001I'd like to thank you all for being here tonight. >> Right after the pledge so they can >> I'd like you to welcome you all to the Decal County Central United School District Board of Education. This is our organization and regular meeting. Today is Tuesday, January 13, 2026. At this time, I'll ask all that are able to please stand for the pledge of allegiance. >> I aliance 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] I'd like to start our evening out by welcoming our newest board member, Mrs. Lauren Anderson. And she will stand up here with uh Mr. uh Monty Brown to take her oath. >> You can just come right up here.
002And if you want your family to see him behind you, you can as well. >> That's good right there. >> Y if you want to [snorts] and repeat after me. I [clears throat] Anderson, Lauren K. Anderson, >> do solemnly swear or affirm >> doly swear >> that I will support the Constitution >> of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of Indiana >> and the Constitution of the State of [snorts] Indiana. and that I will faithfully >> I will faithfully >> impartially and diligently >> discharge the duties of >> school board member for Decal Central School Board >> school board member for Decal Central School Board >> according to law [clears throat and cough] >> and to the best of my skill and ability. >> Congratulations [applause] Thank you, Mr. Brown. Congratulations,
003Lauren. Deep breath. >> Okay, at this time, I'll ask Angie to do roll call, please. >> Lauren Anderson, >> present. >> Valerie Armstrong, >> present. >> Tony Baker, >> present. >> Tony O'Neal, >> present. >> Katie, [clears throat] >> present. Okay. At this time, per board bylaws, I would like to ask the board for a motion to make Superintendent Steve Teters a temporary chairperson to conduct board president elections. >> I'll make the motion. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Thank you. Motion passes. >> Thank you and [clears throat] welcome, Lauren. Great to have you on board. Thank you. >> Um, so my uh sole responsibility this evening is to uh lead the process for the nomination [snorts] and election of
004the school board president for the 2026 calendar school year. So at this point there are no motions. It's just a nomination process. And so when a name is nominated, we'll close it and the board will vote on that nominee. So, at this time, um, I would open the nominations for serving as school board president for the 2026, uh, calendar year. [clears throat] >> I would like to nominate Valerie Armstrong as president. >> All right. Thank you for that. That's the nomination. So, we'll close the nominations. And at this time, we'll take the vote. Uh, everyone uh, voting in favor of Valerie Armstrong to be the school board president signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. 5. Congratulations and I gladly turn the meeting back over to you, President Armstrong, so
005you can complete the election process of vice president for the board. >> All right. Thank you everyone. I appreciate you um letting me do this role. I know it's not always easy and um no board or I am no greater than any board member that sits up here. So I appreciate your trust in me. Okay, at this time I'll ask for a nomination for secretary. I would like to nominate Katie Feaster for secretary. >> Second. Okay. >> Um I have a nomination a second. All those in favor for Katie Feaster as secretary signify by saying I. >> I. >> Motion passes. [clears throat] Katie. >> Thank you. >> All other board members will serve as vice president. >> Okay, that concludes that section. Um up next we have a presentation from Decal Middle School. >>
006All right, you can feel the excitement in the room. [laughter] Uh we have Carrie Weisart here, principal of Tical Middle School. So their presentation tonight, we'll throw it her way. I'm lost already. [laughter] Well, thank you so much. It is a privilege and an honor to be here with our unified esports team. And so, uh, tonight we're going to present for you a little bit about what watch a lot of Mario. So, [laughter] I wanted to start with that is the game that they play for Unified Esports. So, we wanted to show you just a little bit of that as we got started. But, how did this get started? Um, this year, um, honestly, I I came from the high school and I got an awesome opportunity working with Marcus Wagner and the unified sports
007program over at the high school. And so we really wanted to start something similar at the middle school. And so this year we were actually awarded our unified champion school banner um because we have started a unified esports team. [clears throat] Um our director at the middle school is Ryan Baker and our esports coach is Amber Zimmerman. It was really exciting um because at that point after we started the unified program and had our first assembly um these boys were all [clears throat] featured on uh 21 Alive for what it is that they were doing with unified esports. So tonight what we're going to do is we're going to talk about Unified at DMS. We're going to talk about the esports team and then you're going to hear from our esports players. So we're going
008to go ahead and start with Mr. Baker who is our unified director. All right. So, as Mrs. Weisard said, uh, we started this this year. Um, we kind of started with a phone call this summer and Mrs. Weissart said, "Hey, I need you to come in so you can talk to me about this." And, uh, here we are. We started Unified Esports. We got our banner. Um, we had probably one of the most successful, uh, launch parties as far as the dance party goes in the gymnasium. And uh then we said, "Okay, who's going to coach unified esports?" Because we're the first esports uh program in Indiana. And we came up with uh Amber Zimmerman, [clears throat] who has been a fantastic addition. She's done great recruiting. Um but yeah, so esports went very smoothly.
