001Easy. Seven. I was like Somebody goes out and It was so weird. Senior night >> Marcus Marcus doesn't have any green on. >> Somebody goes out and Uh >> It probably counts. And you got the clock set, too. >> He is a strong word, Tony. >> It's in there. You just >> Oh, wow. More so than So, you're not have Jeremy just got season tickets a couple weeks ago. He He bit the bullet. That's right. >> Yeah. >> Yep. Yep. Uh-huh. >> I said, "I don't understand. I thought we were going to wait one more year because of golf." I'm like, "We can't go to a single game. We have golf tournaments every weekend." He's like, "Yeah, I know." I'm like, "Oh, every weekend." Okay. >> The Purdue ones are a lot cheaper. >> Hey,
002true story. True story. >> [laughter] >> I can appreciate that. >> We might win three of this next year. Two early. I don't know who the third one's going to be, but >> That's how it works. Yeah, our schedule didn't change much. Hopefully at one night. >> He has contacts in and you can see them. >> Well, I heard a story that we held in NIL money back last year because our coach got hired late. So, all the players that were eligible good ones were gone, so we kind of just picked up who was good, so we picked up some better We think. >> There you go. >> But, are they good enough to compete with the rest of the Big Ten? >> We're about to find out. >> Probably not. >> What? >> 6
003months, we'll know. >> Today I started getting stats because the Butler athletic page started posting and this player entered the transfer portal and this player entered the transfer Here we go again. >> We got those two. >> I've been in there a few times. >> You know, it'd be nice to have the format ahead of time because it changes. >> That's exactly what happened. Sorry to hear that. >> Yeah, and from year to year sometimes they switch it up and like, "What's going on here?" >> Three? >> 3:30. I got home about 3:30 just as the game was getting ready to start. So, that was great timing for me. >> Good evening, everyone. It's 6:00, so we're going to get started. I'd like to welcome everyone to the DeKalb County Central United School District Board
004of Education regular meeting. Today is Tuesday, March 17th, 2026. At this time, I'll ask all that are able to please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> [clears throat] >> Angie, could you do a roll call, please? >> Present. >> Tony Baker. >> Present. >> Tony O'Neal. >> Present. >> Katie Easter. >> Present. >> Thank you, Angie. At this time, we will begin our evening with our presentation. >> All right. With us this evening, we have Waterloo Elementary, and I'm going to turn it over to Principal Amanda Rice. >> Thank you so much for having us here tonight so that we can share
005just a little bit about our community partnerships and what they look like as a wildcat. So, at Waterloo, we have three main focus areas for our students: to do the right thing, treat people right, and leave it better than you found it. Uh we believe if we can do those three things, then we're able to create an environment where we can all thrive. And tonight, I'd like to talk about how we leave it better than we found it. We try to provide ways that we can model this for our students, um and give back to the community in which they live. And as you can see, we've got a lot of various activities that we have done to get students involved in giving back to our community. From student-run events like the toy drive, the
006food drive, and the mural up town, to some more adult-organized events like treats before dark, career day, and the shelter drive, we try to model and include students in a variety of events. And today, I want to literally talk about how we have left our mark on the town. Oops. All right, go back. I got happy clicking. Thank you. So, we were approached by the town of Waterloo and Mrs. Books um a few years ago or a year ago, and they wanted to paint a mural on the side of one of the buildings in the heart of Waterloo. Our students brainstormed with Mrs. Books on the different images and symbols that represented Waterloo. They collaborated on ways that they could incorporate those into the overall design and then they edited it to make sure it
007looked just how they wanted it. And finally, they were able to volunteer their time to go up and actually paint the mural uptown. This past fall, we were recognized we were actually contacted by the Disabled American Veterans due to our Purple Heart status to see if we might be interested in raising some funds for their cause. So, our students and families spread the word and they were able to raise $1,250 for the Disabled American Veterans. And in partnership with them, they sent us flags. So, for every $250 that we raised, they sent us 25 flags. The students then counted all the flags and they figured out a grid they plotted and then they planted the flags for our Veterans Day program. This spring, we are once again leaving our mark on the town of Waterloo.
