001Monday, February 23rd, 2026. Please rise and recite the pledge of >> allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Just a few opening remarks as we get started here. Uh this is a meeting of the school board and public for the purpose of conducting the school corporation's business is not to be considered a public community meeting. There is time for public participation for agenda and non-aggenda items uh by agenda item number two. The mission of go community schools is to inspire innovation, empowering potential, enriching our world and our vision is the go community schools county school district of choice. Uh item 1.4 is approval of tonight's agenda. Do we have any revisions
002to that? >> No, Mr. President. >> All right. The agenda is approved as presented. Um, and item 1.5 are the minutes from our February 9th regular meeting. Board members, any comments on that? Um while you're saying that I will uh say Ryan asked a question at the last meeting about the uh content of the minutes and we can say that because our me meetings are being recorded that per our attorney what we are showing is is adequate. So you have to respond to that. So >> it was more just when I was trying to search past meetings it's harder to search the uh >> it is pretty good >> recording as opposed to minutes. >> Yep. >> But >> uh I I did have one note. I don't know if this is a problem. In
003item 3.4, it does say that Mrs. Noi was pleased to present with unanimous vote Dr. Karen blah the go intermediate school principal. Um, but that vote didn't take place I think until the consent agenda. So technically it wasn't presented there. It was I mean it was announced there but it wasn't actually formalized until down further. because it was done during the >> consent. >> Yeah. >> Uh yeah. Yeah. Because it was said that Yeah. during the interview committee unanimously approved of her. Correct. Yeah. >> Got it. >> So is yeah just yeah change that a little bit of language there. >> Yeah and I think it's just missing principle in the statement. >> Yeah other than that >> okay all right so uh with that note that we will update item 3.4 with the verbiage
004to say that the the interview committee was a unanimous vote with that we will say the meeting minutes are approved as amended then. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> All right. Thank you. Um so with that then uh we will go to item two public comment. Did anyone sign in this fine evening? >> Okay. You sure? Last chance. Okay. We will then go to item three. Superintendent reports. >> Yes. Let's start out and uh Dr. Evans has I think one update for the board. >> Right. Uh with the board's approval, we purchased the house just south of Parkside School uh with the intent of making it available for sale. I have talked with two different realers uh Lacasa and with Habitat for Humanity and have not had any success with anybody trying to purchase and then
005move the house. So I think I'm running out of options other than in the long run, we don't want to have a vacant property. So that's where we are right now. And Do we want to market it though? Like actually list it with the intent for someone to I mean I'm just ask >> you can do whatever you want. >> I just didn't know >> even for free just to get it off. >> Well 100% it would be like for a dollar. >> No that's I tried to give it to the tried to give it to Habitat. I told the dealers that we didn't really want anything other than to get rid of the house, right? They want to sell houses. They don't want to facilitate somebody moving a house. Yeah. >> So, uh my
006best thought my thought would be uh Lassa they could pick it up and move someplace they had a lot >> or maybe have it for the same reasons, but um they're not in the business of moving houses. >> I I think actually the location and this is just my own thoughts is a bit prohibitive because it's right in the middle of the city and you have to move so many wires and there's not really land available to move it onto so I I think it's just in a difficult position to move personally speaking >> I I I don't disagree I mean yeah I mean do we even choose just to list it for a couple months and say hey if not it's going to get torn down maybe surpris Some people may choose to do
007for free. I I >> How much does it cost to tear a house down like that? >> It's different depending upon the basement. I would estimate that the system would probably in the neighborhood of $20,000. >> So what would happen if you said he get $10,000 towards moving costs saves us 50% and are we not allowed to do that? Even House for a dollar, 50,000 to move it, you're still getting a heck of a house for $50,000, right? It it all comes down to someone willing to make the effort, you know, but you gota have a land, too. So, >> yeah, I know one of the things intersections Oh yeah. >> There have been houses that have moved in through that corridor when the hospital expanded. There were houses there that they did move. Um
008one ended up on Ninth Street, but you know, so it's been done. I don't disagree. It's it'd be expensive for somebody, but when houses are selling for 225 plus, >> we uh we did offer it to the previous owner >> and he could take the house with him after and he he looked into it and declined. >> It's expensive. >> That was to me that was somebody who was invested in the house. >> Do you want to put a title on it? >> Wait another six months. I don't know if the city would appreciate an empty house >> neighborhood >> just to we could list it for a couple months and if if there's a bite there's a bite I mean if not we know what the plan is to tear a house down you
