001e e e [Applause] good evening welcome to the regular business meeting of board of school Trustees for the Crownpoint school corporation of February 24th 2025 I'd like to call the meeting to order at 6m if we could all please rise for the saying of the as Mr Vasser leads us in the saying of the pledge allegiance followed by a Moment of Silence thank you all right the next item on today's agenda is section 2.01 Patti registered to comment on educational issues there are no patrons registered to comment tonight so we'll move on uh item three consent agenda Dr Terell thank you for your consideration this evening we have 3.01 which is our executive session minutes our regular business meeting uh Board of Finance minutes 3.02 our disposition of stale data checks 3.03 uniform conflict of
002interest disclosure statements 3.0 the personel agenda and 3.05 the voucher registered checks checks as listed you've heard the consent agenda outl outlaid by Dr Terell 3.01 executive session minutes regular business meeting board of Finance meeting minutes of January 27 2025 3.02 disposition of stale dat and checks 3.03 uniform conflict of interest disclosure statements 3.04 Personal Agenda and 3.05 voucher register checks number 17161 to 17548 vouch number 30 second motion by Miss B second by Mr Angel are there any questions or comments to I do have one question U real simple one uh Mr ke real simple question the um the dates that people are are hired and resigned are those the actual dates that they would do so are those just computer gener the date of the job that they're doing I think you're referring
003to the what seems to ECA position yeah so to clarify for that all ecas are for a full year regardless of what that ECA happens so when it says for example August 12th that means they've resigned from that position for that year that ECA position that fits in that year does not correlate with an actual date that makes sense it makes perfect sense I was just for clarity so it lines up with contracts and really helps the business department if we were inconsistent on those ECA dat they reflect a Year's position and potentially later to be detailed is it split a percentage of that year thinking about that driving over here t wait a minute I have to ask this so thank you for the explanation yeah sure any other questions or comments F questions
004we'll take a vote all those in favor signify by saying I I oppose guys carry five Z action item four 4.01 2025 Crown Community summer school corporation summer school programing what's your thank you Mr President board members in support agendas the proposed 2025 summer school plan uh this year summer school offerings reflect the state of Indiana's emphasis on early literacy and new graduation requirements as the state of Indiana has reprioritized resources for summer school we have adjusted our offerings to match that alignment realigned uh Elementary School will focus on second and third grade students with the emphasis on literacy and passing I read assessment Middle School will F focus on basic skills and trans transition to Middle School um our summer school offerings will allow students on current core 40 diploma tracks to take previously
005mapped out courses in their graduation plan obtain credits for graduation and finally special education extended school year will be offered per students individual needs all courses being offered during the 2025 summer school sessions meet the doe State reimbursement requirements and administration recommends approval of the 2025 summer school plan if you have any questions while you're thinking of questions that you may have I want to jump in here and just make a couple of additional comments so our current the biggest one of the biggest impacts this has is students in high school so our current sophomores um freshman sophomores and juniors will continue to be able to participate in summer school just as they have in the past their plans of course courses as they take them throughout their at the high school will be will
006not be impacted by this they'll still be able to do this incoming freshmen are going to have a little bit different and part of that is in the past we've had a really large amount of students take summer school during or take PE during summer school with the new uh diplomas that everybody's heard that are coming out based off of the seal requirements and the number of courses you have to take for instance PE has been reduced from two semesters of PE in one of Health down to one semester of PE uh there's been some changes in social studies there's been some other changes so Our intention as we continue to move forward with this is to make sure that the offerings that we provide allow us to continue to have the Integrity of the
007number of teachers number of sections that we offer during the school year so that we don't look at a reduction in force in in those areas um the other part of that is with the uh I three this summer being the year actually being the first time that kids if they don't pass it have to stay in third grade is really focused on hitting the retention piece of that or the literacy piece of that to make sure that we can continue to focus and really zoom in on the needs that our students have in that area kind of a complicated funding uh Source from the state for summer school is they have like a set amount of money that they designate for summer school and then they classify different has classified one the first group
008and then in the second group and they've realigned where those are offered um therefore they're going to give priority in funding to the ones in the class one and that's what we're going after right now um so for instance in the past we've our summer schools have been funded anywhere from 65 70 plus percent range of what it costs us and we have to make up the rest of that what we're seeing now across the state is would have a certain amount and it would be set and then however many corporations jumped in and did summer school then that pot just got duded more the more schools districts that did this um my guess is that as we look at this literacy piece and having to retain students in third grade you're probably going to
009see people weren't offering summer school before they're really going to hit that hard so going into this being mindful of where we are um with the budget with the addition dollars we up on our end but then also looking at what the graduation plans what the course plans are going to be for our students as eighth graders now coming into ninth grade next year this will really allow them to still accomplish the things that they want to accomplish um taking those AP courses do credit courses we're not shying away from any of that you guys have heard me say before we're going to be real close to earning 10,000 college credits this year at the high school and that's for a school our size that's like closing in on twice as many as most of
010them um our AP courses last year at the high school they received a silver recognition from the AP uh college board group who is in charge of the AP courses and testing because of the increased number of AP courses that our students took not just students taking them but at RIS students and students of minority as well so um that those are going to we're going to continue to push in those areas um we just have to make sure that we're aligned that can do that in a way that it's fiscally responsible for us Dr Terell thank you for that I I really appreciate hearing you address that we're making sure we're not impacting students who are currently in high school with their um paths and then making sure that we're having as little impact
