001and our student recognitions. >> Good evening, Madame President, Dr. Smith and members of the board. We are delighted tonight to bring you so many awards. We are going to first start with our staff members for Above and Beyond. With us this evening from Amy Beverlin Early Learning Center, we have Miss Alana Amphil and Miss Mel Murphy. Come forward. We are just so pleased for all that they do on a daily basis above and beyond for the students of Lawrence Township Schools. We salute you and we recognize you and we thank you. ladies in the middle. Sorry. You come right back. Next, we are proud to honor Mr. Brian Mills with our superintendence award. Brian Mills is the CEO of Community Health Network. This evening, the board of education proudly recognizes Mr. Brian Mills with the
002superintendent's award for distinguished partnership and service to the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township. For the past 14 years, Brian has led an extraordinary partnership between Community Health Network and our school corporation. One that has truly transformed the health and well-being of our students, staff, and families. Under his leadership, Community Health has provided health services and nurses to every school building. Two employee health clinics dedicated to serving Lawrence Township staff. athletic trainers who ensure the safety and success of our student athletes and continued support for Project Search, which creates meaningful employment opportunities for our students with special needs. Brian's positive energy, unwavering support, and shared vision of excellence has strengthened every level of our district. His commitment to public education and to the people of Lawrence Township reflects the highest ideals of community partnership. Brian,
003your leadership has made a lasting difference in our schools and community. As you retire, you will be missed but not forgotten. On behalf of Board of Education and the entire Lawrence Township family, thank you for your remarkable service and steadfast support of Lawrence Excellence. Ryan and Bill. The next section of our awards will be coming from elementary and our voice is Dr. Emily Hosbron, assistant superintendent of elementary and then we have Dr. Crystal Thorp, chief of secondary education. All right. Good evening, board president. I'm Amy Norman, superintendent Mr. Dr. Smith, members of the board, and families of the Lawrence Township community. Tonight, we celebrate the outstanding achievements of our 2025 fall sport participants. We are a district rich in the tradition of winning and excellence. And tonight we are proud to showcase our student athletes
004and our coaches. Parents, you will have the opportunity to take pictures when all athletes are in the front. You can also meet your student in the lobby once they have been recognized. We will begin with Fall Creek Valley Middle School represented by principal Corey McGarill and athletic director Robin Lewis. Lawrence Central's principal Mr. Franklin Bush and Athletic Director Mosie Barnes and followed by Lawrence North principal Jason Floyd and athletic director Mike Pinrose. Again, thank you for your great showing to support our student athletes. So, let's start with Fall Creek Valley. Good evening. We're going to start with our seventh grade undefeated MC Champs, Jakaria Simmons, Jion Paige, Jordan Viviverette, Brilan Sanders, Cameron King, Amaran Washington, Dallas Quarrel, Aiden Savage Williams, Kaden Harris, Carter Harris, Carter Johnson Mayfield, Kayen Harris, EJ Adams, Adrien Triggs, Maximus Grant,
005Jakari Webster, Jeffrey Allen, Gier Dunn, John Luca Cruz, Lucas Ratford, Malik Height, Reese Fugat, Reed Wy, Sean Curry, Tyrell Green, Brandon Jackson, William Stout, Armani Terry, Malachi Jackson, coached by James Robinson and Rex Phixul. Parents, if you want to take a picture, this is the time. >> Yep. We'll go behind those guys with you. and coach principles adjust your guys so we can get the picture quick guys in the back guys in the front row take a big step there >> that's Absolutely. >> Let me look approval. >> Right here. right here. >> All right, guys. Got you. Next up, we have Our eighth grade MC champions, Isaac Alice, Miles Artist, Hi Thorus Beard, Terry Barry, Timothy Black, Xavon Brandon, Drew Brown, Aiden Bur, Cavon Crossing, Rome Davis, >> Tristan Griffin, >> Dominique Hollowell, Jaden
006Ingram, Amaro Johnson, >> Jimmy Johnson, >> DJ Jones, Derell King, Lean Kirk, Kendall Leford, Jiari G, Braden Miller, Jaden Mley, Clark Arasco, Eli Phillips, Joshua Reed, Simon Reynolds, Cornell Sanders, La Magic Sanders, Julia Smith, Charles Stilabower, Kevin Stratford, >> Dayton Tandy, Luis Valdz Rodriguez, Joshua Walker, David White, Dylan Wise, Giani Woods, Zier Ward, Josiah Urel, Dennis Ziggler, Coach Keandre Montgomery, and Patrick Spelman. guys. One step down. There we go. Oh, okay. >> Step back. Please wait. And we have a MC champion tennis. and Keratin Morali, MC Champ Team, girls golf, Adeline Caster, Hazel Falcon, Eleanor Kelsey, Alana Pierce, and Ameilia Kendrick. and eighth grade volleyball. MC Champs Sophie Belchure, Eleanor Klouse, Amaya Crowe, Lillian Sheddderley, Avery Gatewood, Alan, Elena Little, Maya Chamblas, Alexis Hunt, Janiah Finy, Brooklyn Thomas, Isabella Taylor, Lauren Sanders, Ammani Burio, and
007Emily Bulock. Coached by Casey Troyer. This one's easy. This one's Let's see how good we are with size, guys. Short guys on the front. >> Volleyball right there. Volleyball players know the stand. >> Let's pause for a second with parents. Come on down quick. All right, guys. Congratulations. All right. Good evening everyone. My name is Mosie Barnes. I'm the proud athletic director at Lawrence Central High School. I'm here to recognize our fall sports uh rec acknowledgements for this fall. Um and looking forward to doing so today. There's a few student athletes that aren't here today. I'll still mention their name for the record. And I'm gonna start with girls volleyball. Girls volleyball. Nivea Ross, academic all state. Lauren Peaches, academic all state. Rya Aurelia, academic all state and all conference. All Mick. Caris Barnes, all
