9/29/2025 School Board Meeting

001Okay, I have 6:31. So, we will go ahead and get the school board meeting started tonight. Um, for those who are able, um, if you wouldn't mind standing for the pledge of allegiance, please. United States and justice for all. >> Okay, we have roll call. We are missing um Mr. Glick, but he will be joining us in a little bit. So um we do have a quorum though with the six board members present and I will call the meeting to order. You can go ahead and cover now Dr. Phillips. >> Thank you Mrs. Wen. We like to begin every meeting by reminding ourselves of our mission vision and core beliefs. Our vision is that BCSSE is the choice to learn, work and play. Our mission is to develop expert learners by partnering with our community

002to invest in people. And our core beliefs are that we all can rise to the challenge of high expectations. That learning is most effective when we have choice, flexibility, and see relevance. That we thrive when our physical, social, and psychological needs are met. That our community and school district are stronger when we partner with one another. That we flourish because of the diversity and variability in our community. and that our democracy and democratic institutions are strengthened by civic-minded citizens recog There was a slide there before. I promise you. There it is. Here we go. It was just down below the budget hearing. Um, so u thank you to suggestions from Mr. Major and the board members. we were able to um gather the list of all of the spring academics all state selections. Dr. Mr.

003Edwards is gonna update you. >> Hello. Okay, perfect. Uh thank you Dr. Phillips and thank you to the board. Uh I'm standing here so uh we can celebrate our student athletes from both Columbus East and Columbus North, our spring uh athletes. And so the spring sports uh represented on the screen, track and field, girls tennis, boys volleyball, uh and uh boys golf. So they are being recognized tonight for achieving academic allstate honors uh which is no small task. Before the meeting, I was actually speaking with Mr. Major um and our conversation was around how hard you have to work hard to get good grades. uh and how hard you have to work to excel uh in your sport. And then when you think about how hard you have to work to be able to do

004both, given the limited amount of hours sometimes you get to study uh based on travel and those sorts of things, it really is no small accomplishment. So these folks really are achieving at uh high levels uh in both academics and in their uh chosen sport. So I wanted to say a few words about the process. The process um is not a state process. It is not a school process. The process is um specific to your sport and it is decided by the coaches association. So the coaches association for each of the sports listed up there has their set of criteria for each of the u the sports and they're not necessarily the same. Uh some are a little bit more rigorous than others. Um however, again, no small accomplishment by anybody up there. Uh they've

005all worked hard to again be recognized. And so uh this is uh our spring academic all-state uh students. >> Thank you, Mr. Edwards. Congratulations to all of these students, most of whom names look familiar because they've been here at one point in time in the last two years to be honored for finishing on the podium or in a state championship. And also most of whom are um our graduates graduated back in May. >> Our valadictorian last year is up there. >> One of them, right? >> Okay. Uh so next on the agenda we have a public hearing for our 2026 budget. So I will gavvel out of the board meeting and into public hearing. Um Mr. Bneer will take us through some details and then anyone here tonight that would like to speak on on

006the budget is welcome to do so. That's the point of the evening. Um just fast forwarding we will have and I think you'll cover this. Our next board meeting is when we actually vote on this. So, you know, now now is the time to provide input if if you have any for folks in the room. Thank you, Mr. Brainer. >> Thank you very much. I will apologize in advance. I'm hitting my high allergy season. I may start coughing. It's not an ill any regular illness. It's just my allergies. Hopefully, we can get through this. Um, this is step two of our budget adoption process. We had the budget workshop three weeks ago. Uh, tonight's the hearing. October 20th, we'll have our adoption vote and then by January 1st, we anticipate DLGF approval of our budget.

007This is the gateway public notice that we put on the gate state's gateway site on Thursday, September 18th, meeting the state requirement that we have it 10 days before tonight's meeting. Um, column two talks about the budget estimates for the five funds that we discuss. Column three is the levy amount to be raised. If you notice there is no levy amount in education because property taxes don't go towards education fund. That is basically the basic grant money we receive. Um column four we do not anticipate an excess levy appeal. Column five is our current levy for 2025. Column six shows the changes from 25 to 26. An overall 2.2% increase in our levy for 2026. our education fund. We have made no changes from the workshop three weeks ago. Revenues, uh, we're anticipating state support

008to be down just over a million dollars. That is directly tied to a reduction in ADM numbers. We are anticipating a slight increase in other revenues. Um, interest being the key one there to uh provide us with some extra money. But again, total revenues in education fund are down just under $1 million. Looking at our expenditures, um again, almost 98% of the budget is salaries and benefits. So when we look to have to make changes, reductions, there's not a lot of wiggle room in other places. Our professional services line is basically flat. Uh communications is down just about $12,000. The supplies is down 60%. Again, uh the biggest chunk of that is 1.78 million that we will be doing from the GEO bond should you approve that. That is tech supplies. The tech budget is

009split between education fund and operations fund. The tech um budget within education fund is for tech supplies services directly related to education. When it's within the operations fund, it's corporationwide. Um but again we're looking at switching 1 point almost 1.8 million uh from supplies to the GO bond which is allowing us to have some increase in salaries and benefits for our employees. Overall um expenditures uh budgeted is 700,000 higher than last year. But when you factor in the uh transfers uh to operations and special ed co-op, uh we're down 1.6 million. looking towards the operations fund. The tax cap credit loss um property tax cap when you uh reach 1% of your residential uh property tax of the value of your home reaches 1% you don't pay more than 1% of property taxes. That money

010above the 1% level that we would receive in revenue is we call it the tax cap loss for 2026. We are looking at 3.6 million in estimated property tax cap losses within operations fund alone which is a 50% increase in the property tax cap credit operations fund budget. We have made some changes from the workshop. Uh part of that was to um make sure we uh factored in the athletic trainer contract that was approved at the last meeting. Part of that was to offset some changes we wanted to make in other areas and I will get detailed on those. Um, looking at uh revenues, property and other taxes are up just over 4% but again property tax cap credit is a 50% increase in reduction of revenues and then with transfers being slightly less from

011the education fund to operations that is down about 15% overall we're down 1.4 4 million in estimated revenue in operations are 4%. The salaries um we've made adjustments there and I'll go into detail in the next slide. We've reduced that by 615,000 and the benefits there was a corresponding $100,000 reduction from the workshop. That just matches the reduction that went with the salaries. professional services. That line went up 140,000. That is where we put the athletic trainer expense. Uh within repairs and maintenance, we returned 500,000 there. That is to cover contracts that we have in place for the year. Communications, there were no changes. We made an additional $100,000 reduction within supplies and utility costs. Property and equipment, we increased 385,000. I will fully admit that was an error in my uh first budget that

012I presented to you. I had $100,000 in one of the lines that needed to be $485,000. That is for capital work that we do at the various schools throughout the system. And then dues and fees, no change. Overall, the budget is down 12% from 388 to $34 million. again um within the supplies area uh that's some of the tech that we will pay for with the geo bond and in property and equipment about 700,000 for bus purchases. So looking at the geo bond 1.78 million from education for IT supplies from uh operations fund about another 720,000 we will be um moving to the geo bond for a total of 2.5 million in the geo bond. Closer look down at the changes that we have made since the budget workshop. Again, uh correction to my error

013is an additional 385,000 in the building improvements line. Uh repairs and estimates, we added 500,000 to cover our contracts. Some of those contracts include HVAC service, fire suppression work, chillers, our pool maintenance, trash pickup, elevator u maintenance and inspections, and roof inspections that are done annually. Those are just some of the contracts that are included in that. uh professional services. We increased that by 140,000. Again, that's the athletic trainer contract that was approved at the last meeting. Uh to offset some of those increases, uh we made an additional $100,000 reduction to supplies in parts. We reduced $30,000 dues and fees, 10,000, and then the salaries, $615,000 with the corresponding $100,000 reduction in benefits. That is not an elimination of any positions. It's just we are looking at the budget. When the budget is established, we