009We had a great coach. Um and then, you know, we have things like track coming up. Uh that's something we're working on right now is putting together the uh first unified middle school track meet. So that's something we're going to hopefully have we are going to have this spring. Um and then you know beyond that whatever gets added as far as unified sports goes at the middle school level. They're already talking about adding uh more games next year. So instead of Mario Kart, they're talking about Rocket League. Um talking about, you know, adding an actual track uh itself and you know just lots of things to come and I am very excited to see where we go. I know when we started the high school 10 years ago we had one sport and now we're
010up to six. So uh yeah just really excited to see where we're going to go and you know it's going to be fun. I want to give credit to Ryan Baker. If if you don't know, Ryan is very, very involved and was very crucial to the development of the high school program and he shows up and and he gets the kids and the excitement going and just really appreciate you stepping up for this, Ryan. And you got yourself a good assistant. [clears throat] >> Oh, yeah. >> Good for you guys. >> Thank you. >> If you don't know what Unified Sports is, it's where we have our general education students as well as our intellectual and non-intellectual abil working together. So, they're all working um together in one team um and they are supporting one
011another through athletics or esports. So, Amber is going to talk to us about what it was like to be the esports coach. [clears throat] [snorts] So, at the during practice Oh, good morning or good evening. It's not morning. Um, looking [clears throat] back at the season, it was a fun time like watching the kids just make new friends and have the friends that they already knew all together in [clears throat] one room and then you don't think about a game council being a sport. But these kids made it a sport. They all had their fun times, they had the down times, they lost, they took it well when sometimes when we lost. [laughter] We like to we like to blame an opponent named Mel. If you haven't heard, she's a She's a top-notch racer. Um,
012but during our season, we we definitely had some fun time and it was a challenge at some times, but we did great. >> Thank you. >> And we're really thankful for Amber and all the time that she committed to to the esports team. Next, we're gonna hear from a couple of our players. So, let's go ahead and start with Eric Smith. He's going to talk about his experience on the [laughter] >> [clears throat] >> When joining esports, I knew it would be fun because my friends were signing up, but I didn't realize how many new friends I would make. We bonded over every win and loss. Build building great memories along the way. Thinking back the strongest thing we built wasn't just a team but friendship that continues today. >> Next we have >> Hi,
013my name is Thanks for having the team here tonight. We've had a lot of fun with my team. Some things I learned is how to collaborate with new people and how to work with people that I've never met before. It takes a lot of different minds to make a great team. All of us came together and worked hard by having fun. That recipe got us nationals. The most important thing that I learned is not everyone is the same. And that's what makes a team work. It was a great season and I had a lot of fun. Can't wait to see what next year >> [clears throat] >> Thank you. [snorts] [clears throat] >> Um, hi. Um, I started I joined esports because I like video games first of all and I thought it'd be really
014cool to play with a bunch of other people in one school because you usually never play video games in school. So, it was fun. We made it to nationals. Um, I beat a lot of my teammates when we would practice, but they did some some of them beat me like Michael did. Um, [clears throat] it it was fun. I enjoyed it a lot. I made a lot of new friends. There's some I did not know and I became friends with them. Um, [clears throat] practices we would just play the game like how it's supposed to be played against CPUs. And then during matches we would um play different schools across the country like we beat Georgia, New York, a bunch of other schools and it usually would go by like there's two rounds and you
015like win whoever won the most in those two rounds would win and we [clears throat] only lost I think two games and we won the rest and thank you to my coaches for making it a great season. >> Awesome. >> So they did mention how it all Here's [clears throat] our list of team members and they were national champions. And so guys, I have something very special for you tonight. Um, Mrs. Brown at the middle school, you all know Mrs. Brown, knew that you didn't get a trophy for being national champions, so she had one made for you. >> So, we just want you to know how proud we are and that you're right. I heard you say that you made a lot of friends and it's okay that people are because we're all just
016amazing just the way we are, right? So, I love what you have learned about collaboration and I'm going to present this to your coach because you are the national champ. [applause] >> You guys are good. [clears throat] >> Thank you all for being there. I got to be at the national championship. And those guys were too scared of you, weren't they? [laughter] >> Oh, congratulations. That's awesome. Yeah, >> that's fun, >> man. >> Mrs. Weissart, what season or what is the date time frame for like esports? Is it >> So, they they were from October until December. >> December. >> Okay. So they finished up right in that last >> after. [clears throat] So it started like after fall break or >> Well, no, they started practicing a little bit before then. >> Okay. I
017guess but yeah, that's that whole first semester season. >> Okay. Yeah. I was just thinking that for kids that want to maybe do it next year. >> Absolutely. And we welcome anyone and everyone. >> Yes. Awesome. Thank you. >> Okay. At this time, I'll ask the board to adopt and amend the agenda. I'll make a motion to amend the agenda. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Motion passes. Okay. Up next, we have the consent agenda. This is items H1 through H5. This includes our board minutes, financial reports, 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. [clears throat] Going forward
018because of where we're at financially and and I'm not saying that we're bad financially, but with all the projects that we've got going on and all the investment that we don't because we still have bonds in four different calendar years, right? 2021, 2023, 2024, and now 2025. Right. >> Correct. >> Could we separate and have an individual financial report by month instead of lumping it all together as one >> breaking it out? I think it would help with the communication piece that we heard so much about in the interviews and explain to everybody what what's going on, how are we doing financially, how [clears throat] much um donation money we're getting, how much interest money we're earning. I think it would be something that would bring the communication level up to the districts to the
019next level. So, >> I'm not sure I'm following what you want. I'm sorry. You'll have to give me a little more information. >> Monthly performance report in our financials. Where where are we at education fundwise? Where are we at operations fundwide? Where are we at >> in in addition to the cash flow statements I provide? >> I think it needs to be presented to the public. >> Oh, you want a presentation every month, >> right? Not not just for us to read, but something summarized >> to let the district know where we're at on a month by month basis. I can I can sit down with you and put together I mean >> I mean I've got cash flow statements that I provide the board. I'll just read those to the public. I have no
020problem doing that. >> That shows every single penny that was spent through the month. >> Not an issue. >> Okay. Any further discussion? [clears throat] >> All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I oppose. >> Motion passes. Okay. Item I is donations. >> Um, say it every month, but just uh just a tremendous outpouring of support from our community, different uh entities, individuals, businesses, and alike on different donations. Just like to call upon some of these donations that we received in the last month, the Ricky Foundation and Bill Hyac. Every year we receive uh thousands of dollars in donations for our early childhood program, our preschool program. And so just another year of receiving, I believe, a check in the amount of $4,000 for our early learning program. Um, which impacts up to
021144 four year olds uh that we do not receive. Uh we receive little very little state funding for, but it's pretty much privately funded except for a few students that might qualify for the on my way prek uh vouchers that we might get in that capacity. So forever grateful for uh the Ricky Foundation. uh every year you can set your set your calendar to it. We receive a check uh with a tremendous donation from that foundation. We are uh grateful for that. Uh Mr. Wagner brings uh just another laundry list of uh donations received by uh entities within our community. um Donna Garmin and the Auburn Classic uh noon Lions Club, Linda Ster uh and the Blickinstaff memorial uh to the athletic funds, FCI Construction, the Early Ford VA foundation, Marilyn Halpert, Steven and Mary
022Hostetler, Bailey and Wood mortgage lenders, supporting everything from our band to our choir to our athletic teams, our swim team, choir theater, and the ongoing project of uh lighting our b new brand band practice area that continues and another $10,000 uh donation for that project. So, once again, just blown away by the tremendous amount of support that we get from our from our community for everything that we need for our kids. >> Thank you, Steve. Those are amazing donations and we appreciate all the community support. Okay, item J is report of the superintendent. Uh J1 is appoint school treasurer and set the bond. >> So I have a recommendation for the board to consider this evening. This is part of our organization meeting uh for Mark Rome, our CFOO, uh with the bond being set