008Marian County and Almick. Next is our unified football and botchi teams. Haley Walton, academic all state. Braden Pollings, academic all state. LeBron Brown, academic all state. Brandon Beaver, academic allate. Next is girls golf. >> Maya Branson, all Mick. Moving on to boys soccer. Christian Ficondo, all district, all Marian County, and all Mick. Bryce Bush, all Mick. FOR GIRLS SOCCER. Amelia Ramaro, all Mick. >> Jada Smiley, all Marian County and all Mick for boys tennis. Rhett Johnson, academic all state. Evan Connors, academic all state. Josh Denowski, academic all state. Ian Cooper, >> academic all state. Aiden Edwards, academic all state. Chris Hughes, academic allate. Jackson Russell, academic allate. Malik Abdul Rasheed, academic allate. and Vincent Jackson, academic all state. Last but not least, football. And perfect timing because Marian County teams came out today, so I'll
009mention that as well. Santana Allen, all Mick and All Marian County. Albert Goodton the third, all Mick and all Marian County. James Williams, all Mick, all Marian County. Earl Karns III, all Mick, all Marian County. >> Elijah Wood, all Mick, all Marian County. Jackson Owens, all Mick, all Marian County. Antonio Ford III, all Mick. Santana Ectctor, all Mick. Michael Johnson the third, all Mick. And last but not least, Jaden Dorsy, all Mick, all Marian County. Congratulations. >> All right, let's see if we can line them up, guys. >> All the short guys, move forward. Let's go by height, guys. a little bit help Now I want this >> gonna make you step down just a second. Thank you. >> Y take a step down if you would. You can take a step. Perfect. Then you
010can come up closer. >> There she is. There's Mr. Smith. Perfect. All right. Right here, please. >> Perfect. So after boys a little Thanks. Those gems, man. Wildats. Dr. Smith, board of education. Mike Penrose, proud athletic director of Lawrence North. We're here to celebrate nine championships this fall. We will have four different groups of pictures. So beginning our first group, Marian County and sectional championship boys cross country team. Josh Gamble, Ronnie Hernandez, Tyler Lince, Xavier Little, Conrad Schumacher, Grady Tusant, coached by head coach Joe Murphy and his COACHING STAFF. NEXT, OUR boys soccer team, MC Champs, and IHSAA sectional champions. Uh, we have Major Abdullah, Cam Anderson, Vincent Austin, Caesar Balanis, Marvin Balanis, Isaac Buck, Lucas Buck, Samari Carpenter, Oscar Garcia, Yanni Yanni Garcia, Alleso Easy, Gearra, Dylan Keaney, Cameron Knox, Wyatt Nick Karowski, who
011was academic all state as well, Max Litherland, Alex Lopez, Benji Modestine, Doodley Moyes, who is also all Mick and academic all state. Giovanni Morat Ulysus Rivera who is all county and academic all state. Gifin Smith who is all Mick and academic all state. Alexis Tahita. Chris uh Yeiwi Liam Cooper academic all state. Oh well sorry got too many. That was my boys cross country. Next, boys tennis. Boys tennis. They were academic all state as a team. As a team. Yeah. Go ahead, guys. And our tennis team, Liam Cooper, Evan Drake, Ezra Gear, Asher Hobbs, Isaiah Smith, Wyatt Snow, and Charles Warren, who was also all Mick. Um, I do want to point out that Josh uh Gamble, uh, actually the entire cross country team, in addition to Marian County champions and IHSA sectional champions, they
012were a team state qualifier and placed 13th overall as at at the, uh, state meet. SO, >> YEAH, at this time we'll stop recognize this group. >> Yep. Let's bring the trophies up front. >> So, if you were standing right here, just take one step down. I want my guys trophies have >> we need to see everybody's faces wild. >> Okay. >> There we go. Perfect. >> All right. All right. One, two, three. Congrats guys. Make sure you're >> Okay, next we are going to recognize our boys football team all as one group and I'll to save time I will recognize the people who are here. I know it's we're in a time crunch. Our boys boys football team um Mick Champions backto back. >> Yep. And we'd like to recognize Evan Allen, Desmond Baskerville,
013Jeb Brown, who was Almick, Jaden Buyers, Garren Chandler, Quincy Davis, Brody Day, Randall Glenn, Vincent Harris, >> Chaz Hudson, Elijah Hughes, who was all Mick, Jaden Lucendi, Bre Mallerie, who was all Mick. Amari Moore, all Mick, Xavon Moore, all Mick. Cameron Nicholson, Leavon Robinson, Walter Rush, William Rush, Munchan Sales, who was all Mick. Luke Tatum, all Mick. Griffin Smith, all Mick. He was also all Mick in soccer. Pretty impressive. Andre Watson, all men. >> And then we'd like to recognize coach Patrick Mallerie and his coaching staff. This group will also have surely have all county and all state players on it. Those teams have not been named as of tonight. We want to thank our boys football team and we should have all of our coaches in there at this time. Congratulations. >> Okay, let
014come down here. >> Come down the middle. >> Trophy. I need everybody. I need this film in the back. People in the front, middle people in the middle. >> There you go. One, two, three. >> Okay. All right, CONGRATULATIONS. All right, ladies and gentlemen, our next group We want to recognize tonight our girls flag football team. And in the inaugural season as an IHSAA um emerging sport, our girls flag football team won the sectional and and we had the opportunity to play at the state tournament where we won our first game. We won our semi-final match and we went all the way to the championship game and finished as THE SO OUR team Jada Akaforro, Gabriel Alexander, Joselyn Ample, Heavenbeard, Arian Cannon, Ayani Clancy, Leila Davis Wilson, congratulations. Kamari Evans, Laniah Gaines, Ava Ginhard, Raqua
015Griggs, Sydney Harper, Ammani Johnson, Luna Lee, Rainey Marks, Aliyah Massie, >> Aaliyah Massie, I did that last. I'm sorry. Ia Aliyah Massie Kennedy Mills Priamimms Staniah Oliver Paris Paige Leva Pitman Canra Ridley Lavender Rowley Jaye Taylor Jada Wheat Somaya Boyd Tana Thomas Wilson Coach Donnie Mims and Coach Destiny Starks Let's get that right in the middle. Put that football right in the middle. >> There we go. >> Excellent. Excellent. >> Right here, please. Congratulations, ladies. State runner up. Great job. Okay, our final group. We're start with our girls golf team who won the MC championship first time in school history. Maggie Bates who was all Mick. Ava Kira Gassa All Mick. Maya Weaver. Lucy Wink. Lucy was all Mick and also the individual MC champion. And is our girls golf team coached by Audrey Dietrich
016and Sarah Burns. Girls soccer team, we have Maya Denunio, academic all state. Lydia Corzekqua, all county all academic all state. Carrie Radford, all county all mick, all state. Chelsea Sprouls, academic all state. VA Staley, all county all mick. Charlotte TR I know Charlotte where all mick Julia Terau all county all mick academic all state Elizabeth Warick academic all state Reagan Wirich academic all state and Jordan Rogers all MICK and our volleyball team we were Mick champions and IHSAA sectional champions backto back Brooklyn Anderson, Sydney Anderson, >> Addison Hamill, who was academic all state, Anna Juice Burns, >> Kyra Juice Burns, All Mick Huice Burns, um All Mick All County, and she was the MC player of the year. Addie Knox, Macy Morris, Malia Norfleet, Sayia Red Wine, Avery Rickleman, Academic All State, Taylor Sanders, Micah
