001Whenever you're ready, let us rise for the pledge of allegiance. I aliance 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 May 22nd MSD Pike Township School Board. Uh we will start off with for the good of the cause if there are any patrons who would like to use this platform. You have three minutes and you will start by stating your name. Mr. President, board Dr. Young. I'm Marty Hoofer. I serve as the secretary of of the Pike Township Educational Foundation. And as you know, we have a two-fold mission to support and recognize students and staff um throughout the year. This year at senior night just a couple weeks
002ago, we awarded over $70,000 in scholarships, which is always one of the highlights of the of the year. Um this year we were able to put in due to a very generous donor our second book vending machine in an elementary school which just makes me smile. Um and so also one of part of our mission is to recognize and thank all staff members and we do that each May by giving a small gift to everyone from um bus drivers and instructional assistants same gift all the way up to Dr. Young. I watch his be handd delivered. So, I would like to give to each of you tonight a 4 oz chocolate bar, actually made by a Pike family, which makes them all that much sweeter that we're supporting a local business. Um, while we thank
003our teachers and staff across the district. So, thank you for your support of the foundation. We would love to see you at our next event, which is the golf outing on June 12th. It is at Twin Lakes Golf Course, which is on 96th Street. So, if you have questions, you could send them my way. I'm sure. Oh, I was going to point at Mr. Guber, but I know he is also getting forsomes together. Um, so you could be in touch with him as well. So, we would love to see you at the golf outing on June 12th. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Is there anyone else for the good of the cause? All right, we'll move on to Spotlight on Pike. Miss Sarah Dorsy. Good evening. It's wonderful to see you all again. Happy
004last student day of the 2024 2025 school year. We had so much to celebrate this year and it's literally just rolling in as I'm presenting. I just looked at um Twitter and Pike Tennis beat the international school in the sectional semi-final and will play Brebuff in the championship. So, good luck to them and congratulations on their season. It has been stellar. Um, I don't know if you had an opportunity to see it or not. We'll share it on our social media next week, but they did something really fun this year. They invited their families out and had a tennis tournament with their athletes and their athletes families. So, this was a first annual thing that will probably become a tradition. Um, in addition, our boys are in action, um, track and field at their sectionals,
005and we already had a relay team named a sectional championship in the 800 meter. So, congratulations to them as well. Hopefully, the weather is going to hold out so they can finish the competition. Um, our Pike High School girls track and field team were the sectional runners up runner-ups with several individual and relay championships, some personal best, and multiple athletes advancing to regional competition on June 28th. So, this is just a save the date type thing, but it's very cool. Pike High School graduate and current Seattle Seahawk Mike Derell will come home to host his first annual free camp and community funday at Pike High School. The event will include drills, haircuts, game, food, guest appearances by Colts players, autographs, and more. Registration will begin at 9:00 a.m., and the events and activities are scheduled
006to take place from 10:00 a.m. to 300 p.m. Um, so this time of year, you know, it's end of the year performances, college signings, and celebrations. Um, in India is also the month of May, and our schools get into the racing spirit. Um that was evidenced by a couple of events that we had the opportunity to witness. For example, Central and Eastbrook elementary schools boast both both hosted KI 500s and they are every bit as cute as they sound. I'm going to tell you specifically about Centrals. They used it to do multiple things. It was a whole child experience. They sent the materials home with each child. The children built to design their cars with their families. The families then came in for the Kenny 500. On that day, they had celebration stations. They incorporated
007music. They incorporated math. They had a culmination celebration. They did the race. The families had a picnic outside. And all total um they incorporated singing, fine motor skills, fitness, and family engagement. And Mrs. McGee shared that it was just one of the most special things. They almost had all of their families in attendance. and they again used that as their kindergarten culmination. So the students got um medals for their race and certificates for completing their kindergarten year and are going off now excited to come back as first graders. So it was just a great community building activity. In addition at Eagle Creek and Snacks Crossing this week, actually I think it was on Tuesday, the students had the opportunity to meet and compete with race car drivers from um Jun Coast Racing and Aerrol McLaren.
008So we want to thank them for coming out and um teaching our students a little bit more about the ND500. Last but never least, we want to thank the generous donors listed on this evening's agenda. The Pike Township Education Foundation donated $1,622 to refill book vending machines at Eagle Hook Elementary School. Um, crowdfunding supplied books for the amazing sixth graders at Lincoln Middle School. Mr. Ali Ward donated $2,39.92 to Snacks Crossing Elementary School's Young Me Young Women of Purpose program. Apex donated $5,000 to our teachers appreciation event. Mr. Willie Matthysse from perfectapparel.com donated a printing press and screen print dryer for an estimated value of $8,000. The Old Spaghetti Factory donated $926 worth of coupons for participants in the Pike Distance Kids Camp and Chartwell's Compass Group North America donated $2,500 for the Red Devil
009Dash. We thank them for their generosity and support. Thank you very much. Next we have our reports to the board alumni excellence Dr. Young. Thank you Mr. President and members of the board. For those individuals who might be here this evening or might be watching online who may not be familiar with the fact that once a month we at a board meeting celebrate a Pike alumnist who is doing amazing things as a professional. And I'm really excited this evening because the person we're highlighting probably doesn't even need uh an introduction because she is so well known uh right here in in Pike Township. But I won't go into details because I know we have a video to share. So with that, start the video. Hello, my name is Lauren Holidayiday. I am Pike High School
010graduate of class of 2004 and I currently serve as the proud assistant principal at Deerrun Elementary School. I started here in Pike Township um as a fourth grader at College Park. Mentriculated through um going to both the new Lincoln and then New Augusta North and then graduating from Pike. After graduating from Pike, I went to Ball State University Church um where I majored in elementary education. Um I graduated from Ball State and came back home to Pike. Um I started at uh Lincoln Middle School. um and wasn't too sure about being in the classroom and of the middle school anyway and ended up going and doing behavior support at um Eastbrook for many many years and then from there I really missed being in the classroom so I went back to the classroom um I've
011been able to serve at Guyian Creek Elementary Guyen Creek Middle um New Augusta South and now I proudly serve here at Deer Run Elementary School. A good day or normal day here as assistant principal um is ever changing. I think I have a schedule or a plan and the plan ends up happening for me. I go out to buses where I greet our students. I often do walkthroughs, check on all teachers, you know, giving a thumbs up, making sure the days are going. I'm giving high five to students and just checking in on them and um how they're doing and getting the day started. Oftent times I'll have meetings. I'll have core meetings or I will have an ACR meeting. And then as we go towards the end of the day, we call dismissal and