008We are very excited to be a part of their planter box art display that they're having uptown. Um Waterloo Elementary was integral in getting the town of Waterloo put on the Monarch Waystation International Registry. We were one of the first towns to be put on this registry and now there are thousands of them. So, in honor of that history, our students are all going to be creating their very own butterfly and they will be painting it on that planter box which will be on display uptown all summer and then this fall, it will be auctioned [snorts] off to raise money for the um Downtown Business Association. So, as you can see, we're working really hard to provide our students with lots of different opportunities so that they can give back to the town and leave
009it better than they found it. Thank you. >> Thanks, Samantha. >> [applause] >> Moving [clears throat] on, um I'll ask the board to adopt an amended agenda. >> I'll make a motion. >> I'll second. >> I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> I. >> Motion carries. Item F is our consent agenda. This is items F1 through F5. This includes our board minutes, financial report, claims, personnel, and field trips. Do I have a motion? >> I'll make a motion. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? >> Yeah, on the financials, Mark, were you able to put the together that difference for what I asked for in the last board meeting? I didn't see it in >> Yeah, just >>
010the board packet. >> Just so the board can understand, we um have budgeted currently in the education fund $27,835,143. If you looked at the education report, uh our our budget is approved for $28 million. So, I stay below that number. And then our revenue that's expected to come [clears throat] in from the state, the board, and everyone needs to understand we're a little over 29 million of what I'm anticipating. That's going to be lower than that as ADM comes in twice a year. We got our ADM, which was actually fairly good news that we got for our spring number. It was the lowest decline we've seen in years. Uh our net I think was 16 students. Yep. So, >> that's a positive number. Um the the discrepancy in revenue to expense, number one, I don't
011I don't budget necessarily based all on revenue. We have a cash balance in our education fund and in our operations funds. So, some [clears throat] of that money could be spent down from there. I'm hopeful that we don't have to do either one of those with either one of the funds. Uh any money that comes in over where that $28 million will be with the education fund, what I'll talk about both of them, but with the the fund, that is that is meant for me to pad our education fund balance. Um as I [snorts] look at the next couple of years, remember we're going to we're going to be losing LIT, which feeds directly into our education fund. That's That equates to about $600,000 a year. So, I'm trying to pad the pad that fund
012as much as I can to see what's going to happen at the state level in terms [clears throat] of state's tuition support. Um and keep in mind that we we may still need to be looking at I haven't had to do it in the last couple of years, but education fund can can supplement the ops fund if we need it to. We've transferred in years past half a million dollars of that. That can make up that difference if you're looking at the revenue to expense. Um with the ops fund, it's kind of the opposite direction. Our anticipated revenue with the operations fund is about 10,300,000. And we're budgeted at the state level for ops 10,500, which right now I'm I'm forecasting in our budget about 10,360 if I remember right with that number. So, we're
013a little upside down revenue, but again, that would be through cash balance would make up the difference between the revenue and the expense in the ops fund. So, when I budget, you know, obviously I have to look at the revenue I think I'm going to bring in from property taxes and from state tuition support. Those are the two big buckets for the ed and the ops funds. And I just kind of work from there with cash balance and you know, it's it's I don't like to say it's a guessing game. It's it's a but a lot of it remember when we budget on a calendar year and we operate in a fiscal year, the state doesn't make it very easy for me um because ADM happens well after I budgeted. So, I have no idea
014what's going to happen with the ADM, which is one of the reasons that we do our demographic studies, things like that. Try to see trends. Obviously, you guys know our trend has been in the last few years our ADM has been going down. We're hoping to correct that. It's a a sign in the spring um through our virtual academy and things like that that we're picking up our students. Again, in my opinion, that's why it's the number so low at 16. That's a fantastic sign when we've been looking at 40, 50 kids in the spring ADM, seeing it go down. So, that's a positive trend in my mind and I'm hopeful we'll see that go positive in the next couple of years in terms of ADM. I don't know if that answers everything that you
015wanted with that, Tony, or And and I'm happy to get together with any board member to go over how I budget individual items and things like that. And the board will see those numbers shift, like you're going to see probably as soon as next month my anticipated revenue in terms of what I'm budgeting, that will probably go down from the $29 million. I constantly am updating the budget. So, I just try to keep the numbers as close as I can to where I budgeted for the state cuz I can't spend over that $28 million without coming to the board. Actually, it would be Steve coming to the board saying, "Hey, we need to appropriate a little more funds to spend in Ed or Ops." I don't ever want to have to put Steve in that
016position cuz that makes me look bad. So, we'll keep our spending under that $28 million. And again, also for the board, remember that I decreased both of the budgets from last year. Last year in the education fund, we're at 28.9. So, I shaved off $900,000 there. Again, all anticipating what the state is doing to us in funding. We've got to be proactive in terms of our budget. Um just came back from a great conference today. I attended several financial and that was the talk, you know, what's going to happen with funding. And that's not just Indiana, that's a nationwide conference we attended. Every state is in the same position when it comes to public education. They are budgets are being slashed and many schools dealing with RIFs, you know, reductions in their their teaching force.
