001January 2nd board of school trustees meeting together. Roll call. Uh >> for the Duckworth. Yes, we have a full board present. We have Secretary Dere um attending virtually and she does plan to vote. So we'll do roll call vote for our items this evening. >> Thank you. Can everyone come in? Shoters. Amy, can you hear? Okay, >> I can hear fine. Thank you. >> All right. >> Uh, if that becomes a problem, just give us a signal or something and we'll we'll stop and get you get you tuned in. So that being said, would you all please stand for the pledge of >> 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. >> Welcome
002everyone. I know it's been a a cold time and this two will pass. So, we're just going to do the the school's business tonight and move forward. So, that being said, uh good news, Mr. Wenberg. >> Thank you very much, President Duffworth, members of the board, Superintendent Hoover, for good news. First of all, I'm going to start good news is we made it above freezing today. So, in fact, I think it was still 34 degrees when I checked just a little bit ago. So, we'll not exactly 75 and sunny, but hey, we'll take it. So, uh for good news, want to lift this. All of our high schools do really fun things around this this time of year as they have seniors who are getting their college acceptance letters. uh thought Harrison really did uh
003something special here and they're utilizing the power of social media to really promote this, but they've created a backdrop and so they have their seniors come down and hold up uh the logos for the schools they've been accepted to so far. So just thought this is a great way to celebrate. This is such a big time for these students. A lot of pride, a lot of pride for the school as well. So uh just kudos to our schools for uh showcasing that and congrats to all these students. looking forward to see what they do next. Speaking of an accomplishment, uh let's talk about Maddie Shirley uh at Central High School. You've heard us talk about her before. Uh she entered, this happened to be at a game at Castle. Um, she entered the 2,000 point
004club. That has only been accomplished by 66 other girls basketball players in the state of Indiana in the history since they've been keeping records of girls basketball in the state. 2,000 points. I mean, her coach talked about how you're talking about averaging over 500 points or averaging 500 points a season. Some great players don't have that in their whole career. So, congratulations to her. Uh, and her season's not over yet. So that is great accomplishment for her and Central High School. Um talk about wrestling going on. Uh congrats. This first of all is one of our sectional champions. Our sectional champion uh Michael Roshi happens to be at Harrison High School. Uh but we had 20 of our high school wrestlers advance to regionals. So congratulations to all them. Uh that is a great accomplishment
005and we wish them the best as they keep moving through the Indiana high school wrestling tournament and lots of excitement too with athletics because the girls basketball sectional is just uh getting ready to start too. So great time in sports here in the EBSC. And that is it for good news. >> Thank you. I I think in the future you may have to go through uh Mattiey's agent Larry Samples. You >> may be right about that. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. Thank you for that report and they're all doing great great work out there. Uh public comment, are you going to handle it, Joe? >> I'll be happy to do that. And you did a nice segue there. Mr. Samples has signed up to uh chat with us again this evening. He knows the rules
006and he may be the future athletic agent for Mattie Shirley. So Larry, >> another thing about her in her whole career, she's averaged a double double. Each game was a double double points scored and rebound double digits. U I think we got a Harrison theme going tonight. I want to mention the Harrison boys basketball showcase. Vantara Bank sponsored it back on January 16th and 17th. 6th annual. The idea is to bring some out of town teams in and they try to get the best competition they can for our local teams. Uh Harrison athletic staff, a lot of people involved in that. The two spearheads are Andre Thomas, the athletic director, and Nathan Fleiner, boys basketball coach. This year they had South Ben Riley. They're considered one of the top 20 teams in Indiana. Uh but
007Harrison beat them when they played them. And uh Indianapolis Cathedral ranked second in 3A. Indianapolis Arsenal Tech. Uh not ranked, but they played what's considered the 14th toughest schedule in the state. Springfield Southeast Illinois and Hopkinsville, Kentucky. And the format is on Friday night they start at 5, they play three games. Then on Saturday they start at nine, they play seven games. Uh the price, listen to the price for one day. For Friday, uh $7 or for Saturday, you go and watch seven games for $7. Uh $10 if you wanted a two-day pass. So, outstanding basketball, outstanding teams. Harrison is not also having an outstanding hospitality room. So, lots of good things out of Harrison. >> Thank you. Thank you, Larry. Appreciate it. All right, we'll move forward to uh consent items at this time.
