001Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um I'd like to call to order the regular school board meeting December 15, 2025 at 7 p.m. Would you please stand for the pledge of allegiance followed by silence? >> I alian 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. Silence. Thank you very much. Next on the agenda is the communication from patrons and I don't see any patrons from the public present today. So we will move forward. Next, we have the approval of the minutes. And in our packets, we received copies of the regular board meeting minutes from November 17th, as well as the special meeting from November 24th, and we've all had the opportunity to review those.
002>> We accept both minutes. >> Thank you. Second. >> Second. >> Thank you. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carried. Thank you. Next we have the approval of some personnel changes. I'll let you go through that. >> So this is just a short list that Mr. Bill sent me for approval for the upcoming production, the musical production that will happen in the spring. Um these are some extracurricular uh statements that we give to these four people and helping put everything together. So I just ask that you consider their approval tonight so that they do outstanding work and you see that it all comes together very nicely and takes team effort. >> Okay. Can I have a motion to approve the personnel changes as listed? So second any further
003discussion. All in favor say I. >> Opposed. Motion carried. Next we have the LWC project update. Greg cannot be here tonight and so he has given Carrie all of the information she needs. So if you would bring us up to speed, >> I'm going to give you a very brief update. Um they drive or Kevin or both will be here in January to give this. They had a conflict tonight. Um it wasn't it wasn't anything pressing that we had to get done tonight. So January it is. But basically we have continued to work with them behind the scenes. As you know, we're working really hard on our bond process. Everything is moving through. Um but in the meantime, we they still have to beordinated on the back side so that we are ready to hit
004um our summer projects, get in the queue with with getting those bids out and um having people come and get basically on the books so that we can hit the ground running the summer because uh the tunnel tunnel piping project needs to happen this summer while we are not in session. We're going to move the elementary patio up to this summer um while we are not in session so that those things can get done and not be delayed and interfere when kids are here dayto day um as well as starting to get our is extensive. So we need to start getting all of that in order. So they're going to come talk more about that next month. but they just didn't want any members to be surprised if these bills are still in motion. Um
005even though we haven't finished that process, but we are still getting things ready to go. So there's no questions. Okay. Next on the agenda is the approval of the Michigan contracting pay application number one for the lighting project. total of 169,479 and we have a copy of that application in our packet for review. Can I have a motion to approve the Michigan contract and pay for that dollar amount? >> Second. >> Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I >> opposed. Motion carries. Thank you. Then we have the approval of the LDC invoices. There are two of them. One is for the bond study, the other one is for lighting replacements. One is for $16,73875 and the other one is for $2,500. And we also have those in our packets and they've been there
006for us to review. Anyone have any questions regarding those? Can I have a motion to approve LWC invoices 19156 and 1916 for the lighting replacements and the bond study? >> So, thank you. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. Opposed. Motion carried. Next, we have the approval of the Beldiors quote for new carpet for the old American Legion building. It's a total of $12,760. We also have that quote in our packet for review. Anyone have any questions regarding that? >> I should have noticed was that the half of >> it's going to be the one of the entrance ways and the two in the back of the room. >> Okay. Any other questions? And I have a motion to approve the spend of $12,760 to build in interiors for the new carpet for the
007old American Legion building. At some points, I'll take pictures and maybe we can make the switch to >> There you go. >> Okay. Um, any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. Opposed. >> Motion carried. The next item I'll have Carrie explain a little bit, but it is the approval of the resolution approving the form of 10th amendment to our building lease. >> So I'm gonna read what they said this. So it is a resolution approving form of 10th amendment to our lease. Um that is how we're working our bond this time. We are amending our lease and it is the 10th amendment to this lease. So the school corporation is funding this project through lease financing as it has done with other past construction renovation projects. Lease financings are used by school
