001I love this school. Uh the [music] students are like really nice. Uh the teachers, they're really positive. And yeah. Like the teachers in my old school, I never asked questions with my teachers. And now at this school, since my mom went here, so I [music] basically know all the teachers that's here. So now I can express to what I'm feeling and what I need to ask. My friends. You know, yeah, cuz [music] you know, the education is pretty good. The The teachers are great, [music] you know. But my friends is the best part. What I like most about him at Central was definitely the students, the people. You know, all the people I met uh since I've [music] been here cuz I moved here um uh middle school. So like the people [music] have been
002great. I made a lot of memories since freshman year. Uh sophomore year, all the years, [music] you know. Some days you're going to have days where like you don't want to come. But like like the days I come [music] like if it get funner and funner as like I get in the older grade. But it's [music] not it's not easy, but like when you do what you got to do, it become easy. So it's really just chill to me. It's good. There's never any like problems or nothing. It's always like good vibes. [music] Everybody like chill. I like the people. Okay. I like the community. I would definitely say it's fun. [music] It's definitely creative. Like you definitely don't know what you're going to get coming [music] through the door every day. In a in
003a good way though. Um Um I would say [music] it's safe. It's loving. Um It's definitely welcoming. The teachers the most about the school. Yeah. To my experience, the [music] morals pretty good. I don't have any complaints. Okay. The atmosphere is good here. And there's there's good people here. Because um when she teaches, [music] it like actually makes me want to actually try the things she teaches cuz the way she she does it is uh so like inspiring to me. Goat nation, LET'S RIDE. I LOVE THIS SCHOOL. UH the students are like really nice. Uh the teachers, [music] they're really positive. And yeah. Like the teachers in my old school, I never asked questions >> [music] >> with my teachers. And now at this school, since my mom went here, so I basically know all
004the [music] teachers that's here. So now I can express to what I'm feeling and what I need to ask. My friends. You know, yeah, cuz [music] you know, the education is pretty good. The The teachers are great, you know. But my friends is the best part. What I like most about him at Central was definitely the students, the people. You know, all the people I met uh since [music] I've been here cuz I moved here um uh middle school. So like the people have been great. I made a lot of memories [music] since freshman year. Uh sophomore year, all the years, you know. Some days you're going to have days where like you don't want to come. But like like the days I come [music] like if it get funner and funner as like I
005get in the older grade. But it's not it's not easy, but like [music] when you do what you got to do, it become easy. So it's really just chill to me. It's good. [music] There's never any like problems or nothing. It's always like good vibes. Everybody like chill. I like the people. Okay. I like the community. I would definitely say it's fun. It's [music] definitely creative. Like you definitely don't know what you're going to get coming through the door every day. In a in a good way though. Um Um I would say it's safe. [music] It's loving. Um It's definitely welcoming. The teachers the most about the school. Yeah. To my experience, the morals pretty good. I don't have any complaints. Okay. The atmosphere is good [music] here. And there's there's good people here. Because
006um when she teaches, [music] it like actually makes me want to actually try the things she teaches cuz the way she she does it is uh so like inspiring to me. Goat nation, LET'S RIDE. I LOVE THIS SCHOOL. Uh the students are like really nice. Uh the teachers, [music] they're really positive. And yeah. >> [laughter] >> Like the teachers in my old school, I never asked questions with my teachers. And now at this school, since my mom went here, so I basically know all [music] the teachers that's here. So now I can express to what I'm feeling and what I need to ask. My friends. You know, yeah, [music] cuz you know, the education is pretty good. The The teachers [music] are great, you know. But my friends is the best part. What I like
007most about him at Central was definitely the students, the people. You know, all the people I met uh since I've been here cuz I moved here um uh middle school. So like the people have been [music] great. I made a lot of memories since freshman year. Uh sophomore year, all [music] the years, you know. Some days you're going to have days where like you don't want to come. But like like the days [music] I come like if it get funner and funner as like I get in the older grade. But it's not it's not easy, but like when you do what you got to do, it become easy. So it's really just [music] chill to me. It's good. There's never any like problems or nothing. It's always like good vibes. [music] Everybody like chill. I
008like the people. Okay. I like the community. [music] I would definitely say it's fun. It's definitely creative. Like you definitely don't know what you're going to get coming through the door every day. In a in [music] a good way though. Um Um I would say it's safe. [music] It's loving. Um It's definitely welcoming. [music] The teachers the most about the school. Yeah. To my experience, the morals [music] pretty good. I don't have any complaints. Okay. The atmosphere is good here. And this there's good people here. Because um when she teaches, [music] it like actually makes me want to actually try the things she teaches cuz of the way she she [music] does it. It's uh so like inspiring to me. Gaucho nation, LET'S RIDE. I LOVE THE SCHOOL. Um the students are like [music] really
009nice. Um the teachers, they're really positive. And yeah. Like the teachers in my old school, I never asked questions with my teachers. And now at this school, since my mom went here, so I basically know [music] all the teachers that's here. So now I can express to what I'm feeling and what I need to ask. My friends. You know, yeah, cuz >> [music] >> you know, the education is pretty good. The The teachers are great, you know. But my friends is the best part. What I like most about Hamden Central is definitely the students, the people. You know, all the people I met uh since I've [music] been here cuz I moved here um uh middle school. So like the people [music] have been great. I've made a lot of memories since freshman year. Uh
010sophomore year, [music] all the years, you know. Some days you're going to have days where like you don't want to come. But like like the days I come, like [music] if it get funner and funner as like I get in the older grade. But it's not [music] it's not easy, but like when you do what you got to do, it becomes easy. So it's really just chill to me. It's good. There's never [music] any like problems or nothing. It's always like good vibes. Everybody like chill. I like the people. Okay. I like the community. I would definitely say it's fun. It's definitely creative. [music] Like you definitely don't know what you're going to get coming through the door every day. In a In a good way though. Um Um [music] I would say it's safe.
011It's loving. Um It's definitely welcoming. The teachers [music] the most about the school. Yeah, to my experience, the mornings pretty good. I don't have any complaints. Okay. The atmosphere is good here. And this there's good people here. Because um when she teaches, [music] it like actually makes me want to actually try the things she teaches cuz of the way she she does it. It's uh so like inspiring to me. Gaucho nation, let's ride. I love the school. Um the students [music] are like really nice. Um the teachers, they're really positive. And [music] yeah. Like the teachers in my old school, I never asked questions with my teachers. And now at this school, since my mom went here, so I basically know all the teachers that's here. So now I can express to what I'm feeling
012and what I need to ask. My friends. >> [music] >> You know, yeah, cuz you know, the education is pretty good. The The teachers are great, [music] you know. But my friends is the best part. What I like most about Hamden Central is [music] definitely the students, the people. You know, all the people I met uh since I've been here cuz I moved [music] here um uh middle school. So like the people have been great. I've made [music] a lot of memories since freshman year. Uh sophomore year, all the years, you know. Some days you're going to have days where like you don't want to come. But like like the days I come, [music] like if it get funner and funner as like I get in the older grade. But [music] it's not it's not
013easy, but like when you do what you got to do, it becomes easy. So it's really just chill to me. It's good. There's [music] never any like problems or nothing. It's always like good vibes. Everybody [music] like chill. I like the people. Okay. I like the community. I would definitely say it's fun. It's [music] definitely creative. Like you definitely don't know what you're going to get coming through the door every day. In a In a good way though. Um Um I would say it's safe. It's loving. Um It's definitely welcoming. The teachers the most [music] about the school. Yeah, to my experience, the mornings pretty good. I don't have any complaints. Okay. The atmosphere is good [music] here. And this there's good people here. Because [music] um when she teaches, it like actually makes me
014want to actually try the things she teaches cuz of the way she she does it. It's uh so like inspiring to me. Gaucho nation, let's ride. I love the school. Um the students are like really nice. >> [music] >> Um the teachers, they're really positive. And yeah. Like the teachers in my old school, I never asked questions with my teachers. And now at this school, since my mom went here, so I basically [music] know all the teachers that's here. So now I can express to what I'm feeling and what I need to ask. My friends. You know, yeah, cuz [music] you know, the education is pretty good. The The teachers [music] are great, you know. But my friends is the best part. What I like most about Hamden Central is definitely the students, the people.
