CorpusRecord 24126

MSDLT Board of Education: Board Meeting 1/30/2026

A searchable transcript preserved as part of the Discourse Corpus. Passage numbers provide stable references within this record; verify quotations against the original recording when available.

Source
YouTube / LT Schools
Date
2026-01-31
Location
Marion County, IN
Material
Transcript
Extent
2,642 words · about 15 min
Collected
2026-06-06

Transcript

Verbatim source text

001I call the annual meeting of the MSD of Lawrence Township Board of Finance to order. Let the record show all members of the school board are present and acting in our capacity. First item of business is the election of a president and secretary for the board of finance 2026. At this time, I will take open the floor up for nominations for president. And typically, it's not required rule, but you can't typically you put your board president and secretary as the the officers. >> Okay. All right. >> Yeah. I need the nomination. >> I nominate um Amy Norman for president and Dr. Shayla Mull Holland as the vice president. >> Secretary. >> Sorry, the secretary. >> It's early. It's okay. Um, are there any other nominations? Okay. All right. At this time, we'll go to a

002vote. All in favor of myself for president and Dr. Mahalland for secretary say I. >> I. Any opposed? All right. We we I accept at this time. Now, we will move to appointing our investment officer and and we appoint Mr. Matt Miles at this time you accept Mr. Miles. >> I do. >> He has no choice. >> I know we're we're doing the formality. >> So, moving on with that at this time, Mr. Miles will present the corporation's 2025 investment report. >> Thank you, Madame President. Uh Dr. Smith, members of the board, uh, as we are required to do by statute and do so annually in January here, this is our annual, uh, as you mentioned, Madam President, our annual board of finance meeting. The the items that we're going to cover this morning are

003required by statute. That's our investment report as well as the policy and the investment policy of the district which was updated last year. Um, so we will first start with a snapshot of what our investments generated last year. These are all investments um that the the district holds. They're lumped into one. We call it a general fund. That's really the banking term for that, but versus bonds and other interest bearing accounts. So in 2025, uh this district saw just over two $2.5 million of interest income. Um $2,528,6251. That goes back into uh our our education fund. Um and U improves our our income there on uh in our education account. So again saw great great um interest there and positive um positive numbers. I would happy to take any questions on on that piece before

004moving on to the DOWAB reports. >> Thank you Mr. Miles board. Are there any questions or comments on this report? Okay, >> the next uh the next report is our financial indicators. These come straight off of the DOAB website, which is the distressed unit appeals board u that has been set up by the state. U this is an annual again requirement. These everything that we're going to look at today is one-year lag time. Um so this is the 24 calendar uh which would be the 2425 uh school year. And so first slide again, these are just um screenshots right off of their website. Their the website is uh included in the board docs for public record. Uh you see our ADM count, our net assessed value, and the population of the district. The next slide

005uh goes into uh our ADM in greater detail. So, you have a 10-year uh look back at what what the history has been of our ADM and continue to see our growth over the years. The next slide uh deals with fund balances and it's a little hard to to decipher them on the slide here, but again um continued growth across the funds uh over that uh 10ear stretch. This slide breaks it down in greater detail for just um just the operations fund and then the old general fund now the education fund. So you see the two different colors where on that bar um where that has been changed over by the state. Uh again growing balances um in total uh over the 10ear 10-year period. And we can slide past that one. That's just a

006note for the prior slide. This slide um is deals with excuse me u is our uh annual deficit or surplus uh again for those same funds education operation funds and you can see the small little uh yellow bar at the very bottom in 2024 that is representing that there uh was net cash uh to the positive for that The next slide is a percentage uh the fund balance as a percentage of expenditures. So the larger that that bar is, the more funds are available as a percentage of expenditures. So we had 13.2% in 2024. The next slide [clears throat] deals with just represents all the revenue that the district takes in regardless of source. So you get to see us an idea of of what is generating revenue uh yearbyear and again showing an upward

007trend in revenue. And then the last slide is is our favorite slide every time and this is our operations uh operating referendum slide showing zero activity zero balance uh as we do not have an operating referendum. >> Thank you Mr. Miles. board. Any questions? Okay. I just had a a just two real quick questions. I noticed it mentioned 2024 on the um indicators. Is that just because 2025 hasn't been updated? >> Correct. I just ending 25. It takes the state uh we go through the process and by the time they collect information and get it published, it takes about a year to do so. So yes, that's why and that's that's what we do every year. >> Okay. And then the other question was so uh the capital referendums are not required to be reported.

