001school corporation school board of trustees to order. Um I would ask for roll call Amy >> President Duckworth we have a full board present uh with Vice President Moore online and she doesn't plan the vote this evening. >> Thank you. >> That being said, would you all please stand and join us in the pledge of allegiance, please? 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. >> Thank you. Melissa, can you hear? All right. >> Yes. >> All right. Thank you. Um, next we have good news. Thank you very much, President Duckworth, Superintendent Hoover, members of the board. We start once again with good news, and we never have a shortage of that here
002in EBSC. So, for good news this evening, uh you may have seen this. We had media coverage of this recently. Uh last week, the mayor's initiative uh on reading citywide, we read launch. Uh Dr. Hoover was certainly part of that along with Clifford, the big red dog, in case you missed that on the pictures. Uh but this was really just a nice celebration and really the message coming out of this is how important it is for all of us in our community whether you're an educator or a politician or a business owner just the importance of children reading and we know at EBSC we've seen great success this past uh school year uh for the strides we've made and we definitely want that to continue and not just EBSC but our entire community. So, uh,
003nice celebration around that. Uh, we had a release of another what's happening with Dr. Hoover and this was on the Academy of Science and Medicine program. And I won't say too much of that because we've got special guests here from ASM tonight who are going to talk to you during district spotlight. Uh, I will say because he's not here tonight, Dr. Barnett, Joy Barnett, who is an EBSC alum. He was certainly part of this video. He has been instrumental in ASM uh and formerly the former name MPA the medical professions academy uh getting that off the ground and from Vanderbilt University and just so fascinating speaking with him if you haven't had a chance to talk to one of >> our Hall of Fame members. >> Yes, absolutely. And certainly a valuable asset uh to
004ASM the EDS. >> Congratulations are in order for two of our basketball teams, girls basketball. We had uh the 3A sectional champion Central Bears. They are now back-to back 3A sectional champions. Uh so they did a fantastic job over the weekend. And then we had a 4A sectional champion with the Wrights High School Panthers. So congratulations to these athletes uh and best of luck to them in the regional. And then last but not least, we definitely want to highlight Darby Bodart. She is a senior at Wrights High School. In fact, we're going to go out tomorrow with the media and talk to her because this is worthy of a celebration. Dr. Hoover, with your high school experience to be a na, you know, you hear us talk sometimes about National Merit semi- finalist, which is
005amazing that she is a national merit finalist. So, she made it to the top and you can see she is among the top 1% of high school seniors in the country. To attain this is just almost mindboggling. So, congratulations to her. Uh we look forward to talking to her with media tomorrow and can't wait to see what she holds in her future. And that is it for good. >> Thank you. I think we also had a Harrison High School wrestler that >> Yes, we did. And then we'll have some updates later. Let's see. Swimming. Uh we have some uh diving uh students moving on student athletes and some what else? >> Swimming, diving and oh and then the wrestling. So yeah, lots of athletic success lately for sure. >> Thank you. A lot of good
006things going on in the corporation. Thank you. Next is uh public comment and uh live from the Southern office uh is uh you all recognize him, Pat Shers. He he does work here and work I use really kind of a that's a flexible term. So Mr. Shers, >> thank you, President Duckworth. Uh tonight we have but one individual who has signed up to speak. He needs no warning from me nor introduction to you. A few minutes with Larry. [laughter] Going back for just a minute, I'd like to mention that rights beat Castle at Castle to win that sectional. Uh I'm a member of the Westside Improvement Association. That's a neighborhood association formed in 1976 and they have some collaborations with the EVSC. like to mention some of those. Um, the city is sectioned off into
00746 different neighborhood areas. Each one has a name and they have an association. Uh, prominent people that got started with the Westside Improvement Association, Shirley James, Fred Padet, Charlie Stalker, Paul Farmer, longtime principal at West Harris Elementary. current collaborations we have with the EBSC. Uh there's a spot on our board for a rights person that could be a student if a student would want to do that. Uh we sponsor scholarships for seniors, not just colleges but um apprenticeships, technicians, trade school, uh bunch of different scholarships, uh donate profits from our fall festival to the uh EBSC schools. Uh and Gateway, what we call gateway St. Joe and Marilyn, the e the Westside improvement uh maintains that area. You'll see some nice tulips there in April. But they had the Christmas light display and this year
