001Good evening and welcome to the April 13th 2026 school board meeting. Please rise and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay, first up as always is recognition. We got There's a lot of people here. >> couple. Yeah, we got a few here. So Mr. Starkey. So we will start by not me dropping all of them. Taking this. We will start with All-State Honor Choir. So, are they out there? They're lined up. Gwen Kitcho. There she is. Congratulations. Thank you. She's a pure sweetie. Think you probably know the drill. Yeah. Allison Kitcho. Oh. >> [laughter] >> Thank you. You're welcome. Christopher Knapp. He couldn't
002be here today. Okay. Calvin Mackey. You're about a regular here, Calvin. A two times. I know. Adrian Pay. Both of the Pays have conflicts tonight. Probably tennis. Tennis. Yes. Ava Pay. Tennis. Cooper Pri Fogel. You're about a regular too, buddy. >> [laughter] >> Mr. Sinkfield, is he here tonight? I told him to be here and I don't know if he made it or not. Okay. And Angela Tyson, director. Mr. Sinkfield is also a director. Yes. Congratulations. Thank you. And uh I'll give you these to give to the kids and then we'll take a picture. How's that? Cool. I should have asked them to prepare a song, but we'll hear them at the retirement dinner, right? >> Yes. Yes. Act like you like each other. >> [laughter] >> I'm sorry to get it. We're good. Thank
003you. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, NEXT WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE another state finalist qualifier this year, and Riley Zimmerman. And Mr. Strong, would you like to talk about it, or Jamie, or Well, again >> [laughter] >> We uh we appreciate the opportunity to recognize our student athletes. We've had a great winter. Obviously it was here starting off with our girls wrestling program, the boys wrestling, and now we've got a gymnast in Riley Zimmerman. Riley uh participated in two uh events at the state finals. It was uh the floor exercise and the bars. Um represented Logansport very well, and uh she will be heading off to the University of Wyoming, which is uh a long way from here. So we're going to miss her, but we wish her well. Great, great student athlete and and master
004for Logansport High School, Riley Zimmerman. CONGRATULATIONS. >> [applause] >> I MIGHT SAY ON FRIDAY night she was the prom queen, and then on Saturday she competed in the state gymnastics finals. So, you know, come on up. Jamie and Haley, coach and assistant coach, right? >> [laughter] >> Yep. Yeah. >> [laughter] >> Just to make sure my eyes are up cuz I'm really bad. You're a good girl. >> Thank you. Congratulations. Wait, wait, wait. Sorry. Mom wants one. I think I'll never be sorry. >> [laughter] >> THANK YOU. >> [applause] >> OKAY. ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM, THE state speech competition, our speech team. So, we're going to recognize these? Huh? Is that Is that FFA or speech? Speech. Oh. I'm supposed to wait FFA till the end. Oh, are we? Yeah. Jennifer's not here yet. Jennifer's not
005here yet. Speech. I was just going in order on the list. Oh, sorry. My bad. We did that to confuse you, Pete. >> Speech. Speech. Madison DeHaven. Okay. Is there a line? Are we supposed to be in an order? >> [laughter] >> Caesar, just listen to me. Come here, Caesar. It's okay. It's okay. Give me some water. Hey, there's an order out here. Is Madison DeHaven here? She's not here. Landon Ferris. Landon. I called his dad. He's a sweetie. Congratulations. And we're going to stand right up here, okay? Madeline Franco. Congratulations. Crystal Gomez. Natalia Hernandez. Sophia Herrera. Congratulations. Olivia Isaacs. Kendall Krans. Unable to be here. >> [laughter] >> Tennis. Maybe Kyle wants to come and get it for her. I'm pretty sure no. Right. Jack Lehman. Unable to be here. Between tennis and track.
006Yeah. Axel Lorraine. Tennis. Jackson Lithgow. He's here. Congratulations, Jackson. Caesar Martin. Your turn, buddy. I'm sorry. Nobody told us there was an order. Congratulations. Thank you. It's okay. Sailor McClain. Congratulations. Dish Patel. Uh tennis. >> [snorts] >> Tennis. Noah Picardo. Congratulations. Marissa Sankeyo. You don't pronounce it that name. >> [laughter] >> Esther Sell. Congratulations. Larry Umholtz. Nope. I don't know where Larry is. Larry has the had the best hair on the football team, too. Austin Zimmerman. >> [clears throat] >> Cut it for speech season. He cut it for speech season. Thank you. Mr. Chris Miller, coach. Ashley Hayes, coach. Joyce Hazel. Otherwise known as Mama Pay. And Jessica Krans. Thank you. Congratulations. >> Thank you. I'll give you that use, too. Yes. I told them you were pretty sure. Second one isn't even hard. Okay.