011on our teacher fores thank you for that explanation let me also say that we will be communicating out tomorrow um with a message going out regarding summer school that will give parents staff more information and kind of clear the air on some of those issues as well waiting until the board took action tonight to begin that messaging so expect that to hit early tomorrow Dr ter can you heard some Whispers and things online seen sure this is not a strategy that we are employing to persuade our community to pass the referendum has nothing to do with that um this is just simply about addressing the needs for the graduation diploma seal requirement changing and the emphasis that the state is putting on literacy especially at the second third grade level follow itics sues future years
012that could be um for instance if the legislators in theis decide that they're going to put a bunch of money into summer school all of a sudden you would reflect that as well I cannot predict the future but I I don't see that happen about summer school you get a chance every year to take so just to clarify for the people watching home if the state doesn't make any changes we would have been status quo on what we continue to do but even though they made the changes with some of the funding we're still giving the kids what they need to graduate we just have to hold back because we're not getting that funding for PE or classes such as that so the current freshman sophomores and juniors will continues even though funding has changed
013and what that's going to look like we're committed to making sure that they can finish out with the plans that they've already established for the course work in high school yes so nobody's going to be shorted nobody will be short thank you question so we're not definitely not having summer PE that's that is correct anything else all right heard the recommendations of the administration for approval of 2025 Crown Point School Corporation summer school program to vote oh may have a motion so by Mr Angel by all in favor signi by saying I I carries ZK Mr all right on to action item 4.02 resolution number 860 literacy Grant supplemental payment Mr Kiwa yeah thank you Mr President board members we bring to you uh this evening resolution number 860 860 uh referring to on the
014early literacy Grant stien on December 15 of 2023 the Indiana Department of Education issued guidance related to the early literacy achievement Grant established through the house and World Act haa1 -223 also known as the literacy Grant the literacy Grant funds in the amount of 29,6 n589 uh $ 29,6 19589 were received by the school corporation for distribution to teachers instructional coaches and other school staff responsible for implementing and delivering literacy and reading instruction of students through grade three stien amount of $183 cents will be received by 162 staff members we ask that the board this evening wave the reading of the resolution and approve it this evening so that we are able to distribute the early literacy stien in the month of March thank you Mr ke you've heard the administation administra for approval resolution
015ol so move thank you Mr President members of the board we bring before you tonight a project regarding the districtwide monument sign replacement across the corporation bids were received and Legacy sign group was the low bid with that we recommend approval of the districtwide monument sign replacement project to Legacy sign group for $ 25373 thank you Mr reation the administra for approval of contract districtde mon sign rep Legacy signp for the 23,000 just one question when was the the last time this was done to this level anyway as far as these signs being upgraded or anything I'm not sure if they ever were at this level and we've got some signs that I should drive by have where you can put messages on them some that don't some that look like they should have been
016updated in the 70s um so this will actually get us and kind of be that bow on all of the work that we've been doing to that final step kind of figured that but just want to make sure that it was a long time ago it was very long time so all of the signs then will have the capability of putting messages up no we're going away from that what we found is in 2025 people that want messages are getting up through social media um going through the websites of our buildings so these will be very what is in front of this building and also in front of Taft middle school and signs will look very similar across the board in every one of our buildings do we what do we do with the old
017materials that all is part of the demolition process some of them we can use the foundations that were there most of them we cannot and have to remove those and start let me ask you something privately later questions comments to item street thank you Mr President uh this recommendation brings two parts one is the actual purchase of the uh air conditioning or trer unit that was done through a the Statewide qpa and the other part is quotes taken to actually install and make it operational once it is received with that we are recommending contracts be awarded to Carrier Corporation to the state qpa in the amount of 750 for the installation of the chiller we've heard a recommendation of the administration that contracts be awarded by carrier coration of 29895 excuse Precision so the company
018is precision temperature control but the unit is a I think said Carri is that that is correct the brand is Carrier we're purchasing the children from carrier it is a Carri right and that Precision is the oneall gotcha okay thank you I understand uh are we familiar with these particular contractors involved in this project Mr M shaking his head you want to come come up and say anything Mike or you good any questions for Mr again with all of the projects we've been doing this just completes that project so at this point in time we're in a really good spot in all of our buildings with our chers getting them very similar in what brand new any other questions or comments items1 super discussion groups I am not have have a discussion about who's going
019to tackle that just make sure you don't get to upset each other Mr sorry Mr Angel aular basis based on fing uh yes I had the pleasure of meeting with the Crown Point or being on the crowno Redevelopment commission last month we have our next meeting next Monday night uh big item on the agenda was Bulldog Park they're going to be extending the stage there to make the stage bigger and put in a much better sound system as well so be nice nice to see that anything else uh next week begins our 11th grade Juniors will be taking the SAT the window opens up marches the 14th so on March the 5th our Juniors will be taking school this is a culmination of with the College Board that began back in grade for these students
020started with PSAT they follow that up in grade n with PSAT 9 and then there's PSAT National Merit that takes place in grade also PS they take the beginning 11 to Monitor and track this year we have also added T in the PS and PS1 so that we canit grow of our students between those two tests the first test we use the formative assessment Grant to fund the second assessment in the spring that we have added that will be something that we will be funding but it does help us to stay on track and to Monitor and see how our students are growing over time the culmination like I said is the uh March 5th Wednesday stud their experience with college there are diploma ramifications for those that pass it is part of pass colge
021any questions Jim it's been a long time since I've taken the sat right about as long as you how how long is the test now administer it within and maybe Mark you two two two and a half hours take than you moving on to item 5.03 director Elementary education thank you Mr President and board members just a few updates tonight on some things happening here in the next few weeks uh first off tomorrow's the big day for the 2038 uh pre-registration opens up online for our new new incoming kindergarten class um this year also for the first time instead of one school one book at our seven elementary schools we will be uh starting one district one book uh so all seven of our elementary schools uh have a have their own teams that are