012then I'm out at buses saying goodbye to my scholars as they're getting on their buses, making sure that that's running smoothly and then dismissing buses. And that's a typical quiet day as an assistant principal um here at Deer Run. So there were a few educators that influenced me. I had Miss Abdullah, which I believe her name is Miss Swain now. She was my web page design teacher. Um, she would always push me a little bit more. Web design wasn't my, it was an elective, so it's not necessarily something that I needed, but something that was out of my comfort and out of my my expertise. And so, um, she would always give challenges and I would think I did a web page design cuz back then you had to be able to code and do
013HTML and all those things. we didn't have AI to help us come along and just type in what you wanted. And what I thought was good, she would say, "Nope, Lauren, try again." And so, um, just definitely, um, would push me a little bit more out of my comfort zone, um, and just knowing that I can do things that are a little bit more challenging and not my norm. Um, being a proud Pike alumni, I believe my message to my parents, students, um, is to not give up, to continue striving to do your best. To know there are going to be roadblocks. There are going to be times when you're like, "Oh my gosh, what is going on?" But that you'll, you know, it'll work out. It'll work out. Um, there was a time where
014I was in school and I was like, "You know what? Teaching isn't for me." And here we are today. Um, here I am being able to serve my community that I still live in, that I grew up in, um, that and who helped me um, become the lady that I am today. You know, as a Pike graduate myself, I kind of had the same thoughts graduating that education wasn't for me. But in a time that we have a shortage of educators, I think it's so powerful that our children day in and day out can see educators that were sitting in the exact same seats that that that they were in, smiling and enjoying the work that they do. I think that's a great um recruiting tool, but it it lets our children know that education
015is a viable field. It's an important field and and you know, thank you for being a model. At this time, I'd love to have you come up and give the board an opportunity to share any comments or or ask questions. Thank you, Dr. Thank you so much for your service to the district. Um, your smile is amazing. I'm sure when the kids jump off the bus, they can't wait to see you. So, thank you so much. Thank you. I would also like to thank you for sharing or making your legacy a part of Pike's uh legacy. Um I hope that the students realize uh by your example of what they can become. You know, you go through our our system then you come back and help make our system even better. And so that goes
016along to saying that Pike is the gift that we didn't know that we needed. So thank you so much. Yes, sir. Thank you, President. Thank you for your service. Thank you, Dr. Thank you so much. Thank you for the example you set for our babies. I am curious and not to put you on the spot, but you're fine. Coming back to your home district where you grew up, what was the biggest challenge coming back here as a teacher after growing up here? Well, the biggest I left Pike and I was like, I'm not coming back. Nope, you can't make me. And then I graduated from Ball State, so I need a job. Um, so as far as coming back, um, you know, I really just wanted to give students, um, honestly a face that I
017that that you can being a Pike student. I came through Pike. My siblings came through Pike. Um, and just knowing that to give them what I I was given and so Yeah. Thank you. Yes, sir. Thank you. Thank you for leaving, staying in Indiana, going to Ball State, and then coming back to Pike and giving us what you learned and seeing the look on your face and the proudness and and the compassion that you have for those students. It's uh like I said, that smile is is eye-catching. I'm sure those kids just wake up and they see you and they smile and they can't help but catch the smile. Thank you, Miss Wilson. First of all, I want to thank you for what you do for this district. You need to know you're invaluable. Um
018I think as board members uh we need to let people like uh yourself know how invaluable you are at this particular intersection in the lives of children. Um and uh the the personality that you are projecting is contagious and we hope that uh what you're pouring into those children they will be able to seek higher education come back and be a part of the teaching family of Pike as well. Thank you for what you do and stay uh intelligently radiant. because we need that. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Moore. Thank you, Lord. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Next, we have the superintendent's above and beyond award recognition, Dr. Hunter. Mr. President, members of the board, and Dr. Young, uh, I have the high honor of introducing Miss Hillary Zortman, the director of Pike High School's
019career and technical education department, as she presents the superintendent above and beyond award. Good evening, Mr. President, members of the board, and Dr. Good evening. Good evening. My name is Hillilary Zortman and I am the proud, very proud director of Pike Career and STEM Center located at Pike High School. Our center creates opportunities for our Pike High School students to earn industry recognized credentials and study and pursue legitimate career pathways in demanding and highne fields. It is my privilege to nominate Miss Mashanda Gilmore for the superintendent uh above and beyond award. Miss Gilmore has served in the district for 10 years at Pike Career and Sim Center and since being promoted to our department chair of the Pike Career and STEM Center in 23 24 school year, she has fully embodied the mantra of turning
020your passion into a paycheck. At the student level, she supports our students academically, socially, and her work with our cosmetology and barbering students has led to a significant increase in positive outcomes over the past several years. Her persistence to be a warm demander and hold high expectations of her students led to an increase from two certifications in the 223 school year to 11 certifications in the 2324 school year. So with students are still taking the test this year and studying. So let them finish and see our results. Um she is also the sponsor of our largest what we call career and tech student organization called skills USA. This involves uh four of our programs and the sponsorship requires much responsibility. There are regional and state competitions. Um the programs involved are criminal justice, HBAC, barbering,
021cosmetology, and smart manufacturing. So all of those programs um have experiences that Miss Gilmore helps with outside school hours on Saturdays, sometimes on Sundays, um trying to get transportation places uh so that the students can go and compete in these regional and state competitions and represent Pike Career STEM Center. um from the staff level, her role now as the CTE department chair is she's doing great at instructional leadership during our PLC's. Um she is persistent in pursuing educational excellence. You have seen the level of instruction change in our classrooms and she's assisted with developing our instructors. Her positive attitude and willingness to help where it is needed and dedication have helped with hosting um several firsttime events this year. So, we are proud that we um began our middle school career fairs this year at
022each one of our middle schools. She helped with the planning and assisting of that and our first CTE awards ceremony recognizing students. Um, additionally, her coaching helped us on board three new instructors this year. And Miss Gilmore has exceptional communication skills, helping to develop trust within her staff and build team confidence through praise and respond to delicate situations when needed. She's responsive and available throughout the day and anytime instructors need to contact her in the evening. Despite all of those professional responsibilities, she's pursuing her master's degree coursework at Ball State to get a director's license. So, it is my pleasure to nominate Miss Shondaanda Gilmore for [Applause] Mr. President, members of the board, Dr. Young. I have the honor of introducing Miss Caitlyn Ro, the principal of Guyian Creek Elementary School and the assistant principal.
