001Good evening. Call meeting to order. Please stand for 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. >> First item on our agenda this evening is have the visitors comments. Anyone can make a comment at this time about something that's on the agenda. All right, moving on to the consent agenda. Uh the items of the consent agenda are the minutes of the September 8th, 2025 regular score meeting, minutes of the September 8th, 2025 executive session, personnel recommendations, donation requests, and claims. Do I have a motion to accept? >> Motion to approve. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Any further discussion? All those in favor signify by
002sign of I. >> I. All those opposed, same sign. The motion passes. Next, we will open up a public hearing. And in the public hearing, we're going to discuss uh budget information, budget, bus replacement, and capital projects. Mr. Correct. >> Sure. Um, so tonight's uh the hearing and we won't act on anything tonight. We'll we'll just uh present some information for your benefit. We'll return in a couple weeks October 6th and uh ask the board to act on the budget at that time. We've advertised this uh on our website and we've also advertised it through the state transparency portal which is required by the state of Indiana. So with that, uh, couple just small items here to tackle as we start looking at the data. Uh, we're a calendar year budget. Uh, even though we
003have a school year that operates on July 1 to June 30, we are a calendar year budget. That's important to know. The budget is built of three primary funds. your education fund which is predominantly your classroom and your teachers that that operate those classrooms along with their administrative teams and their buildings. Got an operations fund which uh probably it wouldn't be uncommon to understand that the operations is pretty much everything else. The things like utility costs and programs that are not tied to the classroom. Uh and then you have a debt service fund which is a fund we use uh when we need to secure funding for larger projects like school renovations or brand new builds or doing roofing jobs and things of that nature. Uh we secure funds through that fund uh to help
004us out uh as a source of of these expenses. Uh so the revenue side education fund is predominantly funded by the state of Indiana through state and state income tax and state sales tax almost exclusively a few it's still items that we do collect here locally but uh for the most part it is state monies operations fund um right now it's about 50/50 where we get uh some dollars locally through property taxes and a few other miscellaneous items but we do collect collect money from the education fund uh for programs that were moved uh several years ago by the state legislature. They moved certain categories into the operations fund uh did not provide a funding mechanism for us. They did allow us or they do allow us to transfer some education revenue to the operations
005fund to cover those costs. Uh and then debt service is is pretty much it's all locally sourced uh monies uh predominantly property taxes, but again we do have a few miscellaneous taxes that are collected locally that we do share in with the other entities in the community. Uh again, we kind of touched on this earlier, but uh yeah, your education fund supports classrooms. Um, we've got your teachers and we do I've referenced a 65% threshold that um the corporation has to achieve this by spending 65% of the revenue they receive uh on teacher compensation. Uh and that was that's kind of a threshold that we have to adhere to. the state tracks it and uh and they'll report back to us every six months how we've done we know how to calculate it. It's it's
006rather laborious calculation. We're able to collect it through the accounting system and uh I can report that we've continued to be able to meet that the last several years. It used to be 62% but it is moving to 65. U there's been some changes on who qualified what teachers. used to be teachers that were just strictly in front of the kids. Um, but now they've added some of those additional resources because they do obviously make a difference in in the development of our students. Uh, we do have some classroom support staff like instructional assistants that are also covered out of the education fund, uh, building level administration, principles, assistant principles, and whatnot. Uh, and then we have extracurricular activities. uh we we cover the uh stipens that are paid to coaches whether it be academic
007or athletic out of the education fund and then we also uh Jason's team and uh and items equipment software and those kinds of things are also paid for out of the education fund. Moving on to the next slide here we've got the operations fund. Again, pretty much everything else falls into that category. So, uh, my staff, this is Starky staff, again, utilities, uh, property liability and workers compensation insurance, um, our maintenance team, our custodial team, they're all paid for out of the operations fund. And, um, here we have a a different kind of hurdle, if you will. It's called the transfer rule. Again, back to the one of the main sources of revenue for the operations fund is that transfer of education fund dollars to operation is capped at 15%. If we were to go
008over 15%, we have to present to the board why and what we did uh in the public meeting. Uh to date, we've not had to go above 15%. Uh this 2025 is the first year we've had to to actually get up to 15%. We used to go around 12 to 14% was kind of our average. >> If we would have to go over that 15% or you would come to us and say >> we need to go over 15% and we approved it. Then who does it have to get approved by? >> Well, it we would support we would send a plan our plan of why and then more than likely they would encourage us to get back down to 15 or less and what we would do to get there. And there's always that's