023at $250,000 at the same amount as last year. >> Okay. At this time, I'll ask the board for a motion. Move to approve. >> I'll second. >> I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Motion passes. >> Jade to you. Go ahead. >> Yep. >> Our district deputy treasurer, uh, Gina Burr, she's our director of our business operations with a bond being set at $100,000. >> Okay, I'll ask the board for a motion. >> I'll make a motion. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? >> All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. oppose. Motion passes. >> Our next one, uh, J3, the cafeteria extracurricular treasures, uh, our food service director and assistant, Aubrey Rutherford and
024Jennifer Grog, with the bond being set at $7,000. >> Do I have a motion? I'll make a motion. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? >> All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. oppose. Motion passes. >> J4 is our building extracurricular treasures and with their bond amounts as well representing um James R. Watson Elementary, McKenna Harrison Elementary, Waterlue Elementary, and Country Meadow Elementary at the amount of $15,000 each. Decal Middle School at the amount of $80,000. Dalp High School at $100,000. and the Decal High School assistant treasurer at $20,000 for your consideration. >> I'll ask a board for a motion for the extracurricular treasures. >> Move to approve. >> Second. >> Go right ahead. >> Thank you. [laughter] >> I have a motion and a second. Any
025discussion? All [snorts] those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Oppose. Motion passes. J5 is Decal County Central United School District. The foundation, DAB Central Foundation of this position certainly determined by the board. Tony O'Neal I believe uh served in that capacity in the 2025 school year and I believe I believe Lauren was a member of that uh board also up in through your appointment of this seat. So, >> so do I need to ask for a motion to nominate >> nominate a board member? >> A board member. [laughter] Tony, would you like to continue or >> do I want to keep doing it? [laughter] I would love to. >> Okay. I'll make a motion to for Tony O'Neal to continue to serve on the uh Decal Central United School District Foundation as our
026representative. >> I'll second. >> Thank you. I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? >> All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Thanks, Tony. >> O'Neal. [laughter] Uh J6, the legislative representative, um Katie Feaster served in this capacity last year. Looking for a representative for this calendar year. >> Katie, would you like to continue? >> I would be happy to. Okay. >> I'd like to nominate Katie Feer to continue in that capacity. >> Okay. About >> to do a second. >> I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? >> All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Motion passes. >> J7 is the egg advisory board at the high school. Um the position uh was held this past calendar year by Tony Baker. >> Tony, would you
027like to continue? >> Okay. >> Do we have to second these? >> Um just because follow Roberts. >> Yeah, >> I'll second. I need a motion first. >> Oh, sorry. I thought you had a motion. >> You can make >> Would you like to make your first motion? >> I have a motion for Tony Baker to continue on the egg. >> I'll second it. >> I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I >> I. Motion passes. >> J8 is information only. The Auburn Redevelopment Commission, the mayor of Auburn, has the authority to appoint this position. With that said, Mayor Dave Clark had appointed uh member Valerie Armstrong for the role and her term actually ends at the conclusion of this calendar year. So, Mayor Clark will
028have to revisit that next year. >> Yes. Okay. >> Uh J9 is the Ashley Redevelopment Commission appointment. Uh last year, Tony O'Neal served in that capacity. >> Tony, would you like to continue? >> I would love to. Okay. Need a motion. >> I motion for Tony O'Neal to continue on the Ashley Redevelopment Commission. [snorts] >> I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? [sighs] >> All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Motion passes. >> J10 is the Waterlue Redevelopment Commission appointment and Tony O'Neal served in that capacity last year. >> Tony O'Neal, would you like to continue or does someone else? >> I would love to. Okay. Would you really love to? >> I would. >> Okay. Okay. >> I'm getting better at it. >> Okay. Do I have a
029motion? >> I make a motion for Tony. >> I'll second. I have a motion in a second. Any discussion? >> It takes a year to figure out my role, but >> I'm better at it. >> Got it down. >> I'm not good at it. I'm just better at it. >> I like it. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Motion passes. The last one for consideration, J11, the Waterlue Parks Board. It's an exofficial me member appointment. I believe Tony O'Neal served in that position last year. >> Tony O'Neal, would you like to continue that? >> Would love to. >> Do I have a motion? I'll make a motion. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Motion passes.
030Hey, item I12, the 2026 2027 DMS schedule. >> All right. And it just the karma aligned here. The stars align for us. Mrs. Weissart, you're here with the presentation this evening. And so I'm going to present Mrs. Weissart's uh summary of her recommendation for Decal Middle School and a a scheduling change. This is this is a a pretty [clears throat] uh big change in the scheduling at the middle school and I wholeheartedly agree with u and before I walk through the middle school scheduling recommendation. Of course, Mrs. Weisart's here to address any follow-up questions that you may have, I want to briefly provide some context on how we arrived at our existing middle school schedule. I think that's important. Uh we originally moved to a block schedule that we currently have in place and I
031don't even like saying it but when COVID hit um as a way to limit student movement and reduce the number of contacts students had with one another for the contact tracing purposes we all probably get a little bit triggered when you hear that phraseology. But um at the time we really tried to keep kids from having a lot of contact with each other because if and when someone was positive then the whole that started the whole contact tracing as we transitioned out of the co it was also thought to be potentially beneficial model moving forward and we've we've maintained that model uh and we've seen some uh areas of of success with that. However, as we've had time to evaluate student learning, behavior, and outcomes, especially in the middle school, Mrs. Weiseart and her leadership
032team believe it is time to move forward with a schedule that better aligns with the current needs of our middle school students. So, I really appreciate the fact that Mrs. Weiseart being just her second year at the middle school really took last year to really evaluate the middle school structure and really include member key team members of her team and her entire teaching staff in this decision. Uh the recommendation being brought forward for 20 the 26 27 school year is to move from block scheduling to a consistent daily schedule with 45minute classes Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday while maintaining the current Wednesday structure. Wednesday is our delay schedule um that we have in place currently as a district. Academically, the iLearn data shows a significant number of middle school students performing below or approaching physic proficiency
033in math and reading. Block scheduling can create gaps in daily tier one instruction, which makes consistent progress more difficult. Uh this proposed schedule uh guarantees daily core instruction in English [clears throat] language arts and in math and embeds daily student success time or SST and intervention time directly into the master schedule. This allows for expanded tier 1 and tier three supports aligned to student data and positions the district to meet Indiana's math remediation law requirements beginning the 2627 school year. from a student behavior standpoint because Carrie wasn't satisfied with just taking a look at the academic advantages of moving to a 45 minute u period throughout the day. [clears throat] Student behavior and uh engagement standpoint, the internal data has been very clear. On Wednesdays, when students attend all seven shorter periods, the school consistently
034sees fewer student passes, improved engagement, and less less lost instructional time. On block days, there's increased use of bathrooms, locker pass usage, which has contributed to a staggering number of hours of missed learning or missed opportunities in just one semester of data that is within the recommendation. Shorter daily classes better align with middle school development needs and improve overall classroom routines and culture. From a staffing perspective and resource uh perspective, this schedule does not require additional staffing. It re reorganizes existing English language arts and math uh staffing to strengthen instructional support, preserves alignment for students taking high school coursework, and protects intervention time while maintaining elective opportunities. At its core, this is a systems level improvement. It strengthens academics, improves student behavior, and ensures compliance with state expectations without adding staff. Most importantly, it shifts
035intervention from a reactive model to a proactive model, daily system of support that better serves our students. [clears throat] I certainly want to commend Mrs. Weissart and her team for bringing this recommendation for consideration. We've talked a lot about it over the past several months, and I appreciate the process and the engagement she had uh in her building. I truly believe it best meets the needs of our middle school students moving forward. I want to thank you for your consideration and as I've said before, Mrs. Weisart is here and can certainly address any [clears throat] uh definitive questions that you might have. >> Thank you, Steve. At this time, I'll ask the board for a motion to approve the new changes for the schedule of 202627 school year for DMS. >> I'll make the motion
