001[Music] thank you [Music] foreign all right we now call the Wednesday July 12th meeting to order please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all right we get the reading of the mission statement please Richmond Community Schools guides students on Pathways of learning to a future of Limitless possibilities and the vision statement Richmond Community Schools a collaborative Community nurturing mind body and spirit to prepare students for lives of choice purpose and service all right we're going to start off tonight with our public commentary uh Bridget we've got four people signed up is that right for staff we have a living and as you're walking up Lily
002I'm going to say a few words so for those who wish to comment at tonight the maximum tonight maximum time is five minutes please keep your comments back-faced and within the time permitted they're not to be personally directed or abusive comments recognizing the work of staff and students are always welcome however critical remarks concerning specific School Personnel or students are to be made through the complaint process available in policy 8130 also only agenda items can be discussed during public commentary so hopefully you've had a chance to look through the agenda items that are discussed and I do want to say it is different that work session is different than a board meeting which is why the that in mind um is that something that you're uh it is not okay um so is there anything
003on the agenda that is something you wanted to come yes okay I can make this relate so um hello everybody I am here on our Lily Vincent I'm the favorite art teacher I'm here on behalf of the Richmond Education Association racial Equity Coalition I think especially because you are discussing the initiation of a police force Within do I need to be thinking a lot about race and how we can be thoughtful going forward so we are a group of Educators community members and stakeholders who are working to support and further the school board's goal of promoting diversity equity and inclusion in order to improved schools um most of you guys have spoken to some of our members um and we're really excited that the majority of you are in support of an equity policy um
004I'm here to ask that you prioritize that creation and um pass a Dei policy for our student s um this is a policy that is a bottom-up commitment to our students and our community I've heard from many of you that we must hire more black and Latino Educators this is true but are we showing our black and Latino students that Richmond Community Schools cherishes and supports them is this a community that those students want to stay in right now the answer is no our teachers are told anything that promotes black lives matter is not allowed so thank you for your time with you guys soon and also in this format we are able to interact so if anyone has questions or comments uh for Lily in regards to this um thought is it you know
005Dei as it pertains to the police comments no but later it is related good pivot Lily they're related okay any all right next Bridget next then we have Richmond Police Department's chief good afternoon my friend I'm the chief of Richmond Indiana Police Department felt it necessary for me to speak to this group today so that everybody present here in the public knows that this is not something that came up overnight Dr myself there's no we've had a series of meetings in which culminated in the concept of creating Christian Community Schools Police Department that was not my first choice just to be honest and I made it clear from from the beginning of this I feel that Britain police officers should be policing risk for Community students condition of our industry in general especially local people
006will have a Manpower support Target but what you have chosen to do is old undertaking you and your administrative staff we've had some very very important discussions about this and uh I also want to speak for just a moment I think you're on the right path with this it's not easy to create a police department key thing that is needed to create a police department is decide designating a leader for that police what I understand you're considering Rick Falls to lead this department I am here to voice my support for that selection because of unity students he's unread for a long time Rick and I similar background in anticipation of this Rick and I have also had a couple of personal meetings in my office development of this I can't tell you everything that needs
007to happen to create please accept selection of Rick falls's at first it's clear that Richmond police department and the City of Richmond supports you in this endeavor and anything that you can do to assist you in development of this new police department I have a little bottle of title and all in my car I'm going to get rich before I leave that's all I have to say to thank you for allowing me to speak thank you sir no we really appreciate your support you're coming here your partnership your if it was good for us to be able to collaborate with you to get to this point um no it's not yes but together yeah you're just we all have the common good of fits in mind safety and Welfare again Chief just as you mentioned
008throughout the course of our dialogue throughout the course of our continued partnership um the humility that we all have involved in and engulfed through and with has been remarkable guides support wisdom insight as well as also helping us expect processes to avoid detour and now get around issues that other school corporations as a result of not having strength and Partnerships so your presence here this this evening and throughout the course of this Forum we're going to continue as you mentioned as you started with to assure our community that we're just as safe as we happen and we'll work to continue let's increase enhanced part our Safety and Security and all the partnership that we had been in with Richmond Police Department fast Wayne County Sheriff's Department no matter what just as you finished excluded with
009we know that we can count on you so all the chairs at work hospital this has been a collective Endeavor um make sure that our faculty staff students and stakeholders to visit our school classes so thank you so much for being here other board members for central office staff or I guess there's a ton of work that goes on to develop the police Administration and make sure our teaser crossed and eyes are down I appreciate it it's my honor providing you guys the most important thing to mention here is is the choice similar backgrounds in order for me to be um the example they get your department needs to is as we've previously discussed we are always there for Community Schools as the Richmond police department and there has been times when we our response
010begin called there's Community Schools gets a priority One on political cards we have we have had a minute and a half response times here yes yes we take security schools I concur with what you referenced as far as the ownership and pride that you major fails as well as major tomage yes and the team as well as a miracle an ownership in Pride that you all have exhibited of course this process we wanted to make sure that our schools were safe and wanted to as you mentioned go about it doing it on the Euros departments and curfew but with certain senses that you have with personnel and some of those challenges to support me and so on I can talk forever on this but you've brought up one is I had this the zinc Leisure
011to have two Deputy Chiefs we are a team and it takes everything that all three of us have to make this month your Chief leases to have team members which is very important that uh under this roof ing players you can't you won't be able to do it and then not distill any of his Thunder as he comes out but we will have the same tier one quality that the officer as we've always had and we're looking to add to our numbers I see it uh Tony Cross is uh I just wanted to emphasize one thing for the public because it kind of sounds like we're like you expanding our chest to hit the tape to finish line and in fact this is very much an embryonic state of development of our police department and
012we couldn't have gotten to where we are without certainly the help and consultation of the chief but there's a lot of work you have to do I know media said well there's a lot of questions that I have about the details well there's a lot of questions we have about the detail those details are sometimes yet to be determined the difference between creating the police force which I think we can say we have done and activating it are two different things and that's going to the activation process is where we'll be going on will certainly be Reliant upon your expertise I'm sure in that of the sheriff I can't emphasize enough I've been involved in this since I think we the first time we really undertook the sros is when Missy Hollis was here and