022planning some activities around this one book title you've previously approved that book but I'm not going to reveal the title tonight because that's a big deal at our elementary schools um but uh this is to really get students excited about literacy and get our families excited about reading at home um so that will be kicking off uh at our seven elementary schools over the next couple weeks and it will finish up with an author visit uh the afternoon um the Friday right before spring break so that'll be a good afternoon for for students uh next exciting thing coming up on March 6th our uh elementary school art show will begin at 5 o'cl and end at 6:30 this is at the Crown Point Public Library there are several hundred 2D and 3D works of art
023on display at the library uh they're already up but the official show is on March 6th from 5: to 630 so thanks to our seven Elementary art teachers for all their hard work to Showcase uh the talent of our youngest artists um and we're grateful for that partnership with the library they host US every year and it's a it's a really cool event uh last thing tonight um as Dr Terrell mentioned earlier I read three uh is coming up here very soon uh the first two weeks of March is the I three testing window uh legislatively there's a couple big changes this year first uh the first big change is that all second graders will be taking I three this year for the first time uh the second uh really big change is that there
024are more strict and really inflexible uh retention requirements for students in grade three that do not pass uh the assessment uh student students will have um opportunities to retake the assessment as third graders if they don't pass uh here in March um and we'll have detailed remediation plans for any students um in grades three um that don't pass that first try they'll have a couple more attempts but um traditionally our students do very well on I 3 but these are seven and eight and nine year olds and can be a lot of pressure and a lot of stress and some angst for our students and our our teachers so best of luck to to everyone involved any questions Dr a question it's a practical question I think youed this some stud struggle test taking that
025type of education right presenting testure good students homor that's a great question so kind of on a whole school level the calmer the adults are the Cal the kids are going to be that's the first thing I would say um and really it's about knowing our students knowing our Learners and our teachers are excellent at really knowing what our students need but you're right sometimes our highest performers they get the most anxious uh sometimes students who struggle get anxious anyone can um but really it's about setting a kind of a calm environment on test day um encouraging students in positive ways not stressful hey you're you know threatening ways we don't want to do that I know a lot of teachers do um you know cool ideas to have parents write students a note of
026good luck on test day different things to encourage students to be at their best but uh if students do need some accommodations there are also options that were were allowed to put in place from the state to give students um you know certain things like small group testing or breaks during testing things like that than you question that was that was a great response to that question Nick um softball question for you uh Library hosting the Elementary art show we can go there now to see that is that what you're saying that okay that is on display already um but from 5 to 6:30 I think we do like two or three schools at five and then two or three schools at 5:30 kind of spread it out because parking might be tough but um
027each school has I can't remember the exact number but a good chunk of student work on display but it is already up thank you good evening president Smith members of the board uh you do have two more opportunities to see the Bulldog ballers in action at the high school March 6th and March 13th I think Mr Angel's interested and maybe joining as a coach next year he came last week and we'll get to that um I'd like to mention that next week is school social worker week and I want to recognize our five School social workers for their dedication and compassion in working with our students our families our staff um they really do help us Foster uh a safe and nurturing environment and they're really making a difference not only in the schools but
028our Greater Community they're helping families connect with outside resources um helping students during crisis and they also meet with some of our students regularly to provide support so I want to mention them by name we have three exceptional Ed social workers Evelyn Bratton Sandy specker and Tara verdusco and then two additional School social workers Tracy Noble and Mary ree so we really appreciate the work they do and their social workers are relatively new to Crown Point schools within the last handful of years so I think they've been an invaluable addition uh a couple of upcoming important dates uh April 23d we're hosting our transition Fair again and this is an opportunity for our parents and students to come over to the high school at 5:30 that night and there are gosh I think about 70
029tables set up and there are service agencies like the Bureau of Developmental Disabilities there are group home um companies there's insource which is a advocacy agency in the state planting possibilities just even some of our local colleges come the military just a range of um resources for our parents and students to grab and talk to the representatives and then best day of the year is Wednesday May 14th um at 10:00 a.m. at Crownpoint High School unified game day and the rain date will be Wednesday May 21st so hope to see you all at one or all of those events coming up moving on to item 5.05 yeah just one item um last Thursday cown Point High School hosted the incoming we called the e8th grade parent night so it's for the class of 2029 um
030the first of all the the amount of parents that showed up for that was amazing uh the auditorium was pretty packed so when you when you have those things it's it's about giving as much information out trying to maybe get parents' anxiety down a little bit as they as they enter their High School uh with their their children so excellent job by all the administration and teachers that were there that night and uh again thank you to all the parents that showed up because when you have those things um they're only as successful as we can get people out there I know Mr Smith we're gonna get you that information so sorry about that um and then just one other thing thank you to Mr Rodriguez for recognizing uh Colonel John Wheeler's 200th birthday on
031February 6 and you know kind of doing that with the school and making the kids aware um it's kind of just a neat thing that they could have just let it go by but you know they spent some the kids understand that head what his significance was and U it was his birthday so thank you for doing that thank you Mr to it Chief resource officer Mr thank you Mr President board members just briefly a reflection uh earlier this month I had the great pleasure of going to MacArthur Elementary School to be the guest speak gr will their student of the mon program just a reminder how for me anyway uh to get back into the elementary environment and be a part of those um celebrations that really use term F fill our students buckets
032with positive emotional energy uh they bring a special guest in the morning parent grandparent significant other uh to celebrate good CI citizenship and it's it's uh just want to tell them great job and for all of our uh recipients of the student the month of the award of MacArthur here in February congratulations and uh just to all of our our schools uh especially those elementary schools working with our younger students keep up the good work uh with those strong effective effective programs than you thank you Mr Officer Mr Reese I have nothing to say Mr President thank you Mr Ree director of communications Mrs good evening um I was at cromp Point High School this afternoon taking pictures for the upcoming play which opens on Friday next week it's called the play that goes wrong
