001Steve's August 25th, 2025 meeting is now called to order. >> As our custom, I'm sorry. Well, now I have roll call. That threw me off. >> President Ragland, we have a full board present. Thank you. As our custom, we will all stand, please, and recite the pledge of >> allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [Music] We will now have good news by uh Jason Wikenberg. Thank you. >> Thank you very much, President Raglin. Trustees, Superintendent Hoover. Always lots of good news. So, we'll take a look at it tonight. I don't want to say too much about this because we got we have three uh guest speakers who are going
002to talk to you about this here in just a few minutes. uh but had to put this picture up from the group representing EBSC that by invitation attended this month's uh Indiana Board of Education meeting and that was to be recognizably one of only four districts in the state recognized for iid success. So great picture um representing so many different schools and all the hard work and I'll leave the rest to our presenters here. Um, also we did a release of another what's happening with Dr. Hoover. This was very wellreceived. Heard lots of comments about this. Lots of engagement on social media. Dr. Hoover got to show her kindergarten chops by uh hanging out with kindergarten students at Scott and with Hein. I don't know if she had it to do all over again. Maybe
003she'd have been a kindergarten teacher instead of a chemistry teacher in high school. But she certainly >> kind of like dealing with the board. But that really was just so cute and just so promising to see the energy and enthusiasm of these students and this was really recorded so early in the school year. Uh but they're going to have a fantastic school year in kindergarten. Uh lots of excitement and enthusiasm around the recent announcement of this year's uh hall of fame inductees for the EBSC Hall of Fame uh by the foundation. So definitely uh recognizing the talent and commitment to our community and our schools of these individuals. Former uh trustee Sally Becker, Dr. Steven Becker, Richard and Rita Iamp, Mayor Stephanie Terry, and the late Terry Yunker. So certainly powerful individuals who have made
004great contributions to education here in our community. Um, we always look forward to doing this throughout the year and that is posting pictures on social media of all of our hardworking students. Uh, this focused on fall sports. We'll continue to do this with pictures of fall sports athletes and of course through the other seasons of the year as well. We'll also be highlighting uh marching band students as well as our cheerleaders and our dance team members. But it's just great to capture the students who are working so hard to represent their schools uh in the different activities, sports and on the field throughout this uh beginning of the year. So excited about that. And also then wanted to lift we've just we've had lots of examples of this and I think this has been so
005great this year. This happens to be Helfrick Park. Um and they had they were of course wanting to generate excitement for their middle school students as they arrive as they arrived at school. So they invited community members, representatives from the Evansville Fire Department. They have a station right there in front of the school as well as the Evansville Police Department just to come out and greet students as they arrived at school recently. And just to see these individuals giving high fives and all the smiles on the students faces just to let them know how happy they are for our students and to build excitement as the students entered the school that day. So love seeing that. We've seen countless examples of that at different schools since the beginning of the year. And President Raglin, that
006is it for good news. >> Thank you very much. Our artwork is by Central. And if you look under the B Central banner, uh these are uh former Central Arts students that are now in their um careers are now in art. So, be sure to look at those. And then we have our Hall of Fame wall on the opposite wall. So um the various plaques of the inductees through the years. So u be sure to take a look at that as well. Thank you. We are now ready to enter into public comments. President Raglin, we have two speakers tonight, both of whom are quite familiar with our expectations relative to decorum. Our first is Larry Samples. The last time I was here, I mentioned Lita Hart, assistant to the athletics director, 37year employee. I think
007she's the oldest in the corporation at at corporate office. Um, she also some of her duties are middle school sporting events or 10 middle schools. Helps the five high school ads. She's also the secretary for the conference, the T team conference. That's an elected position and as far back as I can remember, she keeps getting elected. I don't know if the other schools don't want to do it or they like her work. Anyway, tell you what she does on the day of a track meet. >> There are eight major track meets in in the spring, late April to late May. These are all held in central. They all involve 10 teams. Uh in a track meet there are 16 events or 11 running events or five field events. So she takes the entries starting on
008Monday. All these 10 teams said entries they can enter two people for an event. So that's 320 uh entries that she has. She now has to seed those at each event. Those are seated. When she gets seated, she prints out a program. It's about a four page program. When she comes to the meet that night, the meet will start at 5 central. She'll bring a box with 100 programs. And at 4:30 then they have what's called the scratch meeting. She helps the central AD conduct the meeting with officials uh coaches and what's called a scratch meeting. At this point they can make changes. So she may have to make some changes. So once the meet starts at 5:00 after each event she has to tabulate the team totals. 10 teams eight people score points at
009each event. First place 10, second place eight. She has to keep her running total. She also has to keep ribbons. Each person gets a ribbon for their placement. She has 10 envelopes with the team names that she has to put the correct ribs in the correct envelopes. So the meet finishes around 8:00. You can understand how much work she's doing while the meet's going on. And then she uh gives the team total. They announce that. And also the coaches have to come to the press box and pick up their rivets. So maybe 9:00 at night when there's a major track meet and worked hard all day long up till 9:00 at night. Uh she stays in the background. Didn't get a whole lot of publicity, but does great work. Next we have Lori Young. >>
010Hello. It's Lori Young from the Evansville Teachers Association. I was thinking about those track meets because I've worked those track meets with her. Uh good evening, President Raglin, board members, Dr. Hoover, and community members. Um I would like to share what we have been doing since the start of the school year. We began by visiting Fairlon Elementary during the first week of school. We were greeting students every morning. Um soon after we hosted our back- to-school event at Haney's Corner, bringing together educators and community members to kick off our school year. And then professionally, just last week, we held our first workshop. It was classroom management conversations featuring new mid-career and veteran teachers sharing strategies and building connections. Then just this Saturday, ETA presented at the Indiana State uh Indiana PTA state conference about advocacy
011and strong school and family partnerships. And then this Thursday, we will be hosting our retirement readiness seminar to help prepare people who are thinking about leaving our profession hopefully at the end of the year in May. In May. Uh and then um over the weekend, then on Monday will be Labor Day and we will be once again walking in the Labor Day parade in Booneville. If any of you would like to join with us, all you need to do is bring a bag of candy. We will have a truck in case you want to ride along. And then um in short, ETA is building community, supporting teachers, and raising our collective voice. And before I close, I want to celebrate the outstanding I read scores across the corporation. It is incredible what the EVSC has
