001Good evening and welcome to the November 24th, 2025 regular business uh meeting of the board of school trustees for the Crown Point Community School Corporation. Call this meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. If you all please rise for the saying of the pledge of allegiance uh and a moment of silence, Mr. Basser will lead us in that. Thank you. Before we begin, I see we have a complete full room tonight and some people in the hallway. Just on behalf of the school corporation, our school board, we just want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. Hopefully have some time with your family, but thank you for being here tonight. We'll move on to item 2.01. Uh the board of school trustees resolution accommodation awards. 2.01 2025 20226 middle school spellb team for winning first place in
002Lake County at the regional junior spellb committee in 2.02 the crossroads regional chamber of commerce 2025 inspiring educ educator awards overall corporation winners and school winners may I have a motion >> so move by Mr. Angel >> second by Mr. Are there any questions or comments? All right, we'll move to a vote. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Nays. The vote carries 4 Z. If we could have the middle school spell team come in this time. So, coming first of all, congratulations. Always great to uh have some champions here at our celebrate your achievements. Appreciate you guys coming out tonight. T-shirts are looking good. I'm read you your uh I'm going to read your accommodation award and then we'll introduce you all individually and um probably ask a couple questions about what
003maybe some of the challenging words might have been or what maybe one of the words that you you missed throughout the uh competition because I'm sure you did really good getting getting all the other ones correct. So resolution accommodation the Crown Point Board of School Trustees is honored to commend the 2025 2026 Taft Middle School team for notorious achievement. Be it hereby resolve that the board of school trustees for the Crown Point Community School Corporation wishes to express sincere congratulations to the 202526 Taff Middle School spellbo team for winning first place in Lake County in the regional junior spell competition. The board of school trustees publicly recognizes this achievement and renders it permanently to its ministry preserve public posterity day this 24th day of November 2025. Congratulations. slip off there. >> Filling in. >> Okay.
004>> All right. Thank you. If I if I don't pronounce your name correctly, please let me know so I can say so I can say it correctly. Okay. Is it Al Ars Aliyah ars not here. Is that you? Here. Come on forward. Tanner B. Congratulations. Joseph Mason read her name. So she's acknowledged Patelski Matteo Roboto John Williams. John Williams also not here. Coach Karen's not not able to be here, but obviously we thank her for coaching you guys through this uh first place victory. Right. Since since coach is not here, we would normally ask coach to give us a little bit of a background of what you guys have talked about, but who who wants to uh tell us a little bit about your event? >> So, I have a few words from >> Okay.
005Well, here we'll start we'll start off we do have a few words from Coach Naughty first. We'll see what she had to say. Taft Middle School spell bowl team had 1,400 words to study for the spellbull competition. I repeat,400. They studied hard and put in hours of writing these words down. They had to memorize words from different languages including Latin, Spanish, German, South American, Russian, and the dreaded French. The spell bowl team competed at invitationals at Clifford Pierce Middle School on November 5th. They left with a first place finish. Um, Deon Josephoski and Alex Pulcowski walked away with a perfect score and and Tanner Bull and Alex Dunlap received a near perfect missing only one word. On Saturday, November 15th, the spellers went to West Lafayette on the Purdue campus to compete for state and
006it was a fun day for all. Taff spell team has made their parents proud, their coach proud, their administration proud and their school proud. Um, they even laughed at me when I told them that I misspelled the word coach for couch in third grade. They thought that was I did my best. They were Yeah. Uh way to go spell dogs. We're proud of you guys. >> Thank you. And as uh coach sent a message, I'm sure all of us the board and the administration, we're extremely proud to represent us along your way in all the competitions that you competed in. But uh did you have fun? Did you create some memories? Well done. It's excellent. So, did anybody want to say anything about your competition? You don't have to. Just give you a chance. Spell
007Champs might have some really Well, well, thank you for sharing. I remember I'll never misspel misspelled depot again because I think that was whatever third fourth grade. I remember I remember that one got me. That one got me. So, I congratulate you guys. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right, you're all free to go. Great job. Okay. Our educators, are we ready? All right. If you know that you're being called, why don't you come forward now? Start that way. We'll have you come forward since you're buried in the crowd. We have a good turnout. All right, we have everybody. Well, it's an honor to recognize you all tonight. Thank you. uh as you guys have the most important role in our school corporation and school system. We value what you bring every day. Tonight, it's
008great privilege to honor you for all your hard work and what you do for our students every day. And it's very cool that each of you represent a different school and I'm sure all you are worthy of this accommodation tonight. So again, just from all of us, thank you for all your hard work and making such a difference in our children's lives and representing our school corporation. I do like to read the resolution. So I'm gonna do my best because we have different winners. So uh tonight the resolution accommodation the Crown Point Board of School Trustees is honored to commend each of you as an exemplary teacher. Be it hereby resolve that the board of school trustees for the Crown Point Community School Corporation wishes to express sincere congratulations to each of you for being
009named the Crossroads Regional Chamber of Commerce 2025 inspiring educator uh winners and u finalists and the school winners for each of your school. The board of school trustee publicly recognizes this achievement and renders it permanently to its minutes to be preserved for public posterity. this 24th day of November 2024. Congratulations. Okay, we're going to start with the finalists. Uh I think that's the best place to start and we'll call your name. We do have a little gift for you as well. So, Dr. Taylor will hand it to me as I call you for. But, uh the first for Eisenhower Elementary School, Jennifer Maner. All right. From Lake Street Elementary School, Julie Yulaki. Did I pronounce that correct? Uh, from MacArthur Elementary School, Christina Mlen. from representing Solen Robinson Elementary School, Candace Daisy. Candace is to