033um but it's it's fantastic um it's a comedy and it's really wonderful to see our students who were in very different place last couple of years do something um like this they were working on their iic timing while I was there and it was pretty wonderful um also next week is a bit of a kind of a milestone or celebration in our Communications Department we started our super things series two years ago so 23 episodes later um about 65,000 views um it's definitely been a very fun project and next week to celebrate we have a blooper reel that we'll share with everyone online sorry but it'll be fun I I don't know if you'll be in it smooth that was smooth it's mostly you thank you that's great thank you question I'm not sure that
034is great we all love I think that oh moving on to 5.09 superintendent schools so this evening want to thank some of our Community Partners Crossroads chamber I was able to participate in an educational round table with them last week with uh three other individuals and really highlight the internship programs that we have at the high school and our students as they go through that this is new in a lot of places with the change in diploma requirements and it's something we've been doing over 40% between 40 and 50% of our students are involved in internships as seniors each and every year so just appreciate the opportunity there as well as our community members for permitting our students to be a part of that also then was part of a soon Tobe release production from
035great news life that was an education panel really focusing on how to celebrate public education and the great things that are happening across several of the districts here in Northwest Indiana um lastly just want to thank our partnership with Crownpoint Educators Association uh on a lot of things but especially right now with the legislative session going on um the opportunity to meet with them and then also to have representatives from the CPA going down to the state house being present and um sharing the Crown Point story uh rather than just um protesting against whatever's going on is really sharing What's Happening Here in Crown just appreciate the efforts there so thank you thank you Dr Terell other business of the board of school trust this should be legislative update so I apologize in advance this
036this will be lengthy uh we have we have a lot to cover and uh fellow board members I do invite your Dialogue on this as well so uh you you have received already uh my report from last week's State House day which is held downtown just across the street from the capital building and I'm not going to go through the entire document just to point out a few things but as you may remember from your government class that that bills pass from they have to move from one house one chamber to the other before it gets to the governor desk so anything that was did not move from the house to the Senate dead anything that did not move from the Senate back to the house is dead so reporting on that is only 37%
037the bills moved to the other chamber out of 184 bills only 37% moved but there's a big however with that which I would get to so on your sheet you have it both uh on your computer and you have a hard copy as well that those bills that were in there I'm just going to highlight a few these may not be the ones that you wanted highlighted but we can talk about anything that that you want on there uh on the section B on that paper key kindergarten through 12th grade Bill supported by the isba look at number three this is a big change U if this goes into effect house build 1498 which would establish new categories of school performance so no longer will schools receive an A through F performance screen that's big
038because we've had a through f for quite some time just to let you know that that's a really good point yes this is School grades not student grades that not none of this has changed at this point they have until April 29th that's when everything is finalized and this being a budget assembly uh they're preparing a budget for the next two years that's how that works as well we're uh education bills were 184 there was over 1,200 bills presented so you look at number four right below that house bill 1500 uh that is changing that changes the landscape uh drastically in teacher evaluations so rather than having teachers rated as highly effective effective and prove it necessary and not effective that would change to recognized exemplary or a master teacher but those would be competitive
039grants not automatic grants from the state you'd have to apply to get those but if you look at the language in there which I included uh it replaces the current teacher uh excuse me evaluation categories but whatever they receive from 3,000 to 10,000 that amount must be added to their base salary moving forward yearly so that changes great deal so that's something to if that becomes uh law something to discuss down the road as well moving on to the section c and I'm looking at bills that were opposed by the isba and I'm looking at Senate bill one which is number five on your list it allows for property tax deferrals and tax breaks for disabled veterans and firsttime home buyers which that's fine but we look at the section on they tucked in school
040referendums in this bill may only be on the net uh ballot in general election years U that seemed to gain a lot of strength down there when I was with the group last Tuesday it also restricts what can be included on a referendum ballot included in this bill though that was posed was a property tax bill U as of last Tuesday if that went all the way through to be law our school system will be be resulting in a net loss over the next three years of $1.4 million that's a lot that's a lot and uh finally I know I'm skipping over a whole lot here is that if you go to section f on the education committee panel this was the most long-winded presentation I've ever heard in my entire life and uh but
041the bottom line here is uh the governor uh his quote is that everybody's getting a haircut I don't think everybody needs a haircut that's my personal opinion but the move in education is from this industrial model that we've had forever to an outcome based model what are the kids achieving how are the kids growing as far as evaluations of schools and so forth now that's that's my notes from last Tuesday before I move to something else any discussion or questions on any of those that I put anything quite welcome now here's something you don't have a copy of but this may hopefully leads to some serious discussion on our part Mr Smith and I have already talked about this in advance but remember me saying that only 37% of the bills passed from one chamber
042to the next and I said but there's a big however here's the big however a couple of things for us to look at is one there's a Senate bill that has moved to the house that has to do with School Board elections okay this bill would eliminate nonpartisan school boards which means Republican Democrat and would require Schoolboard candidates to not only declare their political party but you'd have to win your political party's primary election in May if you want to have a spot on the general ballot in nov November Additionally the candidate would have to have voted in the last two primary election so if you didn't vote in a primary election last year you can't run for school board next year so the the people that are in favor of this say they really
043need to know the political party of school board candidates those opposed say more partisanship impr grow and improve the schools that are governed so I welcome your dialogue questions thoughts on that so I'll jump on this the bill that Mr bassard discussing Bill 287 passing over to the house outes concerns have with this particular billes to the is that you know having served on this particular school board for n years angeler I don't think at one at any one point we've ever had discussion about any indidual affiliations regards frankly it doesn't matter and the reality of it is we have all and even though we may have disagreements see things differ that's bring different perspectives to different issues and come together and try to get a consensus where we can to have a vote based