009know you could have that in your back pocket already trying to add work for you >> we're not planning on moving quickly on additional parking space there park And if it might be worthwhile for us, I should say this here, but you know, as we recruit and football coach, another teacher for six months or year or something that we tore down the It's not what we want. >> I think there's a furnace repair. Anything else? Thank you. Next up is uh student achievement commitment and probably I think you have something and I have something just very quickly uh I read window opens on Monday and so that is the first of high stakes testing that our second graders and third graders will take on. So um we we are prepared. So here we go. >>
010Uh startup Moxy our program that we have entrepreneurs is going to do a pitch competition. Uh the students are going to help try to raise money for the pitch competition as part of what they're doing. So this is something that start the idea that we'll have our pitch competition. They'll have theirs but then the winners of our pitch competition will go to the banquet. Three of them three of them and there's a banquet more information to follow on that, but just if you had anyone that you thought maybe an angel investor that'd be willing to put some money up because the idea is the money then would go to the winning pitches. So to fund their businesses for startup cost, it's kind of like a shark tank startup cost. So just wanted to make that
011announcement here as part of this. And if you have any be thinking about that your business friends that might be willing to help student they're going to be making calls. So that's it there. U unless there's any questions on student achievement. We'll go on to the next operational excellence uh commitment. We're gonna go this is kind of the metaf show. So go ahead take it away. So um as of starting next uh board meeting you'll be we'll be uh dealing with uh the updates um for volume 38 volume 38 volume one for our policies from Neiola. Um if you remember we mentioned a couple I don't know three four months ago possibly that um our current policy allows us to put um updates that just involve punctuation um corrections in consent agenda. So, those will
012be there'll be there'll be um three of them in consent agenda next board meeting. Uh later on this week toward hopefully by the end of the week, you'll receive the packet with volume 38 or volume 38 volume one um which which um this is the first time you'll be seeing something like this. Nola gives you an update. The first couple pages walk you through just here's some comments, here's the overview. Um, Niola talks a little bit about there about, you know, if you here here are our recommended updates. If you choose to do something different, remember that their their warranty is null and void. Uh, and then the last couple pages are actually summaries of the um changes in the policy. So, you'll be I think you have a paper copy about that, but I
013know we'll get through electronic copy of that here um at that. And then that will be the first discussion that will be discussed first reading on May 9th. >> Oh, sorry. Yes. March 9th. Thank you. >> Can I ask you so please >> how will we identify the actual changes that they are recommending? Is it I'm just trying to I'm skimming this for the first time right now. Will it be like the text will have you know struck through the new text will be I'm just trying to >> well in the way they've done it they've done it in here is they've just outlined what the new policy will say they do not okay >> um they they kind of say what our old one was and how it's changed. So when you look at
014the like the non-discrimination equal opportunity, you'll see that that um that policy is in this policy one 1422 one 3122 4122 um because it's the same for each classification of administration uh professionals uh certified and classified. Um and then they just they just note um that what like for example the term criminal sexual contact they kind of uh note what that is and what the change has been okay >> uh within there. >> Um but we will also get you the uh electronic version of this. Um and then uh as Mr. Deo um Mr. and we've been working um on the posting with the new uh football coach. One thing we have started having some discussions about um is uh our ECAs for our head coaches really were meant for they were created back before
015there when there were moratoriums when there were you couldn't touch your talk to your players. Now coaches really are working with their players year round. However, our ECA really is meant to be during the coaching season. Uh, so we've had some preliminary discussions with um our school attorney about the use of supplemental pay for offseason to that and we are looking into what we we might um do with that and hopefully So we hope we'll communicate with the actual language policies. Okay, thanks Dr. Maf and Terry. Next up is our people commitments and Tracy, you have some dates of the celebration. >> Um we have first is the wellness committee. We We created a district wellness committee. We'll soon be having our first districtwide wellness meeting. This group will address overall the all aspects of
016employee wellness. So forward minds at the table to address all all wellness of employees. And then we have a couple achievement celebrations. Jason Krider, Ocean High School art teacher, published recently a book of his art. has a copy of it down there at the end. Um, he went around and took all kinds of illustrations and artwork of trees and things in nature. So, it was pretty interesting with all his artwork. So, congratulations to Jason for that accomplishment. And then we had two students. Congratulations to Jacob Morning Star and Miles Gillette for representing Ocean High School at the state chess tournament um this past weekend in Indianapolis competing in the junior varsity division against 42 players across the state. Jacob finished an impressive eth that competition and Miles placed 18. We were very happy with their