013we had the safe schools Grant and that helped us get off the ground I believe Sheriff's strip better was the one involved at the time I could be wrong with that but in any event it was so obvious the benefit of the program once the grant expired there was no question that the Ford was going to find Monies to continue to fund it and has done so and I think it's just an evolution to where now we're probably to the point where we need to kind of take the next step and that's what we're talking about doing but it would be totally uh dishonest or intellectually dishonest not to recognize the contributions departments are made in the past and always having the backup of RPD particularly with the elementary so we weren't able to assign
014an SRO to the elementary so it's it's been a team effort that got us as far and it's going to have so that's us saying thank you the children is huge issue with me as I said before I wish that I've heard to supply the Manpower again I I don't want to speak before Sheriff Ritter but if you were here just to capitalize them with congregation mad with him just as you had shaken my hand and giving me your word that you have our backside and our into our sixth covered our chair of Runner is also mentioned that throughout the course of this processing too you are now becoming a part of collect Ive thank you thank you all right next we move on to item 3.01 with the consent items Dr Wright uh president
015Stokes Trust come before you walk it was for approval consent item 4.01 Human Resources report and it didn't pass so moved all right we've got a motion a second all right any questions or comments okay seeing none all those in favor say aye aye those opposed nay passes 6 6 ready next we have uh action items 5.01 for 20 updated school board meeting the board approved the updated 2023 school board meeting dates due to fall break the only meeting in October will be will be October 18th 2023 is what we are proposing and presenting I come to you all for approval um second any questions or comments I simply want to point out to the public that this was done because it it will break and we want anyone who is in our district to
016be able to actually attend our meetings instead of feeling like you have to choose between a board meeting and fall break I know that's a tough choice but so that's kind of what we were looking at here all right so uh all those in favor we have a first and a second all those in favor say aye those opposed name vote passes 6-0 All Right Moving On president stults trustees or hatch an item Five Points zero two I asked cameras yeah good evening tonight before you is the memorandum of understanding for adult education at the Wayne County we have continued this program for a number of years and for the 23 20 school year we would like to continue this program it is a very positive resource for our community and we do see a
017quite a bit of use in the Wayne County Jail program for these courses so it's my recommendation tonight that we approved the mlu with Wayne County or jail services for adult education all right we have a motion in a second any questions or comments going to be a change in the primary educator in the jail is is that personal argument s gone through the HR process so we are excited to welcome Lori Fallon with us and she has been active in our community for a little while doing other things but she will now be a part of the education program at the adult Education Center in the jail so um they are really excited to have her on board we have a really great team over there of teachers that not only only teach Adult
018Ed but we also have a few High School teachers that go over in the evenings and assist as well so it's a super great team they are looking forward to this new edition and it'll be another day opportunity I spoke with Mrs Fowler she actually went in and shadowed and just kind of was very impressed with the program as as it stands and was really excited to get it it's big shoes to fill from yes yes and that's one thing I can't say thank you to Chris and up he has been a tremendous partner in this and he came out of retirement to do this for us and so um I think he'll still be around a little bit um yeah so um but he has been tremendous over there and he has made giant
019strides um the Educators there do and so we cannot say thank you enough he has just been one right so we'd have a motion and a second on the table um have any other questions or comments okay moving on uh all those in favor say aye those opposed nay passes 6-0 Dr Ray president Stoltz trustees I ask that Mr Marvel good evening tonight I bring to you our yearly agreement with Head Start we recommend providing special education services for all Head Start locations but they have the Richmond Community School boundaries this is a provision within article 7 and supports our child fine obligations with this approval we will provide services at the local educational Agency for Head Start schools within the Richmond Community Schools district so tonight I ask that the board approved the agreement
020for special education services with Head Start as presented I'll move the we approved 4.03 heads in our group any questions or comments seeing none all those in favor say aye aye opposed nay vote passes 6-0 all right 5.04 that's right president Stoltz trustees I ask that Mrs marwood enjoyed it yet again 4.04 the exceptional Education Services agreements smart okay next I'm bringing three agreements for your approval as outlined in the memo for this action item the Agreements are for our blind low vision Mobility specialist Services occupational therapy services and school psychologist services and all these are required positions in our special education department so I ask that the board approve these agreements as presented we have a motion I move we approve action and employed 4.04 second any questions or comments these are just continuation
021agreements from what we've had in the past without change yes sir all right all those in favor say aye aye those opposed nay vote passes 6-0 on to 5.05 Dr Wright there's been so much trustees I come before you or 94.05 the 324 preschool rates and tuition agreement giving the charge sometimes opened by our board to extend offerings for our community when it comes to preschool we are excited to come before him to recommend the water School trustees accept the following preschool rates in the 2023-202 school year half a rate of five dollars which is no change to a previous practice has been a full day rate School rates and tuition seconds any questions or comments Howard is that part of our grant or so our our school lunch program actually handles breakfast for the
022morning class afternoon class gets lunch and then the all day would get both so it is a part of the funded programs okay yeah so the national school lunch program through 12 so it does fit preschool and they do have some different um like measurements that have to be done but all of that is coordinated through we have been doing that all right so we have a motion on the table as well as the second all those in favor say aye aye those opposed nay ton passes Dr Wright 5.06. president Stokes Trustees for action item 4.06 I come before you and it is our recommendation that the board of school trustees except for the memorable of understanding Community University Advanced College project in the Indiana college core also known as ICC for Richmond High School
023the 2023-20 minutes Revolution emotionally approved 4.6 second all right any questions or comments this is strictly with IU East have we partnered on any of the college or with IB Tech or cause we still have a discrepancy in our GPA waiting I think with Ivy Tech versus iue's classes even though a College course seem exactly the same by the state and so to answer a question we have been in partnership with I've been taking the past practice so I've been informed just as of last year we were looking to strengthen that partnership Personnel change that occurred in at that particular time we enhance and increase our partnership by Indian version however with Ivy Tech they have offerings that other school corporations around the sea center the Indiana area and really take advantage of we are
024currently alongside able to strengthen our orphans alongside the inner University football friends that have been over all fast and so collectively over the course of time as I've understood both entities in the University East and Ivy Tech collaboratively receive credit over to your question we are truly looking forward to increasing our Google credit experience of all friends and opportunities for all of our students I don't want to steal his Thunder I want to introduce the world to Mr Mark Fowler here shortly our new Chief secondary education and he can tell us more about himself but also his background when it comes to Google credit and his drive to see to it that our students are put in positions to be successful during their 9-12 experience and so to answer your question yes in short yeah