008Uh Dr. Hoover, good evening. >> Good evening, President Duckworth and members of the board of school trustees. We have seven consent items for your consideration tonight. They are 3.01, consideration of the minutes from the January 12th, 2026 regular board meeting. 3.02, consideration of the minutes from the January 12th, 2026 board of school finance meeting. 3.03, 03 consideration of the allowance of payments. This includes invoices, net payroll, payroll obligation for a total allowance of payments of 15,757,000565 Well, let me read that again. 15,757,5658. 3.04 Consideration of request to carry over 2025 encumbered but unexpended appropriations. 3.05 5 Consideration to approve the resolution for transfer of appropriations within the 2025 budget. 3.06 Consideration to approve the purchase of principal and assistant principal devices for the 2627 school year. And 3.07 consideration to approve the purchase checkpoint harmony
009email security. These consent items are presented for your approval. So move >> second motion and a second on the floor regarding the consent items. Is there any questions or discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor. Oh, we're going to do roll call. Roll call. Amy. >> Okay. I will um go ahead and start with Secretary Dere online. >> Couldn't hear you. Try one more time. >> I >> There we go. Vice President Moore. >> I. >> President Duckworth. >> Hi, >> Trusty Keeper. >> Hi, >> Trusty Hollingsworth. >> Hi, >> Trusty Raglin. >> Hi. >> And Trusty Gamblin. With the 70 vote, the consent items passes. Thank you. Um, next on the agenda, uh, consideration of personnel recommendations, Miss Michelle Williams. Good evening. >> Good evening, President Doug, members of the board, Dr. Hoover. Tonight's
010personnel recommendations include the following. Retirements, resignations, termination, regular appointments, leave of absences, resignations from extradity appointments to extradity transfer and after school appointments. These recommendations are presented for your approval. So move. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second regarding the personnel recommendations. Any questions or concerns? Roll call vote, please. >> Okay. I will start with Secretary Moore or Secretary Dere. I'm sorry. >> I >> Vice President Moore. >> Hi. >> President Duckworth. >> Yes. >> Proy Kefir. >> Hi. >> Proy Hollingsworth. >> I trusty >> Ragland. >> Hi. >> Andy Gablin. >> Hi. >> That carries 70. Um, next on the agenda, um, call Josh Whitmer forward to be sworn in as a new DVSC police officer. You get to come up in the in the deep end. >> Okay, Josh, if you
011would raise your right hand and repeat after me. I, Josh Whitmer. >> I, Josh Whitmer. >> So, I may swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States. >> So, may swear I will support the Constitution of the United States. >> Uh, the Constitution of the State of Indiana. >> Constitution of the State of Indiana. the laws of the United States and the state of Indiana. >> the laws of the United States in the state state of Indiana. >> I will faithfully execute the duties of my office as a member of the EVSC Police Department. So help me God. >> I faithfully execute the duties of my office as a member of the VC Police Department. So help me God. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Here she Congratulations. >> A picture with
012his family. >> She said no. >> Pages for him to sign. Thank you. Uh, next on the agenda is action items 5.01, consideration to award the Bossy High School second floor corridor flooring renovation project 2026, Steve Sheller. Good evening. >> Good evening, President Duckworth, members of the board, and Dr. Hoover Bossy High School second floor corridor flooring renovation project 2026. Notice the bid was advertised on November 14th and November 21st, 2025. A pre-bid meeting was held on November 25th. Bids were received on December 11th, 2025. Our recommendation is to award the contract to Razer Flooring for the base bid of $28,850. We also recommend acceptance of the unit pricing. >> Second. >> A motion and a second. Any questions or concerns? >> I do have a question um concerning the flooring. What are those? The