023Miss Andrew Krin, assistant principal of Guyian Creek Elementary School as they present the superintendent above and beyond award. Good evening, Mr. President, members of the board, and Dr. Young. It is our privilege to be here this evening to present our Guyen Creek Elementary School Above and Beyond award winner. Miss Margarita Romo joined our staff this year as our front office assistant. She has been an incredible asset to our team. She is friendly, helpful, and a quick learner, always ready to take on any task asked of her with a smile and a positive attitude. Miss Romo is always thinking proactively and asks questions to ensure that she understands what the expectations are and ensure that the best outcome in all situations occurs. Whether it is seeking support for family needing resources or helping to prepare for
024a schoolwide event. She has developed a strong rapport with both students and families, serving as an invaluable bridge through her bilingual support, making school more accessible to all. We have seen a significant increase in our parent engagement with our families that speak Spanish and I know that that is in huge part thanks to Miss Romo. We are blessed to have her be the bright shining face that welcomes all visitors, students and staff at Guyen Creek Elementary and it is our pleasure to present her with this award this evening. [Applause] Okay, moving back to reports to the board. Referendum update. Mr. Greg Foster and Monet Gray. Good evening, Mr. President, members of the board, Dr. Young. Good evening. We're excited here to present to you the referendum update. So, as you recall, the rationale for the
025referendum focused on three specific areas. $4.5 million was allocated to our commitment to sustaining the programs and staff support for our ESR dollars. The second area, $9 million was allocated annually to attract and retain staff. And third, $1 million was allocated annually to enhance safety and security measures. Here, uh, Miss Gray will provide more details on the first specific area and then afterwards, I will discuss um the other two areas. Gray. Good evening, Mr. President, members of the board, and Superintendent Young. As we continue to honor the commitments made through the referendum, we'd like to provide an update on how those funds are being used uh to sustain essential programs and staffing throughout our district. So, bucket one, which is the programming and staff support through ESSER. Bucket one represents a portion of the referendum
026funds that have been assigned to ensure the continuation of key roles and services that were formerly funded through ESSER. So those are academic interventionists, uh certified teaching staff, counselors, social workers, district specialists, uh our director of health and wellness and essential technology and infrastructure investments like laptops, Chromebooks, monitors, uh Cisco network equipment and um other supports to uh support the modern equitable learning and environments. From a financials perspective, a total of 3 million 38,85 has been invested in these referendum aligned priorities between July 2024 and March 2025. Out of that amount,1,933,546 in expenses were from July 2024 to December 2024. And this covered salaries, benefits, and learning loss programming and materials. Due to the timing of when the referendum dollars could be spent, which was January 2025, these expenses were initially funded through the education
027fund uh during the second half of 2024, and then reallocated to the referendum fund in 2025 to align when we are were allowed to spend that referendum money and to reimburse the education fund. An additional 1,15,259 was spent from January to March of 2025 supporting that same programming and also added investments in Chromebook replacements and software upgrades. Every dollar reflects a conscious investment in our students academic recovery, their emotional and mental health, and the tools needed for success in today's classrooms. They're foundational to our mission of academic excellence and equitable support for every single student. Now, I'll turn it over to Mr. Foster to talk about the attracting and retaining staff. Thank you, Miss Gray. Attracting to retain staff was the second specific area. So January through March of 2025, uh salaries and benefits were
028paid out for $943,834. Also as a first semester attendance stipen was also paid out of there. Now for a total of 1,463,334. Now that may appear low. We are anticipating doing another reimbursement in July of 2025. So as a reminder that the referendum fund is a property taxdriven fund. So we'll receive our dis property tax distributions in June and December of each year. That's also when our reporting period is for June as end in June and December of each year. And that fund cannot be negative. So once we actually close July, we'll have an idea of our actual property tax distribution. That way we'll know how much additional tax salaries and benefits we can reclass and reimburse ourselves into this fund. Uh the third specific area was uh enhanced safety and security. Um so the
029task force has already met. Uh they include uh members of law enforcement, Pike staff, administrators, building level and central um athletic and transportation. Uh they've already been beginning to meet. Uh they meet up every two weeks. Uh and additional meetings can be scheduled as needed. Uh, one of the uh, priorities that the safety task force has identified is the Pike High School weapons detection system. So all that combined for total expenditures January through March is $4,52,139. And we're available for any questions. Yes. As it relates to Mr. Foster, the enhanced safety and security. Um, we have been talking about the uh weapons detection system for some time. Um, are is there anything being discussed about the replacement of the fleet of vehicles for our police officers? Mr. Foster. Mr. Foster. Yeah. Then I then I'll
030come to you Dr. Young. Who who who can answer that? He doesn't serve on the on the task force, but he can share from the from the numbers perspective. Yeah. Do we have anybody here from the task force? Could you tell us? Could you tell us when that will happen? If it will happen. Yeah. So, in our first meeting, one of the things that we did was we began having um a discussion about what all the needs are, right? So, everyone contributes based on your in particular lens, the area in which you serve, what are some needs you have. So this great list was developed first meeting. So now what we're doing moving forward is we're trying to whittle those down, prioritize um most important and then the order in which those items would be
031uh would be purchased and implemented. So that's that's really the next step. Now to your point, were vehicles on that list? Yes, it's it's on that list. And you have a list of prioritization. So where is it on that list since that's been formed yet? It's just been right now it's just been items listed as a needs. So the next step will be to determine what order and prioritizing the list. But the first meeting was just hey based on what you see in your individual position in your school or wherever uh you may serve in the district, what are you seeing that could help make the district more safe? And now what we'll do is we'll take the big list and begin to narrow it down to specific recommendations. Okay. That that will come out