008corporations across Indiana in order to borrow for renovation and construction. This type of financing does not count against the school corporation's constitutional debt allowance. The building corporation currently owns a portion of the artist Junior Senior High School building and a portion of artist elementary school building and is leasing that real estate back to the school corporation. The lease rental due from the school corporation will be paid for property taxes. The lease rental as shown as maximum amount of the 10th amendment will be sufficient to pay the principal and interest due to the bonders. That's what we are asking for approval. Anyone have any questions in regards to that? All right. Can I have a motion to approve the resolution of the form of 10th amendment to our building lease? >> So, thank you. Second. >>
009Thank you. >> Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I opposed. Motion carries. Next, we have the approval of a resolution reapproving the building corporation. We'll also turn that over to Gary. >> So, the building corporation that I just referred to that leasing portions of our building act, we will use that same building corporation again for this amendment, the 10th amendment of our lease. In order for the building corporation, a not for-p profofit Indiana corporation to issue tax exempt bonds, the IRS requires that the school board reapprove the building corporation and authorize it to issue tax exempt bonds on behalf of school corporation. So I ask tonight that you reapprove our building corporation. Okay. Can I have a motion to reapprove the building corporation? So second. Thank you. Any further discussion? >> They
010haven't corporation. Now that you have reapproved the formation of the voting corporation, they will they will come together next month and they will pass their resolution and then I think that is prior to our start of our meeting >> so they know it's coming. >> Then I spoke with Jerry Everyone's still active on that board. We've had to replace numbers. >> We replaced a couple years ago, but they're active. >> Yes. And I do want to commend Gary on this by just saying something. They originally thought, well, let's rewrite this lease and go out and get news u evaluations and surveys of all our property. And we said, no, this is working fine. The existing holding company's doing it probably saved us $40 to $50,000 for us pushing back a little because we had to
011redo it all and all the attorneys and that. So, good job. You got it. >> Thank you. But I'm thinking in the backwards way just because I asked too many questions right now. That's okay. >> We're getting through it. >> It's good for us. Let's put it down. >> Yes. >> Okay. Any additional discussion? >> All right. All in favor say I. >> Opposed. Motion carried. Thank you very much. Uh next we are going to be looking 26, excuse me, board meeting dates, and they're in our packet. So, you can take a look at them. July 20th is the week of the fair. I would not be available that Tuesday or Thursday. The fair is a little bit later than >> those dates move. They've been moving those days around. So, it was a little
012later this year, >> last year. And that's the week of the fair. You're not available either. >> It could, but I'll just get somebody else to work that night if you're still, right? >> You're hoping. >> Would you guys like to try to move up a week or do you want to We have a four month. >> I don't know either way. I mean July get ready for school. >> You could change it later on. >> Later would be worse for me. So we would be on vacation. >> You mean change it later as we go >> later on a little? >> Yeah. >> That could be an issue. >> Otherwise we'd be looking at the 13th which would be the Monday before. I think later is also getting now. Did you have an amendment
013to that to those dates >> for the for January? Yes, I do. I was just waiting to see if we wanted to make the change now. You guys want to wait? I would just assume change the July date now. We always move it around the ferry anyway. Move it up unless >> so it change it to July 13. >> That is late. >> Did they shift back a week for a reason? >> And then we need to add, as I said already, we have two meetings in January. January 13 will be reorganization. organize a quick finance meeting and then regular business will be on January 20th because we have bond business to do. Um I believe that is when LWC will be back to give a presentation and then we can just conduct everything at
014that time and I know >> okay so we really have to It has to be the 20th July. It has to be what we were running into. >> I'm looking I don't >> Did you have a 13th or 20th? >> I don't emails. I thought we settled all of you on the 13th and then three on the 20th. >> Yeah, >> it's the lawyers and the bond people on the 20th. So, >> and that's what I was trying to negotiate with just because of deadlines for postings. >> Jenny's figured it out for you. Yes. >> I am good on the 20th. It was the 12th that we moved to the 13th that I couldn't do. >> Okay. >> So, it was me. >> We were negotiating. So, 13th we are good for everyone here that
