001You guys all ready? >> Well, good evening. I will call this meeting to order at 6 p.m. on Monday, January 12th, 2026. Please stand with me. Recite the pledge of allegiance. I 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. >> Well, I would like to welcome everyone to our first meeting of 2026 and wish everyone a happy new year. Uh we are nearly halfway through January already. So just that perspective how the year moves quite quickly here. Uh just a few opening comments tonight. 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. We have
002time for public participation for agenda and non-aggenda items as indicated by item number four. The mission of go community schools is to in as we inspire innovation empowering potential and enriching our world and our vision go community schools Elcart County School District of choice. Uh moving on to item 1.4 Four is approval of the agenda. Do we have any additions or revisions to the agenda? >> No, Mr. President. >> All right. Hearing that, the agenda is approved as presented. And moving on to item 1.5 are the uh minutes from our uh December 8th, 2025 regular board meeting and December 8th, 2025 executive session. Uh board members, hopefully you had time to review those. Do we have any revisions to the minutes as you see seeing shaking heads here? No. So the minutes are approved as
003presented. All right. So now we are going to go through uh the reorganization of the board for 2026. Uh so we will start with item 2.1 which is the official adjournment of the 2025 board of education. Uh so with that we are now going to move into election of officers uh for for 2026. We will do these for both president, vice president and secretary. I will go through I will open nominations. Uh individual can be nominated by their peer or by themselves and then it will take a second. uh depending how many nominations and seconds we have uh we will then uh go through a roll call vote uh to set our uh officers for the 2026 year. So with that we will open nominations for board president. >> I would nominate you Brad as
004president. >> Second. Okay. Brad Wed nominated and second. Do we have additional nominees? All right. Uh seeing n then um with one nominee. All those in favor say I. >> I opposed. All right. So you're there. All right. Moving on then our nominations for vice president. Um I will open nominations. >> I would nominate Goodman as vice president. nominated. Second. Any additional nominations for vice president? All hearing none. I'll close nominations. All those in favor of Keith Goodman as vice president, please say I. >> I. >> That passes 70. And lastly, I will open uh nominations for secretary. I would nominate Brandon Miller as secretary. >> Second. >> All right. Brandon Miller nominated and seconded. Do we have additional nominees? >> Nominee. >> Okay. We have a second for Ryan. >> Okay. >> No. All
005right, any additional nominees? All right, with that, uh, we will close nominations. Um, and and I apologize for not saying this. When we do have multiple nominees, we'll give each person, uh, 30 seconds to a minute just to maybe share briefly about yourself and why you would be interested in in being an officer. So, Brandon, you were nominated first. I will give you that opportunity, sir. >> Sure. Um, >> you're green. >> Yeah, I mean it's been a learning experience and and uh I told my wife when I first ran that if I wasn't enjoying it, I wouldn't do it. And I have enjoyed this last year. It's been a a full a lot of things thrown at us from uh Yola and SD1 and um man a lot of things and u come at
006you fast but I it's been enjoyable and I've learned a lot and it's been great getting to know the board um and uh yeah I'd uh accept that nomination if if so let's go my way so >> thank Right. We'll give you the same opportunity, sir. >> Just over the course of the time I've been on the board, I've enjoyed working with president and superintendent over a lot of different things. I realized with the secretary position, it's mostly just signing off of what the board does. So, it was my pleasure to serve the last year and I'd be happy to do it again next year. >> Thank you, sir. All right. So, with that, uh, we have two nominees. Um, I will do a roll call vote by uh alphabetical order. Uh, and I would
007just ask that you either say um Mr. Miller or Mr. Glick and we'll go from there. All right, Mr. Alazald. >> Miller. >> Okay, Mr. Garber. >> Uh, Mr. Miller. >> Mr. Glick. >> What? I'll >> Okay. Mr. Goodman. >> All right, Mr. Miller. >> All right. Mr. Kninger, >> Mr. Miller, >> and Mr. Wed, not votes Mr. Miller as well. So, thank you, sir. All right. So, uh, officers for the 2026 year are Brad Wed, president, Keith Goodman, vice president, and Brandon Miller, secretary. All right, moving on. Item 2.3 is the appointment of the corporation treasurer and school attorney. Mr. We intend to not make changes in either one of those positions. So, uh, treasurer is Dr. Evans and then school attorneys would be War and Bo. Is there a recommendation from the administrative
008team? >> All right. Uh, so with that, uh, we do need a motion and a second, uh, for the approval and the voting of that. A motion for the acceptance of school attorney and Dr. >> Treasurer. >> Okay. Nominated by Mr. Goodman, second by Mr. Nofsinger. Any questions or comments to that board members? Hearing none. All those in favor, please raise your hand and say I. >> I. Oppos. That passes 70. Thank you. All right. Moving on to item 2. Make sure I get my numbers. 2.4. Yeah, I got too many pages here already. Uh, committee appointments for 2026. Uh, so board members sit on a variety of different committees. Um, during 2025, uh, the parks department was represented by Mr. Kninger, music council by Mr. Garber, athletic council by Mr. Elazald, building trades by
009Mr. Goodman, Gan Community Schools Foundation by Mr. Glick, uh, legislation by Mr. Miller and go from redevelopment by Mr. Wed. Um or members any appetite uh for change in that or satisfied and want to hold tight with current appointees? >> I' I'd really appreciate Okay. >> I'm open to change but I I do like where I'm at. So Okay. I need to change because my schedule got shifted up here recently and it really doesn't work at the time they do. >> Okay. >> And I'm happy with legislative committee. >> Okay. >> I'm happy with that. >> Okay. >> I've been representing the building trade since I've been on the board. So >> Okay. >> Um and I' I've been on redevelopment now for a number of years and do feel I've gotten established well there.