017Shacklin, Sophia Simson, Jada Vanowski, Academic All State, Carly Woods, Amaya Xander, All County. And that's our girls vol team coached by Nick Cox. and and our girls cross country team we have Nia Palade Annabelle Mick and Nora Wilson Almick. This is our final group and Coach Barick is here. Thank you coach Mickey Barc. And I think that's it. Yes, last group. Congratulations. >> All right. Trophies. >> Trophies up front. >> Okay. I can't see coach. There he is. >> There you are. I would uh I would be remiss if I did not mention that coach Nick Cox was recently elected to the Indiana High School Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame last week. Congratulations, Toach Cox. You okay? I was like, I got to catch you. Thank you everyone and congratulations to our students, coaches,
018and parents. At this time, we'll take a short two-minute interim before we transition over to the business portion of our board meeting. She'll take it. audience. Our favorite Cheers. All right. Thank you everyone who has remained. That was always a joy to celebrate our students. A fun fact, that was our first really big time um recognizing student achievements in our new board space. So, thank you again, Lawrence Township. At this time, we will move on to our information items with 3.1, the blue ribbon updates with Dr. Nesbbit. >> Thank you, Madam President, members of the board. Dr. Smith, my pleasure to bring you to you a blue ribbon 2 update or overview. Uh McKenzie, if you recall, last meeting you approved our architect and we have our RFP out for CMC that you approved and
019we will uh have a deadline of Monday, a week from today to get those RFPs and then we'll interview on the 9th for that. Uh Craig Academy continues and then our classroom additions as well. And then if you the next slide there, you'll see our guaranteed energy savings. This will look pretty stagnant here through the winter until we get back into work uh this spring and summer as uh we get into the roofing and HVAC work again, but happy to see that uh we got a good third of them knocked out and that's our plan over a three-year course, of course. Uh Cresby Elementary, I hadn't shown you previously the new gang bathroom that was actually part of that guaranteed energy savings contract. So, we just wrapped that up and wanted to show a picture
020of that. And then uh the other picture there was just the trusses going up and then Forest Glenn uh you can see the steel work continuing and then some underground work there. And then our Forest Land uh they started putting the walls up this week. So as you go by now you'll see those exterior metal studs going up. And then we have a sewer line we're uh working on there just on the side of the building. And then Mary Castle. There's an aerial shot so you can see exactly what the addition looks like and where it connects to the existing building. And then you can see inside of a classroom there, we have heat in those build in those rooms now, those four classrooms. And then we also have the roof completed uh at Mary
021Castle as well, Craig Academy. So if you're familiar with the old wrestling room, that's on your left there, uh that's the wrestling room work. And then on the right side there, that's the auxiliary gym. And you can see it's being sanded completely down as we prep to paint and seal that. And then our next slide shows that's the main gym there. That's the new wall there that has Craig being painted on there. They're trying to get that painting done before they start sanding in there. And there's the hallway that connects the two. It's getting refreshed. And that concludes this edition's blue ribbon phase 2 update. Be happy to field any questions. >> Thank you for that, Dr. Nesbet. Board, are there any questions or comments on the blue ribbon updates? >> I just want to
022thank Dr. Nesbbit for bringing the announcer energy tonight. Really well done. Great work on all of the uh achievements that we have. It's really nice to see Craig coming along and all the other um work begin starting. >> Thanks. >> Thank you board. Any other questions or comments? Okay. I did have a historical question because I know you were a former >> I'm also studies teacher. Let's hear it. >> All right. This is right up your lane. Um, for those of us who have children that were younger and didn't have the pleasure of being here when there was the Craig Middle School, um, is the branding of the logo or I'm sorry, the mascot. Is that the old school? >> Great question. No, we had to design a new one. The old one we couldn't
023really find. Mainly it was like clip art that was certainly we didn't own the marks for and so as we've done with all districtwide, we own the marks for it. So, we created a new one. Uh, Josh, our in our communication office designed a new one for us. So that is no one else has it besides for Craig. >> So it's a new official one. >> Okay. Wonderful. No, that's great. And and I will just say as a parent, um it's been a pleasure seeing the daily progression at Mary Castle during drop off. >> Yeah. >> So in addition to our board reports. All right. If there are no other questions or comments at this time about the blue ribbon updates, I will move on to 3.2, to the 2526 administrator salary proposal with Miss
024Carla Johnson. >> Good evening, Madame President, Dr. Smith, and members of the board. Tonight, we bring you um the proposal for our administrator salary recommendations. As you'll see on this slide, um we have divided into tier one administrators and tier 2 administrators. Tier one administrators include cabinet principles and directors at looking at a $2,000 stipen versus the 2% raise. The 9.3% health insurance increase. And then our tier 2 administrators includes all of our assistant principles, assistant directors, coordinators, athletic directors, assistant athletic directors, and our department chairs asking for a 2% raise for our tier 2 administrators and the 9.3% of health insurance increase. Are there any questions? >> All right. Thank you, Miss Johnson. Board, are there any questions or comments regarding the proposed administrator races? Miss Florence. >> Thank you, Madam President. Uh Mr.