008when they had the opening ceremony, the choir from Helry Park School came to sing Gina more some Christmas songs. So we have new leadership at Westside Improvement. We're looking for more collaborations with the EVSSE and uh PTAs and neighborhood associations are in the same boat. Uh they need members and uh I do more than just go to ball games. >> Thank you, Larry. >> Thanks, Larry. [applause] >> Next on the uh agenda and consent items with Dr. Hoop. >> Good evening, President Dworth and members of the board of school trustees. We have four consent items for your consideration tonight. They are 3.01, 01 consideration of the minutes from the February 2nd, 2026 executive session and regular board meeting. 3.02 Consideration of the allowance of payments with invoices net payroll payroll obligation for a total allowance
009of payments of 9,765,12346. 3.03 consideration to approve grant proposals. And 3.04 consideration to approve the purchase of devices for support staff secretaries. These consent items are presented for your approval. Move >> to approve. Second. We >> have a motion and a second on the consent items. Is there any questions or or discussion? >> Hearing none. Roll call vote, please. >> Okay. I will start with Vice President Moore. >> Yes. >> President Duckworth. >> Yes. >> Trusty Kefir. >> Hi. >> Secretary Dice. >> Hi. >> Trusty Hollingsworth. Hi. >> Trusty Ragland. Hi. >> And trusty Gambler. Hi. Thank you. That passes 70. Um, next on the agenda is consideration of personnel recommendations. >> Good evening, President Duckworth, members of the board, Dr. Hoover. Tonight's personnel recommendations include the following. Retirement resignations, regular appointments, resignations from extra
010duty, appointment to extra duty, after school appointments, and consideration of the administrative appointment of Jeffrey Jones, head girls soccer coach at Fossy High School. These recommendations are presented for your approval. >> Move to approve. >> Second. >> Motion and a second regarding the uh personnel recommendation. Any questions or comments? >> Hearing none. Uh could we have a roll call vote, please? >> I'll start with Vice President Moore. >> I. >> President Duckworth. >> I. >> Trusty Kefir. >> Hi. >> Secretary Dere. >> Trusty Helingsworth. Hi. >> Trusty Ragland. Hi. >> And Trusty Gley. Hi. 70. Thank you. Um, that passes. Next on the agenda is our district spotlight with Dr. Hoover. >> Yes. So, tonight I am excited to have a student who's coming this way right now, Ella Roden, who is a Harrison senior.
011Is that right, Ella? >> Yes. >> And Matt Croppy, who's our director of ASM. Uh, it's an exciting time for ASM. There's a new building renovation in place, and it's a it's a program that's dear to my heart. It started when I was a principal at Central, so it's been around for a long time. It's one of our biggest innovative models. Happy to hear what you all are going to share tonight. And Ella, thank you for being here. >> Yes. Uh so, thank you for having us. Uh the goal of the ASM is to provide a college preparatory environment for students and we combine that with some uh unique community-based experiences where students actually get to go out to our local universities, healthcare institutions and science industry partners to make uh you know an informed
012decision about what do they want to do? What is it really like to be a scientist or a medical professional? And so um we have uh you know grown significantly over the past 15 years. We started with 50 students and today we currently have uh 200 over 250 students enrolled representing nine different high schools um from Vanderberg and surrounding counties. And so we're really proud of that uh achievement. Um, and I think another uh aspect of our program that I think highlights our uh goal or um achieving our goal is our graduates. And so we did a study over the past 10 years and looked at our graduates and what they were doing. And we found that 80% of our students uh ended up getting a degree in either a science or a healthc care
013field. And then 75% of those actually came back to live and work in the Evansville area. So that's an amazing testament to it. Um, as Dr. Hoover said, we are expanding a facility at the back of Central High School. Um, this is going to give us a couple of different opportunities uh for our program and the first is um doubling the capacity of of the ASM to up to 500 students which I think there we are already seeing growth in our enrollment and this is an opportunity for us to serve more students. Um, another opportunity for us is to uh give students access to more advanced technology and scientific instruments. Uh, typically we've we've designed spaces that will allow students to be able to get these uh opportunities well in advance of their peers uh
