001Mr. President, whenever you're ready for the pledge of >> 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. Good evening and welcome everyone to our September 25th Pike Township School Board meeting. >> Good evening. >> We will start off with our public hearing of the 2026 2030 school bus replacement plan capital projects plan budget. Miss Gray. >> Good evening, Mr. President, members of the board. Dr. Young. >> Good evening. >> We are here tonight for the public hearing on the published 2026 budget. the 2026 through 2028 capital plan and the 2026 through 2030 bus replacement plan. The purpose of this hearing is twofold. To share information with the community and to provide an opportunity for
002public comment. As a reminder, when we present the advertised budget, not all the key numbers are finalized such as student enrollment and property values. Because of this, we take a conservative approach. We advertise high and adopt lower. By law, we cannot adopt a budget that or levy that is higher than what was advertised, but we all we are always allowed to adopt a lower amount. Advertising higher gives us the flexibility to make downward adjustments once the final data is available. This practice is not about spending more. It's about protecting the district's financial stability while still remaining transparent. In your packet, you'll find the budget form three notice to taxpayers that was published in Gateway on September 12th. The form three must be published at least 10 days prior to the public hearing. In addition, the
003full 2026 budgeting documents are posted on our website. While this is not required, we do it as a part of our commitment for transparency. The formal adoption is scheduled for October 23rd, 2025, which must be at least 10 days after the public hearing. At that time, I will request board approval for the 2026 budget, the 2026 through 20 2028 capital projects plan and the 2026 through 2030 bus replacement plan. In this process, we advertise budgets and levies for our four major funds along with the rainy day fund. In the operating referendum fund, we have advertised $17 million with a levy of $19.2 million. In the debt service fund, we had we have advertised 21,144,100 with a 22, sorry, 22,88,278 levy. This fund follows the amortization schedules of our outstanding debt and also includes the anticipated
004debt that we have from the 2025 first mortgage bonds. In the education fund, we have advertised $99.5 million. This fund has no levy and it is primarily supported by the state tuition support formula. While the per student funding has increased slightly this year, our certified ADM, which is our average daily membership, will not be finalized until October. This count is a key component of the education fund revenue. In the operations fund, we have advertised 37 mil $37.5 million for both the budget and the levy. In the rainy day fund, we have advertised $1 million with no levy. In total, we have advertised $176,144,100 across all funds with a total levy of 78,788,278. In your packet, you'll also find the bus replacement plan for 2026. We are planning to replace eight buses. Buses are typically eligible
005for replacement once they are 12 years or older. This plan is an estimate and is reviewed each year during the budget process. Also in your packet, you'll find the capital plan, the capital projects plan. This includes projects with expenditures greater than $10,000 expected within the next three years. These projects are also estimates and are re-evaluated annually through the budget process. In closing, the total advertised budget across all funds is $176,144,100 and the total advertised levy is 76,788,278. At this time, I recommend that the board president officially open the floor for public comment. At this time, if anyone would have any comments about our project plans and our budget, this is the time to do so. All right, we have no no comments. All right, >> thank you. >> That concludes our public hearing. Next, we'll
006move on for the good of the cause. If anyone would like to take this platform, you have three minutes. You'll start off by mentioning your name. You mention anything for the good of the cause. >> Um, my name is Jessica Mrick. >> Hi. Um, good evening, Dr. Young, members of the board, and members of our community. Um, thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak on an important matter that concerns not only our school but also the values we represent as a community. Um, I am here today to propose that we consider changing the high school mascot. As you know, Pike High School's current mascot is the red devil. By definition, a devil is a figure that symbolizes evil, destruction, and hopelessness. A devil is a character whose very identity is the opposite of
007prosperity, faith, and community strength. When we allow the devil to serve as our school symbol, we unintentionally send a message that contradicts who we are and what we value. And I propose that it is time for a change. We are a diverse community made up of African-Americans, Hispanics, and families from many other cultural backgrounds within our school hallways. walk walk Christians, Catholics, Muslims, Hindus, and even people of no faith. Yet, even to an atheist, the devil, the devil's identity does not change. He represents something universally negative. But I don't want to make this about religion. It's about being represented well. Regardless of any beliefs or lack thereof, one theme remains the same constant in this community and that is hope, faith, and perseverance. These are the qualities that bring people together. However, these are also
008the very qualities the devil stands against. Other high schools across the nation have faced similar questions about mascots that no longer represented their values. And when they made a change, they found that it brought their communities closer together, fostered school pride, and provided a new sense of unity. We can do the same. This is not about erasing our history or forgetting our past successes. We honor those achievements. When Dr. Young took over as superintendent, there was a positive shift in the community where we celebrated our past successes and proclaimed new ones. and I believe that changing the mascot will complement his vision and direction for our community. Now, I'm not one to raise a concern without offering solutions. Um, I propose we do a post check with the community and see how they feel. I'm
009just one person, but a poll would let us know if students, alumni, and community members agree or disagree with this request. If the board agrees to change our mascot, we could off also offer the community the opportunity to submit and vote on new mascot ideas. My personal suggestion would be to change from Pike Red Devils to the Pike Trailblazers. A trailblazer is an innovator, a leader who clears a path for others to follow. That is exactly what we want our students to be. Leaders who are not afraid to set new paths ablaze. As a trailblazer, we will also get to keep our school colors, making the change easier. In closing, I ask I ask you to consider that a mascot is more than just a costume at a game or a logo on a jersey.