013tile the tiles? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. And so are you gluing them down also? Are they self stick? How are they? >> They are adhered with adhesive. Yeah. And we need >> adhesive. >> Uhhuh. And go ahead. >> Sorry. No. >> No. We have a uh vapor barrier that we apply before we put the adhesive down. >> Okay. >> They're trollling it, of course. >> Yes. >> And then and so um we've just started that, correct? I mean, in the past several years, >> probably the last seven or eight years. Yes. >> Oh, has it been that? Okay. >> Okay. So, we're doing that from now on. Correct. >> Uh that's the plan. Yeah. >> Okay. I hope so. Yeah. >> Because the edges come up and they're a trip hazard and that's my
014concern. >> Yeah. And we've uh we've transitioned to more of a feltback. There was concerns with moisture issues at some of our buildings. So that felt back is more breathable and we'll address those issues. >> I put it in my basement. I like it. >> Yeah, it's good stuff. >> It is good stuff. >> And if you see the first four boss seed looks phenomenal. >> Awesome. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions, comments? Roll, >> please. I will start with Secretary Dere. >> I. >> Vice President Moore. >> Hi. >> President Duckworth. >> Hi. >> Trusty Kefir. >> Hi. >> Trusty Hollingsworth. >> Hi. >> Trusty Ragland. >> Hi. >> And Trusty Gamblin. >> Hi. >> 7. That's uh that passes. Thank you, Steve. Next is yours as well. Consideration to award the contract for
015Central High School track resurfacing project for 2026. Central High School Track Resurfacing Project 2026, excuse me. Notice the bid was advertised on October 17th and October 24th, 2025. A pre-bid meeting was held on October 28th. Bids were received on November 6th, 2025. Our recommendation is to award the contract to Arc Construction for for alternate bid number one in the amount of 612,800. We also recommend acceptance of the unit pricing. >> Second motion and a second. Any questions or concerns? >> I do have a question. Good evening to you. I was just wondering, excuse me, how often does the track have to be resurfaced? So some of our tracks uh our oldest ones are about 10 15 years old. So they are getting to the age where some of them are going to need to be
016addressed. Uh we replaced Bossy in 2017 and uh Rights in 2018. So there's uh still North and Harrison that will need work sometime in the near future. >> Yep. >> Thank you. >> It's a whole different surface now than years ago. I mean, I can remember sender track. >> Any other questions? >> Roll call, please. >> Secretary Dere >> I, >> Vice President Moore. >> Hi. >> Uh, President Duckworth, >> I. >> Trusty Kefir. >> Hi. >> Trusty Hollingsworth. >> Hi. >> Trusty Ragland. >> Hi. >> And Trusty Gamblin. >> Hi. >> That passes 70. Uh, next on the agenda is also uh Mr. Sheller uh for the u consideration to award a contract for the Harrison High School turf project 2026. >> Harrison High School stadium turf project 2026. Notice of bid was advertised
017on November 28th and December 5th, 2025. A pre-bid meeting was held on December 8th. Bids were received on December 18th, 2025. Our recommendation is to award the contract to Ark Construction for the base bid of $684,600. We also recommend the acceptance of all unit pricing. >> I'll move >> second. We have >> a motion and a second. Any questions? >> One more question. >> Yes. So when you talk about the time of completion in the calendar days, is that extra days put in there give or take for weather or slow arrival of material or something? >> Most certainly. So those those type projects which are pretty much 100% outside they have to figure in for those rain days. >> Yeah. >> Or snowy days. >> So the turf project is that what what turf are
018we replacing? at the football field. >> Okay. And so is that where they take the crumb rubber and put it underneath? >> Uh so it's got a rock base under it and then you put the synthetic turf in and it has a mixture of sand and and rubber. >> Yeah. >> That's put into that. >> Little particles of rubber. >> Yes. Yeah. >> They still use the same thing. >> Yes. >> Okay. Still the same stuff. >> Any other questions? Hearing none. Roll call, please. >> Okay. Secretary Dere >> I. >> Vice President Moore. >> Hi. >> President Duckworth. >> Hi. >> Trusty Keeper. >> Hi. >> Trusty Hollingsworth. >> Hi. >> Trusty Ragland. >> Hi. >> Andy Glin. >> So all that passes. Thank you very much Steve. We'll be back with you soon.