025Miles and Miss Johnson, I do have a couple of questions regarding the benefits packages. Um the first question I have relates to the 93% increase in healthcare benefits. Are we saying because it's not very clear by the two bullet points that are listed and um just we don't have those administrative packages in any kind of public forum which other school districts do post. So my question is um is this money that is going directly to our teachers um for the tier one which would get the benefit of a health care stipen is that 9.3% is that what we are voting on tonight? It is as yet unclear. So, uh, the the 9.3% and the 48 the 40 which equates to the 48,207 is in essence the district's contribution to health insurance for those administrators. >>
026So, this would be added to the existing stipend which we provide for those tier one administrators. Is that correct? >> Uh, we refer to it as an allowance, not a stipen, but this is that amount. >> Okay. So, we are increasing the amount that we are giving to those who fall into that tier one benefits package 9.3% in addition to that $2,000 stipend. >> Correct. We're tried to show it here in the same manner as what we showed for the teachers. So, this is what the cost is to the district to provide that insurance increase, which is it does equate to that 9.3% in addition to the the stipen. So, just to be clear, can you please explain what the stipend is and how that is allocated to our uh administrators? >> So, just to
027clarify, is that the $2,000 stipen referred to here or is that the health insurance piece? >> The health insurance piece. >> Yeah. So, the health insurance piece um in essence, the district pays um that that allowance uh to the administrator versus paying directly into the health insurance fund. uh it's the same amount but it just runs through uh to the to the employee first and then back into the fund. So that the employee pays both sides in essence. Um it equates to the employee or or that administrator is paying for the net is that they're paying for their portion of the premium the employee portion. So, in effect, we provide them an allowance which gives them the ability to essentially get free health care. Um, and what we're voting on tonight, it would also be
028increasing that to cover the difference within the stipen. Is that correct? >> Uh, they don't they still pay their employee. They're still paying. >> They do, but but you're you're giving them an allowance, correct? >> For the employer portion of it. >> For the employer portion, correct, of the amount. So, we are we are giving them like this this $48,000 that is what is going directly to those teachers to help cover in an allowance which they can determine whether or not they would want to cover their health care. Potentially they have a spouse who had healthcare elsewhere. So, they could use that allowance for health care or is effectively salary compensation. Correct. >> Correct. Okay. Um, and then can you also explain the difference between tier one and tier 2 administrative salaries? Do our tier
0292 administrators also receive the healthcare allowance which would effectively give them free health care as well >> should they decide to avail themselves of it. >> Yeah, neither of them get free health care, but they do the tier 2 administrator um benefit package is is different. they do not get an allowance. That just it's really the health from a healthcare standpoint, it functions the same as our teacher package. >> The the tier one administrators um I've done my due diligence on this. It is roughly equates to about 30 to $40,000 in addition to the base salary that's listed in their contract amount. Is that roughly correct? >> Roughly. I believe it's closer closer to the 30, but yes, >> unless unless we've provided a car allowance, which I think we've said in the past has
030been for certain select administrators. >> Yeah, it's it's really not an auto allowance. It's the um they do get use of a vehicle and by IRS statute, we have to charge um show as income if they're have any personal use, which is basically driving to and from work. that's considered p personal use per IRS guidelines. >> Okay. Thank you. And the difference between the tier one and the tier 2 administrative benefits. >> Um again, it goes back to that uh the way the um that allowance functions that we we just spoke of. >> I'm just trying to figure out where that money is going >> in each of these pools. >> Okay. >> What what would we be voting for that this money would go to? So the increase um the 9.3 increase 9.3% increase
031is a premium increase that uh affects our plan in total. We split the nine so both there's the employee piece of insurance of course and then the employer piece both sides um per bargaining uh for the teachers and the same recommendation is going forward for the administrators. both of those employer and employee pieces would increase by 9.3%. So they would share the proportionate burden of the increase in premiums. >> The the difference being that the tier 2 administrators do not have an increase in a health care allowance that they could then use to pay for their healthcare. Correct. >> Correct. Uh my final question is why do we not have these administrative benefits packages posted on our website as many other school districts do such as Carmel, Warren, Wayne, Washington Township, IPS, and many others.