010It is the image that speaks for who we are as a school and as a community. Let us choose one that reflects hope, strength, and unity. It's time to retire the devil, put him beneath us, and embrace a symbol that will inspire generations to come. Please let us not continue to allow the devil room and opportunity to be the face of this community. Board members, will you consider changing Pike High School's mascot? Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else for the good of the cause? Mr. President, Dr. Young to the board. Um, good evening. >> Good evening. >> I am part of our Pike parent network and I also now have the opportunity to serve as the president of the PALS club at the learning center. So, I had our first board meeting today
011and we had a wonderful turnout with parents wanting to help the Nathaniel Jones Learning Center. While I was at that meeting, Mr. Hooer was present as well. And I was really taken back because I didn't know that the board members were assigned um different schools or such. And it was really um pleasant to see um board members um attending, you know, a small event, maybe 10 people tops, but to see the board out at different meetings, I think that was an awesome job. I haven't attended um any small meetings at any of our schools until recently cuz my wonderful three-year-old granddaughter now attends the Nathaniel Jones Learning Center. So, since she is there, I am there as well. Um but of course, I am everywhere in the Pike district. But I just want to say
012that that was an awesome job. I don't know if that's something that was newly done, but good job. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else for the good of the cause? All right. If not, we'll move on to Spotlight on Pike. Miss Sarah Dorsy. Good evening. It's wonderful to see you all. As always, we have incredible things going on throughout the district. Um, today Pike High School hosted its annual college fair for our seniors. The event, which was organized by Mrs. Toriia Buckley, who is our fabulous district graduation coach and also um runs the college and career resource center at Pike High School, which if you ever visit, you know that she is very busy. Students love her. They go in and they take advantage of her services. So, she is just
013phenomenal. Um had 29 colleges and universities, three military representatives, and also representatives from the trades. Um this evening several of our Pike High School counselors are hosting the first meeting in a four-part series of our college and career nights. This program this evening um is specifically targeted towards eighth graders and their families and is being hosted at New Augusta North. So we're excited about that. Um that's why Mr. Borkeer is not here. He is filming it. So if someone was not able to come, we'll have that to be able to show families and share with families. We want to congratulate Marley Jeffers on her recent commitment to continue her academic and athletic career at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Um we want to also announce that next week is pack the pantry week. So
014we invite you to help us um collect they're going to it's a food drive for the Pike um red zone food pantry and it's actually sponsored by Cub Scouts Troop 830 and it was started by Mr. hop. Last year um it was a little bit smaller, but now the collection sites are all Pike Elementary Schools and the Nathaniel Jones Early Learning Center. So that is all next week. All of our elementary schools and the Nathaniel Jones Early Learning Center will be collecting um food throughout the week for the Red Zone Food Pantry. Um on Monday, a representative from the Riley Children's Foundation visited Deer Run Elementary School. One of our Darren students is currently a patient at Riley Children's Hospital. And while she's there, there will be a bear in her chair. The student will
015name the bear, which I'm told is a girl. And in addition, she's decided that the bear needs a uniform. So, she will match her classmates. The class will take the bear with them throughout the school. And um during wherever they go while the student is not with them, they'll take pictures and then they'll provide written communication and video updates to the student so she can feel part of her classroom community. The bear in the chair program is entirely sponsored by Speedway gas station employees that believe in the work that Riley does and want to help children and their families. And it's designed to connect pediatric patients with their school community while they're hospitalized. They also provided a book called Hello Bear, which will explain to everyone in the school why they see this big bear
016traveling throughout their school community. I also wanted to mention that they shared that this is very rare, but one of our amazing Deerrun Elementary School educators, um, Miss Adrienne Kelly Wright, visits Riley Hospital regularly to supplement the education that the student is receiving while at Riley Children's Hospital. and the family has given us permission to share periodic updates about the bear and her journey. Um, so we look forward to doing that. We'll have a picture of the bear in our uh Pike Proud parent square tomorrow. Last but never least, we want to thank the donors listed on this evening's agenda. Christina Pash donated books for Pike High School faculty and staff with an estimated value of $16,000. $16,335. Then the Kids in Need Foundation donated boxes of 3M products for Central Elementary School teachers with
017an estimated value of $3,000 and we want to thank them for their incredible generosity. >> Thank you, Miss Dorsy. Next, we'll move on to reports to the board alumni excellence. Dr. Young. [Music] >> Thank you, Mr. President, and members of the board. As you know, for the past several years, we've had an opportunity around once a month to highlight through what we have called alumni excellence, an opportunity to to um put a spotlight on a Pike alumnus that is just doing amazing things in their professional field of studies. So for the 2526 school year, the first individual that we would like to highlight is Miss Tamara Shoe. Miss Sh is actually here today. Um so I'll invite her up after we have an opportunity to watch a brief video. Hi, my name is Tamara Show
018and I'm a class graduate of 2011 and I am a mental health counselor. So my journey after graduating from Pike High School, I graduated from Uppuy as a health science major and then from there I attended for my masters Indiana Tech um for psychology and then after that I went back for my masters again and I went to Indiana Westland for mental health counseling. I started out working with special needs at an adult day service. Um, and so right there at that moment, I knew that I started growing interest in becoming a uh therapist or a counselor. That's where I grew my interest at. I was working with not only that, I was working with individuals that have disabilities. I was working with individuals who was dealing with depression, anxiety, um, schizophrenia, bipolar, um, so