017And uh I'm just thankful we're not in that position at DeKalb and I will always be proactive when I budget to make a line item for savings >> [clears throat] >> and to pad our cash balances. >> Thanks, Mark. >> Yep. >> Any further discussion? All those in favor, signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion [clears throat] passes. Item H, report Oh, oops, I'm sorry. Item G, are donations. >> Yeah, once again, uh several donations uh to report to the board. Uh we Kelsey works our innovation coach uh received a $250 uh donation from Rathburn Precision Machining uh for the robotics program. So, we're very thankful for that contribution. And then we had a number of donations uh to the to the high school reported by Mr. Wagner. We had 30 over $3,600
018um for the boys soccer program from Three Rivers Barricade. Uh from the uh politic political campaign of Vote Dooley, uh $300 to the Unified Sports Bowling Program. And then New Millennium donated $600 to the baseball program. So, once again, our community showing an outpouring of support for our students and their programs. >> That's awesome. Thank you. Okay, now item H is report of the superintendent. >> All right. I I do have one recommendation that I'm hearing for Mr. Wagner, the principal from the high school. Uh DeKalb High School Principal Marcus Wagner is recommending Mr. Andrew Bigelow for the position of athletic director at DeKalb High School, pending of course your board approval. Mr. Bigelow has served as the associate principal at the high school for the past 2 years, where he has overseen student discipline,
019staff supervision, and evaluation, and assisted with curriculum leadership. He has also helped strengthen the school's climate and culture through initiatives such as convocations, guest speakers, and student engagement activities. Prior to his role, his current role as associate principal, Mr. Bigelow served 9 years as an instructional coach at DeKalb High School supporting teachers with professional development and instructional improvement. He also taught social studies for 9 years and has been a dedicated uh staff member at DeKalb Central uh now for 21 years, uh which is just amazing. Mr. Bigelow brings significant athletic and officiating experience to the role. His background includes serving as head girl's soccer coach for two seasons, head boys track coach for 5 years. He is currently a Major League Soccer referee with over 250 matches officiated during the past 12 years, and he
020has also officiated at the high school and NCAA levels while serving as an IHSA soccer assigner. Uh he is certainly familiar with the school community. Combined with his leadership and athletic experience, this will allow for a smooth transition into the athletic director's role. The position will be a 240-day contract with a base salary of $95,000 plus administrative benefits beginning July 1st of 2026. Mr. Bigelow will remain in his current role for the remainder of the school year while a transition plan is developed. I think those conversations uh have already started, and it makes it very um very good for a transition with Mr. Bigelow already in the building. Uh Mr. Bigelow, I should also comment, is a graduate of DeKalb High School. He's committed to continuing the strong tradition of Baron Athletics and supporting the
021success of student our student athletes. So, I bring this for the board's consideration. I could not support this recommendation more. >> Thank you, Steve. This time I'll ask the board for a motion to approve the athletic director position. >> Motion to approve. >> I'll second. >> I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion passes. Congratulations, Mr. Bigelow. >> [applause] >> It wasn't so bad, was it? >> Would you like to come up and say a few words? >> Ooh. >> [laughter] >> Since all your girls came. >> Great to see your family here. >> Yeah. >> [clears throat] >> I appreciate the support of the board this evening and the consultation with Mr. Wagner over several weeks here and everything to
022get to this point here and make this decision both personally and professionally. Um appreciate having a daughter in a DeKalb Baron basketball shirt tonight, a daughter in a DeKalb soccer shirt among other activities and them being a a big part of this as well. But um as the recommendation from Mr. Wagner said DeKalb athletics, DeKalb High School has just been a big part of everything I've done and uh for those two worlds to kind of combine here with my current athletic background in Major League Soccer and everything. I can't think of a better way to move forward both personally and professionally. So um looking forward to all of the great things that have been coming through the board with facilities and updates and climate and culture and just so many good things seeing it at
023the elementary level with my daughter Emmy, two daughters at the middle school and then obviously the high school just lots of positives going and looking to do my part to uh make DeKalb athletics continue [clears throat] to be a big part of that. So thank you again for your support and just excited to get started. >> Awesome. >> Thank you. >> [applause] >> Okay, that brings us to item H2, our policies first reading and adoption. >> Thank you. >> Yes, so last month during our regular meeting I introduced and reviewed um five policies that needed revised, updated, um and so that information was shared with you after that meeting. Those policies revisions were posted on our website for the public to be able to view and question. Having received um no comments, no questions, um
024we're going to move forward tonight with what we would consider legally our first reading and then um a motion to approve the policies. And once that is taken care of, then we will Angie and I will get to work on revising those within our policy handbooks and updating. We're still in the process, just so you know, with NEOLA converting those numbers. ISBA is working on changing the numbers for us, so these will fall under new numbers and we're getting it piece by piece, but it's a pretty big ordeal to get those all switched. So, just for the sake of of remembering last month, the policies that that I'm recommending this evening, policy 2412, the homebound instruction program, we basically struck out the NEOLA policy completely. [clears throat] It was obsolete. Um not a lot of