015day. >> The 20th we have at least three. Okay. Wonderful. >> You warn them about a picture on the 13th. I think I said that in my text. >> Oh, you're out of >> reorganiz. You go for it, Chris. >> Okay. So, with the addition of the 20th um and the change to the 13th for the July meeting, can I have a motion to approve the amended board meeting dates? >> So, thank you. Second. Second. >> Thank you. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carried. Next on the agenda is we have the approval of termination of the mace health insurance agreement effective December 31st of this year. Br. So, as um we try to keep you informed and you know that we've been endured some healthy increases to
016health insurance the past two years um 11% and then 23% again this year which is creating quite a margin on our staff. Um and we just felt like we needed to see what else we could possibly come up with um to try to provide opportunity for our staff to have equal coverage but at a at a fair cost. And so Mr. Spiker has come. We've been working on that. We were able to get a quote with UHC through another company which we'll talk about in a moment. Um and we made the decision that it was in our best interest, our school's best interest to look out for um not only the school but for our employees and to make this move away from base trust. So we notified them on December 5th. I believe copy
017of that letter. Um, and that has been sent so that we will uh terminate our agreement with them as of 123125 and we will pick up our new insurance. Does anybody have any questions? Just we have received communication back And we are in communication with them. >> we are they have received our letter. They let us know they received our letter. We had a conversation a phone conversation that went well and then we've received another letter and we responded accordingly. Any other questions? Right. Can I have a motion to approve approve the termination of the M health insurance agreement effective? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Thank you. >> Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. Thank you. Next we have step two, the approval of the new health
018insurance agreement with Apex benefits effective January 1st, 2026. So we were able to receive a quote from Apex benefits that gave us health insurance coverage for our employees through United Healthcare which is very wide wide network. Um it is comparable coverage at much uh I say cheaper but the premiums are much less. Um This has been received very well by our employees and staff. We rolled this out last week. I cannot thank Kelly enough for the hard work that she has done. Uh this was a very huge undertaking uh to turn this around. We received the quote the day before Thanksgiving and I did and then had a lot of thinking to do reached out um made the decision to step away and go apex which means we had to turn everything around within two
019weeks so that everybody will have coverage starting on one. They have been a fantastic team to work with. Couldn't be more pleased at the start of this partnership. They had representatives here in the building two days last week to answer questions to staff to give a presentation and we have successfully moved everybody over them enrolled and their premiums will be deducted from this week's check. So a lot has happened in a short time which is pretty unheard of and I think we are we've made some big strides for better things to come. So I would ask that you approve our contract benefit. It is commission based on their part will pay them directly. We are not paying them a fee to do this. Um the contract is not I don't want to get too far
020in the weeds but is not sticky like mace seems to be and has been very clearcut. Anyone have any other questions? Can I have a motion for the approval of the new health insurance agreement with Apex Benefits 116? Second. >> Thank you. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. Opposed carried. And next we have the superintendent report. So first on our superintendent report is summer school reimbursement. I think Kelly was getting tired of me asking back up and she she like hey guess what we finally have summer school reimbursement back. So, um, the total amount submitted for reimbursement for summer school this year was $31,359.80 and we were reimbured $18,742.19. So, considerably less. um second and third grade reading, which is required now by the state to offer every summer, um was reimbured at
021100% and that that total was $2,796.34, which means all the other courses submitted were only reimbursed at 53% of our cost, which came out to $15,945 and change. Um so we continue to offer summer school continues to I feel like it continues to decline in the amount that we get it reimburseed every year and I kind of talked a little bit about that we do feel it's valuable we do we we must offer it now for second and third graders due to the laws surrounding I read um and and we do find that important uh we just wish that they would reimburse closer to 100% for all classes offered as some kids are you know some students are taking this to get credit recover finishing on the high school side. And then it's we just
