001to the May 11th, 2026 regular school board meeting. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance. 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. >> All right, thanks everybody for coming. Uh, first up is Michelle with recognition. Yes. And I'm excited to start off tonight with our unified esports state champions. >> SO, so when I call your name, come on up and get your certificate and we're going to take a picture when we're done. Gavin Lawson. Kevin, can you just stand up? Ashton Maddock, congratulations. Charlie Pettit. Charlie. Okay. Ricardo Ortiz Diaz Deleó. And he's got the trophy. Congratulations, buddy. Oscar Garcia. >> Congratulations, Oscar. You're welcome. >> Alejandro Gutierrez, congratulations. And coach Blair Lawson.
002We need to scooch in. >> Squeeze in a little bit more. Get a little close. Let's stand right next to you. >> Look out there and smile. Hang on. We're do one more. Okay. >> This one will go on TV. Okay. So, when everybody sees it, they'll want your autograph. So, you guys need to practice that. Okay. >> Just a wait. I often close my eyes. >> All right. That looks good. >> Congratulations. Thank you guys. >> There you go, >> Blair. >> Yes. Charlie. Thank you. >> Yes. Four years. >> Yep. You can stay or you can. >> Just so you guys know, they've been doing this for four years. They've been state champions twice and runners up twice. >> Pretty big deal. Wow. >> Very cool. >> And there's And there's a really
003cool their area. >> Oh, yeah. Yes. She's very cool. >> Great. And now I'm gonna ask who's gonna Mrs. Werner to present the Applebee's teacher of the month from the academy. Um so our Applebee's teacher of the month um has a tough job in our corporation. Uh she is our uh sixth and seventh grade teacher. Um she is an advocate, a true advocate for these students um every single day even though sometimes it's hard work >> like today. >> Um like today was a hard day. So, um I just want to introduce uh Tracy Wy as OUR >> Thank you. We'll take a picture for chocolate today. >> Thank you. >> I know, right? I like both. >> Thank you. Have to go to work. >> 5:30, so I'm holding that one. >> Next up
004is opportunity for public comments. Anything pertaining to the agenda um can be discussed in the public comments on this round. If you have any, please come to the podium. Name and address, please. All right. With none, we're moving on to consent agenda. We have eight items in that category. Um, under the consent agenda are conflicts of interest. Minutes of the April 13, 2026 regular schoolboard meeting, minutes of the April 13th, 2026 executive session. personnel recommendations, a field trip request, donation request, the treasures report for March 2026, and claims. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> So move. >> Mil made a motion. Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Second by Becky. Any further discussion? If not, all those in favor? I. >> Any opposed? Consent agenda is approved. 5 Z.
005Next up, I'm not going to miss it this time. Academy, you're up. This is always >> All right, there we are. Thank you, Mrs. Starky, and members of the board. It's always a pleasure to get up here and talk about my favorite thing, one of my favorite things in the whole world, the academy. Um couple years ago, five years ago actually, there was one of those logos up there. Um and now we have three. And so we're going to spend some time talking to you about the the especially the two at the bottom u there. Um this evening I have provided you with a packet of information that goes a lot more into detail about the things I'm going to talk about tonight. Um so feel free to ask questions when we're we're finished. Also,
006okie dokie. >> Mr. Fall space bar. >> Space bar. >> Not either. >> Escape. Control. Delete. >> Hard reset. >> Restart your computer. >> Hang on. We're going to skip. >> Oh. Oh, that was fancy. >> If you hover, if you hover bottom left, do you get an arrow? >> This worked two seconds ago. >> Welcome to the academy where we overcome things every day. >> There we go. >> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. So, um, this is also a little bit more filled out than it has been in past years. We have a staff of 19 now uh counting everybody. Um and I feel like uh it's probably the best staff that I've ever worked with. Um and part of that is because it's small and manageable. Um but the rest is because
007the people are true professionals and I'm very fortunate to work with them. So this year um we have 335 students. Um that's a big jump from 11. Um, we have 116 coming in person every day and participating virtually. We've earned more now than 1500 credits this year and we hope to graduate 52 students. Um, and it could be even more than that because some of them have really kicked it into the gear in the last few weeks here. They see the finish line. So, key changes. This slide every year shifts quite a bit. This year we only have a couple of of things. We were able to start this year and Starky and I were talking almost status quo. Nothing major u was happening at the beginning of the school year. Um but some things
008uh crept up on us toward the end uh that we'll talk about. But the big thing for the in-person side is that because we have uh so many students that we need to serve them in two shifts. So everybody coming into the academy in person next year will either be an AM student or PM student. Many of those students will also attend the career center on the off times. So we have AM and PM sessions. And then this year um when was it Michelle? I don't know, a month ago, Michelle got a letter um saying that anybody with a virtual enrollment of over 100 needed to do some things. We'll talk about that in a minute. So, the academy virtual was hastily born. I'm going to turn it over to Mrs. Werner and I want
009to present her as the principal of the academy at this time. >> Y Thank you. Um it has been my pleasure to work at the academy and um even uh see these students um outside of the PECAP program grow and learn and um I'm so proud to be their principal next year. So I'm just going to talk a little bit about uh PECAP at the academy. So you may be like PEK or PCAP? Well, it's really the same thing, but across the state, it has turned to PCAP. They've changed the name um as to not confuse people with the early college part of the PEK name. So, um University of Indianapolis, um they already sponsored the early college program, right? Um so, when we came on PCAP or PEK, it kind of was a little
010bit confusing. So they've shifted the name a bit and not every school that was a PEK school were was encouraging their students or had the pathways for students to be an early college um pathway. So now it's pathways and careers and postsecary. So um same name or different name impressive results. So if you are a PCAP student at the academy this is your pathway. um you join us from either the junior high or the academy from eighth grade. Um they are in person at the academy um for their freshman and sophomore year and then their junior year they will be able to take classes at the career center and senior year the same. Um the difference in their curriculum is that they have that hands-on um curriculum that PEK uh we did at the high
011school. Now we've just shifted over to the academy. So here's some data for our current cohort of students. Um their attendance rate has gone up. This is from first semester. So I haven't pulled second semester data because we're not done yet. Um and their average GPA, you can see has um climbed and they are all on track for graduation. So that's something to be said when you have these students coming in who um might not have seen that their high school experience was going to be successful for them. So it's really um it's a really big deal for them. This is our PECAP staff. Um myself as the principal, Mr. Middleton and Mrs. Scott are our lead learners for the PECAP program. Mrs. Scott is the one in the classroom with the kids all the
