001Good evening everyone. It is 5:30. I will call the August meeting of the Carverville School Corporation Board of Trustees to to our meeting today. Roll call. All administrators and board members are present with the absence of Kathy Brown being noted. At this time, I would invite everyone to join me in the pledge of >> allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Right. The first item of business is to prove the approve the previous meetings minutes. Are there any additions or corrections? Hearing none, I would entertain a motion to approve. >> So moved. >> All in favor? >> I. >> All right. There being no old business, moving on to new business, the
002first item is to consider an international travel for summer 2027. Seth Nan. >> Good afternoon. Um I am Seth Nanth English. teacher at Crawford Middle School. Um, I trust that you've all been able to at least skim the outline proposal that I provided ahead of time. So, I'm not going to read through all of that. Um, but I do want to highlight a couple differences. I know this is not a new looking proposal to you. Uh, since Miss Carter at the high school has already proposed this historically, um, what I'd like to do is highlight a few of the differences between my proposal and what she's doing with the travel club at the high school. Um, at Crawford'sville Middle School, both in sixth grade and in eighth grade, we provide Holocaust education in the form
003of uh non-fiction as well as historical fiction texts and resources as we present that important piece of our global history. Um, so with purpose, I would like to give Crawfordville students an opportunity to tangibly experience the things that we read about in our classrooms. So my purpose for this trip um is directly related to the curriculum that we teach um the curriculum that I myself teach. Um and I would like to propose this also differently. I know she takes her high school students during spring break. Um I'm proposing that this be a summer trip in order to avoid any sort of conflicts with absences or flights get delayed or any shifting of time. Something we wouldn't have to consider. with it being a summer trip. Um, also the difference here would be the ages of
004students that I am proposing that I take. I know that may terrify some of you. Um, but I would like to propose that I take students as young as entering seventh grade so that they will have had Rachel O'Neal or Missy Duncan sixth grade Holocaust education up to exiting sophomores who at this point I'm proposing that for 2027 because they will have theirs or mine or both going on this day trip to Germany and dip in. So I will kind of leave it at that. I would be more than happy to answer any questions if you have at this time that I did not necessarily cover. >> Type of fundraising are you looking at and what is the goal um for fundraising to cover versus families to cover? >> Sure. >> Um knowing how that
005is currently working at the high school, I am optimistic that I have a few ideas to get students involved in fundraising that would cut this cost significantly. Um I have a few colleagues, friends who teach at other schools tours primarily one who teaches at Central Catholic. They do a lot of Purdue uh athletic event fundraisers. Um I've already been in contact with the assistant athletic director of Wash College for concessions. Um students will be able to sign up or something like that if they show up and work the concessions. They get to take whatever money. Um I'm also looking at some other opportun giant races coming in right down the street. They're always looking for people to help park beyond that. So, there are several things in at least my pipeline to be able to
006offer the students to raise funds earn so that tours provides them through their account. I know A goal would be if they were to sign up today until the summer of 2027. >> I would just like to point out that Seth has taken like every step in the chain. So, it's really nice that he to have somebody who has been very thoughtful in his steps to get to this moment. So, I appreciate that. And yes, we talked a little bit about um an administrator's nerves of adolescence um in a different country, but so I think and the summertime will hopefully help with, you know, the chaperoons and those types of things. So, he's been very thoughtful. >> I would agree. reading the proposal uh you describe as an opportunity of a lifetime and I think
007truly is so appreciate you offering that to the students. Any other questions? >> Yeah and honestly the places are not only important for history but they're also relatively less expensive than going to Western European nations. So trying to go to Paris or to Spain or Italy is so much more expensive than these. So I think that's a great sort of compromise. >> And I would that it's also crosscurricular. Yes, we teach these texts in English language arts, but World War II history is also covered in the countries that we'll be visiting some very heavily impacted by World War II and the Holocaust and bombings across the continent. Um Prague a relatively untouched city. So to be able to point out some of those differ the trip sounds great. I'm just really concerned about having seventh
008graders uh and eighth graders. And I mean it's a there's a big difference between, you know, a seventh grader and a sophomore. Um and you know, it's it's kind of a it's I don't know. It just seems appropriate for high school kids, but when you get, you know, those seventh, eighth graders that that may really they're just they lack all due respect, Mrs. They they lack uh just maturity. >> Sure. >> Not that they are ultimately, you know, greatly matured by a sophomore year, but anyway, so I that would be certainly a concern of mine. >> Fortunately, um with our six to1 ratio, if six students signed up, I would be the only adult taking them. Fortunately, I have over a decade's worth of behavior management and crisis management experience. So, >> as scary as