010the back from Timothy Ball Elementary School. Lauren Cheney Winfield Elementary School. Kristen Win did I get that? And Jerry Ross Elementary School, Kristen McCormack. and from Tap Middle School, Mary Jones. Okay, so for our winners, all right, um from Crown Point High School, Mr. Bri, it's a great question. I like the way you think. I like the way you think. And from Colonel Wheeler Middle School, Miss Cameron Bits again. Uh, fantastic job. Thank you so much for all your work. Miss Betts or Mr. Trap, you as winners, you're in the right to say something if you wish. Would you like to say something tonight? Um, hello. Hi. Well, hello. No. Um, I think it's important to note guys that your kids, you entrust your kids with us and we see their dreams, but we get
011to actually show them even more what they can actually accomplish, things that they couldn't even imagine. So, we are actually privileged to be in this spot. I actually think it's a gift to be a teacher and I know that my new friend agrees with me. Um, so thank you for giving us the privilege of do this doing this every day. Oh my gosh. Are you kidding me? So, I appreciate you. >> Thank you. You want to add anything? You're good. >> I teach machine shop. Um, yeah. Oh, I see. Um, the the kids that were in here before us uh way better spellers than I could be. Thank God for auto correct. Um, but they're the reason why we do what we do. They're the ones that should be up here getting accommodations and when
012they win, we >> Well said. Well, thank you again. And my child had Miss Bets in class, so I'm excited to see her up here. It's welld deserved. But, uh, we're gonna, if you stay around, we'll take a few pictures. be free to go after that. But thank you We'll move on to item 3.01, patrons comments. Nobody's registered to comment tonight, so we'll move forward. Uh item four, consent agender. Dr. Terrell, >> thank you for your consideration this evening. We have 4.01, which is the regular business meeting minutes from 10:27. For 116, we have the special session public hearing tenative agreement minutes. From November 11th, we have the special session minutes as well. 4.02, we have the personnel agenda. 4.03, the voucher registered checks as listed. >> Thank you, Dr. Terrell. Uh board members, you
013heard a recommendation of the administration for approval of the consent agenda item 4.01, October 27th, 2025 regular business meeting minutes. November 6, 2025 special session public hearing tenative agreement minutes and November 11th, 2025 special session minutes. 4.02 the personal agenda and 4.03 voucher register checks numbers 178492 through 178817. and voucher numbers 308220 through 309059. May I have a motion? >> So moved by Mr. Angel. >> Second. Second by Mr. Warney. Are there any questions or comments before we move to a vote? >> Uh questions. Several questions actually. Personnel agenda. Uh in are the are the uh employees that have been cut due to budgets listed on that? >> They are positions. >> I have no screen left on my computer. And do I have this right then that the positions that we've eliminated back to
014school program back to school pair professional back to school nurse elementary RTI parasi parents high school study halls high school attendance leaison high school wait professional Crown Point High School graduation coaches, Crown Point High School credit recovery coach and high school interventions. Is that correct? >> It is correct except for the graduation coaches. If I could just for anyone that's listening when you mention back to school birth to school. >> Sorry I have no screen. Did I say back to school? Be being that the task in the first meeting talked about budget cuts. There were two guard rails and the guard rails were going to cut as far away from the students as we possibly can and then also we're going to take a look at things that aren't having a positive return. So, I
015just have a hard time saying yes to RTI paras. We're going to get rid of them at the middle school and all two middle schools and the elementary schools. They're work as close with the kids as possible. So, I don't see how they could be any any closer to the students. And then as far as programs not working, that that would require that we have qualitative data to do that. So what are we basing it on other than somebody's opinion that it's not working? I just find that hard to choke back. And so my vote's going to be no on this. And I cannot agree based upon the guard rails that we set up and now we're not going to follow those. Absolutely wrong. >> Mr. I would just indicate that these are some of
016the cuts that are these positions some of them have eliminated some of I do as I understand it I want the public to understand it the services rendered are going to be replaced right these students are not going to go without services that they need is that is that correct >> that is correct additional people that are in those. >> So, so who Okay, based upon that, Mark, who who would be the person then that's going to provide RTI services in the elementary school and in the middle school >> and which takes them away from which position are they doing now then? These people were the interventionists were assisting the RTI pair professionals or vice versa. >> Vice versa. So sounds ridiculous since we're having a conversation about I think that's healthy. I think it's
017good to talk about this and as a board member, you know, these these conversations, decisions aren't made without gathering some information, receiving some information that's not going to be easy for any cut. Um I I can't through the conversations we've been able to have to understand the cuts that are coming down the pipeline. I can't imagine any of them just passing through without concern. Um that's so I tend to understand where your your concerns are. I think know, you know, not going to get any easier as we move forward. I think we're there might be some debate of A get in front of B or B get in front of A or what's what's going to happen but um I just want to you know when you open up for conversation kind of speak my
018mind to know that we do receive this information and nothing's going to be easy and there's going to be a lot of debate concern over what positions are need I've been asking for over two months now for the board which never been granted I believe should be coming from the top working its way down not not the reverse stand by that other questions indicate just to clarify too these cuts are not solely isolated to one particular school they're spread out within the district. Is that correct? >> That is correct. >> And second, some of these positions were not were not being utilized as it comes to us now. Is that correct? Meaning they were empty positions or not. I think another thing I should add is we've had a number of positions open since the