022think it's a good opportunity for our younger students to have that really focus group time to work and do some catch up skills or work at a little more than maybe what they were getting. So um feel like it's important to still continue. We may have to look at if we're going to continue to target every grade or how we possibly come in the future. >> The Legion Artist Educational Center. Let's just start talking about it that way. Um just wanted to give you a quick update of you guys just approved the quote for the carpet, but things are moving along in there. Um we need to get some pictures to you. They were busy painting over the last week or so. We had um on Thanksgiving break the the custodians took it took her
023crew down there and they gave it a deep clean on the side that we're working on. Um, you know, just degased and scrubbed and cleaned up a whole bunch, you know, just years of whatever that was down there. It smells better. It's looking better. It's brighter. um with the lighting that we put into the hallways. We were we were pulling some of the good lights back out or once that could be recycled and Brent and Kevin have done an amazing job putting new lights in there because it was very dim. Um it made a huge difference. Um and with that we put in new ceiling tile because then it you look like that looks very yellow. So, they they gave everything a fresh coat of paint. Um, and it's looking it's it's starting to come
024together and look good. I'm really excited for when we finally get the carpet in there. Um, he is very done on carpet. He's not even really wanting to give me a timeline at this point. I'm going to call tomorrow and see if we can get just talking a couple months. You know, what do we need? So, I don't have a plan um because we're really wanting to to move forward and get some of the program going that we were hoping to um steps to come. We still need to get our internet hooked up down there. Um Carly and I are working on um getting there's it's a two-step process. We need to run a little bit of fiber out to the ad building so that we can pull one of the units that we are
025connecting to right on the building that can go down there so we don't have to buy a new unit will come and make sure that we have things that are talking to each other and then they say that that will that will not only give our students access but it should be powerful enough to run a camera or two. So Brand will be coming to scope that in the future so we know what we're looking for so we can get some there as well. So, I think we've made a lot of progress on at least the one half of the building and good things to come. So, >> looking forward to a tour. >> Yes, I said we could have a we can have a meeting down there one night. We can set up on
026the little stage. >> All right. And then tag update. Um, we talked about this recent. We may have just talked, you know, not formally. Um, we did finally receive final guidance from the state. I I was hoping it would be a lot more clear than it was, but it's not. Um, they are leaving it still with um we cannot give to more than 20% of our teachers and that number for us is nine. They have they've given us what that number would be. However, the funds that they provided to us will not fun at the lowest tier. So the tiers are 3500 5,000 and then 7 or 7500 but either way you cannot fund nine teachers even at the lowest level. So um that's not just an artist thing that was statewide and there's nobody
027that was fully funded for TAG. Um they did not change any of the criteria nor did they then try to pull back on the number that you give to they're just letting us figure this out. So, I've been in discussions with principles as well as um Beth and I have also been talking to keep her informed. Um we are working on trying to create a model where teachers would apply. Um they would tell us what tier they're applying for and provide us the criteria that they or the not the criteria but the um evidence that that meets the criteria given by the state for each of levels um and then we will go from there. We have to submit by the end of January to the state the spreadsheet that uploads all of that criteria
028which is why we would ask the teachers for it. I'm not trying to make busy work for them just trying to meet the demands of what we are being asked. Um and so we're going to have to put a little bit on to the teachers for them to supply us with. For example, If they are using an assessment to show one year of student growth, we need them to upload that for us so that we can look at it. If we would have um more than what we can give apply and they're equal, we haven't we haven't fully decided how we're going to handle that, but I think we're all kind of in the camp. Everybody is equal across the board scoring somehow on a rubric, then we would probably just drop it to the
029it. So, we are trying to be fair, as fair as possible. Um, we know that this is going to upset people and that is not our goal. We want to we want to award teachers for the hard work that they're doing. We wish that we can award it to many more than six, but we do have to follow the rules that the state has given us. So, we're trying to make the best of the best situation as we finalize what that form looks like. to >> Would we be allowed to award more than six if we put the bills out? >> Yes. >> If we have more. >> Yes, we actually could probably give seven. I do believe. I have to look at my figures. I there might be um six mighty funds. Seven may