014across the country. And then lastly, we've purposely de uh designed uh this uh space for community collaboration. And so we've uh want to make sure that our important community partners, our local universities and uh healthcare institutions have the ability to continue serving our students uh in the best way possible. And so I'd like Ella to talk a little bit about her uh opportunities in the ASM. >> Yeah. So I feel like ASM has really helped shape who I am academically. Um a big part of it is experiences going to local hospitals um like St. Vincent and Deaconist. Um when we went to St. Vincent. It was a really cool opportunity to get hands-on learning um and just get to do things with doctors and other medical professions there. And then when we went to Deaconist,
015I was able to shadow in the women's hospital. Um and that was really cool for me. I learned that I want to work in nursing and I think specifically in the NICU. Um and then I feel like ASM has really helped prepare me for college. Um, currently I'm in a research class where I'm working on a research paper and that class has really helped me to learn how to write scientifically and be able to learn things for myself um, and just write as a scholar would. And I feel like I wouldn't know what I want to do, what I want to pursue without having ASM behind me helping me every step of the way. >> Fantastic. Thank you all for for being here. Now, some of the board members may have questions, but I just
016want to say I actually uh several of us sit through a class and my god, I am so happy there are smart students like you out there and I will tell you that to me, this is one of our blue ribbon programs. Uh this is a program that's needed to be expanded for a long time. Um and I just so excited about the potential that you have. But when I listen, I think there were some dissertations going on. Uh I really needed an interpreter and but but the way healthc care is today and it tells you nothing but there's just going to be more and more need down the road. And I I think this is a a great start and it's a a viable way for us to contribute to the health care industry
017in our community. And I I can't see it doing anything but growing. So thank you all. Mr. Mr. Trump, thank you for your work. You you've been a leader in this and we appreciate all the time. >> Jennifer, >> and I appreciate the collaboration with the community, especially the the health facilities because I think it's critical that you went out. You referenced two, you went out and I appreciate the fact that we're going to have better equipment. They can come in. But I think that going out is an important aspect. Going from 250 to 500, are you going to be able to find enough spots for them, if you will, to to go out and visit? I mean do you think that will be an issue or a problem for you cuz I know it
018is with nursing at at higher ed and some different pl that's difficult many times. So would that be something you think? >> Yeah. So that was actually whenever we started this process man it's been over five six years ago at this point maybe even longer. We sat down and looked at what do we think would be a sustainable number of students that could actually be serviced by these facilities. And so we worked with our community partners we worked with Deaconist. We worked with St. Vincent and we actually came up with that number 500 not just randomly but based on the capacity that we that they had available to expand for our program. >> Great. >> So we have you'll have educators or teachers that will be able to serve that capacity. >> Correct. Yes. And
019so we're continuing to grow. Uh this year we had our largest ever applicant pool. We had over 235 applicants and we accepted about 185 of them. So yes. Yep. >> Well, my granddaughter Maya >> Yes. >> She's at Butler and and ASM was a stepping stone. A big um I was up there with her once and toured. I was just amazed. And you know the experience she had at ASM, she's able to just carry that on. We'll see that. Thank you. Thanks for being here tonight. I have um two questions. I guess they're they're very related. What if any trends do you see from um the medical field as far as like what they're the professions that they think that are going to need to be filled? And then on the flip side of that,
020do you see trends in students as far as like what they what they want to do? Uh I think that that definitely changes. I think one of the big trends that we're seeing is the ability to go beyond just the initial four-year degree. And so there's quite a few of our students that uh quite a few uh needs within the community for, you know, postgraduate, if you will, um uh positions like nurse practitioners and uh uh physicians assistants and things like that. And so that that expansion is needed. And I also think that um we've been able to cultivate relationships with those uh people to come in and talk with our students and show them and as you know Elllet said that's her goal right is to go beyond just the traditional four-year degree and