007This is awesome. All right, I'll scoot you down. All right, guys. Mom. I don't know where we're looking. Wherever. Anywhere, everywhere. Okay, now don't leave me. Don't move. I'll give you a star. >> [laughter] >> All right, let's see if we can get everybody in here. I cannot see this, Chris. I can't see you. Nice try, Chris. He's working hard at it. >> [laughter] >> All right, [snorts] we're good. THANK YOU. >> [applause] >> I WOULD SAY THANK YOU, YOU GUYS. ONCE AGAIN, proud to see the speech team year after year after year of success is wonderful. And these are great skills that they take from Logansport High School out into the world, speaking from a speech mom um whose child continues to go judge speech meets, even if he is not smart enough to
008ask where the speech meet's going to be. And has to drive from Westfield to to Penn. He signed up to judge state. Says, "You're not on my I don't see you. I didn't get the judge information." I said, "I didn't sign you up. It's at Penn." And he goes, "Oh, sign me up, bro." Okay. So, by Gumby, he drove all the way up to Penn and spent the day with us. So we love him. I have a little advice if you can get Caesar Martin to come out of his shell a little bit, I think. Yeah. We've got some work to do. It is technical. It's an uphill climb. Keep at it. Perseverance. Thank you. It's called sarcasm. He's going to run for something. Yes. I believe so. Now FFA? I think we're ready. >>
009St. Jennifer's here. Okay, good. [clears throat] Hey, we're going to recognize FFA state finalists. So, we've got everybody. >> [laughter] >> Zaylee Baumgardt. Isaac Juan Miguel. For food science demonstration. I'm sorry, I didn't say yours was Multimedia. >> Multimedia scrapbook. Congratulations. Cesar Martin, FFA state finalist food science demonstration. Congratulations. You're just all over. >> [laughter] >> And behind every great team is a great coach. Jennifer Fishburn, coach. Thank you. We're going to TAKE A PICTURE. >> [applause] [clears throat] >> ALL RIGHT, ALL GOOD. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE thing about, you know, FFA, we haven't been doing it for for decades yet, but we're getting there. And a huge shoutout to this lady right here, Jennifer Fishburn, who was our first ag teacher and who has done an outstanding job on building a
010program and just becoming a kid magnet and getting our kids involved in all sorts of opportunities, which once again, it's very much like I feel like speech and a lots of other extracurricular activities our kids can do. They learn so many skills that they can take once they leave Logansport High School to help them be successful in life. So, thank you and thank you guys and congratulations. >> [clears throat] >> Okay, and last but not least, sorry. Okay. You didn't tell me. I'm going to ask Mrs. Weisenberger to talk a little bit about the Landis Applebee's Teacher. Come on. Okay. It does. Does it help you? I don't know. I just feel like I need to hold it. >> [laughter] >> I am going to go with it. Okay, so can you stand with me?
011>> Yeah. So, [laughter] so Mrs. Caitlyn Hilton is an impeccable teacher. So, I'm going to make her cry. So, I I I cannot say enough for what Caitlyn does in the classroom. Um academically, like it's here. Like you like you're going to be here. And students will and parents will fight that. And Caitlyn's [clears throat] like, "No, it has to be here." Every darn day. Day and and not that I have got not gotten some crying phone calls. Um [laughter] but like talking you off the cliff, next day come back even tougher. Behavior. Behaviorally, this girl has been was loaded up this year. And she just kept trying different things, trying different things, keep working, keep working. And again, her parents learned that her that their students can do hard things. And that's we need
012all of our teachers to be like this. Her Ilearn scores, checkpoints, amazing. I read, getting more students to pass I read in third grade. How many do you have left? Three. I mean, to have three students in her class that are still working to pass I read, that is just it's it's Yeah, we know. It is huge. So, I can't say enough. The leader in her class in her team, the leader a leader in our building. People will go to her to seek out help, no matter what it would be. Something in the classroom, something at home, something personally, whatever it might be, they can go to her and she's trying always trying to raise us up to be more positive and to do things that better better our students and better our staff. So,
013you can handle it. >> [laughter] >> So, >> [applause] >> So, I'm just very very very proud of you. Thank you. I appreciate it. THANK YOU. >> [applause] [laughter] >> WAIT. WE GOT SEPARATE THE DRESSES. THANK YOU. STOP. It's a thing. All right, we're going to switch seats. All good. Good job. No more certificates if you thought you were going to get one, Pete. >> Sorry. Not this time. You can draw one for him. Uh at this time is public comment period. Um This opportunity is for agenda items only. And we have a lot of agenda items. So, if you would like to make a public comment, please come forward, state your name and address. Okay. With none, moving on. Uh next up is the consent agenda. And the items contained therein, the categories are
014conflict of interest from board numbers, minutes of the March 9, 2026 executive session, minutes of the March 9, 2026 regular school board meeting, personnel recommendations, treasurer's report for February 2026, and claims. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Motion by Mill. Is there a second? Second. Second by Mike. Any further discussion? If none, all those in favor signify by sign of I. I. Any opposed? None. That is consent agenda is approved. >> [clears throat] >> In that grouping is uh 20 That's fine. In that grouping we have 20 new hires. Um all of which are important. Um some will have maybe more of a microscope, a spotlight, whatever you want to say. Um our new basketball coach is is here, Mr. Hayden Deaton. Would you like to say a couple words? >> [laughter] >>
015I'm sorry, I'm just standing up, too. I'm a new head coach. Yeah, that's fine. That's fine. She kind of warned me, so that's okay. Um I first just want to say thank you to Mr. Starkey, Mr. Miller, Mr. Strong for this opportunity. Um incredibly excited. I'd also like to thank my wife, who unfortunately due to some family uh circumstances today cannot be with me or she would be here. I'd like to thank her for allowing me to do this and this the support that she shows me in allowing me to do this. Um cuz people that have coached you understand, especially um being a wife of a of a coach, it's a lot and I uh I appreciate her support. So, um excited, very excited. I think it's a great time right now for Logansport
016basketball. We got a really good group coming back. Uh and I'm just excited to get this thing rolling in the right direction. And I appreciate the opportunity. Thank you. Thank you very much. How many times will we see you in a sport coat after today? Uh we'll wear them back. We'll wear them We'll wear them on the sidelines occasionally. Yeah, not all the time, but we'll wear them. We'll hold you to that. I I'll I'll I'll take that. We'll wear them, I promise. Congratulations. Thank you. Taking this home. I'm sorry. That was it. >> [laughter] >> Okay, we'll dive into action items. Uh first is the cons This is our second reading. Consideration of a recommendation to approve the LCSC classified handbook for 2026-2027. Is there a motion to approve? I'll make a motion. Motion