019many wide ranges. And so I enjoyed doing that. After I got my masters, I worked as a life coach um working with youth girls that were that are in the system. So like with DCS and probation um and they love me there. The kids, oh my gosh, the girls had a good time. Everyone said, "Why do you how do you work with adolescence?" I don't know. I guess it's my calling. It's just helping others. And so working with them, I really enjoyed it. And I think right there is really when I got the peak that I want to be a therapist. And so from there I applied back to school and went to Anna Weslin. Um got into the master programs for mental health counseling and now I'm at where I am today. Currently I
020work at the Willow Center in Brownsburg and I am a mental health counselor. Um, a typical day for me is check my schedule to see if there's any changes like if there's any cancellations or maybe new people have been added or some schedule has changed. So, I'll check that. Um, and then I would get my uh day started by getting the material of what I'm working with with my clients. Um, sometimes when my clients get here, I'll say, "Oh, we're going to work on this topic or I got this assignment I want you to do." and they come in with something totally different with their stories and situations that they're dealing with. So, it's a dayby-day thing. It changes each day because I don't know what my clients um are bringing in. One of my
021most memorable moments from being at Pike was uh my sophomore year when I was I won homecoming princess. That was a big deal for me because I really didn't know people like me like that. And so it was a big uh moment. I enjoyed every inch of it. Um having uh Mr. Dobs come and he came all the way to my math class and delivered uh the announcement. He is definitely an outstanding individual. I definitely grew a good relationship with him. He wrote a letter of recommendations for me when I was applying to college. Um he always looked out to see if I was okay. Um he's a great role model. He's a very outstanding individual and he is something a person to remember as being part of Pike Township. Uh the teachers really do
022share interest and they really do care about their students. Um and if you show that you're willing to want to learn, family and students, the teachers is definitely are going to stick their neck out and work with you. Um and I definitely can say that they did that. Our Pike Township is a is a definitely good school. >> Well, at this time, I'd like to invite Miss Show up to the podium as she's coming. Um, she is just a a a great example of some of the amazing things that Pike graduates are doing here locally, across the state, across the country, and even across the world. So, with that, I bring up the show. Okay. Yeah. Good evening everyone. Thank you for this time and giving me this opportunity. I I really appreciate it. I'm
023very elated. >> Are there any questions or comments? I think your granddaddy would be proud of you. >> Thank you. >> I I don't have any questions, but just thank you for everything you do, especially the kids that you do work with. um got a soft spot in my heart for kids that are going through some stuff like that and so just thank you seriously for for everything that you do. >> Thank you. >> Congratulations on the work that you're doing and keep it up. >> Thanks. >> Also commend you on the work that you're doing. I'm learning now as a board member that mental health is wealth and so I appreciate what you do and reaching the people who may struggle with that. So keep going, keep pushing. Thank you. >> Thank you. I
024love that you work with some of the most vulnerable young ladies in our community. >> Um, who have obviously made some mistakes, but we don't toss them away. >> They're young. Even if they were older, we wouldn't toss them away. So, I'm glad that you're there to provide treatment and support so that they can grow out of their situation and grow into a place where they're healthy >> and they're happy. Thank you. >> Well, I would have to say as an alum of Indian Wesley and go Wildcats for um keep doing what you're doing. The work is needed and as everybody has said, we are very proud of you as an alum and all the things that you're doing. >> Thank you. >> Did you have any words you wanted to say? uh spotlight. Uh
025no, I don't at the moment. I don't have anything. But once again, just thank you for just giving me this time. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Next for the reports to the board, new graduation requirements. Mr. Emman and Mr. Wall. >> Good evening, Mr. President, members of the board. Dr. Young. Good evening. Tonight and Mr. Wallally are presenting on graduation requirements. The state of Indiana changed the graduation requirements starting with uh the class of 2029. Mr. Wallally is going to present on those changes. I'm going to present on our current graduation requirements that we have in place. So starting in 2023, so it wasn't that long ago, we started these new graduation requirements. So three components or three buckets as we say, students must earn credits necessary for a high school diploma,
026learn and demonstrate employability skills, and then demonstrate post-secary ready competencies. So our students can get three diplomas. They can get a core 40 diploma. That's a maximum credits of of 40 credits. Um an academic honors diploma that's 47 credits. Um there is in that that component they have to have four years of math usually algebra, geometry, algebra 2 and pre-calc. They also had to have three years of a world language. So, three years of Spanish or three years of French. They can also have two years of French and two years of of Spanish. So, two and two. Um, they also must have a 3.0 GPA to get that diploma. The technical honors is the same except instead of the world language requirement, they would have to have six credits in CTE courses. Um, again with
027that 3.0 GPA. Uh the general diploma is a 40 credit diploma. It's a little bit different than the core 40 where there's less math required. Um so two years of math rather than the three years at at the core 40 level. Our students 60 to 65% of our students earn the core 40 diploma. 25 to 30% earn the academic honors diploma and then 10% earn the general diploma. So you can see that ratio there. Um we also offer the international balora diploma. It's the most rigorous high school diploma in the world and we we again have that program at Pike High School. Um and 15 to 20 students earn that international diploma each year. So we're very very proud of that. Also, students must have employability skills. They would they would receive those through the