021get a uh you know a graduate degree in nurse practitioner. So and I think that that's a testament to our students as well. they're they're very there's a very diverse group of interests and so we try to make sure that we have enough uh variety for every student to find something that is interesting to them. So >> I I just thought of another question. So man I tell you what I just think I just lost that question. Oh I'm sure that your students a lot of the college will be paid for because I'm sure they're academically high achievers right when they get in. Have do you guys have conversations with whether it's digness or whomever whoever you work with ascension whomever about them because nowadays you you can't stop say an associate or bachelor's you
022got to keep going on to get more education to be a nurse as an example about their tuition reimbursement is that something that we're do you have somebody from their HR come in and actually talk about these benefits because I know they're trying to get them in they want them bad but I think that's a valuable thing for our students to know this is my long-term goes my plan now. I don't want to be saddled with $100,000 worth of debt. How can I make a good decision? >> Absolutely. I think that you know our primary focus has been uh college first and so uh we've really been focusing on uh obtaining scholarships to go directly into college but you're right in that we have brought in uh the deaconist ascension HR department to actually have
023it scheduled for our juniors here in three weeks where they will come in and and also explore those opportunities with students that are you know this is your option if you come work for us we will help pay for your schooling as well. So that's >> that's excellent. Thank you. Any board questions at this time? I would ask you to keep us updated, please, in regards not only to your progress, but any needs that you may have through Dr. Hoover, because this is, like I said, a blue ribbon program, and we want it to succeed, and it has succeeded, but we can't imagine it not getting better. >> Thank you. One of the things I wanted to add is just the integration of the program I think is something that makes it unique and we
024all want our medical practitioners to be very smart in the science right so they can tell us what are what's wrong with us but also equally important is the ability to communicate with empathy and to explain to people so I think hearing you it's not easy to come before a school board and and talk about what a program looks like and so I can see that in you when you're talking like you're you're able to communicate great in that way. So kudos to you. >> I do have one more question because this is so good what you're doing. So beyond you you want to go from 250 to 500. Oh, is that recruiting now beyond just Central or is it always been where any of our other high schools could come in? >> Yes. So
025uh you know we have been recruiting beyond Central High School now for the entirety of the program. Um, and we have nine different high schools represented both EVSSE and then out in uh Vandenberg and surrounding county. >> Fantastic. Thank you. >> Yeah, Ellen is a Ella is a warrior. She's a Harrison. >> She's a Harrison warrior. So, [snorts] >> just want to tell you, Ella, I appreciate that you're going into NICU as the mom of a NICU baby. Um, we need um well educated, compassionate folks in the new Thank you all very much. Appreciate you. >> Okay. Uh, next on the agenda are action items 6.01, consideration of conflict of interest policy. Hollinssworth. >> Yes. Um, the purpose of a conflict of interest policy is to ensure that decisions made by the school board are
026based solely on the best interest of the school district and students. This policy is intended to protect the integrity, transparency, and public trust in governing the EVSC district by preventing personal, financial, and other interests from improperly influencing out official actions. The language is this. [clears throat] When a conflict of interest exists, a board member shall recuse themselves from discussion, deliberation, and voting on the matter. The board member shall not attempt to influence any decision informally or outside a meeting. Board members shall not use their position for personal gain or the gain of a spouse, domestic partner, parent, child, or sibling. consequences. Failure to comply with conflict of interest policies shall resort result in removal of board committees and leadership roles. The scope of this conflict of interest is the conflict of interest applies to all