012time, but um Mr. Middleton and Mrs. Scott are the ones who work together to create the project-based learning. Um students through the project-based learning are getting their social studies credit and their English 9 credit. Their other classes are on edmentum like um our other students at the academy. And of course, I couldn't uh do this without the support of Dr. Deal. She and I have been together through this journey since the beginning. Um and she's a great support for us. So um just to clarify uh we focus on relationship learning, integrated hands-on curriculum, career pathways, post-secary pathways, high school and industry collaboration that is PCAP at the academy. We uh focus on our learning threads. So a lot of what we uh grade kids on are uh leadership, work ethic, communication and collaboration, self-direction, and
013creativity. We're very excited to be able to have um our next cohort coming in. So, we'll have um a group of freshman and a group of sophomores next year at the academy uh participating in PECAP. Here are some of our awesome industry partners. Um and they have supported us through the last four years at PECAP and now um into our next uh school year. And then just some highlights of this semester that the students have worked on. um they participated again in the Loganport project with our our PEK students have done this project the past two years and these students have come up with some um new ideas. So this project is based around uh the big question what could make Loganport better a better place to live. Um so students come up with different
014ideas and then Mr. McCord was on our panel and listened to our uh students present their ideas. We had John Michael Price, Aaron Shaver, um, and some other, uh, community members. Jacob Pomol was there, um, listening to the kids' ideas. And that's a pretty big deal when you're third, you're 14, 15 years old and you're presenting in some in front of some of the most important people in our community. Um, another great project that was really integrated with the hands-on learning uh was the Columbian Exchange project and the students created u menus and they talked about um all of the things that were exchanged through uh the Colombian exchange uh including uh the not so good things like diseases and smallox and those types of things but and the foods. So they were able to
015identify uh foods that are new world, foods that are old world and then they cooked for our staff which is very cool. We were using air fryers and hot plates and uh kids made stuff at home and then they prepped and so it was really cool and the kids were so proud to share their um cuisine with us. And then we have particip we participated in a couple community service projects. Uh we packed shoe boxes for um Operation Christmas Child and um the students got to go in uh to the church and they really poured into our kids, the community members there. Um they fed the kids and then they worked with the kids to pack the shoe boxes. Um we also participated in live united day as well. And that's PECAP and now to
016virtual learning. >> Thanks Amy. So, what I want to get into um most of tonight is the the virtual school. Um so, basically, like I said, um Mr. Starky received a letter and the DOE basically just told corporations that had over 100 students enrolled in online programs that they had three options for next year. And basically, one of them was to limit enrollments to 100 students to stay under that threshold. The other was to draft a waiver and was I think that was just for next year waiver and the other was to create a standalone virtual school and because we don't shy away from hard things we decided to start our own virtual school because we're basically already doing it. Um and this way u you know we'll add some legit some more legitimacy to
017it. So, the virtual landscape in Indiana, I did a little bit of digging um on this stuff. And the main ones um that you see, you've probably heard of Indiana online, they have a pretty staggering 11,391 students and like 80 teachers um on theirs. And that is something that um CIESC is the educational service cooperative down in central Indiana. So, they sponsor that one. We get uh quite a few students coming to us from Indiana Gateway Digital. They have um I guess I can look on here 5,300 students. So pretty good size school. Cooko um has one also a standalone with 199. And then ours right now is 219 students and I expect uh nearly all of those students to come back except for the ones who who graduate. So, um, Indiana law basically says,
018uh, now that we can have a standalone virtual school, and if you get on the IDE accredititation page, there's an entire page of them. I was really surprised, uh, that people have been kind of going this route in the past year, there's 60 currently accredited programs. When I looked some of them up, like Leaports, I was trying to find some small ones, and it didn't come up. So, I'm not sure if they're in the process of getting their school number or what. So next year um in order to to pull this off as you know I'm stepping back from um being the principal of the academy but I'm going to be the coordinator of virtual learning and so basically I will be handling this program um and these are some of my duties that I'll
019be doing um and basically um communicating communicating and communicating and more communicating after that. Um, I have really stepped up doing that this second semester, um, since I've been able to hand off some things to Amy and I certainly do enjoy uh, being able to connect with these people even virtually or over the phone or through Google Meet or just through email. Um, we uh, we're on speed dial a lot of us. So, communicating is is the biggest thing that I'll be doing. Tracking is the other thing. So there, as you can imagine, with that many students taking five or six classes each, there are lots of grades to put in. There are lots of graduation plans to create and transcripts to uh go over and then all the auditing to make sure that no
020mistakes are made. More scrutiny is going to come as we go along. as Indiana um embraces virtual learning, we're going to see a lot more uh less of the we're going to see a lot less of the wild west and a little bit more accountability here. So, speaking of accountability, also um I also looked into how Indiana online and some of those other schools are doing um in their data in state tests and graduation rate and attendance rate and the numbers aren't good. um they're not going to be great for us at first. Um accountability is going to have to catch up to non-traditional and virtual learning. And in other states, um we've traveled um with the national cohort uh for the past couple of years and we see states um that come out with
021an accountability plan similar to what we have here. And obviously the school grades for um these non-traditional schools are are not the greatest if they're held to those very same metrics. So I look for um with that many schools um people like me are going to be saying, "Hey, look, we need to level the playing field a little bit." So I'm also next year um we'll have enrollment meetings with everyone who enrolls in the academy. I'm going to take uh part of that. So, every Thursday we'll that'll be enrollment day. I will meet with everybody in person um to set them up for success and have onboarding for the students. And also, I'm going to help out with um to be the public agency rep for um special needs and I'll be doing case conferences