030have been partial. And so if that's the case, like I said to verify that, I would recommend that we do that instead of anything we don't spend even 30. >> So it would be better to spend the rest in >> other schools. Are they dealing with the same situation where >> Yes. And many of them are going application process and that's kind of why um feel you know I feel good about like we're all kind of common and um doesn't make it right but it doesn't make wrong it just you know we're trying to be similar and trying to be fair I worry some schools are going based off of seniority like if you were rated highly effective or effective everybody's name will take the first however many they're allowed to give and however much
031funds they have will that number by seniority go down and then the next year they're not they're not we go to the next maybe 10. Um my worry there is I feel like this is going to come up again in session and I feel like there will be tweaks and if they tweak it that wouldn't work anymore then I just feel like okay well that was a great idea but now we can't do that and so that leaves the rest of the people down here back at square one and so I worry a little bit about that. There's a there's more unknowns than not right now. >> The state tweaks it the wrong way. >> I do I do want to say I think the legislators were trying to do a good thing. They just
032don't always understand the residual effects of what they pass and how that trickles down. I do think that their faults were in the right place. Um it's just there's a lot more layers to figure out and it wasn't as easy as say we're going to do this and this is how we're going to do it when there's so many. I have one more thing that I kind of pencled in. Um, as I was thinking today, we had a group last week, right in the middle of our insurance meeting. Um, Kelly actually was here early setting up for this meeting because we were kicking it off early in the morning and um, I got a text like at 5:30. I wasn't quite here yet. She's like, "I'm here, but I don't know what's going on with
033the lights. They're like flashing all over. They're on. They're off. They're they're off. So, by the time I got here, they were on and they stayed on and then all of a sudden they went off. And so, um, we were able to get our first insurance meeting done by the by the Christmas lights that were up on the stage. It was festive. Our projection screen lit up the room and up. It was great. Um, and so then we had a little bit of a break in between and so I did some investigating with Mr. And we realized back in one of the electrical rooms, there's a leak from our roof that is running water right down onto our two huge um light boxes. So I said, "Don't touch anything." You know, I got Grant, we
034turned the breaker off because that looked like an electrical nightmare. and we moved our meetings and then that is why in case you have questions we had to move a sixth grade class we were trying to make you know we didn't want to cancel it um Mr. N said he was very positive actually he said this is going to work great in here and we got him all set up and we rallied around that we have a junior high and high school concert Wednesday as of right now we are hoping to have that in the auditorium we have um figured out a way or I haven't they have they figured out a way to run that on what is called panic mode and so we've tested the load they've moved some they've moved the board
035over and I don't know they're flipping breakers off that don't need to be on and they have tested twice now to make sure it'll endure the length of the concert because that was my other worry that we would get halfway through and everything went so far it's held up twice So, we should be good to go for Wednesday. And we have we have um somebody who is supposed to be looking through I don't know in Indianapolis they're supposed to be uh trying to find one of these old parts for us because it's I think that equipment might be original to the auditorium. So, to find a board with what we need is going to be challenging, but they were looking in a warehouse and if they have one, they were going to try to send
036a technician to see if it would work. And If not, then they felt like they the technician will be able to see what we have and figure out how to rebuild something. So, I'm hopeful that we might not have this solution by Wednesday night, but we have our backup solution and if the backup doesn't work, then we're moving it to Ju because we've already got that cleared. So, if you hear anything, um, and then just hope for the best that we can get these parts replaced up and running without a major major consequence. So, I felt like I should probably Especially as two two of you might be at that show. >> Z was already telling us when I heard it was like, "Oh my god, water leak. It's all over everything." Yes, it was.