027members of the school board. A confive interest exists when a member's personal, professional, financial, or family interests could reasonably be perceived to influence or appear to influence the member's judgment. Decision, making, or actions in their official capacity. Conflicts of interest may be actual, potential, or perceived. I motion that this conflict of interest be adopted in its entirety. >> We have a motion on the floor in regards to the conflict of interest policy. Is there a second? Once again, consideration of conflict of interest policy proposed by Mr. Hollingsworth. Is there a second? Hearing no second. Uh motion dies without a second so we can move forward. 6.02 consideration to award the contract for Harper Elementary School playground project 2026. Mr. Sheller, good evening. >> Good evening, President Deworth, members of the board, and Dr. Hoover. The
028Harper Elementary School playground project 2026. Notice the bid was advertised on December 5th and December 12th, 2025. A pre-bid meeting was held on December 16th, 2025. The bids were received on January 5th, 2026. Our recommendation is to award the project to Ark Construction for the base bid amount of 233,400 plus alternate bid number two for 17,580 for a total of $250,980. >> Approval second. We have a motion and a second. Any questions or comments hearing? None. Roll call vote, please. >> I will start with Vice President Moore. >> Hi. >> President Duckworth. >> Hi. >> Trusty Kefir. >> Hi. >> Secretary Dere. >> Hi. >> Trusty Hollingsworth. >> Hi. >> Trusty Ragland. >> Hi. >> And Trusty Gambling. >> I pass a 70. Thank you, Mr. Sheller. Next on the agenda is 6.04 04 consideration
029to award the contract for the Wrights High School stadium LED lighting upgrade project for 2026. >> Do we have three? Did we do three? >> Very high. >> Sorry. >> I may have missed it. >> Six points. >> Oh, I thought he said four. I'm sorry. >> I skipped it. You're you're skipping. Okay, let's go back. My bad. 6.03. consideration to award the contract for the Perry Heights Middle School parking lot paving project for 2026. >> Perry Heights Middle School parking lot paving project 2026. Notice the bid was advertised on December 12th and December 19th, 2025. A pre-bid meeting was held on January 5th, 2026. Bids were received on January 13, 2026. Our recommendation is to award the contract to Danco Construction for the base bid amount of 219,500 plus alternate bid number one for
03065,300 plus alternate bid number two for 8,500 plus alternate bid number three for 15,100 plus the patch allowance of $32,925 for a total of $341,325. We also recommend the acceptance of the unit pricing. >> Move to approve. >> Second. >> Have a motion and a second on the floor. Any questions or comments? >> President. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Hope you can hear me. I have a question. How often outside of the weight and everyday usage in the parking lots are will we be repaving school parking lots? And I hope you can hear me. I didn't know. >> How often do you have to repay? >> How often do we have to repay? Uh I don't have exactly when the last time that was done. We try to do several of them a year. Uh we
031also try to address areas that might need to be just patched. So we've done that in several locations as well. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions or comments? Roll call vote, please. >> Okay. Okay, we'll start with uh Vice President Moore. >> Hi, >> President Duckworth. >> Hi, >> Trusty Kefir. >> Hi, >> Secretary Dere. >> Hi, >> Trusty Hollingsworth. >> Hi, >> Trusty Ragland. >> Hi, >> and Trusty Gamblin. >> I pass a 70. And now we will move to Terry Gamblin's favorite 6.04 consideration to award contract for the Writes High School Stadium LED lighting upgrade project 26. Writes high school stadium LED lighting project upgrade 2026. Notice bid was advertised on December 5th and December 12th, 2025. A pre-bid meeting was held on December 17th, 2025. Bids were received on January 7th,
0322026. Our recommendation is to award the contract to Alva Electric for the base bid amount of $259,000. Second motion and a second. Any comments or questions? >> Much needed. Much needed. Okay. >> I will start with Vice President Moore. >> I Doug. >> Yes. >> Trusty Kefir. >> Hi. >> Secretary Dere. Hi. >> Trusty Hollingsworth. >> Hi. >> Trusty Ragland. >> Hi. >> And trusty Gland. >> Hi. All right, that pass is 70. Thank you, Mr. Shell. We'll have you back here shortly. Uh, next is 6.05, consideration to approve the purchase of devices for students. >> Good evening, President Duckworth, members of the board, Dr. Hoover. In our February 2nd board meeting, I presented anformational item concerning the purchase of 2,390 Lenovo Chromebooks for all incoming 9th grade students and students enrolled in New Tech
033Institute. This purchase will be made utiliz utilizing the TIPS uh nally recognized purchasing program in conjunction with K12 Tech, an Indiana based technology company. Funding will be provided uh through a combination of student technology advancement account funds, common school funds, and the operation fund. The office of technology is recommending your approval to purchase these student devices. Thank you. >> So move second. >> A motion and a second. I do have a question. What's the total cost on these? >> The total cost is >> 882 Sorry. >> Go ahead, Joey. >> Sorry. 882,1 Wait, let me say this again. Sorry. 882,12510. >> I want to get that on the record. That's That's a pretty good uh amount. So, make sure that it's on the verbal record for the folks listening at home. All right. We have
