing our fingers and hoping, that's something we work hard at >> Right. I understand where you're coming from. I completely
056understand where you're coming from. >> Uh and we definitely want to make sure that we're always keeping our financial situation at the top of the the heap in terms of what's taking on our attention. And we And as you know, the conversations we've had where we're we're working to save dollars in other places to reduce the uh expenses that we have in the school corporation, and we're going to continue to do that. That's just kind of a regular ongoing thing. So, I'm just saying all that to kind of give you a little more assurance. >> Right. And I hate that we're put in this position, but the legislature has has done this to us, and it's And we're blessed where we're at. We really are. We really So, all right, thank you. >> And we
057will get you the >> And the breakdown >> for you. And I think uh some additional information in terms of um just with all these changes we're talking about, uh how does how does the the flow work in terms of What >> Right. >> What does our mental health team look like? And who's doing what? And how many students are we serving? And how much time do they devote to students? We want to get a report to you uh in one of the future board meetings on that. >> Might be nice to have kind of the administrative work chart. >> Yeah. >> Just right. >> Right. And that's that's exactly what I was going to bring up. I really I really want to see how this works because we've got so many different positions and
058so many you know, the health team went from like you said basically very small to to a nice team. But I want to make sure that when you have a nice team that you're not having a lot of nice team meetings. >> No. >> And not working with kids, you know. So I I'd like to see, you know, how how much of these jobs are they actually working with students? You know, maybe percent wise or something. How much of your time are you spending actually, you know, working, you know, one-on-one or one with a group or however it is and and what do these, you know, different positions do? How How is the psychologist in training different from a therapist, different from a counselor, different from a social worker, different from a >> Right. >>
059you know, and you know, it doesn't have to be elaborate, but, you know, kind of a, you know, what do they do and and layman's terms, so to speak, you know, to to really get an an idea and I think it would be great for the community to know, too, and and for parents to know, look, you know, could even be part of our marketing materials. Look, this is our mental health team, you know, this is what, you know, Edwards schools provides, you know, for for our students. And, you know, and then along with that, if it's marketing, this is how you can link into it. This is who you can go to to to see that your student's taken care of that that that that their needs are met and and to make sure
060students, you know, get referrals to and get into to these things. But I I'd like to see how that plays out, how that hierarchy, how that flowchart, so as you will, whatever, looks like. I'd like to see, you know, how much of this is grant funded. >> Mhm. >> You know, it'd kind of be nice to know how much of our positions period are grant funded. Um >> Okay. >> because I know that these funds uh for for seeds and for smart um are federal grants that go, you know, to others that give us the grants um that flow through others. And so, you know, the federal government's cut back on a lot of grants. And so, what happens if they cut back? Um so, you know, how much time do we got left on
061these grants? Are are we spending now money that may have allowed this grant to go on another year or two? Or is it money that would have we would have lost because we didn't, you know, take out the programs? Are we cutting our program off because we spent too much early on? You know, kind of get an idea of that to make sure that we're we're we're balancing it um a sum. Um and I too, like Brad has said, worried about being able to continue with these positions um and what happens when we can't. Um if we fall on hard times, which we're really worried about the budget, you know, in 2 years from now and and beyond, unless something significant happens to change that. So, if we're working worried about that, what if we
062don't have positions that those people are actually suited for that they can go into, you know, then, you know, I I think that we've got to be I don't think that the board can say we 100% guarantee we're going to have something. You know, is the would the board and administration try 110% of their, you know, ability to try to make it work? Yes, you know, definitely. Um we care for our people. We want want to support our people. We want to do what we can, but, you know, when you have a position that's grant funded, you you've got to realize that that you know, there's there is a little bit of risk that's in involved with that. And so, I think that we've got to to to under understand that and and be careful
063because if 3 years from now the grant runs out and at the same time or we're going through some times where we're [clears throat] having to to reduce staff, you know, that's that's going to be difficult. We And so, people just got to know and and everybody knows anyway that if we have to reduce staff, it's going to everybody's in the same boat of being being in difficult times. So, um I just want to make sure that we're transparent with that and we're not, you know, making promises. You know, are we making promises to work hard? Are we making promises to do our best? Are we making promises that, you know, these are our people and we care for them and we want to do everything we can for them? You know, yes, we'll make
064those promises. Um so, you know, so that's that's on on there. Um so it wouldn't Yes, so that's those are the concerns that that I have that I I I just don't want to promise too much, but you know, I'm happy to promise that I do everything in my power to try to make sure that this works out as best that possible can. >> And and education, that's a dilemma. Uh your analogy there is uh points out it's very valid, points out um something we really have to deal with almost every school year. And that's in terms of like um when you're monitoring uh your class sizes and you're getting closer to the start of the school year, and I've been in conversations when I'm across the table from a principal and the principals uh