032>> I'm I'm not sure I can answer that question. Um we've we've tra we've had the same contracts posted that have always been posted require as required by law. Um, I don't believe we have all of our benefit packages, but I'm I can't speak to that honestly. >> But Mr. Miles, the contract allowance that we have on our website is much different. We've said in some cases 30 to40,000 and admitting that $40,000 is an outlier, but roughly $30,000 in addition. So what I'm trying to understand in the sake of transparency with our community and with the voters who have elected everyone up here, where is this money going and what is it covering? and there has not been a real transparent accounting for what those benefits have been. that is >> I'd like to um
033ask so I asked this question privately but I want it to be on the public record because I think there is some confusion as we talk on tier one does the insurance payown go directly to paying down the insurance and not into that tier group's salary the answer I received and and correct me if this is um incorrect uh Mr. miles. Tier one administrators pay both the employer and employee sides of the premiums. Tier one admin are paid an allowance which is to offset the administrator paying for the employer portion of the premium. The net effect is the administrator pays the employee portion of the premium. The allowance is paid to all tier one admin regardless of their choice in plans. This is an alternative to giving the the the administrators free or lowcost insurance
034as many districts offer. >> Is that okay? >> That's correct. >> I wanted to make sure just from my own knowledge and that I wanted to be transparent and share it on the public record. >> Thank you, Amy. I think that that is I think what Miss Lawrence is alluding to is something that we do receive questions as board members about the transparency of salaries. Um I have requested that we do um and I know I'm not the only one so I don't want to speak like I like came up with this brilliant idea because I believe that we are collectively agree that it would be a very thoughtful process for us to go through as a board to have an independent individual that looks at salaries that are going from our administrators all the
035way to our classified um folks. I know that we've made some great headway and I want to really thank you um Miss Johnson for the work that you've done especially with the classified folks of looking at those um in high needs areas and making sure that we are paying them more and giving them health care. But I think it's incumbent upon us especially when we're looking at the budgets that we are receiving from the state when many of our districts surrounding us are going out for operating referendums because we are getting less and less and less. It is incumbent upon us as one of our fiduciary responsibilities to ensure that we are looking at salaries across the board. that not paying for insurance would be a really nice luxury and I want to know are
036we really how are we comparable to other districts because I can tell you it's not happening in the district that I work in and so what does that look like in other districts because we're hearing it's happening in other districts but I want an actual audit of what is happening in Marian County and surrounding districts to ensure that Lawrence Township is paying all employees a livable wage that is comparable to the work that they are There were 85 contracts that were listed on our website. Um, 85 of those individuals received benefits above what their contracted amount was to the tune of $1.8 million. I agree with you, Miss Dunn, that it is critically important that we have a an accounting and transparency about where these benefits are going so that the members of the general
037public can weigh in as to whether or not this is a good use of taxpayer funds or not. I am very supportive of this administration. And this has nothing to do with any person here, but I do take umbrage to the fact that we are paying our administrators an outsized salary when we compare them to other like districts. We average around 23% higher than every other school district around. Outliers that include Carmel, HSSE, Zansville, and then all the other Marian County districts. We are paying our administrators significantly higher and I'm just asking if the public is willing to support that board. Any other questions or comments? >> I did have a comment. I know there was an analysis shared publicly comparing us to neighboring districts. Um, we have worked hard to partner with our surrounding
038neighbors because all of us are facing attacks with the school reform movement and we're all facing pressure. We're facing pressure on our budgets, on our government. A house divided against itself cannot stand and so we must come together here. Um, on that analysis, we were compared with Speedway, a district that is significantly smaller with um, and I I hate even having to bring up other districts because I have a great partnership with um, board members across them, but there are some unique comparisons here, the complexity of our district. Um, we were compared with Zansville, a district that has significantly higher incomes and less barriers. So I just wanted to state that on the record. Um as far as when we're comparing there is a lot to look at that a detailed analysis um can perform.
039Are there? Yes, Dr. Maholland. >> So I also conducted my own analysis and I I don't have the concerns about um salary compared to other districts given our enrollment size and other factors. um my concern and I I do agree with Miss Dunn that we do look at compensation and I think there's others that share that. So I think finding where we do have common ground and agreement. I think some of this as a new board member was confusing to understand how benefits are done and I appreciate the additional information that that was requested and that was provided. Um, but I, you know, I I've looked across the state, across the county. I don't have concerns personally about the com the the pay compared to other districts, but I would like, you know, to to
040look at the the the tiers. Um, so I would just say that. >> Thank you, Dr. Mhalland. Any other questions or comments, board? >> Okay. Yeah, I did. Um, I did I had another question that I probably should share. Well, I will share for the public record. I mean, I know another comparison was made about other districts who offer an a dollar plan, which I believe Lawrence has in the past. Um, and then, um, just asking about if that's still a comparable per, um, employee cost to the district as what we are currently paying. Um, correct me on this, Mr. Miles. Um the answer I received was the total employer and employee premiums for other districts are comparable to ours. Um districts offering a dollar or free plans fe free plans um could likely spend
041the same or more money on insurance packages. So it's very comparable. Um you know I appreciate too though the board's diligence in asking for this information um because it's very complex. That's where we come in as a governing body um who appreciate democracy. It's not the opinion of one or two board members. It's where we come to consensus as a group and also looking at each individual um district there. So we also have to be careful in our role as governance for not doing administrative overreach because we are a governing body and um we do hire experts to do the analysis. But I am very grateful to have a board that does ask very detailed questions. At this time, are there any other questions or comments regarding the proposed races? >> Yes, I do want