036here. >> I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? [clears throat] >> Yeah. Oh, go ahead. Go ahead. Go ahead, Tony B. >> Okay. What's the the current class schedule in the block is how many classes? >> Seven. >> Well, not a day. >> So, we [clears throat] have an A day, a B day, and then our Wednesday. So, so we're going to move to a seven period day every day, >> right? So, you go from four to seven. I just know living in the middle school world for 22 years going from the seven period day and then co and I understand all the things we we had to do to keep kids in place and keeping them six feet apart was impossible because they're middle school kids. Um it was it was a
037challenge for me as an older person [laughter] to stay in the classroom for 90 minutes. Uh and and I couldn't imagine a 12 13 14 year old boy sitting still for 90 minutes even if you got up and did some activity things. It just to me it was very confining for them. But boy when that bell rang boy they were ready to go somewhere and it didn't matter where. So, you stayed away from the door when the bell rang. So, when I read this last I think it was Saturday, I thought, "Oh, I might check and see if my license expires because [laughter] it it expires, so I'm not coming back." But I I thought, "Okay, this is this I think will suit better for the majority of the students." I just schedule-wise and movement
038and they'll adjust. You know, they're they're young. the staff will take a little time, but I'm I'm excited for the for the school. >> I think we'll probably establish some precedence data, too. It'll be interesting to collect that data this year. [clears throat] >> Do we have a a breakdown by high school and middle school as to where we may be losing a number of our students to other schools or other districts? >> That >> we do have that breakdown. Yep. We we um we asked [clears throat and cough] last year, I think I shared that data with you last year, we were able to track from day one to day 180 >> the students that we lost and where they went. If we were a, you know, if they went out of state, then
039we really can't track it. So the the money following the student in the state of Indiana, we could track where they were coming from when they uh enrolled and we could follow them where they left. So they're tracking that same information this year. Uh I'll certainly share that with the board when we have it. >> Interesting to see if someone will come back. >> I agree that probably what I honestly I sit still for [laughter] right but I think this is great. I think that we're [clears throat] starting to think about how the impact of the schedule actually affects but question is it has a positive impact on our enrollment. That's another thing we need to be standing up. Hey, >> another plus >> another recruiting aspect for our district to say, hey, >> doesn't
040like to be walk. >> I appreciate the thorough support or that you provided to, you know, why you made your decision. And I have a 12, 13year-old boy that transitioned from fifth grade having recesses to none and long classes. And I um know he has had lots of passes. [laughter] So So I understand um how does this align with a student that takes some classes at the high school? >> Uh so I've been working closely with Mr. Wagner um into what the school accountability will next year because there has to be some high school credits that are taught with the new school accountability we're moving into. And so we have aligned the schedules. Actually, our schedule is two periods in one period at the high school. And so we've got all of that already worked
041out. Worked out with Mr. Wagner and we sat down and had several meetings. So, for the ones who do take a course at the high school, they will still be able to take it with no issues. >> Okay. I knew you'd have it all figured out. [laughter] >> All right. Thank you. >> Okay. I had a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Oppose. >> Motion passes. Thank you. >> And this won't start until next fall. >> Correct. 26 27. >> Okay. Item J13 is the acceptance of the DMS Next Voices Grant. >> Great. Thank you. Um on behalf of Carrie Weiseart, principal at Decal Middle School, um I want to share with you that Decal Middle has received a $1,000 grant from the region 8 educational service
042center to support student created media as part of our next voices regional video showcase. This was a a quick app and a quick turnaround and it's $1,000 that will really help to support the kids that are that are engaging in the career discovery programming and um it looks like they're going to use this money to help enhance their student podcasting and video studio. So, every little bit helps and we're appreciative of region 8 for granting us $1,000. I just need your consideration to approve and accept this grant. >> Thank you, Lori. >> Yep. Do I have a motion to accept the grant? >> Move to approve. >> Second. >> Motion and a second. Any discussion? >> Yeah. I was at the uh boys basketball game, seventh and eighth grade game after our guitar club met
043and I saw some students with press passes >> and I thought so I leaned over to Mr. Bennett and I said, "What's that?" He goes, "Oh yeah, that's something we started. We got kids taking pictures and they're engaged in >> photography and broadcasting and videotaping. I thought >> cool. >> That's that's that's huge now. So if we can get them started in the middle school, look out. Look out. So I That [snorts] was exciting. >> You all those in favor signify by saying I >> I oppose. Motion passes. Item J14, acceptance of the Donwood Foundation grant. >> So throughout the last couple of years, you've you've heard the name Don Wood frequently and and we are once again extremely grateful, pleased that they are um so great about supporting our initiatives at at the high
044school and soon to [clears throat] be at the middle school. The grant that we have just received from the Donwood Foundation is in the amount of $235,000 and that's going to be awarded to our BAM Baron Advanced Manufacturing Program. This funding is going to support innovative and new initiatives. We're going to add to that program. I commend John Klingan, our director of BAM, who who has been with us since the beginning and and um has has really established and maintained a very good relationship with Don Wood. They like what he does, we like what they do, and so it's working very well. Secondly, this grant is going to also, and this was something that was a collaborative conversation between John and and Carrie and Marcus, also start working the expansion to the middle school with
045some of the manufacturing programming, getting an earlier start with that, introducing students to some things that not only will help them engage at the high school, but also hopefully um increase the enrollment at the high school into our BAM program. So again, it's it's an amazing amount of money from an organization that has been nothing but supportive to us throughout the last several years. So just need to approve and accept this one. >> Thanks, Lori. I'll ask the board for a motion. >> Motion to approve. >> I'll second. >> I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? >> Isn't the engineering class in the middle school kind of rolling into BAM? >> Yeah. So it just it just started this semester. Yeah, I know. >> And John is teaching it. But what's really cool
046is Tony O'Neal used to be part of the guitar club. And when I first spoke with John, we [snorts] had some awesome [clears throat] dreams and we talked about how the guitar club actually becomes the class. So the machine can explain and I can't [laughter] help with them when they're creating all of them creating their own guitars. Uh so that is already started and the machine So between the equipment middle school and our existing equipment classes. [clears throat] as soon as we can. >> Yeah. Yeah. Awesome. >> Thank you. >> Defender. [laughter] >> I like that. >> And they've been building guitars for a long time. Out of kits, >> correct? >> And so now they're going to be able to build their own parts using these machines. >> That's really cool. I love the
047collaboration, too. So, >> how many students do we currently have in the band program? [laughter] >> Close. >> I'm going to say between 20 and 30 right now. >> That's great. >> Okay. I have a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. >> Motion passes. >> Thank you. Great. Item J15. >> Yeah, last one. Um, if you've been following our BAM journey, you've heard no doubt the the name Purdue inm. This was the group from Purdue University that we joined forces with that helped us initiate and led us through a lot of our process to help us really launch successfully. So, they have what they call uh micro grants and uh allow us to reapply for some things. We did we did apply. John did and
048received $1,500. Um, and what he's going to use this for, I'll do I'll do a little advertisement for you, John. Okay. If you got a chance to go to [clears throat] their car show last, was it in the summertime or spring? It was still chilly. Yeah. Um, it was at the high school. They had a great turnout, great cars. Um, they're going to do it again this spring, May 2nd. And it will be at the high school again. It's uh they call it their annual automation car, truck, tractor, bike, BAM. Uh students are there designing and machining. It's just a really nice showcase for part of what we're doing out there. So, we did receive, like I said, an INMAC microrant for this. That'll help offset some of the little expenses that we have with
049the show. And um thanks to John for for putting that together along with his students because they really take an active role in it. >> Thanks, Lori. Uh, do I have a motion to accept the micro grant? A >> motion to approve. >> I'll second. >> I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? >> All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I oppose. Motion passes. >> Thank you. [clears throat] >> So that's what this is for. So one of our class projects is the students actually trophy for the car show and the m will actually be our own >> is is most of the machining done when not steel. >> Yes. We want to stick with that just as extend to >> the cost is a lot less. >> Thank [snorts] you.