009kind of the the mechanism they put into place anytime we don't meet one of their thresholds. Explain why and then what's your plan to get back in compliance. All right. Uh let's see. Couple items just highlights I suppose of the the budget for 26. Um we're going to be able to support what's going on the classroom. So, we've got some money baked in there for the contract uh that we'll be settling yet later this fall with the teachers. Um and then we've got a small increase in health insurance that we're able to take care of through uh this budget. We baked that into the in the budget. And then we've got instead of going four school buses like we've done in the past, this will support three. Uh we'll probably keep that three for a
010little while. We've been able to get healthier on our fleet the last several years by doing four and sometimes five buses. Uh we went through a period of time when the circuit break was first put in place in 2008 where we were buying sometimes as little as zero buses or maybe one or two. And uh that that was hard to a plan. It's a 12-year plan and every time you you don't do something you got to pay for it later, right? So that we were able to get that back in line and uh we think three buses a year for the next four or five years is doable. And then again uh we've got dollars in there for to help support our renewal of our business line insurance property liability and workers comp. That's always
011the first quarter of the calendar year. Uh invariably I know you all have programs for your automobile, your automobile, your home and whatnot. those rates don't seem to go down much if ever. Right. So, we've baked money in for that intended or expected increase as well. Uh so, again, here's here's an advertised version of what we predicted spend in 2026 versus 2025. U slight increases in education operations. a small little dip in the debt service fund and that just comes down to the payments that we have structured uh through the debt service fund. They go down just a little bit here in 26 and but they'll stay right around that $4.5 million mark. Uh so the education fund is expected to go up about 2.6%. There's two primary factors. one the state did provide about
012$127 per student uh additional funding and with our 4,300 plus kids that generates about a little over half million dollars. Uh the other item was an item that has previously been a cost and a source of revenue from the state. Um though they have now moved textbook dollars into the formula into that student formula account. It used to be a separate line item and this year this year going forward, they're actually going to roll that in there as part of the formula money we get each and every year. So, it's really just a reallocation. I wouldn't say that we've gotten new money. That's not what we've gotten here. It's just a reallocation of dollars they were already giving us into the formula, which is why the education fund is up 2.6%. operations fund very similar
0132 and a half% increase. Um couple things there locally that are happening. Our assessed value has gone up in the community. So about 11% and uh we certainly have uh buildings that have some age on them and we have some costs that we need to kind of keep our eye on and continue to keep our buildings uh in good working order and safe for our students. So, uh, between that and then, uh, just kind of our philosophy on how do we manage the operations fund, again, we share those local property tax dollars with the city, the county, the library, and all those other public entities. Um, and we know we just we have to kind of be good good partners in that uh in that process of uh using property tax dollars. again death service
014pretty neutral really. So uh but we will maintain our strategy with the board and is to give you some flexibility. Uh we have to address safety needs uh building maintenance and improvement needs along with some technology. Those are all things that are just part of uh keeping our buildings in again good working order. Again, I mentioned it earlier on, but this is just the hearing part of the process. Uh, in a couple weeks, we'll come back and ask you to act on on this uh presentation and proposal for the budget. Uh, again, all the forms are are in our website that we're required to provide >> this presentation on the website. >> No, the presentation's not, but I can certainly put it on there. Happy to do that. Um, a couple other forms that we
015have to uh submit to the state each and every year is the school bus replacement plan. And that plan and the small lettering across the top states that we have to have a 12-year plan. I'm sorry, we have to keep our buses for 12 years. Um, unless we have a bus maybe that's maybe it's got a bad engine and it's just not cannot be replaced or cannot be cannot be used over that time period. We do have some exceptions. That's one of them. But it's the state's plan to have us use buses for up to 12 years before we turn them back in. So over that time period, uh we've got 48 total buses, 39 routes. So we don't keep too many spares, but we do have to have them from time to time because
016we do have to maintain and work on oil changes and things like that, change out tires and whatnot. But uh this is our plan for the next five years. Again, we're going to buy three buses a year. A little bit of inflation built in each year for fact that uh these buses have not gotten any cheaper in my time here. And uh we expect those costs to rise as as normal things do. >> Is there a maximum number of years that you can have a bus? Well, you know, there's not. As long as it'll pass state state uh required inspections, uh when it gets to be 12 years and older, we have to have inspected twice a year. So, >> minimum and then but there's no max, but the inspections are more frequent. >> Yeah.