014take our 2025 numbers, factor in an increase, and make that we are very uh full on our employees. We have not created any new positions. We are just completely full. Um we are just going to look position by position next year as positions come open whether they're needed to be filled, refilled or not. the debt service fund. This takes into account the $72 million lease purchase bond that you approved in August, as well as the proposed $2.5 million GO bond that we'll be discussing in the next hearing. Um, overall our payments are down uh just over $3 million uh from 2025 and our levy is going to go up slightly, but that's because our levy was down last year to um adjust properly adjust our our cash balance in our debt service fund. Again, no

015change to the high school debt service fund. This is the 2012 bond that was done for the work and the high schools. The change in payment from 25 to 26 is roughly $18,000. Our referendum operating fund, no change again from our workshop, an increase of $1 million or 11%. Uh the retention is the largest increase for teacher salary and support staff. That isn't an increase in the amount that people get unless they reach their next step, but it's just the number of teachers we have that will be eligible for um the benefit of the referendum. The increase in safety, security, and mental health is in salary and benefits is our safety uh school safety officers. The professional service line uh increase from 25 is for our school resource officers. Again, that's money that goes to

016Bartholomew County and the city of Columbus for the sheriff's uh deputies and the police officers that service at our schools. We had a reduction in our supply line and then a slight increase in the property equipment and that's the rest of the money that we used to purchase buses. Um the overall summary of the budget with the $2.5 million go bond. Um Jason, you had a question. Sorry, Mr. Major. At the last meeting where we had an $8 million difference in what I said our budget was, what you checked the budget was. Where that is is in the transfers. I included the transfers in the overall budget. When you net those out, it matches the 168 million that you had come up with um or you had found. Um, for 2026, our budget is down

017uh just at $6 million or three and a half% over 2025. Um, our revenues um we're looking at about a $2 million deficit budget from 25 or from for 26, which will reduce the overall balance in those five funds by about $2 million. Then as well, the cash balances Um, we talked about at the uh budget hearing or the workshop that uh for the end of 2025, we anticipate being at 16.9% in our operating funds. That's within the range of 13 to 19% of the cash reserve policy that was approved earlier this year. For 2020, at the end of 2026, we anticipate to be at about 14.4%. Mr. major had asked me a question, you know, how how long does it look like we would get under that 13%? Um maybe 2028 is when that

018could happen with some of the further changes that are a result of Senate Bill One. Looking at the BCSC tax rate history over the last 11 years, um we are again uh below the state average. Our advertised rate is even below the state average and we anticipate around a dollar flat for our tax rate for 2026. And I'd be glad to answer any questions anyone may have. >> Okay. Um, this is the public part of the public hearing. So, I would like to invite anybody from the audience who would like to ask questions or make statements based on the budget that Mr. Bringer has shown us tonight. Now's your opportunity. You don't have to have signed up. You can just come up and speak if you'd like to. Um, and I'll just pause and let

019anybody who may want to take that opportunity stand up. I see some contact but nobody standing. So I'm going to take that to mean nobody would like to speak on this topic. Mr. Berniger from the audience and I'll open it up to the board members. I guess I'll go first. The first question I have is we presented this with the geo bond. Without geo bond where would we sit towards that 13% that that you discussed? >> I do have that and we would be down at 12.2. 2% because that's two and a half million we would reduce between the education and operations fund. >> Other questions from the team? >> I shared a bunch of questions and talked with Mr. Brener before the meeting, so I think I'm fairly aligned. There's still some things that

020he he'll probably look into, but I think one of the that every school board is probably going to note is the changes in law this year and how things are funded. So I I think I would kind of ask Dale, do do you have any ability since you're on the legislative committee to I guess try and get our local regional uh state reps and senators uh engaged where we could maybe have a conversation and explain to them how this is impacting our budget. so that in the future they'll have better awareness of school finance so they understand the problems we have. >> So I have two responses to that if I can do that now. Um one is ISBA is looking at a different way of um of communicating with legislators and trying to communicate

021with them um prior to the session because they're often so busy during session. So there is an initiative to do that. Um and the other thing is um not to sherk my own personal responsibility but I think that falls on all of us to as board members to communicate with our legislators also but but ISBA is is looking at different approaches to communicating and networking with legislators. >> Yeah. I I I didn't imply that we wouldn't talk to them. I what I was I guess to be a little more descriptive is is have you tried to engage them in a way that they might come here to a meeting at some point we could convince them to attend and have a conversation around this >> what what I don't know the all the specifics but

022what ISBA is looking at is getting them to come to regional meetings with multiple school districts there um prior to the session to have some some of those conversations that would that would work too. Thank you. >> Any other questions from the team? >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Berniger. That will conclude our public hearing on the 2026 budget. Now, we will move to the public hearing for the GEO bond um which is a whole another session of public input. So, you still have another opportunity if you would like to speak on this topic as well. Mr. Baker, we'll start >> going to hit on a lot of what I just covered in the budget hearing portion of this. Um, in the debt service fund, the geo bond that we're proposing is a $2.5 million geo

023bond. Um, with interest about $100,000. That's a 4% interest. Um, we will also earn interest on that money while until we spend it all down. We'll probably earn between 70 and $80,000. So the cost is going to be about 20,000 for us to have this 2.5 million. For this 2.5 million, the goal is to purchase IT supplies of 1.78 million for the education fund, 700,000 in buses, uh part of the replacement cost that will then go with the referendum money for buses, and then an additional 70,000 for vehicles over $10,000 that our operations department um purchases every year. and then some money as well in the operations fund for IT supplies. So that's the what we will use that 2.5 million and again by doing it through the GO bond we're able to take that

024burden off of the operations and education funds keep those balances up our payments as you see are down $3 million. that tax rate is going to stay flat for um the debt service fund from 25 to 26. So, we're getting a lot of great things for what'll be about a $20,000 cost. Any anyone from the audience that would like to speak? Okay, I don't see anyone standing up. you um I'm going to ask a quick question. You just said a $20,000 cost. I understand the concept of a net interest. Could you please explain that, Mr. Brener? >> Correct. So, we'll pay as part of the bond payment, we'll pay $100,000 of interest. So, the total payment on the bond will be $2.6 million. While we have that money in our possession, we will invest the

025money, have it sitting earning interest until we spend it. And so the net amount will be 20 to $30,000. >> And Miss Wen, if I could take just a second to address our students in the crowd. So I'm going to speak directly to you guys. Thank you for being here. Thank you, Miss Gar, for bringing you. I'm going to translate this for you really quick. I I did a long time ago. I taught econ back in the day. Um, so essentially what's happening here is we need to buy new Chromebooks for incoming first graders, fifth graders, and ninth graders next year. And we need to replace buses that are at least 10 to 12 years old. But we have we don't have enough money coming in in revenue. We're going to borrow that money in

026order to pay for that. That is not a sound financial practice for you and your own household is when you don't have enough money to go borrow it. But in this case, we are paying it off in one year. And so that whole amount, you can see on the second to the bottom line there, borrowing the 2.5 million and paying it all back in 2026. So the cost for borrowing that is relatively low. I see some head nods there. So I did explain it well enough for one of you to to get it. >> Do you do you guys have any questions about that? No good. Thank you. >> Any other questions from the team on this topic? >> I think the the big question I have right now on that is today we have

027money. We talked about the 13% a minute ago and this is coming out of reserves to help pay for the bond at some point. Um at some point you can't do bonds every year. Is there a plan to address the tax rate? Because the right now, as things are, the only way you're going to increase revenue is through a tax increase. And I know that's not popular, but at the same time, neither is losing good teachers. So, we have to figure out how are we going to pay for everything or as as requested a month ago, what is it that we can live without and where can we identify savings? >> And just a short answer to that, we're limited in the operations fund how much we can increase the revenue. I mean, they cap

028that. Our maximum growth quotient is 4%. It's probably going to be 4% for the next six years. That's the maximum levy that we can grow. So there's only so much revenue money within operations we will have. This is our way right now to raise additional funds beyond that. As you said, long term, that's not going to be our best plan. But as we look into what SB1 has done, this is our shortterm answer and we are working on a long-term answer to that. Um we had a meeting we the region 10 of Asbo met last week. We had uh policy analytics down. We all talked through things we are doing. A lot of other school corporations are doing this exact same thing right now doing geo bonds for short term while we make plans for