050Okay. Item J16, Board of Finance. >> Thank you. Indiana law provides that a board of finance meets annually to elect officers. I will [clears throat] need a motion to that effect. Traditionally, our school board officers, president and secretary, have served in the same roles for the board of finance. Just a little background, board of finance. Uh the purpose is to review any investment reports that we have, including the name of all financial institutions with whom the school district invested money during the previous school year. Review all the overall investment policies that we have as a school district. And review a written report on the financial condition of the school corporation using the fiscal and qualitative indicators determined by the state committee. have the DWAB, the distressed unit appeal board at the state board of counts
051level that oversees school districts that might be in some financial trouble. They would oversee school districts that have issues. Um, that's not what I'm saying. We have I'm just saying that's who comes up with the this set of rules. Uh, I present the board of financial report to the entire board and the public. I'll do that tonight. But first, I do need a a motion to elect the president and the secretary for the board of finance. >> Motion to approve. >> I'll second. >> Second. >> It's a motion and a second. Any discussion? >> Mark, do you see anything with the changes in the laws for 2026 that we may have to review investment policies with the changes in the tax laws? Not not really with with the investment portion of it. Obviously budgeting portion,
052there's going to be some changes, but as in terms of how we invest our money. Um, we're partnering with Lake City, which I will discuss a little bit obviously in a minute, but we get a pretty good rate of return there. Um, most schools stick with investments that way. We don't invest in CDs, things like that. We we get a substantial rate from Lake City and I'm pretty happy with that. And you don't take risk as a school corporation. I'm not going to be out playing stock market and things like that. school corporation tax money. So I don't I don't foresee that being an issue in terms of investment. >> Any further discussion? >> Okay. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Motion passes. >> Okay. >> Let's go through
053the quick presentation. It's the same thing. We're still on that, but I will take you through it. I'll go fast, I promise. Um, so basic information from our school corporation standpoint, you can see our 2425 student count, the ADM, [clears throat and cough] our net assessed value, and our estimated population of our district. The financial institutions that we do business with are listed at the bottom there with Lake City being um the biggest in terms of that's where our operations and our education fund monies lie along with debt service. Horizon Bank is still housing our extracurricular, all of our ECA funds and our student fees, which is obviously going down. We are looking at going away from Horizon Bank, hopefully yet this year, um, to move everything into Lake City because we do get a
054bigger return interest wise from Lake City than we do with Horizon. Regions is our trustee for our lease bond funds. So, currently you're seeing that balance in there, a little over $17 million. That would be the 23 24 bonds that we have. Uh the balance in Lake City would also represent the GO bond that the board just approved a couple months ago. Those proceeds that 6.6 roughly million dollars is part of Lake City's balance. Next slide. Oh, sorry. I'm controlling that. Forgot I had the clicker. [laughter] Our ADM just give you this shows you through back to 2015 16. Um again, ADM for those that aren't aren't aware is taken twice a year at the state level. they now have real- time access to our student information system. So, they can go in and check
055that immediately on their dates in September and February. Um, it's it's really the underlying number that drives the education fund and our revenue in it. For this reason, it's one of the metrics metrics, excuse me, that DAB will take a really close look at um when determining if you're looking at some kind of financial trouble in the near future. You can see our numbers have decreased a little bit over the last few years. Again, nothing we haven't discussed multiple times in this room and across the district. Next is our annual deficit and surplus. This graph is going to show you our revenues by year in green and our expenses in blue with the resulting surplus or deficit that we would have in yellow. So, this is money that we bring in every year as opposed
056to what we spend. This is a combination of education and operations as you can see where you can see the years where we show a slight deficit. Those are years where we had a bond passed probably the year previous. We spent money that was associated with that bond with obviously no revenue coming in in that year if that makes sense. So we got all the revenue in the previous year. So you're going to see a slightly higher surplus in the following year where we were still spending bond funds. We weren't bringing that revenue in. So that can skew it a little bit in terms of where you can see a slight deficit, but no concerns. You can see the black line represents our our balances of our funds. And you see over the last couple
057of years, we've really done a good job of increasing, especially in 2024, our revenue as opposed to expense. Sorry, Angie, I keep looking at you. Fund balances. These this is going to show you our debt service fund, our education operations in rainy day. Pretty much everything that tax dollars and our our state tuition pays into. Um the biggest thing I would I would I'm sure you're going to notice as I do is looking at 23 to 24 and the orange line represents our education fund. That's a significant jump there in the education fund. Couple of things that um affected that. One of them was we went away from the curricular materials fund. all of the curricular materials which totaled close to 600 a little over $600,000 was transferred from a fund into the education fund.