042to say thank you again to um Dr. Smith and staff for the questions that were presented for verified data concerning the um admin the admin compensation data uh data including the base salaries, contracted salaries, stipens, healthcare. So, these are questions that are being asked and I thank you for taking the time because I know that it was a lengthy list of questions, but thank you for taking the time to um answer those so that we were able to make an informed decision. Thank you, board. Um any other final questions or comments? Okay, we will move on to our financial update. Oh, I'm sorry. Wait, going back to 3.2, we do have a public comment. At this time, I will call up Miss Amanda Rose. Um, and I will go through the procedure. Just for the
043public's knowledge, um, public participation for our board meeting shall be permitted consistent with the agenda of the meeting. Miss Rose will be speaking on the, um, administrative raises. The attendees shall register their intention um, prior to the meeting. they um you are being recognized officially by the board chair and your uh participation time at this time, please list your name, address, group and group affiliation if appropriate and then also your statement will be limited to three minutes. Thank you, Miss Rose. >> Good evening, Dr. Smith, President Norman, members of the board. I'm Amanda Rose. I live here in Lawrence Township, 8502 East 56th Street, just down the road. I could walk here if it wasn't dark. Um, I come to you as the co-president of the Lawrence Education Association. At our last board meeting, you
044bravely stood up for pay equity in MSDLT. Today, I'm asking you to once again stay stand up for pay equity, but also transparency. Our community deserves to know that the highest paid classroom teacher in our district got a 2% raise of $2,62.94, only $63 more than what is proposed for our administration. But that teacher didn't actually get a 2% raise. If that teacher is on our PO insurance, they actually got a decrease of 1.2%. If they are on the HSA 3000 plan, it was an increase of 1.2%. And on the HSA 5000 plan, it is a increase of 1.5%. Meanwhile, our administrators continue to earn this stipend equal to the amount that they pay for insurance, which they can choose to subsidize their insurance or spend it on anything else as they see fit. They
045will also get their $2,000 stipend with no noticeable dis decrease due to insurance. All of this in the face of growing mistrust in the transparency of our administrators. We have yet to see an independent investigation of the situation surrounding a former administrator. How can we feel good about our contract as teachers knowing that administrators are still getting a larger raise than teachers while continuing to hide behind a cloak of secrecy? No one wants to shame the district nor any employee. But when we are not allowed to be in buildings supporting our colleagues, when there's a shroud of suspicion and no effort to assuage concerns, when we can't even be brave enough to go into an area that has concerns and say, "I hear you. What are we rewarding with raises?" I would also ask you
046to do your research and see if your teachers are making 23% higher than the surrounding districts. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mrs. Miss Rose. All right. Okay. At this time, if there are no other public comments, which we don't have, we will move on to 3.03, the financial update. Mr. Miles. >> Thank you, Madam President. Uh, at this time, we will jump into our financial update. And this month, we have two months to report back on. As you may recall, uh, in October, uh, our due the timing of our board meeting, uh, the September financials were not yet available. So, sharing those first tonight. Uh in front of you, you have the transportation fund first and foremost. Um and you can see total revenues uh versus uh projection or we're in a good place as
047well as total expenses. Uh like therefore the uh ending balance um is uh above or uh outpacing our projection. And you do will note um revenue into our transportation account u as a reminder comes in twice a year June and and December. So it does tend to run in the negative until we get those funds in uh via uh property taxes. Uh the next slide is our general fund. um just slightly slightly behind in a revenue um projection actual versus projection basically right on pace um and ex in the expenditures ahead of uh projected yielding to an ending balance of a little over 13 million again ahead of original projection. As we move forward uh to October, we're going to see much of the same. Um on the transportation fund side, revenue, expenditures, and ending
048balance, all ahead of original projected. So, uh where we where we anticipated being. And in the general fund side, uh again, we actually jumped up a little bit ahead on the revenue side this month. Um expenditures in a good place um in total as well as ending balance. um versus our original projections. Happy to answer any questions. >> Thank you, Mr. Miles. Board, any questions or comments on the financial updates? >> Okay, at this time we will move on to our board committee chair reports. We will start with foundation with Dr. Mhalland. So, the the Lawrence Township School Foundation recently had the Thanks for Giving event and they were able to have it here um at the LEC, which is really nice. So, a very special event. Um great to see some longtime supporters and
049um um and just, you know, keeping keeping the LTSF in mind as we approach the end of the year. Um and I know if you're if you're listening or watching this right now, you probably care a great deal about Lawrence Township. It's always a good place to give at the end of the year. So, just a little plug for that. >> Thank you, Dr. Mahaland. Yes, the foundation is very busy and doing great things for our kids. Um, Miss Pucket, policy. >> All right. The policy committee is getting ready for the 2026 legislative um short session. And I want to share uh a few quick points. Organization day was held November 18th. The general assembly comes back together on January 5th and we expect the session to wrap up around March 14th unless special session
050is called uh volume 38 number one. Part one is fully edited and we will move forward together with part two. This week our committee spent close to four hours going through part two with a fine tooth comb. These policies cover some of the most important protections in our district. non-discrimination, equal opportunity, anti-harassment, genetic information, disability protections, and non-discrimination on the basis of sex in our education programs. Because these are very detailed and heavily tied to human resources, they require additional edits and careful legal review. With that level of depth, we weren't able to finalize everything for tonight's meeting. We want to make sure that this work is done thoroughly, accurately, and with the care that these topics deserve. Updated proposed timeline. First reading, December 15, 2025. That is tentative. Second reading approval, January 12th, 2026.