065trying to tell me how uh how much the classroom uh class size average is going to increase because of the increased enrollment, and then I've got to make that decision, a hard decision of uh you know, the financial side of that. Okay, the I definitely as a educator see the need side of that. Uh and uh and but I also have to make that decision in terms of the financial impact, and education is just a unique organization in those terms. Uh and uh so uh there are times where, you know, you hire uh a new teacher right at the beginning of the school year, um and there's always that possibility that that the state's going to cut our funding, and that new teacher that you just hired uh might not might not they might be
066put on a riff list. I was when I was a teacher after my first year of teaching I was put on such a list and I was told it's just a technicality but that didn't mean anything to me. I was still on that list and it didn't feel good. So, yeah, we it's there's a lot of things we have to consider. So, all valid points. >> Yeah. Yeah. Like I said, I just want to be transparent and uh >> Yeah. >> you know, I just want people to know that I uh and I appreciate the the work of trying to move things around to to make >> Yeah. >> make make make this work. >> Yeah. >> So, I appreciate the hard work that goes into that. >> It's called the question. >> Call for
067the question. All in favor will say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carried. Okay. All right. >> way, you're going to hear from me a lot tonight with uh Jennifer Barrett. She's I think she's in uh Chicago or Detroit right now coming back with the German team. The group of students who went to Germany and uh So, um you got me tonight. >> I saw Facebook videos of her with a group of students who were dancing. It looked like they were having a wonderful time, but still think she ought to be here. >> [laughter] >> Well, glad you're back on your vessel where you Good to be here. >> [snorts] >> Okay, consideration to set a deadline for enrollment of transfer students. >> Yeah, this is a annual request to the board. that's required by
068state code and and policy that we need to set a date for a deadline for accepting transfer requests and that deadline for next year is being recommended as May 21st, 2027 which essentially we're saying we would accept transfers throughout the school year as long as they meet the requirements set forth and classrooms have not reached a max max maximum capacity. >> I move approval of the setting the deadline for enrollment of transfer students. >> I second. >> Moved and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed. Motion carries. On to establish the accepted number of transfer students. >> Right, this is once again required by school board policy 51 uh and we set the classroom sizes for K2 at 24 to 1 grade 3-5 27 to 1 grade 6-8 30 to
0691 grade 9-12 30 to 1 and then we've added capacities for our journeys classroom K2 and 3-7 would be 8 to 1 and grades 8-13 would be for the journeys classroom would be 10 to 1. Now we also being educators try to factor in like we just were talking about the needs of students and needs of our schools and but this is these are the numbers that we're setting if we were to have to maybe adjust any of that we would come back to the board and ask permission. >> Move approval of the accepted number of transfer students. >> I'll second. >> Wood and seconded. Any discussion? >> No, I just I Doc Chance, thanks for your chat about that. It's that's a starting point, but we may have to tweak. >> If we have
070one or two kids over, we we're going to make it work. >> Right. >> All right. Right on. >> Yeah. >> Thanks. >> All those in favor say aye. >> Aye. >> Opposed? Motion carries. Now we're looking at a first reading of the revisions to NEOLA policy. This is volume It's hard to read. 38 number two. >> I am really glad when that sun goes behind the clouds. I can see you guys actually. Um so as maybe for the public who might be watching, we utilize a company called NEOLA that works with a law firm Lewis Cappa. Uh that as a state makes changes to state law if there's change to law based on the court system. They monitor all that and then they recommend to us adjustments that we should make to our our
071board policies. And so this is NEOLA policy volume 38 number two. In the board packet was a summary of each what would we're asking to change on or adjust on each policy. And also in the board packet were were the you could see the actual policy. Um I would like to make note and this kind of goes to the handbook also, but one of the new state laws that was approved by uh state legislators was uh uh it was Indy Indiana code 20-26-5 -40.7 uh which uh basically uh states that students um uh they have if they have their cell phones uh at school, they have to be turned off and stored. You can also we were also given the option uh from Neola to uh say cell phones aren't allowed at all. Uh that
072was one of the choices that we we could have made uh under the law, but uh we chose to go with um that uh students can bring their their uh cell phones to school. Uh but they have to be turned off and um stored away. And for uh for what we're want to do at Edgewood, and we've talked about different uh ways to uh how you might store the cell phones um one option was discussed with the students will have to keep them in their locker rooms or or their lockers. Um uh some schools are going they're buying these little pocket that they could put them in in a certain location in the school. And uh what we're going to do is um we're going to allow the students to have their cell phones in
073their book bags. Uh but they have to be uh turned off and stored away, so they can't have them out at all. And uh if they do have take them out and we would enforce it, and we've made we this is related to the handbook. Uh made some uh put some language in there what happens if a a violates that that rule, uh which means they would have their cell phone confiscated and take it to the office. And the parent would have to come in and pick up their phone. Multiple violations of that rule it would be like any other violation of a rule. It'd have a kind of a a scale of, you know, how often they would be violating that rule and the consequence consequences would just become more significant along the way.