009it might be to many in the room, I am >> uninffected. And EF tours EF tours they support that age. >> Absolutely. Uh EF tours also takes elementary age international tours question that I asked my Riley in this process. I probably wouldn't be willing to do that but this this agent I'm comfortable with that. All right. Any other questions? Entertain a motion. >> I would make a motion to approve the request. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Okay. Motion carries. Thank you. The next item is the Crawford Dance trip to Nationals. Mrs. Hos. Hello, I'm Cece Cox, a junior at on the Crawford'sville High School dance team. And I'm Morgan, a sophomore on the high school dance team. We are here on behalf of of our team to request
010permission to attend the 2026 dance team championship. Our 2425 season was marked with much success. We earned six place in the nationalation on our spirit showdown and we earned the silver medal at the HSTA state finals in a single A. The high school dance team has once again been invited to compete in the National Dance Team Championship. This year's contest takes place in Minneapolis January 23rd through the 26th. This or the contest will take place at the Minneapolis Convention Center and will have schools representing states from across our nation. Our team consists of 12 members this year and we are excited to represent our school in jazz, hiphop, and the spirit showdown category. We have a plan for fun for raising funds in hopes that every dancer will be able to attend the contest for
011free. You will see us in the community working at the MX and Iron Man races at Tom's Marine and the new race of worlds. We have partnered with Wash College to work at football games and other events. We will of course be host hosting our annual dance clinic as well as the 25th Cross dance invitation. which not only supports all our dance teams but also brings business to our local hotels and restaurants. The competition will take place over three days where we we will be competing in preliminaries, semiinals, and finals. During each round of the competition, we will get feedback from judges that we can use to improve our routines in each round. It will be a busy weekend filled with many practices and performances. To complete all rounds of the competition, the dance team
012is asking to be excused for school on Friday, January 23rd, 2026 and Monday, January 26, 2026. This will ensure that we can travel, get to our destination, attend required meetings for our coaches and start the new round of of competition on Friday. Our trip has the approval of Mr. Strickland and he is in support of the CHS dance team representing at the national championship. All dancers know that they are responsible for making up all homework and tests that may be missed during the absence. We thank the board for considering our request and for your past support of our team. We are proud to represent Crawfordville High School on a national level and each day we strive to show what it means to be an Athenian. >> All right. Thank you ladies. Good presentation. Any discussion
013or questions? Nobody to entertain a motion. >> I move to approve the dance team trip to the national competition in Minnesota. >> Second. >> We both second. >> All in favor? >> I >> All right. Make us proud. Thank you. >> You are uh free to leave if you don't want to stay for the rest of the meeting, but you're welcome to stay as well. So, all right. The next item is to uh approve the board meeting schedule for year 2526. >> All right. I have made one change since our board retreat. I'm asking to move November 13th to Tuesday, November 18th. We will have a group of teachers in the national um gifted conference and I serve as their driver and butler for those events. So um asking that we can move that event
014but otherwise I would recommend the board approve the board dates as presented. All right. Any any discussion there? Is there a motion to approve? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> All right. Next item is to consider Dr. Douglas is the corporation doctor. We appreciate the continued service and support of Dr. Douglas and I recommend the board approve. >> Absolutely. Is there a motion? >> Make a motion to approve. Dr. Douglas. >> Second. All in favor? >> I. >> All right. Get used to these microphones here sooner or later. Uh, next item is to consider the school resource officer agreement with the city of Crawford'sville. >> Yeah. So, officer Vopondo and Officer Bowen and his first year are key members of our team. So, grateful for the continued support of Mayor Barton
015and Chief Mattingley with their CPD team. And this is our annual agreement for placement of two full-time SRO's and recommend the board approve. >> Absolutely. Any discussion? >> H how did the uh the cost change this year? Is it do we need to pay a higher share? Is it more money? Anything change? it is the same. >> Last year we significantly increased um did meet with the mayor to talk about that cost because right the city is in a you know similar AV situation we are with the upcoming things. So, we did have that conversation. Um, you know, a a resource officer total compensation is expensive and we yeah, board of works appreciate those folks keeping it where it's at, but we do look at our grant and how we can do that. Uh, problem
