001Network School Corporation School Board of Trustees to order. Roll call, Amy. >> President Duckworth, we have a full board. Um, excuse me. Actually, Pat, I'm going to stop. I have to ask a question. >> Yes. >> Melissa is no longer voting this evening. So, is she just observing? Are we quorum? Do we have quorum present? >> have a quorum in the room. >> room, right. Okay. Um, and we have two uh trustee or Secretary DeGrees and Vice President Moore are online. Trustee DeGrees will be voting. Uh, Moore will not. Will not. >> All right. Thank you. Uh, as is custom, please stand and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance, please. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God,
002indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. For all. Thank you all for being here this evening on this uh wet evening and I know the flowers and the trees appreciate it, but uh anyway, we'll try to get home dry. Um next on the agenda is good news. Jason Booker. >> Thank you very much, President Duckworth, members of the board, Superintendent Hoover. Lots of good news here as we head into this last week of school. So, first off, uh a lot of promotions going on because you've heard us talk about the BSC Summer Musical Company and about the production of Titanic the Musical that's going to be happening here June 11th through the 13th and then also on the 14th in the afternoon, but tickets are now on sale. So, uh we'll be promoting that. People
003can go to our website and click a link that will take them to where they can purchase tickets, but really looking forward to seeing that um show to showcase all of the talent of our students in June. And again, that'll be at Shanklin Theatre. Um, EVSC Signing Day took place recently. This is always such a great event. You're going to hear more about this in just a bit during district spotlight from BJ Watts, but, um, always a great time to see these students, um, to go on to be successful with the paths they have chosen and it really does highlight all of the great business local partnerships that we have that really invest in our students. So, more to come on this, but this is really a highlight every spring when we get to hold
004Signing Day. Uh, speaking of BJ Watts, uh, he has received information from Governor Braun that he has been reappointed to the Indiana State Board of Education. Uh, this is the fourth governor that has appointed Mr. Watts to the board. This certainly is a board that carries a lot of weight in the state of Indiana because they are responsible for setting policy, uh, for education from one end of the state of Indiana to the other. Uh, and also responsible for the Indiana Department of Education and it is great for us to have local representation on that board. So, congratulations to BJ Watts. Uh, classroom enrichment grants were given out recently at the Evansville Rotary Club, also sponsored by our friends at Liberty Federal Credit Union, supporting more than 20 of our schools and programs. Uh, so,
005always great, uh, to see extra support coming our way to help, uh, teachers with the work they're doing with their students. Uh, we did another episode of What's Happening with Hoover. This has certainly been one of our more popular ones all year long where Dr. Hoover started the year talking to kindergarteners at both Scott and Helen, Scott and Hebron Elementary Schools. It was literally the first week of school when we did the first one. Um, I remember we were trying to work with the students and the principal even said they don't even know who I am yet. I mean, it was like the second day of school. And now to see how these students have grown. And so, if you haven't caught this episode yet, uh please do so because you'll get to see her
006interacting with those same students. Uh and it's just amazing to see how they've grown throughout the course of their kindergarten year. A lot of fun doing that. Um and we always like to lift in the spring. Just some pictures here, but there's a lot more we shared on social media. All of our high school National Honor Society programs, uh we don't want this to go by without mentioning it because these students qualify for National Honor Society because they are truly going above and beyond in the classroom and other programs in their school. They're great representatives of our schools, and we're extremely proud of them. So, congrats to all of the inductees this year to the National Honor Society at every high school. President Duckworth, that's it for good news. >> Thank you, sir. Uh thanks
007again to Liberty Federal, and congratulations to B.J. That's quite a feat to have four different governors uh point him to that very important position. So, that's a great thing for the state, and a great thing for our community. Next, we have public comment. Mr. Shoulders? >> President Duckworth, I don't think I'm going to go far out on a limb here to say we'll continue with good news in our few minutes with Larry. >> Uh I'm all wet, Mr. Shoulders. More ways than one. The uh I'm a member of the Healthy Park PTA, and I want to go back to teacher appreciation week, May the 4th. Give you some details of the things the PTA at Healthy Park did for the teachers that week. Uh Monday, we served a breakfast. Tuesday, we had a snack cart
008we took around all the rooms. Teachers could pick snacks. Wednesday, rock, paper, scissors contest at lunch. We provided prizes for the for the winners. Thursday, B.J. Brew House, restaurant on the east side. The manager is married to a teacher at Helfer Park, so they gave us a special deal on that a meal. So, we served a meal on Thursday. They went and delivered it. Friday, El Charro gave us another special deal, so we served another lunch on Friday. Uh a special thing, one of the members sat at the door for recess and had a stack of thank you cards and asked the students to sign a card on the way out to recess. And she said that was well received. So, Helfer Park, we're looking for other ideas. I'm sure other schools have other ideas
