001I need to order. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, >> [clears throat] >> indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay, let's get started. Okay, Mr. Perkins, can you please tell what our mission statement is? >> Excellence in education, preparation, and opportunity. >> Thank you. All board members are in attendance. Do you have any public comments? >> I do. >> Okay. >> Good evening, members of the board. My name is Hussein Aslan, and I'm speaking on behalf of the exchange students. A few months ago, after reaching out to the guidance counselors, we were informed that exchange students would not be able to join
002the graduation ceremony. And I want to emphasize that we're not asking to graduate or receive diplomas. And we are asking to only walk during the graduation ceremony. We understand that as exchange students, we're unable to earn an American high school diploma due to our visa. And we are simply asking to walk alongside the classmates we spent this year with. We don't even have to receive anything during graduation, just the opportunity and memory of it. For many of us, coming here was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We left behind our families, homes, and countries to experience the American high school life. Throughout this year, we joined classrooms, participated in activities, and built friendships. Some of us has even volunteered for hours, deepening our community deepening our connections with the community. That is why this decision has been difficult
003for for us to understand. Graduation is one of the most if not the biggest part of our exchange year. So, when we exchange students were told that we may we may be part of the school year but not part of this final moment. It feels as though our presence was under appreciated and not fully included. In fact, there's a Malay word from my country, Malaysia, Muhibbah, that means you have goodwill, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence among different ethnic groups. It embodies mutual respect and a shared sense of community allowing [clears throat] diverse people to celebrate each other's cultures and support one another. I also understand that exchange students will receive an American and Indiana flag. As youth ambassadors of our countries, many of us hope to return home and share the happiest parts of our exchange
004experience with the others. Not every exchange students gets to have a positive and welcoming year. But being able to walk at graduation will give us an immense feeling of acceptance from the community. At the end of the day, we are not asking for academic recognition we did not earn. We are simply asking the opportunity to stand beside of our classmates one last time and take part in a moment that we will never be able to forget. Thank you for [snorts] your time. >> Thank you. >> [clears throat] >> Appreciate your comments as well. We're still working on it. Okay? Just like the other one, we're still working on it. >> Okay. Any other comments? Okay. Moving on to consent items. We have approval of April 20, 2026 minutes, approval of April 24th, 2026 and May
0058th, 2026 payroll, approval of May 2026 claims. Do you have any questions about those? Okay. Okay. Mr. Reed, the personnel, please. >> All right. Got quite a few denouncements. New hires. Andrea Freeze is a high school special education teacher for next school year. Please scratch off the next one. They will not be. Brett Hayes will be joining us as our assistant director of technology. Steve West as a part-time maintenance. Brody Rice middle school football assistant coach as a volunteer. Few reassignments. Amy Moore will be going from seventh grade reading to seventh grade math. Trisha Bird seventh grade math to computer science and math. Stephanie Gorman fourth grade teacher to fifth grade math teacher. Michaela Senecal first grade teacher to fourth grade teacher. Laura Allen elementary PE to middle school PE. Bailey Shafer third grade teacher.