028coursework that they have at Pike High School. Uh particularly uh their freshman year they take preparing for college and careers. That meets all those requirements that that are needed for for that bucket for them to to satisfy that that requirement. And then lastly, they would need to meet the postsecary ready competencies. They could do that by earning the academic honors diploma, a certain score on the SAT or S uh SAT or ACT. If they're interested in the military, they can take the ASVAB and earn a uh score of a 31 or above. Um they also could get industry uh industry recognized certifications um from the department of uh workforce development also apprenticeships programs um and then the CTE concentrators that's where they would take a series of of career courses um and uh again get
029a C or better in six credits of those that course work. Um, they could also take three courses in AP, IB, or dual credit. Again, they must receive a C or better in those courses. We also have some, um, locally credit pathways that we use um to again meet those needs of the students. But, uh, as we've said in the past, uh, we the past two years, we've had zero waiverss. Um, I think we went from 14% to zero the last two years. So, our students are graduating at a ve very high level and uh again without needing a waiver to meet those uh meet those competencies. But uh this time I'd like to turn it over to Mr. Wallally to go over the changes that'll occur with the class of 2029. >> Thank you,
030Mr. Emman. Um good evening, Mr. President, members of the board. Dr. Young, I'm Jeremy Wallally, the very very proud principal of Pike High School. I'm blessed to be in this role um and excited to be with you all tonight. So, before we get started, I want to just reaffirm a commitment. Um our goal is and will continue to be to set our students up to be overqualified for whatever they choose to pursue after high school. Overqualified. Please say it with me, overqualified. >> We don't want any questions. We don't We want a cushion and we want to make sure our students continue to graduate at incredibly high rates. Um, and our goal is with this new graduation diploma to make sure we set our students up for success with the class of 2029. So, if
031you look if you look at the table, we're going to look at the table to the left. Um, you'll see uh the current core 40 and the future, which is called the GPS um diploma. And so, there are a couple shifts with the current informer um that I just want to highlight. So if you look at the total number of credits, so we're talking about the total attainment of courses that students have to pass. Currently with our sophomores, juniors, and seniors, they have to receive 40 credits in order to graduate at the minimum level. Right now with our class of 2029, that number is 42. The biggest shift that you'll see is that there is an addition of three courses that are required of all students starting with the class of 2029. The first one
032is a communicationsbased course that students now have to take statewide. Um the second one is a personal finance course and the third one is a computer science course. One of the biggest things that people ask um my colleagues ask is you know why did we change? Why did we change? What's what was the purpose of changing? Um there were a couple things that the department of education looked at um related to enrollment, employment and enlistment. with enrollment. One of the biggest factors were that students were not graduating from college at high enough rates. They were also not enrolling into college at high enough rates. And so the goal is to supplement skills embedded into their coursework um in high school to to get those numbers up. Another key reason was that with employment, they found
033students were not entering into the workforce with skills that could really really meet the demands of employers across the state of Indiana. Um, and so they did a a lot of deep dives and studies and they found that people were just unprepared. Um, young professionals were unprepared to meet the demands of a lot of these organizations. So once again they embedded different things into the coursework to ensure students could get out and tackle those big problems in the workforce. Um and then with enlistment there were record lows in the number of people who were entering into the armed forces. Um postco there were record lows in terms of individuals who were trying to get um into the army, national guard, navy, all of the armed forces. And so that in introduces the idea of these
034seals and that's what's on the right side of this table. So if you look these seals replace the honors diplomas that Mr. Enm was talking about. So the idea is that students have an opportunity to earn an honors seal or an honors plus seal in each of the three areas. We will automatically start our students off under the enrollment seal. So, every single student that comes into Pike High School, their trajectory will be the enrollment seal throughout their high school experience, they have an opportunity to shift if they'd like based on what they want to pursue after high school. Um, the greatest thing about this diploma pathway and opportunity is that students have the autonomy and if they do decide to shift, there's not a huge change to their coursework and what they have to
035do. Um, and I'm appreciative of that and I know our our guidance counselors are appreciative of that as well. So, if you look at the honors seal versus the honors plus seal, to earn an honor seal, there are certain requirements embedded into each individual area. So, for example, for employment, if you want to earn the honor seal, there's a certain number of work-based learning hours that you have to receive. If you want to take it a step further, that number of hours almost triples. So, you're going from, I believe, 150 to about 650. Um, in enlistment, there's a certain number of community service and public service hours that you can earn um, an honors seal with to get an honors plus seal. Those numbers increase dramatically. Our goal, honestly, is to get as many students
036as possible in that honors plus seal. Um, just because that's the highest seal that you can earn. And so, we're going to continue to push kids um, as well as we can. Now, earning a seal is not required with this new uh, diploma. So, it's not required. It's something that we are going to push our students to pursue, but it's not required. Um, students can graduate without earning an honors or honors plus seal. They just have to have post uh post-secary readiness skills. They have to complete a pathway and a variety of other things. So, um we're excited about this. We are looking forward to um what this is going to do for our students. Sorry. um um what it's going to do for our students um and honestly how they're going to be able