025new information, just more clarity about our process and what that looks like and what we've been doing. Policy 5111, the determination of legal settlement and eligibility and enrollment of students without legal settlement in the corporation. Again, this was one that was obsolete and we needed to revise it and bring it up to speed, which we've done. The one thing that we always try to remember to emphasize with folks is this is an annual requirement if you are seeking out of district transfers, it must be done annually. Policy 144.1, compensation for board members. The revision included changing the basic compen- compensation from $1,800 to $1,900. Policy 554.1, credit for religious instruction or release time. The option now is whether or not the school grants credit for outside religious instruction, and the policy will read, if approved,
026that DeKalb High School will not grant credit for religious instruction. And finally, policy 0142.3, board vacancies. Um this was revised to reflect our process, again outdated and needed revision. The laws have changed, so we're aligned to them and and have practiced it the way the way it's written, and so that will be now replaced and up to speed for us. So, our next step then would be to consider this as our first reading. And again, as hearing no public comment, getting no public comment, um Mrs. Armstrong, I don't know, do you want to ask again this evening for that? I >> I'm sorry. I am I have lost like either internet connection or I can open like our packet, but it's not letting me open any >> Can someone ask Can someone else ask? >>
027Sure. >> Yeah. >> Like our treasurer. >> Secretary. >> Ask well, if there's any public comment, we can take any public comment this evening. >> Yeah. >> Um >> Yeah, no one has signed up. I didn't get anything from Ian J, so. >> Okay, great. All right. So, that being said then, um I'm recommending that the school board consider approving these policy updates and revisions, and and approve them to be uh put into place. >> All right, thank you, Lori. I'm just going to work from paper right now. Um at this time, I'll ask the board for a motion to approve our policies. >> I'll make the motion. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? >> Will this be done and we'll vote on it again next month? >> This
028will be done. Tonight is >> Done tonight is last >> We have a couple new ones for you. We're working on the Senate Bill 78. And so [clears throat] we'll hopefully have some language to look at that. >> Sure. Thank you. >> Okay. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Oppose. Motion passes. Thank you, Lori. Item H3 is our 2026 summer school. >> I can't even believe we're here already talking about this and thinking about this with administration. In my memo, I'll just kind of review that with you. What I'm seeking tonight is approval to move forward, get permission to conduct summer school programming, and be able to move forward with the posting and hiring of summer school positions. You think this would happen really quick, but really the time that we need
029to get this taken taken care of and in place gets a little bit trickier every year because a lot of our data that we use to determine how many students are going to need summer school, not just want it, is is a moving target. And in fact, for the elementary this year, [clears throat] it's going to happen at the very last minute. So, the sooner we can get things organized and in place, the better. So, this is kind of the way we've done it in the past where I I ask you to consider number one, approving to conduct summer school, and then allowing us to move forward with posting the positions that we know we're going to need, and then going through interview process if necessary, and getting those ready for board approval to hire
030as soon as we have qualified candidates. So, the second page of my memo, and I'll just share this if I could publicly, um, just the the dates. The elementary will be running from May 28th to June 10th. That's two full weeks. Elementary summer school will consist of iRead remediation in preparation for that third and final administration. Um, this is a this is a crucial time for this type of instruction because the third and final determines whether or not a third grader will be retained if they do or don't pass the test. High school will be running from May 28th to June 17th. That's a four-week stretch for the high school as usual. Times for the elementary will be from 8:00 to 11:00 [clears throat] a.m. and from 7:30 to 11:30 for the high school. Transportation
031will be provided for all summer school students this year that will be coming to school. We'll be offering some, um, online and and we have a lot of high school kids that transport themselves, but we still, while we can, feel like it's important if these students need this summer school, if we can provide them transportation cuz many of them don't have it. So, um, again, just I explained a little bit about the third grade, the iRead results. Second graders will also be eligible to attend those who scored at risk on the first administration. So, um, those will be the kiddos that'll be here with us this summer. We'll probably, we haven't decided completely yet, but I think we're going to narrow it. Last year we divided it up into two elementaries. I think we're going
032to probably just stick with one elementary. Principals may be rotate some time on the supervision and be it will help transportation a little bit by doing it that way. High school will be offering two in-person in-person classes for credit recovery, English language arts and mathematics. Those will be taught by certified teachers in person again. And then the other courses that I shared with you that are listed science, social studies, career and tech ed, physical education one and two. I listed those specifically because those are the other courses that do qualify for state reimbursement. Um it's a short list. It's gotten shorter every year. That being said, those courses will be taught through Edmentum, our online program. They will be overseen by by I think Mr. Lee's and and anybody else depending on our numbers, how