017by Becky. Do we have a second? I'll second. Second by Becky. Any further discussion? With none, all those in favor signify by sign of I. I. I. I. Sorry. Any opposed? They are approved 5-0 on the classified handbook. Next up is the second reading and approval needed for action item needed. Consider it consideration recommendation to approve the following change to policy 2340 field and other corporation sponsored trips. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Is there a second? Second. Any further discussion? All those in favor? I. I. Any opposed? They are approved. Next up, consider consideration I like caffeine today. Consider Forget it. Recommendation to approve >> [laughter] >> the following update to the LCSC health manual. This is the second reading. Is there a motion to approve? I'll make a motion. Motion by
018Becky. Is there a second? Second. Second by Mill. Any further comments, discussion, questions? All those in favor? I. I. Any opposed? Oh. >> Just just gather your thoughts. >> [laughter] >> You got this. We're coming back to you in a minute. Um next up is first reading. Um recommendation to approve policy 6152, student fees and charges. Uh Can I elaborate on this, Michelle? The uh student fees and charges. Yeah. So, 2 years ago the state of Indiana passed a that um schools could no longer charge any textbook fees and textbooks would be free in the state of Indiana. So, we were not allowed to charge for anything. Um they have since changed that and our policy was just changed to align with that and this past legislative session, they've changed that again to allow schools
019to to charge for non-curricular materials, i.e. such as things like uh lab equipment, lab supplies, art supplies, things along those lines. Not textbooks, not laptops, those types of things. Um because I think the state quickly figured out that schools still can't What their reimbursement still does not fund what we pay out in textbook adoption or for technology. To the tune for Logansport schools, we're we're you we're on average $250,000 still upside down once we get the reimbursement. So, um this is something that um quite honestly, we've worked amongst the county schools uh and so we're all looking at something similar. So. Did that cover? Yeah. Okay. This is your first reading. >> Yep. And we'll come back in May. And it's a $50 flat fee, which along along those lines, like if you have a
020first grader, we'll be able to show you in first grade, here's what the $50 consists of, in second grade, in 12th grade. Just so that if anybody has concern um you know it's nothing compared to what textbook fees used to look like. >> It'll be $50 each building. $50 >> per student. And I would say the building fee is it's going to be the same in any building you go to. And that would be reviewed on an annual basis and could be 60 the following year, whatever it needs to be. Correct. The the cool thing for in Logansport is we also which I'm going to talk about in my comments, have the CEP, so the community eligibility provision, where everybody gets free breakfast and free lunch, too. So, I mean that's that's a that's something
021parents aren't paying for, they are also. So, anyway, it's been something that we've been tossing around a while, just trying to wrap our arms around it. This is our first reading. It's available in the superintendent's office for review if anybody would like. And we'll come back in May. Um going backwards to number five and I apologize, this is our presentation. We have See, she's back there, I can't see her and you're up. Wanted to give you time to like regroup after your It's so energetic. I don't know. I get It's with flips and cartwheels with me, I don't know. It's not a bad thing. So, we [clears throat] want to thank the board, Mrs. Starkey, for having us here tonight. Um we we're pretty excited um the the the presentation today should not last very
022long. So, we did get some hints >> [clears throat] >> um about not and not going And we got the repercussions. We've heard the word. [laughter] We got it. So, so we we're we It was I well, I didn't know. No. So, we're we want to talk about things that have happened in our our building this year um in regards to morale building. And so, our teachers have taken surveys and um specifically the one at the last the end of the year. And in that survey, there was things in there that made us change how we drive our daily ins and outs of our building. And one of the the first things that we're going to talk about and this is Dannon Griffith. Hello. Um assistant principal. So, we're both this is our first years
023uh as in our position. And so, principal, assistant principal and then Mrs. Gangloff over there, she was also with us for most of the year, but then transitioned to be the EL director. And so, we're we're we're you know hanging in there, not being down an administrator, but we're doing it and Ashley comes and and helps us out here and there as we need to and but so moving forward. Um so, we had the opportunity to work with Dr. Cavazos, who is a um an EL expert. And Dr. Cavazos led us through a Surreal meetings. And with Surreal, we really focused on bringing together 12 of us into a into a a room. These were people who were were wanting to work on bettering our school, bettering the strategies that we're using in the classroom
024and we've we've really bonded. And so, when Dr. Cavazos, who came twice to observe in our classrooms of the teachers that are on our committee, and then afterwards, we would debrief. And Dr. Cavazos would talk about with the teachers, she would meet with them individually and not at when not with admin present and talk about glows and grows. And so, those teachers then would come back and meet with us after having their glow and grow meeting, all 12 of us sitting at the table in a very vulnerable you know discussion, openly talked about things that they needed to grow on and things that they that were glowing, that were outstanding. And that really connected the group. And so, um what we were focusing on with Dr. Cavazos' guidance was explicit instruction. And so, making sure
025that we were meeting the mark and uh pushing our students in the direction that we need to be pushing them forward. And so, I don't want to interrupt your train of thought. >> Sorry. But I'm afraid I'll forget. If I wait till the end of your presentation, I might forget what I'm going to ask. I'm I'm at that age. So, how were the 12 people what what 12 people were they selected or how how were the 12 decided? So, in the spring of last year when this opportunity was brought to us, um that was right as I was transitioning to be like I had just found out I was going to be a principal. And so, I I was looking I was looking for people who might not have always been leaders, um people that
026were maybe not um that needed to kind of be brought up, that needed to be trained, needed needed to have some coaching. Um also people that were kind of not um go-getters um necessarily, but they had it, like you could see it in the classroom, but they weren't like like out there in people's faces like look at me kind of people. Um also people that did have the EL, the English learner um they all they had that certification. So, kind of a different trying to get some different people together that weren't used to to working together, um not just the people that were always selected. Uh that was that was kind of the the idea behind the group that was that was chosen. >> And you did the selecting? I did. I did. So, uh