012done for reading and our students. Thank you for your time and your support. >> Thank you. Thank you, Lori and President Reagan. That will complete our public comment. Thank you very much. We are now ready to enter into our consent items. Dr. Hoover. >> Good evening, members of the board of school trustees. We have and President Raglin, we have seven consent items for your consideration tonight. They are 3.01, consideration to approve the minutes of the August 11th, 2025 executive session and regular board meeting. 3.02, 02 consideration of the allowance of payments in the amount of 12,594,8845 that include invoices net payroll and payroll obligations. 3.03 Consideration to approve grant proposals. 3.04 Consideration to approve the resolution to transfer funds from the ED fund to the operations fund. 3.05 Consideration to approve proposed graduation dates and
013times the 2025 2026 school year. 3.0 06 consideration to approve the renewal with College Board and 3.07 consideration to approve the ratification of the adjustment to retention programs extended daycare center employees. These consent items are presented for your approval. >> Move a motion and a second have been made to accept the consent items. Are there any questions or discussion? >> I have a question. President Raglin, Dr. Hoover, good evening again. the question I have regarding 3.03 uh the grants and so the grant sounds absolutely wonderful regarding AIS. So the question I had for you um of course though it sounds wonderful um and I know it's going to the strengthen the family engagement and all those wonderful things and if AIS is awarded the funds how do we plan on sustaining these activities and resources
014long term once the grant period has expired? So, they do have a portion of their title funds allocated to family and community engagement and events like this already. I think about um 5,000 of their dollars, 4,500 actually are allocated to that right now presently. These would just be extra funds that they want to leverage. I think sometimes um you know, being able to buy food and things specifically for take-home. this particular grant they feel very optimistic about because um a teacher a staff member in AIS has a son that works for CSX. So who knows if they can get this maybe more than one time. That would be great too. >> I heard they had a great turnout for the open house last Thursday I do believe. I didn't get a chance to make it
015but thank you very much. >> I got a quick question on the on the uh event grant. You know that's for homeless, right? Kids that are homeless. uh recall. So what what are some of the things because I see the description, but what are some of the things we would use those resources for as it applies to kids that are homeless? >> Yeah, it is a federal grant and we use that you have you have to have a homeless liaison. So part of that covers this homeless liaison. The other big thing is transportation to make sure that students who are experiencing homelessness are not disrupted educationally. We're part of a consortium so that those funds are split with and South Gibson school districts. But the main thing is to make sure whatever those educational barriers
016are that are related to homelessness are um taken care of. So transportation, it can be we work with Aurora to help with temporary housing. It's connecting those uh individuals to resources in the community. It can also um pay for before and after school care, our extended day services for those students as well. >> Appreciate it. Thank you. important grant. Anything else hearing? None. All in favor signify by I. >> I. >> By the same sign. That motion carries. Thank you, Dr. Hoover. We're ready to move into personnel recommendation. Um, Michelle Williams. >> Good evening, President Raglin, members of the board. Dr. Hoover. Tonight's personnel recommendations include the following. Retirements, resignations, terminations, regular appointments, temporary appointment, leave of absence, resignations from extra duty, appointments to extra duty, reassignments to extra duty transfers, after school appointments, and
017the following classified addendum. Regular appointment. These recommendations are presented for your approval. >> So move. >> Second. >> Motion and a second have been made to accept the personnel recommendations. Are there any questions? Discussion hearing none. All in favor signify by I. I. >> Oppos. Same sign. That motion carry. >> Thank you. >> Okay, we're now ready to move into the district spotlight. Dr. Hoover and can't wait. >> Yes, I am so excited about tonight's district spotlight. I read scores were released on August 13th and I had talked about and hinted at our success and so grateful tonight to actually be able to talk publicly about um how well we've done this year. Um EBSC received one of four invites. There were two districts at the state board and two individual schools. And so um
018our district was asked to bring three different schools. Uh we so we traveled there with uh representatives from Dexter, Fairlon, and GLA and we have three people here tonight um to give an overview of our efforts. I will say India Williams sitting in the middle was the spokesperson at the state board. They asked for one person to speak and she did an amazing job. Brought the house down to tears. She has a great quote that Katie Jenner actually put out in her newsletter this week. So yeah, it's awesome. literacy India Williams who's at Fairlon as our literacy cadre coach and Angie Oliver principal at GLA to come up and share with you some of the good news evening. My name is Sandy Moore and I am the director of early literacy. Um, I also work
019with Marian University for the Indiana Department of Education, uh, literacy cadre, supporting our cadre schools in the EBSC. Through that work, I work alongside our principles, coaches, literacy cadre coaches, and teachers to support literacy in grades kindergarten through third grade. I'm honored to be here tonight with India and Angie. Um together we're so excited to share the great news about our I read scores through the collective effort of district leadership, coaches, teachers, and most importantly our motivated students. We've seen remarkable growth in reading proficiency. And overall I read pass rate has climbed to 83.4%. That's a 10% from last year. Five schools boosted their pass rate by more than 20%. Four schools achieved rates above 95% and five more were above 85%. We couldn't be more proud of what our students have accomplished and the
020path this creates for their future literacy success. to share more of what that success looked like with that school level. I'm going to turn it over now to India Williams. Thank you. President Raglin, board, community members. Good evening everyone. My name is India Williams and I'm the literacy cadre coach at Fairmont Elementary School. And that's where I have the pleasure of supporting teachers and coaching them regarding research-based ways to explicitly and intentionally teach students how to read and comprehend not just for a test but for a successful life. And when reflecting on what led to I read success from the perspective of coaches like me and reading uh specialists and the teachers, uh it really took uh number one using data to inform our instruction and working together with the state, the district uh admin
021and parent support to teach the students word recognition and language comprehension skills through you intervention software such as a mirror and several instructional routines including language dives, vocabulary routines, close reads, partner reading, and paragraph shrinking. So, in other words, we explicitly taught the researchbased stuff and we cut the fluff. [Applause] My favorite principles in the world is explicitly taught the researchbased stuff and we cut the fluff. >> When she said it, when she said it, Secretary Jenner said, "Oh, somebody get that. I need to send that out later." And then when we were in her office for the uh reception afterwards, she had India go and write it on her board. She's like, "Write that down for me. And who wants to follow that? >> I know. Not me. Not me or we were right.