016is is we won't know what we get out of our grant for another month, >> end of this month hopefully. >> So, so mayor is working with us. We we are aware that we are getting a heck of a bargain. So any other discussion. Is there a motion to approve? >> So moved. >> I second. >> All in favor? >> All right. Moving on. The next item is the CTE joint services and supply fund agreement. >> This just helps our CTE joint service program um operate. So, in the agreement's been approved by the cooperative governing board. I recommend the board approve. Any questions? >> I move approval. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Moving on to the West Central Joint Services and Supply Fund agreement for special education. Likewise, special services are provided through
017a cooperative agreement and the governing board um has approved this and I recommend the board approve the joint services supply fund agreement for special education. >> Okay. Any discussion here? >> I know that u at the retreat we talked about that some of some of the schools might be considering doing this on their own so everyone came back into the fold. Is that true? We are all still together. We have moved the date for consideration of notification um to November one. So any other questions? I would entertain a motion. >> Move to approve this agreement. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> Okay. Uh, next item is to consider Game Time Community Champions Playground Grant. >> Yeah. So, this uh grant that is currently open through October 17th would um give us 100%
018matching funds um can be applied to purchase fixed play structures. Um so, if this grant were awarded, then uh it would go to upgrading our current main playground structures at Hoover and at Nicholson. Um and you can see in the the current proposals in your packet um what the the amounts are and what that grant uh would be. So in working with the rep that we've been working with the simplest way that that she was able to explain it is uh it is a heck of a deal of buy one get one free uh essentially. So um can take any questions but would recommend the board approve uh this grant opportunity. Any questions? Would entertain a motion? >> A second. >> All in favor? >> I >> moving on. The next item is the permission
019to advertise the 2025 budget. >> Yeah. So, should be the 2026 budget. I guess >> mischief there. Uh so every year we ask the board for permission uh to advertise this to the public for the annual budget for our DLGF funds. Um our deadline this year to publish that notice is September 1st. Uh we do plan to advertise before the holiday weekend uh to be able to hit our 10day max um that we have to hit before the first meeting. Uh, the next meeting will be our first budget hearing and I recommend the board approve us to do that advertising. >> I move to authorize advertising the 2026 budget. I some of the steps necessary here. The next item on the agenda is for us to for the board to hold a project and preliminary
020hearing on the proposed construction projects. If you're interested in speaking at the hearing, please make sure you have signed in the sign-in sheet, which should include your name and address. After a presentation by the administration and its adviserss, there will be an opportunity for the public to make comment about the project. At this specific hearing, we will ask that each person limit their comments to three minutes and that the topic be limited to the proposed projects under consideration. The notice of preliminary determination hearing was published as legally required. The first preliminary determination hearing was held on July 10th, 2025. At this time, I will ask Andrew Nicodemus, business manager, to explain the purpose of this hearing. Yes. So, pursuant to Indiana Code uh 2026737, uh before a school corporation may spend more than $1 million
021to build, repair, or alter a school building that will be financed by lease or bonds, it must hold a public hearing at which explanations of the potential value of the project to the school corporation and the community are given. Similarly, pursuant to Indiana Code 61.1 203.1, a school corporation must hold two public hearings and adopt a resolution to preliminary determine to issue bonds or enter a lease for a school corporation with a certain debt service tax rate or for a project that has a total cost in excess of the certain thresholds. Uh we do fit into that for these hearings. These hearings in the consideration of the resolutions represent the beginning of the legal process and the resolutions presented at this meeting establish the maximum financial terms for the proposed projects. So we have discussed
022the challenges in our prior meeting um of our operations fund as presented to CCSC with our low assessed value and meeting the operational maintenance needs for our facilities. This project uh will allow us over numerous years to address necessary improvements to the school facilities including deferred maintenance, HVAC improvements, roofing improvements, site improvements, and the purchase of buses collectively known now as the project. As projects are bid and received, the school corporation will do as many projects as we can afford and as uh budgetary restraints allow us. Uh this project will allow us to meet those needs of safely maintaining our facilities and providing needed buses to our fleet as older buses have to be phased out. Uh for this issuance, the maximum value for the bond series that we are looking at is $10.5 million.