019beginning of the year up to 14 individuals positions that are unfilled still serving our students here. So despite the the challenges of facing with efficiencies we're looking at a lot of these folks still want to maintain a role in servicing our students other capacities in our school. So nice to see that despite the challenge that challenge that we're faced with and we'll remain facing here in the upcoming months >> and and kudos to those folks for taking that position. But we're we're in this position not only because of uh Senate Enrolled Act one which has affected not only schools but police and fire and any municipality in many many aspects but we're in this case we're we're in this for other reasons other than just that and I think it's time we come clean on
020things like that as well with the recommendation for approval of tonight and I just want to put this on the record because I think it needs to be said the recommendations for these cuts Whether it was now or June the following year, these positions are the positions that were identified with the input of leaders of each building and the individuals involved on a daily basis on the ground and that's how the determination was made. Is that correct? >> Correct. >> And as a summary of that, then you come to the board with a recommendation that these are the least impactful decisions. I mean they're all impactful. We don't want to lose anybody. Nobody wants to cut right. >> But this is the decision that we come to based upon the information and input leaders and
021other so-called boots on the ground. Those comments All right, let's move to a vote. Uh as it relates to the consent agenda, all in favor signify by saying I >> I nays. >> Nay. >> The eyes carry 3 to one with Mr. Vassor descenting. Uh action item 5.01 approval to apply for and receive title 2 part A grant supportive effective instruction. Mr. Gffirming. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Board members, uh we have three federally funded programs and grants on our docket tonight. The first one being the title two grant. This grant um is really the purpose of it is to increase academic achievement for all students by helping school districts improve administrative and quality effectiveness for their teachers administrators through professional development. Um, we would be using this title two grant funds to put 165
022elementary teachers through new addition bridges math curriculum PD. Some stipens for our blended learning specialists to work with our teachers on Buzz courses outside of their contracted hours. Uh, required AP teacher trainings that occur mostly in the summer. Uh, some artificial intelligent literacy PD and strategic plan and school improvement goals related PD. Uh, I'd like to thank Mrs. Smith for her work with our curriculum instruction directors and completing Smith's grant. The administration recommends approval the grant to apply for and receive funding in the amount of $164,658 the title 2 part a grant to support effective instruction. We've heard a recommendation from the administration for approval of the uh title two part a grant supporting effective instruction and receive funding in the amount of 164 6588 from the title two part a grant support to effect
023uh to support effective instruction. May I have a motion? >> Second. >> So moved by Mr. Waring and seconded by Mr. Angel. >> Are there any questions or comments? >> Okay, there being no questions or comments, we move to a vote. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Nay. Vote carries 40. Uh item 5.02, approval to apply for and receive the title three language instruction for English learner and immigrant students grant. Mr. Jean FY. >> Yes. This title three grant is purpose is to increase English language proficiency and academic and achievement in core academic subjects for our multilingual learners. U we would be using this grant to hire uh interventionists and pair professionals to work with our multilingual learners. family engagement programs and purchase supplies for our multi learners and program like
024to thank Mrs. Smith, Mrs. RmIrez and Mrs. Rzaw for their work on completing grant administration recommends approval to apply and receive funding from the Indiana Department of Education title three language instruction for English students, >> thank you Mr. Dean for me. I heard a recommendation administration for approval to apply for and receive funding from the Indiana Department of Education Title 3 language instruction for English learner and immigrant students non-competitive grant in the amount of $35,624. May I have a motion? >> So moved by Mr. >> Mr. Vasser, seconded by Mr. Angel. Are there any questions or comments? >> I know this number grow in that area. It's been pretty level recently, but it's a lot. It's a good number. Pretty consistent. Any other questions? All right. No further questions. We'll move to a vote. All
025in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Nays. The vote carries. 40. 5.03. Approval to apply for and receive title four part a uh student support academic enrichment grant. Back to you, Mr. >> Yeah. So, and on this title grant, title four grant really has three different components you can go after. One would be to support well-rounded education by incorporating advanced classes, innovative programs. Two would be create safe and healthy schools through utilization of social emotional learning and healthy lifestyles. And then the third one is effectively utilize technology through properly preparing staff as well as provide high quality digital learning experiences for students. And that is the one we have focused on the past several years and again this year and that third one. So we've been using these funds to support our blended
026instructional design specialists with their work on the digital curriculum buzz. Um support the implementation of typing.com um which we would put into our STEM programming which would be typing for elementary students. Um support our artificial intelligence initiative by um continue to fund that which is kind of our magic school that we're using allowing our students and staff to their work on that. And then finally, amplify CKLA student workbooks will be purchased with title four funds to support our multilingual learners. Again, this is Smith for working on this and submitting this grant. The administration recommends approval to apply for and receive funding in the amount of $48,45628. >> Thank you, Mr. Firming. The administration recommends approval be granted to apply for and receive funding in the amount of $48,45628 from the title 4 part A grant