008>> Correct. >> Okay. Okay. >> Okay. >> Good question. >> Okay. Thank you. If there are no other questions or comments from the board, are there any questions or comments from the public at this time? >> All right. If there are no comments, I'll entertain a motion to adjurnn. Second properly moved, Miss Dunn and seconded, Miss Pucket. This closes out our board of finance meeting. Thank you, board. Now we will move into our monthly board of education meeting. So join me now for the pledge of allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. [clears throat] >> All right, moving into blue ribbon updates. Dr. Nesbbit. >> Good morning, Madam President. Thank you, members

009of the board. Dr. Smith. Let's take a look at blue ribbon phase 2. Here's your update. Uh some stuff we usually look at, but Mackenzie work that design continues trying to get the scope dialed in into our budget. Uh Craig Academy is moving along. We had our first games just last Saturday on the 24th there in the two new refreshed gymnasiums and then our classroom additions continue. Um you can see we also have I believe I mentioned our last meeting um have begun installing the new chillers and then that's those green ones there at Winding Ridge and the ELC's Mary Castle and ELC Winding Ridge and then the the ones in the yellow there will get done this summer. Um okay let's take a look at Crest View. There you have the outside of the

010building and then the new bathroom facility. And I think we probably have yeah some more pictures of that. There's looking down the hallway and there's one of the cl one of the four classrooms that all look pretty similar. The music room's a little bit bigger. And then Forest Glenn Elementary, uh, six rooms there. As you might recall, those are kindergarten style rooms with bathrooms in each room. And there's looking there. We're trying to get the envelope sealed there. Looking to do that here very soon. And then Mary Castle, they uh we're looking to occupy or have occupancy of that one very soon. Uh, flooring is down and the walls are coming along. Um, and I think you'll get take a look inside. Yeah, that's look in the classrooms. Uh you can see they're getting very

011very near completed. [clears throat] And then Craig, there's take a look at uh that's the multi-purpose gym there. And then there's a science room on the right there. That's upstairs where we've begun renovation now that LA's moved downstairs. And then on the south side of the building, we finally have ADA there in Craig Craig Academy, which we're very happy about. Uh that was always a a tough gymnasium to get into. We had a little elevator that that was small and old and and just wasn't very welcoming to our wheelchair bound folks. So now we have a ramp system on the south side of the building. And there on the right side, that's also upstairs. That's the uh basically a small auditorium type facility, little large group instruction that we're refreshing. And that takes you through

012Blue Ribbon phase two. >> Thank you, Dr. Nesbet. Board, any questions or comments? Miss D, >> I do have a question. who was able to use the new facility at Craig Academy over the weekend. >> Uh that was our LTBBL games. So, our youth basketball, that's our their affiliate organization. We've been with them 50 years now. >> Yeah. And I just I I had a feeling that that was what you were going to say. And I just I I say that because I know that these buildings are not just for our students, but for the greater community, and it's wonderful to see them being utilized. So, thank you for your work making that happen. >> Thank you for that. Any [clears throat] other questions or comments, board? >> Okay. 2.2 transfer of funds update. Mr.

