001Stand for the pledge for a moment of silence 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. All right, I'll go ahead and recognize that we do have a full quorum this evening. So, we are all in attendance and we do not have any emergency additions to add to the agenda. So, if I can get a motion for the um approval of the agenda as is. I'll make a motion to approve the agenda. >> I'll second. >> All right. Any discussions on our agenda? All right. All those in favor of approving the agenda for this evening, please say I. >> I. Oppose. Same sign. All right. And I am going to go ahead and um open
002up our public hearing. We have a hearing this evening for um public to um talk on capital projects plan, our school bus replacement plan, and the 2026 budget that was um advertised. So, we'll take a moment for a hearing. And is there anybody that needs to sneak on anything on this behalf? Okay. All right. We will go ahead and close and adjourn our public hearing and move into our regular meeting. So, we have um this is the time that audience can speak to the board on agenda items and we'll open it back up after um the meeting for non-aggenda items. And just a moment to make sure. Okay, we have nobody signed up for um talking with board. So, we will go ahead and move into our routine matters. B1 is the approval of the
003minutes to the regular meeting and work session will held on August 18th. And if I can get a motion for approving those minutes. >> I'll make a motion to approve minutes of the regular meeting and work session of August. >> Got a second. All right. Any comments or discussion on the minutes? All right. All those in favor for approving the regular meeting and work session on August 18th of 25, please say I. >> I. Opposed. Same sign. B2. We have our vouchers and financial reports for the month. Um, I get a motion for those. >> Like to make a motion to pay the vouchers and financial reports and accept those. >> I'll second. >> Thank you. Anything to add? >> I didn't point out. >> Right. And um, no further discussion. All those in favor
004for vouchers and financial reports, please say I. >> I. opposed. Same sign. And then our communications for um September. We have some donations. BC had um some donations. The automotive shop had a 2005 Chevy Express donated. The cheerleading um had 300 and negative lunch balances of 100 was donated for BC. Prairie had 275 to student activities and none for Auburn this month. And we have our fundraiser update C2 and um just kind of highlight some of the fundraisers we have going on um coming up or going on. And I do I did have a question on that when I noticed um that our elementaryaries fundraisers aren't on there. And I was wondering do they >> they send them to Bailey and then Bailey will put them on there once >> we were on there. >>
005Okay. I didn't I totally missed it because I was trying to see when Curry was doing their >> specifically. >> So just to to make sure that we're clear on when we get this they they color code the months. >> Correct. >> Yes. So that's what I show each time. >> Yeah. So your your red ones are just the new ones for this month, but the report is ongoing. So like ones that you've already seen in previous months are still on the ones that you sent. But >> for you just updating right here is just the >> the new ones. >> Yes. >> And we did we do have there that was updated and added. >> Oh, that's okay. So, those are our fundraisers and then we will go on to C3 and Abby is
006here for the principal update for um honor. >> Sorry for my phone. Made a few notes on it. Um so today we started our win groups which is what I need. And so those are for grades K through three. This is a time where our title department pulls out students, our special education department, and then we have three or four pairs into each grade level. between the two classes working at students needs, their interventions, um what they need. So those are off to start. Um this is new for Otterbin. So we are excited um to have all the pair of support to help with that. Um then we have a CKLA curriculum. Many grade levels have finished their first unit. They're still adjusting to the rigor of the curriculum and they may not get a
007lot of feedback I'm hearing is they're not getting everything in. And so I've just been telling them sometimes slow and steady wins a race. So instead of trying to fly through and get everything, at least get what you're presenting to the students, they're understanding and mastering. Um, but we've also received a few parent comments on the various aspects of it, especially when it comes to the vocabulary that the students are learning, how they're using it at home. Um, so that was a great um, feedback from them. Um, this week is also safety week at Otterbin. So we are doing various safety drills this week while working with local law enforcement and emergency responders. So, we sent out a generic letter to parents letting them know if they see emergency vehicles, that's what it is. Did