022and things like that. So things look different in virtual schools, things look different in non-traditional schools. So attendance is going to look different and this is going to be a very very big help to us this year. Um keeping attendance has always been difficult with this many online students. This year we counted everybody in attendance virtually who attended virtually and expected them to do work. um without a whole lot of teeth behind that. Now, when they've dropped completely off the map, then we um sent letters and we made communications um made contact with them and if they didn't answer us, then they were withdrawn due to disinterest. Um this year um we're making a really big push to make sure everyone knows and in your packet you'll see a letter that went out a few
023weeks ago to parents uh of virtual students letting them know about this virtual attendance rule that is state law down there at the bottom. 10 consecutive unexcused absences or 18 total unexcused absences uh will require us to withdraw the student. So, that's why communicating is so very, very important. I need everybody to know that we're going to have our finger on this. Um, and there will be some students removed from the program the first semester. I'm quite certain. Um, that's not a bad thing because we have, as you'll see, some followup um and able to get them back into it. But until you beat some of them over the head with it, I think um they're not going to believe that we're actually going to do it. But it's it's vital that that we do
024to keep track of everything. So basically a student will be counterpresent. They have to spend 20 minutes at least actively working in admin. They can't just start their computer and then walk away from it and have the timer keep going. They have to complete something. They have to do meaningful work in Edenum. So a lesson assignment, a quiz, a test. And if none of those happen on any any given day, then they're counted absent for that day. Now, I've developed a spreadsheet that allows me in in um connection with a report that I can get from Atmenum and I can go through this pretty quickly now and find out when they log in, when they log off, and the time in between. Um and also exactly what they did. So, it won't be too bad
025to track attendance. It'll be the first thing that I do every day. and I'll do it for the day prior. Actually, academic integrity is going to be huge because these kids are out there. Um, you know, we don't know how they're engaging with the with the work. We don't know how many of their resources they're actually tapping into, but I'm going to tell you that it takes a kid six hours to do a class and to do it right. So, kids that get things done in three, they're they're skipping a bit. Um, you can't, you know, some classes are harder than others. Um, and some they can go right through. Some classes kids are retaking. So, they've had the material before. We really have we we just can't compare it necessarily to sitting in a
026classroom for a whole semester because actually how much actual work is being done in there. You're listening to the teacher, you're doing activities, you're passing periods, you're doing all that stuff. You're in there for a semester. These kids are actually in front of the commuter computer um identifying with the work and engaging with the work. So, what we need to see, this is what the definition of meaningful academic activity is, demonstrating consistent progress. So, every day they're logging in doing something um engaging in original student work. there is going to be um some things that I'm going to have to look at in grade uh this year to keep them honest. Uh completing tutorials and instructional materials with reasonable time on task and get that through that spreadsheet I mentioned and then participating authentically in
027written responses or assessments. One thing they're going to know is that quote down at the bottom is that they may be required to demonstrate masterly, verbally, or through proctored reassessment when coursework patterns indicate insufficient authentic engagement, which means if you cheated your way through it. Um, because they're going to fold immediately when I'm proctoring a test in person if they haven't done it. So, that's that's something we haven't had before. So, a whole lot more scrutiny, a whole lot more um academic integrity and well, I guess I talked about the spreadsheet, but we do have digital activity records, timestamps, pacing reports, etc. that I'll use to do that. If they do start to fail, we're going to have support for them. So, developed an engagement improvement plan. The whole thing is in your packet, but
028the highlights are basically um we have a meeting if things are starting to go south and these are some goals that they'll have to work to um increase their course completion by so many percent a week, complete so many assign assignments per day or per week, log in Monday through Friday, etc. And then there will be a weekly check-in um with me through either adment messaging um which is right in the program. If they have it on, that message pops right up. They can't miss it. That's wonderful. Um and also weekly um communication with the parents through Edenum Sensei. That's a program that um they can subscribe to and see their uh kids coursework and how much time they're spending. I've signed everyone up for it and we really haven't really hit it yet. They
029they keep calling me and saying, "How are they doing?" And I said, "Well, get on your phone and take a look because you can see." Oh, yeah. I forgot all about that. They tell me they're doing their work. And I said, "Well, you can see here. This bar graph should be here." And it's here. So, you know, check a little harder. So, the parent piece is huge. And that's that's all we have. Um, I do want to you also got a copy of our yearbook and I want to give kudos to Mrs. Beth Meyers who is the Cox yearbook advisor for so many years. Um, this is a fantastic book. It's very representative of our our year at the academy. And I would like to read from the introduction if I could. The Phoenix, a
030name chosen by students for students. The Phoenix is a mythological bird known for its ability to burst into flames and rise again from its own ashes. The phoenix symbolizes resilience, transformation, and new beginnings. When its life comes to an end, it does not simply disappear. Instead, it's renewed, stronger, and wiser than before. In many ways, the Phoenix mirrors those of us who attend the academy. We often face setbacks, challenges, or paths that differ from the traditional route. Yet, we continue to rise, grow, and redefine ourselves. Like the Phoenix, we show strength in rebuilding our lives, proving that past struggles do not define our future, but rather fuel our ability to begin again. The Phoenix symbolizes more than just a year. It represents resilience, renewal, and the strength to rise again. With these within these pages
031are the stories of growth, perseverance, and the moments that shaped our year. And I just want to thank everyone for giving me the opportunity to uh lead this fantastic program. And I'm looking forward to staying involved in the future. Thank you very much. Do you have any questions? Milt? I can see better hurry before I forget. Get you. Uh going back to the in person and you said you're going to split them into two and AM and PM. >> Will you expect to have equal amounts or you I I don't know the flexibility of their schedule? >> This is where >> uh and whether whether it'll spit you know split down the middle or whether you you might have more in the PM than you would in the AM. So, we're going to try to