010So I would like to stay there. Um I guess Ryan, what do you have interest? I mean for discussion and if we got multiple people interested in a committee um we can do the same thing have a vote by the board to establish the representative as well. which you want. >> Well, no one's guaranteed. So, let's say you want to be in parks or athletic or redevelopment. Uh, if there were two people interested in that, uh, then we would just have a vote like we would do for officers. I think I said the last time I still be interested in revel itself, >> right? >> What time do they meet? >> Tuesdays at on tomorrow. So is that the second Tuesday of the month? >> Okay. So it's afternoon as opposed to >> it is.
011Yes. >> Yep. >> I mean I'd be interested in that because trying to stay. >> Yep. >> Yeah, I appreciate that. I mean, yeah, I would like to stay on it as well. So, I mean, >> what are you currently? I'm currently with the community foundation, but they meet in the morning. I just cannot make it work even with their Zoom calls. I'm happy to switch if I need to. I different situation than I was we >> music meets how often? >> Uh music council meets uh I think once a quarter >> four times a year. Wow. >> Um maybe a little more often. Is it more often than that? >> It's a little more often. >> I think it was like Yeah. Is it monthly? >> They they meet in the afternoon. They meet
012in the afternoons. >> They meet in the evenings. They meet at six o'clock uh Tuesday. So, yeah, but I'm open to change. I'd be happy to do the morning meeting, too. So, I I've got interest in that. >> I mean, I would probably take first, but if I got to choose between two If you'd like to put your name in for redevelopment, that's fine. >> Okay. So, we'll start with that. So, uh for redevelopment, well, we will take a roll call vote uh between Does anyone else have interest in redevelopment before I go down that path? Okay. All right. Uh so, with that, uh we will have two people interested in redevelopment. Uh, so we will do a roll call vote for that. Um, we'll start with Mr. Eli. Ryan or >> Brad. >> Okay.
013Mr. Garber. >> Mr. W. >> Ryan. >> Okay. Mr. Goodman. >> Mr. Miller. >> Mr. Ninger. >> And I'll vote for myself. So, six to one. Um, I will retain on redevelopment. Um interested in any other board me or committees want to consider one of the other ones? I mean >> I'm interested in >> Foundation. Yeah. >> Okay. Any interest in that? Otherwise we'll put Mr. Garber for foundation. If you want we can we don't have to decide a music council today. Um if you want to consider it that's fine. >> Okay. All right. >> Sorry. When was the next >> The foundation meets Wednesday at 7:30. >> Yes. Yep. Tomorrow probably. >> Wednesday. >> Oh, it's Wednesday when they should Wednesday. >> Yes. The foundation meets tomorrow, but >> the music. >> Yeah. Foundation
014meets Wednesday. >> They moved. It used to be Tuesdays. >> Yes, they did. >> I got you. All right. All right. So as it sits at the moment uh parks department will be represented by Mr. NSer music council by Mr. Glick athletic by Mr. Elazald building trades Mr. Goodman foundation Mr. Garber legislation Mr. Miller and Mr. Wed will have redevelopment all right moving along to 2.5 our conflict of interest statements. >> Yes we have uh Mr. Wed, Mr. Goodman, Mr. Garver, Mr. Mr. and all have conflict of interest statements that we filed and asking that the board approve those acknowledge those conflict of interest statements. >> Yep. So with that, uh, we will take a motion and a second to accept those individuals, uh, with conflict of interest that sit on the board as well
015as on the administrative team. >> I'll move to accept the conflict of interest. >> All right. Seconded by motion by Mr. Glick, seconded by Mr. NSer. Any questions, comments on those conflict of interest? Hearing none. All those in favor, please raise your hand and say I. >> I oppos. That passes 70. All right, moving on to item 2.6. Uh we are going to now uh suspend our regular school board meeting. And with that, we are going to move on to item three, which is our board of finance. So uh 3.1 is I will officially call to order our board of finance meeting. Uh so with that uh item 3.2 is the nomination of the board of finance uh president. Um and I'll just say generally the president this follows from the board and same with
016the secretary. It doesn't have to um but I'll at least say that for the audience so that they are aware of what may or may not happen. So nominated secretary. Uh it's been nominated uh for Mr. Wed to be president and Mr. Miller um to be the secretary. Do we have a seconds for those nominations? >> Seconded by Mr. Glick. Any other nominations for those uh positions? So hearing none, we are voting on item 3.2 two and 3.3 which is the nomination of president and secretary board members all those in favor please raise your hand and say I opposed passes 70 board of finance president Mr. Wed board of secretary board of finance secretaries Mr. Miller all right 3.4 is review and approval of the investment report Dr. Travis, your turn, sir. >> Giving you
017a little bit of a break. >> We are required by Indiana Code uh 5-13-7.7 to have uh to review our investments and to offer our investment policy for the board's review. You might see on the back of your memo is our investment policy. It remains unchanged well uh for quite some time, at least for the last five years that I've been able I think substantially longer. And then the also attached to your report is an investment report. Things have gone fairly well over the last couple of years compared with to the slower period that we have. The top you'll see where we had our CDs invested in the total amount of monies earned from those CDs as well as from our concentration account which is with ENT and that's towards the the bottom. But overall
018total there's a just slightly over $3 million of investments earned from GSA schools in 2025. In the bottom of that chart you'll see in its gray out that were we would anticipate at maturity that the CDs would also uh reach an investment amount this year as well of about $321,000. So our investments are doing well right now. Are there any questions concerning the investments or the investment policy? >> I just was curious on the uh interest accounts that total number that's actually the interest not the amount that's actually in the accounts. >> Yes. I Which amount were you talking? >> 2.7. >> Yes, that is the interest. Yes. With interest like that, what what fund does it end up back into the fund that the investment was from? >> Generally, it goes into the operations,
019but you guys could direct me into a different fund. If you said, you know what, I really would like you to put that money into rain day. Then I could draw up a different resolution. We could put that money into a different question. What's the expectation going forward? >> Is this a oneoff? >> It seems that No, it seems like we're just sailing along about the same. I don't see that the interest rates are going to grow exponentially or anything. I think we're going to keep going around four or 5% as far as our return on investments. >> And will that help to ease some things up as SP1 starts to take effect? You know, so far what I haven't included these amounts in our budget. Uh so I have the authority to spend on