019Next on the agenda is the public hearing for regarding additional appropriations in the cultural institutions fund. Dr. Underwood. Good evening. Good evening, President Duckworth, members of the board, and Dr. Hoover. Tonight is the public hearing for the uh proposed additional appropriation and cultural institutions fund. This uh hearing has been advertised in accordance with Indiana statute. At this time, I would call any member of the public to the mic to provide testimony regarding this additional appropriation. at this time. Once again, if there's any member of the public that wants to provide testimony regarding the additional appropriation in the cultural institutions fund, now would be the time. Seeing no one approach the mic, I believe we can close this hearing and move on to the resolution in 5.05 05 to adopt the additional appropriation in the cultural
020institutions fund. >> Move to approve. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second for the resolution to um for the additional appropriations and the cultural institution fund. Roll call, please. >> Okay. Um Secretary Dice, >> I. >> Vice President Moore, >> I. >> President Duckworth, >> yes. >> Trusty Kefir, >> I. Trusty Hollingsburg. >> Hi, >> Trusty Ragland. >> Hi. >> And trustee Gamblin. >> Hi. >> So, that passes. Thank you very much, Dr. Underwood. We'll be talking to you here right now. Okay. >> Uh, as we move into information items 6.01, monthly review of education operation funds. >> Got quite a fewformational items. These are for end of the year 2025 as well well as some uh quarterly analysis reports. I'll go through these as I as I normally do and then
021the last one on 6.08 is a PowerPoint presentation and I'll stop there and do that separately. But for the first one, the education and operations monthly review as of December 31st, the education fund was expended at 97.81% leaving a balance of $44,180,59342. For the operations fund, we expended 85.62% 62% and a balance of 31,726,8966. Summary of cash balances by fund. This report provides cash balances as of December 31st for the debt service, education, exempt debt service, and operations funds. Expenditure ledger summary report. This report breaks down expenditures by function and object code as of December 31st. Revenue ledger summary. This report outlines revenue received as of December 31st for the education operations debt service and exempt debt service fund. The three-year expenditure analysis provides a comparative review of district spending trends across all major funds
022uh from 2023 through 2025 as of December 31st. The three revenue comparison is a a report that analyzes revenue received from the education debt service exempt debt service and operations fund as of December 31st. And then the self- insurance quarterly analysis. This is our fourth quarter analysis of our EBSC self- insurance fund. Happy to answer any questions about those information items before the last item if you have any. >> Any questions for 6.01 to 6.07 07 and 8 information items. >> You scared them away. >> And then uh the final report here is just kind of a a review of 2025. Again, uh we had a very strong year financially uh as we anticipated and uh had uh briefed the board all along knowing that cash balances now that we have um left the federal
023funds from professor, we expected to spend more funds in our education and operations funds and we did that. Uh so we're continuing to ma monitor those closely over the next several years. Uh but this is just a look at uh revenue collection. Uh and one thing that we have highlighted in the budget process this summer is an increase uh amount for our tax um property tax caps. And you saw that in 2025 uh we jumped from in 2024 8.8 8 million is just over 10 million. Again, the potential for 2026 is to go from 10 million to 17 million. And if that holds true, uh then we will definitely have to make some decisions along the way. But just a look, a property tax collection. >> Is that in regards to Senate Bill one? >>
024It has some implications as well as just the the statemandated property tax caps that impact all taxing units as well. uh I'll look at our education fund and I'll this slide is similar for the next several funds. It has our budget listed as well as revenue for the year, what our cash balance was, what we expended, any transfers uh and then uh what we ended the year with which is the uh figure that I look at closely. So education fund uh we ended the year with uh 41.4 million. So again, a strong balance as we lean into fiscal year uh 26. For the operations fund, we ended with 29.6 million. Our debt service fund at 1.4 million. And then rainy day fund, if you remember earlier in the spring, we did do a transfer. Uh
025we had an issue with our self- insurance fund. We needed to transfer some funds. We did do that. Uh and then we transferred uh a little balance towards the end of the year, leaving our cash balance in the rainy day fund at just over 11 million. And this is a look at our education and rainy day fund balance history going all the way back to 2013 uh at 10 million. And then you see the balance grow up to uh 55 million in total in 2025. Again, all part of strategy that we had going back planning uh when we received the federal ESR dollars during COVID. Uh again, we wanted to extend a long runway so that we have the ability to make some uh decisions uh over the next several years on uh what programs