037to pursue their goals after high school. So, our suggested 4-year plan is here. Um as you can see, there is um essentially a a sophomore focus of your your entry point classes, but then we've embedded our intro to communications course um and our computer science course into the sophomore year. junior year and then senior year we've added that personal finance course. So um no longer will students have to take economics. So what's replacing that is that personal finance course in the senior year. >> And then in terms of I guess our path of communication and what we've been doing, what we've been working on. So in winter of 24, the middle school and high school counselors collaborated to discuss new requirements for our rising freshmen. So there was a lot of work done, a lot
038of meetings, um a lot of frustration, a lot of holding people's hands and a lot of patting people on the back to get through this. Um but we we made it through in terms of understanding the new requirements. In the spring of 25, we held 8th grade curriculum nights for our middle school families at Pike High School. And that's a traditional thing that we do every February. And then our high school counselors also visited the middle schools to just review the requirements with students. Um in the summer, uh we had our freshman orientation. This year it was attended very well. We had over 400 families in attendance this year. Um and we were able to review those uh requirements. Once again, an additional piece that we did is we embedded the requirements into our preparing
039for college and career courses just to make sure our teachers were hitting that hard in uh the freshman year because that's a required course. And then um as stated earlier, there are some college and career nights planned at each middle school and one at the high school. Um there's one going on right now. And then in the spring, check-ins will be held for each ninth grader just to make sure they're on on par with where they need to be. So, um it's been a long road for us. Uh we're currently simultaneously pursuing uh having kids pursue two different graduation pathways right now. So, that's a little bit stressful on our team, but we have to get it done. And I'm looking around the room and we've got so many stakeholders in here with kids at
040Pike High School. So, we really got to get it done. >> Um so, um if there's any questions, we're open to anything you might have. grandid, >> grandkids, kids, >> uncles, whatever. >> I have a question. So, what happened in this new plan that the state rolled out for the kids that needed the general diploma? >> Where does that fall? >> So, they're still pursuing a general diploma. What do you mean the alternate diploma? >> The the So, in the what we're doing currently, we had core 40 and then we had kids that could opt out of core 40 and get the general diploma. wouldn't have a seal. >> And now they they they wouldn't get a diploma. There's only one diploma that they they could get. >> Okay. And this is not >> So
041there's not a a variation of the three diplomas. >> Okay. So this is not at you all. But if anybody from the state of Indiana is watching as the parent of a child that the only way he got a diploma was to get a general diploma, how dare you take that opportunity away from our kids. That is disgusting. my son would not have that paper and not be able to get some of the jobs he can get under this current program. And that is disgusting to me. And it's not at you all. You're doing what what you're required to do. But that infuriates me. >> The um move to for for personal finance from the staple of econ. Uh what does the curriculum look like? So the curriculum is more personalized towards individual like personal
042circumstances with finance. So I believe students are looking more at credit savings, checking accounts, banking, things of that nature. Whereas economics was looking more at a national level, national industries, things of that level. >> So you're talking about uh financial literacy class is all it is, right? >> Essentially. >> I appreciate the amount of intentionality that you gave to middle school parents. Um, it could be kind of rough, especially if you have two children, one that's on the core 40 and then another one that has the new graduation requirements. It could it could be confusing, but um I like the handholding that you did and I'm sure you're continuing to support the the parents of the freshmen, especially since they're the ones who are going into something new. So, thank you for that. >> Yes,
043sir. um the honors seal and the honors plus seal. Are you going to compartmentalize your counselors for each area or they just have so many students that are some honor and some honor seal? >> Each each counselor has a case load and so >> which is a combination of both >> a combination of all. So all all variations of academic levels. So we won't necessarily compartmentalize, but they'll have a strong awareness of what students are on which pathway as they metriculate through high school. >> The reason why I asked that question is because sometimes to put them all together. Um sometime we might someone might fall through the cracks. That's why I I talked about a segment of counselors working with the honor and a segment of counselors working with the honors plus. We know
044you probably won't do that, but I just thought I'd mention that. >> Well, one of the things we do really well is we have monthly cohort meetings um spearheaded by Dr. Bishop. Um Dr. Young is there, Mr. Emman is there, Dr. Gatewood is there, and we talk about those specific things. So, we talk about students who are having difficulty. We talk about kids who are missing. We talk about kids who are having a variety of problems related to their ability to graduate. So in terms of um falling through the cracks, we have some systems built in to kind of fight that. Um an additional thing that we do every October is we have meetings with um our team to literally look through each senior's transcript at a certain GPA point to discover gaps, areas for
045support, future opportunities, things of that nature. So we've got a lot of systems built in um to try to fight against that. >> Give me one example. What are you using to fight against that? >> Well, those two things I just said. So, the the meetings in October where we meet as a team and look through transcripts and review um individual kids at a certain GPA point. And then our our monthly cohort meetings where we meet to discuss individual students, individual needs, how we can support these kids, so on and so forth. >> Give me an example of a kid that you had to work with. >> Oh, wow. I I >> What did you do for that particular kid? >> So, without saying the name of >> I'm not asking you to say the
046name. >> Yeah. Without saying the name of a student, we have we have gone as far as um pulling students and connecting them with outside resources to make school easier for them from the perspective of getting there early enough to be able to pass the courses that they need to graduate. Um we've set them up with additional tutoring in our afterchool lab. We've I mean full wraparound services and I think that's what's contributed to our 96% graduation rate. >> Thank you. >> Coup questions. Um you probably already said it now. Is the econ class still an elective? You probably said that. >> So you can still take it but it's no longer required in the same way that government and econ used to be on the old one. >> And then um we we have