022Right. Um, good evening, Dr. Hoover, EBSC colleagues, um, President Ragland, Board of School Trustees. I am Angie Oliver, the blessed and very proud principal of Norman Leadership Academy. I'm honored to be with you this evening to talk about our significant encouraging um, rise in our I read scores. This increase is a direct result of intentional and collaborative researchbased work. By using our student data proactively, our teachers were able to tailor their instruction to meet our students individual needs and skill deficits. Our partnership with the Indiana Literacy Cadre provided expert coaching and support to help our teachers implement best practice science and reading strategies with confidence and fidelity. These strategies were infused both within our whole group instruction and also our small groupoup instruction. I can honestly say that in my 37 years in education, all
023with the EVSSE and with a K12 perspective, I have never been a part of such an intentional process or seen the kind of increase in data that we were able to achieve. With that said, I also want to say that this is far more than the numerical data. This is about building proficient readers. One bull pup at a time. [Applause] >> Any other slides? >> There are actually one more. One more, but then that's it. >> And is there one after that? >> Angie, >> what was your increase? >> It's very close to 44%. >> Yes. 24.4. We had them a little over 25, but it's difficult to know with mobility. India, what was fair increase >> about 42%. >> Yeah. I mean, just just incredible numbers around and the state of Indiana went up
0245%, BBSC was up 10%. So, I mean, we had I have more to share later, but this was incredible and thank you all so much for presenting, but more importantly, just for all of your work and representing all of our teachers because this is a army of people that worked on this. So, I'm so grateful. [Applause] >> Okay, we are now ready to move into our action items. Uh Joe, >> that's a tough one to follow. >> Servers, right? >> Good evening, Dr. Hoover. In our August 11, 2025 board meeting, we're presented withformational item concerning an important upgrade to replace our aging servers and storage hardware. um utilizing our SHI using utilizing SHI through the Indiana QPA for professional services. At this time, I'd like to recommend that you approve this upgrade. >> Second. A
025motion and a second have been made to accept the agreement with SHI International Group. Are there any questions or discussion? Hearing none. All in favor sign opposed and that motion carries. >> Dr. Carl Underwood and you have 602 through 607. Good evening, President Braglin, members of the board, and Dr. Hoover. At the last board meeting, this item was presented for information. Tonight, I'm seeking approval of a resolution to establish a cultural institutions fund as part of our 2026 budget planning process. This fund will ensure continued support of local institutions that provide educational and cultural value to the community consistent with our mission. This resolution formally establishes the fund within the six budget framework. I ask it for your approval. So move >> second. Motion and a second have been made to approve the resolution to
026establish the cultural fund. Are there any questions or discussion? President Rager, you have a question. Good evening, Wood. Good seeing you. Um, I believe at the last school board meeting and Trusty Duckworth, correct me if I was wrong. I think you had asked a question maybe about field trips outside of the Vandenberg County area. And so I was wondering have you do you have any regards to that? Do you have an answer I should say to that question? Um because really my question would be how will EVSC ensure that students have a meaningful hands-on opportunity to engage with these cultural institutions? >> Yes. And the answer is it would have to be and reside within Vanderberg County. There's still there's still wonderful things when you think about >> right now field trips. I had Amy
027price out just an example and and when you think about the volume of kids if we would if we would use this to move to a model where we guaranteed every third grader was going to this particular museum. an estimate of the cost when you if we didn't get a discount on the price of admission, for example, and we we took um transportation cost into account. Four field trips can cost 28 to $30,000 just by volume of of students. So, I mean, yes, there are some limitations on the money, but incredible to think of what we would be able to do for our students. It would just >> it doesn't matter what school you go to. It's not based on how much money this group can raise or parents can afford. Like we can do
028this for every student, which is still extremely powerful. >> You know, it just might be a thing. Oh, you done? I'm sorry. >> I'll go after you. That's fine. >> Just a comment though, but a lot of times these trips, a lot of our students may never have an opportunity to these trips. You know what I'm saying? >> So, I think that's a real value. >> Go ahead. I'm sorry. >> That's okay. Well, thank you very much. Thank you for that. Do you foresee in the future, I don't want to say near future because we don't even know what the new fiscal year is going to bring, right? Do you foresee that expanding from Vineberg County, maybe even going up to Indie? And again, I know transportation and gas and bus and all the things,
029right, is very expensive. And there's wonderful, rich cultural history here in Evansville. Um, but there's also great throughout the whole state of Indiana. I was thinking about Ly station. >> Yes, Lyd Station. >> Yes, I think anything is certainly possible. Uh given the way that everything seems to be pretty fluid in the general assembly, I think a change could happen at any time. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. >> The number one concern I hear from PTAs almost every year is how can we get more field trips? They can't they can get a they can pay for everything but the transportation. and I'm going to be able to tell them you can finally send your kids on field trips and it this is a big start and there's plenty to see here
030in Vandenberg County. Plenty to see and I think it'll be a very rich experience. About how many field trips are we looking at? I mean, how much money are we talking about and how many field trips? And what I know that might be hard to break that down, but can you >> It's hard to break down, but what I can tell you is based upon the tax rate uh of funds u I would anticipate receiving in excess of $300,000. So the money would be dutied among the groups that would be eligible for and submit for that money. >> So a bunch I mean you talk about the third graders being every third grader being how much? 30. Yeah, that was just an example that we might ballpark around $30,000 to take every third grader to