058So there's 616,000 of that almost $5 million increase 4 and a.5 million excuse me. Um we had a lot of retirements in years 22 and 23 that we paid out a lot of money into the education plan which drove down 2023's balance. Um, and then in turn we had some attrition. We had, you know, some positions not hired back. That attributed to some of that increase. We went away from one of Mr. Baker's favorite things. We did not do an ED to ops transfer in 2024. There's a half million dollar increase in the education fund. And uh, that's, you know, just other things, but I don't like to say that we did a great job of of watching the budget, but we did. as you look at operations, that's increased in all three of our
059years of of my years as your CFO. Um, I take a lot of pride in in increasing a cash balance for protection of the school district. Now, with that said, the 2024 to 2025 balance, it increased as well. I have that data. Obviously, DAB doesn't compile everything until about the middle of this year. So, they're a year behind, but we increased about a million and a half in education and about a million dollars in in ops as well. So, we're continuing on that pace. Next slide will show you. Sorry, Angie. [laughter] At least I'm not yelling or anything. This slide is going to show um percentage of operational expenditures as as comparison to fund balances. So as you're looking at the lines steadily going up, you would expect that big jump in 2024 when you
060saw that cash increase. What these percentages represent are I use the example at the bottom of the slide. You can see in 2024 we had overall expenditures between education and operations of you know roughly $34.5 million. Our fund balances in that year equated to $15.8 million. So when you take the 15.8 8 divide into the 34 million of expenses, you come up with that percentage of 45.9. So what DWAB is looking for there is obviously the the higher the percentage the safer you are. If for some reason revenues were to come to a screeching halt, state had a problem with, you know, making a payment. Hopefully that would never happen. Property tax delays, whatever it may be. This is showing DAB where does that percentage lie? How safe are you with your cash balances in
061case revenue were to slow down coming in if there were delays? Make sense? >> What's the state they consider like >> 20%. >> Is the min or like the average? >> That's that's well I don't I I can't tell you the average. The recommended number is between 15 to 20%. If not lower. A lot of a lot of schools are 10 and are happy with 10 to 7%. Um I think you can see my philosophy in the three years that I've been here. Uh I'm I'm extremely defensive when it comes to cash balance. I you know we knew SEA1 was coming and that's when in 23 and 24 I really tried to the angst of a lot of [clears throat and cough] of employees and my directors. I really tried to protect our cash balance
062just to see what was going to happen. That said, you'll also recognize I see all of our union members represent over here. We did, you know, with our two-year contract got a a decentsized raise across the board for [clears throat] all of our employees. This cash balance is one of those reasons. Um, knowing we protected that education fund, we were able to give a higher raise than I, you know, I thought we would be able to [snorts] revenue by type. Little scary looking slide here. As you look at this, this is showing all the money that comes in and the different types for our district. um pretty steady across, not a lot of stimulus revenue. That was obviously during the CO times, things like that. The big ones are your local tax revenue, which is
063the pink line at the bottom. You can see that gradually just kind of going up a little bit, not tremendously up, but that's to protect your tax rate, things like that with your taxpayers. And then the blue line, the big one, is your state revenue that the state provides. I would point out the two little bumps just because it was something that I had to do a little research on. That's debt service. >> [clears throat] >> So for our bonds that are lease bonds, the bond we'll do for the backpack, the bond we did last year for the co-curricular facility, those are lease bonds. Those do not show up here because that money is held as you saw on the first slide in regions bank by our bank trustee for the bonds. Okay, those two
064bumps in 19 and 2021, 2019 represents a go bond that we passed. Okay, that revenue much like the revenue we got this year for our 2025 go bond that goes directly into Lake City. So that is going to show up in this graph. 2021 bond which I was not a part of that was broken down. It was a lease bond but some of the funds because we had such a good premium on it. That's I'm making an assumption there. Some of those proceeds went directly into the school corporation. So that's what that little bump represents. Those two bumps are about five five to five and a half million dollars. >> When you're talking about those two bumps though, you're talking about interest income, right? >> No, that's bond proceeds. That is bond money that came
065into our coffers. So imagine when we get it to next year's, if you guys can make a little mental note to remember a year when I go over this again, you'll see in 2025, you're going to see another bump from the GO bond that we just sold because that 6.6 million went into Lake City. >> Okay. >> Considered revenue though. >> I'm sorry. >> Why is it considered revenue? >> It's debt service revenue. It's it's money coming in from the debt service that we did. We borrowed money in the form of the bond. So that goes directly to us. The reason that last year's bond doesn't show is because it's housed in regions and that's not something that came directly into our our main bank. >> This seems like wrong term. >> I I don't
066disagree and and like I said, I had to do some research to understand what was going on with that. I knew as soon as I saw the numbers what it represented. [clears throat and cough] I just didn't understand why. So I I tried to explain it the best I could. It's it's not that great probably. So sorry. Um I think that's last slide is it? Yeah. So that's where we are there. Um I don't really have anything else unless you have a question or comment. That was just kind of a generality for you. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Mark. >> Yep. >> Okay. Next item is I17, which are conflicts of interest. >> I handed out to the board the forms. I've gotten some back. I'll just need to get the rest. uh to remain
067compliant with our Indiana code and local schoolboard policy. I gave you the conflict of interest statements that need to be completed by any board members. This has just become something we do every January. We do it for all of our employees in August uh board members in January. So, no, >> I don't need any motions or anything that's just moreformational. And if anyone I have I think two or three of them. So, if anybody else had a sheet, just make sure that gets into the blue folder tonight. >> Good. Thank you. Um, item J8, cancellation of expired checks. >> Every two years, uh, on the memo, you can see, I hate to read the entire Indiana code to you, but each year we are allowed for any checks outstanding and unpaid for a period of
068two years. As of December 31st is what we use. They're declared void. I get them cleared out of my system, make all my accounting specialists happy back into business office as they reconcile bank statements. Um, I apologize for the typo on it. I just saw it. It's actually using December 31st, 2023 to go back two years. I did include the list of checks. There are a few employees that are listed on there probably for ECA stuff, things like that, working tickets, whatever. Um, I always reach out to them, let them know. We typically don't cancel those checks, but I let them know, hey, could you please get this cashed or sign it over to me and I'll be happy to cash it for you, whatever. I don't know. but to wait two years. So, as
069[clears throat] you can see from the sheet, this year's total is $63263. Um, that will just go back into the appropriate funds that they were coming from. >> Okay. >> So, I would ask the board's approval to void those checks. >> Okay. So, I have a motion to void checks. >> I'll make a motion. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I oppose. Motion passes. Item J19 is request to dispose of old DHS athletic equipment. >> The athletic department has uh two old fiberglass pitching mounds. You see the pictures in the memo. Looks like the baseball program purchased three new mounds a couple of years ago. So, these older mounds are no longer used and they're simply taking up valuable story
070space. They would like to auction these. I assume Mark I assume through Matt and our [clears throat] Okay. So, we would auction these back. They were purchased with ECA funds. So, once these are auctioned off, we will return those funds to the ECA account. I would ask the board's permission to auction these off. >> Okay. Do I have a motion to auction these items? >> Motion to approve. >> I'll second. I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? >> I think Bill Jones built his back in the day. plywood and >> indoor out. >> You're so old. Like you, me, there's probably like four people in this room that know who Bill Jones is, right? >> I'm gonna say probably [laughter] have a shop classes. >> That's true. [laughter] >> All those in favor
071signify by saying I >> I >> oppose. Motion passes. Item J20 is proposal to switch dairy vendors. Uh for our food service director, Aubrey Ruford, I'm bringing she would like to make a change for the 26 27th school year. We're currently using Prairie Farms for our milk. She would like to make the switch to DFA, Dairy Farmers of America, which is Dean's milk. Um there's been some issues with deliveries being on time, and I do know, and I know I think Aubrey is still here. Um if I screw any of this up, I'm sure she'll chime in, but I believe that Prairie Farms is no longer going to be delivering from Fort Wayne. I think that was a factor that really she was taking into consideration that the deliveries were probably be coming from Indianapolis.