008not tell them what drills or what day or time um for obvious safety reasons, but we started that this week. Tomorrow, we are starting grade level meetings. This is going to be during the teachers prep time just to review data, but also get feedback from teachers on what is going well and what they need help with. So, that'll be interesting tomorrow, what feedback we get. Um, last week I started lunch with the principal. Um each class has a week this first semester where students from their class get to come eat lunch with me in the office. Just working on a getting to know them, building that positive relationship. Um so I should have lunch with all 268 students before Christmas time. So um last week on Friday we had grandparents day at Otterbin. Um the
009kindergarten teachers and the students worked really hard at getting um the grandparents in. every student had a grandparent figure or someone a grand buddy as they called um come in for the little program refreshments and then see in the classrooms and I know the grandparents really enjoyed the effort the teachers put in for that. Um we kind of touched on fundraiser. We did kick off our fanny May fundraiser last Thursday but to be completely honest um the prices have increased. So, that's something moving forward, we will probably look at other alternatives just for a pricing standpoint. And um again, it's kind of out of their control, too. But, um our positive videos here this month, we're going to be um creating a positive video to push out to our school community. And we are going
010to be hearing from students, parents, and hopefully some staff on what they like best about Otterbin, why they have Red Devil Pride, or something they've learned. Um that is going to be K3. So, I sent out a survey to the K3 parents and asked if they would like to be filmed in it or if their child could be. So, I've gotten some feedback. Do have a handful of parents um willing to give a little statement and then some students as well. Um something we've kind of been working on with the school resource officer, sheriff, and the law enforcement is our drop off and pickup safety. Um last Thursday I went to the town board to introduce myself, but to also share some safety concerns with them. um out of that meeting was a great positive
011and the fact that um they are going to advertise in their town newsletter for anyone that would like to volunteer to help be cross guards um around the you know especially those areas that are affected by the busing um you know they're do a background check and just volunteer um so I think I got a couple already on there so hopefully more will reach out so that was exciting communitybased um thing um but with that we are um trying to get on North Columbia Street, a no parking zone from 2:30 to 3:30. That's going to be the side kind of by road trucking and the second grade doors staff parking lot. Um so that's going to be presented again to the town board next week and then advertised in the paper since it will involve
012an ordinance change. Um worked with sheriff or not sheriff um today to kind of solidify some of that. What we're having is some students getting dismissed out those doors because their parents are waiting over there instead of using our car rider line. Um so trying to make sure we just safely know where all 268 students go. Um you know we have traffic buses pulling in. We have staff members who clock out at different times going. That is just a kind of a congested area that safety. Um so kind of speaking on car rider line we have discussed having two car rider lines at one point um with having more car riders with the busing in the town. Um however we have gotten it down to be between 8 to 10 minutes that we get all
013the car riders out the door and gone. Um, so we really want to get those out before our buses are dismissed so we don't have to call buses back. Um, so we are not going to go with two as of now. Um, especially with working with the town, there's town roads and congestion. Um, we did talk about taking away that staff parking there by the kindergarten side and using two car rider lines, but then when you get up, you have the chaos of, well, who's going left, who's going right, why need to go left. Um, so we're just going to, I think, stick with where we're at right now. We are going to release car riders about five minutes earlier so that way the riders and the parents are out before our walkers get dismissed.