032of that. Uh during these uh security meetings, uh is it possible for us to get the minutes of those meetings? Yes, we can. We can do that. Absolutely. Since you've had one and we haven't received anything yet, if I'm not mistaken, have we uh President? So uh not because we haven't asked him and so uh thank you for your your explanation on that. Um, so take the time that you need uh with those meetings and then uh you'll be able to fulfill Dr. Moore's uh request. Uh any more questions to the referendum update? Oh yes. Uh request um we have a lot going on in the district and sometimes it is confusing to community. Sometimes it would be good to help communities to see the difference between referendum uh dollars being spent. For instance, you
033got uh the baseball field, you got a lot of things going on. There are a lot of people that will come to me and say, "Are those referendum dollars?" I would have to tell them no, cuz they're not. But sometimes when we do things uh that are going to go public, sometimes we ought to be able to give the disclaimer that they're not referendum dollars and sometime remind the community of how the referendum dollars are spent because I get a lot of calls when you all uh and we as a board approve certain things and things begin to move and people see construction and things first thing they say is that the referendum documents because there's no communication. about how uh community is understanding the referendum dollars are moving because it's their tax dollars. And
034so uh it would be good to be able to show the difference between a capital improvement that is been approved by the board, superintendent's recommendation approved by the board versus referendum dollars that are being spent. Um and that because some people don't understand operational and and and capital. uh they don't understand those those ideas, but when they see things happening, they say, "Well, there go some referendum dollars that might not Yeah. You understand what I'm saying? I hope you do." Yeah, I do. And I'm just trying to think. So, a couple things. One, as we give updates, we will post there's actually a tab on the district website that is for referral information. So, what we'll do is we'll take this presentation and we will add it to the website plus all additional updates. I
035think another thing we're working on and Miss Dorsey's helping taking the lead is send information out over the summer like a mailer so f uh families will get that information and as you're thinking I'm just processing um maybe even somewhere on the website we could just share because the answer is it there's the referendum does not pay for any capital projects no building nothing like that so so maybe even on the website we can put something there or even as uh you So I can I can offer suggestion also if I can offer a suggestion probably like in these reports here if we could just probably perhaps a presentation and include it in your presentation that way the board can see and then it's also public and and recorded too. So right just reminders. Okay.
036So it could be as simple as that putting it in your presentation. Yeah. Because would that suffice? Yeah. Yeah. It's really not about me. It's about community. No, I'm just saying but your request over that. Yeah, but that it's about community and and all I'm doing is letting you know what community is thinking. Sure. And um because if you need another referendum, where are you going to go? The community. My point. Exactly. One uh question that I have uh just for uh stating purposes for people who may tune in later. Uh how long is the referendum dollars for? How many years do we have that for? Just a as a reminder. Absolutely. Eight years. Eight years. And about how much of the referendum dollars are we allowed to spend per year? How much are we
037how much of the eight years? How much per year is it is it given to us? Each year we establish a budget for the subsequent year. We anticipate what 14 and a half million per year. Per year. That's what we Yep. Okay. We did not make it this year though. 14 and a half. Did we get to 14 and a2? We will. One of the things that uh Mr. Foster was referencing is we don't get it in a lump sum, right? So, a lot of the dollars you see now as it comes in, we reimburse ourselves from last semester. So, for example, we committed to um continuing all those supports we had in place for Esser, right? But the money didn't hit until January. So, that means as a district, we paid for that ourselves
038that first semester. And as money comes in, each aotment, we'll pay ourselves back. So yes, I believe we we'll get there. Now, part of it is is what's actually collected, but yes, I believe we'll be we'll be right where we need to be. So the cycle is beginning now. Yes. Okay. Yes. Yes. And so what our goal is is to come back and like we've done now, maybe once a quarter, just give a public presentation and let you know kind of what's been spent. And what I heard from the from the board is it'd be beneficial that whenever we talk about it, just say, "Hey, now remember this. The referendum doesn't cover any capital projects. It just covers these three buckets, right? Just to make sure we hammer that home because I understand you guys
039are getting those questions." Yeah. Very good. Um, very good. Oh, before you s um do have one more question. The with the changes that have been made now legislature is out, changes to property tax and everything. Do we know or do we anticipate that there'll be any impact to how much money we bring in from the referendum dollars based on how their calculations have changed? I don't know a better way to ask it. Yeah, if I may, we're still modeling those out. And actually, that's one of the things Dr. Young support is is bringing on policy analytics. And so that'll really help us do they're they're they're a company that actually gets the granular analysis down to the parcel level and really be able to forecast the impacts of Senate Bill One and the and
040the changes to our net assessed value uh to be able to give us a better clearer picture of what what challenges we have to do. And I would add to that, no one has figured it out yet. That's not just Yeah. So So we're all trying to figure out Yeah. um what the impacts of Senate Bill One will will be. And so once we get some more confident numbers and answers and again we we think policy analysts can help us out. Matter of fact, they're they're working across the state to help school districts try to figure out what the impact will be. We'll make sure we bring the information back to the board. Honestly, I'm more asked that question just so the public can hear and understand. While there is a good side, everyone wants
041to pay less taxes. There is another side to that and for us to be, you know, transparent about that. Uh Mr. Foster, but perhaps, you know, maybe not Dr. Young, have we had to share our referendum dollars at all? So, Mr. Quackenbush is is over is over there. So, um what was your question? Have we had to share our referendum dollars? Do we? Have we had to? Yes. So, have have we any lotments paid out at this particular time? Not at this time, but we're estimating. We'll find that out when we have the property tax. You said what now? I couldn't hear you. I'm sorry. We'll find that out when we get our property tax distribution when they actually determine. But you said we're estimating that we will have to. Is that what you said?