033many we will need to to be in that classroom. Um the additional courses that are not on the list would not qualify for state reimbursement. That means that we would have to pick up that that amount. With it being an online course, that [clears throat] makes it a lot more feasible for us to do this and be able to offer a wider variety of courses for the kids. I would also mention, because it's true, I don't think all the years I've ever put summer school together that I've ever seen 100% reimbursement. We We do not receive 100% reimbursement, nor even close to it for summer school. And now that that these the I read um mandates are in place, the first part of the funding is going to the elementary um I read remediation, and
034then the remainder will be divvied out. So, that's a little bit about summer school. Again, um we're also going to offer the um SAE program. We get a question about that every year. That's a supervised agricultural experience. And then of course band. And uh those two are not reimbursed by the state, but they're important to our students and to our programming. And so we've stayed the course and hope we can do that as as long as we can afford it. So again, just um just to recap that, what I'm asking for you tonight is permission to conduct summer school, and then to post positions and get the hiring started as soon as we do. And of course, we would not finalize any hiring until it was brought forward to the board for consideration. >> Thank
035you, Lori. Hey, at this time I'll entertain a motion to the board to approve the 2026 summer school. >> I'll make a motion. >> I'll second. >> I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion passes. >> Thank you, Lori. >> [clears throat] >> I'm still offline. >> Okay, at this time our item H4 is our lease agreement hearing. I will ask the board to suspend our regular board meeting. Um so, I'll entertain a motion to do that, and then we will begin our lease hearing. >> I'll make a motion. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. We Our meeting is now open. Um I did not have anyone sign up in the audience, but um if you wish
036to speak, um you can reach Angie, and we'll have your name and your address written down. >> [snorts] >> Okay, the notice of this hearing was published and proposed and legally required. After this presentation, there will be an opportunity for the public to make comment for the lease rental to be paid under the lease and appropriation of bond proceeds. At the hearing, we'll ask each person to come up and speak if you wish to speak, and we'll just limit your uh discussion to this topic. Pursuant to Indiana Code 20-47-3, before a school corporation may enter a lease with a nonprofit building corporation, the school corporation must conduct a hearing regarding the execution of the proposed lease agreement and whether the rental to be paid to the lesser building corporation [snorts] under the proposed lease is
037a fair and reasonable rental for the proposed improvements. Similarly, before a school corporation can appropriate any dollars it directly receives as bond proceeds, it must conduct a hearing on those proceeds for the additional appropriations of those funds. We'll now hear from CFO O Mark Bram about the proposed projects related to the lease and additional appropriations. >> Thank you. Uh we've been over the projects. I'll just highlight once again really quick. This is to do with our uh 2026 bond for our performing arts wing at DeKalb High School, uh the renovation and addition. We're going to be adding approximately close to 10,000 square feet of new building at the front of the high school. The real term is 9,730, but I like to say 10,000. It sounds better. Uh we are also reprogramming almost 15,000 square
038feet uh worth of existing space in the band and performing arts wing. Along with that, we are going to be building a new Baron Activity Center known shortly as the back. Uh that will be a building of a little over 30,000 square feet um attached to the current auxiliary gym at the high school. The total price tag of the bond project itself is close to 30 million dollars. Again, just for the public and the board, just a reminder, tonight is the final piece of the puzzle to sell the bonds. Um you have the board has already approved the bond, they've approved the projects. This process this evening is strictly for the method of selling the bond, which is through the building corporation. Um so this hearing is dealing with the building corporation. Obviously, we would
039field any questions on the project if people still had them. But this is mainly, I don't like to call it a formality, Eric would probably cringe if I said that, um our bond counsel, but this is just the process of getting the building corporation approved by our school board. So um that said, the additional appropriations that we talked about, I feel that a couple of phone calls from the public on this and they were very happy when I gave them the answer. This is all I have to post all of this in the newspapers. Believe it or not, some people actually read the legal sections of the newspaper, which was a surprise. I did field a couple phone calls, and they're like, "Whoa, wait a minute. You guys approved $30 million bond, and now you're
040asking for additional appropriations?" We are not asking for more than $30 million. I want to make that very clear to everyone. That is strictly the number of the building corporation and the lease agreement we are doing to sell the bond, okay? We will pay the proceeds to the building corporation, then in turn pay our bonds. So, we are in line with the appropriations. Um we are also with the terms of the lease that we are looking at. That all is lining up with the dollar amounts for the project that you guys have already approved. So, everything is looking good for our building corporation. I met with the building corporation um earlier today at 4:00 to get their approval of the lease. They have to sign off on it, and then our board has to sign
041off on it. So, that's where we're at now. Um and if you want to start the hearing, or if I can field any questions, or if Eric is here, he will be going through the resolutions for you to approve. Again, these resolutions are strictly for the formation, and Eric will do a much better job than I am of butchering the building corporation talk and the resolutions. This is not about the bond and the project. This is about the building corporation and our relationship with that building corporation to be able to fund the bond. >> Thank you, Mark. Um we'll now open the public hearing. Um as I mentioned earlier, if anyone would like to speak, you can come up to the podium and ask any questions to you, Mark, or the board. Go on. Okay.