015You know, all the people I met uh since I've been here [music] cuz I moved here um uh middle school. So like the people have been great. I've made a lot of memories since freshman year. Uh sophomore year, all the years, you know. Some days you're going to have days where like you don't want to come. But like like the days I [music] come, like if it get funner and funner as like I get in the older grade. But it's not it's not easy, [music] but like when you do what you got to do, it becomes easy. So it's really just chill to me. It's good. There's never any like problems or nothing. It's always like good vibes. Everybody [music] like chill. I like the people. Okay. I like the community. I would definitely [music]
016say it's fun. It's definitely creative. Like you definitely don't know what you're going to get coming through the door every day. In a In a good way though. Um Um I would say it's [music] safe. It's loving. Um It's definitely welcoming. The teachers are the most about the school. Yeah. To my experience, the school is pretty good. I don't have any complaints. Okay. The atmosphere is good here. And there's there's good people here. Because um when she teaches [music] it like actually makes me want to actually try the things she teaches because of the way she she does [music] it. It's uh so like inspiring to me. G-Nation, let's ride. I love the school. Uh the students are like really nice. Uh the teachers, [music] they really positive. And yeah. Like the teachers In my
017old school, I never asked questions with my teachers. And now at [music] this school since my mom went here so I basically know all the teachers that's here. Okay. Okay. Good evening everyone. Welcome to the School City of Hammond's Tuesday, March 17th, 2026 regular meeting. And uh I understand this is Women's History Month we're celebrating. And I see all of our leprechauns out there for St. Patrick's Day. So we're all here and ready to move forward with an incredible school board meeting. Can we stand those I can and and do the Pledge of Allegiance? Oh God. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Amen. >> [clears throat] >> Roll call of
018officers. Trustee Guerra Present. Trustee Stanford Here. Trustee um Spencer Present. Trustee uh Candelaria Present. Trustee Blake King, present. We have a quorum and we are ready to move forward. Mr. Salinas Good evening. Good evening trustees. Yeah. No. No. On test Are there All right. Good evening trustees, members of the community. Thank you for being here. >> Trustee Mr. Salinas, hold up. I have an announcement to make. I apologize. We did have a change on our agenda. There is an additional agenda item uh that we will be addressing. And uh so for the record, there is an agenda item addition to tonight's board meeting. Is that okay, Mr. Attorney Harris? Yes, and there are updated agendas. Okay, and there are updated agendas for those who needs one. Okay, Mr. Salinas, thank you. Thank you. All right,
019this evening we're going to have our financial presentation. I'd like to call Mr. Daniel Bolton to the podium, please. Thank you, sir. Good evening, superintendent Salinas. Can you hear him? It's on. Try again. All right, good evening trustees and Superintendent Salinas. Thank you for that introduction. I'm here to give a brief update on the uh financial report through February 2026. All right, thank you. And second page, please. So you'll see here a list of the major funds and the balances at the uh beginning of February and then at the end of February. Uh and then the receipts and receipts and disbursements in between. Just for reference, um the ending balance January 31st was uh for the education fund was 24.3 million. End of February, 25.3 million. And then in the operations fund, the ending balance
020January 31st was 19.1 million and ending balance February 28th was is now 17. uh roughly 18 million. And then as I reference uh have referenced in prior months, the title funds are reimbursement based. And so we will make expenditures and then request reimbursement from the state. Um for example, Title 1, you'll notice that the balance as of February 28th is negative $200,000. We will end up being reimbursed that amount uh because we have spent and then we'll ask the state for that reimbursement. Moving forward Here is just a oh outlook at the January and February revenues versus the expenditures. Um as the months progress, you'll notice that the scale of this all will kind of uh familiarize itself. If you recall from December, we had January through or January through November listed and they were
021all relatively similar in terms of the revenues versus the expenditures. Operations fund, next page. So you notice that we're pretty heavy on the expenditures for January and February, but this is natural because the operations fund is is sole revenue source is property tax based, which we receive twice a year in June and in December. Next page, please. Debt service fund is is similar um except for we make debt service payments in January and July. We'll receive property tax payments in June and December. So it's kind of a one-month offage as I've um explained in previous months. And then the next page is the budget versus the actual expenditures. Um you'll notice that the in the education fund, we spent roughly 20% of the budgeted amount. So we'll want to keep a close eye on the
022education fund moving forward for the rest of the year. Um debt service falls fairly in line with our anticipated um budget versus actual expense because we made January debt service payments and we will also be making July debt service payments. In the operations fund, you'll notice we have remaining 83% of of the total budget. So that we're on a pretty good track in that fund right now. Hm. Any questions? So we're >> [clears throat] >> we're looking at 79.82 remaining in budget, 58.50%. 83.08%. So that's that's pretty good. You would say, correct? That's correct. >> Okay. And January in the education fund will always likely be inflated because of end of year activity. Right. Okay. Mhm. In the operations fund, you'll notice 17% spent. If you divide one month over 12 months, what is that?
0238%? So we're roughly on track for spending 1/12 of the budget each month. >> Okay. Keep us on track. And then the next two pages are a month-by-month cash flow. Um and again, I know these are very this is very small text, but this document is available through BoardDocs and you it gives you kind of an indicator of what is the actual activity through January and February and what are we predicting for the the rest of the 10 months of the year. And by no means is this a static document. This will ebb and flow depending on um for example, when circuit breakers come out next month, we from the state, we will know exactly what the circuit breaker impact is for the operations fund. Right now, it's a prediction. But a month from now,
024we should know the actual number. And that that will be uh plugged into this document and and revise our adjustments. So that that one is the education fund and then the next page is the operations fund. And you'll notice on the bottom right corner, there's a red box. It's very small. That is the fund surplus deficit in 2026 and we are projecting a $6 million loss to the operations fund. Now, that's not because of decisions made by the board. That is mainly due to legislative activity, legislative decisions, which inhibit the amount of revenue we can receive. And so I just wanted to make that statement very clear that we will see a uh staggered circuit breaker impact to the operations fund. Okay. Which will inhibit the amount of revenue that the district can receive. And
025that's not just for school districts, that's for every municipality in the state. And so if there are any questions on that, I'm happy to follow up. Any questions from the board? Um So as projected, if we continue to spend just how we're spending, we will be negative 6 million at the end of the year in the operations fund. No, so look at the cash and fund balance that bottom line that runs all the way from left to right. You'll end with 14.6 million in the fund. You're going to burn 6 million of the of the reserves. So we started the year with 21 million and you're going to burn six 6.2 million based on our fairly exaggerated projections. I want to show you the worst-case scenario. Yes. There's still a difference of 6 million that
026we're going to have to somehow either save or not spend as much. So it's all sitting in in account, a fund, right now. >> Is that that's in our rainy day, is it? No, no, no. This is This is the operations fund. It's it's it's its sole account. And it cur- it currently has a cash balance. We're projecting by the end of the year it's going to burn $6 million of that cash balance. And then we'll still have a cash balance, though. >> Yes. Thank you. Mhm. Great question. Vice President Spencer. Are there any more questions? Uh Trustee Stanford, can you hear us? She's She's nodding. Oh, she's there. Okay. So uh if there is no other questions, um Mr. Dalton, thank you very much. >> Yes, I'm sorry I'm sorry. I was on mute,