009and things to do for teacher appreciation week. >> Yeah, I would have lost my watch that you would not I did you said something about Maddie Shirley. Um we can do that later. That's all the speakers we have, President Duckworth. Thank you very much. Thank you, Larry. Next, we have consent items, Dr. Hoover. >> Good evening, President Duckworth and members of the Board of School Trustees. We have 10 consent items for your consideration. They are 3.01, consideration of the minutes of the May 4th, 2026 executive session and regular board meeting. 3.02, consideration of the allowance of payments that include invoices, net payroll, and payroll obligation for a total allowance of payments of $12,239,648.02. 3.03, consideration to approve change order number two for the Central High School Academy of Science and Medicine renovation 2026. 3.04, consideration
010to approve change order number one for the Southern Indiana Career Technical Center Cosmetology Project 2026. 3.05, consideration to approve the Click Food Services bids. 3.06, consideration to approve the agreement with Edmentum and Options Academy. 3.07, consideration to declare buses as surplus property. 3.08, consideration to approve the agreement with Forefront Education. 3.09 consideration to approve the renewal agreement with PowerSchool Analytics and Insights, and 3.10 consideration to approve the agreement with Massinsight. These consent items are presented for your approval. >> Move to approve. >> Second to approve. >> We have a motion and a second. Any further comments or concerns? Hearing none, roll call. >> I will start with uh Secretary De Reese. >> I. >> President Duckworth. >> I. >> Trustee Keefer. >> I. >> Trustee Hollingsworth. >> I. >> Trustee Ragland. >> I. >> And
011Trustee Gamblin. >> I. >> Thank you. >> Okay, that motion carries. Next, we will move to personnel recommendations. Michelle Williams, good evening. >> Good evening, President Duckworth, members of the board, Dr. Hoover. Tonight's personnel recommendations include the following: retirement, resignations, end of assignments, regular appointments, position reassignment, temporary appointment, resignation of temporary appointment, resignations from extra duty, appointments to extra duty, reassignment of administrative appointments, transfers, and summer school appointments. These recommendations are presented for your approval. >> So moved. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second regarding the personnel recommendations. Any questions or comments? Hearing none, roll call, please. >> Secretary De Reese. >> I. >> President Duckworth. >> I. >> Trustee Keefer. >> I. >> Trustee Hollingsworth. >> I. >> Trustee Ragland. >> I. >> And Trustee Gamblin. >> It carries. Thank you
012very much, uh Michelle. Uh next, we have our district spotlight, Dr. Hoover. >> So, this evening, I am happy to have uh B.J. Watts here. He is our executive director of Opt-In. He is going to talk about our signing day. It was a a fun day for students and good to see that they're securing good employment right out of high school. So, B.J. >> Thank you for having me. Um this is a minute because you've just been reappointed. Did the governor's vehicle bring you up here? >> No, no, no escort. It's a special license plate. >> Um this is probably my favorite day of the year and I I want to kind of start with where your signing day started the show just so you can kind of see the growth. In 2019 was our
013first year for it and we had seven business partners and 31 students. Um now we have over 50 business partners. We had 131 so 137 students this year. Um we set up 300 chairs and we it is truly standing room only. So, this is probably a way to represent and celebrate our students and the industry partners but also the parents really enjoy this. We had a I brought just a few numbers. Um armed services, we had 23 students entering the armed services. We had 17 students entering health care. 25 students entering the skilled trades. That's our largest number to date. Um really excited about that and manufacturing had 54. And as we meet with these students, I truly go through the fact that I I practice what I preach. I have two sons. My older
014son went to IU. My younger son is a fourth year apprentice in the IBEW. So, I I've seen the life that that that brings you. Um don't try to talk our students into anything but when we meet with them, we're like, "Okay, this is this is what's out there." We just want to When someone asks what we do, we're like, "Okay, we try to create informed consumers." So, when we lay out what all of our industry partners have to do um have to offer, it truly does. It sells itself. So, obviously our focus is manufacturing health care and the skilled trade. That's what dominates our economy. But we are moving into banking and finance next year. So, we'll have an at seven students doing similar activities at banking and finance at Old National Bank next
015year. So, we're excited about that. But this day, if you haven't been, I'm inviting you now to next year. It is truly it's a special day. And to see my favorite part is when it when it's concludes and the parents come to the students. They're they're both really proud as they should be. And these are all high-wage positions. Like we're not sending them into jobs that they can't have a livable wage with. I mean, one example I'll give is Victoria is up there. After it's about somewhere between 18 and 24 months, those students will be almost $40 an hour. So, they're $80,000 a year and they're 20 years old. >> BJ, remind me. I remember, if I believe I have this right, that, you know, part of this we we always celebrate, as we should,