025and this is working today and this is working to build races is that correct working to build our ACP offerings versus the AP offerings uh yes yes sir again it's also as things will come back it's not an ACP rap I mean they're different paths for different kids different kids I don't think we're replacing one with another no this is the same annual they should understand but there are dollars available to us what students to achieve their Indiana core and and it's it's probably more because you have to pass test to get the students and those options need to be available gender they are so I would would not be in favor but going one route at the expense of the other I think we can pursue both routes of fidelity and our AP work
026I think needs work and I think in there but I would caution going down one lane any other questions or comments we have a motion on the table as well as a second all those in favor say aye those opposed nay vote passes six zero next we have 4.07 Dr Wright president still Trustees for action item 4.07 I asked the Mr Baker I'm joined the reform for a program request for approval Mr Baker good evening it is the recommend it is recommendation of the School Board of Trustees that you accept the 23 24 RCS code of conduct as presented we've heard repeatedly from staff and student staff that student attendance behavior and dress code are concerns revisions have been made to the K-12 code of conduct as a response Elementary and secondary Behavior matrices have
027been created that are vertically aligned building in District level attendance interventions have been revised by our own by our own attendance officers our administrators attend attended attendance training with our juvenile prosecutor probation department and school resource officers to prepare supporting evidence and also the dress code will be enforced we have a second second questions or comments normally policies are a two-step process seen as policies the code of conducts basically renewed every year 45s every year policy generates from the Board of Trustees this code of conduct is a basically a couple collaborative effort at the probability level building levels among the principles there and is submitted only for approval not for adoption for saved by the Florida Crystal allergic Leanne as Mr Baker reference and as shared with the majority of our Educators without the corporation
028last school year this upcoming year what we are lucky to do is make sure that while providing all of the necessary supports academically social emotionally for all of our students we also open to be in many levels of accountability the measures of accountability to see two within our faculty the staff because doing things our students are coming to school to do but they are required something here I'm exercising again accountability continues I would recommend to get dialogue or pressure any of our press releases for back to school as I mentioned with you know dress code and some of the some of the topics that are for me to be reinforced with this for the families everything to be on the lookout for uh to your point student absenteeism as well as student behaviors those are
029two areas that take away from instructional practitioners AKA classroom teachers from being the effective Educators that they aspire to be and we know that in order for us to move and change the students more privilege to serve them they have to be at school doctor right if I may add um today I was a part of a session one uh it's a two-part series for the tbri training and there were an exceptional amount of Educators taking a day today and a day tomorrow full day to be trained and it's yes as far as from what I was a part of today it was exceptional um the amount of training and I appreciate um you tell the public what TBR is um it's trust-based relations intervention thank you yes and um I know Elizabeth worked very
030hard to um to help facilitate that training and I I was blown away to see the number of participants from Richmond in fact there was one educator who hopped on from um Fort Wayne and uh he he actually was in my my breakout group and I was very proud of our administrators also in that group trying to go ahead and attract and retain him over um taking that opportunity and uh so um but he was he was blown away and he had shared that to see the interactions with um our Educators so I just wanted to our administrative teams for building along with many of ourselves a point Educators that are all participatory it was to be an exclusive Richmond Community Schools experience but so this is the second of a two-day training we had
031our first one in June our second one's happening now the third one's happening in September and a lot of positive feedback from building administrators from teachers and now from central office and I I will tell you and that that was something I shared one of our breakout groups is you can replace um you can take a lot of those practices and introduce them in your interactions professionally your relationships um there it was it was something really that there was a foundation for all of your inner interactions that you could build upon I appreciate it if you have a question about the the approach um Fresco has been mentioned a bunch I would be curious how our faculty and staff dress code will be addressed and personally would prefer that be addressed before we crack on
032the kids working top down versus making the kids have a strict dress code and then still have a relaxed dress code for exactly well as as we understand those areas and has been more policy when it comes to our professional reform and guidelines those are things that in communication with our faculty staff as we have fast that we are going to be moving through dialogue in a meaningful way to return with revised in short we're going to be would be best to leave I think right we have a motion and a second on the table in regards to 4.07 the code of conduct so all those in favor say aye those opposed nay all right moving on to 4. point oh eight okay presidents don't trustees I asked that Mr Brent Baker rejoined the conversation
033for action item 4.08 in 2022 I'm sorry 2023 2024. Baker and so Mr Baker is excited to report I come before you as a handoff [Laughter] athletic handbook as presented you have a motion good for approval any questions or comments okay um you try and keep up with some of the changes here it looks like we're creating a a coaching or an athletic department review board that will have according to the document finals say uh I don't know and Mr Cross might be it I guess I would like to have you know what is that true that doesn't seem like that's truly the final say so if a student athlete is kicked off the team and athletic offices or kicked off the team does that student then in the family do they only have legal
034repercussions or would it be make sense for our Corporation to have a rarely used board level or more probably likely administrative level that they would then review that I guess I have concerns with everything being within Athletics and know kind of if that's you know that's where it ends and you know we've all seen the cake the court cases well the answer to your question is I can only speak to the legal aspects essentially I think it's a fair statement that fine really unusual facts participation in ECA is is an opportunity but it's not considered as part and in a little bright if you will of the education process the issues you raise I think are obvious issues that duration but those are policy issues as opposed to legalism all right if I have a
035kid who's if you've been treated unfairly chances are I'll be at that microphone some school board meeting at some point in time after following the process of filing complaints and all that and I think that's that's one of your you're always available as a I think the issue you really want to think about is whether you want to put some intermediary steps that the building or at the high school level if you're thinking about that and now it gets to the board I think we had one get to come to the board and so it seems like there should be another step in between it's a fundamental precept of labor law dealing with grievances that applies in context wherever it grievance arises is the earlier resolve the better because the farther up the process it