074Um We just want to make sure too, cuz I I as we would all would all imagine this would probably be very unpopular uh rule, but this is a state law that we have to follow. And we're we believe that students need to have their cell phones for especially after school activities. Um and um in cases of emergency. Um But so we're trying to find we're trying to uh combine state law with some common sense too in there with our policy. Now, I'll say this. Uh this policy and the language in the handbook um it might change because as we put all this into practice and you know, when you put something into practice, you learn from that. And so we might have to make an adjustment. Hopefully, it works not just perfectly fine, but
075there may be a a chance we come back and say, "Hey, we need to tweak the language here or there." Um so the the Ola policy that we're talking about tonight is on first reading. Uh you take a look at all the policies. If there's other items uh that you have question about, uh let me know. And then at the July board meeting, we'll bring all this back and ask for your approval. Any questions? >> I just My last year of teaching we had a cell phone ban except that students were allowed to use them during passing periods and lunch. From my perspective, it was not a problem. I think the important thing is the administrators and the teachers need to be on the same page. And uh there's consistency throughout. It will be a
076little tougher the kids can't can't get to them during during lunch. That'll probably be your biggest headache. >> [laughter] >> But uh I I don't think it'll be as dramatic as some people fear. I'm I'm No doubt there will be some issues, but uh I think we will handle it. >> Yeah, I I I'm concerned about enforcement, too. I just hope that it's consistent across the board. So, like everyone's treated in a consistent way. >> That that's Larry left after I did, but my last year here we The rule was if you had cell phone, parents had to come and get it. That gives us a chance to meet the parents, but not always happy. >> [laughter] >> But that was the guideline at the time, but but I think I'm glad that we're using
077some common sense, Dr. Sanders. >> Yes. >> And we'll put some responsibility on students and just long as all the K-12 administrators are on board, I'm good with it. >> Okay, you're moving on to consideration to approve the status quo classified employees agreement. >> Yeah, and this is just a formality for our classified staff um that that are on a contract. Um since we often don't make decisions budgeting decisions and uh bargaining decisions until the fall. We We need to bring to the board these status quo contracts that are technically from July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2027. But if we have an opportunity if if we're going to increase any salaries, then we'll bring revised contracts back to you for approval. So, for tonight, I'm just asking you to approve these status quo contracts.