006That's actually a change too, right Brian? She's going to stay at third grade. Yeah. Scratch that. Natasha Watson elementary part-time paraprofessional to full-time para. Tyler Christian from JV baseball assistant coach JV baseball head coach. Jacob Mofler JV baseball assistant coach as a volunteer to the JV baseball assistant coach paid position. Resignations. We have Michelle Dieter elementary school temporary paraprofessional. Grace Newell second grade teacher effective at the end of the school year. Alexis Smith Flatcher high school paraprofessional. Emma Lutz second grade teacher end of the school year. Katie Pape middle school art teacher end of the school year. Olivia Ramsey part-time elementary para. Si Musi JV head baseball coach. Jeff Patrick freshman boys basketball coach. Dave Snyder eighth grade girls basketball coach. Amy Moore middle school cheering coach and Payton Yoder middle school cheering coach as
007a volunteer. Retirements. We do have one Carla Gappinger elementary para. She'll be retiring at the end of the year. And I do have the middle school summer school staff. Payton Yoder will be doing fifth and sixth grade math. Allison Hall fifth and sixth grade ELA. Amy Moore seventh and eighth grade math. Avery Reese seventh and 8th grade ELA, and Jolene Reckers will be our paraprofessional along with Melissa Whitley. >> Okay. Any questions about those? I have a motion, please. >> Motion. >> Okay. >> Second. >> You have a second. [snorts] Ready to vote? [clears throat] 9 to 0. Okay. Moving on action items. >> Okay, recommendation to approve the school fundraisers for the 2026-2027 school year. Hopefully you have a copy of those in your packets. I don't know if you have building principals if
008you want to highlight anything that's maybe different or the same or >> So, the elementary is the same. PTO Well, the same as this previous year. So, the PTO is going to kind of run their own fundraiser. Um they had a pamper hike day last year. Um It's very similar to what we did in the past. So, they they use a raise craze, which is a platform to raise money. And that's money that be part of it again. >> Any questions on elementary field trips? >> No sir. >> Fundraisers It's our off year, so we don't have a big one. I think we'll probably try to do the chili and cinnamon roll supper at some point there. Not a real big fundraiser, but just something in there probably in the fall. Other than that, most
009of the rest of them are pretty status quo from this past year. >> Okay. >> [clears throat] >> Our changes are in yellow pretty much mostly the same. Junior class they want to do some PH spirit wear, but that's all encompassed through Taylor House going to kind of take over that creation of it. So, she's also our junior class sponsor and then NH wanted to do a class delay change counting. They went to Justin's Renaissance program and all the students they came with different ideas. They liked the idea of one day you delay class, bring in a bunch of money change and the teacher has to count it until they can start class. So you kind of delay the class and if you bring in more money then you don't have as much class. So
010that was a good one. >> Yeah, if you find out the teacher. >> [laughter] >> Bring a bunch of pennies. >> Any questions on summer residents? Okay. >> Motion, please. >> Move to approve. >> Trustee Second. Any other second? >> Second. >> Ready to vote, please? Passes 5 to 0. >> Okay, the next one recommendation approve all of our school field trips for the 2026-2027 school year. >> Right. >> So most of ours are the same, pretty consistent. So kindergarten is going to go to a farm and a zoo, cover science standards, things like that. Um first grade is going to go to Kids in Stuff in Albion again and then they're also planning to go to the Potawatomi Zoo. Um second grade is the Botanical Gardens and Science Central, which they actually just did,
011it was really successful. Um and then they're doing they did this one new this year, it was the Indiana Dinosaur Museum and Chocolate Factory, which the title alone is uh pretty enticing for kids. Um and then third grade is doing the Maplewood Nature [snorts] Center, which they've done for a few years now and learned about maple syrup. And then fourth grade does the annual circus trip and then Sauk Village. So a lot of these trips have to do with science and social studies standards. >> Ed. >> Uh now our changes on the front page, uh one addition from this past year and next year from this past year that is new is that there's a new club and it's same club that high school has, Bring Change to Mind. Um kind of a kind of
012a leadership club, just, you know, trying to spread goodwill in in the school. But anyway, they have a uh summit down in um Indy uh that they would like to attend. I mean, it won't be a huge group of kids, but that would be um new, something we haven't done in the past. If you flip it to the the next page, the fifth grade will plan to take the Shrine Circus because they missed out on the fun this year. So, uh you know, we'll we'll we'll get them there so that they have the opportunity to experience that cuz some kids don't have the chance to do that and they they had a what delay day or something ice day, whatever it was in January on that. So, hopefully they can attend next year. And then
013the last one uh we had eighth grade attend the Field of Dreams Career Expo. We're going to have the seventh grade go because the eighth grade goes to Job Spark and seventh grade go with our graduation um standards, the seventh grade will do a grad plan. We think it's important for kids to get exposed to um area businesses and those types of things. So, we're going to have the seventh grade go to the MEC in March um on that field trip. Other than that, most of the field trips are a lot the same. >> Um our only new field trips with the staff, we have a new staff sponsor and she wants to do more leadership training. So, she wants to take them to a leadership training that's I think one in the fall, one