020the budget. So monies that we're earning from investments are essentially just building cash balance. But that could help in the future should we need to do something big um or just survive. >> What's the length of most of the CDs you're buying right now? >> I I have them laded. Um Um, one of the longest one I think is 18 months currently. six, nine, 12, and 18 years of money. >> That's usually about the max you can do. Any I mean, >> right, >> with how good interest rates are, they don't want to give us super long ones. >> Yeah. And and our policy is, as it was just pointed out, we have a maximum of two years for investments. >> Perfect. >> You know what the interest off top of your head is off
021a rainy day? Uh well, it's so rainy day is is uh part of these CDs. We keep we keep the monies in there. So depending on how much I have laded into one versus the other, >> it's not >> you're looking at four or 5%. >> Y questions. >> It's nice. And we we certainly could, since Brandon asked it and so did Ryan, if it was the direction of the board and the superintendent, we certainly could roll the investments over into Rainy Dave. That would require a separate action upon the board. transportation facilities facilities going there starting in >> uh 27 I believe >> 27 and we'll have also big impact changes how to go down a generate revenue tax. So that's where we're going to get. So the fact that this is go into
022support, it's pretty significant how much we lose. different programs stack up against us a little bit at the end of this year. We also will be losing our referendum to usion. So there's a lot of things going on right now. We're struggling a little bit with the budget. Uh the income tax and the add >> I'm going to ask because I actually don't remember. Do we need to take action on the investment? You do not. >> I don't think so. >> Okay. Any other questions for Dr. Evans before we move on? Thank you, sir. Uh so with that is item 3.5 is the adjournment of the board of finance meeting. And now we will reconvene our school board meeting. All right. So now we are on to item number four, which is public comment. Uh
023we had asked for individuals uh please to sign in tonight. Um and so we will call you up. We'll start with uh Kimmer Beichy, please. So, we will ask that everyone please uh keep your comments to to three minutes. We'll do our best to uh do that for you here. And if you're just at the putting a final thought together, we'll we'll let you go for a little bit, but we'll ask you to >> All right. Uh, please enter my full written submission, which was confirmed, received, and to be shared with the board into tonight's official minutes and public record. Good evening. I speak as a dedicated Goan bus driver for the kids we protect daily, voicing driver concerns aired in lounge and side talks, but rarely reaching this room. Goan drivers kept kids moving
024safely through the COVID chaos when schools pivoted. Restoring pre-COVID pay honors that service. I'm here on pay and retention, but from the driver's seat, not a spreadsheet. You may see us as budget lines, but we are real people managing the strain. Our shortages aren't just numbers. They're mounting pressure. What looks like a staffing problem on paper is experienced as stress and frustration by drivers on the ground. Everyday routes are combined or adjusted because there's no slack in the system. Kids wait longer in the cold. Wrong buses scare families. Mechanics wrench less and buses limp along. Kids lose their regular driver. Different faces daily means less stability and more acting out. This downward spiral each quit questions those remaining. Three drivers to Elcart in the last two months alone. Tonight, three former goan drivers now at
025Elcart support us here. More quietly eyeing the exits. Pay fuels the exodus. Got charts here. Starting wages in 2020, they grew 4% through 2025. Inflation 24%. That's a 20% real pay cut. And the minuscule steps on the wage chart make that real pay cut worse every year with yearly steps of 1% and three inflation 3 to 4%. The losses are baked in. My five years of service, I'm behind day one. Teachers ahead of inflation. leadership did even better. No money. Southbend cut waste and gave drivers a 20% raise. Goan, we said yes to property. Drivers no. Culture fuels the exodus, too. Our concerns dismissed and leadership blessing us to leave. Feeling unsupported and unvalued, there are drivers quietly making moves towards exits. Kids deserve better drivers, too. Rather than blessing us to leave, we want
026reasons to stay. I'm asking you to adopt these guiding principles detailed in the document the board received. Inflationproof pay, true raises for experience, transparent communication, elected driver reps involved in decisions, and to commit publicly to election policy by January 26th, joint plan by February 9th. Goan used to lead drivers wages like when I started here. We can do it again. We love our kids. Help us stay. >> Thank you very much. We appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Um, next we have uh Nita Jones. >> Good evening. My name is Nita Jones. I live at 15538 Jackson Street as it requested. Um, >> move the mic down. Sorry. >> Could you move the mic? >> Making fun of me because I'm short. >> I'm trying not to. >> Well, I always thought I saw my
027uh my thick the big old thick folder one time that was in the office. I could use that for a >> a stand. >> Yeah. Okay. Um, I currently drive bus 44 and I've been here 35 years. My concern tonight is this proposal that was presented to the board. We received copies, but there was no discussion, changes, requests, nothing. Nobody requested to represent us. And I've never had any problem speaking for myself. As you some of you know, I've been through seven or eight uh transportation directors that have always been willing to listen except one and it wasn't you. Uh and sometimes we have heard too bad so sad. That's just the answer. Um we have monthly meetings. We can ask questions. Uh the administration I feel has been very fair and direct and sometimes
028the drivers are in a hurry and they groan if you ask questions because they want to leave. Um but I think there's appropriate steps to go through and there's better time to address some issues. Our short staff causes everybody issues not just drivers and some drivers deal with that stress differently. Some handle it no problem and some I agree drivers themselves some cause sometimes cause issues. Um we've had some take off just because they don't want to lose their paid time and I've had them take off because they thought it was too hot to be in a bus that doesn't have air conditioning. So um retention issues are everywhere. Uh some of the stated examples that were in this paper um there's some missing facts. There's some reasons behind some of it and there's always
029two sides of every story and drivers are responsible to decide whether their bus is safe to drive. They turn in report issues and it's the other job to repair. When I started, we were transitioning from contract to corporation. Benefits were empty plate. We established a BDA with elected officers and bylaws. We had monthly meetings and there was no item for discussion that was rejected. You could come in and say anything you want. We settled what we could and what we couldn't. We had we give to the officers to take to a monthly meeting with administration. Um there was always help and advice available if anyone asked and there still is. And I wish I had a dollar for every question anyone's ever asked me in all these years. Um, the BDA worked long and hard