072So when she was having issues with delivery time, you know, it was not a big deal for him to call Fort Wayne and get something delivered. That could become an that could become a concern getting the milk here from Indianapolis same day. Um, so as she's worked for DFA, she's assured that summer delivery is not going to be any problems. They're also 6 cents a carton cheaper. And most importantly, they offer strawberry milk that's compliant for our students that love strawberry milk. Uh she's happy to answer any questions. This change would take effect July 1st, 2026. I would ask the board's consideration. >> Thank you. Do I have a motion to switch dairy vendor? >> Move to approve. >> I'll second. I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor signify
073by saying I >> I >> oppos. Motion passes. Okay. Item J21, accounting specialists. >> If you remember last year when um we had some switches around in the business office, we [clears throat] brought a new person in. We took Leanne Hley down to um 20 hours. The board was gracious enough to allow me to continue on, you know, as she was training Jessica, our new our new gal, to have over 20 hours. Uh Leanne also works with grants, um a lot of the federal level things. She it's just become apparent that I can use her for more than 20 hours, several weeks. Um I don't want to call this a formality because the board at that time had had kind of given me the ability to let her work a few more hours. In talking
074to Mr. Teeters, we just thought it was best to get the memo so we had it on the book. So, it was official. I'm not asking to bring her back full-time all the time, but for the weeks that I need her to work more than 20 hours, I would I would just ask the board's approval so that she could work up to those 40 hours per week when needed. >> Thank you, Mark. Do I have a motion? >> Move to approve. >> I'll second. >> I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? >> All those in favor signify by saying I. I >> oppose. Motion passes. >> Thank you for that. >> All right. Thank you. This brings us to miscellaneous. I'm going to open it up to our administration tonight. First, >> I'll
075just uh just a quick announcement. This wasn't this was approved almost two years ago, but uh Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and it's the first time that Decal Central District will be um observing that as a holiday. So, no school for the students and it's a non-work day for our staff. So, just a reminder, I think we've been sending some reminders out to staff. We have some parent reminders going out later this week just to remind everybody. I'm hoping for like 8 inches of snow. So, [laughter] I we avoid a cancellation or virtual day. So, I'm like >> foggy morning. [laughter] >> Just a reminder, MLK day >> on Monday. >> Anyone else? >> Um, I have just a couple things. I'd like to give a couple updates on bond work and Matt
076is still here. I know we have a varsity basketball game as well. I think we're all right timewise. [laughter] I don't want to keep him here any longer than he needs to be to see his son play. But um concessions building, I've had a lot of questions from the public and a few board members have asked me on updates with that. >> Concession building is um you know, we're in the punch fa punch list phase. There's a few things that that still need addressed in the concessions building. I wouldn't call them anything earthshattering. Um the the biggest thing that I have my concern with is still the PA system in the co-curricular in the press box. All the hardware is there. What we're waiting on are the speaker brackets. I got an update today that
077apparently those need to be um custom fabricated. So they're working on that. They've assured us that, you know, it's probably a week or two away and then they'll be able to install. All I really told them was, I sure don't want my spring season to start and not have my press box and concessions building 100% functional. So, they've assured us that's not going to be an issue at all. I'm thinking we're probably a week or two out. I think that's a safe maybe a little more um from buttoning up that entire project. So, I just kind of wanted to give that update. Anything I missed there, Matt? >> No. People probably notice the the dirt piles. There's some grading that still needs to be done. Obviously, they have to wait until nicer weather plant seed
078and there's some painting items that can't be done on the exterior until the the weather turns. But it's not a lot. It's just some touchups, >> things like that. Yeah. Also the discus and shop that's been poured. that's ready. >> I And I also will share, it's probably not a huge deal, but um it was to me anyways. Uh our bleachers we had at the beginning of the project with the bleachers. It was uh very tight for us to make it for that that home [clears throat] football game that we wanted to have them ready for >> and the band competition the next day. the band competition which was the next day and FCI and Crawford Excavating really stepped in to help Dant Clayton and their subcontractor on the pylons and the bases for the
079bleachers uh to the tune of about 41 to $42,000 of extra labor for them. Uh Dan Clayton, I've been going back and forth with the company with the bleacher company because they were kind of not happy about the idea of cutting their contract with me. $42,000. I got the email yesterday that they have approved that. So, we have a deduct change order coming in for that amount. So, that was really good news. Um, and I applaud, not that they're here, I applaud Dan Clayton for doing the right thing in my opinion because they definitely had some outside help. Lastly, I would have for the board, we did get our 1782 back. That's our budget. Our budget was approved. I wanted to share with the board. I will put in the board file for you. I
080just got it. I have the copy of it. I'll drop it in that file. Angie yells at me if I do too much in the board file during the board day in case something disappears. I don't want to get blamed for anything. So, I will get that in there. Um, just to share with the board and the public, our tax rate is 7910. Last year's tax rate was 7769. I can say those again if you were writing them down. 7910 is a total tax rate this year from last year's of 7769 for a difference of 0141. So for anyone in the audience or at home listening, what that means is if you fall in that assessed value home range is the average of our constituents of around $192,000, you're going to be looking at a
081tax increase of about $26. So, with everything we've had going on, I'm extremely proud of that number that we were able to hold the tax rate where it was. All of our numbers came in exactly where they were they needed to be. Um, I am 95% done with our 2026 budget. I do have it. I'll have the blank one in the board docket for you to look at. I know Tony Baker has asked for that as well. So, I will put that on there for you, Tony. Um, please just keep in mind when we get to the budget that I'm sharing in there outside of the 1782 budget, we're getting down into where we have 6700 GL's, you know, accounts that the board always approves me each and every year to shift that money around
082as needed by GL. So, to budget down to the object level, um, for board members to look at, sometimes you might see something looks alarming like, whoa, you've used 95%. Well, I can shift money around from different GL's. I just kind of wanted to point that out to everybody. >> I'll try and stay at the 20,000 foot. >> I appreciate that. [laughter] But I understand if you don't want to. I will have that and it's in there because I know you've asked for it. Okay. >> That's all I have. Sorry, that was a lot. >> No, it was all good stuff. Thank you. >> Yep. >> Okay, I'll open up to the board members. >> Flu season. Um [laughter] she back again. Uh, drink a lot of water, get a lot of sleep, please cover