042Yes, we believe we will. So, we um reached out and we uh I'm trying to think of the correct term. Appealed that. Okay. Um based on the requirements and I believe it's Quack and Bush, we never got a response. Correct. Okay. All right. And I think this is information that's that is pertinent for all of us to know. Yeah. Yeah, it is. Okay. Any more questions or comments? All right. Thank you very much, Mr. Foster. Next, we have website update, uh, Miss Dorsy and Dan Ormaner. Good evening, Mr. President, members of the board, Dr. Young. We are very excited to have the opportunity to be before you this evening to talk about our website. Um, our current website is actually four years old. We took one year to build it out and then it's been
043up for three years and as you know in three years with technology and website design things become absol obsolete. So in October, we began reviewing the websites of surrounding districts, colleges, and businesses to get a sense for what the industry standard was um and look for any ways that we could potentially improve or enhance what we have in terms of our design and layout. After doing that, we landed upon the Canton template. It is the same website um company that we currently use, but the design is a bit different. Um let's see. Can you turn that on for me? Um as you can see right now, and Dan's going to start a video here that we'll scroll through. The banner image is much larger um as opposed to ours right now, which has a smaller
044image and then a text box. She'll also see that the navigation is a bit more streamlined, but it would allow us to still have the same menu items that our families are used to, but just again in a more engaging and an easier to navigate manner. If you scroll down the page, you'll see that it has what you call a sticky heading. And we like that, too, because that means when you scroll down our website, if you need to go somewhere else, you don't have to scroll back up to the top. that top menu will be with you no matter where you scroll on the page. We keep our six boxes, but they're edgeto edge. So again, that's more visually appealing, allows us to tell our story with images. We kept our quick links. Our
045news and events section is also more attractive, and I think it's a lot easier to see that you can click through and see several news items. And same with our upcoming events. This is our favorite part. It adds a testimonial section. So, we would be able to add um our story from the standpoint of members of our Pike community and Pike family. And then the last change is the footer. And I hope you'll pay special attention to this because although we could not show you in their template because this is actually Final Sites, they wouldn't allow us to picify it, we did pify it. So, now we'll show you what it will look like and we're gonna Oh, sorry. We're going to have to scroll through this because again, it's just kind of a slide
046that we created, but we branded it with our Pike and it looks so much better. It was attractive before. It's going to take a second to load. I feel like there should be a drum roll. Okay, so here you have our students at the top with our banner. Again, this wouldn't be a huge change for our families who are accustomed to visiting our website. They know where they can find our apartments, our schools, um, and our different categories. on our website, if you've noticed, we have the categories. Um, we have two menus. The first menu is really by audience. So, if I'm a family, if I click on family, then I'm going to find content for me probably as a parent or guardian. There's also community, which will be information for community students and staff.
047So, we still keep that. We have our enlarged banner. We have our quick links, which is also a commonly used section of our website. Then we have our beautiful Pike community in that section which again is that edgetoedge which is just a little bit more um engaging and appealing. We have our news and events. Then we have our testimonials from members of our Pike community. And then at the bottom what we liked is we were able to customize that to include our Pike at a glance because we are very proud of our data and statistics. So we did not lose that were we to upgrade to this particular version of the website. Daniel, I'm struggling. Oh, sorry. Okay, we got a little too fancy. So again, just to recap, the Canon template highlights are that
048sticky header that follows you wherever you scroll, the larger header images, the quick links, the edgetoedge six squares, the news and events that are more streamlined and easier to navigate, the testimonials, and then that footer image that still allows us to highlight our wonderful data. When we talked to the company, there were two options. One of the options was a five panel swap. What we just showed you is actually more than that. Um, for the five panel swap, the price would have been $12,500 and it would have entailed us having to do the transition throughout the entire website. We have an amazing navigation specialist named Nicole Faulner who is a lead on this and she spoke to the company and she actually negotiated the theme flex which is what we showed you which will include
049creative services which would mean we could have this throughout our entire district. So, we would still keep that same formatting no matter what department or what school you visited. It was supposed to be $15,000, but she got them to change the price to $10,000. So, we would actually be getting the bigger better redesign for cheaper than if we just did a five panel swap. And it would also decrease the amount of work um for our staff because I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but Nicole does a great job. She um developed a guidance document that she shares with the buildings. Every school has someone who manages their website. Every department has someone who manages their department pages. Um she provides training and she works with them. So she really helps in terms of
050making sure we've got a standard process. Um at the beginning of each year we do a website check. At the end of the each year we do a website cleanup. And so it will just having everything unified I think uh be much easier to stay on top of. You will have the statement of purpose and mission statement on there, right? Yes, sir. All righty. Secondly, um how creative will this site be for you? For instance, uh just like tonight, Dr. Young did the U alumni excellence award. Say after he does the alumni excellence award on Thursday, Friday, could it go on or next week, could it go on? Could that personality be on the website? Yes. and it's currently there. But what this will allow us to do is put it in that banner. My
051point exactly. Superintendent above and beyond recognition. When those pictures are taken, will they be able to go on those sites? They would be in the news section. We also put a lot of that like we have almost three pillars in terms of like that written communication. So we're doing it in our Pike Proud newsletter that goes out every week. We also do it on our social media and then our social media currently feeds to our website. So that would be a difference. So sometimes if you're not seeing it on our website like in the actual website component right now, if you scroll down where we have our Facebook page, our Facebook feed that you'll see that information there because we're always posting it and because now it's linked there, that's the the section that appears.