029the long term. >> So the the 4% can you go back real quick? What are we increasing in percent? Are we hitting that 4% this year? >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you, Dr. Phillips. You're welcome. Yeah, that's the um property and other taxes across the top. Uh 24.9 million of that is our property tax levy. Then there's other taxes that fit into that. The And so that's the 4.5%. >> So with that, the the 4% that we can increase, are we maxed at the 4%? >> Yes. >> And then the half% is other stuff. >> Okay. Yeah. >> The uh you mentioned the school business officials meeting with policy analytics. Can you remind me who that group is and what their role is the school group or policy analytics? >> Pol policy analytics. >> They're

030a great financial advisor to m municipal school corporation county groups around across the state. Um they have this great um I can't think of the word I want to use. It's the spreadsheet >> Database. Thank you. That literally goes down parcel by parcel throughout the state, every county. They've got that information. So they we can work with them to figure out the assessments for each of those parcels to estimate what our growth is going to be. >> And is the group affiliated with the university or is it private for-profit. >> It's a private for-profit. He's a former school financial officer. Is that correct? The head of the group. >> They have folks, >> the individual who started it initially just started answering questions for the legislature. And they started compiling this database and then the

031legislature would reach out to him. He'd be able to answer the questions pretty efficiently on a parcel by parcel basis using every assessed value um across the state. And uh over the last few years, as you can imagine, he's hired several more folks, including some of my former colleagues as school business officials to uh help translate his information into um for boards and school business officials. >> Thank you. And Mr. Mr. Major, I want to answer the second part of your question, too, because we uh obviously unless something changes, you know, we will just continue to decline in our cash balance until we run out of cash. Uh so I had my first meeting with one of my cabinet members this morning as we are digging into each one of their budgets so that as

032we go through the next six months, five months or so, we can go into the 2627 school year. um with at least the um the taking action on the items that are the furthest away from the classroom. So going into 2627, we can start taking those those items um that don't impact the classroom. And then we will also have a list of possible actions to consider if the budget when we go to start building 27's budget in in June. If we start to see that things have not turned around andor uh ADM is down again in the fall, you know, we'll have that list of of other items that could impact programs. Thankfully, at this point in time, in most districts that I've seen, all the districts in the state are going through these same

033presentations now, and every day I get a few summaries of these. And for our size, a reduction of $6 million is about what we're seeing across other districts like us. Monroe was, I think, 6.6 million last week. Um, so we're all in a similar situation, but like we planned well ahead enough to have this cash balance that we aren't cutting programs right now. We want to be planning well ahead enough for next school year that we aren't reacting. So, so two things to that. Um, one, the the complexity with ADM I think that the average person doesn't understand is they hear we're down 150 to 200 kids. That doesn't mean that you're down eight teachers. You may still have the same number of teachers. So the cost per student tends to increase because we we

034just we've got the teachers still. It could be three kids in each class at each elementary school. It's not enough kids to say we can consolidate and now you lose teachers, right? So So there's that. There's some complexity there. And then something Dale that might be worth noting for ISBA and others is if if through what Mr. Bneer has done and others like him in our region and they can go through and they can show we're going to assume that we don't make money on the bonds. Right? If you borrow a million dollars and you pay $100,000 and you have 10 other schools do the same thing. We just threw a million of the state's dollars away because the state can't let us do more do more with our own money. And so that might

035be another way to get attention of people in Indianapolis by saying, "Hey, you know, we're we're spending money in the best way we can. We're doing bonds, which we don't want to do, but we have to do. And oh, by the way, collectively the state is just shelling out interest money left and right, which is unnecessary spending of our tax money. So it doesn't yield any value to just throw tax money away for interest. So that might be something else to add when you're talking to ISBA. Miss Wheeling, I struggle with this because I recognize that we do need buses and we need increased technology, but that's part of what we took the referendum for. And so to burden the taxpayer even more because we're kicking the can down the road. It's not just a

036$20,000 purchase here. Um, it's $2.5 million plus 20,000 potentially because we don't know exactly what the market's going to do, but we're going to lose money on this regardless. And so I struggle with it because we're still going to have to pay that $2.5 million dollars. And so it's still another burden on the taxpayer that we that we look at. And that's something that needs to be addressed and talked about as well. And just to counter just not counter but just to repoint out our tax rates going to stay flat in the debt service fund even with this two and a half million. >> Yeah. Similarly to what Mr. Glick said, I'm just struggling like when we say we're taking 2.5 million to essentially lend it out and invest it. Like if I'm I don't

037do that for my own personal finance. I'm really trying to understand how we could explain that as good fiduciary and trying to I'm just struggling with like we're going to basically invest it why would we not just plan to cut where we need to cut between now and then I guess is what I'm trying because I mean we can are we limited on when inside the cycle that we can issue these or can we issue them closer to the cost incurred rather than right now >> we have flexibility whenever we close on the bond. Um, if we're going to invest it for eight months, I mean, when was when would the cost be incurred and then if it's going to be incurred in eight months, kind of similar to what you discussed, which we're going

038to invest it and get 80,000, so we'll net out 20, why would we just not got the bond in eight months when we see how much we need? The uh technology expenditures would all be this coming summer for Mr. Williams, but that's typically we issue the POS in the spring. They're we don't pay any of our bills until items are delivered. Um buses would actually be towards the end of 2026, but that that that would actually end up being I don't think we can make a payment on the bond until we borrowed the money. So that would actually end up we would end up paying the all school debt is paid two payments per year. We pay half of the year's payments in June and the other half in December. So if we didn't take

039delivery, if we didn't close on the bonds until we say May of 20 26 to push that out as far as possible. I think we could still make payments in June and December, but we've never done that. We've never pushed it that far. If we went past that, it would actually go into 2027. >> Yeah. I'm not saying risk it to push it, but I mean, we're in September. I mean, this could be easily a March decision. >> That's a that's a good point. I mean, >> the one difference is if we do the sale in March, May, we're still paying that 100,000, but we won't earn as much interest on it in that time. >> Yeah. But my but the way you just described or possibly was Dr. Phillips, we're going to sit down

040with each cabinet member, identify areas to cut or ideas areas that are I think the quote was furthest away from the classroom. My assumption would be is you wouldn't need the 2.5 by the time we got to March. We would have more clarity in that. >> In the case of these two items, that would not be the case. The technology replacement and buses, those are needs regardless. We're looking at um all of the expenditures. Uh but I I think to your point, we can push off closing on the bonds. The board still has to approve the payments for calendar year 2026 as part of this budget. But we can talk to the financial adviserss and say when is the latest we can push out closing on them to save as much in interest as possible.

041But the payments still have to be made in 2026. So that's on that uh debt service slide. That's what the part that you would be approving this evening is this bottom second bottom line down there. There's some for um for the geo bond. There's approvals this evening, but the total budget is next next board meeting on October 20th. Really good. Really good point though. We could we don't need the money for five more months then let's wait for five more months and not pay that interest. >> Any other questions or comments? >> Thank you, Mr. Berger. >> Real quick, one last thing. Um would would you be able to put together that 162ish whatever it was? Make sure that that has everything. So that way we can compare it apples to apples. So 168 to

042whatever 162 plus whatever geo bond and interest and everything just to understand what those are. >> That's all >> that's in there. >> Okay. That was with the geo bond everything there. >> So all the money we're going to spend next year is going to be at least that much or less >> at most that much or less. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Mr. Bneer. So that concludes our public hearing for tonight. So um remind everybody we do have a quorum and Mr. Glick has joined us. So, I'll gavvel back into our normal board meeting. And first thing on the agenda is school board member reports. Mr. Schultz, would you like to start? >> Uh, nothing to report for me. >> Mr. Glick. >> A couple weeks ago, the Wellness Council met and one of

043the big topics of discussion was vapes. Uh, I don't know why this is such a big topic or or why kids like to vape. I don't know if it's like fidgeting or whatever, but it's an epidemic. Uh, I don't agree with it. I think it's absolutely terrible for you. One of the big issues that they're finding is kids think they're nicotine vapes and they're either Delta 8 or Delta 9 THC vapes and they have no idea. On top of that, most of them are fake Chinese knockoffs that you don't know what you're putting in. you don't know what chemicals you're put in your body. So, kids, if you're watching this, don't vape, please. Um, one of the big other things was extending or expanding the mental health. Um, Mr. Brener talked about a little bit