013Miles. >> Thank you, Madam President. Members of the board, Dr. Smith, uh in December of 25, uh you gave permission uh through resolution to allow for a transfer of funds, which we do every six months in June and December. Then we report back after the the total numbers are known uh at the end of the year, at the end of the month. And so that's what this report is uh from this morning. Uh as you can see the December 31 transfers listed and then again the net uh aggregate transfers from the for the year. We are limited to a maximum by statute 15% transfer amount uh from the education fund to the operations fund. We were underneath that again as always uh at 13 uh.61% this year. Uh the total net transfer uh for the

014second half of the year 10,530,000 uh550 10,550 $530,557.33 in total. >> Thank you, Mr. Miles. Board, any questions or comments on the transfer of funds? >> Okay. 2.3 Nola policy update, second reading. Dr. Harshburgger. Madam President, Dr. Smith, members of the board, on January 12th of this year board meeting, I presented you the Neola revision packet volume 38, number one for first reading. I now bring that same revision back for statute for second reading. >> Thank you, Dr. Harshburgger. Board, any questions or comments on the second reading for the Neola updates? Once again, thank you to the policy committee. I know it was a pretty ensive package. All right, financial updates. Back to Mr. Miles. >> At this time, we're going to take a look at our December 30th or 31st, 2025 financials, as we

015do each month. Um, happy to report that this is this is always the the um kind of the the climax, I guess, of our year end. Uh, when we certainly want to look and make sure we've met our board goal of $14 million in our general fund. Um, education fund and and we uh have done so again this year. Uh you can see ending balance at the very bottom of the sheet in the actual year-to-ate column um nearly 15 million 14,888. Um our revenue for the year was up a little versus the uh the projection and expenditures were also up just a little bit not enough to to cause a problem. The the um the additional revenue actually superseded that. So balance uh ending again uh met the board goal. Likewise in the transportation fund

016um we saw uh we saw expenditures in a good place a little under uh what was originally projected. Revenue came in just a little under there as well uh for a slight variance in year-end balance versus what was projected of about $40,000. So really right on target there. um ending balance in the uh transportation fund of 2 million uh just over $2.1 million. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Miles. Board, any questions or comments on the financials? Okay, moving on to board committee chair reports. Foundation, Dr. Mahaland. Gosh, there's a lot of good things happening. um with the foundation. I know they're very busy at this time. Um we recently a group of board members gathered for a lunchon, a leadership lunchon. So that was uh wonderful with um um Misty um Wick Johnson and

017the the whole team. Uh we also closed out the scholarship program um uh the the application. So the scholarship will be meeting and they do a lot of behind thes scenes work and and getting that committee together, both the volunteers, the whole process. So the program committee has been very busy at work with that. So those are the big things. There's more to share but um those are the highlights >> and the Oh, I should have mentioned the gala. Yes. >> Is it March 20th? >> Yes. All right. >> That's right. >> All right. Very good. Thank you for those updates. Lawrence Parks and Recreation is done. >> Thank you. So, we don't forget there are the Forever Young game days on Thursdays as well as the Forever Young club fitness days on Fridays. Both

018of those starting at 11 o'clock at Community Park. But really exciting. February marks our Black History Month. And so there is a Black History Month celebration that will be held at the um theater at the fort and that will be on Wednesday, February 11th beginning at 7 o'clock. And if you have not attended, it's a really lovely with a lot of local artists. Um, so I highly recommend um attending. >> Thank you for that policy. Miss Pucket. >> Yes. Um, on Thursday this week of 2026, short session officially hit the midway point. Thursday also signaled the deadline for the third reading of bills that are still active. Moving forward, House and Senate bills will now switch will now switch houses and head back to into committees starting on Monday the second. Looking ahead through February,

019looking ahead to February 24th is still the end for the third reading and February 27th is the anticipated end of session. And finally this morning, the policy committee is excited to bring forth revision packet volume 38 number one for board. >> Thank you, Miss Pucket. We are now moving on to our action items. 3.1 Approval of the Neola policy updates. Dr. Harsh Sparker, >> president, members of the board, earlier this morning presented to you volume 38, number one, the old revision packet for second reading. I now recommend the board approve policy revisions as submitted. >> Thank you. >> All right, we've got a movement from Miss Dunn. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Properly moved, Miss Dunn. Seconded, Miss Lawrence. Any final questions or comments on the packet before we vote? All right.