034a um do we have a motion and a second? >> We did at that point. Yeah. >> Roll call vote, please. >> Okay. I'll start with Vice President Mort. >> I. >> President Duckworth. >> Yes. >> Trusty Kefir. >> Hi. >> Secretary Dice. >> Hi. >> Trusty Hollingford. >> Hi. >> Raglin. >> Hi. >> And Trusty Gablin. >> Hi. That's a 70. Thank you. Finally, uh 6.06 06 consideration to approve the agreement's healthc care staffing. Michelle Williams. >> Good evening, President Duckworth, members of the board. Dr. Hooer, tonight I request your approval to move forward with a partnership with a marriage healthcare staffing to temporarily fill existing healthcare vacancies until permanent hires are made. As shared last week, this is a short-term stabilization measure, not a long-term staffing strategy. The Marges will recruit, screen, hire,
035and assign qualified staff who meet all district credential and licensing requirements. These individuals will will remain a memer employees while the district retains responsibility for daily supervision, schedules, and student care. Because these [snorts] staff are not district employees, there will be no added benefit costs. The total cost will not exceed $100,000 annually and will be funded through the operations fund. I'm requesting your approval to move forward this evening. >> Second motion second. We have a motion and two seconds. Um, is there any questions or comments? >> Is this something I don't recall us doing this before? >> We haven't for our nurses before. Um, but we have found here lately that we've had several openings come open and it takes a little while to fill them and so we're hoping that this will help us
036staff those while we work to find a more permanent solution. >> This is her nurses, school nurses, correct? >> Yes. Any questions or comments? >> Okay. Hearing none. Roll call vote, please. >> Vice President Moore. >> I. >> President Duckworth. >> Hi. >> Trusty Kefir. >> Hi. >> Secretary Dere. >> I. >> Trusty Hollingsworth. >> Hi. >> Trusty Ragland. >> Hi. >> And Trusty Gamblin. >> Hi. >> Thank you. >> Okay, that's going to move us into information items. The next three items. Uh Steve Sheller 7.01 01 consideration to award the contract for the Hebrin Elementary School roofing project 2026. >> Good evening once again, President Duckworth, members of the board, and Dr. Hoover. The Hein Elementary School roofing project 2026. Notice the bid was advertised on December 5th and December 12th, 2025. A pre-bid
037meeting was held on December 16th, 2025. Bids were received on January 8th, 2026. The board has received a bid tabulation sheet for this project and I will recommend awarding this project to Layman Roofing at the next scheduled schoolboard meeting. Be happy to answer any questions you may have. >> Questions or comments. Okay, that moves us to 7.02 consideration to award the contract for Lincoln School Roofing Project. Mr. Sheller, >> Lincoln School Roofing Project 2026. Notice to bid was advertised on December 5th and December 12th, 2025. A pre-bid meeting was held on December 16th, 2025. Bids were received on January 8th, 2026. The board has received a bid tabulation sheet for this project and I will recommend awarding this project to BNS roofing at the next scheduled schoolboard meeting. I'd be happy to answer any questions
038you may have. >> Are they local? They uh are out of Rockport. They've done uh quite a bit of work here for the EDSC. >> Thank you. Any other questions, comments? Okay, that moves us to um consideration to award the contract elementary school roofing project. >> Vogal Elementary School Roofing Project 2026. Notice the bid was advertised on December 5th and December 12th, 2025. A pre-bid meeting was held on December 16th, 2025. Bids were received on January 8th, 2026. The board has received a bid tabulation sheet for this project, and I will recommend awarding this project to Midwest Roofing and sheet metal at the next scheduled schoolboard meeting. Happy to answer any questions you may have. >> I've got one, Steve. I'm just I'm just curious. We got three roofing projects and three different vendors. It's
039because the uniqueness of each building or is it because of a manpower issue? They just can't take on three at one time. >> Absolutely. So, we only have uh 10 week summer. It's really tough to get some of these projects finished. The the one we're talking about here is actually a 33,000 square foot uh project, which is a huge project to try to get done in 10 weeks. Uh some of these companies only have one crew that they work with. Some of them have multiple crews. And of course, we've got a project at ASM right now where we're pulling some of those folks to uh as well. So, we were fortunate to get three good bids, I believe. >> I appreciate that. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> And that's not alarming either. That's actually