031one specific cultural institution that we chose. Um, so it can go it can go a long way and um, you know, we'll be establishing kind of a a group, a committee to review the proposals that come forward and making decisions. And >> again, this is the first step so that we're eligible to to move down this path. I know there was there was specifically several and I could name their schools but I won't. But they were telling me they wanted the field trips. I was wondering can you use some of that money? Can the PTAs use buy the field trip and then you pay for the transportation? Can we partnership with you in any way? Nope. >> The money has to go to the cultural institution. Um >> yeah, there's criteria for the establishments and
032so they have to um reside within Vandenberg County, have a permanent location, not be able to uh levy property taxes, uh there's a few other steps that they have to follow. So >> potentially, if you're saying like um this school this school knows they're going to go here, if that partner knew in advance that part of the expense was paid, then it would just be their proposal would be for less money. So if you knew the PTA, for example, wanted to pay the price of admission, then that cultural institution would just send a proposal for transportation only cost for them. >> So that could make our money go further. >> Yes. >> So they I know several PTAs that are very interested in in the maybe not the transportation because that's always been the hit
033and that has always been the hit. And so now you may not be looking you may be looking at maybe 25 more. I mean seriously the PTAs are absolutely interested. I hear this every year from several school. It's like an echo you hear from this school and then this school. So I'm I'm very excited about San Diego. Very excited. So this may be a Pat shoulders question, but is this if it's similar to like what we do with the Falsy Historic, do we have to does there need to be a separate board for this or is this internal and we just like uh Darlo said, we have a committee that would come up with the rubric for the money or whatever it may be. >> As the superintendent said, this will this will be directed
034and awarded by the board upon recommendation of the superintendent. >> Okay, thanks. >> And I have a final question. And you said you're putting together a committee and you said that um the awarding of money would be for those qualifying um >> qualifying institutions >> institutions. And so, um, are I guess after this is approved, the next step would be getting a committee together and putting the different fit those guidelines together based on >> figuring out how to make that public so that that people know where to go to to look for criteria and how to submit proposals. That will be the work that happens next. >> Thank you. >> And this could affect also summer school, correct? you would be able to offer summer school um field trips. Yes, potentially >> because the first
035money would be received in the spring. >> The the would be in the spring of 26. >> Any other questions, discussion? Okay, hearing none. All in favor signify by I. >> I same sign. That motion carries. Thank you, Carl. >> So, for the next item, uh, in accordance with, uh, state statute, school corporations are required to hold a public hearing to notify the community and allow public input prior to the start of pre- formal bargaining with employee unions such as the Evansville Teachers Association. This ensures uh, taxpayers and stakeholders with an opportunity to learn and comment about the upcoming labor negotiations. At this time, I'll turn the meeting over to Mr. Schers. >> Thank you, Dr. Underwood. And as you've said, is there any member of the public who would like to be heard tonight
036concerning the pre-formable bargaining unit bargaining which will take place between the ESC and the Evansville Teachers Association? Once again, is there any person present who would like to offer comments to the EVSC concerning the bargaining which will take place between the EVSC and the Evansville Teachers Association. There being no one having come forward, Dr. that we will call this meeting a this public hearing adjourned. >> Thank you, Mr. Shers. >> So, for the next uh several items, these are related to our 2026 budget. The first one is permission to advertise for additional appropriations for the debt service fund. Requesting permission to advertise for additional appropriations in the debt service fund. >> Just quick question that when then when we start pre uh we can now and I believe our first session is scheduled for this
037week. >> Great. Super. Thank you. >> So requesting uh to advertise for additional appropriations in the debt service fund uh which are necessary to satisfy 2025 debt service fund obligations. This is not a request for new funding. We do have sufficient cash on hand. At this time I request your approval. >> Move your approval. >> Second. >> Okay. A motion and a second have been made to accept the provision to advertise additional appropriation for debt service fund. Are there any questions or discussion? Hearing none. All in favor? >> I. >> Same sign opposed. And this motion carries. Thank you. So permission to advertise for the capital projects plan. Office of Business Affairs requests the board to approve the advertisement of the capital projects plan as part of the 26 planning process. So second >> second.
038>> A motion and a second have been made to give permission to advertise the 2026 through 2028 capital projects plan. Are there any questions or discussion? This is a moving target and we could probably use another two30 million. Prioritization of all of this is extremely important and I think that Steve and his crew and the corporation does a great job in keeping our facilities um in tiptop shape. And this is extremely important now because we have other school districts that like to come in and attract our students away. And I think if parents and citizens will look at the quality of our school facilities and quality of our staff and our teachers, I just don't think they can compare to it. But this is a big part of it. You know, you got multiple facilities,
039you have to keep them up and you have to make sure that they're safe. You have to make sure that um we are staying on top of any problems that take place and I think we do a great job. >> Any other comments, statements, questions? Hearing none. All in favor to advertise the 2026 through 2028 capital projects plan. All in favor? >> Opposed. Same sign. And then that motion carries. Thank you. The next item is permission to advertise the bus replacement plan as part of the 2026 budget process. Requesting approval to advertise the bus replacement plan. >> Second. We had a motion, a second. I think Terry made the motion. >> Thank you. I didn't hear the motion. Okay. Motion and a second have been made to uh advertise the 2026 through 2030 bus replacement
040plan. Are there any questions? Are discussion? >> Hearing none. All in favor signify by I. I. >> Same sign opposed. >> That motion carries. Action item tonight is permission to shift contracted bus service fair market lease to the bus replacement plan. At this time I'm requesting your approval. >> Second motion then second have been made to shift the resolution a resolution to shift the contracted bus service to bus replacement plan. Are there any questions discussion? Okay hearing none. All in favor? >> I sign opposed. And that motion carries. Thank you, Dr. >> Think I have a few seven. [Laughter] >> So, uh, for the education operations monthly review, as of July 31st, uh, we've expended 54.82% 18% of the education fund budget, leaving a balance of 48,491,73120. In the operations fund, 53.6% has been expended,