044with cuts. We're still looking at ways to make it affordable and available at the same time partnering with other resources and outside resources. And many of us have seen the uh parent square notifications for the web webinars and everything and doing it virtually. So it is accessible use it as we are seeing more and more mental health is another epidemic that we are battling throughout society. Um so let's use the resources that are available and let's fix ourselves. Other than that, that's all I got. >> Thank you, Mr. Mr. Nell. >> Um, the high ability broad-based planning committee met this morning. Um, and just some numbers quickly that through the high high ability programming, we service 552 elementary students, which includes academic challenge classrooms and also students in regular classrooms. and 775 um secondary students

045have been identified and are served through high ability programming. Um two big goals for the year. Uh one is on continuing education and the other is program evaluation and identification under continuing education. So I will add since we just talked about budgets that this is funded through the high ability grant from the state. Um and there's three prongs to the continuing education. One is um teachers have the opportunity to take courses towards um high ability endorsement through Ball State University and get reimbursed for that for those courses. Um also one teacher at each elementary school um will receive online professional development. Um those are teachers that have high ability students in the regular classroom. And the idea is that they're the resource person for that school. Um and also the funds help um send teachers

046to the high ability conference. Um program evaluation identification. Two things there in terms of goals for this year. One is um they are working at um how to transition from NWA testing to the iLearn checkpoints for identification. um because that that's what's now available which will change some of the timelines for um for the identification I think moving it up earlier. And then the other thing is that I believe it's in February um that an outside evaluator is going to come and look specifically at our elementary academic challenge program um and provide us with um recommended suggestions which is a great thing to get feedback from experts outside of our program. Um and in terms of legislative liaison that Mr. Major referred to um the ISBA legislative priorities were passed at the ISBA conference a

047couple weeks ago and those are available on the website. I won't go through all of them now. Um and I also want to add that um five board members along with Dr. Phillips, Dr. Stalbomb and Dr. Boseman attended. It's a joint conference between Indiana School Board Association and Indiana Association of Public School Superintendent. So kudos to us and our group for making the effort to go to those two days and and get new ideas. >> Thank you, Mr. Nalon. Um for me, I attended our diversity council on September 12th. Um so that includes several members of the administrative staff. Andrew Kirkham leads our multicultural coordinator and there's also community members that participate as part of that council. The majority of the time was focused on looking at our number of discriminatory incidences. So think of

048this of kids who may be at school and would say something to another student that is outside of our treatment policies. We collect those and we work with students on being nice to one another and and those types of things. Um it was a positive story overall. Even though those incidences still occur, the severity of the discipline for those incidences has reduced. The number of inschool or out of school suspensions was down, meaning that we are making a positive impact. Um the number is not zero, which is always our goal, but there was a a reduction there. Um you might not be surprised to know that the grades where we have the highest number of incidences are seventh, eighth, and ninth grade. So, I feel like I should say thank you to every middle school

049teacher we have in our district today. That's a tough age for children. They're trying to figure out how to be big big kids, young adults, and and sometimes can make tough decisions. Um so, so that was um the majority of our meeting. I would say other celebrations, we did look at iid scores, the same data that we had looked at the schoolboard meeting um prior just to celebrate that win. Um and then in particular uh we spoke about north side the focus on restorative conversations. So for students who may have an in school or out of school suspension the process we use to bring them back to the classroom so they feel comfortable are accepted with their peers those types of things just helping bring kids back and get them back on track. I had

050Mr. Stunner. >> Sure. Uh had a couple opportunities. One was uh with the business advisory group uh Dr. Edward Mr. Edwards led the community business adviserss through a discussion of what a possible mentorship program might look like. Uh allowing business and community leaders to serve as mentors for some of our BCSSE students. Uh it is by no means fully formed, but I think clearly an idea worth uh exploring. Mr. Mr. Edwards will continue to do that with the help of the uh community advisory board business advisory members. Uh Mr. Nen's reference to the ISBA conference two weeks ago, one of the most interesting sessions I attended and I Dr. Boseman was there and I know the materials from that session have been transferred now to Mr. Williams here at BCSSE, but it had to do

051with redistricting and it was processes and insights uh used and gained by folks in Avon School Corporation and Brownsburg School Corporation. Um really interesting u ways of engaging the community in making big decisions like that. So with the uh addition of 12th Ele on the west side of town. That may be one of the decisions that we'll be looking at and we may be able to use some of the practices that were picked up in those two corporations. That's all. Nothing new with the health trust or redevelopment. Redevelopment did meet unfortunately due to work. I couldn't meet that day. Um but I did want to say something about what Tom mentioned about vape. I think if I remember right, we did we not get some money for counseling for vaping like a year or so

052ago? I want to think we did. >> We received u and are still receiving ongoing vaping settlement payments. >> So I don't know enough about how that's being used. Is that to to kind of go with what Tom was saying? Are we using that money to bring in counseling to help the kids understand why that's probably not the best path for them? How are we using that money? >> Installing monitors are as part of that >> both but the those funds that work of bringing in um programs for students as diversion programs. So if you are caught using a vape, there are uh programs that you can go through and online counseling takes you through the effects of it and prevention. All of that work was ongoing before we even had the the settlement payments.

053We actually challenged the wellness council to say um what strategies do we need to put in place to address vaping that will actually reduce the amount of vaping that we have going on. That conversation's been going on for the better part of two years, but uh this year we actually just issued POS for uh vape detectors to put in all of our secondary schools sometime during the course of this year. and we test those out and see if they have an impact or not. Part of that the decision to move forward in doing so came out of um my advisory council. These are these are students in the crowd right now that are help Felicia with her group as her ambassadors. But we heard two consecutive meetings last year. We only had two meetings with

054them. One in January and one in May. And both times the students about 25 students brought up that they they don't comfortable going into a restroom, that there might be students using vape in there and that they might get in trouble if they're in there when that happens. So, in May, we decided to move forward with putting in some vape detectors uh across our secondary schools. We'll see how those go, test them out on a small scale, and then move from there. >> I have no reports. >> Okay. Next, we have cabinet reports. Mr. Williams. As Mr. Williams makes his way up here, I'll point the board members to your binder. Thanks to Mrs. uh Chrisman for putting this together, but uh last board meeting we did have an updated slide for you on I

055read results. This one, um I believe it's the third sheet is the advanced STEM achievement results. That left hand table is updated based on this fall's most recent enrollment data as well. He'll have it on the screen here in a moment for you folks in the crowd as well. >> Good evening. Uh I'm Nick Williams. This is Allison Meyer. We're here to give you a STEM update. Um part of this was just we talked in May, so a few months ago, and it is just as Dr. Phillips mentioned, a update on the numbers. Um, one of these pictures is from when 10 years ago when I was in an AP science lab. I found it randomly. They're replicating DNA, the middle one, and it's of Emily Wilkerson, who's now a teacher here at Schmidt. So,

056thought I'd throw that in there. So our goal for STEM achievement is committed to fostering culture of excellence in STEM where every student has the opportunity to succeed and to make sure that we're challenging our top achievers um and providing the support and resources to mock every student's full potential. We have two stakeholder groups that are working through this again since we talked last. One is elementary kind of co-led with Dr. Hack um the STEM lead for her some principles and the department math chairs for the high schools secondary co-led with Charles Edwards uh and includes C4 the math department chairs but also the science department chairs the targets um again are what we talked about in May uh and we got numbers from AP tests plus the enrollments uh at the start of this

057school year so we can update you on those numbers as we get going. But as a reminder, we want 35% of our sixth graders to be pre-alggebra or algebra ready by seventh grade, 20% of our graduates earning 10 advanced STEM credits, which is equivalent to five classes, and 17% of our graduates earning a passing score on a STEM AP exam. So, we'll get started and go into the data. Um, and again, we met made the measurements late last spring, so these are just updated numbers um, just to see where we're at. So, the sixth grade readiness for pre-alggebra or algebra, it went up just a couple percent from the 2526 school year enrollment data. So, this is based off of all of the enrollments at Central and North Side this year. and it breaks down