014in the spring and then also um >> [clears throat] >> take the students out in the woods. That's all I have for that. >> Any questions on field trips? Okay. >> I'll make a motion, please. >> So >> Second. >> I hear a second. You can vote. It's 5 to 0. >> Next one, the recommendation to approve school handbook changes for the the school year. All of you should have received copies of those in your packets. Um, I don't think there's real major changes. Probably the biggest one that people are going to be interested in is the cell phone policy. So, uh, let's go through that again real quick and talk about what you're planning on doing in each building. So, Brian? >> So, that was last year's devices in backpacks, um, powered off. So,
015during the school day they will be in backpacks. >> Um, we're going to do the same thing we've done in the past and that's lockers. Um, we did highlight, uh, smartwatches cuz that's, uh, not really been something that's been kind of highlighted. So, we did highlight that. Cell your phones we've been off in our locker for years and then I did add the the language of this is in effect from the first bell to the last bell cuz of that matches stable. >> We kind of matched what they did in the past. We just said off and out of sight, but, um, cell phones are going to go in lockers. The only difference when I handed you guys this is we wanted the language about uh, earbuds and stuff. So, we added in accessories/peripherals. Um,
016I think the major thing I thought of this would be the different offenses and what will occur. Um, we did some researches, quite a bit of research. One of the things and we'll see how this goes, but like once they get to their second offense, we have besides, you know, taking the cell phone for the next 10 school days, the student will check their device in with office staff upon arrival at school. So, that's kind of a way to deter it and then third offense then they have the next 20 days they must check it in at the office. Um, so we kind of added some of that plus there's some detention hours, but we're going to see how that turn it in every morning if they do get, uh, caught with their phone and
017see how that works. >> Questions on that or any of the other handbook changes that you saw there? >> Ever since COVID they got out of the habit of using their lockers. Is that correct? >> Yes. We're still going to, we're still going to allow them to carry their backpacks, but their cell phone must be in their locker. So, if they're, you know, sitting at their desk and they pull a phone out of their backpack, it was supposed to be in their locker. So, you know, you have to play back to them. I did talk with departments again and others in the whole carrying their backpacks, it's What do you say, Damon? But, tardies have cut down the It's been nice. The kids go from point A to point B within 1 or 2 minutes
018and it's it's working well for >> Less friction as well. So, we're not those close for 5 minutes of a passing period. And so, that seems to help cut down on some of the nonsense as well. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I wish you well. >> [laughter] >> I think the bigger challenge could be communication and communicating it to the parents and making sure the parents know cuz those are the ones that are probably the most >> There will be a link on our registration that you have to click on that. Now, are they going to read it? Who knows? But, you have to click on it and then say, "Yes, I received that." >> Okay, good. >> The parents wear it seems to work well, too. We'll put it on there. >> Yeah. I
019think what we can take care of well in advance is going to be >> Yeah, you're good. You're right. >> That's key. >> I agree. Definitely agree on that. >> Okay. I'll make a motion, please. >> I'll make a motion. >> Okay. >> Second. >> I'll second. >> Vote. Passes [snorts] 5 to 0. >> Okay, next one. I have a recommendation to approve the student lunch prices for the 2026-2027 school year. Um the high school will increase 15 cents up to $3. Middle school will increase 10 cents up to $2.85, and the elementary school will increase 10 cents as well up to $2.75. Uh breakfast will remain free for all students. Um I talked to the nature, our food service director. Um the USDA equity guidelines advises lunch prices be at $4.16 each. Um but,
020since we have pretty good balances, we can afford to keep our prices lower than that. But, we should increase a little bit just so that gap is not as wide. So. >> Okay. I'll make a motion. >> Second Nerf. So moved. >> Okay. Justin second. Ready to vote. Passes 5 to 0. >> Okay, the next one. First reading of ISBA policies. In your packet, I listed all those policies for you. I'm going to cover the four new ones that we're going to have. The rest are just small revisions or I'm still converting the old policies over to an ISBA policy. Okay. Uh but the first one 4307. Uh this is a required policy. So this is a law and that is the cell phone policy. So that will be our policy related to that. So
021that's 4307. Uh policy 6120. Uh it's a new policy for material loss, shortage, or theft. Basically what it says amounts that are greater than five $500. Any loss greater than $500 will be reported to the State Board of Accounts. So this is not required by law, but it's in the central policy and it's recommended by the State Board of Accounts. Uh policy 6250. Also a new policy for us uh for prepayment of invoices and claims if the due date is before a board meeting. So if we are on a crunch and an invoice needs paid before the board meeting, that authorizes Christine to go ahead and pay that. Okay. And then the final one, policy 7030. Um it's a policy on fixed assets. Um we've already been doing this. Basically any assets, fixed assets we
022have over $5,000 we have to have inventory of. So Christine works with a company and they come in and do that for us. Um so we've been doing it. We just didn't have a policy for it. So So those are the four new policies. Any questions on those four? Any questions on the other ones? Again, since it's a first reading, so Jamie, when you go back home tonight, you read through all these. >> [snorts] >> You can ask me your question then. >> [laughter] >> So we'll approve those next month. Again, if you have any questions on those in the meantime, let me know. >> Second. >> I'll second. >> Good vote. Passes by zero. >> Okay, next one. Talking a lot about money tonight. Recommendation to approve athletic admission prices for the 2026-27 year.