042All right. Um at this time, uh we will close this hearing. Um so, I'll ask um the board for a motion to close. >> I'll make that motion. >> Second. >> Motion and a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Motion passes. Okay, we will now be voting on each resolution as it relates to the bond. Eric Long from Ice Miller will discuss each resolution individually. Eric, could you please summarize the first resolution, the resolution authorizing executive exec execution of lease. >> [laughter] >> Certainly. Thank you, President Armstrong, members of the Board of Administration. Um yes, once again, Eric Long with Ice Miller. It's my privilege to be here again this evening to um discuss, as Mr. Ron mentioned, just the the lease agreement and the appropriation of bond proceeds, which
043must occur in the year in which you're going to issue bonds, which is why we're doing this in 2026, not last year when this project was um off the ground. So, the first resolution is um as President Armstrong mentioned, the resolution authorizing the execution of the lease. Um this is the agreement with the building corporation that allows for the repayment of the bonds through property taxes, um the same vehicle that we've utilized several times with the Cal County Central um in prior years through the building corporation financing process. >> Thank you, Eric. Could I have a motion to adopt the resolution authorizing exec exec execution of lease? I don't know why I'm struggling with that. Sorry. >> I'll make a motion. >> I'll second. >> I have a motion and a second. All those in
044favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose? Motion passes. Eric, could you please summarize the additional appropriation resolution? >> Yes, the additional appropriation outlines the appropriation of funds received. So, at closing on the bond issue, um the school corporation made up with dollars on its side of the ledger pursuant to Indiana law to expend those proceeds, um we have to have an additional appropriation process. So, notice hearing um and a resolution again for any uh the proceeds of the bonds ended up on the school side of the ledger. Um obviously, with this uh being bond proceeds, it's going to be also, according to the resolution, placed in a specific construction account and spent only on the project. So, this is specifically for the bond proceeds. >> Thank you. Can I have a motion to
045adopt the additional appropriation resolution? >> I'll make a motion. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion passes. Eric, could you please summarize the resolution assigning bids and contracts? >> Yeah, this is just kind of a reservation of rights resolution. So, the building corporation is going to be the issuer of the bonds and the holder of certain monies through a trust indenture. We will have a trustee bank who's a fiduciary. As a result, sometimes contractors find it more streamlined and easier to have their contracts directly with the building corporation. Some prefer to have it still through the school corporation. This just allows the school board to assign any such contracts pursuant to those projects to be directly with the building
046corporation if those contractors and you guys choose accordingly. Again, not a requirement, just a reservation of rights to allow you to do so. Again, just to allow some expediency for the spend down of the bond proceeds for the projects. >> Okay, thank you. Can I have a motion to adopt the resolution assigning bids and contracts? >> I'll make a motion. >> I'll second. >> I have a motion and a second. All I don't believe we need discussion. >> You can. If you want to discuss, discuss. You can discuss. >> Oh, okay. I thought you said we didn't need to. >> That was for the beginning and ending of the hearing. So, >> Oh, okay. I'm sorry. >> It's all right. >> I'm sorry. >> Okay. >> [laughter] >> Um, are there timelines associated with any
047of the either the adopted resolution or the approved supplement? Is there timelines or like draw points for the funding? >> Now, for that I would defer to our design and construction folks because from our perspective, we already have estimates for the projects. And when we get to the bond closing, it's going to be and we could talk more about this. Uh Mr. Arman I talked before this meeting, um strategically, I I think there is discussion about doing the bond in more than one series so that you're only receiving proceeds as you see the need to draw them down. So, instead of just having one bond closing and getting all the bond proceeds and letting them sit there, um it's only going to be when you need the money. Um so, with that the timeline question
048I think that you're asking may involve um more directly looking at the spend down >> [clears throat] >> and a draw schedule from the construction perspective. From our perspective, the resolutions that we're passing tonight don't place any restrictions or put any guardrails around that. >> Now, I'll piggyback on that 24U. I've already begun conversations with Gorman Miller. It's It's tricky to bring, you know, our last order tonight is approving our CMC. So, it's hard for me to start having conversations with the CMC and GM um until you guys approve that. So, >> I just didn't know who was in control of the trigger. >> I I am. >> They They are not. >> They are not. I am and I will work with Gorman Miller and again, if FCI is approved, that will be a
049a conversation in design phase with [clears throat] FCI. Um also Stifel, who is, you know, our financial bond representative. Um I've already begun conversations with Luke Brogman there, who you guys have met before, um to determine how we want to draw out this $30 million. That comes from conversations with FCI and Gorman Miller. Hey, what's our time frame on construction? When are my big checks going to need to be written? I work with them in conjunction with Stifel and we'll determine if we can spread this out a little bit. And those conversations have already begun. Um again, it's a little tricky. I don't like to have those I don't like to make assumptions, you know, by having those conversations before the bond is actually sold or before we're ready to get to that point. With
050But, those conversations will start in earnest after this evening. >> Yeah, >> just Again, I would Who was the trigger point? >> Yep. >> They or the contractor? >> That's us. That's That's me working with our CNC and and architectural crew. >> Okay. >> Any further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion passes. Eric, could you please summarize the resolution authorizing the seventh supplement to master continuing disclosure undertaking and insurance of bonds? >> Certainly, yes. So, anytime we do a public bond issue such as the one proposed here, um the Securities and Exchange Commission, the SEC on the federal level, requires a school corporation to make certain promises to bond holders while those bonds are outstanding. So, it's things like um updating your enrollments on an annual basis,
051your top 10 taxpayers, things like that. Um so, this is just authorizing the execution of that securities document. You mentioned seventh supplement, so obviously this is the seventh time we've been through this. Um for every bond for every public bond issue that we do, this is a requirement. So, this is just the seventh time um with the same contract essentially with bond holders. >> Thank you. Could I have a motion and a second to adopt the resolution authorizing the seventh supplement? >> I'll make a motion. >> I'll second. >> I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> [clears throat] >> Opposed? Motion passes. >> Thank you for your >> All right, thank you. This is the end of our bond related resolutions. Okay.