014Um, and then lastly, we had our big walkthrough today. Um, we are looking forward to getting the project started. I think it's going to be a great addition what we need, but also being very modest in our choices of utilizing our space. So, we appreciate your guys on that. >> And Ed is here for curriculum update. Okay. Um, as we've talked about before, our focus this year is strengthening instruction um by using great strategies and the use of high quality curricular materials. And so we've worked hard these first um we're at midterm 911, right? So we're um halfway through our first nine weeks. We've worked diligently to put our materials in place and to get the teachers up and running in their rooms. Um, as Abby said, teachers are implementing um, ELA 7 through 12
015and a reading new reading program K through six and um, this focuses on foundational skills. So, we will know the phonics for the I read test, but also um, there's a big knowledge component. And so, if you drop into of classrooms, you may see things such as um third graders with um students forming inferences, planning as they prepare to write structured, persuasive essays. The ones I um dropped in on were writing about the irresponsibility of the character Mr. Toad. Um but they were putting together their structure and um getting ready to debate. Um uh second graders celebrating a tall tales unit um with Paul Bunan pancakes. That was a fun celebration at Prairie Crossing. First graders working on listening comprehension and learning about fables. And eighth graders reading the telltale heart and learning figurative language
016devices which they'll apply um in their own narrative writings. And I did have a quote from a teacher who has a child in our school. She said, "It is definitely a shift in how we have taught, but the kids are doing well. My own child came home the other day telling me all about shepherds, fables, and non-fiction. I was impressed that she was able to explain those things as a first grader and just a couple of weeks in, she's been eager to tell me what she has learned." So, and that is one of the great components of CKLA, the knowledge base. So, we're hearing lots of things about that. teachers um related to curriculum and instruction. Also, teachers and administrators are meeting to review data together and to plan for interventions um really focused in
017reading and in math. And for our PD, I told you last month about the some of the upcoming PD we have on Monday. We'll have Dr. Lori here for our whole corporation as we turn and I focus on relationships, understanding that we want to continue to and establish those before we're returning to our um rigorous instruction. And then we have our full day e-learning in October and another e-learning to our delay in November. And that one will be more um when what I need right um so with uh teachers working in groups working on mapping um collaborating and um we'll have more data to use then at that point for uh compliance with assessments coming up in September. We'll be completing the NWA and then we'll be preparing for the upcoming I learn checkpoint number
018one which will be October 6th this year. new that we are rostering. Um I can't remember if I told you about that last month. This is different than what we've done before in that um TIDE is the system that IDA uses. And so as soon as the third graders sit down and take the test um it's sent away and then within 24 hours the results are available. The teachers this year will have um a roster of their own students. they'll be able to go into Tide and right away see the results and have a detailed report about um what those students are doing well and maybe what are some things that we could work on with those students. So that's great for guiding instruction. Also um also new for the IDE is the parent access
019portal. So not only will the teachers be able to go on and see that report, but the parents we will have communicated their own unique code for each student that they have and they'll be able to log on and go in and in real time also have a parent report that says a lot of the same things because we um and we're excited because you know it's really all hands- on deck. So when the parent gets the report that says here's some things your students doing well here's some things you could do to help your student as they're growing in this area those are great things for us. So um regarding relationships also we did have our first conscious discipline coaching session this afternoon at 3:30 with Katie Aherns and there were 16 staff members
020in attendance. Uh there'll be another one on Thursday morning. So if people couldn't do the afternoon they can do the morning. If they attend one each month they do get some things from the grant some tools for their classroom. And there was on that um coaching session, there was a comment in the chat comments from a teacher that said, "I've been incorporating," this is a high school teacher, "I've been incorporating the teaching of brain states within my class since the beginning of the year. Each day we've been doing a unifying activity and a brain start smart activity, including breathing exercises." After the routine was established, one student asked to do it again and on another day another said it was their favorite part of the day. So, um >> yeah, so it was a positive