047high ability program. Now, would would that high ability student be already a a a candidate per app for the honors plus or will they go into >> Yeah. So, when you're talking about those students that perform at a high level, so we're talking your AP kids or kids in the IB program, >> those kids will be your honors plus kids and those those are the requirements that are embedded into that honors plus seal. >> Yeah. So, our students that are getting the academic honors now would get the honors plus >> seal. That's where I was going. Okay. >> I guess I I still have some questions regarding the liability that we have regarding the students that are doing the service learning hours during school because those hours have to take place during school and how
048we are vetting where students will be. I'm sure there'll be a whole process >> for that and safety and that's I guess my biggest concern is and then we're turning our students over to these folks and having a plan to still monitor um where our students are, who they're with and then because we're still liable for those students while they are with us even though they're not with us and they're doing their work-based learning >> still some campus >> making sure we built in some precautions and all of that. >> Yeah, those safeguards are important and we have over 150 students doing work-based learning now. Um, and those those employers are are vetted and obviously there's there's there's a liability waivers and things of that nature that being being signed by the employer and by
049by us. >> And I just might want might just say one other thing and I'm I'm I heard you say that it would be your goal to get all of the kids to the um to the to the honor plus, right? um >> As many as possible. And and I may I may just add um um I I do know that even with the high ability learning is pretty rigid. >> Oh, absolutely. >> I mean, it's rigid. And as a matter of fact, um some parents some kids just want some kids that I'm I'm aware of want to dial down and parents say, "No, go at it." So, it's pretty rigid. And so I really appreciate how how how our education here right here in Pike is is is a Cadillac education if we go
050after it. >> And >> the opportunities there. >> Yes. >> Yeah. I I just want to say and obviously I mean the kids that are at the top of the class, we want them to push as far as they possibly can get a little my composure back. Um >> just please help that 10%. >> That was at the bottom. Whatever you got to do. Mhm. >> Whatever created, we got to do. >> There's some flexibility there >> that wasn't there in the past. Okay. >> So, when you take a look at it, you can see uh that >> that it's attainable. >> Yeah. Okay. Good. Just cuz just thank you for what you'll do, what I know you will do for them because they deserve it. One comment that I have I I appreciate well
051actually too I appreciate uh the employment piece because you know you get a lot of employers complain about the candidate pool uh they because it's you know it lacks uh quality in some cases. So I hope that you know as Pike you know we will become leaders and it sounds like that's what your the goal is to become leaders into fixing the problem behind the problem. Uh the other thing if it's possible the personal finance uh part if it's possible that and I thank Dr. Moore for bringing that up um if I could see and other board members you're welcome if you want to see what that curriculum looks like uh working in finances for you know 15 years before I I stopped. >> It was just amazed I I would see 19 20 21
052year olds and have no idea what a check account was or how it works. And so I think that understanding personal finance is a building block that can you can add on understanding how money works and which will probably help people vote better. But thank you again. I appreciate the work that you put in. I'm anxious to see how this is going to >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. >> Any more questions or comments? >> Yes. Uh if I may, if you don't mind, Mr. President. >> Um many years ago we had general business. I don't know if you all remember that. Uh >> yeah, >> general business and then you had the advanced business classes and it was in the general business classes where you learned financial literacy. Uh great point from the president um
053it would be uh advantageous to see what the curriculum's like. um um because um there are people who are attempting outside of the the walls of education to create environments for financial literacy and uh uh I have some of that uh literature on my desk but I just wanted to make sure the curriculum was going to be conducive to carry them beyond uh their high school years. >> Absolutely. Yeah, we can definitely arrange that. Thank you. One one of the we actually have one of our personal finance courses is a dual credit course through Indiana State University. So we we have students that take that course and then we have another personal finance course that's a a a general course that that we offer to to students. So that'll continue to be a practice. >>
054Any more comments, questions? >> All right. Thank you very much, gentlemen. >> Thank you. >> That ends our reports to the board. We'll move on to our action items. Starting with action item A, minutes of the board of education regular meeting September 11th, 2025. >> So move. >> Second. >> Got a first and second. Are there any questions or comments? All right, we'll go ahead to vote. All in favor say I. >> I. Any oppose? >> Motion carries. Next, we have approval of the board of education policies. Dr. Good evening, Mr. President, members of the board, and Dr. Young. I seek your approval of action item B, approval of the board of education policies as presented. >> I move we accept the policies as presented. Second. >> We have a first and a second. Are
055there any questions or comments? If not, we'll move on to vote. All in favor say I. I I any oppose? >> Motion carries. Thank you, Dr. Bishop. >> Next, we have the human resource report. Dr. Hunter, due to the confidentiality of the human resource report, we won't entertain any questions or comments. Dr. Hunter. >> Mr. President, members of the board, Dr. Young, I ask that you approve the HR report as presented. >> I move that we approve the human resources report as presented. >> Second. >> Have a first and a second. We'll move on to vote. All in favor say I. I >> any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you, Dr. >> Next. We have approval to accept Dollar General Literacy Foundation grant. Miss Hardman. >> Good evening, >> board president, members of the board. Dr.