016the students that are going to college and get the scholarships and all this, which is we should. But then if I remember, we had a company This is just as important. These are people that are going right into the workforce. They're they're driving our economy right now. Right? So, okay. >> And that was the goal here, too, to celebrate them equally. And that's what we try to sell is, "Hey, if you want to be an accountant, you want to go to USI, you do your thing. But this is not a backup plan. These are really good jobs you can make a really good life with. >> Awesome. >> Thank you very much. Appreciate it. >> All right. Absolutely. Thank you. >> Okay, that moves us into action items. Dr. Underwood and Steve Schaller, 6.01. >>
017Good evening, President Duckworth, members of the board, and Dr. Hoover. Consideration to approve the proposal to engage Gibraltar Designs to conduct a district-wide facilities assessment and feasibility study. The study will evaluate building conditions, infrastructure needs, and long-term capital priorities, and will include stakeholder input, enrollment, and capacity analysis, and planning options with associated cost estimates. The total proposed cost is $175,000 to be funded from the debt services fund. >> Move to approve. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Is there any questions or comments? >> I have one comment real quick. Um my daughter and my granddaughter went to North High School for a craft show. My granddaughter goes to Castle. And she came home telling her mom she didn't want to go to Castle anymore, she wanted to go to North. She
018couldn't get over how grand it was and how beautiful and how well-kept. And just she she said, "I want to go back. I want to go to North." I said, "Well, we can't do that." But the short of the story is she wouldn't stop. She was just so impressed. And I think sometimes when we go into our buildings, that happens. We just take it for granted. No, there's a lot of hard work that you guys do. Not just you and you're you're the spearhead a lot of times. But thank you so much for all that you do. And I I really do appreciate it. I just I can't I can't tell you enough. I really do appreciate it. Thank you. >> Okay, any other questions, comments? If not, roll call, please. >> Secretary DeVries. >>
019Aye. >> President Duckworth. >> Aye. >> Trustee Keeper. >> Aye. >> Trustee Hollingsworth. >> Aye. >> Trustee Ragland. >> Aye. >> Trustee Gaines. >> Aye. >> It passes. Thank you very much. Next on the agenda is property tax base and revenue analysis, is Underwood. Good evening. >> Good evening, President Duckworth, members of the board, and Dr. Huber. Office of Business Affairs recommends approval to engage Policy Analytics to conduct a comprehensive review of the district's property tax base and long-term revenue outlook. This analysis will include assessed valuation trends, tax base forecasting, circuit breaker modeling, and projections of net property tax revenues. At this time, we're recommending your approval. >> I'll move. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second on the floor. Any questions or comments? Hearing none, roll. >> Secretary De Reese? >>
020Aye. >> President Duckworth? >> Aye. >> Trustee Keeper? >> Aye. >> Trustee Helmen Porter? >> Aye. >> Trustee Ragland? >> Aye. >> And Trustee Gamble? >> Aye. >> That passes. Thank you. Um now, we move to information items, 7.01, monthly review of financials, Dr. Underwood. >> Good evening, President Duckworth. I do have monthly financials for you this evening. Um as of April 30th, the Education Fund reflects total expenditures of $13,643,605.01, representing 30.36% of the budgeted expenditures, uh with an ending cash balance of $41,354,313.67. Operations Fund reflects total expenditures of $6,336,789.94, representing 28.78% of the expenditures, uh with an ending cash balance of $12,553,070.41. Summary of cash balances by fund represent current cash balances as of April 30th for all major funds, including the debt service, education, exempt debt service, and operations funds. The expenditure ledger
021summary uh report uh by function and object provides detailed analysis of expenditures categorized by both function and object code for the ending period of April 30th. And the revenue ledger summary outlines revenue received as of April 30th across all major funds. Happy to answer any questions about those items you may have. >> Any questions for Dr. Underwood this time? Thank you for that information. We appreciate it. Uh next we move to 7.02. >> As an information item this evening, uh presenting with recommendation for food nutrition commercial kitchen equipment maintenance and repair services agreement for 2026-2027 school year. On April 1st, the district uh issued a request for proposals to six vendors providing commercial kitchen equipment maintenance and repair services. Three vendors submitted proposals prior to the public opening held on April 29th. Following a review
022of pricing, uh proposal completeness, certifications, references, and service capabilities, the office of food and nutrition is recommending award of the contract to Perfection Heating and Air Conditioning. Perfection was identified as the lowest cost provider while also meeting all proposal specifications and service requirements. Happy to answer any questions you may have. >> Perfection, are they local? Any other questions or comments? Thank you for that information. We appreciate it. Finally, 7.03, consideration to approve updates to policy 4307, the wireless communication devices. Mr. Cannon, believe it. >> Good evening, President Duckworth, members of the board, and Dr. Hoover. Uh for your information tonight, Senate Enrolled Act 78 amended Indiana law governing student use of wireless communication devices during the school day. Notable changes include defining the school day as the entire time a student is present on the
