0015:30. All right, it is time. So, if you will please join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance. I want to welcome everyone to this May the 4th. Board of School Trustees meeting. And we will open with recognition of delegations. Persons wishing to be recognized to speak on any item or any agenda item or to be heard as part of a section of the agenda dealing with delegations or citizens comments or to identify themselves by name and the point on the agenda where they wish to be recognized. Yes. Okay. Now, we have a presentation. So, Okay. What else? Okay, we will We want with the recognition. >> So, we just want to kind of we're going to bring this back we spent about it a little bit at our last meeting, but our
002school board was recognized by ISBA, Indiana School Board Association, with their commendable level award. This requires a majority of school board to demonstrate an outstanding commitment to continuous improvement and professional development activities. Individual board member Brian Williams was acknowledged for achieving commendable level. Kendra Bassetti was acknowledged for achieving advanced level. And Greg Oath and Mark Isaac were acknowledged for achieving achieving exemplary level. And we have a our award here again and we'll take a picture at the end and then Lois we wanted you to be able to report on that as well. So, >> exemplary Right. It's a point system. >> four levels, yeah. It's participation in activities by the association. and service type of uh And then of course the the annual conference in Indianapolis. All of that donates into a points total and
003that places you in the various levels. It's the emotion that matters. So thank you. Yeah, thank you all. We appreciate that and we want to make sure we get a picture today, so. Right. And we have a presentation. We will we will move on with the presentation. Uh the teachers from our Opportunity Center are here to do a presentation. Really building an awareness of the program that we have here at the high school that also occasionally serves some of our junior high kids. And this is not something every school has, so it's kind of just an effort for us to meet all of the kids where they are and there are a lot of options here in Mount Vernon, and so this is one of them and they're going to take over. I uh the
004old Hawks are the newest tech. It was the Opportunity Event Center then, and it's just developed and grown as uh the years have gone by, kind of changing as the kids change and the needs change. So, I'm Erica Thomas, I'm the director. This is Kennedy Meyer and she is my right hand person. Enter. I'm M and Julie and then Sam is So I'm going to talk to you about what it is, really. Um, we provide non-traditional pathways um to get their diploma. It's still Mount Vernon High School. It is not a GED, which a lot of people thought for quite some time. Uh, it is a regular Core 40 or general diploma that they earn in the OC with And we try to meet them exactly where they are. They come to us for academic
005reasons, social reasons, emotional reasons, all the reasons. And that we combine and customize our curriculum to meet them where they are. We want to make sure that we're meeting their needs not just educationally, but a lot of them need like social emotional skills that and life skills that we bring to the table for them as well. Yep. >> [clears throat] >> Um, many of our students face significant challenges, including financial hardships, disciplinary obstacles, young parenthood, or they're responsible for helping support their families with the bills. Um, additionally, many experience difficulties with attendance, social interactions, those kinds of things and mental health, all of which can impact their As you know, academic success. If they come and they have that to deal with, they don't care about grades. So, we're building relationships with them so that
006they can do the the courses that they need to and experience the academic success. Um, despite these obstacles, our students demonstrate resilience and determination. We work closely with those at risk of dropping out, encouraging strong attendance, and celebrating their commitment to education. Had the opportunity to to transform challenges into strengths. So that uh replace the traditional um one-size-fits-all and we have many ways to offer the curriculum uh for them to use in a way that best suits them to meet their credits. And there is rigor involved. >> [laughter] >> And and what helps is that we're both very passionate about what we do back what we do back there and I'm building relationships with the kids and I love it. So, I just some statistics from last school year. Uh we had 32 children graduate.
007Three have enlisted in the military. Others entered the workforce. Uh we have CNAs, we have laborers union, mechanics, construction. Three are continuing their education at community college. Two others enrolled in trade school. And then we have, you know, people working at Sonic, JAF, WSI, Capture Park. I mean, they're everywhere. Um you know, not everybody is going to be an honor student. But everybody brings something important to the table. I may be able to tell you about Keats, but I'm going to have a hard time fixing the engine in my car. So, we've got kids that can do every You have to work to >> Okay. I'm having a hard time holding these up. Okay. I'm ready. Really? It's up. I'm not sure. Um, and we're Yeah. Very proud. It could be a little bit harder.