078>> I move approval for a status quo contract. >> I second the status quo. >> Moved and seconded. >> contracts. Yep. >> Any discussion? All those in favor say aye. >> Aye. >> Opposed? Motion carries. Now, looks like a Let's look to the revision of the administrative guideline regarding holidays. >> Yeah, so this administrative guideline is outdated in terms of the certain positions, 12-month employees, clerical staff, nutrition services, corporation level staff. Um the they received a paid holiday for Memorial Day. Uh well, these positions now their jobs are finished before Memorial Day, and uh so there's no need to to pay them for a paid holiday. They're already off for the summer. So, we just want to amend this administrative guideline 4439 to remove Memorial Day as a holiday pay date. >> Move approval of
079the revised administrative guideline. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. Any discussion? >> Just if the calendar in the future were to get changed and we had to extend it later, we'd have to come back and revisit this. >> Right. >> Okay. Hearing nothing else, all those in favor say aye. >> Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Next is consideration to approve corporation and the handbooks for the buildings. >> Uh yes, so uh Megan Scott um one of the She did a lot of >> She did. >> for our school corporation. >> [snorts] >> Always with a smile. >> Yes. And uh one of the things that she really worked with the principals on this year is going through the handbooks and streamlining it, taking out uh language that that really wasn't needed in the handbook um and
080making it um probably a more useful document for students and parents uh to find information instead of what they want to look for is so buried under information that's not necessary. So, they they addressed that. Uh they obviously went through and made changes based on uh changes in the law and uh Christine really helps us with that going through the handbooks and uh telling us uh hey, this this code changed or this language changed, you need to change that language in the handbook. So, all that's been done uh and uh these will obviously be on our website and uh as soon as uh we can get your approval tonight and um so, recommend your approval. >> I move approval of corporation building handbooks. >> I'll second. >> Moved and seconded. Any discussion? >> I appreciate
081the uh kind of the the presentation so that we could find what the changes were and it was yeah, it was easy to understand and it made sense to me. >> All those in favor say I. I. Opposed? Motion carries. Next is consideration to approve the amendment to the superintendent superintendent's contract addendum. And we had our public hearing before this meeting. And again, the addendum is to alter the salary to 158,000 annual salary and So, this is the fifth amendment to the contract and so like I said, we've gone through what the addendum was during the public hearing. Everything was properly public noticed. We followed the statutory process. And so, I ask for a motion. >> I move to approve the superintendent's contract as as presented. >> I second. >> Moved and seconded. Any discussion?
082Hearing none, all those in favor say I. I. Opposed? Motion carries. Next, we will move to consideration to approve dual credit ACP agreement with Indiana University. >> Yes, this is a annual request that our counselors bring to the the school board that we provide um we provide dual credit opportunities for Edgewood High School ACP courses with Indiana University and this is just a MOU to an agreement that that enables us to do that. >> I move approval of the dual credit ACP agreement with IU. >> I'll second. >> Moved and seconded. Any discussion? >> I just want to thank thank IU for the continued to of that ACP program. Helps helps these college kids out tremendously when they go with credits in their back pocket. >> Well, [snorts] and I saw the list of teachers
083that are teaching those horses, and those are superstars there. >> Absolutely. Yeah, it's it's been wonderful. And it's just continued to grow. My daughter graduated several years ago, and she had pretty much a year of that IU completed before she graduated at Wood. So, it's just an amazing [clears throat] program, and students can really really take advantage of it. And she was involved in show choir and so many other things. So, you can do that and still be involved in many many different things with the with the school. So, so kudos to to to that that program and to IU working with us. Any further discussion? All those in favor, say aye. >> Aye. >> Opposed? Motion carries. Now, last action item is consideration to approve MOU between Indiana University and RB Schools for the
084SEEDS project. >> Yeah, I'm actually going to ask the board to table that. >> Okay, we'll table that. And so, the previous one was our last action. And so, we'll jump right into the business manager's report, and we have Debbie Tank this evening. >> Hi. Good evening. Um so, I gave you guys our projections for the education fund and operations fund, and where we're at currently. Um right now, our projections for both of those funds, they're on target um in line with everything we've been looking at. Um we still have um showing on the operations fund um a $500,000 deficit at the end. Um, but again, and and also with education, we're looking a little over 900,000. Again, like I've mentioned before, we're just constantly we have like these huge spreadsheets and looking at every