027so yes, I can hear you. Okay. Do you have any questions regarding No, I did not. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Dalton. Thank you. Mr. Salinas. Thank you very much, Mr. Dalton, for that financial update. At this time, I would like to call um our athletic director of Morton High School, Mr. Shawn Kinsey, who's going to be giving us a presentation on the Morton High School athletic program. Mr. Kinsey, welcome to the podium. >> [applause] >> Thank you, uh Superintendent Salinas, School Board President Blake Blake King, and School Board Trustees for the opportunity to celebrate our Governor's Student Athletes and Staff. So at this time, I want to have them come up. Come on up. Come on, GOVERNORS. WOO! >> [applause] >> YEAH, WE ROLLING DEEP TODAY, Y'ALL. OKAY, um could you go to the
028next slide? So while they're lining up, if you guys want to just line up behind me or to the sides, um I I wanted to emphasize that education-based athletics is what we're about. Um we are an extension of the classroom. Our purpose is more than just wins, losses, and cool uniforms. Um we do a lot. We do a lot with these kids beyond playing sports. Um being a student athlete is hard work. Some of these kids, I could give you stories about the day the day things that they go through. Um and life is hard, too. And and that's what uh these things teach them. Exactly. >> And so you'll see a lot of these kids in in these pictures right here. We get the opportunities to celebrate them with signing days. Um for some
029of these athletes, like sports is probably their why uh when it comes to their education. But for some of them, it's their release. Some of these kids are straight A's. Izzy is a top 20 student. Um and and sports kind of gives him a break from maybe some of the rigors of his academic life. Uh go ahead. So we intentionally develop leaders with our athletic program. Uh we do things with our student athletic um advisory committee, um with the kids camps that we host. We even have alumni to come back and host camps um for the kids for free. Um this teaches them so many lessons. We're intentional about the way we develop leadership with our program. Um and we're intentional with the character building piece as well. Um we want to make sure um
030that these kids understand that they they can lose without excuses, uh win like they've been there before, accept their team roles, and being responsible for their preparation. Um so uh one of the things that we we emphasize out the gate is our students must be um uh students first. And so we implemented a academic tracking program. Any of our student athletes with D's or F's um immediately get tracked in season, and then all of our freshmen, we consider like that, they get tracked. And so not only are we tracking and documenting, we're also documenting the conversations we have with those kids on a weekly basis, and that's done with some of the support staff that we have. We also uh make sure that our our coaches get on Mondays uh updated reports of our kids'
031grades. Um and so many of those coaches use those grade reports to do interventions within their teams. Um so some of those kids, instead of practicing to start, they may be doing a study table to start a practice. Um and so these things have all allowed for a certain level of success to happen that really hasn't happened um with the amount of kids that we'll talk about experiencing next-level success um after high school with athletics. Um you can go ahead to the next one. So I want to recognize our head football coach, Mac Missler. If you want to step forward, Coach Mac. >> [applause] >> Um he has kind of led the charge for making sure our kids not only meet their high school uh eligibility, but their NCAA eligibility. So what you see is
032a tracker. Um with NCAA, you got to have a 2.4 core GPA. That's different than kind of how we calculate a GPA for um overall transcripts. Um and so with that, he has done a great job of keeping our kids on pace um and making sure that they stay on track to have those opportunities. He also takes those weekly tracks that we give, and he's set up spreadsheets and has specific study table days that the team does even now in the off-season. It's it's March. They have a study table day every week. Um and with that, we've been able to have a lot of success with our student athletes going to college. So since 2016, uh we've had 56 football players leave Morton football and go on to become college football players. >> [applause] >>
033Uh Izzy, step forward. Israel Cuellar, um senior. He made Academic All-State this year. He's also in our top 20. He is the sixth football player in 5 years to receive this honor. Wow. >> [applause] >> You can go ahead. Oh, yeah. And Coach Mac's wife is a is a math teacher over at Highland. She has helped out with with study tables, with tutoring, as well as Mr. Dalton. So thank you to those two as well for helping out. Um >> [applause] >> So I wanted to acknowledge uh we we've had some of these athletes uh recently uh signed. We've had five players sign college scholarships so far. So Cameron Miller, junior, he's not here. He uh signed with Kentucky. He already early graduated and enrolled, and so that's him in the bottom corner picture working
034out already with Kentucky. Um >> [applause] >> We also have uh Martise Smith, who signed to actually signed to Toledo, then that coach left to UConn, and that coach wanted him to come to UConn. So now Martise is headed to the University of Connecticut. Step forward, Martise. >> [applause] >> Full ride Division 1 scholarship. Um we have uh his cousin, Jaylen Arnold, signed uh to the newly formed Chicago State Division 1 football program. Jaylen, step forward. >> [applause] >> Um we also had uh Antoine Matthews, who's not here, who went to Grand Valley State. And then Davion Terry signed with Benedictine University. DAVION, STEP FORWARD. >> [applause] >> OKAY. AND WE WILL HAVE A FEW more um that that will will be signing soon. Um but we signing day isn't the only thing we look
035forward to. If you go to the next one, these are some of the students that we've had um that were graduates in the past that are now graduates in college. And that's what it's all about for us at the end of the day. Um we definitely keep track of these things. Um these are just a few. Um but this this has been a a long-term build with with the success we've had with this program. Um and so I just wanted to highlight that as well. Go ahead. Um so the football program's had a lot of accolades this year. Um just yesterday, well, I'll start with Martise and Jaylen. Step back forward, y'all, two the cousins. They were both named uh All-State to the All-State team this year. So they're All-State football players. >> [applause] >>
036Davion Davion yesterday was selected to play for the North in the North the annual North-South All-Star football game this summer in July. >> [applause] >> So Davion will be playing in that game. Um and then we had a number of other kids that are here today. So Martise, Jaylen, Davion, Cam, Izzy, and a freshman quarterback, step up. Israel, I mean Amari Price um all received media honors this year. And I want the other guy, the big one, to step up, Cordero Bennett. So, Cordero was in one of those pictures on the previous slide. Cordero is in class of 2028. He's already been offered by 10 Division I schools, including the national champs, Indiana University, [applause] Ole Miss, Auburn, to name a few. So, he big things coming in his future. All right. Next slide. So,
037I wanted to talk about, along with academics, making that piece happen. We've been intentional with developing our athletic performance program. Coach Rob Gardner step forward. Coach is instrumental in what he does for our program in so many ways. He's a lot He's close with a lot of these kids and very impactful, but he's also a certified strength and conditioning specialist. He has merged our football and track programs in ways that didn't happen before. He also assists other coaches in developing their strength program. He's implemented the app team builder. I don't know if you want to speak about how that app works. I don't know how it works. Yeah, so this is the [clears throat] app that you can see there. It just allows the kids to be able to put their weight in every day