040very good because a lot of contractors have a core of men and when they have to out they have to hire outside their core, that's where efficiency goes down, craftsmanship, and different things. When they've only got one or two crews, it's perfectly fine. In fact, it's it's better. Yeah. So, good. It's not a lot. >> I think we were fortunate that there was three different companies on each project. If that's what you're asking is >> that is that is a very good thing. That's very healthy. >> It's really nice is when they're all local they are, but we like to, you know, use local workforce when we can. >> Yes, sir. >> Thank you, Mr. Sheller. 7.04 is notice of upcoming hearing. Dr. Underwood, good evening. Good evening, President Duckworth, members of the board, and
041Dr. Hoover. Uh, this is just a notice of a prehering that will be coming up at the next board meeting. It's that time of year uh to begin our uh annual issuance of a general obligation bond to support the work that goes on in the district. Just uh a new uh uh requirement this year is just to uh provide notice that we will be having a hearing that will be coming up at the next board meeting. uh happy to answer any questions that you might have uh about this process. >> Questions or comments at this time? >> Thanks, sir. We now move into continued business. Uh Dr. Hoop, >> I'll start. I feel like some of this is a repeat of good news, but I'll begin by thanking um Matt Crompy and Ella who stayed
042for the whole board meeting. Uh and I saw some other central teachers out there. So, thank you so much for uh being here to represent ASM. It is one of our eight innovative models. Um and students are increasingly participating in innovative models as a pathway to graduation. So, I'm glad that we have those in our district. A weather update. When we met last Monday, we hadn't yet returned to school and happy to say we had no incidents. Um I think that's um due to our transportation and facilities team and all of their efforts uh ensuring that we had a safe return. So grateful to Stephen and his team and Ryan Williams and his team for all that they did to make that happen. And lastly, I want to thank Traisha Brooks who on our end,
043she's our liaison working with the mayors with the mayor on we read. We had this idea um last year that we wanted some more intentionality around engaging our families and our community in early literacy efforts. And so Tradition has really done an extraordinary job making those things happen and thankful to the mayor for highlighting this importance and getting our whole community involved in that. I think our district and our whole community rallying around kids and reading is is going to result in good things for young learners. So that's it for me. >> Thank you, Dr. Hoover. I I'd like to kind of piggy back on that in regards to the snow removal and I know you've always got people that are going to second guess um you know whether or not you should have school
044or not have school. I will tell you as the former city and county transportation director that every one of these events are different. Um, this one here, more than I've ever seen, did not melt. The temperature was so low, it just was extremely difficult to to even get to the secondary streets, much less get the primary streets removed. And I think crews did as as well as they could. But as far as the decision to stay out of school, I think we did exactly what was right because uh our our students and our bus drivers and our teachers and everyone's safety is first and foremost. I'll I'll take the criticism every day. We had no one hurt. We had, you know, no episodes. So, to me, I think it was handled great. Tonight, we're looking
045into buying more computers. That's why we do this. That's why we have uh take-home laptops for kids. so that they can communicate with their teachers when we have incidents like this. So I think it all worked well together. Hopefully uh the weatherman will be more uh uh conducive to you know having school. So but I think Darly I think you made the sometimes tough decisions. I think they were good decisions and I I thank um our staff for our parking lots and our I mean you know our sidewalks. People don't understand that out there when you're [clears throat] clearing the roadway, the snow's got to go somewhere. >> And when you pile it over on the sidewalk, where are the kids going to walk, you know? So, um there's just a lot of things to
046consider and I just think it went really well and thanks to our staff and the city and county staffs for for working through that. So, thank you. >> Carla, could I ask the question? um the days we had off >> are we doing with what the state is requiring and do you expect the state to be lenient in any way? >> So we were off six days and we used asynchronous for one of those three synchronous days. So in total we had four virtual days and we used two that technically right now we we would lose our snow makeup days, those potential days we had in the spring. We did submit a waiver through IDOE to see if we can get a waiver for those days for the two that we didn't have a virtual