085single detail of all the staff coming in and out. I know we discussed it earlier. Um, just looking at everybody, every person, um, all the details with the grants and everything, just making sure we can provide for that, um, long-term and also looking at possible future opportunities um, that are out there. Um, so that's that's kind of where we're at with that. Um, in terms of knowing our full, um, outlook, um, we're kind of thinking at the end of September we're going to have a really good baseline with everything on our projections cuz we're going to have a full month of payrolls once the new people start, once all the changes take place. So, that's going to give us a really good place on where we're going to land and really make some heavy adjustments
086if we need to. Um, so yeah, that's where we're at right now. So, Does anyone have any questions? Yeah? >> And then did but uh So, as of right now our projection is we're digging into the our cash balance of 1 and 1/2 million total. Correct, between the two funds. >> Yeah. >> Okay, so that's that will help that will help me sleep better seeing that like we said the balances of the different grants and which positions are funded out of that. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Which and we're blessed that we had a nice cash balance to begin with. So, >> Yeah, we we are. Yeah, so we're ending like um, so education three we're estimating 3.3 million and then operations 2.5, but we want to make sure protect that. >> Okay, and I want
087to make sure that I know we we are the goal was when when we did the teachers last year we took it out of rainy day Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, we've we've we're dissecting it and looking at every detail, trying to really protect that money. Yeah. That's yeah. Right. There are 54 additions one way or another. I'm going to go home tonight and take my sheet and burn it in my fireplace because it's going to be all over again. And that's the challenge here. There's the challenge of keeping up with all the changes. I'm not saying the change is wrong. They have to. Gary and I discussed that today a little bit. You've got an idea that people moving in and out and people moving out. People leave. So, you've got to replace them. The other
088challenge then for me and whoever I'm talking here with is is this is what this person costs. I'd like to see that. Here's what the replacement cost is. I'd like to see that. Because if when I look at this, it tells me nothing financially. So, we we've got to get into a system that tells me, "Look, I made 100 grand this month." Well, all I cost is 50 grand. And that's what we're having to work at. We're meeting next week to start talking again about September. >> Mhm. >> And where we're headed. We know we have a million dollar problem. We said that over and over. And we need we know we can't get a million in one year. But we got to get half of it. We really do. If you don't get half
089of them, you're in trouble. down road. And and you are blessed with a nice cash balance. Actually, both of us are. And and yet there's you I'm really nervous about the education fund because that's a that's just me. The operations fund states kind of clearly that you're you're going to lose some money there, but there are ways to offset that through bonds and that with buying buses and buying other things. And the people want to know how we're going to live in the future. And how we get that done. >> We have regular financial meetings that involve Debbie, Susan Shockney, Jennifer Barrett and myself and we've got a spreadsheet where we're monitoring looking at ways that we can cut expenses and when we make those changes that Paul talks about, we we see that and
090that's all part of our decision-making process. >> Yeah. It includes the salaries and the benefits on there. What we're what we're gaining, what we're losing and it gives us a total at the end to show our our gains and losses between so that we can balance it out is what we're doing. >> We're we're almost better off than we were before in terms of we have more eyes on this that than ever before. Coming from Debbie who's overseeing the finances along with Paul, Susan Shockney who's overseeing making sure that we're far as HR responsibilities and making sure that we're doing things according to the teachers contract or school policy. She's part of that conversation of course Jennifer and I and it really helps me as superintendent to make decisions having all those folks in the
091room uh helping with that discussion. >> That's why we get so nervous when we have these new positions that come on and just It just worries Really worries us. So, but Any other questions? Thank you so much. Appreciate it. Appreciate you, Paul, and and uh glad that uh we got uh Tim, Debbie, and Paul to help us. So, okay. Um Now, uh superintendent's report. >> Uh yes, I'll try to make this uh quick. Um we're wrapping up summer school at uh EPS, EIS, and the high school uh this week. Uh junior high uh will have their summer school uh the 2 weeks before school starts, July 20th through the 30th. Um and I just wanted to uh brag on our nutrition uh uh services department uh once again. Uh they've provided free breakfast and lunch
092for our summer school students. Uh they're implementing they go after these uh grants that provide us the uh with the funds to uh help feed our our children over the summer. We have uh 650 children who are signed up for the summer meal pickup program. Uh they receive uh uh breakfast and lunch uh five meals uh for breakfast, five meals for lunch per child. Uh this is uh can run It's already started. It goes through June 18th. Uh so, it's it's going to be finishing up this week. Um Let's see. Uh they also had uh we're doing something pretty cool over at the high school this week. Uh they have uh some uh uh nutrition uh services um experts. Uh they're nationally recognized experts in K-12 school nutrition and culinary education, Kathy Powers and Chef