041leaving a balance of $31,479,255.38. Summary of cash balances by fund. These are the balances for the debt service, education, exempt debt service, and operations funds. Expenditure ledger summary report. This report is a breakdown of expenditures by function and object code and revenue summary report. Uh this report lists revenue as of July 31st for the education operations debt service and exempt debt service funds. Happy to answer any questions you may have. >> Hey, it looks like my checkbook. Thank you very much. That's all I wanted. >> Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Appreciate it. >> Thank you, Dr. I'll move to 7.05 Rick Cameron consideration to approve policy 4320 student attendance eventual truency prevention. >> I think we should give India a stipen to present all these information and action items. This meeting would be much more
042exciting. Yeah. >> Thank you, President Raglin, members of the board and Dr. Hoover. Senate Enrolled Act 482 approved during recent legislative session directed the Indiana Department of Education to establish guidance on chronic absenteeism as part of a statewide effort to promote better student attendance. Based on guidance from the Indiana School Board Association and the recommendation of ISBA Legal Council, the Office of the Chief of Staff recommends adoption of policy 4320 to replace the existing policy 4320 to ensure in alignment with the new state requirements and best practices. Uh we bring this as your information. and I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have or attempt to or find the right person to or just get India up here to give us all. >> Yes, I'm sorry. >> I do have a question. You
043know me. >> Good evening, Mr. Cameron. Uh the question that I have for you, of course, with the new policy 4320 is now in place. How will the district address the chronic absenteeism, ensuring students get the support that they need and measuring whether the policy is actually improving attendance? >> Yeah. So, the measurement, I might leave that to Dr. Hoover to answer. She would be much better equipped to answer the measurement part. >> Well, in terms of measuring, um, we pull that regularly. like last year as part of district development every month we had every school has their rate from last year what their goal is this year and we're looking in addition to like a formal review um in those meetings school teams also meet monthly with the director of attendance but their school
044teams are meeting likely weekly and they're looking at where kids are how many days they've missed and in terms of strategies there's a lot of them that um that are using, but a lot of it has to do with just relationships with kids. Like you're doing your best to make the environment feel welcome and to make students feel a sense of belonging when they're there. You know, finding them in the hallway and um those called 2 by10s, I think. And also an important part of attendance work will always be working with families and talking to them about what are the barriers, what is it going to take, what can we do to help. Um really having that sometimes almost daily interaction to to really understand what's going on. So that's really what we do. And
045then we we just do data polls to see what's our percentage, how many kids, this is a list of kids that are hitting 10 days. This is a list that are hitting five. And >> yeah, >> one of the things that came up in the discussion and I I think this applies here is uh the chronic absenteeism, the habitual truency applies to less than 1% of our students are affected by that part of it. But you know, Rick, many times you can catch other problems because of trinity and and absenteeism. And I think it sounds to me like we have teams in these schools that are are watching the numbers and when it gets to a certain benchmark, >> they start going to action to find out what the root of situation is and trying
046to get the the student and family some assistance. >> They absolutely are. you can be assured that there are teams in all of our schools and down here at admin helping them look at all these numbers and watch for that. >> So is a chronic um 1% is that that's based off previous status. >> Yeah. what this was talking about his 1% reference was like there's something in statute that talks about at 10 you're you're classified as a habitual truent at 10 days of truency and there's an required referral to the prosecutor's office which sounds ominous but I will say truency means no call no show and and if you can reach a parent and they give you the reason that's no longer a truency so this is when we it's almost like missing like
047what's going on or the parent just says, "No, it's not excused. I can't get them to come. I need your help." And so these are extreme situations with attendance so that when we say less than 1%, it's because for other students, we can get that dialogue going and we have this relationship with the family and and we feel like there's some hope of getting it back on track. And then the 1% is like we we can't we can't work together to make it happen. Sometimes the parent is willing, it's just we're dealing with like maybe an older student who's just refusing to come. But it's a very small subset of our students that we're talking about when we talk about habitual truent. >> And this doesn't necessarily have to be like 10 days in a
048row or or do they is there still the like two late I mean late to the first period class and you can lose a credit. Is that still >> we don't pull credits for debts. >> Go ahead, Chris. >> Real quick and I don't know if it's in the policy, but try that's one thing. What about constantly late? They're they're hour late, half hour late. They're getting there, but they're late every day. That ths them off. That th they've missed the first something or they're leaving early for whatever reason. I mean, how do we Is that captured at all? because I I I could see that being a bigger problem. >> It is. It's captured um because if you miss the entire like middle schools, high schools are taking class by class attendance. So if
049you miss first period every day, yeah, we absolutely know the process is kind of still the same. We're talking to the kid like why are you missing first period every day? We're talking to the family. Why are they missing first period? Are you not getting here? Are you here but you're not going? It's that same It's that same thing that yes, we do report attendance secondary by class period. And elementary do it I think twice a day. They do it mid morning and then midday. >> The last thing that I have um and it probably sounds just like a general blanket question, right? How can the community, churches, mentoring organizations, nonforprofit organizations really stand behind this? Because I think the one thing, you know, we always say it takes a village and it does, right?