038when they lifted. They put their weight in. It's all calculated there. And I'm able to go in and look at the data and you can see there how the kids are going up or going down as far as weight moving. And we use it for our time and our vertical jump so it's just a different way to track data and make sure the kids have some responsibility. And so, with that, the results show our kids are receiving scholarship offers at higher levels than has ever happened in in our program's history. And in the track program that Coach Gardner became the head coach of in 2022-23 has now went to three state finals meets. Last year we placed third in the 4 by 1. And do we We got Mike step up, Mike. And McBride step
039up. Jaren's not here. >> [applause] >> So, Go ahead to the next one. Marcus just reset the long jump record for Morton High School in the first meet of the season. So, we got a long way to go. Hopefully [applause] he he'll be jumping in the state meet. Mike Walker. And Jaren isn't here, so Jaren was like the faster one last year. He's a senior. And he's broke all the school records, but now Mike, the sophomore, has passed him. So, they're like competing every day. So, Mike right now is the number one in the state of Indiana in the 60 meter. He's number one in the state of Indiana in the in the 200, right? And not this weekend, but the next weekend will be indoor state at Purdue. So, he's qualified, right? And he's
040qualified and Jaren's qualified. In our 4 by 2 team that Davion is in runs in that as well. So, go ahead to the next slide. He didn't add the ones. Okay. Go back. So, Michael I had added a slide, but Michael step up, Mike. He got this hat on and this medal. So, he ran at the New Balance Nationals indoor meet this weekend in Boston. And he is now an indoor All-American. He placed second, I mean, sixth in the 200 meter. This is with some of the fastest kids in the country. I had a picture if you know the Olympian Quincy Wilson, the other high school kid that got a gold medal the last Olympics. He got a picture with him and he has all this gear and his career's just starting. He's only a
041sophomore. All right. Okay, go ahead. All right, so then that success has like continued into other programs. So, I want to recognize our baseball and softball recent signees. If Coach Benard can step up. Coach Adam Benard has done a awesome job with the program. >> [applause] >> So, we also had Michael Stevens step up. Michael Stevens signed to Purdue Northwest. >> [applause] >> And then Nate George. Devin Singh. And Marcellus McQueen step up. They all signed with Calumet College NAIA and we playing scholarship baseball. >> [applause] >> Elani isn't here, but Elani, she also like played on our sectional baseball roster. So, she's that talented of a softball athlete. She'll be going to Morton College, go figure, next year on a softball scholarship. That's her in the middle right there in that in that group
042picture in the corner. So, and then I had some other pictures this past weekend. I want to give a shoutout and congratulate Coach Benard for hosting his first kids training camp last week. It was a huge success. >> [applause] >> All right, and then I have Coach Harris and KP Patterson. If they could step up. So, Coach Jamisha Harris has This year our girls basketball head coach. She's been for a couple years now. Is this year four? Year four. And she started She was our inaugural head girls flag football coach as well. She's also an assistant track coach for us. So, our girls flag team, talk about them first, had its first season. We were like what, three points? Two So, we We got most of them girls back, including KP who also plays flag
043football if y'all didn't know. And so, Coach Harris was selected one of those weeks to be the Indianapolis Colts Coach of the Week and got recognized during a game or Colts home game this fall. That's a picture of her with the plaque they gave her at their facilities, but she got to get recognized on the field. It was really cool. And then um So, I just wanted to talk about also their team. They had a 17 and 2 record this season, the best record in school history at Morton. >> [applause] >> We're definitely excited. The core of that team is coming back next year. And so, we have Miss Kyla Patterson, KP as we all call her. If you want to go ahead, go to the next one. So, she's done some firsts at Morton
044High School. She accomplished many milestones as a junior. So, she still has a whole 'nother year left. She broke the career scoring record at Morton High School this year. >> [applause] >> KP is the first Indy Star Indiana All-Star in school history. She got selected to the Indiana All-Star team. She'll play against the junior Kentucky All-Stars and the senior All-Stars. She's the first Indiana All-Star in school history. >> [applause] >> She made IBCA Supreme 15 Underclass All-State. So, they do like the Supreme 15, then the large school, and then the small school. She is Supreme 15, one of the top juniors in the state of Indiana. And then with the Indiana All-Star, they do it into like three groups. She's in the core seven group. So, she's amongst the top seven players in the state
045of Indiana in girls basketball. >> [applause] >> She She also was Times and Post-Tribune First Team All-Area. You might have seen Maybe people saw, but KP went viral this year when she She shot a full court shot. I don't know if you have the video. We don't have it. We got to have it. But she won the game. >> There it is. And she woke up on ESPN the next morning. Here we go. Number two, Indiana girls high school basketball. Hammond Morton and TF North. [music] Final seconds of this game is tied at 64. This is Morton's Kyla Patterson. She just like >> That's one hand. Who is it? It is one hand. >> it like a football. >> Holy hell. SHE ALSO HAD >> [laughter] >> 25 points and 15 rebounds. Holy moly. Morton's
046the number one player in western Indiana. >> [applause] >> OH MY GOODNESS. TREMENDOUS. COME ON, GUYS. GIVE IT >> [applause] >> PERFECT. TREMENDOUS. EASY. >> [applause] >> 5 3. Number two, Indiana girls high school basketball. Hammond Morton and TF North. Final seconds [music] of this game is tied at 64. This is Morton's Kyla Patterson. She just like >> hand. Who is it? It is one hand. >> She threw it like a football. Holy hell. She also had 24 points and 15 rebounds. Holy molly. Wow. And believe it or not, that wasn't the only viral moment of the year. So, where is Mike at? I don't know if people saw it. They wanted to track me and the baton got dropped on the last leg and they hit the ground and picked it up and he
047caught up to everybody. That video now has 17.7 million views between Instagram >> [applause] >> Instagram and TikTok. So, we just have some tremendously talented adults and we have a staff that they really works together. I mean, all these coaches up here work together with each other and make it all happen and we we definitely excited about our future success and thank you for celebrating our kids today. THANK YOU. MRS. WHEELER, come up. Come on up here. >> [applause] >> The mansion. ONLY THE MANSION. >> [laughter] >> I LOVE THE PRIDE. I love the joy, the jubilee. This is what it's all about. Athletics and academics together and it works. It works throughout School City of Hammond. We appreciate the entire staff. Mr. Kinsey, you are our Superman among others. And any board members have
048anything to say? My God, Stanford. This is what Go ahead. I'm not on. Oh, I'll switch it. Oh, just impressed. Just thoroughly impressed. >> [applause] [clears throat] >> Once again, thank you. Um One board member stepped out, but we still have a quorum, so we can move forward, Mr. Salinas. And again, thank these young folks for all that you do. Thank you again ours to our student athletes. AD Kinsey, again as he mentioned, it's it's no easy feat to be a both a student and an athlete and to be this successful. So, we're very proud of you and we thank you for for your efforts here in Hammond. We're going to go ahead and continue on with our presentations and next I'd like to call up, let's see who's coming to the mic. I think
049it's Mr. Seaman, right? Mr. Tim Seaman and Ms. Andie Celestine, are you going to be joining? >> [laughter] >> It's all Tim. All right. Okay. He's going to be talking a little bit about disability awareness recognition and a special presentation within our exceptional learner special education department. So, thank you. Good evening, school board president King, trustees, Mr. Salinas. Um thank you for the opportunity to share a presentation that we put together celebrating disability awareness month. Um I didn't realize it was St. Patrick's Day or I would have found something [laughter] green to wear, but um I forgot all about it. But I um want to take this opportunity to share this slide presentation and recognize also Andie Celestine for putting it together um for the district. She was the architect of putting this presentation together.
