001I love the school. Um the students are like really nice. Um the teachers they really positive and yeah like the teachers at 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 and what I need to ask, my friends, you know. Yeah. Cuz you know the education is pretty good. The the teachers are great, you know, but my friends is the best part. I like most about H Central is definitely the students, the people, you know, all the people I met uh since I've been here cuz I moved here on uh middle school. So like the people have been great. I made a lot of memories since
002freshman year, uh sophomore year, all the years. You know, some days you going to have days where like you don't want to come, but like like the days I come like 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 chill for me. >> It's good. There's never any like problems or nothing and it's always like good vibes. Everybody's like chill. I like the people. I like the community. 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 a good way, though. Um um I would say it's safe. It's loving. Um
003it's definitely welcoming. >> The teachers the most about the school. Yeah. In my experience 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 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. >> Go Nation, let's rock. I love the school. Um the students are like really nice. Um the teachers they really positive and yeah like the teachers at my old school I never ask 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 and what I need to ask, my
004friends, you know. Yeah, cuz you know the education is pretty good. The the teachers are great, you know, but my friends is the best part. I like most about H Central is definitely the students, the people, you know, all the people I met uh since I've been here cuz I moved here on uh middle school. So like the people have been great. I made a lot of memories since freshman year, uh sophomore year, all the years. You know, some days you going to have days where like you don't want to come, but like like the days I come like 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
005chill for me. >> It's good. There's never any like problems or nothing and it's always like good vibes. Everybody's like chill. I like the people. I like the community. 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 a good way, though. Um um I would say it's safe. It's loving. Um it's definitely welcoming. >> The teachers the most about the school. Yeah. Say my experience in Morn's pretty good. I don't have any complaints. >> Okay. atmosphere is good here and there's there's good people here because um when she teaches 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
006nation let's rock Hey, I love the school. Um the students are like really nice. Um the teachers they really positive and yeah like the teachers in my old school I never ask 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 and what I need to ask, my friends, you know. Yeah. Cuz you know the education is pretty good. The the teachers are great, you know, but my friends is the best part. I like most about H Central is definitely the students, the people, you know, all the people I met uh since I've been here cuz I moved here on uh middle school. So like the people have been great. I made a
007lot of memories since freshman year, uh sophomore year, all the years. You know, some days you going to have days where like you don't want to come, but like like the days I come like 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 chill for me. >> Good. There's never any like problems in >> Good evening everyone. Welcome to our Tuesday, January 6, 2026 special board meeting. Our first meeting of the year, 2026. >> Let's uh stand for the pledge of allegiance, please. 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
008for all. >> Thank you. >> Roll call of officers. Trusty Guierra, >> present. >> Trusty Spencer, >> present. >> Trusty Stanford, >> present. Trusty G, Trustee uh Candelera >> present. >> Trusty Blake King. Uh we have a total of five which is a quorum. >> Mr. Mr. um you could proceed. >> Good evening everyone. Happy new year. Our first item of business on the agenda is election of officers or election of our school board president. >> Trustees. Do I hear a motion? >> Madam President. >> Trustee Guara. I make a motion to maintain the same offices uh with trustee Blake King as president, uh Trustee Spencer as vice president, and trustee Stanford as secretary. >> Second. >> It's been moved and properly second that we maintain the officers uh of president, vice president, and secretary.
009Any questions? Any questions? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Eyes have it. Uh motion carried. Thank you for your confidence. Uh Mr. Selenus, >> thank you and congratulations to our officers. Our next item since we've uh appointed our president, vice president, and secretary would be our appointments of our school board trustees. >> At this time, um I would like to hear from our trustees. Where is my piece of paper? Regarding our uh appointments by the board, our appointment of uh treasurer, I'm recommending Alicia Prusher. Do we hear a motion? >> Madam President, >> I I motion to uh for the appointment of Alicia Crit as treasurer. >> Second. >> It's been moved and properly second that we appoint Alicia Pritchette as our treasurer. Any questions? Any questions? All in favor say I. >>
010I. >> Any oppose? Eyes have it. Motion carried. Uh trustees, I recommend that we appoint Allison Leenzo as our deputy treasurer. Do I hear a motion? >> Madam President, >> trustee Stamp Spencer. >> I move for the approval of Allison Lenzo as deputy treasurer. >> Second. It's been moved and properly second that we appoint Ellison Lenzo as our deputy treasurer. Any questions? Any questions? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Are there any opposed? >> Eyes have it. Motion carried. The appointment of delegate to the Indiana School Board of Association de Delegate Assembly. Uh I will accept that appointment if it's okay with the board. a motion. >> Madam President, >> trustee Spencer, >> I move for your appointment of delegate to Indiana School Board Association delegate assembly. >> Second. >> It's been moved
011and properly second that um Trusty Blake King is appointed to the delegate as a delegate to the Indiana School Board Association delegate assembly. Are there any questions? Any questions? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? eyes have it. Um, trustees, I recommend Trustee Guierra as our uh, legislative committee contact person. Do I hear a motion? >> Madam President, >> trustee Spencer. >> I move for the appointment of Missy Trustee Gar as the legislative committee contact person. >> Second. >> It's been moved and properly second that Melissa Guierra be appointed as our legislative committee contact person. Are there any questions? Any questions? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any oppose? Eyes have it. Motion carried. And finally, uh, the appointment of Hammond Redevelopment Commission. I'm recommending uh, Trustee Stanford. Do I
012hear a motion? >> Madam President, >> trustee. I motion for the appointment of Trusty Stanford to the Hammond Redevelopment Commission. >> Second. >> It's been moved and properly second that Trustee uh Stanford is our appointee to the Hammond Redevelopment Commission. Are there any questions? Any questions? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any oppose? Eyes have it. Motion carried. >> Mr. Selenas, >> thank you for those appointments. Our next item is our schedule of meetings for the 26 school year. >> Oh, hold on. Let me extend this. Thank you, Mrs. Lopez, always saving us. Okay, our uh 2026 schedule of meetings for January. Of course, today we're having executive session and our special board meeting. On the 20th, we'll have our executive session and uh our school board meeting as well at 6 PM.