050But I think especially when we know that a shift is coming, different things can just happen. So what does that look like? Because of course driving in the mornings, there are church vans that are in church parking lots that aren't used Monday through Friday. >> And so what does this look like? I know it's liability and I'm pretty sure it's Mr. shoulders question answer, but you know, I think speaking out loud and giving voice to this um I just think it's very important with how just things are shifting. I >> we had some of those conversations before, like you said, with uh community uh groups that would uh you know, I missed the bus, so I'm not making it to school. What can I do? Well, nothing keeps a church, if I'm a church member,
051you know, nothing keeps them from working with parents or with, you know, uh, their particular church community to get those kids to school. It just would keep us from, >> you know, into that and saying that's a a valid way to get a kid to school. We still have the laws that we have to do, but certainly doubling down as a community on those things that get kids up and motivated to school and working together to do that in a way that we, you know, that we do already. But just doubling down on that is one of the things I think, but also if we had those answers, you know, we would we would not be looking at policies like this. The state would not be trying to really focus on attendance and chronic absenteeism
052if we already had the answers. The answers are out there and and to be created and utilized, but we don't have them right now. >> I'll keep asking the questions until we do. Thank you very much, Mr. Cameron. >> Keep going after it. Keep asking the questions. >> Thank you. >> What What caused this this bill? I mean, we look at statistics for for I read and grades. Have are there statistics where do we compare statewide with our tenants? >> That that is a great question that I have I do not have the answer to to >> I don't know how they came up with this bill. Somebody's having a big problem. I mean, not that any problem. Yeah, I think chronic absenteeism is a state a n it's a national >> postco especially like
053when you're just like reading you know educational journals and magazines and postcoid getting students back in school regularly and in some ways it it also mirrors like workforce like getting people back in that you know it's a h attendance is a habit and when you lose it it's hard to to get it back. I I would think that urban districts are probably their numbers are probably higher. I don't know that, >> but um I just I kind of would like to see that if they've got any available just to kind of see where we land there for >> and how we can improve, you know, continually. I have hope though for the future with these literacy scores going up because if the the statistics for a third grader that can't read are scary. I mean,
054you really don't want to know. It is really bad. So, what happens is they get into like high school and stuff and they can't read or even even younger. If they can't read, they're embarrassed and they actually don't they quit. They just in their mind they quit. Maybe they might go to school, but they still quit and then they really quit. So these these literacy scores is really given given some hope here. I don't I hope those numbers will go down. I know that third grade job, it's more than you think. The trajectory of a child that can read proficiently by third grade, that trajectory is crazy good. If they can't read, it's like a submarine. it goes below the surface for success. So these these scores are more than what people think. These are
055very very good signs that the future for some children is going to be much better. And when they're educated, they pay taxes for public schools and good stuff like that. So it's a win-win for everybody. And I just kind of just maybe think sense a good point, David. I think a lot of the reason we can think about all the transportation whatever but I think the reason kids miss school is because they don't get it in schools they feel maybe you know people make for whatever it may be I've seen kids and I know educators but I've seen kids that maybe are a little bit immature younger they don't get it so they miss school then all of a sudden sudden clicks and that next year too all of a sudden they they're the one
056they don't miss school nothing else has probably changed they probably still live in the same environment or whatever it may be but they're getting positive feedback instead of negative feedback. I think that's a bigger picture of of of try and those type of things myself that's just me >> want to add to Melissa what you were sharing um I share some history with India u we did diamonds program together many moons ago and uh her the her church mentoring group was phenomenal I mean they were engineers and all kind of professions but they were phenomenal and we just kind of made a pack that if Our kids had poor attention. I mean, they were on them and we literally picked them up. If you you you better call your mentor and you're you're not cuz
057you're late or you miss the bus, you're not going to miss the whole day, you know. So, we were we were on it. So, um so you saying that brought that memory back, you know. So, it's it's five. >> I can see five. Okay, we are now ready to move into a continued business. Dr. Hoover and board members, >> I'll start. I know we've talked a lot about um reading, but I do think it's so important that we're going to continue that. Um, to some of your points, I'm a high school group, but I know that high schools are the beneficiaries of kids who can read. Before third grade, you're learning to read, and after third grade, you're reading to learn. And if you don't have that, it's a struggle. School can be a struggle.
058And there's lots of statistics. One is that a student who can't read by the end of third grade is four times more likely to drop out of high school. And we know the impact of that. And so I think the work that we're doing here is extraordinary. Um last year we were at 72% of our students reading proficiently by the end of third grade. We set a goal. We know the state's goal by the end of spring of 2027. We need to do 95%. So we set the goal being 75% in the spring of 2025. We wanted to give ourselves a realistic goal. We thought that'll get us on the right path. We obviously surpassed 75%. We landed at 83.4. We were planning on going up 75, 85, 95. So, we're well on our way,
059which is awesome. And I do think it took our teachers, our coaches, our reading specialists, our instructional assistants, our families, our kids, our administrators, our central office staff, just everybody working together. Reading is very important. And we changed our approach to how we're teaching reading. And so I think that will pay dividends for years and years and years to come. I shared with principles some um some of the stats on this and all told when we think about AIS has a reading score because they have the learning center and Evansville psychiatric children's center under that umbrella. So when you include virtual and AIS we were looking at 24 distinct schools. 21 out of 24 schools saw an improvement in their reading scores last year, which is awesome. >> And so, and of those, we you
060saw the the data we had, six schools increased by more than 20%. 15 of our schools met their goal. 15 of our schools surpassed their precoid reading scores. So, we always talk about that rebound postcoid. So, we have 15 schools go back to where they were before, which is great. 17 schools were above that 75%. Nine were above 85. Four were above 95. And so, and really good news, too. Second graders are taking this exam. And so, which is great for a lot of reasons. One, it gives you peace of mind. You know, your your child is at that benchmark, but also it allows us to know who we need to focus on. So, of our second graders last year that are now third graders, we have 771 who've already passed that third grade exam,
061which is 46.6% of our kids have already met that requirement, which is outstanding because we know people like India know who to focus on, like who's not yet proficient in third grade, which will help our pass rates and help us continue to get to that 95% by 2027. So really thankful for um everyone who really embraced the challenge and worked to make the remarkable growth that we had a reality. Other than that for me fall sports are underway and um it's such a fun time. I think uh Andy Kim correct me. We have girls golf, boys tennis, soccer, football, volleyball, cross country. We've got cheerleaders. We've got bands out there. It is a fun time. So, I encourage everyone to take in a fall sport. It's it's great to go see young people doing things
062that they love and it's a good uh community experience to be there cheering for our students. Um, football games started this past Friday and I was at the Harrison Wrights game and just stands full of people. It was a great a great experience and like you said, Hall of Fame was moved down here. So, take take a look at that on your way out. That's it for me. >> Hey, I got to follow you by first of all, thank you guys. Wow. Unbelievable. Thank you so much for your hard work. I know it's every day. Every day. And I know when you go home, it doesn't just stay at school. You worry about it at night and what what's going on. Uh and I just heard you say something. So if a if a student