027so with our Surreal with our Surreal team, Dr. Cavazos won't be joining us next year, but we will continue with the the continuity, the community that we have developed through our Surreal team. We are looking to change the name. Um and then it'll be something to do with instruction. And then we're going to ask the team before the end of the year, do you want to stay on this team? Cuz you know, we've done some pretty amazing things. We've had some some some great accolades from Dr. Cavazos. Um and then also reaching out to other people. Do you Do you want to join this team now? Cuz they're seeing what we're doing and so there are other people that want to join the team. And what the idea is bringing people on board and having
028more more leaders, more masters teachers learning what what we're doing with explicit instruction and um get it across the building. So, you're not limited to 12. >> Nope. Nope. You have uh bite-size pieces. How many times do I say this all the time? Bite-size pieces. Bite-size pieces. So, we had two of our teachers um chosen to be recorded that Dr. Cavazos had asked for them to be recorded doing a vocabulary lesson. Um so, Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Cottrell. And so, they each we recorded them, um submitted it to Dr. Cavazos. So, she is going to be using these um as training videos from our building, our teachers training all these other teachers in Indiana and then also beyond. So, we have something called learning lab. Um and so, the idea is the the IDOE's on
029board. They're They're also involved in in the the part with the videos. Um they're talking about making it go beyond Indiana. So, it'll be our teachers' names, Landis Elementary, the administrators and then it'll be out there for people to see to train how to use vocabulary instruction in the classroom. So, it was pretty big deal. We were we were pretty excited about that. Any question any other questions about? She's got her clicker. Okay, so another thing that we and Ashley had a big part in this as well doing things to bring people together to have people know what to do when they're at Landis Elementary. We have found that we don't need as many teachers meetings now because cuz teachers have complained that they didn't know what was going on or where things were where
030links were what to do they're just confused. They're just kind of just throw their hands up they're just confused. Well, we heard them and so we created a calendar for important dates. And so every staff member there's about there's 92 staff members at Landis every staff member is on this calendar has has access to this calendar and this calendar tells them what they're going to be doing what's expectation for each day and then if there's something say we're going to do a we're going to do something with our buses and so we're going to be working on bus evacuation. Within the calendar link there is a within the calendar there's a link that says here's the schedule. Here's who needs to be where when. And so people who didn't use calendars now use calendars because
031I'm not sending out reminders. Hey today don't forget bus evacuation. It's there for them. So what we try to do at least a week in advance to make sure our calendar is up to date. This is huge like the communication here they they can't say I didn't know so somebody doesn't show up to the teachers meeting and they can't say I didn't know well it's been on there for months right? And so it really makes them accountable. They can't say I didn't get the email or I lost the email. This makes it very very clear and concise. Now there was a there was a time when we messed like I did I messed up something in the calendar. I don't know those of you who work with two calendars I know Tammy does. When you
032work with multiple calendars sometimes you are in your personal calendar and you think you're in another calendar and I put the event on my calendar and I didn't share it with other people. So I caught a lot of flack for that I was like look at all these things I did correctly. Did one thing. So this has been a lifesaver this is really you know putting things in there so they can at their fingertips they know right where everything is any kind of direction or calendar like events for the day is going to be in their calendar. Another thing that is a fantastic way that has cut down on confusion in our building and just for them to go >> [sighs and gasps] >> and that's what we're looking for we just want them to
033be like one less thing on their shoulders and so we call this the Landis Hub. It has all the pertinent links in the hub that pertain to our teachers. Not us it's for them. And so in the hub we have it labeled out and we have done a couple different mock-ups of like cuz they were they get confused or they thought it was too much. We take off links that no longer apply. We put in new links like fruit and vegetable each month that new year gets added and then it's gone that month and a new one's added every place is replaced. So in a teacher's world we send out and and and an admin we send out emails all the time email email. You've got this link this link this link this link well
034they didn't know where anything was so they're going back through their emails trying to find everything. What we've done is if it's important to us it's important to them we put it in the hub. And so they can just bring up their hub boom boom boom there they go they're right to where they need to be there's no stress like within seconds click click boom they're right there. That has cuz we'll just say they'll ask us something we'll go it's in the hub. And which which is or they'll say I can't find it and we're like Okay, well we haven't put it in there yet. You know it's getting ready to be loaded into the hub so So I do want to another thing with the calendar which we had decided early on the calendar
035isn't our calendar it's it's Landis's calendar. But I can't give access to 92 people to be able to add and delete things to the calendar. So thinking through it we gave access to one person per team and they are kind of like the the calendar person because when something happens on the calendar it's it's ours it's not it's not the two of us. It's everybody's and so people can add and delete their grade level their group that it's title EL the library even has access and that way it they have the feeling of belonging it's part of theirs is not something that they're just following for for for me or for her. And then we have just a representation we do a lot about family but this is just a we have this over our
036copiers in our mailroom or mail main mailroom we are family. And we believe that we are family. And so I it makes me goosebumps cuz we I we we can feel it we can feel the difference when you walk in our building you can feel that you want we want you there. We just had a conversation of a teacher walked into the office and she was saying there's standing room only sometimes in the morning and there's people in there all the time coming in asking questions. So we did give access to the office you know our little our key our key cards our badges our teachers didn't have badges to be able to badge into the office and so we made sure this year we started off day one everybody had a badge so they