032uh shuffle the kids into as equal sections as we can unless a parent comes to us and says says specifically, "My child needs AM, my child needs PM." We are also at the mercy of the career center classes for our junior and senior students. So, um if if their career center courses are in the morning, then they've got to come to us in the afternoon. So, we haven't quite figured out what the balance is going to look like. We're hopeful that it will be as equal as possible. Um, with our numbers right now and the way I have the rosters shuffled, it's pretty even. Um, but we we do have a cushion on either side to be a little bit more or and a little less. So, it may be a little and it's probably
033going to take us a few years before we figure out a formula that's going to keep it equal. >> How flexible their schedules? Yeah, most of our students are pretty flexible with their schedules. Um, and we are also offering a credit recovery um in the afternoon for students who need to stay all day so that they can get caught up. Um, so we do have the ability for a student to stay all day if they need to. Um, but for most of our kids, either AM or PM is won't be a problem. >> Okay. without I guess stereotyping or categorizing your in-person students as opposed to the virtual students. Is there a a personality difference or is there a diff would there be a reason that's different for the in-person students to be there as
034opposed to the virtual? Is it again I'm trying to get to virtually? Are they more likely not to follow the rules than those who would be in person? and what kind of teeth can you put into enforcement of the rules on a virtual situation? >> Right. So, in the in the packet, it goes over kind of there's an academic integrity plan that you can look over there. I would say that the virtual students there are two kinds. There's ones that think it's going to be easy, okay? And they're the ones that are going to come right out the back door pretty quickly. And then there's ones that are very highly motivated and they know they want to get done. Okay, so they really work hard at it. The students that come in person and we
035do a lot of handpicking um for in person. This student is no way going to be able to handle it remotely. Okay, they go in person. Wouldn't you agree? >> Um they need the actual hands-on with the teacher a lot more than these. So, uh, juniors and seniors, uh, make up most of the, uh, virtual, >> but most of those then will end up being self-motivated and and because they >> not having to have somebody stand over them all the time. >> No, but believe me, I will be virtually standing over them. That's that's going to be my job to to do that. um because I don't want to see it fail and I certainly don't want to see it be something that looks shady or fly by night. But any enforcement of any rules
036that you have to get to them is either going to have to be through voice or a letter. There won't be any in person except for the start of the >> We'll call them in. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I'm going to be there every Thursday all day. So that's my meeting day. So if I need to see somebody, I'll read them the riot act in person. Any other questions? Question. Go ahead. Go ahead. Uh with probably for both of you with the current with the current staffing, what do you think the capacity is in person, virtually? Like where are we at on if you have 100 more students next year, can you can you get them? Can you handle them? >> We're going to have to grow immensely. >> What about you? 100 more kids.
037Well, I mean, if you look at the the way it's exploded over the last few years, >> it can't explode much more >> 35. >> I mean, it's it can't explode much more in person because our we have to keep our difference. All right. The difference between the high school and us is small classes, relationships, and this is in person. Okay. And then as far as the virtual goes, it's as many as I can handle and still be semi-retired. But frankly, um, right now I'm quite certain that I'm going to be able to handle around 200. >> Um, so >> 219 219. >> I will say that when we have enrollment meetings, we do encourage kids to come in person. We we really try and get them to be in the building because we know
038for most kids socially that's the best thing for them. Even if they don't want that socially. We have kids that tell us, "The reason I want to come here is because I don't want to be around people." Yeah. Well, maybe you could come be around 80 people for three hours. Think you can handle that? So, we do try and keep them as many in person as we can. We are um taking on more um from the lower grades. So, we're going to take some more um kids who are rising sixth graders next year. Um we're getting um more kids that are rising eighth graders next year. So, we're actually going to be moving um one of our high school teachers, u Mrs. Ross, she's going to move down to the junior high to help with
039those numbers because we're looking at uh we have over 30 for sixth, seventh, and eighth grade right now. And to put you can't we can't put sixth and se that many sixth and seventh graders in a room together. We can't put that many seventh and eighth graders in a room together. So, we're kind of moving, which I think is going to be really um great for the students because we're catching them a little bit earlier. We're helping with those gaps they might have had in their education, helping them catch up. Um and then they can transition back to the junior high or the high school when they're when they're ready, or they can choose to stay with us. So, um I think it's it's a good thing um that we're able to catch some of
040those kids who are maybe falling falling through where we can't quite get them um in a larger setting. >> So, the magic number is kind of 15 for in person per class and that that's what keeps us different. So, we try to stay around that. We've been quite a bit over it and we've been under it some this year. Um but it tends to all come out in the wash. Thank you. >> I just want I just want to comment. I mean, I've been kind of involved watching coming attending um since this thing started and Mil was did a lot of that also. And it just to me it it's kind of indicative of our whole corporation because we have these meetings every month and we take tours and stuff and you just see us
041doing things that probably shouldn't be done in a town of this size. You know, we get stuff done. And even in this this in this program example where you know, you're saying to teachers, "Hey, would you come over to the academy? It's our first year, but you know, you might want to do that and maybe you'll slam the door behind you till you're old school and you know, so I mean to take that faith in our process and our kids and our faculty is just heart touching. Um, I remember the first year and I I think last year we had a I think most of the board was at the graduation and because I would we were pushing it so hard. The first year you really got to hear I mean there's less kids but