056Young, I am requesting approval to accept the Dollar General Foundation literacy grant on behalf of New Augusta South in the amount of $5,000. >> So move. >> Second. have first and second. Are there any questions or comments? If not, we'll move on to vote. All in favor say I. >> I. Any oppose? >> Motion carries. Thank you, Miss Hardman. >> Thank you. >> Uh, next we have the approval to seek the Kativa grant. Dr. Gatewood. >> Good evening, President Anderson, members of the board, and Dr. Young. I am requesting approval to apply for the Cortiva the annual Cortiva Agra Science Grant as presented. >> I move that we um approve seeking the approval of the uh Cortiva Agra Science Grant as submitted. >> Second. >> Have a first and a second. Are there any questions
057or comments? >> From what I was looking at this grant, is this an annual grant that we tend to receive from them? Okay. >> Yes, we've had a partnership with them for uh at least the last five years. >> Okay. Thank you. And is this the same grant that pays for the plant boxes that we have at the different schools? >> A variety of things, but yes, that is among many other things. Yes. >> Robotics and some other things. >> Yeah. >> Any more questions or comments? Okay, we'll move on to vote. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any oppose? >> Motion carries. Thank you, Dr. Gatewood. Next, we have the request to approve the Part B 611 grant application. Miss Cohan. >> Good evening, Mr. President, members of the board, and Dr.
058Young. I'm requesting approval to apply for the FY26 Part B 611 grant as presented. >> I move that we approve the request of the FY206 Part B 611 grant application. >> Second. We have a first and a second. Are there any questions or comments? If not, we'll move on to vote. All in favor say I. >> I. >> And opposed. Motion carries. And I apologize. We have one more from Miss Cohen. The request to approve the part B 619 grant application. >> Good evening, Mr. President, members of board, and Dr. Young. I'm requesting approval to apply for the FY2026 Part B 619 grant as presented. So move >> second. >> We have a first and a second. Are there any questions or comments? >> If not, we'll move on to vote. All in favor say
059I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you, Miss Cohan. Next, we have the approval to accept the Dick Sporting Goods uh sports matter grant award. Mr. Jacob. >> Good evening, Mr. President, members of the board. Dr. Young, I'm requesting your approval to accept the Dick Sporting Goods Foundation Sports Matters Grant Award. >> So move. >> Second. We >> have a first and a second. Are there any questions or comments? If not, we'll move on to vote. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any oppose? >> Motion carries. Thank you, Mr. Jacob. >> Thank you. Lastly, I'd like to combine action items I, J, K, and L. Miss Gray. >> Good evening, Mr. President, members of the board, and Dr. Young. I present to you act action items I, J, K, and L.
060I request your approval as presented. I move that we approve um action items I, J, K, and L as presented. >> Second. We have a first and a second. At this time, will are there any questions on action items I, J, K, and L as presented. If not, we'll move on to vote. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any oppose? Motions carries for I, J, K, and L. Thank you, Miss Gray. Lastly, we'll move on to board member items. Dr. Moore. >> Thank you, Mr. President. I have nothing tonight. >> All right, >> Mr. Her. >> All right, so um had a chance this last week to go to the uh Guy Creek Middle School and uh Lincoln versus Lincoln volleyball game. And it was so much fun being in a place with
061two of our schools competing against each other. What made it the most fun was that the high school volleyball team came out to cheer on their respective middle schools and uh they did a phenomenal job. They even at the ends of the game ran down and joined the shake hands line with with the middle school kids. That was uh that was an incredible environment. So I hope our other high school coaches follow the lead of uh of that coach because that that was a ton of fun. Um also had a chance to go see how I became a pirate uh at the high school. Maybe it was last night. I don't know. It all runs together. Um, so excited that our young scholars are going to get a chance to see that. It was the
062funniest thing that I've seen in forever. I was trying to find a funny show on Netflix to watch before I went to see it and none of them rose to what that was. So, the kids did a outstanding job. They even had a uh audience audience participation section where they run out and they interact with the audience. And one of the young ladies told me I had a beautiful head. So, I I appreciate that. So, u it was a but great great fun. Um, we also had a great time at the home. She told me later she was trying to make me laugh. I said, "We did it." Um, >> you made us laugh. >> There you go. I had to after losing my cool earlier. All right. So, um, we had a great time
063also at the homecoming carnival seeing the community out like that. I mean, nothing is like being in an environment where our community comes out. It was so much fun. I had a great time there. We had a a table for the board there. Collected some more feedback from the community. Um I love everything about the story about the class bear. Thank you to everybody involved who is doing that for that child. That um falls right in line with many of the things we see that that's really what being at Pike is about is caring about even those individual kids. And you know we have a lot of numbers but caring about the individual. And lastly, I do just since it is still September, um want to point out again that it is um fetal alcohol