037could get into the office at any time. And before they could only get into the office from 7:30 to 3:30 now they can get in there 23 hours a day. I just asked for them one hour for the custodians to be able to clean without somebody in there from 6:00 to 7:00. So through 23 hours a day they now can get in the office to get to use our special copiers our laminators to get in their mailboxes whatever you know whatever they need they now can do that and now people are coming to the office and we want them to come to the office. We want them to integrate with us and our office staff and make connections with us. Is there anything that they shouldn't have access to within the office? So we have
038it we yes. I mean you're you're locked up. Yeah so it's just I did a we did a lot of talking to other administrators what they do in their buildings but they their their teach one it was a big complaint from our staff that they didn't have access to the office to do things. So they come in on the weekend to do some laminating or copying and they wanted maybe do some things on the color copier it's only the color copier is only in the um office. And so there was some a lot of frustration there and so there we we don't mind you know there there it and it's we just talked about it today again because people are coming in and they're they're informing us about things in the morning and you know
039things that need to be done and then they go and they go and do what they need to do and whatever they need to do need to tell us it's off their chest and then they can move on. So we want to celebrate Kids Hope. So Kids Hope was start with Chris Hess and so we Landis got to join was was able to join in this year. Kids Hope is a way to connect members from churches with our students. And so they go our members from from churches which the two churches we work with are Faith Community and Logansport Church they go through a process to learn what Kids Hope is the expectations how it looks what needs to be done when you're you're in a school what can't be done a pretty lengthy training
040and then they also do a background check before that they're able to join to join our building. The expectation is one hour a week. So seven members from from these two churches have already joined our team. And so we have them at at different places in our and they're at different days but some there's some overlap so we have them in little nooks and cranny or crannies around our building. And what they're working on is building relationships with these students and it's long term so if they're with a student this year they're with them next year and then the next year so as long as they're still working working with Kids Hope and with us they have the same student from you one year to the next year. And so we can be in the
041in the Kids Hope representatives ear and say okay this student is having a hard time with da da da a little bit more TLC. So they're doing projects with them they might be doing Easter eggs something something might be making Valentines they it's not about it's not about hey you're in trouble and da da da da da da not at all it's a building positive relationships. And so we will probably double in numbers by this time next year. It is it is a process to get them started. I don't you know I mean it is a process to get them started and but we it has been a phenomenal a phenomenal addition to our building and our students if they can't make it they're like, you know, that's the it's a big deal for us
042to have this as part of our as part of our daily and weekly events. Okay, you're next. >> Okay, I'm up. All right, so um attendance >> only have 2 minutes. I got this. You don't know me, I'm very competitive. So, um attendance initiatives, we've been really working on our attendance and we're working on wanting students to come to school. Um if you ever see us in the morning, like I got a speaker out there and we're jamming every morning when kids come out. Partially because I get bored and I need a little something to do, but we're always, you know, jamming out in the morning and getting, you know, high fives and hugs and trying to make a positive influence for them to want to come into school. So, another thing we're doing is
043our um so happy you're here wall and so we have the Landis letters, which I know a lot of the other schools do. So, when they earn all of their Landis letters, they they put it in a spreadsheet and then I put a happy face up. So, every time they earn a happy face, I go in with the grand prize game. You can see on the two, that was the first that was edition one. It got a it got a glow up. There's lights and music and so we come into their classroom and I mean, we are blaring music and so excited and the teachers get to play like the grand prize game. Um and and there is like extra recess, popsicles, prize box, lunch with the admin, certain things like that. So, um it's
044been a it's been a big thing and it kind of gets competitive. They're like, "Hey, we got our or hey, I got our smiley." And I'm like, "I check them on Fridays. I'll be in there next week." So, the kids are like, "You didn't come to our room." And I'm like, "I'll be there." So, um that's one thing that that really has helped. And especially with Megan Gwyn, our counselor, she's been really calling and calling parents and making those relationships along with our teachers. Like if a kid's not there, they're calling them. So, um just wanting to wanting them to be at school. Um okay, so another thing, we all know math is kind of coming down the pike and what we wanted to do is celebrate our kids in their i-Ready lessons. So, they
045have um in our math series, they have i-Ready lessons. So, they take a diagnostic test and then they um are placed in whichever grade level. They might be two grade levels below, they might be one grade level below. Um but then they can complete lessons that go up there. So, I have kids that are like in 125 lessons now. There's one that's 145. Um so, every 9 weeks I change those. It was a little bit um we [clears throat] were trying to find our groove of when to find them and and place them up there, but the kids love to go up and it so our i-Ready board is um only first through fourth. Um because kindergarten doesn't take their test till a little bit later and really what we want them to be doing
046in kindergarten is counting, you know, number sense. Um so, we celebrate I can count to 20, I can count to 50, I can count to 100. So, for our kindergarten students, they still get their their math celebrated just in a different way. And then our one book, one school, which is um we got to do we get we did it last year, but it was a lot bigger this year. Um and we did Willy Wonka, which was always really fun. And um we got to take our 800 plus students to the movie theater and the day was when the wind we had those massive winds going on. Um but it was just the the camaraderie with our staff and our students, like they were dressing up, they were excited to be there, they wanted to
047know what was next. So, um that's something else that we've been trying to work on and, you know, we're coming out like I did duty in a Violet Beauregarde outfit in the middle of >> Well, that's awesome. You know, uh for duty or Yeah, did it twice. >> Yeah, so just just certain things like that to like I said, to make kids want to be at school and I always say I'm like the director of fun. I love to have fun and I love to be, you know, I want I want everybody to have fun and be excited to be at school because I love school so much. So, um >> [clears throat] >> you know, the kindergarten teacher in me, I might have left the classroom, but it it will never leave me. So,