042there were some longer talks about how they got there and it was amazing just that you know that they that somebody cared. They had all kind of different life situations that that drove them that way. Um, and most of them broke your heart. But one of the things I remember most about that was, you know, the the obvious be surprised to get everybody male this year, but you know, the first year, I mean, there were like there's grandma and grandpa and the grandkids and brothers and sisters and the whole family was there and they're all most of them were in tears because in the impression because they don't know who we are. I'm kind of, you know, listening in. And uh, you know, the somewhere in the that student's life, someone said, "I don't think
043you're going to be able to get you're you're not going to ever be anything. You're not going to be able to do anything or whatever." And all these people that were family cried because they realized their child is going to have a chance in life. uh moving that on being you watched a lot of presentations and stuff and you know I mean back in my day I had Pat Seaffort doing speech class um but realistically speak talking in front of people is not easy for everybody and you can just when you see these kids at the first of the year at the end of the year giving a g talking as a like a group project it's just amazing because they're scared they're probably supposed probably probably still scared their pants off either front or
044in but it was really something when you you see them, you can tell they really care, too. And there's been some of those presentations I've sat back and thought, "Wow." I mean, some of these kids are putting it all together and they're going to do this and this and this and this. They're out trying to figure out what insurance for a building is and what how many employees they need to have and just all these things. It's like and and like this year that group that was I'm just talking about were sophomores. Um so it's like whoa. Um, and I say and and the people that have come to be I guess you call them judges or whatever, but they came to listen to the presentation, they if somebody new, they're always just astonished at
045it. So, I just want to thank thank you guys for what you've done, those that have been any part of it. And Greg, thank you because I one thing one of the things I noticed when you were first on, um, you you're very easy. You're very good at telling kids. They they come in tell you their life story, how they got there, all the problems. You basically got them comfortable say, "I don't really care what you've done in the past. I care about what you do in the future." And I think that is phenomenal to have that opportunity. And I think and these kids, the kids that do the the online stuff, I mean, I I've heard in one of the sessions when we were there that, you know, these kids think that's it's going
046to be easy. I just, you know, and they don't they think and and then there also though at that age just like getting to work with a group and getting a presentation together being online and having um you have to manage your time. You know, I think a lot of them just don't they've never had to manage their time before. Alarm goes off, you go to school, you do your stuff, you go home and play some games on the computer, whatever. I mean that's but but this really requires I mean it's really you know we act like oh well they got to really stick with those guys. I think that there's a big lesson to learn there just in time management. I think that's going to fix itself. I mean you're going to be actually
047helping them for the rest of their life with that also. So anyway I just want to thank you all and I I encourage anybody to come to the the graduation service at McKay Albert any room. Um, but I I think that any of the people that are watching us online, um, I encourage you to come because I mean though and I I'm not trying to I think everything we do is fantastic. Um, but I do think in this case here there these are these are kids who at one point in time were kind of forgotten as to where they fit in. And I just think that it's neat that our school is trying to provide education for every kind of different student there is. So anyway, keep up the good work. >> It's certainly been
048our pleasure. Um we appreciate the opportunity to do it. So you will get the chance to hear at least two uh commencement speakers and um the two um award winners that I'm presenting both have um they're both virtual students and they're virtual for a reason. They don't love people. So I'll be I'll be reading part of their remarks >> except for you. They love you. >> They love you. Everybody is like, "I need to talk to Mr. G." I'm like, "I'm the principal now." >> I'm happy to tell them, "Go talk to Mr. SM." >> The door is opening on time for graduation this year. >> In the afternoon, >> they're rehearsing. >> Mandatory rehearsal. I read that >> mandatory and it's at 7:00. So hopefully you guys won't be I think there was a
049line down by the career center. I actually was. >> I was in that line. >> Very sorry, sir. We'll get you in and get you set down. Thank you. Thank you very much. >> All right. Next up are >> nine action items. Okay. First one up before is changes or updates to the policy 6152 student fees and ch charges. It's our second reading. Is there a motion to approve? >> I'll make a motion. Think he has a motion. Is there a second? >> Second by Mike. >> Any further discussion? Again, it's second reading. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? None. We are approved. The student 6152 student fees and charges is approved. >> Next up to piggyback on that is the to access a student fee for the 2026 2027 school
050year. Um, it was talked about at uh last month that we have a flat $50 student fee per student for the upcoming 2026 2027 academic year. >> I think that's a countywide initiative if they approve it. So, but for our standpoint, um, that's up for approval. Is there a motion to approve the $50 fee? >> So, moved. >> Motion by Mike. Do we have a second? Second. >> Second by Milt. Any further discussion? >> All those in favor? >> I. Any opposed? >> Same sign. With none, we approved 50. Next up, um it's a consideration for recommen recommendation to approve the administrative pay adjustments. It's in our packet. Anything further on that? Is there a motion to approve? >> So moved. >> Motion by Mil. Is there a second? >> Second by Vicki. Further discussion.
051All those in favor? >> I. Any opposed? No opposed. We are approved at 5. Next up is our consideration of recommendation to approve the new classified salary schedules. That is also in your packet. Is there a motion to approve? >> I'll make a motion. >> Motion to approve by Becky. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Nope. Has a second. Any further discussion? With none. Any All those in favor signify by side. I >> I Any oppose? Same sign. >> We are approved at 5 Z. Next up is uh consider consideration of recommendation to approve the 78 ELA textbook adoption for the period of 2026 through 2021. Is there a motion to approve? >> I'll make a motion. >> Motion to approve by Vicki. Is there a second? >> Second by Becky. Any further discussion?
052All those in favor? >> I I. >> Any opposed? >> Approved at 5. Next up is our recommendation to authorize the closure of two school identification numbers associated with our local education academy lees. These are basically for whatever reason when it comes up for state reporting, we've tried to get these cleared off. It's for the old Le Jessie and the career center because they come up as having to have state reports just like our other schools and they don't. So, we have to have a board action. So, then I could submit that and ask for those two numbers to be removed. >> All right. With all that said, is there a motion to approve? I'll make a motion. >> Motion by Vicki. Is there a second? >> Second by Vicki. Any further questions, discussion? None.