051Tentative. We'll continue to keep the board and everyone updated as we move through this process. Thank you, Miss Pucket and Dr. Harshburgger for a very busy policy year. >> All right, at this time I will move on to Lawrence Parks and Recreation with Miss Dunn. >> Thank you, President Norman. Uh we have some very exciting events coming up um in the city of Lawrence. Um we have a Lawrence Christmas which will be on November 29th right across the street at Civic Plaza. That will be from 3 to 7. We have Winterfest also across the street at Civic Plaza. That will happen on Saturdays and Sundays. You can see the ice rink out there where you can go and skate to your heart's content that runs um on Saturdays and Sundays from 3:00 to 7:00. We
052also have the uh winter market which is at the community center on Franklin Road. That the next one is December 4th from 4:00 to 7:00. And then, as you all know, we always have our Forever Young Club, which is for our um senior citizens to get out and have some fellowship with one another. That is on Thursdays from 11 to 12, also at Community Park. And then there's some additional um opportunities for our seniors. Um December 12th, which is a Friday, there is the Forever Young Fitness Club from 11 to 12. And then December 19th, also a Friday, is the Forever Young yoga, also from uh 11 to 12. So those are some exciting events. If you've not attended a Lawrence Christmas, I highly suggest that you attend. It's a wonderful opportunity um to see
053our community um and visit and share fellowship with those living in Lawrence Township. >> And visiting town. >> Thank you, Miss Dunn. There's a lot going on in the city of Lawrence. will be able to see it outside the window here. All right. At this time, we will move on to our action items. We will go to action item 4.01, approval of the 2526 administrator salary proposal. Miss Johnson. >> Madame President, Dr. Smith and members of the board, we bring to you approval your request for approval of the administrator salary package. >> Okay. Thank you, board. Any questions or comments? I do have one quick thing. >> Uh the vote that I am about to take um I just want to apologize on um to our department chairs because our department chairs have an evaluative
054um role. They are not part of the CBA. Um they average $81,000 a year. Um, if we were to just increase the administr these administrators salaries, it would be roughly $63,500 a year. I would have been in favor in the by bringing breaking out the department chairs, but that is not the vote that we have before us. So, um, I just wanted to apologize because my preference would be to te to treat those teachers who are inside classrooms each and every day with the respect and dignity that we do our other teachers. Miss Dunn, >> I um want to acknowledge the words that um our co-president of the Lawrence Education Associate Association has shared. Um and hence why I am going to vote in the way that I am knowing that we will as a
055board look very closely at salaries across the board. That is something that I have been told that we will indeed do which I think is a win um to ensure that to the point that you made Miss Rose that we are not seeing people with a decrease in salary but seeing all employees in Lawrence Township with an increase. So I want to acknowledge your words and thank you for your advocacy. >> Okay, any other comments, board? Um I did want to reference board policy 1520. Um the reason why this the the groups are are put in the way they are is um the employment of administrators in addition to the superintendent. Um this is not um this was tied specifically to policy and Indiana code 2029. Um a department chair is an administrator who supervises
056one or more certified employees. they shall be not be part of the bargaining unit established for purposes of implementing collective bargaining in compliance with the IC2029. So at that I our hands are tied there to the Indiana code and the um the board policy. I just wanted that stated on on the record. Um but we want to make it clear that we appreciate each and every group. We've had a phenomenal year in Lawrence Township. 96% graduation rate which my son was a part of. Um, and as a special ed or special needs parent, I have seen all of the groups make progress. And I want to reiterate again as a as a former athlete, a team is only successful with each part and each part of our township did this. It's incumbent upon us to
057continue to balance that, to also balance it with our taxpayers, and also finally, as we saw tonight, to keep the momentum of our student outcomes first and foremost in the work that each and every one of us do. So, thank you again to everyone who's put the work in. at this time. Can I just add one more piece to just for note also that as we are turning the the wheel and moving forward just in 2023 and 2024 the base salary increase for teaching staff range from 5.62 62 to 18.99% in some cases to address com compression. Um, stipens were provided totaling $2,000. Um, and I just want to make sure that it was for public record also that there is work that is being done, continued work can and will be done, but just
058thank you for the work that has gone forward and being intentional in making sure that folks get what they need and deserve and beyond. Thank you. Yes. Um, thank you for that. Any other questions or comments, board? >> Yes, Dr. Mah. >> Thank you, President Norman. I think we've also learned that, you know, this I I we hear we're hearing a little bit more about salaries and but we we've learned that this is a there's a big picture to this with salary and benefits and we want we want to know the details, right? We want to know um how it looks and and so um when we're even asking across districts or doing those comparisons, we're not just looking at salary, we're also looking at benefits. And so there's a lot a lot to learn,
059but we are thankful that we have the team here in place um that can that we'll be able to, you know, learn more into the new year. So, um, I just I did want to make a comment on on that that it was not not just the salaries, but I think really looking at the benefits. >> Thank you for that. Dr. Mahan, Miss Dunn, did you have a question or a com? Okay, I thought I saw a hand. All right. At this time, um, I will entertain a motion to um on the approval of the 2526 administrator salary proposal. >> So moved. >> Seconded. Properly moved, Miss Pucket, and seconded, Dr. Mahaland. Um, all in favor of the um recommended proposal. >> I >> All right, the eyes. Um, any nays? >> Nay. >> Okay,
060four eyes and then one nay. All right, the approval has passed. Um, again, thank you board for the dialogue. I think we've all learned a lot from each other and um at this time. So, we will move on now to the approval of the request for vehicle disposal with Mr. Matt Miles. >> Thank you, Madam President. Uh, at this time, I bring forward to you a uh for approval a request for vehicle disposal. Uh, we spoke about this at the uh work session earlier in November, and this comes uh time to time. We need to have board approval to dispose of our assets and ask for your approval at this time to get rid of uh bus 77 and bus 185. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Miles. Board, any questions or comments before we