050Special education department has programs at all 15 schools throughout the district. Um this presentation is just a snapshot of the great things that are going on every single day. And the theme of the presentation is I feel included when. And I just want to take this opportunity to thank the teachers, the paraprofessionals, and all of the groups that work with our students on a daily basis. I think you'll enjoy the presentation. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening. Good evening, board members, families, and colleagues. Thank you for being here tonight. This March, in recognition of disability awareness month, the special education department of the School City of Hammond is proud to share something close to our hearts, the voices of our students. Tonight's presentation is called I feel included when. Before we visit each of our
051schools, we want to ground ourselves in what inclusion actually means. Inclusion means every student is seen, recognized for their unique strengths, identity, and potential. Heard, given a genuine voice in their learning and school community. Valued, understood as an essential contributing member, not a guest. As Hammond Central students said, I feel included when my teachers follow my IEP. I feel included when teachers add me to conversations. I feel included when I can share my unique perspective without fear of judgment. This is what our students tell us daily. Across the School City of Hammond, inclusion is not the work of one school or one team. It is the commitment of all 15 of our schools from the Early Learning Center through the Area Career Center. >> [music] >> What you're about to see is a snapshot of
052that commitment in action, one school at a time. We begin at the Early Learning Center, where inclusion starts before kindergarten. Our youngest learners are already developing a sense of community and belonging. Even at our earliest ages, students understand what it means to be [music] needed and to help. At Burns Hicks Elementary, our staff and students are building a community where every child feels they belong. Take a moment to look at these students, the connections being made, the work being done together. This is inclusion in action. At Edison Elementary, our students and educators are creating classrooms where every learner is an active participant. Every photo you see in this presentation represents a student who showed up, engaged, [music] and was welcomed. Franklin Elementary brings us this reminder, expression matters. [music] When students have the freedom to
053create, whether through art, writing, music, or movement, they are being seen for who they are. At Harding Elementary, where the Huskies pride themselves on a holistic approach [music] to student growth, one student captured something every educator works toward every day. That is, just [music] being there when a student asks. It sounds simple, but to a child, it means everything. Hess Elementary, home of the Hawks, lives by a simple pledge, respectful, responsible, safe. And within that, their students found something even more essential, belonging [music] comes from participation, from being invited in, from doing things together. Irving Elementary shows us through these images what a welcoming learning environment looks like. Look at these faces, these classrooms. This is the work of every teacher, aide, and paraprofessional who chose to show up for these kids today. Jefferson Elementary
054highlights how students feel included through invitations, taking turns, playing together, and sharing. As part of Hammond schools, Jefferson continues to show that each school is unique yet united in helping every student feel like they belong. At Lincoln Elementary, we have a beautiful example of student work. Being invited, being pulled in. That's the kind of inclusion that happens between kids, not just between adults and students. Lincoln is nurturing that. O'Bannon Elementary believes it's very important for students to feel safe and free to share their thoughts. This is not just for special education, it's something every person needs. O'Bannon is working hard to create a safe and welcoming space in every class. The transition to middle school can be a challenging time for any student and particularly for students with disabilities. Eggers Middle School is meeting that
055challenge directly. Clarity, structure, follow through. Eggers is listening. At Scott Middle School, students are practicing the language of inclusion with acrostic poems, bulletin boards, and one another. Respect from peers, not just from adults. Our middle schoolers at Scott are growing into that and their teachers are guiding them there. Every quote in this presentation comes directly from our Hammond Central students. They're sharing, in their own words, what feeling included truly means to them, giving us a precious and honest look at how inclusion is working at Hammond Central. Morton High School rounds out our high school community, a school where students are stepping into adulthood with the skills, confidence, and sense of belonging they'll need for the rest of their lives. Inclusion at the high school level means preparing students for what comes next. [music] Morton is
056doing that work. At the Area Career Center, our students are taking inclusion all the way into career and technical education. Our [music] commitment to inclusion involves students building strong connections through social activities. Every day, across all 15 schools, our special [music] education department, teachers, and staff show up with dedication, creativity, and heart. You collaborate. You differentiate. You advocate. You arrive early, stay late, and make inclusion real for every student, every day. We celebrate the full strength of our department. Our director and coordinators, our preschool diagnostic team, case managers, [music] speech team, OT team, PT team, psychologists, social workers, behavior and assistive technology specialists, along with our blind, low vision, and deaf, hard of hearing teachers. We also honor the retired staff who stepped back in to support our staff, students, and our schools. Together, you
057model inclusion in the way you work. [music] Many teams, one department, united in purpose. Thank you for everything you do for our students, our families, and our community. From pre-K to age 22, across every school in our community, everyday moments of belonging, voice, connection, and support are at the heart of why we do this work. Inclusion is essential for helping every student thrive. At Morton High School, every student is welcomed, connected, and included. >> [music] [cheering] [music] [singing] [music] [cheering] [music] [singing] [music] [singing] [music] [music and singing] [singing] [music] [singing] [cheering] [screaming] [cheering] >> Thank you to our board members for your continued support of special education in Hammond. Thank you to our families for entrusting us with your children. And thank you to every student whose voice made this presentation possible. We are proud
058of this work. We are proud of these kids, and we are committed to making sure every single student in the School City of Hammond feels included. Every student, every school, every day. Good evening, board members, families, and colleagues. Thank you for being here tonight. This March, in recognition of Disability Awareness Month, the Special Education Department of the School City of Hammond is proud to share something close to our hearts, the voices of our students. Tonight's presentation is called I Feel Included When. >> [applause] >> And I think you'll recognize at the end the dance that was performed by um our special education students at Morton High School. A big shout-out to them for their perfect example of what inclusion is for students with disabilities. Uh that was part of their Black History Month celebration, and
059Ms. Wheeler and Happa invited them in to be uh part of that presentation, so that was just uh wonderful to see. Uh we are sharing this video with our building principals, so they can share it during morning announcements, uh advisory time, or PTA meetings in the evening, etc. Just recognizing and celebrating uh the students here in Hammond. So, thank you for your time. Thank you. Any board members? >> [applause] >> Any comments? I I just have to add um we we saw this um one day this week. I'm just so out of it. And uh I cannot imagine this board has been requesting this kind of recognition and this kind of showcases since we've been together. And Mr. Seaman, you have brought it to us and your staff. And we appreciate these babies cuz they
060can and they will. They're super cuz they even with a so-called disability, they go beyond that and perform for us in a special way. And as I indicated to Mr. Salinas, I know there must be on the state level some kind of award for this type of video presentation. I want you to look hard because I want these babies to be recognized on a state level for putting this kind of presentation together cuz we can and we will. And thank you so much. >> [applause] >> Mr. Salinas. Thank you very much, Mr. Seaman, uh Ms. Celestine, for that amazing display of talent again with our um School City of Hammond students. Our next item is public expression, first period. Is that uh trusty Candelaria? Okay, thank you. Public expression, first period, limited to items on
061the agenda. First member is going to be Mary Ellen Slayzak. >> [clears throat] >> Mary Ellen Slayzak. Uh back. Um that disability presentation was wonderful. I believe if children are given a chance, they can accomplish many things, no matter what their abilities are, but they need a chance. And these kids are getting a chance, and I'm glad to see it. Um that being said, I was looking at the financial, it's like ew. Um too much red. Um there are are things that should be done. Um you might want a bigger rainy day fund, try to save some more money. Um don't spend what you don't have. Um I know you're supposed to get reimbursements for some of it, but the revenues are going down. And uh you got to deal with it. You know, it's
062like a lot of us we're getting hit with high prices and expenses and everything, but we have to live within our means. And living within your means applies to everybody, both public and corporations and everybody else. I mean, it's just the way it is. Um I'm sure there's some things that can be scaled down. I know there's a lot of consultants and a lot of outsourcing, and I think that needs to be reviewed. Uh maybe more things can be done in house. I mean, a few dollars here, a few dollars there, it's going to add up, and it might make a very big difference. And maybe there'd be more money for these kids that were in this wonderful video to accomplish even more. You know, so shuffle the money around a little bit, see how