053All those in favor signify by sign of I. >> I. Any oppose? Same sign. None opposed. We approved at 50. We're getting there. Next up is consideration of recommendation to approve the Columbia Elementary School Cafeteria remodel project. That's why you're here. >> All right. >> Well, you're up. Any questions for Mr. Skinner? >> You have to stand down the podium. >> I will. >> Josh is like, uh, initiation. >> Hey, that's right. I bet you before I cut loose milk. >> All right. Do we really need this project? >> Leaning over. No, I'm just No, we just uh you know, we when we built the intermediate school, it was very, you know, nice and everything. And uh then we've remodeled Fair View since then. Uh the junior high has recently been remodeled. Um, so just
054kind of looking at the needs of the school who kind of is dated, if you will, for a better choice of words. So Colombia is one of those that uh kind of try to give them a facelift in their cafeteria. >> Sort of take off of the junior high model. >> Yes, it'll it'll be very similar. Um, yeah. So like them being the junior high, they've got um high top, low top tables. uh Colombia will all keep low top tables just because of the the student body there. Um some of the booths that we've talked about are uh like we'll sit like in the two respective corners. They're sensory booth. So for some of those kids that have um issues with anything, those they'll have those um for those children. >> Why were they chosen
055fifth then? >> Yeah. Yeah. Don't don't answer. >> All right. Is there a motion to approve? So move. Is there a second? Second by Mil. Any further questions for Mr. Skinner? >> With none, all those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> All right, we're approved. 5. >> It was your presentation that did it. >> Yeah. That put me over the top cuz I was on the edge there. >> All right, we have next up is uh the appointment of a school corporation representative to the Logosport Cass County Public Library Board, Tamara >> Sarzooski. Is that right? Sarski >> Sarszki. >> I got it. I don't need I got this. >> Is there a motion to approve? >> So move before she changes her mind. Second second. >> Any questions about Miss Sarzooi? >>
056She's actually a former librarian. >> She is. >> Now she is now. Yeah. With a master's degree in library science and she uh is head of volunteer services at the she was my employee for 10 years. >> Are you on this board? >> I am. I'm on that board too. >> What's your qualifications to be on the board? >> I actually count the books. >> Yeah. Okay. Did we vote? >> She'll be good. >> Did we vote, Tammy? >> No, we didn't. >> All those in favor signify by sign of I. >> I. Any opposed? >> With none. 5 Z. >> My next one was cut off. I think it says >> here. It's right here. I didn't print on uh request permission to apply for a new student a new school identification number for
057the academy virtual. We've had a big old presentation on this little cart before the horse over there. Mr. Is there a motion to approve? >> I'll make a motion. >> Motion by Vicki. Is there a second? >> Sorry. There's a second. >> Go ahead. >> Any further discussion or questions? >> All those in favor signify by sign of I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Opposed? All right. >> Look what's next. Look what's next. >> Yeah, he's back there. All right. First reading, consideration of recommendation to approve the student parent handbooks for the school year 2026 2027. This is the meeting where we can ask all the questions and it's the first reading. Um, I'll start questions. No. >> No, you're good. >> Spell my name right. >> No, I'd like for Mr. dupes to
058approach the podium. >> Yes, sir. >> Since this will be my last opportunity, >> ask any questions about the handbooks, Mr. Dues. On page two of the high school handbook, there's a there's a song THAT I hear. I I really was hoping that was your answer. >> Yes, it is. 100%. >> Uh, page four, without looking. >> There are three radio stations listed on purpose. What What are the call letters of those three radio stations without looking? >> Damn. >> Um, got no idea. One's WS, but I have I have no idea what the other two >> 1230 1023103.7. >> There we go. >> I'm not very good with numbers. >> Call letters. >> WHM and WHZR. >> All right. You failed that one. >> All right. on page 8 to I think the last
059one >> under the wellness policy >> paragraph E >> under exempted man >> fundraisers. Can you explain that in your own words? What what exempted fundraiser is what what does that paragraph E? What are we talking about there? All right, here we go. The food service guy. Would you like to come out? >> Yes, please. Please. >> Obvious obviously you're seeing this for the first time. >> How about if I explain it to you? >> Explain it to me. You're going to love this. >> You're allowed two fundraisers a year that don't comply with a Smart Snack >> program and they can only last for one day. But you can have food. You can sell food at these fundraisers, two of them a year, that don't comply with what you're supposed to be selling and
060it can't compete with your food services. >> If anybody asks you after this year, >> I know that I am very lucky to have Mr. >> That's all I have for you tonight. >> Appreciate the opportunity. Thank you. Oh, nice September celebrity. >> A Jimmy Kimmel job over. >> You had to know it was coming 100%. >> At Bill's last meeting, I'm authorizing anybody that wants to come forward, just let him be on the, you know, >> agenda item, whatever. or it'll be on there. All right. Well, that one's over, I think. Oh, it's available in the superintendent's office if anybody wants to review that further talk, apparently. Um, next up is consideration of recommendation to approve changes, updates to the high ability handbook. >> In charge of that, Dr. Dr. Are there any uh
061>> first reading? Are there any questions that >> I do have a couple legit >> legitimate questions. You don't have to go to the voting. >> Okay. Well, I wrote this for you. >> Um for one thing, I either didn't know or I've forgotten that we even had a separate handbook for high ability, >> you know. So, I'm assuming this is the first update. Were there a lot of changes that you had to go through to get this? I don't know the last time. >> And I've been on since 2010. I don't know >> and I've forgotten that there was even a separate handbook. >> Yeah, the last version was that I have is from 2013. And so the >> were you in 2013? I said I probably don't remember. >> And so the idea
062they have a lot of suggestions that you need to follow and it aligns with the grant. So it was a lot of kind of scrapping one and just starting from scratch. >> Well, redo. >> It was a whole Yeah. redo. >> And this applies to all grade levels, >> correct? It's K through 12 plan. >> So who ultimately makes the decision on whether a child should be considered for the high ability curriculum? Is that a teacher >> that maybe initiates that but then it's a group that decides that or the I see you know the parent gets involved and whatever somewhere along the way but ultimately to decide this child should be high ability who makes that call. >> Yeah. So there's a couple different processes that you're going to go through. So you're going