048um I have costumes and all the things in my in my office. So, if you ever need a new costume, you can come on down. >> [clears throat] >> Um so, that was one thing that we were really excited about and the kids were super excited. I mean, some kids have never been to the movie theater. The crying thing. And they were so excited to to be there and be able to experience that. So, yeah. Did I make it in 2 minutes? >> Yep, yes. Okay. Uh picture of our office team, which is I mean, these gals, they're they're they're the real winners here. And then our beginning of the year, the three of us have been together. So, pretty spectacular um year for us. Pretty proud. Any questions? Just just that it it's for
049each of you your first year in your role. Is it everything you thought it'd be or is it And some? Much more. >> [laughter] >> You learn a lot. I I can say since I mean, she's kind of been an admin, but like, you know, I came from teaching kindergarten for 16 years and for me, it was a I mean, I I learn something new every day. So, >> Yes. And I'm not afraid to ask like the questions or call and be like, "Hey, what's going on? Or hey, can you help me?" And um so, I just reach out to to my support staff, too. So, Same. Every day, I think I'm asking somebody for help. So, it's just survival until Aguilar? Is that right? Oh. Oh, yeah, that's Oh, yes, definitely. Josie. >> Can
050get there. Yeah, yeah, she'll be joining us in June when we when we start, you know, our admin our admin time pre pre-kids. So, and Josie's going to do summer school. So, she's going to be doing that with Mil May the summer. So, yeah. So, we're we're setting her up for success, too. And it and it'll and Josie will put a different twist to it. I mean, she, you know, like Ashley, Dana, and I found out our like rhythm first semester with each other and we were we were really rocking. And so, we're we had to adjust, but as Mrs. Sharkey said, "You guys will be fine." And I'm like, I know I I'm like going, "I know we'll be fine." It's it's going to just going to be different, you know? And so, um
051but we've not had to go in there's not been any like, "Hey, we're grounded over here." But Josie coming on back and bringing her strengths, it it'll change up our team some more. So, we'll just have to find her strengths and figure out how it mingles with ours and move forward. We're excited. I will say from the um two things. One, um first of all, Ashley has helped out immensely since she's come down here. So, she's been wear she wears two hats from time to time, um which huge shout out to her for that. Ultimate in team player there. Um and I would also say that the Mrs. Deena's right that there is a different feel there. Um and it's it's good and the um feedback that we have gotten from um several of the
052people two different groups that we've worked with, so I shouldn't say several. Two different groups that we've worked with that have been in and out of all of our schools have nothing but praise to say for what what they feel and and the expectations that are happening at Landis this year. So, um that that's a big deal. So, I'm sorry. >> [laughter] [clears throat and cough] >> They're they're doing a great job and I tell them that all the time and it's we all learn something new every day, right? Whether we're been here a year or 20. But it's a it's a great and and and the administrative support that they get just from their colleagues, I think is you don't get that everywhere, right? I think maybe Mr. I'm not going to ask you
053to talk, but like just coming from other places, like you don't get the collegiality that you get here. Um so, I'm biased, but That is true from top to bottom. Anyway, I'll shut up. Okay, thank you very much. >> [applause] >> Okay, we're to department comments. Business report, Mr. Craig. Yeah, a couple items for your benefit. Uh Yep, this week we'll seek concrete placement and variable entrance. So, it's been a long time coming, but uh with your support in terms of last bond sale, this is an item that we're going to check check this item off the list. It needs to be done and uh we'll have them will be on site this week. >> [clears throat] >> We'll do that phase as an effort to keep the entrance and exit uh that folks are
054used to open. Uh so, you know, we want to comment that, but uh does start this week. Weather pending. Uh secondly, and and this is really two parts. Um we've been going through some software updates. Um one from the state level, Gateway has rolled out a new state uh tool, if you will. And with that always comes just some training and some uh some hours spent navigating what that's going to look like. Uh we're in the middle of that process right now. We've had a couple trainings so far. We've got a couple more to go. But uh most groups, most public entity groups are going through this. Uh as a school corporation, we're just part of that process. So, looking forward to that. We think it'll provide some uh efficiencies and just be a more
055effective tool for getting data from here locally to the state. Uh cut out some of the uh back and forth a little bit. Secondly, uh in the software world, our financial software, we've got some enhancements coming and I'm going to steal the term. It's actually it's the part of the uh phrase that uh the employee hub will be coming on board this summer. Uh we look forward to doing that. It's going to be a tool again for the elementary. It's for employees of Logansport schools. And we're going to pilot it here at the administration building over the next few weeks. Uh so the staff here in this building will get a kind of sneak peek. And we'll go through some just rather than roll out to us nearly 700 employees but we'll just give it
056a little pilot. Just the staff we have here to interact, pros and cons, things of that nature. But it'll be a welcome enhancement to our software and again should streamline some processes for us and some data Uh data becomes more timely when we can improve our processes. So Outside of questions from the board, that's my report. We'll see you. >> [clears throat] >> The concrete work, was that the geo bond? Is that part of the geo bond? We're using geo bond funds to pay for the project. >> Yeah. All right. Thank you. Mr. Fagan. Good evening. Good evening. So uh two items um each year, first, fifth, and ninth grade, we do a computer refresh and that's at the end of their four for first grade, they're starting their four years and then fifth and
057ninth at the end of their four years, they get new computers. All of those computers are in. Um prices continue to go up but we were able to maintain our prices um this year with what we had last year. But they are going up across the board everywhere. But all of our computers have been ordered and are in on site so we can start getting those ready again for the new year. Um we spent spring break uh flipping our phone system to a new company. Um every hour of spring break we spent doing that. And [clears throat] it's done. So um thank you to everybody for their patience as we did that. It was a big project. Um [clears throat] but we're in a comfortable spot right now. The phone system's operating and functioning as
058expected and there was a few bumps along the way but for the most part it's all done. And that's what I have for you. Comfortably mean people have a phone? As long as they can make calls in and out. As far as I know. That's the terminology here. I'll just refer to our technology specialist for any questions. No, I know how to use phones. >> [laughter] >> On my landline anyway. [laughter] You don't dial it, Mel. It's on the It's [clears throat] on his wall. Mrs. Rose, start with you. Um just a few things. So the ILEARN window opens this week. Um preschool registration starts tomorrow so that's that's a big day for them. Um and then in thinking about next year, next year we will have um three residents from IUK. If you remember