017Yep. >> We've been able to pretty much keep on our 12 year. We've been getting 12 years out of our buses for >> Yeah. It's pretty seldom we ever have one that very very seldom. That's having a really good mechanic to be honest, but John does a great job. >> Sounds great. >> Yeah. So, the other the other uh item that we have to uh present to the state uh is is have a CPF plan. Um they require a three-year plan and it also includes it includes the buses that we have to uh purchase because of the amount that they are. That's page one. And these are hard assets that we track. The meat and potatoes of the Kypo project plan is is this listing of projects. In an effort not to have four or
018five pages in length, I did try to to consolidate a few of these items because they're uh what I've done is like say item number four is flooring replacement. We have multiple buildings that need some flooring improvements. So rather than try to break all itemize all those out, try to do some combinations there. Same with hardcape repairs like your paving and concrete work, sidewalks, parking lots and whatnot. Several buildings have some improvements that need to happen. Um that's I saw the career center one. Is it that's a $2 million roof? >> Yeah, curs. It's a big roof. It's a big roof. >> Two million. >> Yeah. Two partals up there. Two two million. So yeah, Jason, would you slide back up to that for just a half a second there? That's >> Yes, we've got
019it broke down into two two components there. U we would do one projected to be the summer of 26 and that sectional roofing is is 875 estimated. Uh and then we'll take a couple years off and come back in 28. And that follows our plan with that roof. And we've had a recent inspection of those roofs, that roof area. and uh it's kind of on par with what uh they've been seeing in the past. We are there the building is 20 25 years old now just shy of it. So u >> So will this be the first replacement? >> It will be. It will be. >> Yeah. Other than that, uh, from a hearing standpoint, again, all these documents are available here at the office. They're on the website. They're part of the transfer, uh,
020transparency report that we have to submit information through. And so, if any questions from the public, those are sources, get that information, we send them our way, and we'll be happy to take care of them. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you. We will allow any public comments now before we close the public hearing. None being heard, we'll move on. So the public hearing is now closed. We'll move on to action items. First action item is a consideration recommendation to approve the change to the location to the memorandum of understanding regarding reunification of the Berry Preschool to the Woodbridge Health Campus. Yeah, they were they were going to go to the parks department office, but um it makes a lot more sense when you're pushing babies in cribs or whatever to go to Woodbridge. And I
021then at the same time, I do believe Woodbridge is looking into maybe kind of reciprocal in case they would need to evacuate to come over. So, >> is there a path in between the two? >> No. I mean, if they were coming our way, >> they have to come >> wheelchairs. >> So, would they bring the buses and help >> get the cabs? I mean, would we take buses over to help them? >> Yeah. To help them? >> I'm not sure. Probably. I mean, whatever we'd have to do at that point in time. A lot of it would probably depend on >> the weather and the and the >> how quickly >> the situation circumstance. All right. Do I have a motion to accept this? >> I'll make a motion. >> Is there a second?
022>> I'll second. >> Any further discussion or comments? >> All right. All those in favor signify by sign of I. >> I. All those opposed, same sign. Motion passes. Next action item is consideration and recommendation to approve the following policy changes. policy number 5500 which is the student in the student contact section and a policy number 8420 which is emergency preparedness plans and drills >> motion to approve. >> Yep. >> Is there we have a motion for Mr. Cupy. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Any further comments, questions? All those in favor signify by sign of I. I. >> All those same sign. Motion passes. Next, we have a first reading on a bunch of other policies. I don't I don't know if we need to list them all. >> Should we? >> Well,
023I know people are streaming this. They like to >> We'll save bed at night like to go through this. Anyway, those are available at the office if any wants to see those. And this is just the first reading, so there'll be no vote this evening, but we will vote at the next meeting on those policy changes. All right, moving on to departmental comments. Mr. Correct, business report. >> The only additional thing I have is the junior high project. Still advancing on that and still wrap that up. We got a couple items there. Just we needed students out of the building to finish the work. So that'll happen. And u air conditioning. >> Yes. Yes, I've got a lot of thumbs up from staff and coaches that use >> a big fan on the door anymore.