063to go through test scores but you're also going to go through qualitative pieces. So like teacher feedback. But what the building principles have been doing the last two weeks is that they are basically sorting kids into these different cluster groups. So clusters one through five. And then that will be kind of the first goound. The principles will be able to do a second go around. And then the high ability committee, us at admin, we can do kind of the third sweep just to make sure it's equitable. >> So how long of a period of time are you talking about that happening? >> Um so building principles, they just started this last week. So I anticipate probably next week getting those cluster list. >> So it would be at the end of a school year. >>
064Correct. >> To put decide where to put them for the next year. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Oh, and just so you know, >> yeah, >> that I did read through this policy. >> I know you did. >> On page nine, >> top of it, there are four bullet points. >> Yeah, >> there's only information by three of those. >> Oh boy. F minus. Just get rid of that fourth bullet point. >> I thank you for being my editor. Yeah, >> just to prove that I did read the uh the handbook. Well, at least went through it. Didn't memorize it. >> Oh, I see it. Thank you. Done. And in the state, like in the state of Indiana, when she says testing too, in the state of Indiana, we are required to test grades kindergarten,
065second, and fifth grade um every year those students are tested whether they're high ability or not. There are specific tests that we give. >> So is that where it would start? I mean with is that where the process would start with that score and then >> but that's not the only thing that attracts >> correct. Yeah. You don't want >> it's really important that one test score doesn't decide a kid's fate. And so >> it's I learn or I read or essay always. But in my world, we we use test scores to help kids instead of hurt kids. And so the KOAT, the cognitive abilities test is that test that we give man. It's mandated for all kindergarteners. We give that second semester and then second and fourth grades transition years. Did >> I say
066fifth? >> It used to be fifth. Sorry. I have four comments. >> What else you got? >> All right. >> It's like my dissertation defense. >> This is also available in the superintendent's office for review. We'll have second reading next month. Um we're we are two department comments. There we go. Mr. Craig. >> Yeah. One update for you on the project outside the variable. That walk up entrance as of this morning was completed and uh looks pretty darn nice. I think folks will appreciate that come graduation time as uh be full campus up there. I'm quite certain. um passage of all the items for tonight. I think we're uh we'll be plenty busy over the next few weeks preparing budgets and updating grants and uh preparing to get some communication out to parents for the
067student fee letter for student fee program as well as getting our student information system Mr. Paul and his team about getting that information into student software so we can assess. Thank you for that. >> Thank you questions. >> None. Mr. F. >> I'm just highlighting the tech department had a busy year this year with projects. Our server infrastructures that we have in the back, all those servers were replaced this year. Um they were on some of those were on year five and six. So they were due to be replaced and we got those done. phone system upgrade is complete and it's working. So, that's exciting. That was a busy project. And we're all of the computers are in for the computer refresh for this next year. So, we're starting to get those put together and
068start working on getting the summer projects going. >> The kids take computers home now or they don't. I forget. >> Certain grade levels do and others don't. >> They get new ones. >> Yeah. First, fifth and ninth get new ones. So um those stay and then the lower grade levels stay. >> Thank you. Uh questions I knew you would have any questions that area. >> All right. Curriculum report. >> Did you read the handbook? >> Then what page does it start on? >> Cuz I know All right, Mrs. Ros. >> Um, I'm speaking on behalf of Dr. Dale myself because I think she feels like she's said enough this evening. So, Dr. Dale, I did not say that. >> But, no, I didn't say I think I said I think that you feel that you
069said enough. We have shared goals. >> We do. We We do have shared goals. Um, part of Mrs. Starky's goals, too. So, we are actually we've been working on setting um meetings for the summer to meet with curriculum teams um to update curriculum maps, assessments, and that sort of thing so that we're ready for next school year. Um so, that's a process. Um we've also been working with a group to plan the professional development days for next year. So, we have three of those. Um and the goal is to make sure that information is shared with Mrs. Starky and share those with the building so that everyone kind of knows what the plan is for next year on professional development days. And then we also um will be meeting with a group um to plan
070new teacher institute which was previously known as new teacher orientation that will be held um August 5th, 6th and 7th. And then that information will also roll into new teacher mentoring for next year as we make a few small adjustments to that. That's all happened. >> Did we question? >> Thank you very much. >> Mrs. Sty, >> um, just a couple things, but first of all, I'd like to say, Greg, how long have we been at the alternative? How long has it been since you've been back? Is it six years? Seven. >> This is year five. >> Five. Okay. >> Seems like >> five. Yeah, it does. I lose track. Um, but I just want to say, you know, from where we were, you know, JD and I used to joke we need to keep
071the alternative school around because we always thought either Eli or Josie would need it. But we're I think we're okay. At least I am. So, I think Josie will be okay. But anyway, you know, we went from having uh JD run down checking on them from the high school and Chris Middleton there being the teacher um to, you know, obviously there was a need um and and Greg has always had the heart for alternative education. I'll go clear back to when we were going out to AIM and when we had, you know, when we were Mike, you were on those board, you were at those board meetings and um going out there and doing um Two Rivers Academy out there. And so just to watch it grow um not only in the number of kids,
072not only in like the number of kids and staff that we have, but in the offerings that we have and the supports that we can give our kids that like you said Mike uh before really there there was nothing else for them. So um for me it's it's uh it's a it's an awesome thing that we have to offer, but it it wouldn't be there if we wouldn't have had Greg. I don't believe because like from the very beginning he's the one digging in looking for like okay he created the handbook and he created rules and then okay we can get by with two teachers and an and an aid and now and then I'll teach these kids at night and just those kinds of things to like where we are now and then sitting