044off solely what's best for our school corporation our students and our individuals who are employed here in others that are affected by decisions and I can proudly say that I don't think we've ever had a decision based on political motivations on the school board n years been a part of and so I would question openly and public why would we now after 100 plus years of not having political affiliation associated with school boards in Indiana why we determine or decide that now this is necessary and sadly with the state of our political climate and our society and both nationally and state based you know I don't think it's anything more than a power grab in control of money and finances I think we're seeing that down for state has so uh for me personally this
045is frating opponent to this um I think it lends itself to control and from a super majority Who's down in our legislature now in power in office uh who holds themselves out to be limited government this is anything I think we can see all these bills here up here uh the amount of control and direction that we're it's problematic to me so particularly with this bill and I've said it before I highly doubt if I did De to run again for a fourth term and I don't know if I have if I would ever declare a political party to run I'll just put that on my record right now if it's not meant to be I won't win but I don't want to take political party funds or be guided or directed or have my
046vote which is based on my own Consciousness be determined by somebody down in or Washington DC so I just would ask the people in our district to contact your house rep the Senate bill is going to be going Al who we've had discussions with we've had conversations with uh I like Julie personally I would ask you to reach out to her and please if you agree with me please express my concerns and if any of the other board members feel you know the same I really think it's important that we continue to put students first and people first and I do think that this cause people not to want to run stud best part at not to be Affiliated continue to pour back into their own so uh I just wanted to vocalize my expression
047my feelings on this issue I want to get out on private before the vote happens so pass it off to the rest of board members respond comments I'll just your cament exactly Brian I can honestly say in my almost 21 years completed as a school board m never once did a conversation come up whether you're republican or democrat or independent in your own political affiliation and uh it has no place in your decisionmaking aspect or being forced to do something because you have a political affiliation so I strongly urge everyone involved in uh that moving on to the house to to highly oppose that as well could agree more I think you said it Brian if there were something for us to to disagree on this is the time we could speak about it and
048have a conversation about it and agree to disagree if that's the case but as you said just uh to kind of put it on record I I I would have I couldn't have said it better than Mr Smith and I appreciate your thoughts and uh I'll just add one thing it's shocking that even this comes up knowing that it's worked for so long in this state of just having people run based on the fact that they want to make the right decisions for kids education and to throw political affiliation into me just it's it's absurd that's I'll finish with that I guess I would have a a question that I believe we do know the answer you know different school districts assign board members you know five men board seven men board um some are
049pointed correct in other communities has there has there been any convers about that this is not a it's a it's a Statewide it seems like it would be difficult to transition for everybody so I would say there's very few that are appointed valo near us is there one of probably less than five in the state of Indiana I think one thing that all of you need to understand and I think those in our community hear this need to understand is in the state of Indiana you will we went to where our superintendent Public Instruction now is the Secretary of Education and is appointed by the governor at the same time our state school board is also appointed by the governor um now if you look at all of a sudden this has to become a
050political thing it's I don't know how we see this as anything else than a political move to have a super majority controlling absolutely every part of this around this great country of our very few places is there where the Secretary of Ed State superintendent and the school board are both appointed by the governor Indiana stepped up and made that happen just a couple of years ago so we find ourselves in that Minority of states that do so so I would agree with everything that's been said tonight the biggest concern here is does it stop there so now all of a sudden when you guys go to do the most important job that you do and that is to and fire your superintendent now does that ideology have to follow along with what your political view
051is hases that become the thing all of a sudden the educational environment where we tell our teachers your student shouldn't know if you're a Republican or a Democrat we're an independent now all of a sudden we're saying that those who lead the district and have the direct impact on the district is totally different than what we expect in the classroom and if we're going to do that do we take that next step eventually and say then teachers should be able have to declare and we start to let them share their personal political views to impact what's happening in the classrooms I think it's nobody's saying that's happening I think it's a slippery slope though once we start down this path where does it stop and that's a concern to the point of it's worked this
052well for this long and there isn't a glaring issue that needs to be addressed and the few that I've heard is Rumblings are small issues in other corporations or in community that's driving the entire State and I think that in my mind is the essence of the legislative process is so often it comes from one Community or one small group where there's a problem and all of a sudden the entire state is impacted by it and I think we need to address situations as they arise and not go after the entire state to change something that's and I would just add oute listen to how well the Democrats and Republicans work they get along respect each other done right just it's inefficient won't work it's a disaster and so with everything else I don't think
053so I'm the only one who hasn't spoken so I'll chime in um I agree with everything uh you guys have said I think I I'd also like to point out that despite personal political views I think the thing that is great about our board is is we come together thinking about what's best for our community and all of our students right so whether it's something that that I personally believe or you know would vote for on my own or versus what's best for the what we're doing two different things and so to me um politics are not involved in the school board the school corporation and what we're doing here uh which is what's best for cown Point Community Schools um staff and the community and I I just want to add there was an
054article in the newspaper is I and you know one of the one of the points s the contentious arguments on the other side is we don't know where School stand on isses I would say that any of us are available in our community and any of us are available after a meeting if you want to know where we stand or you have a question I don't know any of us as board members that are going to shy away from you know our positions on issues and if you follow the Schoolboard meetings you kind of generally get a field I think sometimes people stand issu so I I just think that's a very poor excuse for passing legislation and and that was a comment right from I think a state reps so you know again the