052That brings us to item H9. Our CMC recommendation. >> As promised, the CMC recommendation for the board. Um I won't read the entire memo that I wrote up for the board. We have had a long-standing relationship with FCI. We did receive four bids for uh the CMC position with this project. Uh it came down to two. And we went through Steve and I had numerous discussions. FCI has been a valuable partner as you all are aware on our last project with the football stadium. They're they're a local contractor that has been fantastic to work with. They are our current CMA on the pavilion project. Although we did have one bid that came in lower in terms of the monthly fixed expenses, I believe I would love to get this done in 24 months. Going through
053the football stadium renovation, hopefully that will happen. But if we go over just a little bit, FCI will have made that money up in just just the blank bid that they have to give us for CMC. In talking to some of my cohorts, it's important to keep in mind that the bid they give for CMC is just to get their foot in the door. And I'm not saying anything against the other firms in terms of maybe those numbers could be you know, deflated a little bit and may rise a little bit as this project got off the ground. I have full faith in in both companies that our decision came down to. Um but FCI having been in the last project, having donated, I want to remind our community and the board if you've forgotten
054of and I'm sure Nick or Tyler could give me the exact dollar amount although they probably wouldn't want to >> [clears throat] >> in the number of bricks they donated for our concession building. I mean, they donated almost the entire amount of materials needed for that. They have valuable partnerships with local industry that I'm hopeful that we'll be able to possibly get some donations towards this project. Being local is important to me. You know, people that work at FCI obviously have children in our district, have you know, a lot of buy-in on these projects and they've been fantastic and saved us a lot of money as a district in the last couple of years since I've been in this position. So you see the breakdown their pre-con fee of 649, their construction fee of 2%
055was in line with just about everybody and their monthly construction management fee was lower than everybody at 217. So, that's what we're going to pay every month that goes by, we're going to be paying that that amount of money. So, I would bring that recommendation to the board. FCI is in attendance. If you have CMC direct questions, they're sure going to go to them and not to me. But, I'd be happy to answer any questions I could or I'm sure Tyler and Nick would as well. >> Thank you, Mark. At this time, I'll ask the board for a motion to approve FCI as our construction manager. >> I'll make that motion. >> I'll second. I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? >> I think anytime we can stay locally like you've said and
056I don't know how many people that work for you that live in the greater DeKalb County area, it's probably comfortable knowing that they only have to drive to work and be there in 15 minutes for a period of time as opposed to driving to Michigan, no offense to Michigan, or Ohio >> [laughter] >> or Indianapolis. So, I think this is a positive relationship that we've created. >> [clears throat] >> Any other discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion passes. >> Thank you. >> This brings us to item I, which is our miscellaneous and I will open that up to our board for anything. >> Go ahead. >> [laughter] >> Again, [clears throat] I think we're moving forward in the right direction. Right now, we've we've got somewhere around
05740 we're going to have $45 million in capital project cost that are going to be going on over the next couple years. So, I would like to make a recommendation to the board and we don't have to vote on it. We can discuss it later or even at the next board. I think we need to make sure that we we get to see all of Mr. Vance's reports on all the project updates, but we don't share that very often in this meeting. I think we need to be transparent and start sharing those activities as to where we're at, what we're doing. >> Do you mean Mr. Do you mean Mr. Vince? >> Sorry, Vince. Yeah. >> [clears throat] >> That would be Sorry. >> [laughter] >> And uh again, sharing that information with the community
058I think is is critical and and going forward with with positive intervention with what's going on. So. >> Thank you. >> Buckle up. Um just found out today that one of our football players has to be a senior is is now a member of the North-South football team. So, congratulations to Xavier Bell. Um it's always nice to get recognized for what we had a really good season and one of our players is going to represent DeKalb in that I think it's a fall game. Is it summer? >> Summer, so Where is that located? >> Indianapolis. >> Somewhere. Somewhere, cuz it bounces around sometimes. All right. Uh boys basketball, I know the season's over, but uh the team got recognized from the it's IBCA, it's the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. Uh our varsity team was recognized
059as one of 29 teams to make the academic award. And that consists of your varsity roster having a a of 3.5 or higher. So, I think that's a I'm going to say a a congratulations to the parents. You know, for keeping their kids going and keeping them focused during the season. I know that people say, "Well, they're busy. They're busy." But, you know, staying busy during any season, you're focused on a lot of things academically. Plus, we had two individuals that made honorable mention, Caden Rice, his mom is here, and Brady Color. They both had to meet three conditions, GPA of 3.5 or higher, class rank of 25% or higher, and their SAT had to be 1,100 or higher. So, we're very proud of those three guys, and hopefully that will be leaders for the
060guys down the road, hopefully. So, congratulations to them. Um sticking with basketball, one of our coaches from the past, Cliff Hawkins, just got voted in this year as the Indiana High School Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame. He spent 12 years here. Uh and I think he's retiring. He now has 604 wins and 402 losses, and I think probably the more majority of his wins came from here. So, I think he'll always be a Baron in most of our hearts. Um Barons get buckets. Mention that that's Thursday, and people are like, "What is that?" Uh that's a fundraiser for one of our students. So, that's Thursday from 6:00 to 8:00. Uh there's all kinds of information on the media. It's in the newspaper. Um she's got nothing going on Thursday, bring your money, bring your wallet,