017their accomplishments down there. Their focus, their strategy, the way they represented high school on that state was impressive. They were competing against congratulations to those two young men. >> That's fantastic. >> All right. Thank you all. All right. We will now move on to item four, which is our committee reports. So I will to my fellow board members, committees you sit on. Anything to highlight since our last meeting. >> I had the uh I attended the foundation meeting on February 11th. It's the first one. So, just kind of getting my um yeah, it was good. I met the people on the board. They're considering another member. Um just kind of got lay the things you talk about, things that might need funding, um special requests, things like that. And little bit about the uh trivia
018night and and how those uh how that planning goes so early into that. And so yeah, I hope to have more. It was a good first meeting that I remembered to go to. So we're headed in the right direction >> others >> um attended the state house day uh Tuesday. It's always interesting to go down and listen to legislators talk about bills and why they drafted certain legislation. So, um that was it's always informative. Um it wasn't a budgetary session, so it wasn't near as crazy as last year's. Um and because of redistricting in 2025, that was two week process. They cut this session short, so it'll wrap up Friday, a shorter session. Um 90 bills is what they started with. There's 34 left. Probably less. That was Tuesday and I'm sure some stuff's been
019cut on the left of the floor. Um the biggest thing well one the cell phone ban I know that we had talked about that in previous board meetings. Um they changed the language on this to be it doesn't have to be cell phones don't have to be in a secure location which takes a lot out of it. I think they did that because funding won't be attached to this legislation. So you know I'm sure the high school or elementary do that now put in their backpack. So, it's kind of what we do now anyway. Um, so that's really like a bill that's kind of doesn't have much to it is what it is. Um, that's SB78. SB76, this is an immigration bill. This affects municipalities in Indiana. Um, it says prohibits schools, municipalities from adopting
020policies that limit interference with immigration. So, That would be a $10,000 fine that's being discussed as two bills questions. Oh, I looked up like how much cell phone secure devices would cost. They have these bags of magnets and It's like anywhere between8 to $30. So, and then if you want to get lockers, the cost rises. >> It's not a cheap fix. >> Did you have the fortune of seeing our local legislators? >> I did not appreciate representing us, sir. >> Other the department has extended the hours at Amire Park that the split up. So all the snow, take your kids and grandkids and go enjoy park. We actually had good snow this year to do it. So yeah, it melts and it came right back. How was that for the delay today? >> I was
021not expecting the snow yesterday morning when I woke up. >> It was good for the park. So anything else board members? Okay. Well, we will keep on moving then. So next is item five, which is our consent agenda items. And we'll start with 5.1. Approval of accounts payable dated February 23rd, 2026 and payroll data February 6, 2026. 5.2 obsolete library and media materials. 5.3 2026 Colorado trip and 5.4 personnel. Anything to notate? >> Sir, nothing specific on those, but I do have some retirements to acknowledge Clayton Ted Love. Uh he's an ED strip teacher at the junior high school, 31 and a half years of service. Jody Miller, fourth grade teacher at model with 19 years of service. And Cynthia, and I'm going to mispronounce her name. Thank you. She's a title one instructor at
022Chamberlain Elementary School, 20 years of service. Congratulate them. Thank you for their service many years of representing the betterment of students for us. So that's wonderful. So with that uh the consent agendems are approved as presented. >> Can I can I just ask a question? >> Yeah. I saw Jessica W's name on there twice for coach. >> Oh, you're right. Yeah, I think that might have been >> that or is she the fulltime coach? Just >> Yeah, there was a a person that was listed twice for the same thing at a 50% role twice for the sixth grade basketball coach. >> That may have just been a one said extracurricular. Yeah, >> maybe that a full position. If not, we'll bring it back next time. >> Aren't they just one right after the other? >>
023Yeah. >> So, it looks like it was just accidentally repeated. >> All right, we will now move on to action items and we will start with item 6.1. Approval of Gian Junior High School paving recommendation. Dr. In January, Goa schools requested bids for asphalt work behind Goa Junior High School. We did receive 30 responses. Uh those responses all align within the estimated budgets. Uh the apparent lowest bid was with Milestone Contractors. We recommend awarding that bid of $357,511 to Milestone Contractors. Thank you, sir. Uh, with that, I'll ask for a motion and a second for item 6.1. Motion for item 64, approval. Go Junior High School recommendations. >> Second move by Mr. Goodman, second by Mr. Glick. Questions on the bids received? >> Have they done work for us? >> They uh they did the
024track. They're a firm that's been in business locally for quite some time. So, >> other questions on the paving for the go junior high. >> Is that being done this summer? I can't. That's being done this summer, correct? >> Yes. It's going to be busy there being also as well as painting and wall. >> It's always busy there. >> One of these days. >> Okay, other questions. Okay, we got a motion and a second on the floor. All those in favor of item 6.1, please raise your hand and say I. >> I post same sign. Passes 70. Item 6.2 Two is approval of supplemental pay. Dr. Metaf. >> So, the state law changed a while ago allowing the superintendent to offer supplemental pay um almost at his discretion with board approval. So, one of the