037I said, "Okay, well, I saw the thing got moved." He's like, "What do you know about it?" I said, "I don't know anything, but I'm sure they'll tell me on Monday night." I saw the same as you that the thing got moved, so I knew it was something. >> It's been a work in progress. So, um, that update came probably what about 1:30 this afternoon. when they got word back from Indianapolis that they they were trying to locate this spare and see how quickly they could get it to us. >> Thank you. >> Yes, all the more reason to move forward with our roof. >> That was my answer. Well, we have some roof things that work so I'm not totally surprised at this. the area that that leak would be in is one of
038the priority areas that is highlighted. I've already talked to Kevin about it actually. They're sending somebody Wednesday from Morris working to pull some core samples um just again for this behind the scenes work that they need to do so they know how to prep their um information for the bids that need to go out. And so more they would they would find that leak while they're up there and they will get it fixed. So I was very thankful for that. Um because Brent Brent kind of was they went up there that day but it was the day everything melt like there are ice and it was a mess like we have no idea where it's running. There's too much stuff up here right now. So um I'm hoping by Wednesday that's the day it's supposed
039to warm up. We should be able to find that. Okay. Hopefully it all goes well. All right. Thank you. Any other questions? All right. Thank you. Next on the agenda is the approval of the claims. I'm asking for approval for 10 pages of um payable claims in the amount of 845,34.38 which does include our debt service payments for the month of December made right at the end of November and four pages of payroll claims totaling $321,61844 a total claim docket of 1,166,65282 And we have the the detail of that information is in our packet. Does anyone have any questions for Kelly about any particular spend service which is the largest thing in there? Okay. Can I have a motion to approve the claims accounts payable of $845,348 which includes our debt service payments and payroll
040for $321,61844 total of 1,16652. >> Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carried. Thank you. And then next on the agenda, we have an approval of a donation from the SE wire employees toward our lunch account for a total of $1600. And a copy of that check is in our packet. Do I have any discussion or any further questions for anybody? Okay. Can I have a motion to approve the donation from Wire? So, thank you. >> It's very generous that they all in favor say I. >> I motion carried. And then we have the course. So we'll start with our education fund. Um these our expenditures through the end of November which means we are 92% of the way through our year and 202 we are 82%. So we
041are looking to close out the year up a little bit from last year but that would some of our increases in our given since that point in time and then operations fund again same same line there at 92% and we are coming in at 77% of the way through the year so I'm very pleased with that number I thought it was going to be a little higher because we we kept going so um we are looking good to finish the year we had expected And um and then I'm going to ask you to approve how but we talked about it last last month those corporations basically covering that money forward for next year and this is why we were able to do that. We still have a total cash reserve of 7,353,44 which is up
042since last year. That's a nice healthy number right now. And Our rainy day fund has remained steady at 2 million CC42 questions. Thank you very much. Next on the agenda is the approval of the 2025 year end budget closing and incumbences that K mentioned earlier and that were provided in detail at our last meeting. So we after reviewing the numbers that we just talked about, we don't feel like there's any major changes that we need to do to to those projections that we gave. Is there any questions? Do you want me to re do you want me to go over what we talked about last month of how you were setting those up for the education fund? We were working on nursing services um health insurance which now can just be switched over. I want
043to make sure that is clear that that will just be used for um the delta and the security benefits which is the 401 and we should still have a cash balance operations fund we were projecting 100,000 to insurance 27,000 to cooperative fuel utilities to town 40,000 and again anyone have any questions I have a motion to approve the year ending inumbrances as discussed thank you Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. Any closing comments other than a reminder that our next meeting will be January 13th and that will be our reorganization meeting and our required finance committee meeting. >> Anyone else have any comments or questions? I think I can speak for the board. We're very pleased with the hard work you guys have done to make this insurance switch
044in that short amount of time. >> Yeah, I know. They they've done a lot. They've done a lot. Very much appreciated. I'm sure >> I think it was >> it was a great thing for our employees and for the school district. I appreciate it very much. >> Anyone else? >> Okay. Can I have a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 p.m.? >> Thank you. Second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I >> oppos. Thank you very much everyone.