027to support a well-rounded education support safe and healthy schools and improve the use of technology. May I have a motion? >> So move second. >> So moved by Mr. Angel and seconded by Mr. Basser. Are there any questions or comments? There being no questions or comments, we'll move to a vote. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Nay. >> The vote carries 40. Item 5.04, the 2025 2026 Indiana Department of Education STEM Integration Grant. Mr. uh this final grant on the docket tonight um is actually a competitive grant. Um there were 119 grant proposals submitted and uh only 63 grants were awarded. We are fortunate enough to be one of those school corporations awarded this grant. I think it speaks uh pretty loudly upon the STEM programming that we have continued to
028do. With this grant money, uh we would fund access to code HS proteer licenses for our middle schools which uh is the computer science curriculum that they will be using. It could fund seven SAM lab subscriptions and hardware bundles for our elementary schools. That's a big portion of our STEM programming uh supplies money subscription money for next year provide professional development for our elementary STEM specialist as well as stipens for our STEM instructors to participate in some locally developed PD like to thank Mrs. Smith and Mrs. specialist for their work leading this grant. Administration recommends school board approval to receive the funding from the 2025 26 integration grant in the amount of $37,500. Thank you, Mr. Recommendation administration to approve the ability to receive funding from the 2025 2026 STEM integration grant. May I have
029a motion? So moved by Mr. Angel, >> second by Mr. War. Are there any questions or comments? >> I uh just have a a comment. Mr. Jim Fley, thank you so much for uh taking the time to uh to work through all those grant proposals. And just so people out there can hear, how much how much effort does it take? We know it takes a lot to to secure these grants. >> It does. It's it's like a ongoing throughout the course of entire year especially for the title grants because there's monitoring uh there's working with non-public schools that are within our boundaries that you have to make sure that they're getting their portions and monitoring not only our what we're doing with the grant money but them as well. So um it's quite arduous process
030and it's takes a lot to get through these. And then the competitive grants are even just another thing that you want to go after those but there's no guarantee you're going to get them. So there's a lot of effort put in there that you know you get them. So I'm glad that we got that immigration really good work. >> Thank thank you again for doing that. Not really sure quite honestly why you have to do that. I do have a director of grants a six figure student who I've never seen yet six months. So just want to make that com. Mr. Demy, I have a question on this particular grant. I noticed I don't see any comparisons to 2024 2023. Is this a new grant that state of Indiana Department of Education has released? >>
031Um this STEM The STEM integration grant has been there. We just have never went after it before. U Mrs. Smith and Min decided that it was something worthy of trying. So they put the extra time in to put it. So they they found this and first time they applying for it. Correct. That's good work. Thank you for doing that. Are there any additional questions or comments? >> Okay. No being no further questions or comments. Move to a vote. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Nays. Vote carries 40. >> If I may, guys, remember sidebar conversations are heard when your mic is green. Thank you. >> 5.05 policy updates. Uh wave second reading and approval. Mr. Kiwa. >> Thank you, Mr. President and board members. Tonight, we bring back to you a set of
032policies that I shared with you last month that we would like to uh have you vote on this evening. As a review, ISBA policy 1200 allows board organizations to take place in a 30-day window and get organized in the new year as opposed to 15. Um once this uh if it were be to to be approved, it would replace Neola policy 0151. Also, um Neola policy 142. policy sets the minimum age for individuals to be considered to serve on the school board. The old language requirement was 21. This will be updated to 18 years of age. There is no ISBA language for this. So, we are just updating our NEOLA policy uh 142. Also, uh NEOA policy 8400. This is a current safety policy that had a section in it that described statemanded stop the
033bbleleed programming and bleeding control kits. uh the state statute has removed this mandate. So we are going to update this NEOLA policy with uh that no that language no longer present within NEOLA policy 8400. Now ISBA uh policy 2740 that is a new policy which addresses stop the bleed programming a standalone policy for this particular topic. So this will be a new policy. So tonight we're asking that the board vote on the following. And I'd like to bring your attention to a typo here so we can vote uh uh make sure we're understanding what's happening here. So first we would like you to approve u ISBA policy 1200. Uh we'd like for you to retire NEOLA policy 0151. The very next one uh it says approve ISBA policy 142. That's actually a Niola policy. There
034is no ISBA policy 142 and I apologize for that typo. So that would be approve policy 142, approve Neola policy 8400 and approve ISBA policy 2740. So we're asking you to wave the second reading and approve andor retire the uh listed policies. >> Thank you Mr. Akiwa. You've heard the recommendation to wave the formal reading um second reading, excuse me, in approval of these policies. ISBA policy, 1200, retired NEOLA policy 0151, approve Neola policy 142, approved NEOLA policy 8,400, and approve ISBA policy 2740. May I have a motion? >> So moved by Mr. Basser, >> second by Mr. Angel. Are there any questions or comments? There being no questions or comments, we'll move to a vote. All in favor signify by saying I. I. A. Vote carries. 40. Item 5.06, approval to accept a donation
035in the amount of $7,400 for the Crown Point High School Best Buddies. Mr. Ree. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Members of the board, tonight we bring before you a donation for approval at the high school for the Best Buddies Club. Uh this is becoming a reoccurring donation that gets made by by a very generous set of parents. We want to accept this donation and recommending the accepting donation in the amount of $7,400. >> Thank you, Mr. Ree. Uh board members, you've heard a recommendation of the administration to accept a donation the amount of $7,400 for the Crown Point High School Best Buddies. I have a motion by Mr. Basser, second by Mr. Angel. Are there any questions or comments? Their names are listed. Are we allowed to publicly recognize them or they wish to? Okay.