063passes it in second grade, they don't have to take it in the third grade. Is that right? Oh, that's great. Now, did I see some place now that if they don't pass that that we retain them? Is that right? >> There is a required retention in Indiana. Now, there are some there are some ways to get a rate a waiver for that. Um, and very specific criteria for waiverss. Um, if you have an IEP, so a student with special needs and their I their case conference decides that that's not in their best interest, they receive a waiver. uh students who are um English learners who have I think it's less than two yeah fewer than two years um of services can receive a waiver if you uh pass the I learn math but not reading
064you can also move forward but there are students who are retained unfortunately and I think that's a big motivator for for educators no one wants to see a student retained and it is a requirement of the new um literacy >> but if they're retained And I'm just curious and you guys can answer, but what is it that we're going to do different? Because I've heard before, you know, just to retain if we go through the same thing, is that going to be something different? Because evidently they're not getting the information the way we're doing it for those kids that are retained. Is there another dynamic, another strategy that's used to really target or hit those kids individually? I don't I'm just asking. I don't >> I'll start and then you all are the experts. But
065I do know um students who didn't pass have they they began the year with an individualized reading plan that is specific to what are their needs so that we know exactly what their deficiencies are. And so they're also receiving interventions and an intervention group. In schools where there's a reading specialist, that's who they're with. There's not a reading specialist, they're with a teacher who's been trained in science of reading to deliver those interventions to them. So I think it's more time specifically focused on their skill deficit. Is that >> Yeah. With us being able to pinpoint that it's usually just more the more repetition that we can get will get them to read proficiency. So being able to use our data and pinpoint those things. >> Sounds great. >> That >> fantastic. Thank you. >>
066Dr. Hoover, you you mentioned athletics and there's just so much that our students have to do uh extracurricular wise and and with athletics and everything and that seems for many kids to kind of pull them to where they can't uh concentrate maybe on their schooling as much. And I remember the good old days, Mr. Owen, your grandfather and father when they coached. Um, I'm a proponent of athletic teams and marching bands and and all these groups having study tables in the event that any of their students are struggling that they get with a teacher within the school to help those students. Uh, I can remember a day when I played baseball say I had to take my my report card to the coach and I wasn't going to play unless I got my grades. I
067mean, those are all incentives that we build uh for kids and I think we need to maybe look at doing more of that because all they care about is touchdown sometimes and they need think about the the reading and the writing. So, just a thought. >> Well, peerto-peer is powerful, too. I mean, you know, it can encourage each other and support each other as well. I do believe I mean there's athletic there's academic eligibility to participate >> in athletics passing is it five of seven. >> Yes. >> And I can tell you from a parent standpoint I do believe study tables are still >> I do I do believe those are still real and coaches are now instead of having to show your report card coaches have access and they can look and pull up
068grades for students. >> One of one of the things it's come in the mail Probably one of the things that have changed a little bit is maybe that football coach hosting that study table isn't the the expert and now with so many other supports probably what the the digital tools powers school and you were showing that report card once every nine weeks or maybe every four weeks grades are put in the p school daily. I mean, my son has his math test score this afternoon when he got off the bus from today. So, parents are seeing those. In some cases, it might not be a parent at home seeing those. So, the role takes the coach takes the role maybe of the parent. They can't always look at that. But the the study tables and
069things like that, teachers and things being offered after school may be missing that practice. And the coach is fine and understands that because you're educa, you're a student athlete. But I think it's the people running the stadium tables and the efforts after school by our leaders in the building with those hats, the education hats. Not that our football coaches aren't teachers and those things, but the expert to help with math and the ability to be able to be in there. And then daytoday, I mean, up to the second grades are are put in and and able to be viewed. I think that's that's changed a little bit, but really proud. Honestly, if you think our our student athletes academic um awards over the last few years, academic hall city has continued to grow because of
070u the value of education and our student athletes and the classrooms and the resources like study tables that we're providing. >> Well, this corporation I think is known for the support that we give students and I want to continue that and increase it. Absolutely. And it continues on because even at a secondary level um a collegiate level if you're in a sport you know study tables are mandatory. >> So >> I just want to say uh Miss Moore it was a pleasure meeting you today and congratulations and thank you very much. But can I say it's very fine um for me to thank my childhood friend who is now a teacher, Miss Williams. Thank you so much for everything that you do and it's an honor as a trustee to say thank you to the
071coach that my daughter had when she was in high school. And I think sometimes seeing it from this lens, right, is is it's powerful, >> but it's so different and it hits different. And so sometimes though I say thank you, I think thank you means different at different times. So thank you all so much. And it's as a as a grandmother now, my kids always laugh and say, "Wow, if you bring another book here, I do diapers, winter coats, and books every week." And that's it. That's all you're going to because it's very important to learn how to read from the time they are born. They have a lot of books. Sitting down and read. And I want to encourage, if I may, just a parent that who who could go back and listen to
072the video or maybe struggling even you don't even have to have the money for a but go to the library like that. I think that's just a very important. Our local libraries are phenomenal. I believe Mr. Cameron sits on the board and they they have so many resources. So many resources and all is not lost, right? But thank you so so much. I am a huge advocate for literacy. It means a lot. It will take you very far in life, even if it's just the basics. So, thank you very much. Thank you. And Dr. Hoover, thank you for leaving the spotlight. Thank you. >> And I'd like to give a little shout out to the PTAs, too. No surprise there. Um, we had the Indiana State PTA conference, the first one since CO. We had
073the PTAs in Vandenberg County got 38 awards. >> I was there to accept them. >> Area council president. I was elected Saturday. I went to a conference, three-day conference on Friday. So, I hit the ground running. It got so we got so many awards. I was walking from the back of the room to the front of the room and I just I stopped. I mean, I I just stood like 15 feet away because I kept going EVSSC, EVSC, 38 awards. And speaking of early child literacy, the PTAs through the PTAs, they have given away $237,000 worth of toys, the reader books that you get. They have a little box, you push a button, it reads you one of the eight books. $237,000 in 13 months. I'm proud to say that my wife and I have
074spearheaded that and we got more and we're giving them away. We even got these little bucket of books and it's a little bucket. It's got crayons in it. We even have one some that had little rattles in it. So, early child literacy, we understand it. We understand how important it is and we hope to keep this going and we the PTAs incidentally have given away to every school, every elementary school. It's only been first and down, first grade down, some second grade, but not very many. But every school got it. Not just ones that had PTAs. They funded it. We we labored it. We did everything for every child. PTAs are the largest child advocacy group in the United States. People don't know that. We don't just advocate on the school front. We're talking about
075passing laws for retention ponds. That's why I shot you a text, Mr. Sheller, about how many retention ponds we have because that is such a big uh killer of children actually, especially boys, like three-year-old boys who tend to be more adventurous and daring. they drown at an alarming rate and we're on that. So, we're advocating for not just Vanderberg County, not just their school, Vanderberg County, but statewide and nationalwise. We are busy doing and helping. If you have a chance to join a PTA, please do so. They also sell something called spirit wear >> and um you could buy spirit wear, you can participate in penny wars. Those are fun. That's fun stuff. Buy, you know, send your kid to school with a quarter or whatever it is they charge for a bag of popcorn.