030with negotiations to get all the benefits that we now have, and those are just handed off to the new people. We came in empty-handed. Now they get everything that we worked hard for. Um, the BDA has slowed down a little for lack of participation, but we really need the attendance. We want different opinions. We want different point of views. Uh, we've had some of the new drivers walk in and and just ignore you and walk out. >> Um, we've always been told it's a part-time job. >> Your three minutes is up. I'm sorry. >> Okay. Um, but I think that everybody always wants a pay increase and most schools are hiring. And if South Ben was an example, it's kind of sad that they had to pay use go up 20% just to keep up
031with us. And I think we've been fairly paid all these years. Well, I want to thank you both for for coming up and speaking to us tonight. What I will say is our bus drivers are the first to see our kids every day and the last. So, the the job of a bus driver, I think, is often one of the most important that we have. And I I applaud all of you that are here tonight that are drivers for us. Um, you know, it is truly important. You're there for the safety of them. You're a lot of times a relationship manager. You you wear a lot of hats. Um, you know, I have many fond memories of many drivers that I got to experience uh going to school here as well. I mean, they're they're
032people that leave an impact on on our students. So, I thank you all. I appreciate your comments. Um, this is stuff that we we need to look at and and look into a little deeper. So, I I appreciate the information that was pulled together um and and where we will take this and do some additional investigation. Um sir, >> excuse me. >> So we we we take public comment tonight. Uh we do not directly address it in the moment because we need to understand it more and get more facts. So for for us to make a direct statement tonight would be improper uh because uh we don't have necessarily all the facts yet. So, I don't want to misspeak um on behalf of the the board or the administration tonight. So, but all right. So,
033with that, that will uh officially close our public comment tonight. So, we appreciate everyone's uh input on that. Uh moving on is uh item five, which are our superintendent reports. Mr. Deoce, >> thank you, Mr. President. Um Bob, just double check. Uh Dr. We don't have any updates for finance. >> No, we had the uh investment report. Uh we have still duty checks, permissions to advertise, transfers of funds. So there's a lot of stuff within the meeting, but nothing particular. >> Okay. Uh next up is our student achievement commitment. And I think Jav have a couple statements maybe. >> Yep. Just a quick uh update. Middle of the year assessments uh at the elementary school are mostly finished. Uh we are in the middle of our second checkpoint window for iLearn and we hope to
034finish that in the next uh couple of weeks. Um we have started with our access testing which is our WEDA for our English language learners that started today and our goal is to finish that in four weeks and uh it will be followed by I read the first week in March and then I learn after spring break. Uh and regarding student achievement, we will have a semester report for you at the next board meeting once the semester ends on Friday. >> So we know when it comes to student achievement, the curricular resources that we use are of the utmost importance and take a lot of um planning and thinking and so we are looking at a pilot K even maybe all the way through the junior high of a new ELA curriculum called arts and
035letters. uh and so we will be introducing that to our principles tomorrow. Um they are eager to look at the resource and go through the process. So this is not without um a lot of feedback from them. Um and so we will continue to update you on that pilot of arts and letters. >> I'd like to add um kind of working on our default schedule. you guys got to see that and we're entering that season of scheduling and how we can best serve our kids with this new schedule. Not a lot of major things to that other than we're trying to create opportunities for kids particularly junior senior year but putting things in question and there's opportunities not required. So I want to say that and also I want to mention uh that Shiner is
036our interim principal. Uh she's secondary assistant superintendent in charge of secondary education. Anyway, it's going to get really familiar with that schedule. She and her team over there are going to be working very hard on that. So, thank you for any questions. Next up is uh operational excellence and I know Dr. Medaf has a few things to share with us. >> Sure. We have our we already have our next update for Niola. So, as soon as Niola, we've looked at it and as soon as Niola sends us the clean copy, we'll be sharing that with you. Um, not near as extensive as the initial switch over to Neiola. Uh, so it should go pretty pretty um smoothly and we anticipate doing about probably about two of those a year. Um, at the next board meeting,
037we'll also be talking about transfers and class limitations. uh as you know in January is the time when the state says that we should be putting forth our transfer policy for the next year but also if there are we are putting limits on classrooms such as we have done in the past for our self-contained special ed classrooms uh we need to do that in a public meeting in January. So I'll be bringing those to you for action at the next one. Um we have been invited and we'd like to extend that invitation to board members. Uh Penn has uh their Penn fieldhouse uh ribbon cutting is Wednesday, January the 14th. Um from 10:30 to noon. It's kind of an open house where you can go over view the facilities. Uh I know a couple of
038us are going to be heading over that. If you have any interest to go over to that or to see that, please uh let Terry know. Um and then finally uh this Friday is our first teacher data day which means there is no um school for students but teachers will be reporting to um to work on and look at the first semester's data. Any questions? Last up I think has maybe one thing at least or two things. >> I have two but I'm going to add a third one based on what we heard tonight because I think might be good for the board to hear. So hopefully you don't mind. Um Gallup poll is one of the ones but um results are in. We're finalizing the results and um next steps will be to work
039with our leaders to to celebrate the strengths and then work towards um improving the growth steps growth areas. So we'll have a a bigger report for you as we look at all the the results that came in. Um the second As you know, we had the transportation fair a little while back and then we reported how many people attended. I believe back there I think I believe we have three people now almost completely in the hiring and the fourth one has just worked. So, um I think that's good to know. We had that fair for the purpose of the need that we have of our bus drivers are filling in for the need of missing bus drivers or the holes we have with bus drivers and um we recognized that. So we had that fair