036So, we we want to thank Rick and Bridget Mangan for your generous gift and donation as a board administration and best buddies program. Truly appreciate your generous. That being said, any other questions or comments? All right. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Nays. Got a little delay for Mr. Warney, but uh it's an I. Vote carries 40. Okay, moving on to item 6.01, superintendent discussion groups. Mr. Basser from Crown Point. Nothing from >> item 6.02 director elementary Dr. >> Thank you Mr. President and members of the board. First off tonight want to congratulate our elementary spell bowl teams. Last week we had our district-wide contest over at Colonel Wheeler. Uh it is always great to get all seven schools together. Um it was awesome to see uh some former elementary spellers with the
037Taft team uh this evening, but uh students and coaches put in many many hours and that can be a pretty pressurefilled environment. Um the students raise their hand and uh if they get something correct, but uh lots of lots of great preparation, a lot of important lessons learned there. Um we've held that at Colonel Wheeler for a long time. Uh want to thank the Colonel Wheeler custodial team and administration for allowing us to continue to have the competition there. And uh Heather Corsy does a great job. Uh she's a teacher for us at Solen Robinson um to organize that event. But a lot of volunteers, a lot of um teachers and other staff that make that event possible. So uh great job everyone there. Uh, also tonight want to give a quick update on our
038parent teacher conferences um that happened at the tail end of October and the first week or so of November. Um, this year our teachers held 3,930 conferences with our elementary parents. Uh, we surpassed 97% this year uh for our for holding these conferences with our families. Um, it it takes a lot of work. It's not just the time sitting with those parents. It's a lot of preparation to get ready and prepare for those conversations. And um we want those to be two-way conversations about academics and lots of other things as well. And our teachers do a great job with those. Very grateful for them and for our families uh for showing up. Those are really important um to create that partnership between home and school and we know that is really important for uh the
039growth and success of our kids. Uh lastly tonight, want to say happy Thanksgiving. As I'm out in our schools, uh it is very clear how lucky we are and there is so much to be grateful for uh with amazing kids and really talented, dedicated uh people serving those kids. So, thank you very much. >> Thanksgiving to yourself as well. >> Checkpoint one results. Yeah, the Sure. >> Yeah, great great question. So last year when we printed those reports, it was a couple weeks when after the window closed and the percentile rank was on there. I think you're referring to the percentile rank for the corporation and the state. >> Um if you go in and check again uh depending the checkpoint one window recently ended. So um those percentile ranks show up at a period
040of time after the window closes. It takes the state some time to kind of analyze all that. So those percentile ranks should be available soon. >> Yep. >> Sure. Sure. >> Yep. >> Great question. >> Oh, you said 6200 parent teacher conferences. >> 3,900. >> It's a good sign. >> 97.1%. >> Wow. It's a great sign. >> Kindergarten led the way with over 98%. >> I could only imagine. Yeah. And by sixth grade, the parents wear out a little bit. Fifth grade was not too far off. >> Fifth grade was >> 96.7. So >> they were pretty good. They're holding strong. Good show. >> Yep. Absolutely. Well, thank you, Dad. Thank you. >> Item 6.03, Director of Secondary Education, Mrs. Ramirez. >> Thank you, Mr. President and board members. I would like to start by
041thanking Steven Dean and the Wheeler team. if you had an opportunity to um stop over there. Their students and staff put on a great performance of Foot Loose. And really, it is awesome to see the talent, the commitment, and um really just the relationships that are built, the experience that the students had from those students that were working with the stage crew and the enthusiasm they have for those that were acting and singing up on stage to the staff members who were contributing. Um it really is a team effort. So, they just did a wonderful job. I'd also like to thank Natalyia Momson and the Taft team. They also put on a wonderful performance of Alice in Wonderland. And again, um the from the costumeuming to the stage design, um really all of the dance
042choreography um takes a real effort from everybody that is contributing and um really paid off. If you were also able to see the Wizard of Oz by um our team over at Crown Point High School led by Jeremy Flewelling, it was a phenomenal performance by our students and it's really very I think enriching to me to be able to see our students as they progress from elementary through middle to high school to see that that develop development that is um really grow it grows and it's nurtured by our staff and our teachers. So I am thankful to all of them. I'm also thankful thankful to our teachers, admin, staff for their commitment, their hard work, and their care. Um, I feel very fortunate to be part of the Crown Point family and wish all of
043you guys a happy Thanksgiving. When we return from Thanksgiving break, there are several holiday performances at Crown Point High School from our band, choir, and orchestra, as well as um performances where they all come together. So, if you're looking for some holiday spirit, um I hope that you will join us at one of these concerts. So, if there are no questions, I will hand these out to you guys. >> Thank you, Mr. Item 6.04, Director of Exceptional Education, Mrs. P. >> Good evening, President Smith, members of the board. Um, I wanted to uh fill in some more details about the Mangan family. They have a child who is currently at the high school and they had some older daughters go through the high school and they served as best buddy mentors. So, they are very
044fond of the program. They've seen the good it does for general ed and special ed. Um, and they have a golf outing every summer and the money they donate to us is from their auction baskets at that golf outing. So, whenever I thank them, they say, "Thank our friends, thank our family." They're very generous at the golf outing. So, we thank them. That money allows um some of the Best Buddies uh board to attend the state conference. Um, and they do all kinds of events over there for every holiday. They're having pizza parties, costume parties, um just a lot of great things happening with Best Buddies. So, I wanted to thank them. Um the other thing I wanted to share was on November 12th, we had our first um parent le our CPAC I've been
045talking about um workshop in the evening and we had about 25 parents attend. We also had insource, our state advocacy agency was here. Um, and a CPAC member from Lake Central also attended and our parents led the training. It was a walkth through of an IEP, each component of the IEP, the parents role in the whole process. Um, and I think what was very valuable were the connections the parents made with one another. um and they produced a lot of ideas for future topics for workshops. Mr. Gian Fermy stopped in and and met our parents and kind of saw these relationships forming and it was just a very positive experience. So we look forward to more of those. I want to thank my three parent leads, Elise Biro, Stephanie Edwards, and Alicia Raymond. Mask in