055whole idea is to be govern locally we're here locally you can find us you have our emails you can show up at the board meetings you watch meetings there's plenty of ways to determine the positions of take these seats these position that being said is there any other statements ORS one question is so Robinson almost done are we almost done with all of our projects I think last time I heard is was the what we were shooting for yeah so uh Skillman has done an amazing job and we feel like at Spring break we should be completed with the inside portions of solar um there still be some landscaping and some different things that have to take place once the weather breaks um but yeah we're getting real close Transportation Center will be this summer
056that'll be the final uh project that we'll have done and uh the intention will be to have that completed by by August start date so once that happens then we've made it through um gotten a lot more the amount of money that we put into our facilities yeah looking forward to S looks like a whole different building from when you and I Brian Ted it this fall yeah well you're you're quite welcome Strangely I kind of enjoy doing this government was my favorite class in high school had a great teacher um House Bill 1064 this is the commonly referred to is the Indiana High School athletic association bill this bill would allow students to enroll in another high school for athletic reasons primarily for athletic reasons so so hear me out if I'm gon I'm
057gonna speak for myself on this and the other board members will as well but whether you're here in person you're listening at home you're a reporter I'm just going to say this this is an absolutely terrible bill it is terrible uh so please listen because if this bill passes and goes into law here's what you can all expect not just in cown point but in every school district every community in this state you can expect athletic programs at some high schools are going to close because they're not going to have enough kids to compete as a team you can expect your child's spot on a team to be taken by another athlete who doesn't even live in our district whose parents don't even pay anything thing for referendum taxes whatsoever you can expect the Integrity
058of our coaches to be challenged as they try to keep up with the competition that will be lopsided at best you can expect schools that take in athletes to have lopsided game scores and competition to lesson you can expect closed and ran schools such as ours to perhaps become open enrollment schools because this bill could lead to loss suits from parents who want their kids to play on a winning team and this bill opens the door to that you can expect our current facilities to maybe need expansion to accommodate the influx of new athletes all on the backs of those who have legal settlement in our district and also pay school referendum taxes you can expect schools to close athletic programs due to a lack of numbers you can expect coaches to openly recruit athletes
059because their jobs are evaluated by their win and loss record you can expect people to lose their integrity as they coer kids to change schools because of a perceived better Athletic program you can expect schools that are currently have winning records to grow even stronger and better thus forcing a level of comp competition to be diminished you can expect parents and the bleachers who do not even live in your town and have absolutely no vested interest in your community other than that athletic team and you can expect this bill to be a gateway to opening up other areas for school transfer such as Performing Arts you only need to look at what is happening in NCAA Sports in that portal that transfer portal where athletes are transferring to the highest bidder and a mock of
060college sports is being made I don't think we want that in our high schools as Mr Smith said I would ask that you contact your state representative and your state legislature to let them know you do not support this and neither should they be supporting this every person sitting up here in this St every one of us has been a high school athlete some have been College athletes and you know how negatively this would affect kids you have to know that that in your heart when I was in Indianapolis last week at the isba legislative meeting the loudest Applause in the room came when it was announced that house bill 1136 had died that bill would have eliminated School corporations would have eliminated the corporation and made them into a charter school if 50% or
061more of their kids didn't attend their schools and went to a charter school or private school or Parochial School that would have affected two just two districts in in our part of the state however many of those districts would have never been affected by this bill chose to renounce it in public and that's commendable and they all stood up and cheered last Tuesday and neither the school the two districts that I I'm not citing their name they weren't even in attendance but the other districts supported because it was absolutely wrong to do so tonight U Mr Smith I'd like to make a motion that our school board does something similar to what others have done in the past to make a public Declaration of disdain and renounce House Bill 2016 we owe that to our
062kids to our parents our communities and quite frankly to the entire state of Indiana so I will be making that motion I invite your comments 1064 let me U information that shared just want to make sure the the records real clear the public understands that currently crowno Community School is a closed enrollment school and so therefore you cannot attend Crown Point schools if you do not live within our districts our school district and it will remain that way so you know it's very import at least for me I speak on my own behalf that our parents and our individuals and the families that live within our district understand that for anybody to come and transfer and play regardless of what the legisl does with House Bill 1064 or what the ihsa rules may say they
063may may not have to go through the house but just pass bya rule and they say we're not monitor this any uh you would still have to be required to move Point School Corporation sorry our school corporation limits um and so I think that's really an important factor PC clarify before pass the board um I I understand that when I read the house bill 1064 you know obviously ihsa and athletic directors were involved with those decisions for transfers for students ironically the one thing that stuck out to me is that it only applied to anybody else so if you wanted to change schools for theater band Orchestra you could do it it was never asked issue is only a I found that very interesting this is not to say I opinion Mr know spoke about
064this but I do want to make sure I understand I would I agree with Mr Bass on this particular issue that if anybody just wished to transfer into play sports in our school corporation can live anywhere I would be is that we have to commit to our school corporation have to lease your owner limits prot so I'll I'll chime in um with the utmost respect I feel the opp Mr Vasser um with regards to this bill um so long as we remain um a closed Corporation where you have to live here obviously you know be paying and living in our our Corporation boundaries for me um and if if you're not aware of how it currently goes if you have a um an athlete child who lives in marville and moves to crom point while