023The estimated hard and soft costs for the project are not set to there are set not to exceed that bond series amount. The anticipated maximum gross impact on the non-exempt debt service fund tax rate for um the community is 00936 cents uh per $100 of assessed valuation for the this series. Uh this bond series is also payable through December of 2033. At this time now I will open a public hearing uh for public comment on the uh proposed project. Having been advised that there are no public comment, I will close the hearing and move on to the next part of the meeting. Andrew. >> Yes. So first is our project resolution. This resolution is required when a school corporation is planning to finance more than a million dollars on any given facility or type of
024work. It contains the estimated hard and soft construction cost as well as the cost estimated cost of issuance and establishes the total budget. Uh it also contains the estimated tax impact. I would recommend that the board approve this resolution. >> All right. Could I have a motion? Um, first would uh Dr. Reker, would you please just explain that we this is an authorization for bonding capacity and not and and and reiterate that the school is just for the record that the the school is not borrowing $10.5 million at this point in time >> or issuing $10.5 million in bonds. >> That is correct. We would look at a potential of three up to three um issuance that could not exceed 10.5. Our initial issuance will be a little over $1 million. Um and that should
025cover us for the next two and a half years and then make decisions from there. So it prepares us with capacity but that is not necessarily the intention to do so. Um, I also would like to point out that it it's important to notice that it keeps our tax our debt level and does not increase so that we kind of keep everything flat. >> Ken, thanks for that question. I think that helps explain what we're doing here. >> Any other discussion? Is there an option to not authorize the full 10.5 and you know do five or six or some lesser amount? I mean it's you know and since I know it's not it's it's basically a line of credit in essence but just seems why why get the full maximum amount? Um the advice on
026doing the full maximum amount is because our the ability to go after debt will change come January 1 and make the process more difficult and more um yeah it would lead to a referendum type process which would be very expensive and difficult to go after if we are needing like $2 million to buy buses and to put a roof on, those types of things. So that this allows us to keep the capacity to go after money for those types of deferred maintenance items and bus purchases. Um where a referendum to do bus purchases would be an extensive amount of work and very expensive. >> Yeah, it would be like funding the middle school. The process that we went through to to make all that happen. So again, it's it's like running a campaign and you
027got to get the question on the ballot. So I think this just sets the stage for really what the unknown could be. Um and and again I would reiterate what Kent already had you allude to which is that this doesn't raise the level of debt overall. It would be timed or you know to make sure that it's other things are dropping off of debt service while these things are potentially being added on. It's a maximum. It's not it's not an automatic that we would get the entire issue the entire 10.5. >> Yes. This also gives us the availability of time as well because with the referendum with the new laws, we would only be able to do a referendum on even years because it's only at the general election. This would give us the availability
028to go back to the board to get funds at any time when needed. Does that answer your question? >> Any other discussion? We have a recommendation from Andrew. Is there a motion? >> I make a motion to approve. >> Second. I >> Yes, this is uh resolution for preliminary determination is required when we plan for to finance more than a certain threshold for a given facility and that we have a certain debt service tax rate that is over the threshold that has been set. Um, it does contain the total project costs, maximum annual payment and lease terms, and other financial terms such as the estimated uh principal amount and tax impact. I would recommend that the board approve this resolution for preliminary determination. >> I move approval of the preliminary determination resolution. >> Okay. Any
029discussion? Is there a second? All in favor? >> I opposed. Okay. Can I >> Sorry, I've been thinking a lot. I mean, Monty's asked this question over a few times. I do think Monty, I want you to know that like we also basically are tying our hands with this, that we have to stay within this if we so we have to be very wise. We have to be prepared that for a true rainy day type situation. um because if we just spend this money then we then our only option is referendum. So I do think that yeah I do want you to know that there is a commitment to be as wise um and fiscally responsible with this money as possible. It is it is a it's it's a step that's important. So I do