046the when you get the date for that outing if you can make sure Diana agreed for that outing so that we could try to be part as a board at all possible. >> Yeah, it's at uh Lake of the Four Seas. >> Thank you. That's wonderful. I I recall you saying that in years past always blanked out I'd like to see build it up. >> Great. That's wonderful. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Item 6.05 assistant superintendent Mr. Jane Furman. >> Okay, let me start with this. hot off the presses or a text message from Dr. Kacina. The percentile ranks are are available in the parent portal today. Okay. Download the detailed report into the mic. All right. Um I just have uh one re I want to recognize one uh teacher from Crown Point
047High School. Uh Becky Springer, art teacher. uh she was awarded the art education association of Indiana outstanding secondary art educator for 2025 award. So um you know it it's based on her dedication to art and inspiring creativity and students. So I just want to thank her for giving the best to our kids and congratulate her. And Becky's been with us for a long time starting Colonel Wheeler at Crown Point High School. Uh just a quick mention of that North Roads Indiana Crossroads Chamber Awards that we uh did this uh beginning of the meeting. I've been attending that celebration for I don't know well over a decade now and I don't remember a time where Crown Point won both areas the secondary. So it was kind of a a sweep for us and I was I
048was probably more excited table 32 where they were. We had some fun there. But yeah, it's great to see that all the teachers getting out there and getting recognized and we do thank the Crossroads Chamber for hosting that annually because it is appreciated for sure. So with that, I just want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving and hope you have time to enjoy it with >> Thank you, Mr. Jmy. Item 6.06, Chief Human Resource Officer, Mr. >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. President, board members. Just again echoing the thanks uh to our entire school community, our faculty and staff members for uh the tremendous experience they do provide for our students. Um, I did see the teaser for the high school play and my wife and daughter attended a middle school play and you know literally
049across the board all the activities that our students are able to experience and showcase their talents and grow their talents academically um and in these areas is just uh it's truly impressive. We are all very fortunate uh to be able to work in a community such as this one. Um, I also want to thank the Crossroads Chamber of Commerce who did also host a tour for some high school staff and middle school staff uh to go take a tour of Cleveland Cliffs Steelmill. Um, got a chance to get in there and and tour the facility and it was a little uh humor going around as Mr. Rodriguez and Mr. Marsik were living their u all the right moves memories from back in the day. But I digress. Um uh but it was enjoyable uh to
050see that um there are a lot of individuals and organizations championing um those particular trades and trying to keep encouraging our school corporation as we saw tonight with Mr. Trap uh to keep offering as many opportunities for our students as possible. So we want to thank the the Crossroads Chamber again uh for their partnership and happy Thanksgiving everybody. >> Thank you Mr. Item 6.07, Chief Financial Officer, Mr. >> Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to recognize Mike Maski, Art S, and the custodial staff throughout the corporation. Mr. Masky put an initiative this year for attendance. The fact that he wanted his custodians to be in attendance and working on the days when students are in session. With that in mind, he set up an attendance goal of 96% throughout the course of this year. happy
051to report that Eisenhower is leading away and no custodian has missed a single day throughout the entire year since January 1. It's really impressive. Overall as a group, they're over 96% at 96.68%. Eisenhower is number one. Uh and I can't thank those custodians enough for showing up and doing the job, especially on days students from the building so we can get it clean for the next day. Really is a testament to knowing you show up to get the job done and they're doing a great job. That was well warranted. Thank you, Mr. Ree. I think it's so important to have those custodians in the building every day. So, just for so many different reasons, but that's great news. Uh 6.08, Director of Communications, Mrs. Allen. >> Thank you. Good evening. Um I want to give
052a quick thank you to Lynn Alky at the high school. We met probably two or three months ago, talked about redesigning the guidance section of the high school website. Um, it was a little cumbersome to navigate in particular for students when it comes time to select their courses. A 100page document full of all of the courses and reading that on a phone, which most of our students are doing, is not always the easiest way. Um, so we now have more of an interactive course catalog that we're finishing over the next couple of weeks. You can select courses by grade, AP, dual credit, pathway, department, and you can almost put together um like a mock schedule based on the courses that we have available. Um so if you visit the website now, you'll get a little
053popup that it's still under construction, but it will be ready to go by the time the high school starts scheduling students in late January. Um, also I wanted to continue to thank all of our teachers and staff for submitting good news through our weekly form that we have. Um, in a typical school year, July 1 to June 30th, we reached between 1.6 and 1.8 million people online. Um, we are at the end of November and we've already exceeded that number this year. So, um, it's working and thank you to all of them. We're out in the buildings more than we've ever been capturing content um and making sure people know what's happening in our schools. >> Thank you, Miss 6.09, superintendent schools. Dr. Terrell, >> thank you. Happy Thanksgiving. I just want to indicate my
054thankfulness for the school corporation as I travel around the state here. School corporations that are good in athletics or they're good in fine arts or they're good in academic achievement or they're good in And it everywhere you look here, uh, everything that we do is excellent and that standard is set and we just continue to exceed that. Um, absolutely enjoyed the weekends, the the evening activities we've been able to be a part of the last couple of weeks. Our kids are amazing. Our adults are amazing and the things that they provide for our kids to do. And it's a matter of finding a way to simply say yes and get out of their way. the elementary preview that we had for the Wizard of Oz play at the high school. Um, we had every elementary
055school came in and fluted a little short part of the play about 45 minutes or so, but then brought out over 150 kids that weren't acting that helped make that production take place and then pointed out the schools and had the kids raise their hands on the stage who went to those elementary schools. Just a great way to bridge how we to where we are at the high school level. The auditoriums at the middle schools and the availability we have for our kids to be able to succeed and the experiences that they can have uh is just second to none and I appreciate so much knowing that it's our people who make that happen. So appreciate them. Thankful to be here. Thankful for our school corporation and all those who involved. >> Thank you Dr.