059remember that's our year-long program where they student teach essentially for a full year. Um we're hoping two of those will be two of our paraprofessionals who are in the Pathways for Paraprofessionals program with IUK. And speaking of that, um we have a final number. We will actually have six of our paraprofessionals that will student teach next school year for one semester. So if you remember January of 2023 and actually their classes started in March of 2023, our paraprofessionals who started attending IUK um taking coursework toward their degree in education. We have six of them now finishing up next year. So that's really exciting. Is there a placement process? I forget. We are not required to hire them once they graduate but I'm sure we will find a place for some of them. Okay. That's a
060deal. I just wanted to mention a couple things that we've been working on and one is high ability training. And this work is so important because I think as teachers we naturally want to help everybody and if we see people struggling, that's where we put a lot of our time and effort. And then the kids who are thriving we usually say, well, they're going to be okay regardless but just being able to push our kids more so that they have more opportunities for challenge and just being able to really see their full potential is so important. So last month we had our consultant Dr. Eris Paul here and she worked with our admin and teacher groups from first, third, fifth, and sixth grade. And we are about to have our last high ability training this
061Wednesday. And what's been really nice is that we've been able to give them little homework assignments to go try in their classrooms because of what you do with high ability students it truly is good for all kids. So these strategies, yes, it's going to push some kids but it's also going to be able to raise some other kids and maybe challenge them when they weren't challenged before. And then we're also going to be diving into the use of AI and how we can really use that to help plan. So AI is a great tool to help us as teachers but you also have to have a critical eye and look to see if it really is following like research-based uh practices so that we can implement it with fidelity instead of just taking it for
062as it is. And then we've also been working with Dr. Jenny French in terms of secondary literacy at the junior high and at the academy. And it ties really well with what Landis was talking about with the explicit instruction. It's so nice being able to see that the work that K through six has been doing really ties with the work that we've been doing at those two buildings. And just being very intentional about how we teach things in terms of vocabulary, in terms of how we approach text, and so we are seeing those gains. And last week we did a quote unquote blitz of the building where we kind of divided and conquered to see all the good that was happening. Because, you know, we're at the point of the year where we've had 10
063months of training. Now it's time to see it in action, right? That accountability piece. And just looking at our ELA scores, so just comparing apples to apples, our current eighth graders last year, their cumulative ILEARN at or above proficiency was about 18% and now this year at checkpoint one it was at 19, checkpoint two we're at 23, checkpoint three we're at 26. So although it's slow and although there is a lot of growth to happen, it's happening and that's really rewarding for teachers to see is that their hard work's paying off. That's all. Real quick summary on P-TECH, how's everything going? Yeah. Haven't heard much lately. >> Yeah. So P-TECH turned P-CAP is still happening. >> then? Yes. It It is still happening. We're actually at the at the process of trying to recruit a
064new cohort for the academy. Um Amy and I we went over to the junior high about a week and a half ago and we just kind of presented to the teachers because we find that most of the kids who would benefit most are going to be identified by teachers. So um we have room for only a limited amount of spots. They nominated about 43 kids which is not what we can uh accommodate but [snorts] you know what that's also showing is that kids need a different way to learn. But um they just did a really great project last week uh involving a um a basically like a food project where they were taking items from the Colombian Exchange, Old World New World foods. They were working with Chef Ryan from the Incubator Kitchen and they
065actually prepared like these foods for people to taste and that was all connected to standards. So English and social studies, they did a launch of a P-CAP Customs that I know that Mike was at for that. And so uh they're trying to get like a student-run industry kind of off the ground. So it is still it is still alive and well. Good deal. Any questions? Mrs. Shell and Starkey. Um I would just say preschool registration's going on this week. Kinder Kindergarten roundup was last week. So that's exciting. Um also a huge shout out to Jason and his staff. You know, it's not like they had to uh take out five or 10 phones. It was like five or 600 phones and replace them. >> 700. Okay, sorry. >> [laughter] >> So there you go. Um
066and then to come back, it's working on that front on that even that Saturday they're in here. And then the junior high is paging and the page is coming through at Logansport High School. And so anyway, but all those kinks have worked out and so now it's everybody just kind of getting used to, oh, my voicemail shows up in my email and all of those kinds of things but I honestly like it's been very smooth and that's because of Jason and his staff. Like we could not ask for better technology staff. Uh wonderful. Right before spring break we had a successful reunification drill Logansport High School did in combination with lots of emergency management um folks in Cass County. So they simulated a chlorine gas leak in the pool. Um they had about 100 students
067that we evacuated to um Ivy Tech and so worked through lots of lots of different uh scenarios that we learned lots of things from it. Um and it was very it was very eye-opening and interesting. Now, evacuating a hundred students as compared to 1200 so this is just a little bite. Um and we try to do uh not try we do one reunification drill uh per year. So and I know Kelly and Amy uh from Columbia Elementary were there. They wanted to watch because I think they're going to be next. So [laughter] Kristen tell you that yet? No, she actually didn't. She told us it might have been a you know a That's next year. for you So anyway it's been passed to us. Learned lots of things. So it was it was great. It
068was also cool to see our um fire uh safety kids at the Career Center. They were taking part in it. There they were in their student uh fire gear taking part. So it was it was great. Um and it was combination of lots of folks working together. Um Let's see. I wanted to also give you an update on the CEP program which is the community eligibility provision. As of when we look back and compare August to March from last school year to this school year we have served 28,586 more breakfasts and 30 Sorry. 36,184 more lunches. And we still have two full months to go. So that's pretty amazing, right? Pretty amazing. Um and on top of that we have what they kicked off was it the mobile food cart? Yeah, right before spring break.