021to um some of those efforts that we're making. >> Awesome. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Great. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> So, just a couple things. The conscious discipline that she just spoke about was part of the grant and that is uh for the willing. So, that's a voluntary thing. We're glad that to have teachers participating. And then with the new CKLA and and the new uh science of reading, uh I'm hearing the same things. I'm hearing, you know, this is this is new. This is a challenge, but in the last week or two, I've heard exactly what you're saying that it it's starting to make sense. And um so I I think we're on the right track. We have C5, our 26 27 um school year calendar. We don't have the 2728. Um
022like the slide says here, we're just looking at the 26 27th. This is just for our first um 3D communications. Um was there somebody from the committee that >> Yeah, we have and this is the time uh because it is just a proposed draft. So we have Katie and Monica both who were at that meeting. I was at the meeting. Um, you have the proposed part here and so now is the time to to talk out loud or to ask if you have questions. Um, but it does the proposed school calendar starts a week earlier. Uh, the major the main reason for that is we found ourselves this year one of the later ones. So it seems like most of the schools shifted back to that time frame. Um, it does include a fall a
023fall break of five days. Many of the neighboring schools do the five days. Um it does make scheduling easier for the families. It adds two extra snow days involved. So they're kind of built in and um if we don't need those and they are um just days off for for the families and for the teachers. Um >> so the snow days are they no leap or e-learning? They're just flat snow days. >> Correct. Now, you only get three e-learning days. So, once we use those, we're we're out of them. And we have built-in days. >> So, if if we don't need to use those built-in days, they will be days off. >> So, learning first learning first and you only get three. >> So, five essential. >> Yes. >> Possible snow days that would not
024have to be made up. >> Correct. >> Yeah. Um, we did keep the six two-hour delay warnings for professional development. We surveyed the staff, if you remember, about whether to use e-learning. And I I think what the issue was is while the extra time was good, it was a lot of time. And then you still had to do e-learning responsibilities and it seemed to be kind of a bit chaotic. And so, uh, we just felt like the two-hour delays we we could make good use of time. So that's why you don't see any e-learning for professional development in here. They would all be for for inclement weather. Um and then we did think that this mirrored some of the neighboring schools and that's important especially if we uh are in the co-op with them whether
025that's the special ed co-op or the vocational. I mean it's not imperative but it does make things a little easier and it still uh ends before Memorial Day if we not have to make up. So, it's a proposed calendar and please weigh in or or or ask questions if you have them. We try to answer them or if you don't have them tonight, you know, we still have another month, but I we would like to have something uh approved at the next board meeting if we can because it's it's helpful to families. instead of a like a week or October break. Is it does it make it sense to and I'm I want input from you too because you went to um see doesn't see don't they take two weeks off for spring break and
026>> they do weeks but they also do a week for fall break too. >> I think one of them is e-learn make up week too. They don't they don't always have it. Yeah. >> Now, from an academic point of view, two weeks at spring break to me is detrimental to the island because it's it two weeks is a long time to retain things. >> So, my sister's a teacher there and I would say they're not they don't love the two weeks because it is so long, >> right? >> Um, so that's >> it's probably great for families, but instructionally probably >> evenies still. Yeah. Some families get very difficult for two weeks off of work that they're going to find somewhere for their kids. So, >> right. Okay. >> Yeah. >> And I don't think
027many of our neighboring schools except maybe Seagar, not many had two week spring break. >> Correct. >> Seagar is the only one I see is the only >> but everyone had a week at neighboring >> now. Yeah. Not last year's the first year all of them did it, right? >> Yeah. Yeah. What was the reasoning for adding January 4th onto the Christmas break two weeks? >> We are trying to balance the semester. >> So there wasn't really any days to add in the fall. So then we thought, okay, well, we have time to move. Um, and so just to make sure that we get 180 and we don't have to. I think it isn't at the end. We Tuesday and the Wednesday or the Monday and the Tuesday at that very last weekend. >> You
028go Yeah. You go to Monday and Tuesday and then the kids go back on the sixth. >> So if we didn't have that extra day in January, then for finals, we'd have to have Thursday, Friday, and Monday finals. And we didn't really feel like people like coming back to school for just a Monday at the end of the year, >> right? >> So that that was kind of the reasoning there was for the from the secondary perspective, have at least two days of finals that week. We have to make any more days up. >> I know your both your nine weeks are identical in the second semester at 46 days. But if I were still in the classroom, I would rather have that extra day that January 4th tucked down there in the end of