036goes the more polarize the issues become it's harder to get people together so those are policy issues but as far as the law requiring them it does not and we can't prevent them from coming to the board I mean it's you want to but I would say you can have a motion and a second on the table all those in favor say aye aye those opposed nay vote passes 60 to write president stults trustees I asked for accidental 4.09 that is Jamie boulter I join us thank you Dr Wright in an effort to enhance the overall Safety and Security of the school Community last month the board of school trustees approved resolution number 2023-04 resolution establishing the operating authorization for Richmond Community Schools Police Department police officers assigned to school corporation receive the highest quality
037training specialized in the educational environment in addition to the National Association of school resource Officers nazro Training each rcspd officer will be a graduate of the Tier 1 Indiana Law Enforcement Academy this is the highest level of training available school-based officers focus on the Safety and Security of students staff and visitors in addition our cspd officers will build relationships which can promote trust open communication and positive interactions they serve as mentors Role Models resources for students helping to foster a safe and supportive School environment through the recently dissolved SRO management agreement mou that Richmond Community Schools RCS held with the Wayne County Sheriff's Department all Personnel expenses were paid in full by RCS that will remain with the creation of our cspd Wayne County Sheriff's Department previously deputized Officer Rick thalles Cody Dudley and Dustin
038Cushing and stationed the officers to serve at RCS all three dedicated officers will remain on staff with rcspd as Tier 1 police officers the same highest distinction previously held when deputized by Wayne County Sheriff's Department RCS will continue to pay their salaries and benefits as done historically our cspd officers will focus on the Essential Safety needs of the district and the school community it is recommended that officer thawles transition from area manager of school safety resources to the chief of police of rcspd Officer thawles is currently also serving as the interim Chief of Police it is further recommended that officers deadly and Cushing remain as school resource officers all officers will transition from the Wayne County Sheriff's Department enforcement authority to rcspd Authority pursuant to or pursuant to ic36-8-2-2 and under the recently dissolved mou
039the Wayne County Sheriff's Department performed all necessary background checks and other hiring Provisions when these officers were originally hired by RCS and deputized by the Wayne County Sheriff's Department this recommendation is a continuation of employment and transition of assignment rcspd will continue to work closely with our dedicated professionals at the Wayne County Sheriff's Department the Richmond police department and other emergency responders to coordinate efforts related to school safety all right do we have a motion move for approval [Music] seconded by Mr Walton any questions or comments all right all those in favor please say aye aye those opposed nay vote passes six to zero all right next we have 4.10 Dr Wright president I do apologize with the last approval of our new chief of Richmond Community Schools Police Department McDowell there has always been
040in the law enforcement space such a ceremony and or a tribute and in the department to a newly selective teeth and so with that you won't mind I want to ask that Chief thoughts join us and with our notary public and master and you know many traits Mrs scoff is going to join me in carrying out this it's a bit of a Sarah all right yes all right I will support and defend the constitution of the important Constitution of the United States of America and the constitution of the state of Indiana and the constitution of the state of Indiana and I will faithfully and impartially just discharge my duties faithfully and impartially discharge my duties of the office of chief of police the office of chief of police for the Richmond Community Schools Police Department
041the Richmond Community Schools Police Department state of Indiana according to the law state of India according to the law and the best of my ability so help me back congratulations [Applause] Chief Falls if you don't mind just share it a few words before you rejoin us for presentation absolutely it's a truly an honor a privilege Dr Wright alluded I may give a little bit of a presentation on where we're at with things here in a few minutes but for now I just want to say thank you I like to bring people a heck of a lot smarter with me almost like a show and tell and my father's sitting in the back laid the groundwork of where we all are it truly is an honor and a privilege to be before you today and to
042accept it's been challenged except the responsibility for protecting our most precious assets that any of us have before us today so I accept that right I graciously thank you and I look forward to where we go from there again we'll we'll talk about a little bit about that in a few minutes thank you and I would I would like to ask that you'd stick around after the board meeting um I would love to get a picture with the board this is a monumentous occasion um so if you don't mind um indulging us and again as uh Chief dolls we also carried out a very similar ceremony as he was sworn in his intern which he was a few weeks ago and I know he's going to Enlighten us as to the progress and hard work
043he had his team have been under on the way with but I will say that when it comes to the name of fobbles it's synonymous synonymous with safe and secure and without becoming emotional welcome and thank you and thank you to the gentlemen who paid the week thank you sir [Applause] so we're moving on we've got two more action items uh 4.10 the cheer camp Dr I guess man president Stones trustees I come before you this evening to ask for approval of action item 4.10 so our Cheer Camp 2023 Camp will occur Wednesday August 2nd from 9 A.M to 12 p.m it will include tumbling techniques cheering along with a slew of fun and so again as president I come to you for approval for action item 4.10 no motion second okay Mr mops all
044right any questions or comments uh worth mentioning that we have a new cheer coach too this is Jessica Shady yeah so we're excited about that yes welcome to Jessica definitely excited to have her join us and I believe we have a new assistant as well right Ashland Moore is the assistant and we both of our new coaches have a plethora of experience when it comes to Walmart I believe there's some professional experience and uh I think our community and our students to participate in those programs are going to benefit as a tremendous instruction they have hit the ground running and they have been very accurate Jessica was a college cheerleader yeah I don't want to share any of your personal experiences I think you too have uh okay um Jessica's mom was a long time
045no what coach here for Richmond also a lot of history there a lot of history thank you all right so we have a motion on the table and a second um all those in favor say aye all right those opposed nay vote passes 6-0 and next we move on to 4.11 Dr Dre president president I come before you this evening were actualizing 4.11 appointments with action item 4.11 I'm simply recommending that this is Jamie bolzer our chief financial Union Resources officer be appointed a School treasurer for Richmond Community School for the period of July 1st through December 31st 2023 as well as recommendation recommendation for those who Swafford current business coordinator let's continue as appointed Deputy treasurer for Richmond Community Schools for the original period of January 1st 2023 through December 31st of 2823 and
046finally the recommendation that the water School trustees appointed the following persons as representatives for Richmond Community Schools authorized to open and calculate bids myself as superintendent this is Jamie bolzer as Chief Financial Human Resources officer this is Canon Scout as Chief Operating Officer Mr Alexander hazelbaker director of technology and finally this is Melissa Swafford as a business coordinator as presented does this resend or uh a previous appointments that were made on January it would replace those original ones with the uh to reflect the new Personnel reorganization yeah episode all right so we have a motion by Mr zalewski we have a second by Mr Walton any other questions or comments seeing none uh let's go ahead and vote all those in favor aye aye those opposed nay vote passes six two zero all right we're
047now moving on to the work session of our meeting up right residence doubles trustees I ask that our newly appointed chief Rio revisit ourselves for a presentation and an update as to where we are with our recently formed Richmond Community Schools Police Department chief Lord sir welcome back thank you sir uh again it's a kind of a surreal moment to be before you after the pop and circus stands up tonight and things that are occurring but I know it's also very important for us as a community to know exactly where we've been where we're at and where we're going past couple of months first thank you any community members board members that have expressed the concern the emotions or fears that it's kind of surrounded what we've done the past couple of months as a