056Other business of the board said before that I believe that budget cuts money where my mouth is look at any school corporation school board is over everything. Is that correct? >> School board overseas >> overseas. So, I'd like to uh start with the school board by what are we going to do to make cuts on our own salaries. I'm more than willing as an individual to give up the salary I've received as a school board member for the good of the corporation. I've not spoken with any of my colleagues up here about doing this, but it's something that I'm willing to do because I think it sets a good example for others to follow and that has to come from the top. So, Mr. Smith, I'd like to propose that the school board uh does
057not take a salary in 2026 from the school corporation. >> Mr. Vasser, I think um while I appreciate the act, I think as we see here today, Miss Basin's not here. The board is just now being approached for the first time on this particular topic. I could speaking for myself, not the board, I could tell you I don't do this accept this position for the money. So, uh it's incremental, but if you feel that's right, what I can do is take your proposal or suggestion to the rest of the board, find out if there's an interest in doing that, have a discussion. So, public knowledge, this is poultry. This is $2,000. So, not giving up a million dollars. I think it's the right thing to do. And I just want to piggyback on that, letting
058uh uh the public know that although we'll have that discussion and bring it up at the same time, the state now does allow, if I'm not correct, someone correct, Mr. Reese or Dr. Terrell, that you could now take the salary of the lowest paid >> up to 10% of the beginning teacher salary. >> 10% of the beginning teacher salary. So >> once again, other than that being brought up in a conversation, never was we discussed doing that or even approached that because I think we're all on the same page that obviously we don't do this for the $2,000 a year. But I just want to make sure people were aware that some school corporations even with what the Senate bill changed and all that might go to that extreme where obviously Mr. Basser suggestion is
059putting that in a different direction. So I just want to make sure the public was aware that now they allow you to take which in our case would be somewhere over $6,000. So, um, just wanted to make sure the public was aware of the new stipulation that has allowed for school to take part in. >> That's correct. Good, great point. I I would say that our salaries are set at the reorganization meeting that we have every year. We have one which actually is on my to discuss today which is in January. So, we can certainly have that discussion at the reorganization meeting as well. So my next >> uh item is to select a date for the reorganization meeting in January. You guys have calendars available. Find a date. >> If I may jump in
060here too, the the state statute has changed now and you have the entire month of January to do that. >> And so Diane and I were just talking about this today actually. we can continue the practice of having a separate meeting for that or we could incorporate that into the January conference. So I I think if you want to give that some consideration and then we'll come back to the December meeting, work on deciding if you want to have it at a separate time and at that time you can do it tonight if you'd like to but I'm just suggesting that we can use that to look at calendars. >> Sure. or we can have the discussion about including it the regular board meeting at that time. Also the board of finance meeting both of
061those are typically meetings we have separate from regard finance are we doing >> we haven't convert you guys have a preference of just doing it separate >> I preference to do it at once same day >> whatever works for everybody I don't plan on being gone anywhere I plan on being around the home >> you're in no condition to travel with that you got some therapy ahead of you I think so you're going to be here for sure in January >> the Monday January 27th is the last fourth would there be any reason that we would not want to do it so late in case there's reason >> with the board meeting >> 26. >> Oh, I'm in the wrong year. You're right. I'm in the wrong year. I'm in 2025. >> Okay. >> Monday
062the 26th. >> Just making sure if there was nec if there was a reason to come back afterwards that we had >> I'm good tentatively. I can bring this conversation. >> All right. Anybody else have any other business of the board? >> No, I I do. I hate to uh circle back on it. I think it's something that's a a flaw of mine. Sometimes I want to talk too much about certain things that are a debt issue, but um Brian, I really think it's important this evening that, you know, we're going back and talk about the budgets and and to be clear too, Tim, you and I sat down and with the open open door policy, it's difficult sometimes to get in a group and have conversations about things, but you and I sat down
063over a coffee one morning. I'm I'll sit here and and tell you that when I agreed with you that morning, I still agree with you on several things that we discussed. So it's not but I feel like this process has has to in some ways be a patient one and I'm very comfortable. I you know it's great that we all have our opinion. Appreciate everything that you've said and I want to say that I'm in a very good spot for the information that's been given to us so far to steer away from maybe some of those things that we talked about that morning over coffee and just uh the patience of it. One thing that you know we we've said we we've been fortunate enough as a school corporation there's not a single person that's
064not necessary or a waste spot that she's been doing nothing but they're luxuries and some of those luxuries unfortunately can't continue. I just you know so this first wave of cuts I hope it's my understanding and very important what Mr. what Brian said was like, "Hey, the the building leaders were and need to be a part of this the whole way." And and Todd, I see you shaking your head. And that's one thing that we've as a board, anytime we've ever been together as a group, we said our building leaders, administration, anyone underneath you has to be confident to speak their mind. So, we need to count on them as board members to do that as we move forward. and they need to take that responsibility. They can't just be yes, yes, yes, or they