008Did I hurt you? No. I'm sorry. Going to be We're done. Going to be >> rules and structure that they crave, they don't know they crave it. And they they they adhere to them. I mean, I was a classroom teacher for a long time, 20-ish plus years. And uh the kids that we have now are more structured and tow the line. Um um because that's what they crave and what they need. So, anyway. Do you guys have any questions? Yeah. Does a Does a parent have to sign off on the kid going to the OC or is it up to the kid? How does that Yes. Um it's a process. The counselors are involved, parents are involved. We try other methods before, and our goal is for them to come to the OC and to
009be able to get caught up or get where they need to be and then go back. Now, that doesn't happen always, cuz some kids they're their best environment is with us. But, you know, our goal is to get them back out there. Um Um so, counselors, parents, administration, everybody we do, we sign off on um all that for them. This is your first year working together, right? So, they've they've evolved a lot. I think when you came into it, you had some changes you wanted to make right away, and then adding Kennedy to the team has been great for the kids, and we're still working to make it more appealing and doable for more kids who have that need, so. Thank you, ladies. We appreciate it. Yeah. That's realistic. Yes. Thank you, guys. Thanks. All
010right. Thank you. Thank you so much. You bet, if you want. Yeah, it's We can do it later. Thank you. Great resource. Resource. All right. Uh we will move now into recommended actions. Okay, you guys, do you want to take uh both one A and B together? Okay, so we've included the minutes from April 23rd, 2026, as well as um vouchers and electronic transfers. All right, and we will take A and B. Is there a motion to approve the minutes of the April 23rd, 2026 meeting as prepared or as corrected? And is there a motion to authorize payments of payroll checks 40 8951 through 409332 voucher checks 147722 through 147774 and electronic transfers ET003425 through ET003429 as recommended. All the payroll and voucher checks not listed on the voucher listings in the above sequences are
011not approved for payments by this action. I'm moved. Second. As made by Butler, second by Mr. Isaac. Are there any questions, comments, or concerns? Seeing none, we'll move to the vote. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed same sign and motion carried. Now, we have some unfinished business. Course proposal. At the last meeting, the board reviewed and discussed three new courses proposed for the Mount Vernon High School for the 2026-27 school year. Please see the enclosed information for Mr. Hagan for complete details. Is there a motion to grant permission to add the following courses for the [clears throat] 2026-27 school year as recommended? Life Science, Prime Math, American Culture Through Film, Film History, or History Through Film. I'm moved. Second. As made by Mr. Isaac, second by Mr. Williams. Any comments, questions, concerns?
012Seeing none, we'll move to the vote. All in favor signify by saying I. Opposed same sign and the motion carries. And now, we have some new business under personnel. We'll start with resignation. We have the following employees that have resigned. Greg Carlyle, 6th grade boys basketball. Robert Stemple, assistant coach for girls basketball at the junior high. And Mary Stewart, a teacher at assistant at Farmersville. Is there a motion to accept the resignations affected immediately unless otherwise indicated from the list above as read by Dr. Stewart. Second. As made by Mr. Isaac, second by Mr. Williams. Any comments, questions, or concerns? Seeing none, we'll move to the vote. All in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Those same sign. Motion carries. And we have some recommendations for employment, or a recommendation for employment. We're recommending Amanda
013Nelson for the ELA teacher at the junior high. Is there a motion to confirm the employment of Amanda Nelson, ELA teacher at the junior high? I'll move. Second. Motion made by Mr. Williams, second by Ms. Bessette. Comments or questions? Seeing none, we'll move to the vote. All in favor signify by saying aye. Those same sign. And motion carries. And we have a retirement. We do. Karen Barrick, the teacher assistant at for special education at the high school, will retire effective at the end of this school year. And she gave us 15 years of service in her role. Is there a motion to accept the intent to retire from Karen Barrick? I'll move. Motion made by Mr. Isaac, second by Ms. Butler. Any comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none, we'll move to the vote. All in favor
014signify by saying aye. Those same sign. And the motion carries. And we will now discuss some educational meetings. Alicia Schmett is a busy lady, as you know, taking our kids all over the place. And so soon, she will be going with Marcus Reagan for his research project at Purdue on May 4th. Oh, today. Today. See, I she didn't tell me about it, so I wouldn't have Just went and just under the wire. Just today. Yes. FFA will pay those expenses. And she will also be attending with students to the Indiana State FFA Convention in Noblesville, Indiana, June 15th through the 18th. And FFA will also pay those expenses. >> [clears throat] >> Is there a motion to adopt the resolution uh permitting the educational meetings by as read by Dr. Stewart? I'll move. Second. It
015should be by Mr. Williams, seconded by Ms. Bessette. Any comments questions? Seeing none, we'll move to the vote. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed same sign. And motion carries. Now we have some of the appointments we have to make for the 2026-27 school year. We do this annually and so we are recommending the following administrators for like you said as the 2026-27 school year. Do you want me to go ahead and read through those? >> If you would, please. >> Okay. Um Bo Harris, Chief Financial Officer. Brian Hagan, Director of Student Services. Mark Hossetter, Director of HR and Operations. Kristen Duckwitz, Director of Special Services. Amy Halfli, Assistant Director of Special Services. William Stein, Director of Information Systems. Katie Bashaw, Principal at Malvern Elementary. Amanda Wilson, Principal at West Elementary. Stacy Reese,