083your mouth when you cough. >> Students, please wash your hands. >> Wash your hands. Stay healthy. You're not that sick. Go to school, please. Because we don't want you to miss school. But if you're that bad, go to the doctor. Do whatever you need to do, but be at school. We like our graduation rate to be high. So, you got to be at school. It's more fun than being at home with mom. She won't let you use your phone, >> but you can't use it at school either. >> Amen. [laughter] >> Oh, Tony. >> I like it. >> I'm good. [clears throat] >> It's a pleasure to be here. Thank you, everyone. Welcome. We're glad to have you. >> I got the opportunity to go watch G's varsity boys basketball play at New Haven on
084Saturday, and I'll tell you, it was it was very reassuring to see a group of boys play. like that. I haven't seen that at the Cow in a long time. They're not the biggest team by any way, shape, or form, but the way they played and worked together and hustled that that's the way it used to be. And it looked really good. Now, the outcome might not have been what we wanted, but I can say that anybody that was there, I'll be proud of those boys, the way they play. Anything else? Okay. I do know um upcoming next month on February 17th, Katie and I are going to be attending legislative day. >> Um we got the information that there are 700 bills filed [laughter] this legislative session and 73 are relevant to K12 public
085ed. >> So I just listened to a podcast today [laughter] about them. So >> So Yep. Yep. Think of us as Katie and I deep dive in and meet with our legislators and figure things out. So, >> all right, that's all I have and I'm going to open up to the public. I have one speaker that would like to come up to the podium or not. [laughter] >> Make it formal. >> Yes. Everybody at home, >> I can't hear you otherwise. >> We realize you're loud, but >> been sitting for 71 minutes. >> Not quiet. Not quite a [laughter] full block schedule. >> I'm looking forward to the conversation that we'll have with the >> Hey, good evening. My name is Jason Hunter, teach high school. Um, just want to come and talk. You know,
086administration always gets a little little leery with this teachers at these [laughter] meetings. So, uh, I want to make sure we all understand this has nothing to do with I got you or let's do this. Uh this is a this is a call to action and this is a call to all on teacher appreciation grants. I I don't know how much the board is aware of teacher appreciation grants and the background of teacher appreciation grants uh but uh it has [clears throat] a lot to do with obviously uh rewarding certified staff financially by the way great financial report. I love talking about money Mr. and I enjoyed that [laughter] report. So that was good. >> Thank you. >> I'm also a big two thumbs up on the ed transfers and not doing that. So I
087think [laughter] that's an important thing. I think the Cal Central leads Northeast Indiana in the smallest ED to ops transfer for for a long long time. So uh that's that's important that we see that. But my biggest thing and again call to action and I'm glad to I hear that you're going to the legislative session. Um it's been about a decade since they've done the teacher appreciation grant and when it started out I I was here. >> I was there. >> Let me say from the very beginning I'm not a fan. I'm not a fan of the teacher appreciation grant period. Uh I think everyone should be compensated and I think it sends a really negative message from the state when they say just certified staff gets this. Uh, you know, we have outstanding employee
088employees at the Cal Central, whether it's the transportation, food services, front office, you name it. Um, everyone should be compensated somehow. Certified staff was compensated very well uh for the next two years. So, we appreciate that also. >> Wow. >> I know, right? >> That's two. I'm counting. I'm writing it down. [laughter] It's just frustrating to see the change uh that's happening this year. You know, when when it first started out as a 25% difference between highly effective effective teachers, you're looking at maybe $200 to $500. Maybe it's $700 to $300, you know, uh great. And and now it's gotten to the point um and the public needs to know this as well. We're looking at numbers of $3,500 up to $7,500. That's wrong. Um, something needs to be done about that. You know, we
089we have certified staff that have been eligible for these uh teacher appreciation grants, tag money that now aren't eligible. I mean, like they can't even receive. [cough] [clears throat] Guidance counselors can't even receive. They're not eligible. see this tag regardless of how the effects are affected. That's wrong. And now it's not everybody receiving effective highly effective, you know, it's just the highly effective and not even all the highly effective. [snorts] >> It's 20% of the highly affected. What message are we sending to Indiana educators? 20% of you deserve this. that is wrong. And I disagree with that. So again, it's it's not pointing fingers. It's not it's not saying you're not doing it the right way, but something has to be done. Because I tell you what, as much as we preach about collaboration, as
090much as we preach about working together, it's going to create animosity >> and it's going to create an environment that's And uh you know I don't have I'll be honest with you. >> Was [snorts] it 2000? Congratulations. Congratulations by the way. Was it 2002 >> when I was when I graduated? 2002. Yep. >> So my that was my first year. So 2001 2002. That was my first year. So your last year my first year. >> I enjoy getting off topic. Uh I I enjoyed watching Monday night. I enjoy watching the interviews. [snorts] I enjoy I'm a college graduate. I'm an account graduate. They're the Cal graduates. I take pride in that. >> And when I say everyone needs compensated, uh I I truly do mean that. My first contract was $1,000. Don't say it. I
091don't want to hear it. [laughter] >> Imagine $5,000. >> I tell you what, It was nine. [laughter] >> And I'm definitely blessed because of it. I am. >> And it's not because I'm not getting this money, which we can get into the whole evaluation process. Uh but it's it's just showing appreciation to everyone. >> So again, call to action, call to all. This is something needs to be changed. So >> anyways, I I just wanted to say that I have [laughter] Appreciate you guys. >> All right, Jason. >> Thank you, Jason. [applause] >> Couple [clears throat] things, Jason. You didn't need to stand at the podium. You're loud enough, but that's the coaching in you. I get that. I appreciate that. Um, I remember when that tag money started and like he said, it started
092out relatively small and wasn't a big difference between the levels, but when they came out with this new plan, I thought, what in the world is this? I thought for sure they're going to modify it a little bit, >> right? >> I was hoping I I didn't really pray for it, but oh my gosh, $7,000 to 20%. I thought [clears throat and cough] that's, you know, we talk about building relationships with our kids, building relationships with your staff members, and they're going to know who gets it, right? >> They're going to know, right? >> So hopefully, >> yeah, >> common sense sets in and we're gonna they're going to make some adjustments to this. So hopefully this will be >> modified. I'll use that word. So thanks Jason. >> Mhm. >> I agree with you.
093>> Yeah. Thank you. All right. At this time, um I will read into the minutes. Our next regular board meeting is February 17th here at central office at six o'clock p.m. Um and I will ask the board now for a motion to adjurnn. I'll make a motion. >> I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Motion passes. >> Good night everyone. Head over that you were