048corporation the reason I say thank you is that you're showing that care and compassion that you have for the children and staff members in these buildings that we are all sworn or affirmed care about and protect so it's not anything that any of us think to like to say that I've had a little bit of a pulse on everything for the past couple of months if not longer would be an understatement but also the to share with you that that the trend the the way that we are moving forward isn't unique in the history of where our SRO programs have been not that any of you need a history lesson but as a nazro trained school resource officer one of the three elements of a school resource officer is to be a teacher a law
049enforcement related matters so if you humor me for a moment we'll go back into the troglodytes of 1987 when a guy with the same name a lot taller was a picked by the Richmond police department and your board and predecessors chose to be innovative and put an officer in the schools as a community outreach through the Richmond Police Department and see where it went it was before there was even the term SRO that we're all comfortable today officer friendly actually what it was called that's how I began and he grew that program and it developed and we all know the benefits of that program they developed to the point of where we said you know what we need to do more than just the Richmond High School we need more officers to be in the
050other schools making more of an impact building relationships with children in the program adaptive it changed it became the supervisor for four different sros throughout the district covering Dennis Middle School CYS test in high school you gave employees at the Richmond Community Schools they were deputized by the Wayne County Sheriff's Department for being an officer from the original Police Department into that structure that we most recently became accustomed to a month ago the resolution was passed for us to move forward with the police department for the Richmond Community Schools a new adapt Chase adaptation a new change is before us once again you guys have chosen to be very innovative and Forward Thinking in protecting the children staff and guest the Virgin community schools the properties that they own kudos to you the main concern
051when I say I had a pulse on where we're at right now the main concern is the timeline that's what we've all heard in the public nobody really disagrees with the adaptations or the changes that are going on it's can it be done prior to those children coming back to Richmond Community School on August the 7th yes that date is drilled into my head that we are going to be ready their concerns are legitimate but also the research that went into this didn't happen overnight I didn't present a resume to you today I didn't introduce myself because a lot of you know me we are our we are in a small community but some of the experiences that I bring from the sheriff's department my previous employer as the chief deputy the networking that I
052didn't think much about at the time but when it came time to start making phone calls to people saying hit me up to speed here that has shown very beneficial I've talked to um School corporations chief of police of different School Corporation school-based police departments from across the nation to help figure out the pitfalls seven months was about what most people said it took to get this bill but when I got down in the weeds what slowed you down where can we be more efficient that's where I became confident we can get to August the 7th the elements that are in place that are have happened already is to give you the updates we have provided the paperwork to the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy we've gotten the response back from them acknowledging us as a
053new police department we are now authorized to hire and track the training for any officer of the Richmond Community Schools Police Department as a result of that we were prepared for that at the point that you passed the resolution we were prepared to move forward we didn't wait to figure out that process we look for efficient ways to make this happen as quickly as possible equipment is a big one we have to make sure our officers are properly equipped for the job we're asking them to do as the chief Deputy I was also the quartermaster for the Wayne County Sheriff's Department so again I got on that phone started explaining to people what we were doing and guess what it's not just the Richmond community that loves children it's people across the state and those
054vendors have stepped up I'm guaranteed August 1st we will have all the equipment for each of our officers approved tonight to be in place day one August the 7th I am confident that will be we have also secured the services of a professional Service Agency called lexapol they provide policy Work Management and implementation specific for law enforcement agencies to make sure that we are following best practices standards within our industry and that we have the policies in place to help guide us as Law Enforcement Officers to do the right thing at the right time those policies I some have described them as the policies that keep you up at night as a chief I describe them as the ones that give me heartburn thinking about those are the ones that we are currently working on
055starting now those policies are being implemented between now and August the 7th the relevant policies will have been drafted for us to discuss how to implement so that our officers on August 7th are operating under proper policy for a law enforcement agency that Ball's rolling each of these balls are rolling those are the key elements that we need to have in place to make sure we meet that deadline on August the 7th the networking that I referred to a minute a minute ago and uh the reference I made earlier to Bringing people a lot smarter than me to the table when we talk I I can't and I I know she had to step out for a moment but I can't say thank you enough to him he's right we do Cheryl a lot very
056similar path through our different departments but transgression through the departments that we work for and he always seems to be the one and I get on that phones they help me help me figure this out and you dealt with this and again he steps up tonight unprovoked on my part say the things that you said so thank you to him but I bring that up and I want to say thank you everybody there is no doubt in my mind let's think about life for a minute August 1st I'm guaranteed to have the equipment for the officers how much is a guarantee work today we get stuck on a cargo ship mail to the wrong address we are on a tight timeline there is not room for error which means we have to have concessions in
057place plan B's and things but I hope tonight if nothing else the public and you are confident even if we do not which we will we will never allow the safety and the security of the children the staff members and the guests of Richmond Community School to be compromised we will have a solution in place has employees there's we are able to build two of the three Triad models of the Nazareth the teacher the counselor mentor we can do that with or without a badge the law enforcement officer we need the equipment to stand in that Gap against violence we need that equipment to do that so I have no doubt in my mind that we can address all three of those things on August 7th either with the plan that's in place currently the
058timeline that's in place the confidence that we will get there or any other detours we need to take to accomplish that along the path as we go so hopefully that filled in a few of the gaps some of the questions I think Mr Cross mentions earlier there are a lot of particularities that go into creating a department some nobody can ever predict you'll learn them as you go you don't know what you don't know and you figure them out as you so I for the past several months I've been learning what I don't know figuring out what we need to figure out and I still stand before you today confident we are on track we are figuring those things out I welcome the questions to me especially now that I am that figurehead or chief
059employees for the original Beauty Schools Police Department I expect that I want that I also want to make sure today that we are able to close that Gap in those narratives so that you too can speak to your constituents about what's going on because I know you've had a lot of questions as well but as you get questions you don't know answers to if you don't you will have my cell phone number and we will we will get through those conversations I will guide you through those I will tell you exactly what we're doing why we're doing it and we will make sure that we're not only transparent with you at the Board of Trustees but more importantly we're transparent with the public and what our Police Department is doing and why we are doing