069So um Kelsey uh Miller in food service wrote a grant to do uh to get a mobile food cart because the kids at the high school when they come in the variable there it's too far sometimes to walk to the cafeteria to get breakfast. >> [laughter] >> I know when you're 15 16 17 it's a haul, right? Anyhow they have set up and they made it fun. They have a cart there and they serve breakfast and she has a theme every day. Um just in the month that they were open they they have now served 1865 breakfast off that cart out of the total of 2682 breakfasts that have been served at Logansport High School. So that's the So it's like the kids just pick it up and they go. Um and so Kelsey wrote
070another grant. We were just notified, I think it was Friday that the junior high will get one for next year. So anyway um I know that Brad Rosie is like where's all that trash going? So anyway and then we talk about junior high kids with trash in the hallways. What's that look like? So it's not all roses but we'll figure it all out, right Mr. Storm? Um so anyway those are just like things that we don't hear about that are added bonus to what our kids get to have at school that really have not a lot to do with the academic part but think about what a good solid breakfast does for your day, right? Maybe I should start eating more. Um last week we also we hosted Mr. Steve Baker who is a retired
071uh high school principal from Bluffton. He was uh the high school principal at Bluffton for 26 years and prior to that he was a high school math teacher for 14. And so he has been on the uh state committee working on the new accountability model. And so he was here last Wednesday and spent a good two hours with us to talk through the new accountability model. Um which you know he said make sure as you share with people that yes you're going to get a grade for this come the fall but you just are now finding out what it consists of and it it what you're going to be graded upon and you have no control over it because the grade is going to be based off of last year's data. That's how everybody runs
072a business. But anyway but he was absolutely wonderful. He is so knowledgeable and when he was leaving here he's done hundreds of these across the state. Um and just because he's been on the committee he says don't hold it against me because I tried to stand up for schools. He said that more than probably more than five times at least. But he said Michelle I want to tell you I have worked with hundreds of these teams and he said your team by far was the most prepared uh group of people that I've worked with. They have obviously been working through this trying to figure it all out. And so it was it was just a it was a feel good moment for me and I made sure I shared that with all of them. So
073more to come on that. And then um we continue to work on summer school and actually on Friday just got updated information on how they're going to fund summer school, you know, cuz most of us most school corporations have already planned summer school. Um but anyway so we'll go through this and see what it means for us and then continue to um feel the cards we're dealt. That's that's a positive way to put it on. Spin it right. Right. Other than that [clears throat] like we're in uh testing mode. We are in six weeks of school left mode. Lot just lots lots going on. Lots of good stuff. So and busy. That's it. And of these 65,000 additional meals Yeah. are there limits to what they can do like reimbursement [snorts] wise or just food
074in general? There's no limits. Okay. All right. It seems like a lot. It is a lot. 65,000 meals. They've added they've had to add a couple staff members but obviously it's food service [clears throat] as you know pay pays for itself. >> [laughter] >> So if that number's 200,000 we're getting reimbursed. Okay. It's incredible. Kindergarten round up? Do you have decent numbers? We had good numbers. Yeah. Um Landis had 111 the first day. Columbia had 68. I think I got that right. And Fairview had 47. For the for the first day. So and people they'll continue to come every single day. So those are pretty solid numbers for that time. We'll see what happens. Any questions? All right. Next up public comments uh second opportunity. If you'd like to make a comment. Any run for
075sheriff in the audience? >> [laughter] >> He thought he'd sneak in back there. I will. I will. I did learn something tonight. I stopped and wanted to ask the principals here. So uh our calendar and things like that I may be knocking on her door to steal that in a few months or so but I did learn something here tonight. So thank you. Also he learned that I get it my children get it honestly. Yes, I did. They're also talkers just like me. I did whisper that to her, yes. >> [laughter] >> Thanks for joining us. All right. Board member comments uh Vicki Oh. start with you. Okay. Well, Miss Miss Keenan and Dana thank you for your presentation. I know transitions are hard and you guys have had a lot to deal with. You've
076done a great job. So kudos to you guys and your entire team. Um as I was like just listening to everything I we should be so incredibly proud of what we do and all our staff. I mean it's just really heartwarming to hear what we're doing for for the kids and families in our community. [clears throat] So thank you. Great. I would agree. Okay. Oh. I was just going to say I I can't believe it's April. >> [laughter] >> But uh same thing. Just thank you very much. Um Miss Weisenberg and Miss Griffin for your presentation and all that you do. Very very impressed. Mike, I have nothing more to add. >> [laughter] >> I'll move real quickly. Uh I'll save everything for next time. I'll let you start with you. Mel, uh in when
077we approved the consent agenda we not only approved some hirings tonight but we approved some quite a few years of um school experience in the retirements. And so Cynthia Fry, Emily Graham, Tony Maple, Cass McManus. I knew him as a kid in in church. Um he's put a lot of years as a custodian up here and so I wish all those folks well in their next phases of their their lives, whatever that might be. Uh congratulations to all our recognition recipients tonight. And our um teacher of the month Mrs. Hilton sounds like I'm not going to be able to come up with the coach's name but the the coach who took over the women's program at Duke a few years ago was an analyst and then she became a coach at at Duke but she
078went into that saying we need to do hard better. It sounds like that's what Mrs. Hilton has taken the approach of. Uh we're not going to make it easy. >> [clears throat] >> We just need to do hard better. And it sounds like that's what's working for her. So congratulations to her as well.