063much more you can save. Um the revenues are going to go slightly down, and we got to deal with it. I'm on Social Security. And even though all Social Security recipients got a raise, uh the Medicare took most of it. And we're dealing with high prices and things getting very expensive, too, but you know, you just got to buckle down, do the best you can, and prioritize what's really important. Thank you. Thank you. Next member, Dr. Michaela. Good evening, everyone. I really loved that inclusion presentation, and I think that in a society where a lot of disingenuous people try to turn good, common sense words that we all know are good words, like inclusion and equity and things like that, into some kind of boogeyman, um that absolutely has to be showcased. Um I would
064suggest, actually, somebody should email SBOE, should email your state superintendent. I'd love to see that at an SBOE meeting, because I think that exemplifies exactly what inclusion is and how inclusion can be carried out in action. I loved that the different schools had different voices, different concerns, different approaches. I liked the featuring of different communities, different, you know, modes of expression. And, you know, that to me underscores there's such a great responsibility that sits on the shoulders of the members of this board. Um, as the people they're more or less custodians, not just of money, whether it's local, federal, state, whatever, but also of our future. And getting to see kids being loved and accepted and nourished in that way, that's priceless. And at the same time, when we look at financials, so I come
065from a school corporation where we have a complete lack of transparency. Um, where we send all of our consultants who are providing any kind of help or oversight home. Um, where we've gathered together a bunch of people who are from some other school corporation that had financial difficulties, and nobody can see or know what's going on. I think transparency is essential in this process because I sat here and I listened the same presentation that other people in this in this building may have. Um, and I I understood some aspects of it that that maybe were more difficult for people who don't have any kind of financial background to grasp, but at the end of the day, that's the other aspect of education we have to think about because inclusivity is about bringing people together to
066understand and make decisions together. That's what being a custodian and a guardian essentially is, to facilitate that process. And we have to have more of that community education, otherwise, how is this community supposed to cheerlead what's happening here? Thank you. >> [clears throat] >> That conclude That concludes everyone written in for first session of public expression. Mr. Salinas. The next item is unfinished business and there is no unfinished business at this time, so we will move on to approval of the minutes. Trustees, we have before us uh minutes items A B A through D. May I have a motion for approval, please? Madam President. Trustee Spencer. I move for the approval of executive session minutes from February 3rd and February 17th, 2026. Second. >> It's been moved and properly second by Trustee Candelaria for the
067approval of our executive minutes February 3rd and February 17th. >> [clears throat] >> Are there any questions? Any questions? All in favor say I. I. I've got to do a roll call. Oh, I'm sorry. Got to do roll call. Uh, roll call, please. Trustee Stanford. I. Trustee Spencer. Yes. Trustee Candelaria. Yes. >> Trustee um, who did I miss? Yes. Uh, Trustee Guerra, Trustee Blake King, yes, [clears throat] motion carried. Thank you. Do I have a motion for items C and D? Madam President. Trustee Spencer. I move for the approval of school board meeting minutes from February 3rd and February 17th, 2026. Second. >> It's been moved and properly second by Trustee Candelaria [clears throat] for the approval of school board meeting minutes February 3rd and February 17th. Are there any Are there any questions? Any
068questions? Roll call vote, please. Trustee Stanford. Yes. Trustee Spencer. Yes. Trustee Guerra. Yes. Trustee Candelaria. Yes. >> Trustee Blake King, yes, motion carried. Thank you. Mr. Salinas. The next agenda item is our consent agenda. Trustees, before us we have our consent agenda. May I have approval for items A through F. Madam President. Trustee Spencer. I move for the approval of consent agenda items A through F. Second. >> It's been moved and properly second for the approval of our consent agenda items A through F. Are there any questions? Any questions? I'm just going to read accounts payable docket. Thank you, Trustee Guerra. Accounts payable voucher register dated March 17th, 2026 consisting of 279 pages for claims totaling 1,850,285 and 75 cents. For payroll, 2,653,217 and 66 cents. Thank you, Trustee Guerra. >> [clears throat] >> Roll
069call vote. Um, Trustee Stanford. Yes. Trustee Spencer. Yes. Trustee Candelaria. Yes. >> Trustee Guerra. Yes. Trustee Blake King, yes, motion carried. Thank you. Mr. Salinas. Trustees, before we move on to new business, uh, if you would indulge me, I would like to call up our director of food service, if I may, uh, Lynn Stero, who would like to uh make an announcement and a recognition. Uh, Director Stero. Woo! >> [applause] >> Good evening, everyone. Good evening. And happy St. Patrick's Day. Um, on this St. Patrick's Day, we're feeling especially lucky to celebrate Thespina as she takes on her new role as assistant food service director. Her many years of dedication and hard work have been a true blessing for our team. I am grateful for her leadership and look forward to her help in guiding
070our department and keeping us Hammond strong. Thank you, Thespina. >> [applause] >> I just Good evening, Trustees, Superintendent Salinas. Um, I just like to say thank you for giving me this opportunity to continue to serve the Hammond students in this new capacity. Um, I've been here for 16 years and I've helped manage the daily success of our cafeterias, supporting our staff and feeding our students. Um, I'd like to think thank you to the interview committee and for my supervisor, Lynn Stero, for being a great mentor and leader. The food service department would not be where we are today without her passion for child nutrition and her dedicated 40-plus years of service to the children of Hammond. Um, I'd also like to thank my co-workers, Kathy Fish and Lucille Alcantar. Um, we have a great food
071service team. Um, finally, I'd like to thank my family, my husband Dave and my kids, Frankie and Moina. They are my biggest supporters. Um, again, I look forward to this new chapter here in Hammond. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Okay. Congratulations, Ms. Berta, and good evening, Mr. Berta. >> [laughter] >> Thank you, uh, Mr. for that introduction and that, um, celebration. We are going to be moving on to new business. Mr. Salinas. On [clears throat] the new business, we have two items. We have A, the approval of the Head Start Agreement for the 2026-2027 school year. It is recommended that the board approves this agreement contract between Geminus Corporation, the School City of Hammond, for Head Start programming funding for the period of February 1st, 2026 through January 31st, 2027. Trustees, may I have a
072motion, please? Madam President. >> Trustee Spencer. I move for the approval of the Head Start Agreement 2026-2027. Second. It's been moved and properly second by [clears throat] Trustee Candelaria for the approval of our Head Start Agreement for 2026-2027. Are there any questions? [clears throat] Any questions? Roll call vote. Trustee Stanford. Yes. Trustee Spencer. Yes. Trustee Guerra. Yes. Trustee Candelaria. Yes. Trustee Blake King, yes, motion carried. Our next item is the approval of the resolution for the 20 uh 25-26 uh early dismissal. We will be applying for this uh pending board approval for the uh through the Indiana Department of Education, which will allow for us to have high-quality professional development on the early dismissal Wednesdays. However, before we do that, uh the school board will have to read and uh we're asking for approval of
073the resolution. Thank you. Uh, Trustee Candelaria, would you please read our resolution into record? >> Sure. Resolution number 25-26-006 resolution regarding early dismissal. Whereas the School City of Hammond seeks to abbreviate the school day one day per week for purposes of ensuring time for professional development and coordination of educational services. And whereas the school seeks to adjust the school day on Wednesday of each week for purposes of early dismissal. And whereas the school seeks that early dismissal will occur on or about 12:15 p.m. for high school students, 1:00 p.m. for middle school students, and 1:45 p.m. for elementary school students. And whereas the school acknowledges that advanced notice to community stakeholders, including parents, will be provided. And whereas the changes to the school day have been discussed with and endorsed by the collective bargaining unit
074for the teachers. And whereas the school seeks a waiver from the requirements of Indiana code 20-30-2-2. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the school shall begin a schedule of early release days to be initiated with the 2026-2027 school year consistent with this resolution. Thank you, Trustee Candelaria. Do I hear a motion? Madam President. Trustee Spencer. I move for the approval of resolution 2526-006 early dismissal. Second. It's been moved and properly seconded by Trustee Candelaria that we for the approval of the resolution number 2526-006 early dismissal. Any questions? Any questions? Um Roll call vote. Trustee Stanford. Yes. Trustee Spencer. Yes. Trustee Guevara. Yes. Trustee Candelaria. Yes. Trustee Blake King, yes. Motion carried. Thank you. The next item. Thank you, Trustees. The next item is the calendar of upcoming board meetings for the month of April. March
07524th is our public work session 5:30 here at 41 Williams Street. We encourage everyone to please attend. It's our state of the district report um for School City of Hammond. Tuesday, April 21st, executive session 5:15 p.m. Administration Center. April 21st, Tuesday, school board meeting 6:00 p.m. Administration Center. Tuesday, April 28th, executive session 5:15 p.m. And Tuesday, April 28th, uh school board meeting 6:00 p.m. Administration Center. And keep in mind things can always change. Madam President. >> Trustee. Um just for transparency purposes with the public, I just want us to let them know that just the next over the course of the next couple months our meetings might change a little bit just because of all the events that we have going on with graduations, top 20 dinners, all the like fascinating things. So, just transparently