052Being a native of Pike and attending Pike, how creative are you? You plan to be with this new site, the testimonials, I cannot be more excited. Like we've already been talking about, okay, let's do this. Let's do this. Okay. Well, we and we have students in mind, we have families in mind, we have community members in mind, we have teachers in mind. Like the ability to tell people about Pike um in Pike people's own words, right? Like because if you're in Pike, like you love Pike. It is special and there is an energy and there is a passion for Pike that we get to hear and see and experience when we're out at school events or in the community and working with um different constituencies that to be able to capture that on our website,
053that's huge. Will you be a I'm sorry doc. I'm sorry. And you are planning on using family also on as testimonial. Oh yeah, absolutely. What about say for instance sporting events? You know our girls are doing it. So you know just like I saw the live movement on there. Is it possible to put some of those some of the game on there? Is that possible yet? Like a stint like a a clip? Like a clip. That's right. Yeah. Some clips. Are we going to be able to do clips? we can probably do do clips. We have to be careful a lot of times like so sports it's a little bit easier but if someone has streaming rights then we have to be a little bit careful um with performing arts what we run into sometimes
054we would love to share that but there are copyright issues. Um we also always have to be careful because we have to know like do we have photo permissions for the students that may be captured in those images. So that's also something that we plan to look at this summer is just shoring that up so it's not as big of a challenge as it currently can be. Um I don't Oh ladies first. Uh I don't have a question but I do have a comment. One I love this u one of the things that we learned at the Indiana School Board Association conference last year was how powerful it is when public schools tell their story. Um, people think they understand what happens here because they're hearing it from other voices who don't always have our
055best interests in mind. But when we can tell our own story and then the community can judge for themselves, we position ourselves, I think, in in a space where we, you know, there's a reason why we love being here. There's a reason why our students are graduating at such a high rate and allow us to share our story. Absolutely. I think that's why with Dr. Young and what Mr. Borgen Keker do with the alumni excellence is so powerful because one of the beautiful things about Pike is there are so many perspectives, experiences and lenses and to be able to see that, hear that, feel that. It's there's nothing more powerful, right? like and you know I just might say uh on behalf of board members of the past your your Regina Randolphs and your Ronnie
056Fords and your others we've all been talking about this so this is nothing new. We're just glad now that uh we're getting a chance to promote our story in a better way because I think all of us have had that same concern is getting at same m what Miss Barnes said getting our story out and not letting anyone tell it for us. Absolutely. Absolutely. We're extremely excited. Um so I get into a little more the techy stuff. So, um I'm assuming we've checked this out that everything you're getting ready to do whenever it's viewed on mobile because that's how most people view websites anymore that it will still have that attractive look and it'll operate cleanly for everyone. Yes, there is a mobile a mobile feature. Yeah. Is it proper to to market it right
057now since we're out of school? Is there some things we can do on the current website to market it that it's coming? Well, right now it wouldn't because it hasn't been presented and you haven't approved it. talking about when that time come. So, right. So, so what our our goal Yeah. our goal tonight was I asked for them to present this to you all. I I want to get your feedback. Um for me, I really like the theme flex and what we're able to get, but based on what you guys share with me, hey, Dr. Young, here's something we'd love to be able to see. If it fits into that mold and model, then what I'll do is come back and ask for approval. And then once we seek approval, then what we'll do is
058I'll work with the team and get a timeline on when we can launch it. So based between approval and then the date that we can launch it, then yeah, we can let folks know, hey, stay tuned. Um because we plan on launching a refresh of the website and then we can give that date. Another another thing, Miss Dorsey, it's good to see you smiling tonight. I know you lost your dad. Thank you. And it's good to see you smiling tonight and seems like you're getting into your work and we appreciate that. It's I don't really get to present to you guys about the communication side. So I'm excited. We've got a lot of things planned and he said I had to stay to the website tonight. That was our focus. But we're excited to share
059communication updates as well. I gave I also gave you the date the next time you come and share too. It's coming up. We had a lot on the on the on the agenda for tonight. Yeah. has some of the things that we like. I I particularly like that you brought out that it would trickle down and all the schools would have this, not just the high school, but uh having that package where all of them get to take advantage of it, I think is key. Not not having the us and them in our district. I think that's key. Absolutely. A couple things now. Is this the complete beta version right now of the changes that are planned to be made? That would be everything that we showed you in that video. that would be encompassed
060in that $10,000 amount. Okay. Uh I remember the last process um and I for some odd reason I felt like there was like a think tank and there was also a period of time where you know that we had a chance to go and look at it make some more suggestions or see what we is it are we going to have that same thing? We absolutely can. It's it's whatever you all would like to do. Um we don't really have a a specific timeline. No, um we just had the the idea presented. So, we just want to kind of capture some of the things that it can do. Um but we absolutely can schedule that where you guys can come look at it, ask questions, bid. Absolutely. With in the 10,000 is the upgrades in
061there. Yes. Because the last time we did that like we switched to a new website. This is not a new website. This is final site. It's just changing the components to modernize our website and bring us some of those features that we really loved as we were kind of shopping around. Yeah, same contract. But upgrades are going to be included in this new 10,000. Yes. Okay. Yeah. The 10,000 would pay for the refresh or the updates that we're we're we're speaking of now. But yeah, this is not a new website, new provider. Same one. But just since our last one was what, four or five years? Four years. Four years. they now have a an option that we think is better. We just want to present it to you all and get your thoughts on
062if it's something worth, you know, continuing to look at and and pursue. Okay. And it's just both of you that's uh that's come up with refresh. Correct. No, Nicole Faulner, our navigation specialist, is a huge huge component of the website. We appreciate her so much. Um she she helps us with with this portion and so she she is like our lead on this and we work very closely with her. Okay. Well, I uh I for one, I would look forward to the the period where we get a chance to kind of click around and kind of see how things are going to shape up for uh for the the new refresh and then absolutely we'll go from there. All right. All right. Any other questions or comments? All right. Thank you very much. Thank you.
063Now we'll move on to our action items. Action item A, minutes of the board of education, regular meeting May 8th. So move for president. Second. the first and the second. Uh we'll go move on to vote. All in favor say I. I. Any oppose? All right. Motion carries. Next we have the approval of the 25 2026 student parent handbook. Dr. Bishop. Good evening, Mr. President, members of the board, and Dr. Young. This evening, I seek approval of action item B, the 2025 2026 student parent handbooks as presented. I move we accept the uh that we accept this 2025 2026 student parent handbook as presented. Second. We have a first and a second. Are there any questions or comments? All right, with no questions or comments, we'll move on to vote. All in favor say I.
064I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you, Dr. Bishop. Thank you. Next, we have the human resource report. Due to the confidentiality of the report, we want 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 the human resource report be accepted. Approved. I second. First and a second. We'll move on to vote. All in favor say I. I. Any oppose? Motion carries. Thank you, Dr. Hunter. Thank you, sir. Action item D, request approval for the new FACS textbooks for Pike High School. Mr. Inman, good evening, Mr. President, members of the board. Dr. Young, I'm seeking approval for action item D. Uh, approval for new family and consumer science textbooks for Pike High School as presented. So, move.