065they can't nod their head to doing what you suggest to them. And I think that this challenge going forward that we need to challenge our leaders to speak up and be clear about what they feel is best for them. I just I was really happy when Brian brought that up and I kind of wanted to just circle back and say how important it is that you know they have our support. No one's ever going to be looked at or treated differently for giving their opinion what they think is best for their building. I want to tell you for a really not a fun conversation to have the face. I appreciate Mark Jmy work that he's done with already working with our leaders going out to buildings with uh Nick and Sabrina and having those conversations
066with principles principles working together as elementary middle and high school teams uh to come up with these recommendations. I can assure you um voices were heard, decentions were made um and it was worked through at that level the most ground level where they're the ones impacting what happens daily with kids. That's where the decisions, the ideas, the as we move forward, that's where this is coming from. So it's a ground roots effort. I I appreciate the culture that's been established for our principles to be willing to talk. I also appreciate the culture that's been established for people who are told we're eliminating your job and they're like that stinks but is there anything else I can do and stay here because I love being speaks a lot for Thank you for the input David if
067the budgetary cuts that may be coming to state funding. This is not going to be easy. It's not. So, we have to understand, you know, as I told Todd and told the board as we had executive session, you know, sometimes we may even get it wrong. That's we're not perfect. You know, this is a big ship. We may get it wrong. We have to have the foresight to set up change. So, we're best we can. But the one thing I do know is five board members are not at the buildings. Five board members are not here every day. They're not seeing the day-to-day operations. We're not. That's just so our job responsible take the information and put the correct people in the right positions try to get input where we can and make a decision.
068It's not an easy job for anybody involved but nobody wants to cut. I go back to nobody wants to do this. So Delta cards that we have in front of us and we'll do the best we can. move on to board statements of appreciation and recognition. Item 8. >> I don't have anything this evening, but uh happy Thanksgiving everybody and echo the the thoughts for everybody else. Hope you get enjoy the time time off and uh spend some time with family and friends and uh recharge for the last run before the holiday. >> Thank you, Mr. Angel. >> I would just like to the sentiments u Mr. Mers gave about uh the plays and all the extra work, but to all those parents behind the scenes that help out with the sets and help out
069those that are directing those plays and those volunteers that do that for no compensation, but they're involved because their kids are involved. I mean, those displays, costumes, you name it. Everything that's done behind the scenes, but you don't see it on the night of. Kudos to all of you that get involved and help out and make those performances turn out to what they are. So, thank you to all those individuals and happy Thanksgiving to all of you. >> Michelle, I see you sitting out there. I like to give a praise to the teachers union. I don't know the public knows this or not, but their proposal for their new contract. I I really believe your teachers, Michelle, kind of took one for the team. I really believe that and uh she certainly didn't have to
070do it that way. And it is appreciated and I can't help but think you get a one-year deal out of this and one year a one time stipen between wrong Michelle but 850 to like,00 bucks depending how long you've been in the school corporation. That has to be a little disheartening at the same time when you look to one corporation to our west that every single teacher got a $2500 stip less than we did and get a one-year contract. Some people here get a two-year contract. Some people get a thousand dollar stipen, some those teachers didn't get that. So, I just want to say thank you to you and and your colleagues and the teachers, not only for what they do, uh, for what they did this contract. So, hats off to you and your
071team. Thank you. Tonight, I'm going to recognize recognize a few times the I did get the opportunity to go to the Wizard of Oz and I said, "It's coming. It's coming." And it was packed. So, I caught one of the evening shows, but I I know I'm beating a dead horse here because it's been recognized, but I'm telling you, absolutely blown away with the level of detail, the amount of work that had to go in the costumes, to the sets, to the flying around on stage, on a bicycle coming through the the air, you know, all these things that we all watch with the Wizard of Oz. I'm like, how are they going to pull this off to the snow? It just gets better and better and better. In fact, I looked at my wife
072and I said, "You just paid a lot of money to go see person. Not a lot, but maybe like $100 a ticket to go see some comedian Chicago." And I'm like, "I would rather paid 100 bucks to go here. It was a better show." And that's the honest truth. So, kudos to all those individuals who poured into that, made that happen. I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to see the middle school plays, but I'm sure they were fantastic. Quite a program they got going on. But it's great to see the the arts be recognized and that they do it so well. So other than that, happy Thanksgiving to everybody. Thank you all in this room. Thank you all for your work. Thank you so much and to the teachers and to the all the
073individuals who are there every day, help this corporation run. We appreciate you. We hope you and your families have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Uh with that being said, we'll take a motion to adjurnn. >> So moved by Mr. Angel. Second by Mr. Warney. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Nays. The vote carries. 4 Z1.