023school property during an instructional day, what we would normally call bell to bell. And requiring that devices be powered off and inaccessible to students throughout that time. The proposed revisions align policy 4307 with updated statutory requirements while establishing establishing clear and consistent expectations for student device use during the school day. To meet the July 1 effective date, the office of the chief of staff is offering these revisions for your information tonight and will return on June 8th for your final approval. I'd be happy to attempt and answer to any questions you might have. >> Well, this is probably going to be a fun one, I would think, because we've got students that are, you know, used to having those available, and we've got parents, I'm sure, that like the security of having those students to
024have those. I'm just wondering about the logistics of of how that's going to work in regards to um Are they still going to be able to bring them in the school? They keep them in their locker. Can they use them during lunch period? That that kind of thing. >> Yeah, they won't be able to use them during lunch period because that falls within that bell to bell. But, so the the law kind of established that school corporations needed to establish the policy that did one of two things, either kept them from coming on property at all or established a if they come on property, that they would have these requirements. So, we went with the latter, and I think that we're still working out what the logistics of probably primarily going to be lockers or
025some other place that that the device will be stored and not to be used during the school day. >> Probably, I think, as important as any of it is the fact that we need to communicate this not only with the student at students at school, but with the parents and and those folks that really completely understand the where this came about and and how we're going to handle it. >> Yeah, and I know that Jason Wittenberg and his team have been developing a communication plan to ensure that and I think that that that plan will even include some updates over the summer so folks know what's coming now and are reminded of that as we get closer and closer to the next school year starting. >> All right, I ideally anticipates releasing additional guidance for
026schools and so we'll be waiting for those. They should they should be here anytime. So >> So Rick, uh when we have these guidelines because it's pretty general when you say wireless communication device. This is a phone. I can make phone calls. I can text. I can do everything from here. Email on my on my smart watch. Is it going to be specific to like a smart watch or >> Yeah, if if you would look at line Let me see. The second paragraph. Uh wireless communication device shall mean any wireless web enabled device capable of allowing voice, message, data communication between two or more parties whether it operates independently and it gets to that wearable technology. And then it also says wearable technology shall be considered a WCD for purposes of this policy regardless of
027whether it is actively connected during the school day. So if you had the glasses and you said, "Well, these are my prescription glasses. I'm they're not connected." We they still fall within this policy. >> Okay. It's definitely a change and uh we will follow along. >> Yes, we will and I would say one other thing if I could that uh I think there are positives that have come about through that from the the last round when we initially adopted this policy that there are positives that come from disconnecting for certain times of the day. And there's there's some data surrounding that that says that it has helped students, it has helped staff, and it's helped other things. So, I I think for the state uh to have started this and done this, that even though
028it's it's sometimes difficult, just like other things are, and especially change is difficult, I think there are some real silver linings to the cloud, too. >> Yeah. >> Do you know of any any trials they did on this in any other school districts or in >> I don't >> into this uh >> When when we were looking at this, do you remember any other schools or states that we I know there was an article we read where a school itself had attempted it, but I don't know that they attempted it as part of any law that was enacted by a state or anything. >> We will see how this works out, and I'm sure that we will deal with any issues that that come about. >> Thank you. >> Yes. >> I would say one
029of the I think one of the hardest things will be, you know, we've had um in place already that students couldn't have these during class time, but I anticipate earbuds being being a struggle at the beginning, you know, um often times you see people with one earbud in and then one not, but they won't be able to do that, so. >> Yep. >> Any other questions or comments? Okay, we will move forward to continued business. >> Yeah, so I will start. We've got several things. The first is looking forward to um this week's commencements. We'll have eight of those. Over 1,500 students. It's always a fun time. We're going to cross our fingers for weather. Hoping that we have dry Wednesday and Friday for sure so we can be outside for commencement. This week we