060it which is a good segue into the final thing I want to talk about is where we're going the transparency into what we do and why we do it is Paramount to the training and the beliefs of the officers that you put in place a school resource officers and or a chief of police the care and compassion has to be there the relationship building has to be there that's an element in our hiring process is that we will be focusing on in future hires I am so thankful for the fact that we will start with an equal Workforce as we ended last year the faces will be the same to the kids and staff the uniform might be a difference but the basis will be the same the relationship will be the same that is
061huge for us moving forward as we hire new employees as we get to full staff again with four officers as we bring that right person into the equation that's where we will start to look at programming and things that we can do as a group to make an impact on the children in the community as a whole where we need that assessment still has to be completed that will be completed it'd be input from you trust me I've got a lot of input already on attendance and vape but we will continue to get the input on where we are needed and we will be a part of creating programming that will allow us to interact not always in an enforcement capacity but it will allow us to interact in a relationship building capacity to solve
062the problem they have the SRO program historically has proven that relationships matter the program started and was built on relationships as it adapted it maintained its focus on relationships and as we move forward we will continue to look at the relationships that we owe dear to us with these children the staff the parents they needed guests the Richmond Community Schools so in closing I'm excited I hope that I'm not an overly emotional person but at the same time I hope you seen me smile a little bit more than I remember you say because I am I'm excited about this I'm passionate about this and I'm I feel privileged to be a part of this so knowing that I can't answer every single question in a presentation I do open it up for questions from anybody
063for that matter so [Music] moving forward can you kind of talk about a plan a little bit or your your idea of are we going to continue with three officers are we looking to expand that into other buildings or just kind of give us your goal yes and I'm glad you brought that up I think I kind of left that out of something I intended to bring up earlier is because we do have to have a plan for that day one now August 7th and then where are we going to go from there so August 7th the intention is to pick up right where we left off at last year we had an SRO myself at the high school performing those duties Dennis Middle School had an SRO at it as well as well as
064CYS those were the three schools that we routinely covered as an SRO group last year that's the intention of what we will be doing on August the 7th the test and Elementary buildings will continue to be serviced as needed and as they're able to by the Richmond Police Department one of our previous conversations that he alluded to those were one of the talking points that we talked about we want to make sure everything stays the same on August the 7th moving forward yes we've got to start to contemplate how are we going to adapt how are we going to grow in order to provide the service to the Richmond Community Schools as a whole I'm going to tell you what best practice is right now it's going to scare you to death but I can
065tell you that there's a way we can get there best practices to put one officer in every single School building that has a childhood that would be very difficult for us to do we all know that I think we can slowly as budgets allow increase our staffing to the point and we're able to make a really good appearance and be available to every building in the Richmond Community Schools currently we are already budgeted for four officers I've been on the phone today as well as many other days talking and recruiting several officers to apply I hope those come through we are seeking certified officers that are tier one graduates of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy with three years of experience again the best practice that's taught to us by management that's why we are there
066but also there's some logic to why we're there that we all understand as well if we need to look at applicants that need to go through the academy we'll do what we got to do we'll be mindful about that there's some deadfalls and concerns with doing that but we'll do what we got to do to fill these ranks with the right people so that fourth officer we are in the current stages of recruiting that officer will fill into test cover Hibbard and also be allow us to fill in some gaps when people are sick training is going on or other things come up and our responsibilities at the other buildings the fifth officer if we get to that point would then be the one that's able to go to the elementary schools is able to
067fill in at the high school is able to do the things that we know we need to start thinking about and then from there we'll see where we go but yeah the the hope as your chief of police is that we eventually are able to provide services to every building in Richmond Community Schools now I say that with the caution because what I don't want to be perceived by any law enforcement agency Wayne County Sheriff's Department or Richmond Police Department is that we don't want them in our buildings we do I agree with what Chief Britt said Richmond Community Schools do need to be protected by Richmond police officers alongside Richmond Community School Police Department Officer as well so that's my intention moving forward is to continue to work on those relationships to make sure
068we have coverage of all buildings when needed and then as we're financially able to grow we'll look at those options achieve those just to be clear as you mentioned at this juncture currently right now we have the same personnel that we had at the conclusion yeah June 23 School season yeah same metal officers same amount of budget positions and we have some great leads on potential candidates which puts us ahead of many law enforcement agencies not only in the city county statement also one of my I was I dealt a lot with the hiring the Wayne County Sheriff's Department as well and we all know law enforcement right now is hurting Manpower is a legitimate concern hiring is a legitimate concern so the problem of hiring for our open position is not unique to us
069and the difficulties that we're going to face but I pledge to you as your chief of police we will find a unique solution filling those rules and we will I'm confident I've had great conversations about it but it's one of those if we need to adapt a little bit to get things done we're going to do but it is a huge relief to me to know that the team that was in place last year is excited I said before them with their permission they are excited about moving forward with this they are on board with this they are appreciative of you guys as well and it gives me the confidence of the chief at least that yeah we will hit the ground running right where we were last year with the same personnel again of
070quality tier one yeah so the the real devil in the details is the policy piece when it comes to an enforcement uh we've signed a contract with the company I believe to be able to assist in that process so most of the policies for law enforcement the 95 percent is kind of standardized then it's figuring out the five percent that's unique to us and I would assume the board still needs to approve those policies we have one meeting in two weeks between now and the first day of school is that feasible and is that a to board meeting policy Ron that we need to I guess what you need first reading and second reading right is that a two board meeting for that that's a good question and I in the perfect world I would
071say definitely yes uh I think what you're really talking about is nuts and I think we're getting careful the terms we use because they become terms of art when you start getting into the law enforcement Arena and we're really talking protocols and those are operating procedures they would be more akin to administrative guidelines for implementing your policies than they are your policies themselves you made your policy statement when you created the resolution that allowed the department to be created uh that being said I think everything is going to be coming forth uh is needed needs to be presented to the board embedded but I am not convinced that and I haven't seen him so I don't you know I mean I I think a lot of the devil will be in those details but but