020All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? The Neola policy updates have been approved. Thank you, Dr. Harsh Parker. 3.2 approval of board minutes. Dr. Mhalland. Madam President, I present the uh work and monthly meeting minutes for December 15, 2025 and the work session reorganization meeting minutes for January 12th, 2026. All right. Thank you. Do we have a motion? >> Some moved. >> Properly moved. Uh Miss Pucket and seconded, Dr. Mahaland. Any final questions or comments? >> Oh, Dr. Sorry, um Miss Lawrence. [laughter] Okay, there you go. All right. Properly moved, Miss Pucket and seconded, Miss Lawrence. Any final questions or comments before we move to vote? All right. All in favor of the approval of the board minutes from January 2026, say I. >> I. Any opposed? The board minutes are approved. >> All

021right. Madam President, I move that we treat action items 3.3 to 3.9 as consent agenda. >> Second. >> All right. properly moved from Miss Pucket and seconded Miss Lawrence on the um treating action items 3.3 to 3.9 as consent agenda. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? All right. The eyes have it. >> All right. I move approval of consent agenda. >> Second. >> All right. Properly moved. Miss Pucket and seconded Miss Lawrence for the approval of the consent agenda. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Oh, that's okay. Any opposed? >> All right, the eyes have it for the approval of consent agenda. >> Moving into our final um item, administrator and board comments. So, would anyone like to go first? >> Okay. >> I just want to thank all of the

022maintenance staff, the teachers who have been freezing their fingers off. uh in line with our students, our families who wait with our kids at bus stops, our parents who have been incredibly flexible all week long because we're working and also being teachers at the same time, making sure our kids are in their meetings. It's been a tough week, but one in which we can all be grateful for the community we have. >> Well said. Thank you. Would anyone else like to do a comment? Second, Mr. Lawrence. >> All right. >> Okay. Great. >> I I do want I'd be remiss. I think um sometimes with the consent agenda, we don't always see um the the wonderful community that we have to the point that you're making. Um we live in a an amazing community and

023I want to just [clears throat] extend a huge um gratitude to Roller Cave for um the very generous donation of um admission tickets to um that establishment for attendance. Um, I know I um used to love going roller skating with my kid or with my father back in the day and to see that students are still enjoying that and we have such a wonderful partnership is phenomenal. So, um, a huge gratitude to our friends at Roller Cave. >> Thank you for that. Thank you for that acknowledgement. >> Miss Dun, thank you so much for acknowledging that. And I noticed that it was for attendance incentive. So, um, just seeing that connection with the the work we're trying to do with students and making it fun. So, >> and thank you obviously to um all of

024those that have been responsible for um fostering that um that relationship with our partners there. So, >> yes, well said. I think they they offer more safety guards now than when we were kids, too. [laughter] A little >> Yeah, >> my safety guard. >> Well, there's that, too. Yeah. Okay. Very good. Um, I just second everything that everyone said in addition to our operations team and our staff. Also, thank you to the city and local officials who've been working to to clean the roads as well. Um, thank you for getting our kids to school safe, everybody. So, at this time, I'll move it to Dr. Smith. >> Um, certainly uh the same board. Um, we do live in Indiana. We will have snow. This is not our na last snow of the year, folks. So

025please be patient with us and we will work very hard parents and community to make sure that that our delays and closures will be done in a timely manner. We just have to understand it is a lot is contingent upon not only what we do as a corporation but also what our cities both cities the city of Indianapolis and city of Lawrence does. And so it is a family. We thank everyone for their hard work and we want to keep school open. So it's a communitywide effort. So thank you Dr. Dr. Nesbet, the operations team went over and above because it we we had, you know, four straight days where we're really mobilizing our resources to make sure things happen. So, and that's all I have today board. >> All right. Well, thank you again

026everybody, board and staff for being here on this early morning so that we could conduct the business by the end of the month. Our next monthly board of education or our next board meeting will be on Monday, February 9th, 2026. It's a work session and it will begin at 5:30. If there is no further business, I will entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> Second, >> properly moved, Miss Lawrence and seconded, Miss Pucket. Thank you.

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