030want every want the public and Monty and the board to know that you know we we are doing this out of a situation that we are in hopeful that in two years it's not what we are doing and then we don't even have to go after a significant amount of money. But we are very aware that this is um something that is is needed but also um comes with restraints as well. I would agree and having served on the board for over 20 years, um we've always been a fisc fiscally conservative board and corporation. So I think this is just a continuation of of that policy to uh act responsibly with the funds that we have available. >> All right, Mr. Nicodemus, could you please summarize the preliminary bond resolution? >> Yes. Um I don't
031think you voted on that last resolution though. >> Well, it was that volleyball that hit the window that kind of distracted >> soccer ball. Okay. Okay. We're good to move forward. So, the next uh resolution >> was a town and country >> is the preliminary bond resolution. Uh this resolution contains the uh project cost for the project, the maximum interest rate and the financial terms such as the first interest payment date and maturity dates for the bonds. Um, all with the respect of the issuance of the general obligation bonds. I would recommend that the board approve the preliminary bond resolution. >> Based on that recommendation, is there a motion? >> So moved. >> Any discussion? Is there a second? Susan second. All in favor? I. >> Any opposed? The next resolution uh is the reimbursement
032resolution uh relating to the financing of the construction project. Uh this resolution permits the school corporation to reimburse itself from the bond proceeds for any cash which it might have spent on the project prior to the closing of the bonds. Uh it is required by federal tax law in order to preserve the school corporation's ability to reimburse itself. So I would recommend that the board approve that resolution. All right. Is there a motion? >> Any discussion? >> Make a motion to approve. >> On the agenda. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> All right. I think that takes us through all that uh hearing. We will move on to personnel resignations. >> I recommend that the board approve resignations one through seven. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I.
033>> Then you have some hiring. >> Yes. And I recommend the board approve hirings one through four. for the hiring of Bren Middle, Zelima Roses Gonzalez, Lindseay Calvert, and Kinsey Kavanagh. Is there a motion? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> and one change of position that requires no board action. We will move on to Andrew, business manager report. >> We have started the RFQ process for our employee retirement accounts. The selection committee is doing the initial review right now of the seven vendors that have submitted proposals. Uh we'll be narrowing that pool down uh for vendors to interview during the next phase and we should have a proposal to the board by the September board meeting. Um it's a very strenuous process but we are making it through. Uh financial reporting is
034currently underway for our fiscal year that just ended June 30th. Uh the DOE form 9 has been completed and accepted and then we are currently doing the SPOA AFR right now underway with a final review left before we submit that by the August 29th due date. That is all I have. >> All right. Assistant superintendent report. >> Yeah. So just some beginning of the year uh stuff here. Transportation uh overall smooth start uh some regular start of the year adjustments. Uh we're working through on on a couple routes and some city street work adjustments that um will eventually change back as those projects complete, but uh we have 1,724 students signed up for transportation. So uh definitely a load there and appreciate the work of Betsy and uh the transportation team and and drivers getting
035our kids safely to and from school. So uh Parent Square communication is up and running as we transition to this new communication platform. Uh Christy Strickland's done a great job working through these changes and learning the new system and excited to continue to work through that as that'll unify and streamline our our communication. Uh school safety. So buildings are currently conducting their required evac evacuations in the first 10 days of school. Uh Amber Reed and Sarah Nicodemus uh conducted an initial evacuation out at the Crawford'sville Career Academy and um so um appreciate their proactive um you know diving into what hasn't been done before and finding the things uh that we need to uh out there at that building to to keep everybody safe out there as well. So, uh, safety team also actually met
036today, discussed our reunification plan for the fall semester, and, uh, Hose will be doing a reunification at CHS on October 14th, uh, this fall. So, we'll begin that planning, um, here leading up to that date. Uh, reading curriculum, uh, CKLA and Open Court are both off to a good start. CKLA, uh, is, uh, K through three, so that implementation, um, has been positive. um with uh some positive student engagement too that the teachers are seeing uh initially as well. The background knowledge and the core knowledge piece um is uh the the big adjustment right now for both us and the students. Uh that is the piece we're also most excited about too though um and what that will bring um along with um that that reading curriculum there K through three with CKLA. So excited