026we want to continue to to fund and how we want to continue to use our resources wisely. We pull some of these funds I believe uh for when we paid for the building of McCutchenville. >> So that yeah that was used out of cash balance in the operations fund. >> Again all part of our plan and and this board strategy. Happy to answer any questions. Uh again strong year in 2025. >> Any questions for Carl? >> I'd just like to make a comment. I mean this is excellent. You guys have done a great job in seeing what we need in the future when we receive those monies. I know a lot of corporations probably didn't plan as well as we did. And you know there's a couple of us Mike I mean Terry Karen I
027think I remember when we had no rainy day fund. We didn't have we didn't have appropriation for rainy day. We had an operation balance of zip. I mean it was we were borrowing money so the state until they could pay us. So, we've made a tremendous uh just impact on the way you guys budgeted through the years. So, great job. Appreciate that. >> I just want to say great job. I uh really do appreciate everything that you do. Definitely just of course uh the attention to detail and I know after a while the numbers start running together, but looks just like my personal bank account. >> Going down. >> Oh, hey, might be down. But thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> We're going to pull Mr. Sheller back up to um
0286.2 remind consideration to award the contract for Harper Elementary School playground project for 2026. >> Mr. Sheller. >> Good evening once again, President Duckworth, members of the board, and Dr. Hoover. Harper Elementary School playground project 2026. Notice to bid was advertised on December 5th and December 12th, 2025. A pre-bid meeting was held on December 16th. Bids were received on January 5th, 2026. The board has received a bid tabulation sheet for this project. I will recommend awarding this project to Ark Construction at the next scheduled schoolboard meeting. I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have. >> Any questions? >> Yeah, the PTAs are going to jump up and down with joy. I hear this every single school we go to. You know, can we get new playground? Not all of them, but >> if
029they haven't had it in a while, how much is this project? >> How much is I mean, considering how much is the contract? >> Got them in yet? >> Have you got the project uh contracts in yet? Have they bid yet? >> Yes. Yes. So, you should have the bid tabulation sheet. So, >> I don't see I didn't see it on the I'll find it. That's good. Thank you. >> What's your recommendations what you're saying? Yes. >> Yes. Yeah. It's $250,980. >> $250,980. >> Mhm. >> It's a lot of money, isn't it? >> It is. It is. >> It's sticker shock. A lot. I'm sorry. >> Well, a lot of times, too. Uh, >> but it's money well spent, >> right? >> You You know what our communities want? I hear this all the time.
030They want to go and let their kids swing and play on the slide. They want like a park. And that's what they don't use those words, but that's what I hear, >> right? >> And this is >> excellent. Excellent. Thank you for all that you do on that. >> And a lot of those projects, too, Mr. Hollingsworth, is uh there's a fence we're adding there that's going to uh enclose the rest of the playground. They're taking out uh several trees that are we find dangerous around the playground. So, there's always a little bit more than actually doing the playground. It's actually removal of a lot of the older equipment that that really has came to the end of the chooseful life. >> Thank you so much. >> Yeah, >> I appreciate that because I know
031we walked the ground. >> Yes. >> Many a day. So, thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Moving on. 6.10 Perry Heights Middle School parking lot paving project. >> Prairie Heights Middle School parking lot project. Paving project 2026. Notice the bid was advertised on December 5th and December 12th, 2025. A pre-bid meeting was held on December 17th. Bids were received on January 7th, 2026. The board has received a bid tabulation sheet for this project. I recommend awarding the project to Danco Construction at the next scheduled school board meeting. Be happy to answer any questions you may have. >> Questions? I know the folks at Fair Heights will be happy about that. Okay. Uh, next is uh 6.11 consideration to award the contract for the Writes High School stadium LED lighting up. >> Writes High School
032Stadium LED lighting upgrade project 2026. Notice the bid was advertised on December 5th and December 12th, 2025. A pre-bid meeting was held on December 17th. Bids were received on January 7th, 2026. The board has received a bid tabulation sheet for this project, and I will recommend awarding the project to Alba Electric at the next scheduled school board meeting. Be happy to answer any questions you may have. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Questions for Steve on that? >> Very much needed. All right. Thank you very much, Steve. >> Thank you for information. >> Next on the information list is consideration to approve the purchase of devices for for students. Joe, >> good evening. President Duckworth, members of the board, Dr. Hoover. The Office of Technology is recommending approval to purchase student devices for all incoming ninth