065your child is in high school the child's ability to play in Crown Point relies on the prior corporation's athletic department to sign off saying they can play which seems a little bit tricky you know if it were going the other way for our Corporation for me it almost seems like a liability that we're relying on our athletic department to sign off on kids moving elsewhere really becomes more of a hindrance to each individual child so I think as long as families are willing to move to a corporation if that's what they feel is the best fit for their child be for athletics academics um other extracurriculars that Mr Smith mentioned um you know so be it I guess I think the argument of all these really good kids are going to come in and your
066kid won't have a spot um I mean competition is competition right so I know we've got JV we've got um you know other opportunities for for kids to do community based things I think um saying we don't want to allow this because kids are too good somewhere else is maybe not the right approach so um I think again as long as As We remain closed where a family has to actually move um to Crown Point and be um owning a home or have an active lease to me I don't I don't even necessarily see it being as dramatic of an impact right having a family who's willing to move for a child to play sports is a pretty big ask I don't I don't think we have um as many Indiana families who are are
067able to make that choice on a whim right as as maybe is implied in in what was written up by Mr Vasser so um that's just my view on it as far as as being willing to put out something as a corporation that would agree that we think this is not the right move uh would not be something I would support thank you I'll just keep it short with the going back and forth on open enrollment close enrollment and I'll have much to touch on about this the sport but you know for our for our school corporation um there's absolutely no doubt that we remain as we are a uh a close within our within our uh our limits and uh you know athletes move in uh prop properly and of course we welcome and
068if they move move them out I I I do agree with what Miss bason said that there is liability there piing choosing who you're going to give releases to but um for now I don't think that's worth anything more for I will just state that our job as board members as Educators to educate kids sports extra curricul is a privilege and shouldn't have any bearing on us setting a new house bill or a law to allow kids from other communities to play because it's a privilege if you decide that to do that once again I just just think you're hurting the overall process of educating kids because that's our number one Ro I think sports extracurriculars are all an additional and has no bearing on setting a new house build to become a so I'll
069just state that I'm glad we have closed enrollment I'm glad that we enforce it and um I know there's questions and I can probably Dave Coulson somewhere around and R Aiwa when I hear about these rumors on the street I can tell you I pick up the phone and I call to verify that these kids are living in the FR Point schools and I've done that for years because the one thing I've always said as part of this is the day I find out we're accepting kids that don't live in our community will be the day I lose my mind and U I can honestly say that are there some that have probably slipped through the cracks in my 20 years here I'm sure there are with the way people can manipulate a system but
070I can tell you it's been looked upon and forced to find that you live in our community so um once again I I just think it comes down to the education process that's about education and I played Sports in high school once again to whatever level I'm not sure anybody it's not the concern it's about the fact that equal opportunities given to all and with my focus being on the crowno taxpayers the biggest fact of that is those referendum dollars that we would not see so that's why I'm very opposed to this bill and disturb actually the ihsa came to their decision to pass this which doesn't officially pass until I think their May 25th meeting that's my own personal thought um I I would say if we remain close enrollment think Mr did you
071have response well I'm you know I've been I've been a varsity coach in multiple Sports Lake Central High School um I understand these these things never once in my life as a head coach that I ever consider recruiting kids never never ever I think you you give up your integrity when you do things like that if that's happening anywhere including our own school system shame on you if you're doing that hear me out shame on you you're wrong that's a lack of integrity and now we have a state that may just sanction that this is okay that's that's wrong that's absolutely wrong so our job is for the Crown Point schools I guarantee it but we have a bigger responsibility to education as Mr Angel alluded to we have a bigger responsibility I think it's
072time to renounce this tonight get this to make their statement known as as they supported uh the other two school districts and a bill that had nothing to do with them at all would have had nothing to do with us at all this bill may have nothing to do with us either as we move on other than losing kids we're going to lose kids athletically and if you don't think that's the the truth you're naive that's exactly what's going to happen so Mr Smith again I I move that we make a declaration tonight that we renounce this Bill thank you Mr V Dr ter chance to responden thank you all for quite welcome I think the one common thing that I've heard from to be tonight is that we want to continue to be a
073closed District um when this first started to gain traction and Mr B bassard mentioned it early on in the legislative session that this was one that he was going to particular keep his eye on ranted through legal and have Revisited that and there is nothing by this passing whether it's just through ihsaa regs or through um act law that can force us to begin so we will continue to be a closed District um as Danielle mentioned that's that's exactly the thing that will change with this is that if we have a student who was living here and they transferred to a private school and want to come back there's been that back and forth where they could even have to give up time and play um as far as being an athlete that would change
074and they would immediately one time be able to come back so for us you're right there's not a lot that's going to change to that we're committed to continuing to be a closed district and our kids you have to move here uh to play here um I'm not sure it's going that 1064 with this language is going to continue to exist many people that you talk to around the state that this was the threat if you will for ihsa to be motivated to the changes that they've made at the same time the legislative session will be over before this goes to uh the ihsa board of directors for a formal vote on May 5th um as far as making a resolution that is totally up to all of you whatever you decide to do with
075that um will fall along comments uh Mr V before we address your motion yes is there anything else I emailed you that incredibly long U update we don't have enough hours to go through that I don't think so unless all of you have questions so in regards to your motion treated as informal motion it will carry Merit to other districts who look at us understand you understand so then of asked as that's that's correct and that we will continue to stand as a Clos bate those issues second everybody second made a motion who second m m and so all so Mr Bass will address your second part of that which is that's your of experience there for a guy that's everybody's clear so that say it again Mr be thank you so we have a
076motion for house build decoration opposition that's a very good that's a very good point thank you for bringing that up uh just in my view just in the motion would just be uh excuse me would be relative to the athletic transfers everybody clear are you clear all right so we we'll put this to a vote it's going to be limited I'm opposing yes all right very good all right let's move on now uh item seven board statements of appreciation recognition 7.01 yes um just want to mentioned something that I think the motion or the the movement really began for Crown Point School Corporation when Dr Terell uh came aboard and it's like the unification of our of our entire Corporation and I just so my appreciation just going out to Mr China and Hardman and