029April somewhere to break up the insaness in the spring. >> I agree. >> There you go. You've got your February set up as a as a flex day on a Friday and then Monday is President's Day. So you could essentially do the same thing with your flex day in April. Friday, April 23rd be a flex day and then Monday, April 26 would be that January 4th scheduled day. So if you didn't have snow days, you'd essentially have a 4-day weekend in April when everybody's going nuts anyway. >> Yeah, I think maybe the only reason why we want to do that is because of testing calendars. I think testing. Yeah. >> April's big for >> AP is getting ready. Yes. Because the first week in May is AP testing. >> So, yeah. >> Could that be
030something you look at just to see if I made of it? >> Yeah, I'll make that. >> Could you take one day out of the fall break and put it on that Friday before spring break? And I'm just throwing that out for I really am. I mean, how many people how many teachers want to leave one day early cuz they're >> when I tell it won't matter. >> They won't matter what Friday. >> Well, essentially, >> I agree. They will they'll end up that one Thursday. >> You could do that with that January 4th date as well. Instead of moving it to April, you can move that to March 19th. >> I mean, I'm just I mean, that's something I hear constantly is that Friday. And I again, some people just leave that Friday. >>
031Oh, yeah. >> But some people Wednesday. >> So now, so now you're want to move two days from there to >> You're not going to solve the problem. >> Yeah. >> Oh, but I I appreciate the calendar. It looks great. >> Really looks good. >> August. >> I do I do know that that seemed early and that's why we kind of pushed that midweek to try to maybe offset. Yeah, >> I think that's where we'll hear most feedback is start >> from the parents. I mean, they will. They're, "Oh my god." >> But yeah, like you said though, if you get those extra days, >> yeah, >> in the fall, it just does push it back up that day and you want to be out before Memorial Day or do you want to go into
032June? Then you hear all the all of that. Nobody wants to go >> June. >> And I wasn't sure if it would affect the moratorum that they do for sports because it's usually runs that say that week before I that means it would get pushed up or if it would just literally be the week before >> school. It's usually the last week in July. >> Yeah, the last week in July. >> So, I didn't know if that meant that's the BC, right? Not the IHSA. >> Okay. So I want to make >> but then they get out. >> Yeah. I think we had some we had some events that like girls golf I think had to compete before we even started school because other schools were in session and we weren't yet. So they were
033yeah I think there was a couple yeah a couple things that happened that this year because of our schedules being a little bit off. So >> makes sense. >> Okay. So what I'm hearing and and we can We have a whole another month. Um, what I'm hearing is check on the BC moratorum for that early start. We're looking at the fourth on, you know, we do do we strategically place that someplace else. Um, other than that, I I I didn't hear anything else to really look at unless and now we have the whole month. You may have an epiphany or we may too. And so, we just need to share that so we can communicate. But >> and and this calendar's out there for anybody to look at. >> Not yet until >> that we
034don't >> we don't we don't did mention um that she and Zach at Central had a lot of um students gone from the state fair >> and that will that will really affect that first week big time. And there's more and more kids doing that actually. >> Oh yeah. >> Yeah. >> But some of that is part of those possibly, >> right? >> It's hard to start a school year, >> right? I don't no matter what we choose to especially the start it's going to be a mix because um most schools start earlier but then if we start mid are we balancing it um we'll continue to weigh >> yeah even if we started the week we did >> we started the like the 11 the 13th like this year right it's like a week
035later we still had >> some of that >> we just don't have any built-in days this year. >> So, this is the advantage to this calendar. We we build in those flex days. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, you good with uh us >> still talking this over? >> Yeah. Okay. >> Okay. Thank you. >> So, then we have C6 is our projects update. Do we have anyone or you >> just just I just want to give a quick one. The track uh project is almost done. They uh finished striping uh well they are finishing striping in the lane numbers and the exchange zones. Uh it looks really good. Uh we are finalizing the construction documents to prepare for bids for the Ottoman Elementary gym floor, the Ottoban Elementary uh school dining room space and the
036athletic storage annex building and the pool dehumidification unit. And tomorrow we do have a call with Lancer and Tecton to make sure those documents are accurate and ready. And Abby had a walk through, a pre pre- bid walkthrough with uh Tecton today and some people who are interested in bidding. Um we are preparing for the sale of the bonds. Uh Tracy and I have meetings scheduled this week and um just to make sure that everybody knows that there were capital projects over the summertime that were um noteworthy. The BC canopy was done. >> That was when he did. >> Yes. >> And uh Yeah. And and thank you to Techon who stayed on. We had we had to have them come back at the company and and make sure it was all sealed correctly. And