033grade students and the students enrolled at New Tech Institute. This purchase would be made through the interlocal purchasing system, also called TIPS. TIPS is a nationally recognized uh cooperative purchasing organization that ensures all contracts are competitively bid and fully compliant with procurement requirements. Last year, our team began evaluating devices as part of establishing a new student device life cycle for 2026 and 2027 school year. After reviewing multiple vendors, we're recommending the purchase of 2390 Lenovo Chromebooks from K12 Tech. K12 Tech is an Indiana based partner that will also support the development of a reliable in-house student and staff repair center, creating hands-on learning opportunities while improving turnaround time and long-term sustainability. The total cost of this purchase is $882,12510. Funding will be provided through a combination of a student technology advancement account fund, common school
034funds, and the operations fund. Please let me know if you have any questions. >> You know, Joe, I don't know how to put this really, but how you give every student a device? What is the percentage of devices we need to hold back to replace ones that are damaged, lost, and charging? I mean, they got to charge. If they don't charge them, they don't use them. I mean what percentage do we have to keep back to and then >> right now with this model I'm using is 20%. So we keep back 20% inventory uh for loss. Now every school is a little different on their loss or repair rates. Some go up to 40, some are 10 depending on how rough they are how they take care of the devices. So we're kind of judging
035or working on that uh with that 20%. But it should give us a good cushion uh for that. And we also have older devices that we won't cycle out till later. >> Okay. Sounds like it's another cushion. >> Thank you. Appreciate that. How does that compare to the last group that we bought? >> Like the the cost? >> No, the the any the uh extras that we hold on to. >> You said 20% last time. >> Uh it was roughly 20%. It was it was actually uh probably a little less than 20% last time. >> We're going through our inventory and seeing what's lost, what needs to be repaired, we thought we should bump that up a little bit. >> Okay. Thank you. Anything else? All right. And uh the last information item is consideration
036to approve the agreement with healthcare staffing. >> Williams. Good evening. >> Good evening, President Duckworth, members of the board. Dr. Hoover. Tonight, I'm presenting information on a proposed agreement with Ammeris Healthcare staffing to establish a short-term partnership that would provide qualified health care personnel to temporarily fill existing vacancies until those positions can be permanently filled. This action is intended as a stabilization measure only and does not represent a long-term staffing strategy. Under this proposed agreement, emerges would recruit, screen, hire, and assign qualified healthcare professionals who meet all district defined credential experience and licensing requirements. While these individuals would remain employees of Ammeris, the district would retain full responsibility for daily supervision, work assignments, schedules, and all student specific care expectations. Because the healthcare staff would be employees of a marriages, the district would not incur
037additional benefit related costs including insurance, paid leave or substitute coverage. The total cost of the temporary staffing arrangement would not exceed $100,000 per year and would be funded through the operations fund. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. >> So define healthcare staff. We're just talking about nurses, LPNs. What are we talking about? >> School nurse support, >> school nurse, LPN, RN. >> Yeah, we would they do have um they can be an LPN. Yes, >> they can. And then is there something in that contract that if they're a really good employee because I know a lot of times they end up with an organization in these type of organ you know these companies can we hire them or is it a >> deal is a non-compete to it? Um but longterm if
038they would have to be at a period where they weren't employed at all in order to do that. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Anything else from Michelle? I do have a question. Good evening too. >> Evening when you talk about and I believe you short term. >> Yes. >> What is defined I guess as a short >> 15 days 30 days. >> So a just is willing to work with us but ultimately we're trying to find a permanent solution for the school. So they're in agreement as long as we give them a one to two week notice that we found someone that they'll then release their person. But if we need them for a three-month period while we continue to try to look for somebody, we can utilize them that way. >> That's a five