061bring your credit card, bring your phone so you can do the QR codes. But, uh one of our students is in need of some some assistance. So, that's all I'll say there. Uh Polar Plunge went off with a bang with a breeze, I guess. Uh they raised nearly $4,000 the last I checked. Um so, that was a a a great thing. I want to shout out to my middle school teachers, Mrs. Freels, Ms. Voss, and Landon Bell. If you saw the video, Landon was the last guy. He was the guy in the penguin suit. Um, >> [laughter] >> got in and I'm it's probably still wet. This thing is awful fuzzy. The last I knew those things were. And the last thing I always told my students when I was a teacher, we have one
062more week of school then spring break. Some of them mentally shut down last week cuz it was in the 60s and 70s. I said, "Then you got four more weeks of the best weeks of your school career." So, focus on what you need to do to be successful, then you can shut down, and then kick it into high gear for the last stretch. >> Well done. >> Well. >> Are you finished? >> [laughter] >> Yes, Lauren. I'm finished. You You can go. >> Um, we got to attend the National School Board Conference in Louisville this past weekend. And there was a lot of different segments that were covered, but um, Mrs. Feaster and I, we were able to cover some of the AI in education. So, I think it would be worth us discussing, you
063know, possibly setting up a committee, you know, focusing on AI integration in education kind of moving forward. >> Mhm. >> Yeah, I think we got an email today from Kelsey Wertz about getting involved with that as well. So, it was really interesting. I know I brought home some information to share with my own girls. So, yeah. >> It's It's here. >> Coming quickly. >> I need to >> Not going away. >> No. >> Yeah. It's a great conference. We had a lot of lot of good learning, a lot of great sessions, and good time getting to get Lauren on board and uh, yeah. It was a great great weekend. So, >> Yeah, there was lots of different breakout sessions with finance and building and and AI and >> school boards >> multiple >> a lot
064of school board meetings >> Yeah. We had some pretty awesome speakers, too. Mrs. Huxtable >> Claire Huxtable >> Mhm. >> Claire was there. >> Yeah. >> Mhm. >> That was that was fun. All right. How about administration anything? >> Um I don't have anything specific you know, I was just writing down uh thinking about just all the things our kids are involved with. We have so many things. Tony, you referenced several of them. You start listing things and then we're going to forget some of those too down the line, but show choir, they've been seeing the state. I think winter guard was in state last weekend. I think we got percussion coming up at regionals. Their state's getting close. I think we've got uh It's There's so much. Unified bowling competed at state fifth and
065sixth respective I mean just so many different things uh it's hard to name uh many of them because uh we tried to recognize them here in these meetings, but on our social social media feeds as well. Um but it just shows that our kids are involved in a lot of things. So, that's great to see uh that they're involved in things outside of the school day. Uh they tend to be a little more successful in school when they're involved in school activities. So, that is great to see. So, good luck to all of our Barons who are participating, competing and all of our uh soon-to-be Barons in the elementary level because they've got their own things that they're involved with as well whether it's um robotics that have been going on uh non-concluded or science
066fair just all the different things that have happened over the course of the winter season and things yet to come. So, it's just exciting to see how many things they're involved with. >> I was going to mention spring is in the air, but we didn't have a meeting on Saturday or Sunday, so obviously Mother Nature has taken that buzz off of us for a few days, but uh obviously spring sports are going. I'm glad I'm not coaching this spring. Uh but they're out there practicing and doing whatever if they can find gym time. Um but spring is officially Friday Thursday or Friday, so maybe it'll get better from here. >> Does anyone else from the audience have anything to say? Okay. >> Yeah, I just uh Matt Vince, I work for the district. >> You
067should come to the microphone. They won't be able to hear you online. >> Our phones will start blowing up, Matt. >> They want to hear you. >> Thank you, Valerie. Um is it on? >> Yes. >> I'm Matt Vince, I work for the district. I'm in [laughter] facilities and maintenance, and I just want to thank Mr. Rum for making the recommendation, the board for approving FCI as our CMC. I can tell you that in my role, I work with these guys daily. Some of the folks at FCI will probably tell you I'm a very good nag cuz I'm constantly emailing, texting, and calling, and checking on things. Um I can tell you that in my role first hand that FCI goes above and beyond on all the projects that we've paid them to do, but
068I can also call Tyler Wolfe, and Tyler's been instrumental in every other project that I've been involved in. I can call him, I can text him. He shows up, he comes over, he looks at things with me, and gives us his advice for free. He's an incredible community partner, so very happy to This is a huge project, probably the biggest project for the district since McKenney in terms of dollar amount and time and and uh so very excited and very confident that this will go well. And you've made my job a a easier bec- by choosing FCI, so thank you. I just wanted to add that cuz I think they deserve that public. >> Thank you. Thanks, Mary. Anyone else? Okay. Well, I'd like to thank you guys all for being here tonight. Um I
069hope everyone has a wonderful spring break, whether you're traveling or staying home that you all get some rest and recharge for the next finish out strong the next few weeks, so. Okay, um I'll read into the minutes that our next regular board meeting is April 21st here at Central Office. Um I think we have possibly a work session coming along, but we'll nail down that date and get that information out to everyone. Um okay, anything else? Okay, at this time I'll ask the board to adjourn. >> I'll make that motion. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. Any other discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Meeting adjourned. Thank you all.