025things we're asking for as we start to think about planning with as we look at our decrease in enrollment that we've had uh we did shrink about 110 kids from January or not January from um fall to spring uh count day. Um, so we're asking that uh the board authorize uh Mr. Deo the ability to do a one-time supplemental payment to any certified teacher who provides early notice of their intent to resign. Uh that allows us of $1,000. Um that will hopefully will help people who are I'm thinking about it, but maybe I will, maybe I won't, or you know what, I'm going to but I just haven't turned it in yet. Um it allow that would allow us to um they'd have to turn that in by March 13th in order for them to
026be eligible for it. And then the their resignation or retirement would have to be accepted by the board by the June 8th board meeting. Um so just because you might say yes, I'm going to does not necessarily mean you get the you get the um the supplemental pay until the board actually acts upon the the resignation. And then we would pay all of those would be paid out in June after the June 8th board meeting. It would just help us plan and um hopefully um give us a better idea of what we're where we need to be next year. >> Okay, thank you for that explanation. I will ask for a motion and a second of item 6.2 to open for discussion and ultimate voting. >> I move for the passage of item 6.2, approval
027of supplemental pay. >> Moved by Mr. Glick, seconded by Mr. Goodman. Questions? a house free. >> Um, >> I guess my question is, is this for anyone that announces from here going forward? It would only be it's only equitable to be able to do that for like our retirements today. >> Well, exactly. That's when we think of it as, you know, we've kind of been talking about some people here over the last meetings. >> Yeah. The earlier that earlier people announce their intentions, the the more accurate our um forecasting. And if we have to shift people from building to building, it allows us to do it earlier in the year or before the school year's out, I should say. >> Will it also help kind of as we've lost students, right? Size the amount of
028staff that we're dealing with. >> Correct. >> We lost 110 students. Is that about the amount we lost last year? It was a little less than that, but I think it was about 90 students between fall and fall and uh fall and uh spring last year. And then we lost about n I think we lost 96 students from spring to from last spring to this fall. So we've lost couple hundred students in the last year and a half. >> Is that expected to be again next year? Pretty much about the same. larger classes are leaving. >> Yeah. >> Smaller classes are >> coming in. >> The demographer kind of predicted for another few years >> before we finally belly out and then we would I can't remember exactly. >> He he predicted in 2027 we
029should start seeing an increase again. But he did that was done precoid. We're right in the middle of COVID and before other things. So um yeah. So his recommend he he thought we'd bottom out at about 5830 5840. Um we are at 5786. So lower than um we have kindergarten enrollment going currently right now. Um so we're encouraging parents. You might have all gotten a postcard letting people know that kindergarten is open. We're ready to go. So but as Mr. boy said our largest class of 500 is I believe at the high school right now the elementaryaries our classes are averaging more around 435 to 445 per class. So >> there's still big classes. >> They're still big classes >> but um not the 500 520 that we had had 10 years ago. >> We're
030going to rightsize your organization. There's still kids around >> educate on a typical year. How many changes on a typical year? >> Last year we had very few. It seems like we only had I think we had less than 10 last year. But we've been we have been seen quite a few retirements. Um, and as they've retired, we hire hired younger staff. So, I think we're getting to that place where we're going to see a decrease in the in the number of retirements we have each year just based upon the age of the the eligibility of teachers to qualify for that retirement. >> This is specifically retirements, not if you're transferring to another district. This says resignation too because in order to right size the district um if one if one building has more teachers
031than they need and another building has somebody that's going to be leaving it allows us to not hire but shift people around. >> Yeah. So it's resignation or retirement. >> Is there any consideration for people that have been here less than few years even? I mean is it a reward for just anybody? Have I been here one year? >> If we owe you a contract, um if you have a certified teaching contract, um we are we are kind of on the hook for that contract. Um unless they because of poor performance or things being um their contract not being renewed. Um so if someone who's been here a couple years says, "Yes, I'm going to another district." We would we would give that to them. It would still We believe it would still be able
032to by by being able hopefully to shift people that we do have in the district around. So, um I know sometimes we get resignations at the last minute or as things go up. This was just is just to spur people to if you're thinking about it, let us know so we can start planning for it. Even if you're not sure, that's one of the reasons we put the June 8th deadline and we won't pay off until after because you might think, "Yes, right now I think I'm I think I'm going to be moving someplace or something like that." But then later on this spring, it doesn't happen until we actually get their resignation or their uh retirement letter and the board approves it. Uh we still owe them a contract for the >> But they