023In your packet that you have, a memo from Brent Baylor, athletic director, talking about that increase and why that would be needed. Um he's suggesting the prices for middle school events go from $4 to $5 and high school from $5 to $6. And obviously that's, you know, the cost of everything is going up. Officials cost more. Maintenance costs more. Equipment costs more. So, um we've done a pretty good job of trying to keep those as low as we can for as long as we have. Um and I still think we're below probably most schools, but um obviously that's going to affect the uh family passes too as well or a single pass. Those prices will go up, so. He had all those listed there for you. If you have any questions on that. >> [clears
024throat and cough] >> No questions here. Okay. >> Okay. The only question I'd have when it comes family passes and parents that are involved you know, that's their students. Do they get some sort of discount for I mean you know, they're they're the ones who put all the effort getting kids to practice, doing, you know, that stuff being done. Do they get a break in all that? >> I'm not sure I'm I'm not sure I'm following who you're asking about. >> Uh the parents of athletes. >> So, the parents of the students? >> Yeah, yeah. >> I don't know that and I don't think so, but I can verify that for you. Do you Do you know >> I'm not like an athlete's parent. >> Yeah, yeah. >> They would pay their regular fee. >>
025Regular fee. Okay, okay. >> they have a pass sometimes. >> Yeah, yeah. I I I know that. >> It will all save them in the end. >> Yeah, yeah. >> Otherwise, it not to be >> You know, for a family pass, which will go from 200 to 250, you know, if you attend eight events, it's already paid for. >> Yeah, that's right. >> So, that's actually pretty good deal. >> Okay, we have the motion to approve the athletic admission prices for 2026-2027 school year. >> I'm not sure. >> Second. >> Take the vote. 5-0 >> Okay, our last one for the evening, uh recommendation to approve the use of asynchronous learning for the 2026-2027 school year. So, we jumped into that for the first time ever this year, um mainly because we did not want
026to get pushed into the summer with our projects starting. Um overall, you know, we've had feedback. I think we talked about it last board meeting. Uh we've talked about it with our discussions group. Seemed to go pretty well. Um so, I think I'd like to recommend that we use our three asynchronous days only after the use of five makeup days first. So, uh typically, we build in five days. Most of them are within the school year, um but we we definitely believe in being in person, and uh that's where the best learning happens. Um so, we'll still make up the first five, and then any after that, we can use those uh three asynchronous days. And just also FYI, you know, the state grants us two waivers this year from for the snow days. Uh
027they will not do that anymore unless you use three asynchronous days. So, you have to use those first before any more waivers will be granted. So, So, again, I'd like to recommend that we'll go ahead and use those if needed, but we'll make up five days first before using those three days. >> You have a second? >> Second. I got a second. >> Hearing [clears throat] a second, do you wish to vote? Passes 5-0. >> Okay, Brian. It's happening at the elementary. Um so, since we last met, we completed I-learn. Uh the unfortunate thing with I-learn is it's a brand new test, so we won't get our scores like we normally would. It's going to take a little bit longer. I think the projection was like mid-summer. Um Andy, you might know. >> September. >>
028Yeah, so >> Yeah, it's September now. >> Really? Yeah, so that that's a little bit of a disadvantage, but we also completed I-ready um for our third graders. This is preliminary. They can still take it again, but we're on track to leave at the highest pass rate that we've had. So, uh really proud of our staff and our students this year. Uh it's looking really really good. >> What percentage is that, Brian, do you know? >> So, if I include students that um have a 10 programs outside of our building, um not knowing what their pass is, uh we would be roughly 92.8%. Um removing those students would be about 94.5%. We currently only have six students in the building that haven't passed the test, which is >> Awesome. >> Oh, yeah, it's it's really
029good. >> That's good. >> Um we also had our 2-4 music concert. Um if you were there, it was one to remember. Um but, I will say that our staff um pulled together, and it was really great to see Tyler jump out from the audience. If you don't know what I'm talking about, >> He was sick. >> Um on stage. So, >> He was sick. >> It was Yeah. >> So, >> [laughter] >> we I mean, in the high school, a little out of our element for elementary, but we had people up there, and he was out there helping, so I mean, it was it was really great just to see all the staff and community come together and support our kiddos, and they, you know, they kept the show going, so that was good,