058pretty evenly with algebra um and a little difference or a little bump at least in pre-alggebra. We did find out at least that uh these are all teacher recommendations and placement. Uh the math department chairs are working now with our elementary group to kind of look and study how students are placed. Uh we did find out that every team regardless of if you go to central or north side does offer pre-alggebra in seventh grade. The algebra courses as they stand now are at central the high ability and at north side uh in global pathways. So there are some limitations on the algebra readiness versus pre-alggebra. Why this is important is because if a seventh grader is in pre-alggebra, that means they will be on track by their junior year to take pre-calculus, which also preps

059them the best for SAT, ACT, and all of your college preparatory exams. If they are in algebra, we actually have some that are in geometry as seventh graders. Then they go on and have other opportunities to even take up to calc 2, calc 3, and partner with some of our local universities. The next goal is advanced STEM courses. These are any course offered in our math and science department above the recommended or at least the graduation requirements ones listed. There it is linked in that link above. And then uh a lot of C4 courses are considered advanced STEM. This was determined by a large group of our committee and also talking to the business advisory group to make sure that we are in alignment with our beliefs there. So looking at the graduates from last

060spring, it actually did go down. So I feel again that this is something that we can start focusing on and putting resources towards to improve. But it was 17% of the graduates uh earned 20 or 10 advanced STEM credits or again five courses. But if you look at the cohort data uh going down. So this is this year seniors, juniors, sophomores and freshmen, this is what they entered the year with. So already if you look at our seniors, 21.5% of them had 5 to9. They already had 15.1 with 10 plus credits. We actually have a couple with over 20, which is kind of hard to believe. Um, and if you look at what they're enrolled in, this is what the numbers do. So, most of these courses are taken junior and senior year. So, I'm

061going to go back real quick. If you look at that cohort of 2027 is at 21% here is at 8.3 at the start of the year. So, these students have to pass the class to get the credits, but our numbers should and we expect them to go up just based off of class enrollments. And we hope to improve those kind of as we get going into our goals for this. And then AP STEM is that third part of our marks. uh we haven't added any courses in the advanced STEM curriculum from last year to this year and that is true for AP course offerings as well. Um it's important because they can get college credit. So the state passed many years ago that if you get a score of a three or higher, it's out

062of five, that you're guaranteed college credit to any state school. So, this you you don't have to worry about transferring credits if it's a dual credit course where that fits. So, all of our state universities uh honor these credits, which is nice. And again, those scores come out over the summer in July, early July. If you've had kids in AP, you know that this is an anxious time. So we again are actually slightly down with this year past year's graduating class uh at 14.4% of that graduating class getting uh a STEM AP exam credit. So hopefully we again can work to improve that. And if you do look at the this is 24 25 graduating years look on down to what 2026 our current seniors have already done. They already have 15.93% of those students

063earning an AP STEM credit. So, they've already passed the graduating year and they have a full year which the majority of them are taking senior year as well. So, that really is a class that is doing a lot and we've talked to cohorts and counselors about this. So, uh we hope that this improves as well. All right. So to kind of help students get access to STEM fields to get to really build a love for STEM, we like to kind of spotlight our elementary STEM labs. They had an amazing opportunity to partner with the community on some events. So Allison Meyer is here to talk about the STEM labs. >> Thank you. So for those of you that don't know me, I'm Allison Meyer. I teach um STEM at Richards and I also coordinate STEM

064events for the district um with our community partners as well. So that's my role. So we do have STEM labs in each elementary school. So right now we have 11 and of course our new elementary school bring us up to 12. Um STEM used to be taught by classified staff but because of the referendum we were able to change that position to certified teachers. So we're very thankful for those funds that made that a certified position. So K to6 students visit STEM labs once a week for 45 to 50 minutes. So STEM is a special just like music, art, gym. Um and we have our curriculum is focused on the engineer engineering and computer science. So when we're teaching these engineering projects or um science concepts, we are showing them how engineers in the real

065world learn and develop things. So we'll spend a week or two learning about um a specific topic. So for fifth grade, for example, we learned about different kinds of energy. We um then asked questions about why we would be using different kinds of energy. And we um ended up making solar ovens because we were learning about solar energy and how in different parts of the world um why those might be useful. So after investigating how solar energy changes to heat um they they worked with a team they made designs using what we had learned um they narrow down their plan make a list of materials those kinds of things and then build build their product and then the next part in that engineering design process is to go out and test it and then we

066come back and put our engineer caps on and say okay we tested it and evaluated it now how can we improve it so every um grade that looks a little bit different with kindergarten, of course, versus sixth grade, but we're still showing them that scientists don't have to get it right the first time. We explore something we're interested in um and try our best and make it better. So, the other part of that is we teach computer science. So, a lot of that we do coding, which involves robotics, it involves um designing computer programs, which is really fun for the kids. And as we know that's getting bigger and bigger every year. They also get a grade for digital citizenship. So we throughout the quarters um spend time teaching them how to be responsible citizens

067when they're online, when they're on social media, um using cell phones, and we all know how big of an impact that is. And then lastly, they also get a grade for employability skills. So whether they go into a STEM related field or not, these are skills like time management, communication, working with a team that we really focus on and ingrain in STEM. Um so they get a grade for that as well. So this year um we got to partner with uh Landmark Columbus Foundation. So we do this on a two-year cycle. So, this actually started last spring when students were fifth graders and they were asked the question, "How could your favorite downtown Columbus building be reinvisioned for the future?" So, again, in that engineering model, they worked with the team. They um had multiple

068great ideas about um places around downtown that they wanted to reimagine. Maybe it was the Crump, maybe it was um the library plaza, you know, just lots of different places downtown. So they worked to build a plan and as sixth graders, so starting this year, um those designs went on display for exhibit Columbus. So students worked in groups and created a model that materialized their ideas. And then they also um all sixth grade students got to go on a field trip downtown to see some of their projects on display. But then they also got to see the 13 installations um from architects around the country as well, which was a really cool opportunity for them. And these are just some pictures. Um, and one thing that I think is really cool is some of these

069kids, even though obviously they all live in Columbus, some of these kids haven't been downtown to the library, they haven't been to um some of these areas. So, it's really special to see them um experience what our downtown has to offer. So, some of these were at >> um places like First Christian, St. Peters, the library, and those kinds of things. So they're seeing how architects in real engineering related fields in real engine um STEM related fields are problem solving and making communities better. And then uh just some of the strategies we're looking at really even just starting to look at is aligning our district curriculum to improve STEM achievement. So uh trying to we have three high schools, two middle schools. uh but they don't always have the time to work together. So, actually,

070we're very thankful for the PD days. We have one coming up where Charles Edwards is having the math teachers get together to really talk about best practices and alignment throughout the district. We want to replicate success that other programs have had. Remember Mr. Non having Cal parties uh decades ago? Those still go on. My daughter has one tomorrow. Um, but also after COVID, our middle schools talked about some successful tutoring programs after school. We all know how successful Book Buddies is. Looking at how we can look at some of those programs and find resources to hopefully offer those still. Um, our math department chairs are now working with the elementary teachers to talk about that pre-alggebra algebra readiness and have some alignment there. And again, being able to use the PD days for these groups

071to meet together uh to help us achieve our goals. We are sharing advanced STEM and AP data with the high school cohorts, with counselors uh to help market those classes. Really exciting to see the C4 additions going in at East to provide even more opportunities for students in our district. And then we just want to celebrate our students as well uh who reach our goals. So any graduating senior who has taken um you know kind of five advanced STEM credits and AP classes, we're talking about how we can recognize those students as other programs do as well. Uh and I think you know we're just getting started with this. So, it's pretty exciting. And hopefully uh can't go without this or at least showing this, but our latest NASA astronaut from Columbus talked about how