040and proudly say we're we're hiring so we're getting people in the works. So I think that was good for us to date tonight. Um and then the third thing um we are beginning the staffing process for Next year, um we will be looking at staffing to try to be as most efficient as we can moving forward um to meet the needs of the students next year. >> One final thing in personnel is you might have seen some of our our Facebook or social media posts. Um Tom Cox and Josh Kaufman, our high school band directors, uh were the recipients of the Earl D. Irons program of distinction award at the at the national conference here. uh at the end of last month um for the Gan High School band program. So you might have seen
041that. You might have also seen that um the mayor uh mayor Licky presented them both with the keys to the city uh at their at the uh December concert. So congratulations to those two. They work hard for it. >> It's it's that's a great honor for them as well as recognition for our school. So under their leadership, it's that's a fantastic thing and we applaud them for that. We didn't really mention, but we're working on staffing. That's kind of we're involved in that process as well. Thank you, Tracy. >> All right. Uh, thank you, Mr. Deo. Uh, now is item six, which are the board committee reports. uh as we talked earlier about representation of those um as we start the new year. Anything to uh comment on from uh end of year or even
042forward looking here on any of the boards we or committees we sit on board members? >> I know the next uh music council meeting is January 27th. >> 27th. Okay. >> I think it's minutes from our last meeting. Other items >> for the goss foundation focus being on planning major savers campaign with a March kickoff. They also had early discussion for the spring on the building trades. U this year is the 50th house project the building trades has had since their inception. Uh over the Christmas break, the uh plumbing and heating guys were working doing some of the the uh rough bins as well as electrical. Uh so the project is is continuing along. It might be slightly ahead of schedule. Uh and we're still looking for a buyer. So, if you know of anyone,
043um, might be a great opportunity to get a good a very, very good house at a very good price. Thank you. Um, and I'll say so, Gary Redevelopment, we do meet tomorrow. Um, you know, things just to be aware of. I always look at upcoming road projects because those always seem to impact us. And so, they're they're they're getting those ready. Uh the big ones that that we will see next year are obviously uh East College Avenue, east of 33. That will be torn up for most of this year as they rebuild that road. Um a lot of progress continues on the south side of town with the new home development of Cherry Creek. Um this year we will start seeing some type of home building there. So that was always uh positive when we
044were talking about enrollment. Um and then there continues to be uh some new development that is anticipated along the middle race uh both to the south of the current Hawks building as well as to the east of the current Hawks building. So those are uh additional developments that uh I think are good to keep our eye on as they have the potential to open up maybe other homes for people as they move around. So anything else on committee reports? Um, >> oh, sorry. >> Either way, it's you two, John. >> Um, I was just going to say I was not able to make it to the last meeting, but I send you guys the the minutes. Uh, also I want to let you kind of highlight that basketball high school basketball games are very exciting.
045So, if you want to make it to those games, please do. >> Mr. Middle, >> um, a legislative committee, uh, there's since it's not a budget year, there's not as many education out there. I think I counted last night there's 73 right now. Um there's a lot of ideas and I don't know if it's worth really repeating some of those ideas because I mean it's just brand new. These are brand new things. Um but um yeah, legislative day is coming up here in February and um as those as that develops, you know, we have a better idea of what that looks like for us and surrounding schools. I think we all hit on things. So that should conclude our uh committee reports tonight. Uh we will move on to item seven which is our consent
046agenda items 7.1 approval of accounts payable dated January 12th 2026 and payrolls dated December 12th 2025 and December 23rd 2025. 7.2 Gifts and donations. 7.3 orchestra and choir out of state field trip to Cedar Point 7.4 personnel. Do we have anything we need to highlight on that? Sir, >> we have three retirements, Mr. President. Kathy Deire, go high school principal. She's retiring with 19 years of service. Lorie Copsy, behavior and autism consultant. Worked with her a lot over the years. She's very good. 28 years of service. and then Gregory Russell, second ship custodian of Waterford with 10 years of service. So to all those folks, special thank you. >> Congratulations. Thank you. >> All right. So with that, the consent agenda items are approved as presented. We will now move on to item eight, which
047are our action items tonight, and we will start with 8.1, outstanding checks, two years. Dr. Evans, >> thank you. Indiana code 5115.2 to requires us to give a list of un of checks that have not been cashed in two years and then to cancel those checks. So before you you'll see a list of checks altogether. There's 12 uh checks that have been canceled in two years. Three of them were from previous employees uh that actually terminated in 23. We've not uh gotten a response from those three employees. Um, so we're moving forward with that, but with your consideration, we would like to uh move forward and cancel these checks that have been outstanding for more than two years. >> Thank you. With that, we'll take a motion and a second for opening the item for
048discussion and voting. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Moved by Mr. Griman, seconded by Mr. Glick. questions on what has been presented in front of us. >> Take it from your comment, we do reach out to these people to try to take care of it. >> We do some of them uh there are some of them that are lunch fees that are 15, 20, $30 that parents uh have just abandoned and we've made those checks to them, but they just never cashed them. So everybody that was connected with Kosha schools that was on our of our employees we sent an email to to remind them. Uh in this case there are three of them and they have none of those three have responded to our email other questions hearing none and seeing none. Uh we have
049a motion and a second on the floor. All those in favor of item 8.1 please raise your hand say I. I oppose same sign passes 70. Item 8.2 approval of adjunct teacher for building trades. Dr. Metaf >> if you remember in early December we posted for an adjunct teacher. Adjunct teachers work under or work under what's called a work agreement. So we do a one-year agreement that allows us to take people that have some experiences or allow to them to build experiences while um teaching. Uh will line um whose father is actually a building trades teacher now. Um, and actually was his assistant for a year and a half when he first started. Um, has moved back to the area after after being away for about a year and a half. Uh, and we're excited