072working standing working orders and protocols or the way the Departments typically operate right and that's how you limit your liability or well there is that's that's how you create a functional Department right there has to be the nice thing about policies or protocols which whatever the term you use is if followed first of all they're predicated upon some one's experience hopefully several experiences and I hate to use the term best practices because I don't like to use superlatives the best can probably always be improved upon but they're certainly predicated upon better practices and they Define allow people to create and expectations and allow people to perform to meet those defined expectations so I I think you're always going to have a role in it and I think it's going to be a very Hands-On role
073but I think it's an area of expertise where we're living at this gentleman and people he surrounds himself with to steers in the right direction because I don't report to have the answers to what standard protocols group enforcement division ought to look like I don't know and if I may have talked just a little bit on point with that the again I didn't give you the resume of all the things I did because I don't like talking about myself that much but as a member of the sheriff's department I was also the accreditation manager for a period of time the accreditation processes are are predicate on proper policies being in place and being able to prove to the accrediting body that you're following those policies and during that time I hate to say I didn't
074enjoy it but at the same time it wasn't quite what I envisioned for law enforcement policy work but as I was in it the knowledge that I was able to get from showing that the Wayne County Sheriff's Department did what they said they were supposed to do something I'll be able to utilize as we draft these policies with lexical moving forward I predicted the ability to move through these policies fairly quickly with lexical back to your questions of feasible or necessary I know these should be available within the next couple of weeks it's going to be a heavy lift but I'm confident I'll be able to get it to the point to where we can put more eyes on it to get legal opinions and approvals that's used to be necessary I do not see
075them as being a heart of the board policy manual that answers your question okay I think these are going to be a standalone document collection of documents that will govern the operational aspects of the Richmond Police Department and as far as equipment goes um cars safety equipment for the officers are those where are we at so the majority of the equipment that you see in officer carrying or wearing is being provided through a company called Nelson and Company they're a uniform company that also deals with the belts the holsters the things again and you see the office are carrying they have promised me August 1st they will have everything to us for all three officers we have already gone to their their store in Carmel Indiana been fitted measured everything's important these looked through is
076is a computer to make sure things are in stock and it should be I guess one point of policy quote or decision making that I think the board might want to weigh in on is what do you want that officer's uniform to look like I mean what what first impression do you want that officer to make to the students I don't know if there's been that discussion or not I mean certainly we want it to be identifiable as a law enforcement officer but that's a spectrum of possibilities the way that I've been moving forward with it for conversations for the group is I want us to have a professional appearance as a police department our uniforms that we have are black in color because they can't be brown or do they need to be navy
077blue they differentiates us between the other law enforcement agencies in the community they will be that professional appearing law enforcement uniform that if you remember you're used to me soon we'll have the shiny buttons on it it will have those things to give that a professional appearance that's what we want day one coming out the game down the road I think that's when we need to continue conversations about I didn't come up with this term I don't know it was the correct one but a softer uniform a lot of the other agencies across the state have authorized their school resource officers to still carry the equipment that they need but they're wearing cargo pants and polo shirts softer uniform so there's conversations that we need to have about that down the road but initially to
078get the equipment in to get the uniforms in I focus on that professional appearance of the uniform so what you're saying is you want to have that conversation you wear the Jordans with your outfit right now keep his dad out of the conversation because they'll have red and white striped pants day will probably be part of this place which which is uh just to piggyback on that again coming whether it be uniforms whether it be resources relationships is what it really boils down to and of the relationship that you all have already built the foundation that has already been established throughout our school Community we're going to continue to be enhanced upon but to know that we have three of the most challenging aspects that most law enforcement agencies are facing we have Personnel we
079can see that box is checked off and improving resources we have the resources continue to maintain that high quality of Safety and Security and then ultimately the support of our um now several law enforcement Community know that those things are in livestep and we're currently sitting in that position it's uh I just pulling on the record that Mr foul or Mrs bolster were put on notice about shoe game you saw you saw them [Laughter] now there were moments where I just you know the Jordans that's a softer uniform but nevertheless again cheap dolls we appreciate you appreciate the hard work with you so I think the opportunity is here I mean I can I I've read a lot of research on the you know pull officers out of schools and what officers do when they're
080in schools and I think this gives us an opportunity to look at you know student arrest and how we are handling the students I mean we do not want an armed uh SWAT in our schools and so if we can through policy and now that it's Richmond schools police force that now offers the board some input into what those policies look like so as we look at some data which I'd like to see on uh what we're doing with students how they're being processed I think there will be some future discussions and as we move forward I understand let's start day one same but moving forward it gives us great opportunity to really change how we do this school policing if you will and and I think and I'm I think that's one of the
081best uh benefits of making this change is now we have opportunity to have that look like what we as the board the seven wanted to look like with your input Dr Wright's input Mr cross's input and all our stakeholders absolutely one of the underlying philosophies I think law enforcement has kind of gotten sideways on over the years Rick's opinion not proven fact is that the juvenile justice system was built upon the concept of finding the least restrictive measure possible to enact a change in a child's life there are a lot of things that can happen prior to the point of an arrest that we will be in a position to fill that Gap as that Mentor as that teacher that's kind of on point what I'm hearing from you I apologize if I'm good yeah
082no no so those will be philosophies that will be ingrained into and honestly again going back to the fact that we've got the same team moving forward they have already started that philosophy a lot of credit needs to be given to the Wayne County Probation Department and some of the trainings that they have provided and again it's allowed us to focus in that school resource officer mindset through the trainings that we have to use care and compassion to enact that change in a child's life however we can't forget about the need for this change in a child's life sometimes the arm around the shoulder will be enough sometimes it won't and that's where as your Chief of Police I will help these conversations because one of the most important tools each of your officers will