072they built a love for science in elementary school. Um, and that could be happening right now in our STEM classes, and we hope it is. So, it's always good to celebrate uh our achievements and our amazing students. With that, do you have any questions? I have to know if the solar cookers worked because I can just in I I laughed a little because I could just feel myself 17 again in the Columbus East parking lot wishing and hoping and praying for my thing to work terrible flashbacks. >> So they the answer is yeah kind of. So, um, we did those with fifth grade, and I actually have fifth grade very first thing in the morning. But we had learned that it doesn't have to be, you know, super hot outside. As long as there's not

073cloud coverage and rain, as long as there's some solar energy coming, that it will it will um make the heat rise. So, we tested it with s'mores and our marshmallows didn't melt, but some of the ovens went up like 15 16 17 degrees Fahrenheit in just 10 minutes. So, we talked about how um you know, we could make those we could make improve those, make those better, maybe change our timing of the day, but that kind of that kind of thing. But yes, technically they worked. I >> I just continue to be impressed with the STEM work in our corporation. Our our kids are so fortunate to have this at such an early age. I have a first grader whose favorite day of the week is Wednesday because it's when he has STEM. So, I

074applaud these efforts and as a parent, I'm just really grateful. >> As a parent with a daughter that has a bunch of AP credits. I don't know if it's 20, Nick, but she's up there. I appreciate the college bill reduction that I will experience because of what she's accomplished here. So, I think that's a huge benefit for families, too. Um, getting them off on the right track and hopefully reducing some of those costs that we we have later. Yeah, we're very fortunate to have really a world-class group of AP STEM teachers as well uh behind all of this. >> You you actually dive into my one question. It I like the emphasis and I like seeing these I've forgotten. I've slept since May and I might have forgotten a little bit about what we were

075trying to accomplish and and you've got goals and you're not there yet, which is totally fine. It's a hill to climb, but do you think we have all the right butts in the seats to get there? >> Oh, yeah. I think, you know, just even pulling the data, looking at it, making it a priority has already made a difference. So, um, I'm just excited to celebrate our students and give them more opportunities or at least make sure they're aware of those opportunities as we move as we move forward. Yeah, I think that was my concern and I think I've asked this a couple of times in the past is we we've had to put a significant emphasis on I read based on what the state has told us and my concern was the emphasis that

076just drove all this extra effort towards reading. Did it take away from math? And so as an engineer uh myself, I think I'm one of two engineers up here and one of three probably math lovers. Um throw Dale in. Um but I think uh to me if if we can really address the early learning in math, it's hard to catch up. It's easier to catch up if you can't read or can't speak because you can hear it all around you. But it's hard to understand the math principles when you get into fifth and sixth grade if you don't understand them in first and second because everything starts to compound on that. So do do we have I like seeing the math tutoring. I like seeing the engagement of the department chairs in the middle school

077range. Do we have something similar uh where we could I know we don't have like I read and I math. We we've got iLearn math that we can look at. Are we monitoring those scores to try and understand how to improve in a math realm to be able to emphasize the problem solving skills that need to be done in STEM? >> Yes. Um, some of those would have to go to Dr. Hack for the early learners, but to Dale's uh high ability numbers, the 552 elementary students, the majority of those are high ability in math only. Um, so which is which is kind of interesting to me. uh but shouldn't be surprising for this community. So, I think as we learn the checkpoints and learn this new assessment and figure out kind of where we're

078at, uh it'll it'll provide a lot more information to catch them earlier. Um but yeah, I agree. just to flush that out a little bit. I think I'm remembering right from this morning's meetings that that um kindergarten they're really um it's the the reading that kids are ahead in, but by the time they're up to third grade, it's it's more of them are math, which is not only a tribute to our kids, but a tribute to our teachers. I think I I want to thank you for the presentation and and especially I I really appreciate the fact that it's a two-prong goal. One is all kids and then the other is the highest performing kids. Um I they're both different challenges and I think to kind of echo what Mr. Mr. Major just said the

079the more we can look at um some of the math scores for all kids. I don't know if in iLearn I should be familiar with this, but I don't know if we get science scores for any grades. But but not to lose track, I really appreciate the the AP and the STEM focus for the advanced high school kids, but not to lose track of of meeting the needs of all kids. Um and what two other things. Someone's a question. The um am I correct in thinking that this is the first year that we're offering pre-calc as an AP course? >> It's not the it's the first year at both schools. So East offered it last year and now North is offering it. So we'll see. That's the I didn't say it was an added course

080because technically it was offered last year, but there is high enrollment in that. But it could get us a bump in AP credits just from that relatively new course. >> Yep. >> And and the other thing, this isn't a question, but I just want to give a shout out, and this may be going on at East High School also. I don't know. But um Brad Brandham at North started a um peer tutoring program and he this year he was telling me he has 60 kids that are working with um 60 of his high performing math students that are working with other kids during their resource time. And I mean he set up a phenomenal program of kids helping kids which I just think is tremendous. Dale, I can I So, I got interested in the

081I learn and I've got uh I'll share this with you later, but there's English language arts goes third through eighth grade, math goes third through eighth grade, science is fourth and sixth, social studies fifth, and biology is 10th. So, >> so we could get some science scores also. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. >> And I will also throw this out. When we started calculus parties, I did get calls from parents, is this really a thing? Before Nick goes into Sorry, did you have some? >> I I was gonna say I I appreciate the fact that we're advancing uh and and adding AP classes. When I was there at East and Miss Lloyd, I think the only two AP math classes were calculus and statistics. Um and then to Miss Lloyd's point about sitting out in front of

082East parking lot, a little food for thought here on your ovens. I looked at the the kids that set the curve and they uh had a vacuum and so theirs boiled like that and everybody else wasn't very sunny that day, but the vacuum really showed something. So that could be some food for thought for you moving forward. >> What did you what did you cook? What do you do you remember? >> Ours so ours was just the boiling water in a copper tube with a center focal point and aluminum foil. I just had one other thought. Um, in your data collection, I know we have a significant number of students that take um, calc 3, multivariable calculus, and get credit through Ball State or someplace else. And I don't know if we're capturing that data

083in this. >> It's in the advanced STEM data or at least those credits, uh, but not the AP one. So, we are >> AP still won't offer that as a course. Yeah, we're at least uh catching those. >> Okay. >> The one thing I wanted to point out, sorry. >> No, I didn't have anything. >> Oh, okay. >> Before they go sit down, there's this significant difference between this student achievement outcome that we're measuring and the other two and and thanks to the work of this team and and Dr. Hack and Mr. Edwards and the department chairs. So the graduation rate system in Indiana has been built up for almost two decades, been consistent, almost never changes. The data is calculated by the state. You can access it. You know, history over years. And so

084it's been very clear what we're measuring and what's important. U I read has been over 10 years that I read data. That's been the case for the test did change once or twice in that time frame, but this is something that this team had to to dig through all of the possibilities that you could measure when it comes to advanced STEM achievement and identify the things that matter most for students to be successful at the next level. And I appreciate the fact that Mr. Williams pointed out, seventh grade math enrollment is important because it determines what your your potential limits are by the time you leave high school. And then the other credits have an impact at the next level as well. So identifying just three outcomes that we can consistently measure again u as

085long as the state doesn't change everything for us. But appreciate their work in identifying what is important. Just shining, you know, the light on it, I think, will identify some of the things that we might have in place structurally that are very easy to just make simple changes to allow more students to have access and be successful. So, kudos to your team. >> Thank you. >> Okay, next is schoolboard policies. Dr. Phillips. >> Thank you, Mrs. Wen. This is just a a repeat should say repeat of the clicking down promise. Um the last board meeting presentation on September 8th, we had the first reading for policy package six which include included drug-free workplace fitness for duty, staff discipline, reduction in staff programs for high ability students, investment income, travel expenses, registered sex or violent offenders

086policy for pest control as well as required federal policy for latch key programs. This mouse is jumping all over the place. I apologize. Um, pledge of allegiance and moment of silence, which is a state law, advertising, commercial activity, sponsorship, and naming rights, as well as district support organizations, and the questioning of students. Those were all policies in policy package six. And then in addition to those policy package six, we have three other changes. The first two B150 organizational meeting board of financing committees and the second one board superintendent relationship came out of Mr. Schultz's proposals uh three board meetings now ago I believe. U those changes we've reviewed in the work session as well as in the first reading. And then also D250 is the teacher appreciation grant policy which the state changed the requirement