073down with a high school talking about okay if this many kids are coming over then the high school figures out okay I can do without this and this and this and then those staff members go over and so when I said it when we started this school year. It really was the first time in those five years that it's been kind of status quo. Um we didn't have a big influx of teachers and students or we didn't move from one little space to a giant building and um >> you didn't have to drive a bus. >> No, he didn't have to drive a bus this year. That's right. Because he did that, too. But him and Chris Middleton would share. But um it's just great to see the number of kids and then when when
074you're down there and then you can go upstairs and see the adult ed program. Um, so it's just kind of it's great. So, thank you. I'm excited about where we're going to. Um, and has it been all smooth? No. There have been lots of bumps in the road. And, um, Greg and I don't always agree, >> but as my my good buddy Jeff Kennedy used to tell me, sis, sometimes we're just going to have to agree to disagree, >> right, Lauren? >> Yeah. >> So, anyway, but ultimately I'm the boss. So, Right. Right. say that too. You can say that, but I did. But anyway, so um yeah, I'm just excited about where we're going and um you know, I've just to watch it grow and then to watch the relationship between the academy and
075Logansport High School specifically grow because there have been, you know, sometimes we get territorial and sometimes we think things should happen faster than they do and sometimes they don't and sometimes one school thinks the other school should just know what's happening and they don't. It's a swing and a miss. But just to watch that come full circle has has been great. So thank you. Um last Thursday night I attended the teacher retirement dinner and 25 years celebration for or celebration for those uh staff members who've been here for 25 years. This is something we started I don't I couldn't even tell you how long ago probably 10 years maybe 11 maybe we did it. I don't know maybe it's been longer than that. Um but we come together the administration comes together along with the
076LEA and provide a dinner to recognize our our staff members who are retiring who have 25 years of service and um the LEA members pay for the dinner uh of the members and then I pay to I pay for the dinner of the people who aren't uh members and so it's always a very nice night. we had the swing choir come and perform and last so last Thursday night um I said this at the chamber meeting on Friday it's um you know it's a bittersweet thing because you think like wow we have we have these teachers at the top retiring so that's a it's a cost savings to us if we're if we're hiring people who don't have that much experience but the real better part of that is one these people given so many
077years and two you don't just replace that experience which is really hard and So, we will have more. I mean, we just got a letter today, but um last Thursday night, we celebrated 342 years of teaching experience retiring, walking out the door on May the 22nd. That's a lot. >> It's a lot. So, those people are not replaceable. Um on uh this is uh while this is the busiest time of year for me, it's also, you know, really this is what we're all about. We go from recognizing four and five year olds who are getting ready to start their formal schooling career in kindergarten to adult ed graduation. So, you know, adults who dropped out of school for whatever for whatever reason or came to us from another country and get their high school equivalency.
078So, it's a it's a really rewarding time of year because ultimately that's the culmination of everybody's efforts and that's what we're here to do. Um, and I would be remiss without saying last Friday I attended, this was the first time I could actually attend our IvyTech graduation in Cookamo. It was wonderful. Um, we had 88 87 students get the Indiana College Corps and 17 students graduate with an associates degree. And of course, those people at Ivy Tech and Cooko treat us treated us people from Loganport like we were royalty. They had the front row for us. Um, and then here are all of these kids in these red and black gowns. I mean, it was utterly amazing to watch them all walk across the stage. And the bonus was we saw several kids graduating from
079IVTech that were also our students before. So, just uh it was it was just wonderful. So, um I just hope and pray everybody has a great end to the school year because I can't believe it's here. Um and uh so shout out to everybody for for that. And I know they're probably like, "Let's get out of here because it's also scholarship night." >> Anyway, that's all. >> Thanks. It's a lot. >> Yeah. Sorry. >> Questions. >> Right. Thank you again. All right. Next up is our second opportunity for public comments. If you have any, please come to the podium, state your name and address. With none, we're moving on to member comments. Mr. Leard has passed. I can't talk for two more meetings after that. >> Maybe three. No. Becky. >> Um, thank you to
080the academy for everything that you guys do. It's amazing. Um, also want to thank those of you who have to update the handbooks. I actually read them and uh, good luck with the attendance policy and the changes there. Yeah, very interesting. Um, also want to say today I saw on social media we're having a lunch program this summer. That's fantastic. I'm glad to see that our kids are going to have that opportunity again. So, thank you. >> Since this is probably the last time we'll see most of you for about three months, have a good end of the school year and enjoy your summer. I'm sure we probably won't see you back here till August. So, so enjoy enjoy your time away from board reading. >> Vicki, I just uh thank Greg and Amy for
081your presentation and thank you to everyone for a smooth school year and good luck this summer. Have fun this summer. >> Just two things. I was I went to the uh unified track meet this past week and I if you haven't been to that um it gives you hope that it u our track team members will pair up with um special needs participants and they they go at it man it's it's pretty I wasn't expecting the intensity but it was uh it was very uh very good to see and the way they work together it's remarkable Um, my only other thing, and I mentioned this to this wasn't because of your railings and Ida, Mr. Dubes, I told Mr. Starky a couple weeks ago, I'm able to go to the high school on for lunch
082on Fridays. It's a short stint and all the staff is great. Um, the doobes pops out my mind that he's everywhere and he doesn't have the most desirable duties all the time, but discipline and a lot of those type of things. He seems to be everywhere. I see him running and doing this and being called and munchroom this or whatever. And anyway, I appreciate your efforts and thank you very much. >> Appreciate you. Thank you. Unfortunately, the only time he does that is on Friday afternoon, 11 to 12. We're trying to end the guy on a good note. Thank you. With that we are jiren and time for secretary So I'm