077uh Mr Ramirez Dr Terrell for keeping the pedal down um on this idea of doing things as a Crownpoint school corporation not seven or nine different Islands um I think you see we're seeing it and continue to see it you mentioned the book read um you know I sat here we're talking about the signs and there's a couple in the corporation that I think are just fine they don't need to be replaced but some of the hard decisions in being one is being one and that's what with reading between the lines that's the way I saw it's like sure maybe that school's sign is just fine but you know what we're going to do this together and get same page and so my statement appreciation is just to thank all of you for not losing
078sight on I think our board's goal and Mission to um do it together thank you right um Mrs pasz what again is the basketball thing called so I properly put it in words bull doog Ballers so yes thank you Bulldog Ballers I attended last week Thursday um a last second text didn't have it on the agenda because I missed the day and I said you know what I had some time to make sure I showed up um all I would like to say is thank you to all that are involved in that to give those kids another opportunity to enhance a life skill that probably wouldn't her life skill contribution to learning more about life and competition and heck of a day and evening of excitement to see um you know I'm I'm a true
079as to the game and all that and I understand that these kids aren't to that level and all that so I was still making my normal comments that I make get a game that one one boy might have broke the record being one of 17 from the field but at the same time that one he made will be remembered for a lifetime so I put it in perspective but I it's just the way I I work my mind works that way and I was near Mrs pascus and she was shaking her head as I'm making some of these but at the same time enjoyed every minute of it seeing that you know some of the kids have to be walked with the chaperon on the court just even participate the fact that they're even given
080an opportunity to do this is to do that is just an amazing thing to be seen and I recommend anybody that hasn't seen this is to see it then the cheerleaders get to perform we walked in just as a national anthem and I know one of the students sings the national anthem and we even have that at one of our regular basketball games and it's just amazing to see that they're part of everything else and that's what I think it's all about so uh Bulldog Ballers congratulations to all those involved and um the patience level of even one of our teachers Danny Alman referee in the game and the coach for the Lake Central team that was there you know cheering on our kids just as much as cheering on his own making sure that
081every kid has an opportunity to score a bucket whether it be a regulation hoop or one of the little mini hoops is just fantastic so with that being said I just want to make sure everybody involved in that entire program even the Lake Central get a little note of thank you for making an evening enjoyable for I don't know how you couldn't have enjoyed that evening and there was a lot of Administrators there Mr Reese was there uh Mr Jan fery Mr Mir was there obviously Mrs pasz and probably others but those are the ones I did see so thank you to all of them that were part of that even in keeping uh with my tradition of thanking people behind the scenes uh La late last Thursday afternoon I was I was coming home
082and uh one of our school buses was on the side of a of a road on on Pratt Street uh with its safety flashers on and nobody around and so I uh I saw the bus driver standing up and uh in the front of the bus so I I turned around and parked behind the bus and just wanted to see if he was okay and thank goodness he was okay but it just it just brought me to um to even further realize these these people driving driving these buses they're not over driving a multi-ton vehicle and smelling diesel gas all day um the precious cargo that they're hauling can't be replaced so kudos to our bus drivers and everything they do God bless them all thank you I have two tonight always longed so this
083won't shock anybody um first and foremost I want to thank Mr Vasser he really does like you guys can't see at home how much he puts together for all of um following all the legislative um updates that he provides and as as those come out he sends those to us and has everything printed out and highlights and I I really appreciate that because that is not my forte at all so the ability to have everything kind of um just put into bullet points and highlights so that we can review it is is really helpful and um and mostly I always appreciate when we can disagree and do that respect um that is not a given we have neighboring corporations um neighboring counties where there's a lot of dysfunction um in their school boards and so
084uh above everything I always uh I can end every meeting and every day with this board knowing that they're doing what they feel is best for our students and and most of the time I think you see with us that aligns and you see a lot of yeses and oh all in favor five zero motion carries and and nothing you know really drama happens but um but I am glad that we had the opportunity to disagree today and um and and I have the utmost respect for what you put together for us and and your opinions and um whether or not that that aligned with mine tonight um is not the main message the main messages how much I appreciate each of the folks up here um and their ability to converse respectfully always so
085um and my second one is as we're going into testing season um I have so much appr ation for teachers on this I taught second grade which was not a standardized testing grade um now we have I read in second grade um amongst um multiple other tests that are going on here in March and so um to the teachers who feel all of that stress and yet don't put any of that stress on their students and keep everything together and help kids who didn't have the the hair tie that they wanted to wear today and and still make sure that that kid sits down for their test and gives it their all um and for that I'm speaking to probably my child's second grade teacher because if she couldn't find the matching hair tie then
086um all bets are off as to how that test is going to go but um so much appreciation for the teachers who put all you know their all into the kids every day and then have to kind of get them up and ready for for producing results on the test so um huge thank you to to all of our teachers and um as well to our students and our families who are getting those kids ready for their tests thank you Miss B well said just reer was a productive night let's call it that all right so very good well done uh my uh board statements of appreciation tonight are directed to any individuals in our school corporation who had to deal with the changes the state house and the implementation of those changes and scheduling
087whether it be at the eth graders in Middle School fir you talked about earlier today high school that's a lot of change having two high schoolers I know a lot of information came through in the last 30 days regarding their scheduling and paths to graduation um for the most part everything was very very well done and very well organized it's never a perfect situation but uh it was very helpful so just want to say thank you and recognize all those that poured into that to making sure parents had the information they need to make the best decisions for their for for their children so with that being tonight I think we're ready to move to 8.01 motion to have a motion by Mr Angel Second by all in favor signify by saying i i n
088vote toour carries 5 Z thank you