050to um put Will Lines William Lines name up for a position of adjunct teacher tonight. >> Okay. Thank you. With that, so with that, I'll take a motion and a second for eight item 8.2. >> I move for the passage of item 8.2. Adel teacher for the trades. Second >> moved by Mr. Glick, seconded by Goodman or Garber. >> Garber. >> Or Garber. There you go. Um, questions on that. Pretty straightforward. Welcome, Mr. Lineback. >> Is there an attempt to make him permanently part of building trades or is it just >> No, it would be a permanent position. It would be a permanent position, but it's just um that position is not part of the bargaining unit. So each year we have to do we we negotiate and we we we talk to him each
051year like we do for his father now um for just to make sure we wrote um want to continue the relationship. It allows us to to be able to do that without having to worry about some of the contract issues. Other questions? Seeing none, we have a motion and a second for item 8.2. All in favor, please raise your hand and say I. >> I oppose. Same sign. Passes 70. Item 8.3, permission to advertise Gan Junior High School asphalt project. Dr. Evans. >> So we have we have an asphalt project that we'd like to complete. It would require it's over the limit of $150,000. We'd have to advertise for that project. It'll be on the south side of the junior high. We have the rest of the parking lot around Gan Jr. has has been
052addressed in the past. This portion wasn't addressed because we were taking out trailers a few years back and then we had our HVAC project. So, we're going to wait until we got that cleared up, but it is probably the most needy asphalt within the district and we would like to advertise to remedy that for this summer. >> All right. Thank you, sir. that I will take a motion and a second for item 8.3. >> I'll move for the passage of item 8.3 permission advertise Junior High School as project moved by Mr. Glick, second by Mr. Goodman questions. Uh we have a diagram showing the the areas impacted. Hopefully it is clear and this just is allowing for the advertisement of the project. When we were doing uh discussing the roofs, we talked about having a
053rotation plan for knowing when stuff is going to need to be replaced and everything. Do we have that with the as well? >> We uh actually did. Um and this was one of the ones that was on the plan, but we have not revised that plan because I think this is the actually the only other piece that needs to be worked on would be this lot out here. And we we deferred that a couple of years back. So, at this point, our asphalt isn't looking too bad, but we'll probably have to do another analysis of it analysis of it in the near future so we can maintain our standards. >> What What length of time do these typically last before you have to resurface or replace? >> I would probably defer to some of you
054guys more than me on that one. I say as long as we are doing the preventative maintenance and seal coating from time to time the the actual product should last upwards of 20 sometimes even longer than that long as it's being maintained. We don't take the the effort to seal the cracks and you're going to get moisture underneath which really is what destabilizes it. >> How old is this section here? I would believe it was probably put in when the addition was put on at that school in the 90s. Um, so I would say it has probably not been replaced since it's probably been maintained. >> It has been maintained. >> It has not. Yeah. So I would say it's ever been a 30 years old, but that's >> Thank you. I >> I try
055to know my history even though I mess up at foundation events sometimes. Um, any other questions on asphalt for the junior high? All right, hearing none. We have a motion and a second on the floor for item 8.3. All in favor, please raise your hand and say, "I >> opposed." Passes 70. Item 8.4, permission to advertise Gan Junior High and High School roofing projects. >> Thank you. As as Mr. Glick would just mention we do have a plan through moisture management for all of our sections of roof. I think I gave you a number. I can't remember what it was. 70 is close to between 70 and 100 roof sections in our district. Um so we have two sections, one at the junior high and one at the high school that need to be addressed
056this summer and we would like to advertise for those. As I said, moisture management is taking care of those and performance services will be overseeing the projects. we would advertise and then bring the bids and open the bids here on February the 17th. >> All right. Um with that, uh we will ask for a motion and a second for item 8.4. >> Motion accept the we accept the permission to advertise for high school boards. >> I'll second move by Mr. Goodman, seconded by Mr. Glick. Questions? Um, I guess my only question, this is pertains to the high school and I I have the the fortune of actually having a color-coded map here. Um, this does not this is not impacted by any of the areas that have solar panels on the road. >> It is.
057Okay. >> Um, I believe it's it's a section uh just almost when you're driving in off Pearl, if you look straight ahead, it's it's one of those sections right there that does have on it. So, we will have to take the solar off uh and then we will have to put it back on and that would be a separate cost that's not included in these bids. Okay. What's interesting about that and none of this administration was really here is I think one of the questions we asked at the time was those roofs were in the condition that they were in because we didn't want to have to go down that path of having to take it off. So, somewhere it seems like there might have been a disconnect. the uh yes, it was it could
058have been predicted that the roofs would need to be addressed >> prior to the solar panels losing their life. >> Yeah. >> So, they were they were probably halfway through when we put the um panels on. >> So, I would think those panels are right at year 10ish, >> believe or 10ish. What's the details on that solar contract? >> I'd have to bring the the exact dollar amounts back to you, but but the in essence uh we are given a a rebate from the solar manufacturers. They sell the energy project that produced by those panels. So when we take those panels off, we want to take them off and get them back up as soon as possible because we're we have to pay them their lost revenue for the panels being down >> as as
059somebody who used I would not be in favor of putting solar panels on roof in the future. Does it affect the longevity of the roof in any way? >> You know, there's been studies on that. Most people will say that it actually slightly lengthens the length of the roof because they're they're covered by the panels. So, it it doesn't it's not a detriment to the roof. >> It's probably not a solid cover though, right? So, some parts are still exposed. So, your weakest link is the part that's exposed. >> Exactly. Well, and that roof uh was not hailed on as much because they had that whereas a lot of the high school was replaced through hail damage. Goodness, eight years ago now, seven years ago, a lot of our roofs were replaced by hail damage.