030too. Um and then we also had a kindergarten and senior pass-off ceremony. There's video on our Facebook now if you haven't seen it. Um this is now becoming the annual tradition, perhaps. This is the second year we've done it. Um it was pretty neat to see. And then some things that are coming up before the end of the school year, we have our field day and family picnic coming up on Wednesday. We have a variety of awards ceremonies, both academic and behavioral. Um we have a kindergarten concert, and then we also have uh summer school coming up right after that. So, getting close to the end, and just doing some of those final things. >> I did send that video to all of you through your email. Um you may have to request access, and
031that will go back to the teacher who made it, and then they'll approve it for you. But, I did send that to you. Turned out pretty neat. >> Any? Uh ILEARN testing, uh Brian kind of alluded to that. Um yeah, we won't get math, uh ELA, or social studies uh data back till September. Um the science data we got back has been good. Yeah, uh quite a bit above state average at sixth grade level. Uh so, kids did did a good job on that. Um I think overall, uh staff did a good job of stepping in and helping out and getting things uh taken care of, so uh real proud of staff and in their efforts on that. Um field trips, uh had some recent field trips. Uh good reports on the kids' uh behavior
032uh vast majority of those field trips, so uh real real proud of that. Uh past couple weeks we've had had some field trips. One was the uh seventh graders going to uh Camp Chief Little Turtle for some outdoor activities. Fifth grade had their swim week uh at the Kendallville Y, and then eighth grade went down to Finance Park. So, good good information and good stuff you know for that and good end of the year things there. Uh recently uh uh student council, Shannon Staten, and Becky Travis uh teamed up to do a staff appreciation lunch last week with potato and salad bar. Staff really felt appreciated. And um you know, it was it was very very yummy. So, uh good good stuff on that. Coming up, we have Cedar Point trip end of the week.
033Um we've got field day on the 27th. Uh we kind of split it on that day. We have the younger kids in the morning and older kids in the afternoon. We've got our last day of awards to be on the 28th, and we're going to do a little bit of PD uh last day of the year um with the the high school staff doing a little bit of alignment with uh some of the the teachers on that. We're going to make use of that June 1st day. So, that's what's going on at the middle school. >> High school. Uh well, since we last met, we had our prom. I have to thank all the students and staff that helped run that. It was it was an awesome experience. The kids were into it. Uh the
034other fun part was the company that took the photos again this year was the same company from last year, and as we're kind of tearing down at the end, he came up and said, you know, the kids are really respectful, and he said, "But man, they keep us busy." And so, I mean, it was that little circle photo booth and everything is just boom boom boom, and they were going all night. But, uh look like the prom was well attended, and kids behaved outstanding. It was kind of interesting actually need to thank Kenny and Gaylen and uh Tad Frederick. They were the three officers that are out there organizing students. Uh and it was just interesting to hear some of the students from other schools like, "Oh, we didn't have to do this." And so,
035it's just, you know, it was nice to see it, and some thought it was actually cool, which was nice to hear as well. Um they're like, "Well, that's a way to make sure everybody's safe." So, it was just it was just a good night overall. Um the after prom um had a good showing at Angola Bowl. I we had about 60 by 60 kids there. So, it was it was just a good evening. >> Had the testing we did do a government Ilearn which is new. They've had it for years. Um the state has offered it no school has ever taken advantage of it and when they passed this last legislation in January, it's now part of the accountability and you get bonus points if seniors score a certain so we did pilot it. We
036bribed them all to try your best and give you a candy bar so They actually did do a good job. I don't know what the results are going to be but so we did have a pilot test since they were mentioning the [clears throat] Ilearn so we did the government Ilearn. Final exams next Tuesday and Wednesday and then kind of graduation on Friday so >> [clears throat] >> That's all we have. >> Meeting is adjourned at 5:27. Make sure you guys got your sheets for the cabinet