076The all of this money is regulated. We can only do it for certain things. It's highly guarded. Um, and it's just a joy to be a part of that that organization. It really does take fire. So, we understand from the PTA aspect about children's literacy. We know how important it is. were were on board with you, were helping you with that with that cause. And I think that these first graders that that are now second graders that got those books, I think those numbers are going to spike. I think they're going to continue to go up because of these books. I firmly believe it. They I've heard too many stories about how the kids are going home and reading to their little brothers and their or the if they can't read it, their older siblings
077read it to them and stuff. It's it's taking it's it that kind of stuff takes off. And so I'm happy to say that the PTAs are thriving. They're doing well. Just for example, tonight we're going to be able to maybe bring extra field trip because they're going to pay for part of the field trip to a school and that just just it's just going to roll. I really do believe we're taking form and that it's a very positive thing. So, if anybody has a chance to join a PTA or just pat them on the back, that's a good that's good enough. People really like that. We We need to be seen. They need to be seen. They I'm tired of It's the largest child advocacy group in the United States and nobody knows it. They're
078the best kept secret. The reason why they don't pat themselves on the back very well. They're all task masters. >> Yeah. >> And and I I keep telling them, you guys are going to start singing. You got you got Facebook accounts. you're gonna start putting stuff out there. So, you're going to hear more from the PTAs and I'm proud to be a part of that. >> David, let me ask this. Um, is it possible like if you want I mean to join like maybe as a a district like EBSC the schools in EBSC a membership for that versus you know I mean like I don't have children in school anymore but you know I would support I always from K through 12 I supported PPA. So, so we we are separate from the schools. We
079we kind of try to be um we we're not part of the school actually. >> They're not at the individual schools like >> No, they are. So, okay. So, you can join a PTA for I think some of them are seven bucks and and some of them are $11. That but that's you know that's hardly any money. Um, but there's a line there because um, we're not we're not really we're not really involved. We're part of a group and Dr. Hoover, you can maybe explain it better. And I'm stumbling a little bit, but we're we're part of a group. Um, and we are independent of um, we're not part of the school. So, we have teachers that are members of course and we have principles that are very active, but it is a separate >>
080there's more parents of students in that school. that and it is I'm not explaining it very well. >> That's okay. I'm just curious if that's something that can be you know >> EVSSC I don't know that we can do that as EBSC there are certain things they can do and they're doing EBSC is pretty active. I mean, we do have some we have some hiccups here, but I think we can get those straightened out, but basically the schools are a host for the PTAs and they're active in those schools. >> Thank you. >> That answer your question? I can get you a better answer. >> You're just wanting to know if there's a if you join as a like a district PTA or if it's schools. I think they're all school level. >> They're all
081school level. You can start a PTA. Anybody can start a PTA with a background check. >> I know you don't have kids. I don't either. I got lot grandkids. My grandkids don't even go to EDSC schools. So, and and I'm a big proponent and heck, I don't how many how many PTAs are we a member of right now? >> So far, we've won seven this year. >> Yeah, that's but this is early, right? So, we'll be way more than that the end of the year. We'll have way more than that. are very active in in all in fact we were active in at least 17 schools last year as PTA members that's PTA schools that didn't even have PTAs but you can start a PTA we would love to we would love to help you
082do that if anybody has an idea to start a PTA we would be more than happy to help set that up state people and everything can I just one more comment real quick uh uh you know Mike said something earlier about you know everybody's competing for the same students and our facilities really and I agree attract people to come here but I think what really will attract them is these scores these as we raise our scores the academic part because we're the leader that's combination both that's why they're going to come here so lead to my next real quick question just in I see the Dr. Jenner that we had the opportunity to meet her right here she's now going to be the secretary of education and and and the higher ed commissioner Is that
083right? Is that going to be a posit? I mean, you know, I know she's got the K12, but then that might help as our students look for higher ed and vice versa. I'm just curious. >> I think it's I think it is a real positive. Um, for one thing, I think they were using this term. They're talking about the vertical alignment. And so, increasingly, especially with the new high school diploma, the goal is for our students to increase currency is what they're calling it. but it might be the earning the Indiana College CP which requires dual credits. Um, earning a technical certificate and so having one person that's over the the public colleges and K12 I think will help with those partnerships. We have those already, but having one person overseas, I think will naturally
084increase communication and those partnerships so that we can make sure our students get all of those opportunities. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Do we have any students here visiting tonight? If so, would you please come to the microphone and introduce yourself and the school you're with? Thank you. >> You're so shy. in a real big voice. >> Hi, I'm Litzy Vargas and I go to Wright's High School and I'm going to I'm a senior this year. >> My name is Caitlyn Fischer. I go to North High School and I'm a senior. I'm Mlan. I'm a senior at Wrights High School. >> I'm Reagan Wagner. I'm a senior at Central High School. >> I'm Ellis Shubbridge and I'm a junior at Wright's High School. >> Hi, I'm Salem Miller and I'm a junior at Wright's High
085School. >> So, is this government class? Is it >> resources and resources? >> What' you say? >> Okay. Okay. Good. We got a combination of >> Thank you. Thank you for visiting and you can sign with any of us board members after your uh at the end of our meeting. Oh, and uh if there's nothing else, I have the thought for the week. I said this is the third week for our teachers. And so the thought for the week is when you are completely exhausted but someone says that you are their favorite teacher. May that revive revive you. If there's nothing else to come before the board. >> One more thing. >> I just want to um us if we can just pay our respects to probably one of the biggest community champions that passed
086away Saturday. um he would come here advocate for his grandchildren or individuals in his neighborhood and that was the mayor of Goosetown himself, Mr. Leonard Collins. He will truly be missed. >> Truly, truly be missed. >> Yes. Thank you very much. >> Yes. This meeting is adjourned.