060So, okay. Other questions on item 8.4, roofing projects? All right, hearing none. Uh we have a motion and a second on the floor to permission to advertise. All those in favor, please raise your hand and say I. >> I oppose. Same sign. Passes 70. Moving on to item 8.5 is resolution to transfer amounts from education fund to operations fund. Dr. Evans. >> So this is an annual resolution. And it's brought to you under the under the permission of Indiana code 20425 which came about and I I hesitate to tell this story every year so I'll I'll be brief. It it came about because the legislators moved some funds from education from operation to education education operation some expenditures so that they then gave us the permission to transfer up to 15%. But having said that,
061we need to take this resolution to you each year so that we can transfer that 15%. Items that used to be taken out of education were things like electricity, utility costs, custodial fees, uh are now in operations, and so that's part of the 15% that we transfer over. Uh we've never actually been totally at 15% since I've been here. It's always been less. It's probably going to be close to 12% this year, but we have authority to do up to 15%. >> Thank you for that explanation. Uh, may I have a motion and a second for item 8.5? >> I'll move for action item 8.5 resolution to transfer amounts to education fund operations. >> Moved by Mr. Garber. >> I'll second. >> Seconded by Mr. Glick. uh questions on the uh transfer. >> Do you
062know off the top of your head what 3% like? You said we move 12% expected. What's the 3% difference if you >> uh about 1.6 million? Uh less. So in the future if we were facing shortfalls in operations there's potentially a small buffer if we have more education. >> Yes, we we could. Yes, >> there's potentially a buffer there >> as long as it's within the budget. Uh yes. So um Right. I I wouldn't overspend what was budgeted without bringing it back to you and asking you permission to >> uh have an additional appropriation. I just meant like if you were facing a shortfall. >> Yes. >> And you needed more but you had it surplus in the education fund you potentially% issue by the losser. So that in worserend option income tax we're really
063confident we had a good balance with the loss of operation that's what subsidizing We have special needs teachers and professionals. They're going to have to come out. It's kind of shy. >> Yeah, it's going to be progressive, but it'll be a little hard. It'll we'll be touched this year by in 26. 27 will be a little harder. In 28, it's going to be uh challenging to to address the changes. Additional questions on item 8.5 comments. All right, we have a motion and a second on the floor for the transfer amounts. Uh all those in favor, please raise your hand and say I. >> I post same sign 70. And lastly, 8.6 approval of contract for Medicaid billing. Mr. >> Yes. part of part of EXC. Uh we as a board approve some things that are
064approved by the board of EXC which is made up of all the superintendents that are part of XC and for years uh XC has used a vendor to do our Medicaid building building. So we do uh they're like a third party that handles our money, submits it for us, make sure it's in right order. So we get reimbursement. So we get some reimbursement for nursing services and other services like that. Uh those reimbursements go in the fund that Bob has and then we spend it out of there on kids. So that vendor we started using in 201. So it's clunky, it's not clean, it's hard to work with. And so uh the exact people who handle this kind of work for us have asked us to change vendors. So what you see in front of
065you is just a change in vendor doing the same kind of work. It's called relay hub and the contract virtually the same price just better service is what how was presented to us. So, but doesn't have authority to prove contracts. You all do. And so that's why it's Thank you for that explanation. Uh I will ask for a motion and a second for item 8.6. >> Motion for the approval of a contract for Medicaid. >> A second. >> Moved by Mr. Gman, seconded by Mr. lick questions on this asex things come up periodically. So we just are responsible for up our portion. Okay. All right. Motion second on the floor. All in favor of item 8.6 please raise your hand and say I. >> I post same sign passes 70. Wonderful. That takes us to
066the conclusion of our action items. Um we will now move on to item nine which are discussion items and 9.1 legislative updates. Dr. Maf >> Mr. Miller told talked to you about some generalities that are happen happening. Uh one bill that we are kind of looking at right now is house bill 1034 which is the student cell cellular telephone use. Um this bill seems to be gathering some momentum. uh about year two years ago um the the state limited cell phone usage cannot be used during class time but could be used during breaks which is kind of the policy we currently have that have during breaks or lunch. Um this new bill uh prohibits stu from some of the wording is prohibits a student from using or possessing a wireless communication device during the school
067day requires teacherdirected use of wireless communication device. So if they need a computer or wireless communication device, it has to be um supplied by the school. And then it mandates that um the use of of a no device policy or a secure storage policy. Um so what that really means is that if students bring their their um cell phones to school, we we either say you can't bring them into the building um period. And you know, or when you bring them into the building, securely stored throughout the entire school day until until the so they can't use it in between at lunch. Um, Miss Snowy and I a year or so ago went and saw a presentation by what's called the Yonder company. Uh yonder bags are bags that students when they get to school,
068they go in, they they um block cell phone device signals, but they also um they also are securely fastened by a magnetic latch. Um there are a number of different ways. We are just bringing this to your attention because we have a we feel that this is probably one um bill that is going to see in some form or another uh fruition. And so we have started the high school, what that might look like. We know of at least one area, I believe it's one other area uh county school that is starting with that secured um cell phone starting next year. Um if the Senate if the state were to pass it this this this year would go into effect in July. Um and if that were to happen, uh we we anticipate the um
069rush or the desire to try to figure out how to securely store those cell phones will be pretty great. Um, so we are just kind of looking at what that might look like um at the high school level. And so we're bringing that really to you just kind of as a as an update and an area of discussion. So I mean this is going to be a compounding issue of cost to us because I know we already allow our students to have their IDs on their phones. So we're not generally giving out student IDs anymore. I remember we had that discussion about when we eliminated them, the the amount of money we were spending on printing IDs. So, we're going to have to recoup that. I can't imagine the cost to buy these secure pouches.