087to have that policy as well as the existence of appreciation grants in their prior format. Any questions or discussion on the second reading of policy package six as well as B1 changes to B150, D150, and the elimination of D250? Okay, just a reminder, we do have a a work session scheduled for October the 6th where we will review the final package of the reorganization efforts that consist of 28 policies. You received those on Friday um in your Friday notes. So, those are ready for you to review prior to the work session. Okay, now on the agenda, it's time for public comments. If anybody would ever like to speak at a school board meeting, there'll be a blue sheet at the table when you walk into the admin building or or whatever building we may be

088in, and you can sign up. Um the the rules are posted here. We don't have anybody signed up to speak tonight, so I won't go through those. And we can move on to the next agenda item, uh which is request for approval. Thank you. This time I request approval of item 7A, old business, minutes of the public hearing and regular school board meeting from September 8th, 2025. >> I move that we approve item 7A, minutes from the school board past previous schoolboard meeting. >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Nellen and Mr. Glick. Any questions or comments from the board? Okay. We have a motion and a second to approve item 7A meetings from our last school board meeting. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> All those opposed, please say nay. >>

089Motion carries 70. >> Thank you. In under new business, item 8 A through 8J. These include the regular approvals of supplemental contracts, field trip field trips, and professional leaves, school fundraisers, and claims and payroll reports. Claims and payroll reports reports for this meeting include docket and claims of just overh. And the preruns for the month of August totaled just under 7.6 million. And then the one payroll that occurred between August 11th and September 7th of just over $3.9 million. That's item 8 D. Item 8E and F are both annual federal grants. The first one for title two, which is professional development, and then title four for supportive programs. Also, um this is our I believe Mrs. Vogel said this is somewhere around our fifth or sixth year of the robo kind robbo kind grant from

090the state of Indiana. Um and then also policy package six as well as the three other changes we just reviewed. Item 8 I is the community survey committee members. This is a survey we've spoken about um in the past. has been several board meetings, but this is a serve. Uh we intend to engage with a company out of Wisconsin that will actually do a mail survey to every mailing address in the community uh sometime around the first of the year in order to get feedback both for the board and for administration for making recommendations about uh the operating referendum renewal either in 26 or 2028. Um and so we're looking for board members to serve on that committee and the recommendation uh from Miss Wen and the officers were um Miss Whitney Lloyd and Mr.

091Tom Click if they're both available and interested. Those are the recommendations this evening. And then last item eight J is the are the three resolutions related to issuing a G 2025 GEO bond as part of the budget adoption process. >> I have a question. Can we pull out Jay to be voted independent? >> So at this time I request approval of item 8A through 8 I. I move I move that we vote to approve 8A through 8 I as presented. >> A second. >> Thank you. We have a motion and a second for 8A through I. Any questions or comments? >> I I just had a question about G. I one of the line items said it was VA le. I didn't know what the VA meant in the document. Yeah, V is in Victor.

092In one of the documents that was sent out, it kind of had an itemization and it said VA. >> Okay. Yep. There there was that. And then the only other thing I mean it's not going to affect how I vote on either one of these tonight. I'm okay with them. But just to get a little more information on the title two part A, if if we could see like the line items for each of the certified staff, stipens, professional services just to understand what that breakdown is. So it's not it's it's it's a little bit of money there and it's a little bit more than the other. The other one was a little bit easier because it looked like you could almost cut it in half and understand the salaries. This one looked like the

093salaries would have been huge if you'd have broke it up in half and it just I Yep. Thank you. >> I'd also like to um thank Mr. Glick and Miss Lloyd for agreeing to sit on this committee. I wanted people to know what was on my mind when I made those appointments. It's been, you know, conversation topic, but um I think they're fresh eyes on the board. is going to be helpful. You know, they'll have a different lens when they're thinking about engaging the community when it comes to um the referendum. So, that's helpful. They're also lifelong Columbus um natives and um Whitney's got a lot of experience kind of I'll say in the city, you know, with her her day job and experience and then Mr. Glick in the county. So, they'll bring up

094broad perspective, I think, across our community and and really help us make sure we're making good decisions on that survey to go out. So, appreciate appreciate that. >> I I can't remember. Can you remind me what the cost was on the survey? >> Um it's about 35,000. >> Depends on um how many are mail theirs in physically. That's a driver of the cost. >> Okay. So, we have a motion and a second for items 8 A through I. Um all those in favor, please say I. >> I. All those opposed, please say nay. Motion carries 70. >> So I move that we approve item 8J, the 2025 geo bond. >> Thank you, Mr. Nellen. Do I have a second? Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Stunner. Have a motion and a second for item 8J. Any

095questions or comments from the team? Okay. All right. All those in favor of approving items 8J, please say I. >> Yes. >> I. All those opposed, please say nay. >> Nay. >> Okay. Motion carries. 52. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. The human resources recommendations consist of one resignation, one appointment, and three leaves of absence. There are no additional personnel recommendations. I request that you please approve the human resources recommendations as presented. >> I move that we approve item nine, human resource recommendations as presented. >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Nellen and Mr. Glick. Any questions or comments from Miss Stal? Okay. All those in favor of approving item nine, human resources, please say I. I. >> All those opposed, please say nay. >> Motion carries 70. Okay. Board input and review. Miss Lloyd, I

096start with you. Sorry, I caught you by surprise a little bit. >> Surprise. >> Uh First and foremost, congratulations to our athletes and their academic achievements. And thank you to whoever put that list together. That was really fun to see. Um, so many accomplishments. I also want to congratulate our student runners who participated this past weekend. There were so many students on the course, 5K to the marathon, and especially the fun run. There were countless teachers and staff at that fun run. One had a cowbell. Okay. They were they were so energetic cheering for their students and their students siblings. It was just a really amazing thing to see. Um it's just another wonderful part of our community. So congratulations to the runners. Uh I also want to thank BCSU for the opportunity to attend

097the ISBA conference and to Sherry for coordinating everything and getting us there. I thought it was a really valuable experience and a great use of my time as an individual. I met lots of new people, fellow board members from across the state. We were able to chat and compare notes and and talk about um successes and challenges. Uh I certainly felt less alone and took away a lot of great information. So, thank you to to BCSC for that opportunity. Um on on a heavier note, you know, I was thinking about our meeting um a couple of weeks ago and the time that has has passed since then and it's actually pretty crazy to think about all of the horrible things that we've experienced as a country just in the last two or three weeks. and

098um just wanted to take a minute to reflect on on the many individuals who have lost their lives to violence. Um you know, and the and the families and the classmates and the communities that they're going to leave behind. Um you know, we're always always working to keep our students safe. And I'm just extremely grateful for the teachers and for the counselors and the staff that show up with compassion and strength every day for our kids in our schools. Um feels like it's getting harder to do. Um and that's a pretty heavy weight. I'm also just in awe of our students and their resiliency as children um to show up with such grace and commitment especially during times like this. So um just really grateful for the supports we have as a corporation and the

099remarkable students um that are ours. >> Yeah, can't disagree with that. Definitely been difficult the last couple weeks. So, thanks for the comments. Um, yeah, Mr. Edwards, thank you for putting that together for us tonight. I do appreciate that. I know I've been asking for that for a while, and I hope that we can continue to to honor the work that the parents and coaches who provide all the support for those uh academic all-state students do, get uh the players and all the hard work they put in, not just in a classroom, but on the field or on the court. Uh it's hard enough just to be a starter on most teams, but to to to play and then to excel not just in in your team but across the state both academically and athletically

100is very remarkable. So great job to all who earned that. Uh just one of the things that was interesting, there's 37 kids that were named up there and there was a whole team uh with girls tennis. So that's just remarkable. I know last year we had four out of the top 10 kids from East were unable to attend because of a volleyball game. And so I mean it's just to see that number of kids the the boys volleyball which was not a sport 30 years ago when I played. I would not have played on it because I can't jump. But those kids there was that was the longest list of kids we had up there. And so it's a new sport growing sport. And then just uh again to stay sports related uh between now