037they're very good about getting them out back out here. We had some carpet replacements in all of the buildings. They look nice and then painting. So all of that stuff happens all the time. So I just wanted everybody to be aware of the projects that are going on there that have occurred. Just to clarify, the canopy in BC is the school bus where they drop off. >> It was leaking. >> I've heard a lot of good about the track and everything. >> Yeah, it does look nice. >> I saw it firstand. I'm ready to run. >> I'll watch it. >> I'll go. I mean, I won't run. I'll go. >> I do like the exchange lanes, though. That's That's That's awesome. I had seen that in a long time. >> Yeah, that looks nice. And
038we and we have hosted sectional before. So this would be good >> for us to to do that. >> And the fencing, I think uh Corey and Jared really wanted that fencing in order to help with the supervision and the >> that great too. >> Yeah. >> And visitors comment about the u sidewalk how much they enjoyed that. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> And they sold out of board burgers Friday. >> Here we go. Everything's going well. Okay. So, um, if anybody out there wants to leave, we're going into the main new business stuff. So, now's the time. If you're needing to scoot out, feel free. If not, we'll continue on with our new business. So, E1 is our consideration for the staff report and other personnel items. If I can get a motion for
039approving that. I'll make a motion to consider the normal staff report items. >> Okay. Any discussions? All right. All those in favor for approving the staff report and the personnel items, please say I. >> I. Opposed. Same sign up there. Okay. And then we have E2 is the approval of the um field trips from FFA to sore camp in Trafalgar in Indiana October 3rd through the 5th and FFA to the national convention in Indie on October 29th through the 31st and FFA to the fire camp in Trafalgar Indiana November 21st to the 23rd. So, several field trips if I can get a motion for those. I'll make a motion to consider the approval of the field trips FFA to sore in in October, FFA to national convention in Indie in the end of October and
040FFA to fire camp in November. >> I'll second you have it. >> Got it. All right. Any discussions on field trips. All right. All those in favor for approving the field trip request for FFA and um sore and fire camp and the national convention. Please say I >> I oppose the same sign. I'm >> excited for the experience the students get in those. >> E3 is consideration for the approval of resolution to adopt the 26 capital projects plan. >> I'll make a motion to consider the approval of the resolution to adopt the 20 26 capital projects plan. >> I'll second. >> Okay. Any discussions, questions, comments on that? All right. All those in favor for approving the resolution to adopt the 26 uh 2026 capital projects plan, please say I. >> I. Opposed same sign.
041Then we have the approval of the resolution to adopt the 26 bus replacement plan. These were our hearings prior to our meeting. If I can get a motion for the bus replacement plan. >> I'll make a motion to approve or consider the approval uh of the adoption of the 2026 bus replacement plan. >> I'll second. >> Any questions, comments, discussions? All right. All those in favor for approving the um the adoption of the 26 bus replacement plan, please say I. >> I oppose the same sign. And E5 is the consideration for the approval of the NEA special update crossing last month and now we're on the approval of those. motion on that. >> I'll make a motion consider approval of the special update. >> I'll second and did you have anything to add? No, I
042mean we talked last month the review draft. >> Okay. And all those in favor for approving the Neola special um updates, please say I. I opposed sign they are on our screen there too for view. And our E6 is the consideration to approve the appointment of Mariah Kerver and Allison Benner to the Otterban Public Library Board. That'll begin January 1st of 26. I'll make a motion to consider approval appointing Maria Cerver and Alison Miller to the Otterb Library Board beginning January 1st, 2026 through December 31st of 2030. >> I'll second discussion at all. All right. And all those in favor for approving the appointment of um is Maria or Mariah? I might have said it wrong. Anyone know right Mariah Herbert and Allison Ber to the Otterman Public Library Board that'll be effective January 1
043through December 31st of 2030. Please say I >> oppose. Same sign. And um lastly we have E7 and that is the consideration to approve the job description for the elementary DNF students. I'll make a motion to consider the approval of the job description for the elementary students. >> I'll second. >> Yeah. Um this we have a dean of students at Per Crossing now. Um, but if you recall, I believe it was last year or two years ago, we updated all of our job descriptions and we indicated that if we have a new position that we would create that job description or if we need to update and so we just want to make sure that we have a description on file here that's accurate. So, that's what we're doing now is making sure that we
044have that. >> Yeah, >> I just change that revis. Um, all those in favor for approving the job description for the elementary de of students, please say I. >> I opposed. Same sign. >> All right, motion carries. And we are um now at the end of the meeting. This is the time for public comments for non-aggenda items, which we didn't have anybody signed up. So um board or superintendent, do you have any additional comments? Fellow board members. >> All right, we will go ahead and adjourn this evening. Thank you. >> I can take a picture. No. >> Hey, thank you, kind sir. >> No problem.