070>> Uh I believe for the high school alone, I think the last quote we had was somewhere around $25,000. >> And that's only the high school. We know that students in the junior high, they're intermediate, and the elementaryaries all have phones. I mean, I mean, I can only imagine the cost we're talking. >> We at the elementary, we feel like we can kind of eliminate it through not necessarily having to have a secure storage device. I mean, our um our our parents and our our students are pretty receptive. Can't, you know, can't have it. Do they have it in their bag? I don't know. But if I never see it, I never have to ask that question. So, um there are those and because the um at the elementary and even the intermediate level, maybe
071not as much at the intermediate level, students are so accounted for throughout the course of the day, there it's rare that a student is wandering alone um throughout the building. And so, we feel it's really going to be a focus probably at the junior high and the high school. Um but it also when they say wireless device, they're also talking smartwatches. So, it's not just cell phone devices, wireless communication devices. So, those would also have to be put away. Um, I would assume that the state will probably do like they did with the with the current one prohibiting during class time that if students have them for a medical reason, maybe it's a monitoring of blood sugar or something like that. Um, they would still be allowed. But, um, it really looks as though they're
072going to take a pretty hard they're looking at taking a fairly hard stand at this on this. Well, I'll even say I I know the volume of parents that reached out even after our current policy went into play and they were frustrated because they want to make sure their students have the ability in case of even emergencies. >> Um so I think this is a bigger topic than even within us. >> Oh, it is. Um, one of the things that, you know, we we we can one of the some of the companies, Yonder is one company, I'm sure there are other companies that also have a Yandere is probably the most recognized because they've been doing it the longest. Um, they would they would say when Tracy and I went to hear them, they talked
073about a you know what, you start if you're thinking about doing it for next year, you're starting in January having those conversations with parents and having the board the board would have to adopt a polic before this I mean Before this would pass, for us to go move forward with this, board would have to amend our current cell phone policy to proh not prohibit cell phones unless in a secure bag on campus during the school day. Um, so there would be a change of policy before we even do that. But we are starting to think about what that might look like. I don't know what the board's appetite might be for that. Um um if we were to do it pre preemptively or if we're we wait and see what comes of the >> well
074of the house bill >> I guess and I guess a question is what is our position on this? >> I mean what what is the board's position? What's the administration's position? Because this is our ability to speak with our legislators and express the concerns that go with this. So, it's one thing to implement this. >> It's another thing it costs. We already know where they've chosen to trim our budgets. Um, and it's going to be a reoccurring cost. This is not just a onetime expense. So, I mean, I think we as a board need to think about where we want to land on this so we can start communicating and say this is maybe overbearing or what's a what's a more in between. Are there other states that have already b >> uh that I
075do not know. I do know that the certain districts have I know Michigan has a number of districts that have done it. Um because that was who um one of the when they came to talk to us about it that was one of the that was a number of of them. I know uh in the there are some in the eastern on the eastern seabboard that have also done it. I necessarily know that it's been statewide necessarily at this point. >> Has it been long enough that they have seen the desire? I'm assuming it's because of online bullying and distractions. >> Um >> some of all of that there's really starting to be kind of a ground I don't want to say ground swell but really kind of a push back on parents just because
076of the amount of time kids are on screens already. Um um we've seen we've seen and actually heard some of it in some of our schools where parents are saying you know the iPads or the or the Chromebooks we don't want those used all in every period. We don't want those used all the time. So um I think this is a bigger societal piece. I think part of it does come from the social media piece. I know we're involved in that in the in the >> Facebook. Yes. The class action suit about with social media. I think this is um you know some some kind of a offshoot of that. Um some of the schools that have have done it if you talk to I don't know you talk some of the kids will say
077yeah you know I think I feel more connected because I'm talking to people instead of just at lunch I'm on my phone. I think teachers would say that you know um we have a pretty good policy about um not use during uh class time but then it also becomes the responsibility of the teacher to monitor to to enforce that or to refer to the office. So it adds a burden to the teacher on that piece of it. I don't necessarily know where we come down on it as administration. I mean I I see the benefits. I see I I wonder about it. Um and I'm old enough that you know I We had a pay phone in the in the in the hallway. So if you didn't have a if you didn't have a quarter,
078you weren't calling home anyways. So um >> was a dime when I was >> Yeah. But the world has changed >> and I know there have been studies done on anxiety for students, you know, it's almost like a dopamine hit. Every time you get a look, get that number. I got to check all those emails. I got to check all text messages. I' got to check kids social meds on our biological drive. So >> It's an addiction. Mrs. Noi, >> what was the book uh that you had a book? You did a book study over with the service center and the curriculum council. >> The anxious generation >> anxious generation. Thank you. You haven't read it. >> We could rumage up some safety trainings at all. The first shuts down is not able to get
079too much traffic that need to get to the school. >> Mrs. Baker's our one of our district Dr. Baker. That's right. There's been many documented cases where the cell phones have actually >> it's a mixed bag. I mean there are ways to take it out of I mean I think there are some districts that have t that take it out of their safety grant. Um, I think there are there are districts that have um that also have created policies that if it's, you know, a student gets their bag, it's their bag for the year. Um, and if they it's lost or or it's hard to really destroy them, destroy them because they were pretty pretty sturdy. But, um, >> so there is a replacement cost like you said about IDs. We would probably look back
080at some of our Yeah. >> going back to the >> physical ID in some way. >> Um because right now, you're right, every our past and I've talked to the high school assistant principles about it >> just said if this were to happen, >> what might that look like? >> Just to just to start um people thinking. So, we're not we're not pushing any one way or not or another. We just think it's probably something that's going to come up over the course of the spring. We might hear more about it along the way from the legislature um about which way they're going. Um we just want to know want you to know that we are starting to think about some things, but nothing we would do would would be able to be done without
081board action. But I think that's important because I think if it's that item or any of the other 73 or two or however many that might be getting developed here, you know, we may not all be completely in agreement, but we've got to decide which ones that are we want to maybe put effort into um to at least provide comment to our legislators. Ours generally at least will listen. Um they they're accessible. So let's take advantage of that. Thank you. >> All right. Uh so with that uh that does us bring us near our conclusion here. Um item 10 closing items and 10.1 any miscellaneous administrative items. Sir >> just one that is next meeting is Monday 6 p.m. January 26. >> That's right. All right. And 10.2 to any items from the board, miscellaneous
082items. >> I think that um I was thinking about the changes we've made over the last couple years uh with Mr. Boys and the admin team. I'd like to see um at some point a list of your team that their responsibilities because some of those changed over the last couple years. Um I think sometimes I get asked too like what does this person do? What's this been changed to? If we could get an update on that, whether that's in a board meeting or an email or something, that way I've got something to kind of look at and see who's doing what. And I think just your admin team, it be I kind of know what principles do maybe in general in that area, but your team specifically. >> Other items for the board. All right.
083So with that, I will take a motion for adjournment. Motion for adjournment. >> Seconded. All in favor, please say I. >> I. We are adjourned. Thank you all. We did that in an hour and 18 minutes. So, thank you all very much. I'll tell you.