065So, second. We have a first and a second. Are there any questions or comments? No. No questions or comments. We'll move on to vote. All in favor say I. I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you very much, Mr. Enman. Next action item E, school board resolution preliminary approving the first amendment to the lease of a public hearing and in is instruments of bonds and related to the matters. Mr. Foster. Good evening, Mr. President, members of the board. Dr. Young. I present item E, the school the resolution preliminary approving the first amendment to the lease for a public hearing and issuance of the bonds and related matters. I recommend approval as presented. I move that it be approved. Second. We have first and a second. Are there any questions or comments? No questions or comments.
066We move on to vote. All in favor say I. I. Any oppose? Motion carries. And three more for Mr. Foster. I'd like to combine action items FG and H for approval. Mr. Foster again. Good evening, Mr. President, members of the board, Dr. Young. I recommend approval of items F, G, and H. They recommend they are the monthly claims allowance contracts and the donations. I recommend your approval as presented. I recommend that we approve items FG and HS submitted. Second. We have a first and a second. We'll move on to vote. All in favor for action items F, G, and H say I. I. Any oppose? Motion carries. Thank you, Mr. Foster. Lastly, we have board member items. Dr. Moore. Thank you, Mr. President. Uh last two days I was uh in the district. Uh had
067a great time. Um today is the last day of school. U I'm going to let other board members tell you to to rest and check on your mental illness and and all of that. Um but what I want to do uh tonight because I don't say much at this point but uh sometimes we don't tell people thank you. Um I want to thank you for your dedication. our staff, administrative staff, uh Miss Lori, what she does for us. Yes, Dr. Young, so many others on the team. Uh I appreciate your hard work. I might not say much, but I watch very closely. Um I'm deeply grateful for the dedication I saw at the graduation. Uh I've sent I attended four graduations today, yesterday and yesterday, today and yesterday. Uh I want to thank you for
068your tireless effort to create positive learning environments for our children. Uh I appreciate your hard work in every area of our school system. uh words really cannot express how grateful I am for what we're doing in Pike in the educational and political climate that we're in now. Um I want to thank you for your guidance and support of these students uh especially they are students who I special learning type of students that I had an opportunity to see. I sat back because I I get kind of emotional when I see those kids uh who struggle uh to learn. Um and I want to thank you for your support. All of you, if nobody ever tells you, you might not do it right all the time, but you are invaluable to the lives of children. Um,
069and if nobody else tells you that, I want to thank uh all of you for what I saw the last two days. uh how you have uh prepared children to walk across the stage and in the midst of what you go through as teachers, administrators, I want to thank you for sticking with it and not giving up because we have some difficult days ahead. The bill was signed today and it's going to flow downhill and we don't have time to fight with one another. We have to discuss how we're going to continue to make sure our children pass IE to make sure our children have everything that they need and that we respect our employees. We learn how to support one another in every area that we can to keep Pike at a level that
070other people can look in and say, "I want to be a part of the education system of Pike. Thank you once again for what you do." And uh I pray for you every night because it's a rough job. And um I want to thank all of you for what you do. That's all I got to say. I'll let my sister tell you to have a good vacation. She'll tell you that. Thank you, Dr. Moore. Mrs. Wilson. Yes, I will. I don't want to follow that. Um, so I'm going to make mine short and sweet. Again, I I reiterate what he says that it takes you to sit in here to sacrifice your evenings on Thursdays, every other Thursday, to come here and to present the things that you have to present to the board. and
071then for us to be able to take those things and try to manifest them into what you want and what's best for the community and what's best for the schools of all the schools, elementary, middle schools. So for that I do say thank you. Um I too had the opportunity to enjoy immensely seeing the graduation at Pike High School in the in the PPA. I'm telling you all this so you guys will go next year to watch those kids that were in wheelchairs, the ones that couldn't keep their hands together, the ones that were bouncing around, but they were able to graduate from Pike High School with their caps and their gowns on. And for to that speaks speaks immensely of the department that are working and the principal and Pike that says that you
072know what we want all of our kids to experience and when one way or another to be able to say I graduated from Pike High School. So that was great to see that and of course I got to hug them and they all trampled all over me. So I got a lot of love and then I also wanted to say um head off his my head hats off to the track to the tennis to sports to academics because we seem to be flourishing in all of them. We can't say happy say congratulations to all of them individually but collectively we can and again I want to say thank you guys for your service because we can't do this without you. Thank you Mrs. Wilson, Mr. Hoover. All right. Um I have to say only been
073on the board I guess ending the fifth month here. Uh these last two weeks have without a doubt been the most fun uh two weeks that uh that we have possibly had. There's been so much going on. Uh it it has been exciting. Um want to want to congratulate um Mr. Anderson and Mrs. Barnes on getting exemplary status um with the ISBA. That was awesome. Great to be part of. Um had a great time. got to um walk the Red Devil dash. Didn't do much dashing at it, but I got to enjoy that. It was a great time. They didn't dash any, but I did get to meet and I want to give a shout out to Edward, my friend I made on the course, and then to Aaliyah Smith who finished the 1K event.