039day a week deal. >> Yes. Yes. We just wouldn't be looking to have them there for >> Okay. Almost like a call list of subs for nurses. >> Yes. Healthcare. Okay. >> In layman terms. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else? >> Thank you, Michelle. >> Next on the agenda is continued business for Dr. Hoover and the board. >> Dr. Hoover. >> Yeah, I'll start. Um, I want to begin by acknowledging the passing of one of our head custodians last week. Mark Hill was a valued member of our school corporation and most recently part of the Oil Elementary School community. I want to extend condolences to his family, his friends, and his co-workers. The second part of this is is weather, right? So weather is the has been the the week and so I want to
040thank our staff for their dedication and their flexibility over the last week. Our teachers were thoughtfully delivering lessons to keep students engaged and connected to school in a virtual environment which is it can be tricky. Um, I as a parent got to listen to high school lessons and a kindergarten teacher actually shared a a video of of her classes and teachers were were giving it their best to to make sure instruction happened including today. Our facilities team was working hard to clear the parking lots and the sidewalks around our schools. And while many of us were inside in a warm environment, they were out in the elements doing that so that when we go back um our campuses are ready. Transportation team and our drive team have been working every day driving daily, including today
041bus routes to to see if we can get there safe safely. So, you know, for our families, we certainly understand the hardship when we don't go to school. We know people uh depend on schools so they can go to work and and we don't take that lightly and student safety has to be at the forefront of what we do. We want our students to arrive safely with us. So after driving today, we have made the decision to go tomorrow on a two-hour delay. So we'll be um getting to school with in the daylight. So, I think letting the morning rush get there and then get our buses out is the the way for us to go back. We do appreciate families taking time today to think about what that looks like from their house, especially
042if the students are going to a bus stop because sidewalks are still covered and so um appreciate families taking time to think about what that's going to look like in the morning for little ones especially. What we don't want is kids walking in the street. So, um, you know, lots of safety tomorrow, keeping in mind when we're when we're coming to school and if a family would decide that it's not safe, of course, they would need to just call the school and that would be an absence that would be excused. So, that's really it for me. In executive session, we had an opportunity to meet with uh Dr. Trump from the National School Safety and Security Services about our safety audit. Uh, he was able to explain the process. It has started already uh with
043a review of our policies and documents because part of this process is to see what we say we do and then to match that up with what they see in visits. So after that review in the next couple weeks they'll be doing interviews with um district staff and then they will be on site here the last week of February, first week of March and then again near the end of March. In total, they'll be here for three weeks uh before we will get our reports and our conclusions. And so, the board had an opportunity to ask questions about the process, and I'm glad that you all were able to do that. That's it for me. >> Thank you. I I just want to echo a couple things. Being an old uh street supervisor for the
044city and the county, there's so many variables that enter into this, not just the weather, uh but the thawing. You know, many times around here, it it'll snow three or four inches and two days later it's gone. And of course, that has not been the case this time. It's the the the temperatures and and all the different variables that we have to look at and how students get from their home to the bus stop and and how they really um get on a bus and if the bus gets marred down, then they have to sit on that bus. And there's just so many things that that we have to look at and we're going to be second guessed anyway that we go. And that's okay. That's people's right to do that. But we, I believe,
045always have aired, if we've aired, on the side of safety. And we're going to do everything we can to make sure that each and every student uh gets to school safely, that our bus drivers and uh are able to to get them there, and they do a great job for us and in manipulating those buses around some of those pretty hairy turns and and valleys in our community. I know that there's over 600 miles of of county road and you just can't uh do that overnight sometimes, especially with the 12 1/2 in snow that we had and uh so I think um we we lost a week, but because of the fact like we had Joe up here earlier talking about the the investment that we have in in take-home uh computers, students can still