061move to vote? >> Okay. All right. Um well, I'll entertain a motion for the approval of their vehicle disposal. >> So moved. Second. >> Properly moved. Miss Dunn and seconded, Miss Lawrence. All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? All right. Thank you, board. We'll move on to 4.03, the approval of the curriculum advisory recommendations for 26 and 27 with Mr. Dan Khnik. >> Thank you, Madam President, Dr. Smith, members of the board at the November 10th work session. Mr. Crosser presented an update from the curriculum advisory committee and I recommend the board approve the curriculum recommendations as submitted. >> All right. Any questions or comments, board? All right. Okay, I'll entertain a motion for the approval of the curriculum advisory recommendations for 26 and 27. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Properly moved. Miss Pucket
062and seconded, Miss Dunn. All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? The eyes have it. All right. At this time, we will move on to the approval of the kindergarten expansion with Miss Stephanie Lelant. >> Good evening, Dr. Smith, President Norman, members of the board. At the November 10th work session, I presented about expanding kindergarten to two other elementaryaries at Crest View and Oaklandon. And I'd like to ask for your approval this evening. >> All right. Any questions or comments about the kindergarten expansion? >> All right. Um, I'll entertain them. Oh, yeah. Miss Dunn, >> I do. I just want to go on record to say how much I appreciate the leadership that you bring to this district and the just innovation and the approaches that you're doing to increase um enrollment. And so kudos for
063a real innovative way of thinking about our youngest kids. So in a time when our state of Indiana is not um giving us the funds that we so desperately need, Lawrence Township is still working tirelessly thanks to your leadership. >> Thank you. All right. Thank you, Miss Dunn. Um, all right. I'll entertain a motion for the approval of the kindergarten expansion. >> So, moved. >> Second. >> Properly moved, Dr. Maholland, and seconded, uh, Miss Pucket. All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? The kindergarten expansion has been approved. All right. 4.05, approval of the board minutes from last board meeting. Dr. Maul Holland. Oh, actually I'm going to go ahead and madam President I move that we treat action items 4.05 through 4 4.11 as consent agenda. >> All rightent agenda. >> Okay. Do we have
064a second? >> Second. >> All right. Properly moved Miss Pucket and seconded. Um Miss Dunn to treat 4.05 to 4.11 as consent agenda. All in favor? >> I All right. I move approval of consent agenda. Do I have a second? Oh, did we not? Look, I jumped the gun. Go ahead. >> Second. >> All right. Properly moved, Miss Pucket, and seconded, Dr. Mahaland. All in favor of the approval of consent agenda? >> I >> Any opposed? All right. Thank you, board, uh, for that work. Just so the public's aware, again, a lot of our consent agenda is crucial to the work that we do for our students. um the approval of the fundraisers, approval of field trips, um service agreements, payups, claims, and person personnel reports as well as our minutes. So, um that is
065on the public record. At this time, we'll move on to our administrator and board comments. Um would anyone like to go first? >> Miss Dun, >> I would I I'm not sure if folks do have a chance to look at the consent agenda. Um, but I do want to call out the outstanding partnerships we saw this evening, um, the robust partnership that we have with community health. Um, you know, as I'm looking at this Westminster Village, having the opportunity for our scholars to actually go to one of our community partners to do service hours is truly outstanding. And so I just I want to give just gratitude um to those community partners. I also want to give gratitude to the field trips, the individuals who are sponsoring those field trips as we're looking at that.
066These are weekends, these are afterchool hours. Um, and so just thank you to those educators that are going above and beyond to support our students um with outside extracurricular activities. And then I also just want to thank the board um for the willingness to look deeper into salaries so that hopefully we can the next time we do vote on salaries, we can all feel more confident about voting yes towards all salaries in this district. So thank you very much. >> Thank you, Miss Dun. Uh Miss Lawrence, >> not okay. Thank you. All right, Dr. Maholand. All right, Miss Pucket. Um, I do I wanted to give a brief clarification regarding our communication as a board. I share this with care and respect for each of us while also wanting to make sure that we uphold
067the standards that keep our work transparent and unified. Our school board bylaws are clear about how board members are expected to share information publicly, especially when it involves district data comparisons or analysis. Specifically, bylaw 0123, board member responsibilities. This bylaw requires board members to rely on the superintendent for accurate verified operational data and prohibits board members from independently collecting or generating their own operation operational analysis using AI generated information constitute as independent investigation outside of the chain of command. Bylaw 1067.1 use of board meeting for proper communication. And this bylaw requires that information presented at meetings be accurate, factual, and aligned with district verified sources. Unofficial or AI generation generated analysis does not meet that standard. Thus, any data or analysis shared by an individual board member that has not been verified by the superintendent
068should not be interpreted as factual or as the position of the board. Just wanting to make sure that that level of governance is put on public record. um a lot of the choices and movements that we do uh is in adherence to the governance in which we were elected to do. And so I just wanted to make sure that that was on the record. And also a heartfelt thank you to the parent collective parents who came out tonight. I see you. I appreciate you and I'm grateful for the way you continue to show up for our students and others. So thank you and I look forward to continued work with you. So that's it for me. >> Thank you, Miss Pucket. Um I did want to thank the board again for this has been a
069long um collaboration. Uh we are here through democracy and I want to thank all of the um questions and ability to work together. Um we all represent our own circles within the township diverse circles. And so we are here again today for the spirit of unity. Um, I rebuke any spirit of of division, manipulation, or control that would happen to come against our kids. We have a some very big um things to go against outside of our district, and I am grateful for the work that everyone has done on behalf of our district. We all agree that we are leaders here and part of our role as leaders is to inspire, recognize, and reward our our township. So, um, you know, in the spirit of unity, um, and democracy and collaboration, thank you everyone for
070sharing your voice and thank you, Dr. Smith. Madam President, I'll keep my comments very short. Just to remind the board, we will convene again, Madam President, next month on Monday, December the 15th for our final meeting of the year promptly at 5:30. And I'm just going to simply say because it's been a long evening, happy Thanksgiving to all of you and to the community. Thank you. >> Yes. Thank you. At this time, I will entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Properly moved, Miss Pucket. And seconded, Miss Dunn. Thank you.