033have to tell us in the next three weeks. Yes. Say March 13th. So this only gives them three weeks to >> It does because we we've already started staffing pieces. So if people are on the fence, this might be enough to >> This is probably more driven towards people thinking about retirement. >> Yes, it probably is. And there are uh some neighboring districts um I believe Wisey at one point had had a had a there's a couple districts that have it in their uh collective bargaining agreement that anyone who notifies them by this date is you know will be given a stipen of of whatever it is 500 700 I forget what it is in some of theirs but in order to better plan for staffing because we definitely want to be staffed appropriately for
034the We have other questions, comments from the board. All right, hearing none. We have a motion and a second on the floor for item 6.2. All in favor, please raise your hand and say I. >> I opposed. Same sign. 70. Thank you. All right, because we're having fun, we will move to item seven, closing items. We'll start with you, Mr. Deo. a miscellaneous administrative >> just to boys basketball sectional coach and plays concour Tuesday night. So come out watch the game should be good north side gym >> week from Tuesday. >> Week Tuesday and then our next board meeting will be March 9th at 6 p.m. >> Thank you. And board members, >> good. >> Uh, and board members, any miscellaneous items from us this evening to bring up? >> Just add one thing. I
035sent this earlier this evening to from the board. There was an article in Fortune magazine talking about the impact of laptops, tablets, and stuff on cognitive development. And basically there was testimony before the US Congress that this generation is the first generation to be less capable than their parents. And it pointed to a couple different things. The rise of cell phone uses, but also the push towards screens for school education. They said the US spent like $30 billion dollars by 202 or in 2024 alone putting Chromebooks and tablets into schools. And they were advocating rethinking basically the approach schools are using and the shift away from paperbased learning to the screen based. So I was wondering have we looked at our at our own usage in the terms of how well students are doing as
036we have I think used at least more. I don't know to what extent it's constantly being used in the classroom but they were saying that there's been a correlating decline in scores right along with the increase in the use of the screens. So that's kind of one question. And then in relationship to trying to find a way to reduce costs, is there a way to use a less expensive electronics? I don't know if that comes out of the same fund. I don't know if that's the education fund or not, but where we're where we're feeling the pinch. Could we go back maybe to an older style which doesn't cost quite as much? I don't know. That's the uh >> let some of the team chime in on this. I would say we have to test
037the state would allow paper which we would gladly do that there's a consideration too of how do you this is an interesting balance I think probably every one of folks around this table would not be too sad just didn't have that just workbooks worksheets you know handwriting notes, books and things like that. So there are times that we think though it's also good to use the technology that's so there's an interesting balance >> and I would say yeah a balance is is correct. uh you know we have our phonics program for example um you know they're they're trying to push more for digital tools but our teachers are resisting that they want you know part of phonics is that manipulation and you know and so there is a balance I I would say especially in
038elementary schools where kids are not spending a lot of time on the devices I mean it is they are used you know for example right it's a supplemental >> uh resource that we have and that's that's on the computers but Not I mean our kids are not spending hours and hours on in front of devices. >> We do have math workbooks in elementary school, >> right? Yeah. >> Well, and I was just going to add that both Eureka and uh Wit and Wisdom were intentionally chosen because of the discourse and the interactions that students have in talking about their learning. Um so I think that was a high priority when we chose those um curriculums. And then at the secondary level, you know, we do we have Canvas which is a you know learning platform.
039But I think your question is a great one and I hear our principles talk about this in ways they're trying to mitate to make sure that our students are not sitting behind a screen doing just independent practice all the time. >> I believe Mrs. Baker has encouraged at least one day a week, >> one day a week where all the devices are. So I think there's a general awareness but I appreciate the question. I think we need to continually find the balance. >> MV is here. So if I if I misspeak from our techn he oversees our when we purchase um like for example iPads we are we usually purchase refurbished >> um at a at a at a discount. They're usually one generation uh no more than probably two generations removed um because after
040a while, you know, they stop supporting the operating system. And uh in order to do the state test, we we have to make sure that we can we can do it. But we do um we are not uh purchasing uh brand new equipment on this. We are using refurbished and we have a we get a pretty good deal and and the repair rate on it and the repair process for it is is pretty good. I do miss the bag full of books way in the kitchen. >> But that was an issue like too much weight. Remember that what it was doing to kids. >> Anything else from the board? All right. So, with that, I'll take a motion and a second for adjournment. >> Motion for adjournment. >> Second. >> All in favor, please say
041I. I. We are ajourned. Thank you all very much. trying to help my high