093Sam, who are providing training to 43 school nutrition specialists. Some are from our school corporation, but many others. And then that provides our nutrition services department to be able to prepare healthy meals meals that meet the the changing guidelines. And so I think it's pretty cool that our new kitchen at the high school that we're we're hosting that event. Um And then I have to give a a shout-out to Alyssa Drewes, who's once again doing Camp Invention. And it's a STEM-focused summer program. They're building claw machines, studying, taking apart robots, learning about Antarctica and optical illusions. And so that is going on this week. They have 145 campers. They have actually this year they have 15 high school leadership interns who are helping out and 11 teachers or directors. And then this last item um
094I was just thinking about this recently. Um Our school corporation does a really good job in making sure that we're staying compliant with the law. And we do that through a variety of ways. Our obviously we have the best corporation attorney in the in the country with us tonight and Ferguson Law, Dave Ferguson, such a great guy. And we call on Christine all the time. And if we have special education issues or title nine issues, uh, we reach out to Jessica Hieser. Uh, she specializes in those areas. She's with Imprint Legal Group. Uh, I mentioned earlier tonight that we use Neola uh, to help us with our school board policies. And then we're active as a board and as a superintendent in attending law conferences. So, I believe Larry and Brad just uh, attended the
095um, uh, or yeah, the the ISBA law conference uh, last week and will they usually have one in June and one in December. Uh, I was on vacation last week so I couldn't attend that one. Um, uh, but I will be attending the IU law conference uh, June 18th. Uh, on Thursday so, um, I just say that share that because I just want our community to know that we do we work really hard to make sure that we're doing things the way we're supposed to be doing them. >> Thank you very much. Uh, RVBEA comments? Nobody is here this evening. All right. So, uh, board member comments? Mr. DeMoss. >> Uh, yeah, I went to the ISBA Brad and I went to the conference on last Tuesday. And it was very good. I I think
096it's best one I've been to. And much of the discussion was about cell phones surprisingly enough. But, um, yeah, it was very insightful. And then, uh, just welcome to all the new folks who that are joining us and, uh, uh, looking forward to the new school year. >> Mr. Garver. >> Thank you. Yeah, same here. Welcome to the new hires. Uh, I was fortunate enough to be asked to be on the the committee to look at our new basketball coach and uh, Connor Bales just took our socks off in there. I mean just right right from the start. So we're really tickled with that. Mr. Siglens, good to see you tonight. >> [laughter] >> Appreciate you for us. Um Christine Yeah, thank you so much for taking care of us. Uh I heard a a
097disturbing announcement on the news either yesterday or today that 600,000 children this summer will go without regular meals. And that was just so disturbing to me, but you know, I look here at 650 we've got right here in Ellettsville, Stinesville area. So it wouldn't take much to get to that half a million 600,000 600,000 students. So again, I think we're just in great shape. Our school system is running well. Our board is running well, and I appreciate you guys so much. So thank you. >> Mr. Tucker. >> I'll piggyback to what Judy's talking about the >> the meals that I think Dr. Sands that's that's kudos to Miss Coffee, correct? Cuz that's all run through the nutrition services which is amazing to me that we're serving 650 kids. That's 25% of our population of our
098student population. So that's awesome. So thank best of luck to the new hires tonight. Um and again Miss Bar- Miss Barlow, thanks for being there last week to law conference. I will tell you you sit with the Owen County people so they you build them not us. Just so you know. Okay. All right, I knew you were going to do that to me. All right, so yeah, thank you. >> I need to drive faster. >> All right. >> I'll say one more thing about Miss Coffee. I know I said this a thousand times. I've been on the board for so long. When we hired Miss Coffee, the >> Oh. >> food >> It was >> service was at quarter of a million dollars in debt. >> Yeah. >> And that's been 20 years ago or
09920 at least 20 20 years ago. So it's a great thing. She's She's built bought a bus and you know, just fantastic. So I think that's it. That's the president. >> Yeah, little square pizzas back in the day. Little square pizzas. That was about it for lunch. >> [laughter] >> So yeah, she's done a great job. >> Square pizzas. >> Yeah, it's difficult going last. I appreciate all the comments and and they they were good. I um appreciate the visitor comments and and you know, it's whenever you name something I that's a a difficult process to to go through. I know we've talked about getting a policy together on how that might work. It's never come to fruition yet, but that's something we we should work on sooner than later and I do appreciate Dr.
100Sanderson. We've would you know would have conversations about that. Um and I appreciate them coming to to speak you know, what they what they felt. So appreciate that. Um I just want to brag on the the students of graduation. It was a beautiful ceremony. Everything went so well. Um all the [clears throat] performances, all the speeches. Um it just was a really really wonderful experience. And uh I just was so happy to have the honor to be a part of that. And it makes sitting up here and all the stresses and and things worthwhile because I know it's it's worth it in the end for for those kids. So I appreciate you all coming out tonight and this meeting is adjourned. >> [music] [music]