083carry with them every day is discretion and I want to make sure that I share with you appropriately as a new school board looking at new policies of a new police department that we do not want to put policies in place that limit discretion we want our officers to be empowered to know the times when it's time to put the arm around the shoulder and when it's time to make that arouse and we will that's trade as a training issue that's something that we have already started to tackle and that's something as your chief of police we will continue to enforce and part from our officers through our training thank you so much for the update we're excited uh just we're expecting great things feel us now I love your confidence and your enthusiasm so
084thank you very much [Applause] for our adjournment I think there was an introduction we've got a mystery man at the table right yes we do this guy and then prior to the acknowledgment of our mystery man I also would like to pay homage to a gentleman who has served in our Corporation for more than four decades who has recently made a decision to retire from service and that is Mr Glenn Slifer I'm a former director of facilities we wish the very best to and see if it takes the next step in the metaphoric chapter of Life 40 plus years Mr sniper was appreciate it and dedicated so we thank him for that with that being said yes the mystery man at the table that I'm going to ask to join us here at the podium
085is none other than Mr Mark Fowler our new chief of secondary education Mr Fowler uh officially welcome I know that you have spent some time on the road to say the least Mr Fowler joins us from the sunny State of California but he also has local routes here in the county as well as here within the city commend us still any more Thunder but how many hours were you on the road at 55 miles per hour Chief Knowles he was uh abiding by the speed limit of oneself that you were by yourself I was by myself so thank you so much first president Stoltz superintendent right Board of Trustees I unlike Chief dolls am emotional I'm excitable um I'll probably get emotional talking about this but I was on the road for 50 hours um
086one of my brothers was supposed to come out and drive a vehicle back with me uh in true sibling fashion he bailed at the last minute so I went and got a U-Haul and as I was driving the U-Haul home I saw my rearview mirror that said on the remember was 55. and I realized well that that's a problem because most of the trip the speed limit is 75. so it took me 50 I did test uh the U-Haul trailer and blew out a tire in Springfield Missouri so 55 is an actual that's not a suggestion did it I think what I would just start with is how incredibly honored and humbled I am um I'm born born and raised in Richmond Indiana very proud of that After High School basketball took me to Eastern
087Wyoming Torrington Wyoming and which was awesome my family didn't have uh finances to send me to college otherwise so thankfully I was able to to score a little bit and went to Eastern Wyoming after eastern Wyoming I transferred to Fresno Pacific University which was an amazing experience for me I currently serve on the Board of Trustees at Fresno Pacific University which is an amazing experience for me it was an institution that changed my life and so I met my wife she was a volleyball player just so we're clear on the athletic ability in our family they won national championships the only people in the gym for basketball games was the coach in the team and so she did not lose in her entire career of volleyball as many games as I lost in my first
088season at like so um we uh both got our credential to teach um I started teaching um at a school called Carruthers High School um which was amazing I was there for 16 years and I think what that school taught me which is what I've heard here over and over is how to serve students communities and families um and and it taught me the value it taught me that education can change the socioeconomic trajectory of families life it can change their educational trajectory and we as the the people who have the honor to serve them get to play a part in that I most recently served at a school in the mountains of minarets high school which was another privilege for me and at the end of that there were some opportunities that were presented
089to me I mean nothing can speak to me like coming home and serving in this community so my wife who has never been outside of Fresno California her and my four children are on their way they're going to be here August 1st um they are my children are anxiously awaiting to see the school buildings and their teachers my wife is trusting me that this is going to be an experience that we're going to get to share as a family and get to serve in a community that I love and so I've been in education for 18 years and um it's privilege how old are your kids well um you put me on the spot after I got emotional I have a 17 year old who's going to be a junior so they'll all be at
090Richmond High School um I have a 15 year old who's going to be a sophomore um I have a 12 year old who's going to be a seventh grader and I have a seven-year-old going on 21 who's going to be a second grader so um very very very excited I was shocked to hear that Lori Fowler who's my sister-in-law we will be on the same team put on the same side of the road so that's exciting so I've been away for 24 years um coming back has just been amazing and if I can just say thanks Jamie bolser was amazing in this process as you can imagine there are so many moving parts and getting a family of six and and working through things and just her valuing people in the family was amazing and
091it made me so certain that we did the right thing Miss Stoltz and Dr Wright and just their their warmth and their welcoming it's just an amazing experience I lived in a state where I know you take this for granted um I don't because I've I've seen other districts and how they operate and this is not normal and it's so awesome for me and uh Mr Baker here from day one has kind of taken me under his wing here in the central office and showed me the way and so I'm just extremely thankful I'm thankful to use a board for your confidence in me and I'm just you won't see me stop smiling I am just so privileged and honored to serve here so one of the things that uh Mr Fowler referenced and one
092of the things that any leader knows is that the challenge is to multiply oneself trying to surround yourself with like-minded individuals that will address matters as you will and upon the first conversation second and third with with Fallon it was a parent Patron two and three love for his childhood neighborhood and Community as we're brought him back to pay it forward and serve the future of our city so thank you for being here sir thank you so much [Applause] President George trustees I know that our old session is typically geared not necessarily toward updates and things but we do also have Mr Kevin McCurdy in the the crowd and I saw by his response he's going to be so excited to join us at the podium just to give us a brief update in synopsis
093with the project underway in Richmond High School I know that this floor in particular even prior to my arrival as we did it has put resources in motion to listen to it that the high school comes together and so Mr government you can just spend maybe two and a half or three minutes with a brief update as to where we are it's not much time to cover a lot of ground in in so I'll go with kind of some of the more high priority in terms of school starting um in terms of the flooring project Corridor Florida project we've been looking at that I come through and actually I walked to school at six o'clock 6 30 every morning it has been on track for the most part we've hit a couple of pickups but
094it's worth taking a look at if you haven't they have the main thorough repair there on the first floor completely done with the lorazo and I looks great personally but you know that's for you to judge on the second floor they've got the main floor done otherwise so we feel like we're on schedule for that work we did did a couple of pickups in terms of some abatement that was going on but I think we've got some ways project s are those challenges we did some of the other projects that are going on is the cancel modernization that's been going on for a little while we did get all the electrical equipment finally in so we are able to finish I guess the last of what will remain are the punch list items that we
095need to work through so endless project of that scale that touches that many spaces there's there's just quite a bit of those little odds and ends that we need to clean up but we're working through that process but we feel like all those spaces will be usable for the upcoming schools here I did check out the uh the floralso and it is looking really good I love it I love to hear that from someone who's been in the trenches for two years it's been a hard pop battle but I think the outcome is worth it yes because our students there's always staff who serve every day yeah thank you thank you thank you all right anything else for the good without further Ado we will adjourn thank you