046get instruction, everything. To me, I think we handled it exactly how it should have been handled. And and I'll stand by this uh this administration and and all of our staff that have done just a great job. It's not like they got the day off. You know, they're out there driving those roads and and checking parking lots and and so many things that can happen. But I think I think you did a great job. So, uh is there any other continued business? I just want to say thank you and your entire team for everything you've done. And I really want to, you know, shout out to teachers because, you know, I've taught at in higher ed, but to be able to go from face to face to synchronous to asynchronous, it's unbelievable to be able
047to do it that quick and then keep the student engaged. And I think you said that we were had a very high in the synchronous classes, a very high attendance rate. So, I mean, really applaud those teachers because that's difficult work to do. It really is. So, thank you and your home team. I would also just like to share in thoughts of memory dem former EDA president here and a teacher. She also passed away and just in her honorary um I just wanted to share um from legislative liaison. Um I participate weekly um the ISTA briefing on the bills that are in the house that affect education um via zoom call and there is a bill on house bill uh 143 short version. This bill gives mayors well particularly IPS authority to appoint a board
048to oversee the elected school board members. Um this mayorapp appointed board will have the decision of voting rights that usurps the rights of the officially elected school board and um taxpayers as well as um parents and pe community. So um it's a very crucial dangerous bill and um it's beginning it in IPS in Annapolis public schools but the concern is like it begins there but the trickle down will be other other cities in our state. So um many feel that because the redistricting didn't pass that this is kind of a ploy to still get internal control. So, um, you know, I'll keep updated on where we're at with that. Um, there this is a short session to wrap up the end of February and so, uh, things are moving fast and furious and it's >>
049might not be a bad idea to contact those legislators that we know and tell them that we're watching this and that feel. I read I'm hoping that what I read I thought they said this was typically for like charter schools and stuff like that especially around Indianapolis because they have such a big presence. I'm hoping and I I I believe you're right but I'm hoping it's not for every school corporation within the the state. I thought that's what it was and I'm hoping it's not like I said everybody. So I agree with you. Yes. >> Yeah. Um, I'll try to get a website so that I can, you know, get something to can call our legislators and so forth. Uh, but we really need to keep attention on this because this is really serious. I
050mean, you know, each of us, we run, you know, we're elected and then to have appointed board that has equal power or more is dangerous basically. So, >> come before I'm sorry. >> Oh, no. I'm sorry. I didn't want to interrupt you. I apologize. >> Um, go ahead. >> I just want to say again, thank you um to everyone with this past snowstorm, you know, of getting up, getting out, making sure, of course, safety is the number one uh number one goal. And then second, uh next week starts the National African-American Parent Involvement Day. It always uh starts at Lincoln School, starts and ends at Lincoln School, a variety of activities. So, if you can follow their page and just come out and and support, it's been going on for about seven years now. And
051I remember at the height of COVID, uh it was really amazing to see community to come together and just to feed the families to get a to go to go dinner, if you will, and activities for the parents. And even when we talk about the schools, it was amazing to see different schools on their Facebook page how they gave um you know, hey, this this classroom showed up 72% of of you know, students logged in or um you know, did their work. So really kudos again to the teachers and to the parents and to the students as well. I can only imagine, you know, of mommy, mommy, mommy, daddy, daddy, daddy of all of us, right? But we all have went through it. We all made it. And again, as we always hear people say,
052you know, we are in this together, though we might not like it a lot of times. Um, but safety is number one. But again, kudos to the families, to the moms, dads, grandmas, everyone, grandfathers, um, that just pitched in where they could to make this a success. And so, safe travels going back to school to everyone tomorrow. >> Anything else? Well, uh there's no artwork, of course, and I haven't seen a student. If a student came tonight, then we would be given extra credit. >> Yeah, >> they uh I didn't see that. But, um I do want to announce that our next meeting is next Monday. This was kind of a makeup meeting and we will be back on the 9th. And uh with that being said and following uh our previous president's um uh
053lead here, I do have a quote I found I thought might be appropriate. It's from a guy named Bill Wat and his quote is getting an inch of snow is like winning 10 cents in the lottery. Don't we uh don't we understand that now? An inch would have been great, but 12 and a half we're living with it for a while. So there's nothing else to come before the board. Motion to adjurnn, please.