076that's why our meetings are starting to look a little bit different. Thank you. Vice President. Thank you. >> [laughter] >> All right. So, uh next Thank you, Trustee Blake King and Trustee Spencer. Our next item is public expression second period. Trustee Candelaria. Public expression second period regarding general matters. First member is going to be Arena Horgan. Good evening. I'm here tonight to speak about adjusting school times for next year. Anita Cox reported 2 weeks ago about the large number of absence absences and tardies in her first hour class at Hammond Central and how that affects her students academically. Tonight, I want to speak about a change that is both practical and powerful by reconsidering our school start times so that the middle high school starts later while the elementary schools begin earlier. Let's start with
077what the research says about our teenagers. They are not just older children. Their brains, bodies operate on a different biological clock. Because of this, early start times work directly against their natural sleep sleep cycles. The result is chronic sleep deprivation. But when teenagers start later, the impact is significant. Students get more sleep with that extra sleep translates real outcomes. Improved mood, better attendance, higher grades, and even measurable increases in GPA. Schools that have made the shift report fewer first period absences, less tardies, and reduced rates of depression. Research suggests that these benefits are even more pronounced for our most valuable vulnerable students. Research shows that disadvantaged students students see roughly double the academic academic gains making later start times not just a health decision, but an equity decision. Now, I understand the concerns that come
078from change, transportation, extracurriculars, and even child care. These are real challenges, but districts across the country have successfully adapted. Participation in sports and activities does not decline, and creative scheduling solutions have addressed transportation concerns. This is where elementary start times come into the conversation. Unlike teenagers, younger students are biologically wired to wake up earlier and go to bed earlier. Research shows that starting elementary school later has minimal academic impact. Some studies even show slightly higher math scores. While there may be small decreases in sleep, the effects are far less severe than what we see in teenagers. In fact, shifting elementary school schedules earlier is often what makes later middle school start times possible with a from a logistical standpoint. So, it really is about making a choice based on data and evidence. We can continue
079a system that unintentionally harms our teenagers' health, safety, and academic success, or we can make a thoughtful adjustment them in measurable lasting ways while causing minimal disruption to our younger students. This is not just a scheduling issue, it's a student well-being issue. I urge you to seriously consider a shift to later middle school start times supported by an earlier elementary school schedule. Our students and our community will be better for it. Thank you. Thank you. >> [clears throat] >> Next member, Joseph Pellums. I would like to Oops. I'll be talking. I would like to discuss about Team Hammond 71 Robotics and our open house event. So, anyone who's not familiar with our team, we've been around for 30 years. This year is our 30th year as a team. We compete in something called FIRST Robotics
080Competition where teams from many different countries compete in certain events and certain competitions. Right now, our theme is rebuilt. And for our last competition, which was March 6th through March 8th, which was at Mishawaka, we placed fourth place out of eighth place, which we've been working really hard on the robot. So, all of our members have at least 100 hours each for our team, and we've been extremely dedicated to this robot. We've been extremely dedicated to providing the message of STEM and FIRST to our community and schools. And one of our members, Josue Pedraza, who's currently at Morton High School, had uh qualified for the leadership award and is going to the state level for it. And he has also made a program an app called Robotics Muse for the Indiana Congressional App Challenge and
081has won it. And he's honestly, I can say from personal experience, he's a really great student and he is extremely smart. And >> [laughter] >> for our open house, it's going to be Sunday, March 22nd at Lew Wallace Elementary from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and you would have to enter through door L. We invite anyone from the community to join. I invite all school board trustees and Mr. Salinas to come and attend. And our program is open to all high school students at School City of Hammond. So, if you come from Hammond Central, Morton, or the Area Career Center, you can attend you can join the team. Um our next competition will be March 27th and March 28th at Lafayette at Jefferson High School. And again, we would love anyone to attend. The public
082is all welcome there. More information will be posted on our Instagram page, Team Hammond 71, and our Facebook page. We love all the support, and we truly mean to reach STEM to every single person in the community. From my personal experience, Team Hammond 71 Robotics has honestly made me the leader I am today. I wouldn't be speaking in front of the Trustees now without Team Hammond, and I am truly thankful for the program, and I believe every high school student should join. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Thank you, Joseph. Incredible presentation. Mrs. Weeks, put that on our list of things to to talk about on our WJOB show tomorrow. We will certainly promote it >> [clears throat] >> a little more on our WJOB show tomorrow. Thank you, Joseph. Joseph is also our reporter for
083the Northwest Indiana Northwest Indiana newspaper. Great Okay, yeah. He does that. He does so much. So, we just we just love him. >> [clears throat] >> All right. Next member, Angela Monaco. Hello. Good evening. Can you hear me okay? Yes. I'm not a public speaker. Forgive me. >> [snorts] >> Um good evening, board. My name is Angie Monaco. I've been a resident of Hessville specifically for more than 20 years. Um I've been a homeowner for going on 14 years, I believe. Um this community means a lot to me. Growing up, we moved every year. Um so, choosing to stay here long-term was intentional to not do what my parents did to me, to have my children be able to have roots. Um I love the fact that I can go anywhere, whether it's Family Dollar,
084Walmart, anywhere you go, and I see people that I know that either the young people that grew up with my children or even adults that have affected my minor my children's lives. I've had five children come through the School City of Hammond from start to finish. Morton L Harding has um quite a few people have educated my children that are in the building now. Um I have one that has special needs. One was a half a student and three have earned full-time full athletic scholarships at Morton High School. Because of that, I've seen our school system from many different perspectives, both as a parent and now as an employee um witnessing and navigating support services, academic programs, extracurricular activities. I'm super grateful for the role that our schools have played in my children's lives and
085mine. Um I care very deeply about the continued success and improvement of our district. I cannot speak enough about the impact that our athletic programs have had on my children. I raised boys, but my daughter was a a track runner as well. [laughter] So, um specifically, but also the youth in our community as a whole. Um the football program specifically, I could touch on because not only do they teach football, but they teach life skills. They teach these young men how to be young men on and off the field, in the classroom. Um Coach Kinsey, I still call him Coach Kinsey. He was Coach Kinsey at the time. He was new to my kids and um the program as a whole, anyway, um was wonderful. Um for some students, sports opens the doors that may
086not have otherwise existed. I've seen firsthand how being a part of a team at Morton High School can change a student's path. Some of these children would not even had college on their radar at all before getting involved. And not that college is the only benefit. It's just having a sense of belonging, having the community rally around them. Um briefly, my son was never intending on going to college. School was tough for him. But he is now one of the students that was pictured up there, just graduated with his bachelor's and is now in his master's program um and wants to continue for his PhD. So, I just really want to express how important it is how important Morton High School and all the schools in School City of Hammond, um but Morton specifically, cuz
087that's where my heart is, um how much of a benefit it is to have the athletic program supported and loved in our community. So, thank you all for all of your support. WOW, THANK YOU. >> [applause] >> CAN WE TAPE THAT? >> [laughter] >> I JUST THANK YOU so much. It's just good to you know, be appreciated. Thank you so much. Staff and all, administration, superintendent. We're doing our job for somebody. Okay, Mr. Salinas, I'm sorry. There's There's still Oh, we're still doing it. Okay. Next member, Thomas Liptak. Two more. Okay. Let me shut up. Good evening, everyone. Uh my name's Thomas Liptak. I've been a representative of Hammond since I was a child. Um graduated at Gavit High School. Also graduated from Purdue Calumet, which is now PNW. Um not only being a leader
088of our community for so long now, I'm a youth uh leader for the community. I'm a part of Hessville Little League board as a safety coordinator, which is a baseball based off of Parish and uh 173rd and Calumet, right down the street from Scott and Morton. Um also the president of Hammond Red Hawks football, which is now based and our home is at Morton High School. About 5 years ago, I met uh one of the Morton coaches coaching T-ball. He told me I'd be great at doing the football thing. He saw my passion with it when I was with another program. Linked up with one of the football coaches. Took 2 years to finally pull the trigger. Um I actually went to Morton and uh talked to Mr. Kinsey. Didn't know him from anything really.