024>> No, what around like 70 degrees in there? >> It's like the biggest fan. >> Yeah, we've already had some some patrons make comment that maybe it was a little too cold. >> Yeah, of course. Yeah, >> that didn't take long. >> Okay, any other questions or comments from Mr. Correct. Right. Thank you very much, Mr. F. The technology report. >> So, the only two items I'll add is we so for our server environment, we have a company called VMware that we've had for the last several years. Um, they've been purchased by a company called Broadcom who is edging out the K12 market. They don't really want to deal with K12 market. So the end of support for that product that we have ends um at the end of this year. So we have to
025start making plans to that that coincides with the renewal of our system as well which is 5 years. So the timing is good for us to make that switch. So we'll be moving to a new product either by scale computing or nutanics for our server environment. Um project cost is estimated between 80 and 90 90,000 to complete that. um should be done within uh period of about 4 to 8 weeks. So, we're going to be planning on that. And then our phone system, unfortunately, Mel um was put in, I believe, around 2021. They've on on the section of business that controls the phone system we have, they filed bankruptcy on. So, >> no wonder we got a good deal, huh? >> That that product line is no longer going to be supported at the end
026of next year. So, um, we're going to be making plans to switch that product over. I' I've looked at several different, uh, companies, and the pricing has ranged from 7,000 a month to 25,000 a month. >> Um, >> it's it's mostly because it's all cloud computing now. Um, it's hard to find a commercial phone system that can be stored inhouse on your own servers. And so, when it goes into the cloud, they charge a lot more for that. um our our current costs right now is approximately 50,000 and our increased cost will be around the total will be around 70,000 a year. So we're going to be on the very low end of that and the reason for that is because Metroet who is our internet provider sells a phone system and that partnership is
027working in our favor. So Comcast is also one of our vendors, but they were around um they were 7,800 when I checked them last year, but they don't have the same type of uh phone system that Metronet is providing. So we're looking at Metronet very strongly. They've got a very good product. Um one that is easy for us to manage um from an administration point of view. The other advantage to keep in mind is there is no upfront cost for us. When we bought the MEL system, we had to inject a bunch of costs to buy that phone system, uh, we could very easily be charged $100,000 upfront just to buy the phones in the system and then you pay a monthly fee after that. Metronet is not charging us for the phones at all.
028They're not charging us a monthly fee for service and maintenance. It's all wrapped up in the per seat cost. So, it the average cost is about $15 per seat per phone um, per month. So it it's working out really well to go with Metronet. Um really like the idea that we don't have to have phone servers in every building. It's basically you put the phone on the desk, hook it up to the internet, and it goes straight to Mel or Metronet. So that's a very different system than the one we have now. So those are the two big items that we're going to be working on this fall. So the previous company you mentioned that's not going to do K to2 myel correct >> the previous company that's is that is their service end at
029the end of this calendar year at the end of December this year >> okay school year so we're going to have >> yeah in December Mel and Broadcom are no longer selling either product so what we need to do is get the implementation of both systems done over the fall and winter and and have it converted in January. >> All right. Any more questions or comments? All right. Thank you very much. >> We have no curriculum report this evening, so we'll move right on to Mrs. Starky. Yeah, I would just like to say a big thank you to Greg and his staff for the budget process. It was a huge undertaking. Um, and especially this year as we look at revenue sources and how we've really had to like, you know, do some cutting back
030in some areas and figuring out how to do that so that we do not impact what's happening in the classroom. That's our number one goal there. Um, on September 10th, we had a full day of professional development focused on school safety training. um Alice train act actually and we had our uh four SRO's do a presentation for our entire staff. We even closed the administration building. We had about 600 staff members at male and and the training was our our SRO's did an outstanding job and it was very wellreceived and so from all of our staff and so we'll be working throughout the year. We have a calendar, a monthly calendar of what uh the next step is at each building and how will we how we will progress um with um that training. And
031then believe it or not, our next board meeting is October 6th and um that is the week of parent teacher conferences. So uh two weeks in this grading first grading period is over which is unbelievable. So time flies when you're having fun but it's gone very quickly. We've had a great start to the school year. So, >> any questions or comments? All right. Thank you very much. Moving on now to the public comments is a second opportunity to make a comment this evening our meeting. If there are no takers, we'll move on. Members comments. Mrs. Bird. >> I just like to thank Greg and staff and Michelle for the budget. I was I'm sure it was very difficult job, but good job. Yeah, same. Thank you very much and and for the presentation too. >>
032Yeah, that was helpful. >> Milt, >> no, my comments are full on deaf ears. [Music] >> You always I'll save them just like at home. Mil, >> Mr. CPY, >> I don't have anything. >> I have nothing else either. So, that being said, now it's time for board signatures and we are adjourned. Thank you. >> So Michelle, do you want to hear my story about when Willard had a fire and they evacuated all of their >> patients to the hospital? >> I don't know about that. >> You should probably think about whether or not we want them in there. No, I'm I'm dead serious because you've got patients