030also last week we recognized our retirees in a celebration after school. Human Resources did a great job and um in total our retirees had 629 years of service. So that's a lot of expertise leaving the district and we certainly wish them well. I think the range of experience with us was 12 years to 41. So some really good people and we're excited for their next stage. We have We're gearing up for summer school. Some people think that you know oh this time of year um we're going to have a few months to relax. Our summer school's over 2,000 students and so we're closing out one school year but also ramping up for a massive summer school. We have um a real I read focus for elementary school and then in high school we focus on
031credit recovery. And with our new diploma those opportunities are are really important for students. You may have seen on social media that we will once again provide free meals for all children 18 and under through the USDA summer food service program. We have 12 locations across the community and so for families in need I would encourage them to go to the EVSC Facebook page to check that out. >> I was a little concerned about the time frame within there. Like breakfast was like 8:00 to 8:15. And shoulders now we usually breakfast about 2:30 in the afternoon but but I'm just wondering if that can give them a little more time. >> And then the last thing on my list is just um thanking our staff for a great school year. Uh students and families also,
032we've There've been a lot of things to celebrate this year and many things to feel good about. So, grateful for all of those things. Looking forward to the summer months. >> Well, I I just like to say I think you've done a great job in your your first little uh dash uh around the school district and in regards to your governance and and working alongside everyone and I think everyone has really um um gotten around you and wants to see not only you but the district to move forward and um you know, Dr. Smith did a great job and it's a new year now. So, we appreciate all you do and and uh some of the new ideas, some of the new approaches that that you're doing and so uh uh I think I can
033speak for the board in that regard. I think we're all just as as happy as we can be about your performance. So, thank you. Uh Any other comments or continued business from the board? >> I got a couple things. Comment and a question. So, I'd like uh Trustee Ragland and myself, we attended the Early College High School graduation. They had that I'm I'm blessed because I get to see these students at the Ivy Tech graduation, at at their graduation, and then at their home school graduation, which is kind of unique, I think. But, I just wanted to kind of give you some numbers. Um uh the 2026 class had 33 graduates, 49 associate degrees, 49 technical certificates, four certificates, and 94 credentials. And you'll say, "Well, there's only 33 people." These are stackable and then
034many of the students earn more than one associate degree. Most of them go and get their AGS degree, associate of general studies, but then they may get a degree in business administration or criminal justice or whatever it may be, but really proud of those students. They accomplished a lot and and I thought it was well done, Karen. You were there. Was it? Yeah. So, that was that was just wanted to give them a little bit of a shout-out. Uh and then secondly, the kind of the question I noticed during the two action action items with these two studies that we're going to have done. I mean, I think does this not make sense to kind of get that information wrapped this all together with our safety and security study because one's looking at all of
035our facilities and where the needs are. I'm just wanting to make sure I'm seeing this right. The other is how much money we're going to have, right, in the long run based on Senate Bill 1, property tax dollars, circuit breaker, and I'm sure all that. And then we're going to be kind of I don't know when we're going to get to when we get to the safety and security uh don't we kind of really need to know all three of those instead of just need you're doing one because we got it first. Would it make sense to wait till we get all three of those to make really an informed decision? >> Yeah, that's exactly right. I you know, what we're talking about really with all three is having this long-range plan, having the information
036that we need so that we we know capital projects, infrastructure, what are we looking at um in the short and and long term and being able to predict that out. And with the safety study, we know there's going to be some capital projects that come about based on that. And then the bottom line is you have to know how much money you have coming in so that you can you know, create a responsible plan that we can afford. And so having all three I think is the timing of of the way this is coming together is going to be very helpful. >> I appreciate that. Thank you. Good point. Anything else? Okay. Um I don't think I can't see everyone, but I I we have any students in attendance, do we? >> No, we're not.
037>> Okay. Uh the artwork this evening is from Lodge Community School. Taking a gander at that, they're much more talented than we are. Um no stick or no stick figures or color by number or anything like that. It looks really good. Okay. Uh any other business to come before the board? We do have a a lot of work ahead of us with the graduations. And uh hopefully the weatherman will work with us and we can uh move forward and focus on the on the path of their future. So, any other business to come before the board? I need a motion for adjournment. >> Have a good week, everyone. >> Thanks, Amy. >> Goodbye.