074Um try not to cry as I say this, but Aaliyah especially, her heart and her determination and her spirit. Um, every time we use the hashtagpike proud, that is what it exemplifies. And I just want to give her and her family a shout out. That was that was so impressive. Um, let's see. One of the other things, all the graduations, all the ceremonies, um, senior honors night, seeing all of the scholarships that that our students earned, I I heard the number and I I don't want to get it wrong, but it was an astounding number of scholarships that that have been given out this year. Um, was just amazing. And I do want to put a commercial in. I'm already um petitioning for Mr. Polarski to get to be the speaker at the next treasures
075because I have never heard a commercial for Pike Township like I heard that night at senior honors night. Uh it was it was amazing and so I want to thank him for that. Um the exceptional learners breakfast. Um Mr. Ruth and all of his team um having an exceptional learner myself at home. Um it it just does my heart proud. I love seeing what we're doing for all all the kids in our s um school system. Um the Nathaniel Jones Early Learning Center graduation the other night. Um that was everything that the Pike community is about. The Pike community loves to come out. They love to celebrate and you've never seen them celebrate. Do you see them celebrate their babies getting out of and moving on into uh to kindergarten? So that was that was
076tremendous. and Miss Blandon. Um I don't think that there isn't a Fortune 500 company out there that wouldn't be better off without her leading them. Um that she is an incredible leader and just what she's doing with that um that school of ours. It was wonderful. Um the life skills graduation today got a chance to run to my old stomping grounds GCMS and celebrate with them as well. And um w with all of those things wrapped up just personally I've got to say um all of those things are an example of why diversity and equity and inclusion are important. And if anybody out there has a problem with with that being something that is a focus and and something that that we have as a community next year this time get with me. My phone
077number is public. Follow me around. go to all these places and then tell me you've got a problem with it because Pike does it and they do it better than anybody else. Thank you, Mr. Hoofer. Dr. Webster. Wow. Actually, let me shout out to um Mrs. Foster and to uh Mr. Dobs. Those are the events that I attended uh over the last week. uh two special little people that are important to me and they uh moves on another grade and so we were able to attend. It's funny with with uh with the spring concert over at New Augusta North the first of the year we we we listened to that group and they were bump Dr. Bishop, you know, because your son is there. And they were they were they were bump the bump the
078bump bump bump. And I was saying, "Are y'all serious?" But this this spring concert, they took us to they took us to a place and that attests to and actually they were thanking the board for helping them keep the arts. And so that just really took us somewhere. We were proud, parents were proud. And then of course, Miss Foster is doing a very unique job with U New Augusta South and the children over there. So, I'm just grateful. I'm I'm I'm happy. I'm thankful for what we're doing here in Pike. Thank you to all of you. Thank you, Dr. Webster. Mrs. Barnes. Uh I too really enjoy May. Uh there are so many wonderful celebrations that happen. Uh the exceptional learners breakfast that uh Mr. Ruth puts together is just an outstanding testament. and it's
079a great place for parents and for students to be honored and I enjoyed that. Um, I too, as promised, was at the Red Devil dash. I did not dash either. Um, you know, I thought I was going to come in last, but I ended up passing some people in the home stretch. I was really surprised. Oh, really? Like, okay. Um, but it was a lot of fun. So, thank you, Mr. Jacob. It is certainly one of my highlights as a board member to be the representative on your council because I I get to I get to participate in my passion. That's that's one of my passions, too. So, I appreciate the invitation, participation, the medal. I loved it all. It was great and the weather was fantastic. And I too want to gra congratulate our
080board as a collective. Um we're also honored by the Indiana School Board Association for exemplary for another exemplary governance award and it'll be on one of our trophies over there. Thank you, Mrs. Barnes. Miss Kelly. Wow. May again is an awesome time in Pike. Um, we can't be everywhere, but many of us were all around everywhere. I too I too was at the exceptional learners breakfast, the Red Devil Dash. I didn't get to make it to all the different schools because I was at my building where I teach, but we're so grateful for our staff. On last evening, staff was honored. Um, we appreciate you as was stated so much and all that you do and pour into our students and our district. Today was the last day. So, I am going to say my
081normal. Yes, it is time. You've been waiting. Say your normal say to refresh. Yes. Refill, refuel so that in July we can come back stronger and do it again for our kids. Our kids are worth it, but we have to be where we need to be, refreshed through all the things Mr. Jacobs has helped our district have. When I go to other districts, there's nowhere with the wellness program that we have. So, very grateful for what Pike has. Um, an additional shout out to this board. on Tuesday there was where the two of our board members were recognized by ISBA and the board was recognized for another year of our level of training. Um we had five of our seven members attend. That was I think in my time on the board the first time
082we had that many of us attend that event and actually get to participate. And um so looking forward to our involvement with our continued our continued training and improvement of our governance and how we run the district and wanting to serve our students. And the number I believe it was 70,000 dollars that was given in scholarships at um senior night. Yeah, it was as always Our educational foundation is phenomenal with raising funds. I'm excited to hear what the end of the Red Devil Dash total. I I can't wait for that. Um, and then I'll just end with, oh, congratulations to our those who received their the above and beyond recognition because you truly do showcase and highlight what we do best and that's taking care of our children. And then the the assistant principal that
083was recognized for um an extend outstanding alumni love that we are Pike proud and even though we go away from Pike, we come back and jump back in and get right back working with our students and our community and we will see everyone at graduation next week. Thank you, Miss Co. Dr. Y. Well, I will echo the uh sentiments of congratulations to the board collectively and also to our individual board members that have been recognized and um it takes a lot to get to this point here where we send our students off and get ready to graduate another class. So, it's it's a an opportunity for us to exhale and it's very uh emotional so so that I don't break down and start crying. And I'll just say that I could not be more proud
084of our students, our staff, and the and and our in our community. So, thank you. Thank you, Dr. Young. In closing, I just want to um uh thank and echo also echo the same sentiments for the exceptional learners breakfast. Uh is I'm always so happy to uh see our students uh achieve uh their goals and also uh move on to the next level. But I also want to give a special um shout out to Mr. Ruth and his team u and the unsung heroes um because they do a lot. They do a lot. They raise money. They do a lot for those kids. And you can see five scholarships, $2,500 uh and five scholarships. So, uh that is a true labor of love and they truly have the passion to see Pike and our students
085uh get better. Also, um, thank you, uh, Miss Barnes, uh, for taking the mantle, uh, to help us get organized to receive these awards. Uh, Mrs. Barnes, you have, you know, pushed us, and I appreciate that to get us ready and, um, for professional development because that's what we're uh, the committee elect us uh, to be the best board members that we can be. So, thank you very much and congratulations to the rest of the board members on their achievements in that. And lastly, I was over at College Park. U, uh, Mr. Bosik is doing a wonderful job over there uh for their field day. I try to get over there every year for their field day. Um to today they had a big bouncy house obstacle course and uh Dr. Major and I took
086our shoes off and all 215 lbs of me. Oh, I identify with that. Uh we we uh we raced through for the kids. we race through the obstacle course and thank you Dr. Major for allowing me to win. Uh but with that being said, um Dr. Young has a son that's graduating. Oh, yes. Yes. Yes. Um that was part of the reason why Dr. Young mentioned that he didn't want to get emotional, but his son is going to graduate uh with us uh this year, and that's an accomplishment all in itself. So, uh, we look forward to that and thank you for all your hard work, uh, for our staff and our administration and everything that you do. With that being said, we get a motion to adjourn the meeting. So, move, Mr. President. Second.
087Second. All right. Have good evening, everyone. pizza.