089Just knew um he was in charge there really and I wanted to talk to him about bringing the Hammond Red Hawks in. Um I wanted to be based at Morton for specific reasons. They give so many next level college opportunities. Not only are they athletes athletes, but they're student athletes. And one thing I've known from everybody I know that came from Morton, even though I didn't graduate from there, they always got their kids to the next level. Their coaches always prepared them athletically and academically to be able to go to the next level cuz the thing student athlete is your student first. Um that was one reason I actually chose to go there with my program to also um bridge the gap between the youth sports and the youth community to the high school level
090and Hammond didn't have nothing representing them on the football level. I loved how Hessville had it. Um Morton's [clears throat] High School has been nothing but a family to us from the principal to the AD to every coach to the students you've seen up here. Them kids have multiple of them have worked for us for free and helped us out to build this uh program, which we are now a third year program, which has officially been voted into Pop Warner. So, now the Hammond program's solidified as being like that. So, we would love to stay at Morton, but with a few things, we we do need some upgrades on the athletic facility so we can host these playoff games and get Pop Warner on a national level or at the playoff level just to be
091able to provide that experience too now. We've been growing tremendously. Our numbers have increased. Um I think we just uh required a 51-ft storage actually so we can actually store all of our stuff now. We've been raising about $72,000 a year to actually stay afloat. And um getting their facilities updated would tremendously help my baseball community, help my football community. Even their Coach Adam has assisted a youth baseball camp, which our Little League was able to attend to. And it's just been amazing experience. So, anything that helps promote or support that school, I want to try to push as hard as I can for, especially being a Hammond citizen and being from here. Um I appreciate all you guys. Thank you. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Next member, Wanda Puckett. Good evening. First of all,
092I would like to thank I'm glad to see Fred and Fred back in the building together for the first time in a long time. You know I had to get that off my chest. Now, I'mma say this. If y'all talking about changing the time for these kids to start school next year, think about in the wintertime, they getting up walking out that door at 6:00 in the morning trying to beat them trains to go to Hammond Central and Eggers. I'm up. I'm used to getting up at 6:00 in the morning. I do my walking in the morning, early in the morning. Ain't nobody out walking at time of morning, me and my neighbor. Those kids are leaving out they door at 6:00 in the morning trying to beat them trains cuz they hear the trains
093running. That's too early for those girls, especially for girls, not long as boys. You got Eggers and Hammond Central. The kids from the Renaissance back over there, my way they walking. They got what school start at 7:15 for them? They got to be there in the class first period class at 7:15. They leaving out the house no later than 6:15 trying to beat get over two tracks. You got the one right there on Willow Court and you got the one right there by the post office. If they get boxed in, they going to be there for about what? An hour, maybe two. Then you got the that's too much going on. Put it like this, there's too much going on with girls and boys be walking by they self. Some of them be walking by
094they self. Some of them don't. So, if y'all going to do anything, let's try to make sure they leave out they house when daylight, you can see what's going on around you, not at dark. Cuz in the wintertime, it's 6:00, 6:30, it's still dark outside. When they get out of school, they By the time they get home, it's dark when they getting home. We need to come together and set a good time for our babies to get home at a decent hour from school. Unless we can get some of these fathers, some of these uncles to get together, walk up there, meet them when they getting out of school, walk them home. We need to come up with some type of buddy system to make sure the ones that have to walk to school. You
095got the one that go to Maywood, they have to walk. But they got to be at school at what time? You got parents that have to be at work. Kids leaving out the door. You got parents dropping the kids off at school before the teachers get there or anybody getting there. They sitting outside the building. Only somebody there is the custodian. So, you got parents dropping kids off at 7:00, 7:30 in the morning. You got Who there to protect them if anybody walk up on them? Nobody. So, we need to come up with a resolution for our kids. Now, I know we can get together and come together on that. Thank you. That's all I Now I can see y'all Fred and Fred. Thank you. Next member, Dr. Michaela. >> I definitely think establishing some
096kind of program that integrates parents, you know, school staff, whoever, um as was suggested to help make sure that kids get to and to and from school safely is really important. Um especially if we're talking about moving some start times earlier. I definitely like I'm very familiar with the research about high school start times and the need for those to be later. So, I'm very excited to hear that that's something that's being talked about more. Um but when we had the old kind of uh board or whoever the administration was at the time who, you know, decided to got elementary and and middle school um transportation, you know, that there was no thought put into the safety of the kids at the time and we had a lot of difficulty with that and I know
097parents have made a lot of adjustments, but, you know, it would be great to have a more organized system, I'm sure. Um I wanted to talk a little bit more about the role of like community education and everything, right? Because the more that our parents and our community members and our students [clears throat] and our staff and our teachers understand about how the school runs, um every every aspect of things, the better. Because um school corporations, communities, we can't afford to just be the victims of circumstance at this point. We have to be proactive. And to be pre- proactive, we have to be united in a real way. Not united in an authoritarian way like some places model where everyone just has to blindly fall in line, but I love back in the day we
098used to have some models of community education where any person off the street in your community could explain to a random stranger anything about how the school's run, how the city run, all of that. And that's something we can get back to. I do think, you know, I'm very excited for this state of the school piece because, you know, when we're looking at title funds, when we're looking at how title money is being spent, when we're looking at when we create new positions, what's happening to the old position if it's not a new hire. And if we're saying a position is created by law because of, you know, an increase in enrollment because, you know, especially with younger kids we sometimes have those increases, okay, what's that law? What's that requirement? These are things community
099members need to know to help support and parents especially to help support these schools. So, very very excited for that upcoming meeting. Thank you. That concludes everyone written in for second session public expression. Thank you, Trustee Candelaria. Superintendent Mr. Celenis Good evening, everyone. Uh first of all, happy St. Patrick's Day to everyone and may the luck of the Irish be with you. May your troubles be less, may your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door. I would like to begin by sincerely thanking Mr. Shawn Kinsey uh for his outstanding leadership with our Morton student athletes and for his continued success of the athletic programs. Your commitment to our students both in and off the field is truly appreciated and we also thank all of the community members and student athletes who
100came here to show their appreciation for the program at Morton High School. Thank you, Mr. Kinsey. >> [applause] >> I'd also like to thank uh Mr. Tim Seaman and Mrs. Andy Celestine for their this evening's presentation, which powerfully underscores the importance of inclusion for all of our students. And as you heard Trustee Blake King said, this is something we've been asking for for a while and we're very thankful and grateful that you brought it to our corporation this evening. >> [applause] >> As we look ahead, uh please remember that tomorrow we will host our WJ TV radio show at 9:00 a.m. We have some very exciting news and also some recognitions to share, so we encourage everyone to please tune in. Also, our HAPA students are also preparing for their upcoming production of Peter Pan.
101Performances will take place on March 20th and March 21st at 7:00 p.m. and on March 22nd at 2:00 p.m. at Morton High School. And as a reminder, Friday, March 27th will be our last day of school before spring break. School will resume on Tuesday, April 7th. And additionally, our district calendars for the '26-'27 and '27-'28 school years will be published and released before we leave for spring break. And finally, we'd also like to congratulate Ms. Regina Grohar. She's the principal at Franklin. She was recently recognized by the Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana as the JA Champion Educator. This is a well-deserved honor and we are proud of the leadership that she brings to our school community. Have a wonderful evening, everyone, and thank you for attending tonight. Thank you, Mr. Celenis. Are there any reports
102from the board, comments? I think I just want to >> [clears throat] >> recognize one of our 2009 Hammond High students who was honored at the Hammond Sports Hall of Fame 40th annual induction dinner. She is none other than Sa'tian White. Uh as [clears throat] I stated, class of 2009 Hammond High. Uh she was a standout in school fe- female athlete of the year uh three times. First time all Northwest Indiana area player. She led her conference in scoring, was a top 60 Hoosier basketball senior. So, we always like to applaud our alumni that that do well. Sa'tian White, congratulations to her. And uh and one final [applause] uh thank you to Mrs. Grohar for another expo career for uh career expo that she had at Franklin. It was just phenomenal. Every imaginable career was
103represented there. The students just just enjoyed every moment of it. Our ROTC, they were just [clears throat] impeccable. Everybody. HAPA, the band, the rock band, it was just a phenomenal afternoon and morning to be with students uh planting that seed of wanting to, you know, have a career in life. So, again, that's those are my comments. Are there anything else? Trustee Stanford, you okay? Yes, I am. >> All right. Is there most motion to adjourn? So moved. Second. Motion [clears throat] to adjourn. Thank you. Board meeting adjourned. Thank you. >> [cough and clears throat]