037to continue to see see where that that will take us. Uh and then formative assessments. So, uh we'll be rolling out our beginning of the year assessments here soon over the next week and we'll be using those as benchmarks to begin to track our student proficiency and uh growth and um set things from there. So, that is your assistant superintendent report. >> Thank you, Dr. Bokart. Superintendent report. >> Yeah, sorry. A great highlight I really want to point out is that um we are celebrating that we had a 35% increase in our number of passed AP exams from the spring. Um so this is a new high for CHS. Students achieve passing scores in each of the 16 inerson AP courses that we offered during the 2425 school year. Um congrats to our amazing students
038and staff for pushing the academic excellence at CHS. um proud of their hard work. Some highlights there, AP pre-calculus, which last year was its first year, um we had a 100% pass rate, so that is going and growing. Um so that's of course exciting. It um Emily Race and her AP English language and AP seminar and English lit continue to excel above the state and global average. So she AP English language and AP seminar were at a 94% pass rate and she had significantly increased the number of students in her courses. Um and so English lit was at 83 AP Spanish language and culture had a 73% pass rate. AP chemistry which is one of the hardest test of the AP has just the lower pass rate across the world. Um we were at 60%.
039AP 2D art, AP English language, AP English lit, AP pre-calculus, and AP Seminar all exceeded both the state and global averages. So kudos to our staff. Two years ago, we met um with Jay and Madison and to expand the number of kids. So we really want to be if you are collegebound, you're going to have a pre-AP and an AP curriculum offered to you. Not college is not for every student and you can do amazing things in life, but if we're going to send you off to college, we want to send you prepared. So this year we did add AP music theory and we have AP French and AP Japanese. Um, so we this year we have 18 inerson AP courses for 21 exams. So for example, Emily Race's AP English class covers three of
040those tests. So um, outstanding. So >> Dr. Dr. Rker, just in our I don't know, pick a four or five county area around McGomery County, how many other schools offer the breadth of AP courses and how many other schools have this this level of success or where do you have to go >> to find a similarly >> you have to situate successful? >> Yeah, you got to drive probably about 40 minutes. You got to get to West Lafayette or to Speedway >> to uh you could be ask Speedway they have an a very strong program. um actually went over and visited because they have you know some demographics some similarities to us. Um they have a a program I would really like to build and I'll share with you some point in time. So but
041no we are doing outstanding things. We have a great CTE program. We have a great workforce but this is I think one of those things if you want your child prepared for college we are the place to be. Um, also excited our elementary sports program has expanded now to include fourth grade. Um, so Whitney Cosgrey, Coach Cosgra, um, she's new PE teacher last year at Hoover. Um, she coaches middle school softball. She came to us from Florida. She's actually a Lebanon girl. Um, her dad was a longtime baseball coach. She was a head varsity softball coach in Florida. Came back. Um, so she's eager to build um, you know, so and to help us out. She's worked with the varsity coaches. Um, she was explaining to me how our volleyball program now for fourth and
042fifth graders and not just fifth graders, they will get six times the number of practices in this season than have in the past. So you, you know, you get that varsity-minded type person down there who has the will and the energy to go after it. It's outstanding. Um, you know, informal bargaining is moving. Definitely want to thank Dr. Bokart for an excellent new teacher orientation day. Thanks to Stephanie for almost all the planning for opening day. Um, so it's been a very great start and I told my wife I'm not sure if it's been as smooth as it seems or if I am just blessed with an amazing team or it's probably just both. So, I am lucky um to be the superintendent of Crawford'sville Community Schools. Reminders um fall conference, you can see those
043things are coming. Oh, Stephanie has added that there is school picture days and she will hunt you down if you do not get your picture taken. So, I look forward to seeing you guys at our fall conference. >> Thank you, Dr. Recctor. Any other business board member communications? school picture day >> patron comments hearing none I would entertain a motion to adjourn >> there a second >> I have Jack let's keep talking >> all in favor >> all right we are ajourned