101and the next full meeting we have I know we have a work session but the next full meeting we have uh some of these teams will enter the the sectionals time and just want to wish them all the best of luck in in finishing off uh both in for some uh their calendar year sports but also for some of them that are seniors possibly their sports careers. So do the best you can. We wish you all health and success in your sports future. Thank you. >> Uh like Mr. Major did, I'll endorse and echo the comments made before me by Miss Lloyd and Mr. Major both. Um it was nice to see a group of students here this evening. I enjoyed that. U the presentations that the staff members made. I appreciate the time and

102effort that went into those uh helping us as board members. It's amazing to me the inspiration that teachers can provide. Um the photo of Mr. Kubo who's in this year's class of astronauts. Mr. Kubo attributed his interest in science I think to a third grade teacher here in BCSC. And I know that that's not an isolated case. I know there are teachers firing students every in every building. Uh and then since the last time we met BCS, he's been featured in two national publications uh Bloomberg uh on architecture which I guess Columbus were kind of used to by now. Uh but then the other one was Forbes where u we were cited as one of the best employers in the state of Indiana. I think uh in particular employers involved in educational efforts. So, congratulations

103to uh everyone who helped make those things possible. Thank you. >> Okay. Um I'd like to give a shout out to Dr. Goose and Dr. Vong Fong. We've um they have helped us for so many years with our athletes and have decided to um step down. There was an article in the paper etc. I just wanted to publicly say thank you to them for keeping our athletes um healthy and safe. And then um to Mr. Brener and the whole team just on the budget work. It's just tough. There is so much uncertainty right now and you're you're placing bets and you're not going to know what the next couple years bring and and I understand the perspectives of not wanting to borrow but also not wanting to dip so low when it could be a

104couple really tough years ahead. and once you spend it, you it's gone. Um, so I it's a bit of a balancing act and I think that the team has thought very hard about the proposals they put in front of us and I appreciate the effort put into that and thank you for your work in that space. >> So Mr. Boseman did not or Dr. Boseman did not have a um Envision 2030 update for us tonight, but I have a mini or micro envision 2030 update. Um, so I'm a book buddy at Schmidt Elementary and last week, um, Book Buddies was canceled on Monday and Tuesday because the new shelves and furniture had arrived for the library. So this morning, um, I had Book Buddies in the the newly renovated and fully equipped library. And the

105transition is just amazing. It it was used to be a very dark space and the light in there is just tremendous. and and beyond that, I had a conversation with um a couple staff members that talked about the the changes already in their their space at the school and how impactful it's it's been for them and for the students. Um the other what so this is a a personal story of mine that will connect here. Um many many years ago, I was a freshman um college student majoring in psychology. And when you major in psychology, you have to take a course called finite math. And my professor, Dr. Wilson, came up to me and said, um, you're pretty good at math. Do you ever think about taking another math course? And I said, well, I

106really hadn't. And he talked me into taking another math course. And that kind of changed my life. Um, and we and um we saw the picture of Yuri Kubo up there and the quote, and um, Mr. already referenced this, but but the impact that Larry Mlen, his third grade teacher, had on him many many years later. And I I think that happens every day, multiple places. I mean, that one made the newspaper, but but that happens with our teachers and our students on a daily basis. And I just want to thank teachers for having that impact. >> All right. Oh, sorry. Can I add sorry I meant to add one more thing with that. Um the Kubo family was here in Columbus for many years and and I should add this was in the paper

107too but Yuri's mother Maryanne Kubo was um instrumental in starting the Japanese program here. She fought hard for a Japanese program here. So I have to shout that out too. >> Sorry. You're good. Uh it's interesting to reflect on Dr. Goose and when he first came here. I believe it may have been my senior year at East and he and I made a good connection on the sideline of watching football and playing football and I even went back to him many years later as as a surgeon so he could repair my knee uh eight years ago. Um so it's it's amazing to look at his longevity here and the success that he's brought to the community and to the schools as a whole. uh he will be missed. To brighten it up, we have two

108teams that are conference champs that locked in over the weekend. Uh if if I read it right, the North girls soccer team ended up tying for first place in the conference uh with Bloomington South. And then East boy soccer went six and0 in Hooser Hills and locked up their conference championship. So it's Awesome. See that they're doing it on the field and in the classroom as well. Uh tomorrow there are two dying to notate dying to donate, excuse me. One at Chipotle for the North uh Spanish Club and then another at Big Woods out in Edinburgh. I can't remember off top of my head who that's for, but uh we talked about the ISBA conference earlier. Uh it was a very good experience. uh and some of the seminars that we went into I thought

109were going to be a little different and maybe take some stuff away and it was kind of refreshing to see that we're ahead of the curve here in BCSSE on many things and we're kind of doing things right and we're moving in the right direction uh and other other districts are trying to play catchup especially as we look forward to the changes in the degree plans uh that we're looking at this year. Um, one other thing that came out of the uh, wellness council is Dr. Phillips got up and spoke a little bit about uh, the what is it the hands ars heads and then the 4 motto you add health in there. Um, so very similar, but one thing he talked about was a book that he read that could be instrumental to a

110lot of people, especially parenting, teaching, coaching, and I look at it as a military leader and the fact that I could be some of these new recruits old enough to be their dad at one point. Uh, so the book is called 10 to 25, the science of motivating young people. And I think as we're move forward as a society, that is one of the hardest things that we're looking at in the advancements of technology is how do we motivate these kids and get them to strive for excellence. And so that's on my reading list. I appreciate you bringing that to us and I hope someone watching this or someone in the crowd or someone on the board will take the time to read that as well because I think it could be bene beneficial for

111all of us. Um, and then lastly, it's that time of year, everyone. It's farm traffic. That's part of why I was late. Um, be careful on the roads. Lots of big equipment moving around. Don't start yelling at the combine or the tractor in front of you. If we can't see you in the mirrors, it's because you're too close. Back up. We will pull over for you when it's available. Just because we're big doesn't mean we can pull over anywhere. We will find a safe place to do it. So either find an alternate route, plan accordingly, leave earlier, or just please be patient. And especially like last night, I looked at the dust cloud that we were creating. Uh as it gets later in the night, cutting beans, it's very very dusty and basically creates a

112fog. So slow down and be responsible drivers. So, I've never figured out sitting on this end if it's better to be at the end or the beginning of this, but I'll echo all the statements prior. And um I do want to say a couple special thank shout outs. One, really appreciate the STEM update as the father of four elementary students. I think that ranks in the top two and that's speaking a lot for my son who prioritizes gym, but he really enjoys STEM, too, which is great to get that balance for them. Um, and I also like how we're doing multiple pathways to succeed. I remember going to North and receiving dual credit in both business, math, and I believe English and history as part of what was the HIP program at the time. And

113it just it's great to see us continuing to allow multiple avenues for success. Um, I want to thank Miss Gar for bringing in her students uh on this meeting. I think it's great to see uh children and students exploring government and action. So, just a couple shout outs. Next, uh we have our upcoming dates. So, we have a board work session to look at those 28 policies um on Monday. Okay. So, lots and lots of policies um and and we will work through that here. It will be uh on YouTube. Okay. >> Correct. It'll be streamed. >> Yep. It will be streamed. So, or you can attend in person. It will be here in this room. Uh we have a regular board meeting on the 20th. that is when the budget will be on the

114agenda for approval. Uh we have a special board meeting on October 29th. Um the first one at 5:00 is scheduled in the event we have a tenative agreement um reviewed on the 20th. We would vote on that on the 29th with our teachers union. Okay. So the state mandates at least 72 hours before reviewing that in our board meeting and actually having a vote. So we have two different meetings for that process and then after that we would have an executive session. Um last meeting we talked about wanting to review safety data and and and things in this board meeting. We we can actually hold executive sessions and I think that's our first step is to do that as a closed board team. We get more access to information and then we can decide what

115to bring um into a public meeting if if that's what we choose. So that's our next step. And right in the middle of all that, Miss Wen is fall. >> So safe travels to everyone that next Friday when there's that giant vacuum sound, it's everyone leaving Columbus for their fall break. So safe travels. >> It's true. >> Okay, with that meeting, thank you everyone.