064spectrum disorder awareness month. I think I misspoke um last time and that's because it had a slightly different name 25 years ago when I became familiar with it. Um and it has had a uh huge impact on our family's life. It had a huge impact on my uh little um comments earlier that we had. And so I just want to uh the whole point of the awareness is never to put anybody down um but just to um put out a plea and again for awareness that um if you are expecting if in the ninth month to remind you that for 9 months if you can abstain it gives your child um a lot of opportunities that will be taken away from them or stand the chance to be taken away from them otherwise. And so
065just um wanted to point that out. Thank you. >> Thank you Mr. Hford. Dr. Western. >> I I just want to also give u attention to the fact that it is National Suicide Month >> and um just let's just pay attention to each other and um anyone's in isolation, see if you can help them, talk them uh talk them out, talk them off the wall, just just pay attention to each other. National Suicide Month. >> Thank you, Dr. Lexler. Miss Barnes. >> Uh, first I want to say thank you for thank you to the community for giving us the opportunity to get training at the uh, ISBA conference. Um, four of us were there. We learned a lot. The theme for the conference this year was allin for all children and I felt like that's
066exactly what we do here in Pike. We are allin for all children. Um, and so that was nice to hear. I want to say congratulations to New Augustus South on getting such an awesome grant and to Mr. Jacob as well for pursuing the Dicks grant and for us to be able to receive that to provide equipment to help our uh sports teams do better and have more fun. >> Thank you, Mrs. Barnes. Miss Kelly. >> All right. Once again, good evening. Um >> good evening. >> Exciting exciting month in Pike. lots of things going on. I've been able to I was able to participate in homecoming, the board training. Um it's just an exciting beginning of the school year we've had so far. This week is college go week. So if you have not students,
067especially seniors, this is the week Indiana schools have set aside to allow you to apply waving that application fee. >> Also, this is the week FASA has the FASA app has opened. Begin filling it out so that if you do run into hiccups, you have some time and you're not at the gun. Seniors, that is a requirement. So, make sure you're getting that done. Um, we press forward, we move on and looking forward to what's next. >> Thank you, Miss Kelly. Dr. Young, >> thank you, Mr. President. Just want to thank first and foremost um Tamara Show for coming this evening and allowing us to recognize her. I just think it's really important for our community, for our young people to see what amazing things PI graduates are doing. again community state across the country
068and around the world. So thank you uh Miss SH last night I had the opportunity to attend the Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children. They had their regional meeting at the United Way building downtown. Um it was a tough conversation and just this week we realized that the reductions in CDF CCDF funding for our three-year-olds or four year olds and our afterchool programs it those cuts are deeper than what was um advertised and the the event was attended by early learning providers and it was story after story about passionate people um in this work with no clue on what's going to happen. I mean that's just how new um this news is and we're watching that closely. It will impact um our families who have children in our threes and fours program or
069after school program um and be looking at how we can can can support them through this very difficult time. So I was the last person to have an opportunity to speak at the end of the event and what I was really excited to share was just the data that we have in Pike and that data shows that for children that attended our early learning center program for any period of time they're passing proficiency on IE3 substantially higher if we just can get our children in quality early learning opportunities. We will close that gap that that people are so passionate about us closing by third grade. I mean, we're showing that we're closing it by high school. Um, our children uh we just might have to to extend some of those strategies and instruction and teaching
070into fourth grade or fifth grade, but by the time they get to 12th grade, they're graduating with with no waiverss. So, anyway, if they want it done by third grade, we've cracked the code. We know how to do it. fun preschool. Um, and then the other thing that uh I would share is for anyone that's interested tomorrow at 8:00 the Westside Chamber will be holding our annual or their annual conversation with the superintendents in Pike, myself, Wayne Township and Decar Township. And this is our year to host and we'll be hosting that right here at ASC. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Young. In closing, um I appreciate we all appreciate the work that our our staff, our administrative um team, our teachers, everyone on down to the IAS, we appreciate the work that you
071do because you are the front lines on this battle with education. I would like to give a shout out to Principal Jones over at Snacks. Um I had a parent reach out to me and >> uh was happy about a situation that she took care of and so it's the little things like that that help build our reputation. Also, I had a great time at our community outing uh homecoming community outing last week. I saw that our our barber program. Uh and I told them that I am going to sign up. So, for the next board meeting, I will be sporting a haircut cuz I don't want Steve to be the only one with a beautiful head. Uh I'll be sporting a haircut for my very own. So, with that being said, if I get
072a motion to adjourn the meeting. >> So move, Mr. President. >> Second. Second. Meeting. Thank you everyone.