047instruction and if we can then those would bring those days back for us in the spring and that's assuming we get no more weather events that call school off but we did apply for the IDO waiver. >> I have a question if uh it is declared a state of emergency like state and local or city is that help the waiver at all? It does and the turnaround has been really fast. We just submitted um I think this morning early or maybe late Friday and so we hope to hear something here in the next couple of days. But certainly that helps. There are some rules like you you have to have used up all of your asynchronous days that were allowed which we did. We were allowed three and we used that on our last one
048on Monday. And then the choice to do synchronous was really just to keep kids connected to school and prevent in the event that we don't get a waiver prevent from using all of those days this spring. So we're hopeful to get a we're hopeful to get a waiver because of the state of emergency. >> Dr. Hoover, if you could for you know the listening and and viewing audience, can you talk about explain those modalities? You said synchronous asynchronous. I don't know that everybody knows what that means. >> Yeah. So when we're on an asynchronous day, what that means is there's no the teacher and students are not live together. Um so a teacher posts an assignment for students and students do have their devices at home. So many students will get on and start to
049work on their assignment and they're due usually a week from when they're posted. Teachers are of course available if a student wants to email or reach out to to ask questions. Teachers are available for that. Synchronous is really when there's a set schedule and at that time the teacher pops in and the student joins and they are actually communicating through using their devices. So it's really like school but they're on computer instead and there's usually an assignment that follows for that as well. But I think our teachers did you know I I still have a high schooler so I could hear what was going on. I think our teachers do a very good job of keeping kids engaged. Um, I think I told you the last time, uh, kindergarten teacher, um, there's a video recap
050whenever you do these and and I watched her video recap of the kindergarteners and first of all, hats off to kindergarten teachers >> because it was extraordinary to see that. But I just teachers did a great job with how do we navigate this and how do we keep kids connected to one another and to learning while you're off and so yeah, >> thank you. It's my understanding that also when they see impending weather that they they start giving them assignments so that they're ready in case something happens. >> Yeah. Since we I think something that worked really well this time and we you know we were watching weather ahead of time. So Thursday before the the weather event, we were able to put out a message to staff and to families that said if we're
051only out one day, here's what it will look like. If we're out two, if we're out three. And so people had an idea of what to expect, which also allowed teachers to talk to students about what this is going to look like. Um, you know, younger students who've never done it, it gave them a chance to practice and to get a I know one of the things for little people is always like what's in the background? How are they changing their setting? And so, but but you know, taking the fun side out of it, too. It's just it gave them a chance to practice. So, we had pretty high participation and um we internally got a ton of positive feedback from teachers especially just thanking us for it was just helpful to know what to
052anticipate. So, >> great. Any other comments or questions from the board? >> I have one. Um we you know all board members get a magazine the journal and uh there was a article in there that caught my attention about AED. So, do we have those in our schools? Like, is it every school or just a couple? >> We do. >> Okay. Yeah. >> We do. >> How important it was. Yes. >> Hear the comments from the board. >> Any students here this evening from the center? >> Ellen back. >> You're good. Okay. [laughter] >> Back again. >> All right. Um, normally we have artwork and if you can see um, uh, you have some >> I thought I apologize the note must have gotten Perry Heights, but it just outside in the >> Oh, it's
053outside. Okay. Well, I can't comment on it because I can't see it. But anyway, >> Stop on your way out. That's right. Okay. Um, appreciate all that hard work and we don't want it to be just >> Thank you for pointing that out. Um, is there any other business to come before the board this evening? Need a motion to adjurnn. So move second. >> This means a journ.