016Principal at Malvern Junior High School. Scott Strieter, Principal at Malvern High School. And Cody Unger Tim. Did I say it right? Close enough. I'm still working on it. >> it. Assistant Principal at Malvern High School. Leanne Lawshaw, Athletic Director. Is there a motion to appoint the administrators as read by Dr. Stewart for the 2026-27 school year? I'll move. It was made by Ms. Bessette, seconded by Mr. Isaacs. Okay. Hopefully we'll have a couple more for you here soon. We have We have some amendments to that. No, no, no. We're filling our open position. >> Oh, hopefully you said yeah. Okay. Okay. Misunderstood. >> in Farmersville. Okay. Any other comments? Questions? All right. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed same sign. And it will show if you show my abstention, please. Yes. Thank
017you. All right. And then we have some uh some bonds we're going to discuss. Yeah, this is our annual setting of the public bonds for anybody who handles money in our district. Yeah, is there a motion to set public official bonds for the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30th, 2027 as recommended? So moved. Second. Motion is made by Ms. Butler, seconded by Mr. Williams. Any comments, questions, or concerns? Seeing none, we'll move to the vote. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed same sign. And motion carries. And we have some uh textbook adoptions for a good period of time. We We have um enclosed for you a list of textbooks and curricular materials being recommended by teachers, parents, and administrators for the English and world literature for the 2026 school year
018through 2032. Right. Take us through a nice span of time there. Is there a motion to adopt textbooks and other curricular material for English and world literature for 2026 through 2032 as recommended by teachers, parents, and administrators? So moved. Motion is made by Mr. Williams, seconded by Mr. Isaac. Any comments, questions, or concerns? Seeing none, we'll move to the vote. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed same sign. And motion carries. All right, we've reached that uh point in the agenda uh of for information and citizens comments. They'll be covered by the teachers very act. Mhm. Maybe in the history department. Is Dawson Bethel? I believe it's Dawson Bethel. Mhm. They're going to also analyze them. Along with the book to accompany it. In history, many different skills. They might teach him marketing
019skills. So, she is on an extended contract, but that doesn't necessarily cover the whole summer. But there it is longer than the typical 183 uh contract for a teacher. Okay, I have it just in case you asked. Let me pull it up. I didn't print it, but I did ask. Cuz I thought he might want to potentially come and present. And originally he was going to use He has. Are you ready? Do you want to say what you're going to say? >> Well, I was just going to say originally he was going to use a piece of equipment at the University of Evansville, but it's been broke for a while and it wasn't going to be repaired in time, so they had to kind of alter their plans. So, that's how they ended up at
020Purdue. But, illuminator. It's called illuminator. Aluminometer. Aluminometer. >> [laughter] >> She didn't tell me what that was. She just said he I'm sorry, he's going to finish it finish his project. He needs aluminometer to finish the project. UE had one, but it was broken. We've been on a massive massive search for one and Purdue has offered to let us use theirs. He is going to present the whole project to the school board on in June. All right. You we can Junior. He I have an 11-page document that describes it if you'd like me to email it to you. >> [laughter] >> It looks like a dissertation. I may be honest with you. >> [laughter] >> I would love for him to come and tell us more about it. Or and blood draw and um um
021This would probably make sense to you, Lois, but Anyone else? We did. We awarded 23 teachers. Yes. Doing away with it? We are not. Actually, isn't it Aren't you guys going to help with that next year? They're They are doing some adjustments to how they're going to staff it and kind of schedule it into uh incorporate it into the opportunity center, but credit recovery is definitely Yeah. We have to have that. That's right. Mhm. Mhm. Okay. Anyone else? All right. No. Uh non-staff communications and from the superintendent. Uh we've provided you with May menus. We have um closed our RFP process for child care proposals, so hopefully we can bring more information to you at the next meeting. We also have um completed our time frame for the CMC proposals and we'll be digging into
022that in the upcoming week. Also for project that will be happening in the that we've been talking about with the bond issuance and um additions. And we have enclosed a wellness committee report. That's all. And go ahead and take us out with uh future future business and dates. Our next meeting will be May 18th, followed by June 1st, and then June 15th. Um some other important dates, we have Sunday, May 7th, the Baccalaureate in the pack at 6:00 p.m. Um, May 21st is the last day for students. I know they're not counting down. They will miss us so much. Um, May 22nd is our end of staff school meeting and our end of the year breakfast that we have. And we have graduation May 22nd at 7:00 p.m. And left on the agenda is uh
023just to review the policy 206 line and staff relations chart that was enclosed. And it's teacher appreciation week. So, we're thankful for all of our teachers and our staff. >> saw West. I saw Yeah, they have their signs up. I saw the signs out at West, yeah. Just in time, right? Teachers need to be appreciated in May Absolutely. to get through the end of the month. All right. Yeah. And with that, is there any other burns from the board members? Mhm. All right. Seeing nothing else, we stand adjourned.