013The times will remain the same. In addition to that on the 21st uh we will be at WJO for our regular uh meeting of uh sharing the goodness of Scoo City Hammond with our WJO folks. So that is that concludes our schedule of meetings Mr. Selenas. >> Thank you Trustee. Our next item is our uh public expression and general matters. Trustees. Yes. Sorry. Stanford. >> Our first speaker is Leslie Campbell. >> Good evening for um Lesie Campbell, 5849 Wallace Road. Um I was wondering again this is the second year with uh the support staff um longevity checks that we have been getting for the last couple of years since I've been here that we had to get uh board approved on last year. So I was just wondering if um it still had to get
014approved again uh for this year for the support staff and this is the longevity check. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. Next speaker, Dr. Michaela. Good evening everybody. Um, the longevity check thing, if I remember correctly, I feel like after the whole staff handbook thing that happened and all the confusion that happened after that and everything that happened when suddenly they they were, you know, some odd number of administrations and board boards ago told they couldn't organize or or whatever happened that like there there was a ignoring of the fact way back then of the fact that like you can't just like make the thing disappear like you have to have a thing to replace it otherwise it's just still there and in effect like the whole grandfather clause thing going on there. Um,
015so I mean I I think it's been, you know, as we we come into the new year and, you know, everything's been going for the most part so much better than in the past, right? Just trying to proactively kind of like attack some things headon that, you know, maybe maybe weren't the fires we needed to put out immediately, but definitely are still things that might get in the way of making sure sure our kids are getting their needs met. Because, you know, if we're all not taking care of everybody that's taking care of the kids, first of all, our kids aren't going to be taken care of because people still have to feed their families at the end of the day. People still have to survive. But also, like, we have to model pro-social stuff
016for our kids, right? Like, we have to show them how to take care of each other by taking care of them and by taking care of each other also because kids learn way better by what we do than what we just say. Um, so I think between that and whatever lingering issues there are around trying to make sure that, you know, legally and ethically, if people want to be able to organize in the way that the law allows them to, that they can do that, they can have the things that they still are legally entitled to have. Um, and just making sure, you know, as a whole, just like the little itty bitty things, you know, that can get in the way of the process. Just making sure we have clearer processes, more transparent processes
017for everything, I think would go a long way because I I don't think anyone's like, you know, nashing their teeth or ter terribly unhappy about any number of thing. But I think this district has the potential to really be an example district to so many other districts. They're still trying to figure out things like insurance or legislation or how to deal with stuff happening with Trump or superintendent searches or whatever else is going on. Um labor organization, things like that. Um so here's hoping we go into a new year, you know, and and can kind of take the bull by the horns. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Last speaker, Wanda Pucket. >> Yeah, I'm back this year. Thank the Lord though. I got two questions. Can any way possible we can get a safety
018police to sit out there when the buses come in for the kids? What I seen this morning on my way to the doctor, a parent was getting out of her car with her child in a wheelchair. She got the wheelchair out first and took her son and put her son in the chair. Coming around that curve is too fast. They like to hit that woman with her child in that wheelchair. Is any way possible school board can come up with the idea to have a police sitting there when the bus is coming in especially for special need kids getting on and off that bus because it's not the bus driver, it's the cars. We have a lot of teenage drivers now. They driving a little bit too fast in the schools are. So I don't
019want nobody kid especially artistic kid to come up hurt. So if any way possible we can do something about that since then the school board is sitting up here or do I have to go to city hall and get on their agenda and started speaking down there too cuz artistic babies come first and with me. I don't care about nobody else, but those don't test the kids. In my book, they going to always be first. So, we need to do something about it. Parents don't pull up on the school ground. They pull up on the side of the street and park. They got to get their kids out the car. So, they got to put them in that wheelchair, take them to the school ground, and take them inside, hand them off. And nobody got
020no business coming through there too fast when that bus is unloaded and loaded for those kids. Now y'all can sit there and say, "Y'all sick of looking at me, but I'm going to bring it to the board." Let something happen to one of them artistic kids and see how fast I'm going to jump. So it's time to stop the speeding around these schools. These are our keys that we looking out for now. Especially the artistic one. Ain't nobody paying them no attention. They reserve respect just like everybody else. Let's help them like we help the others do. That's all I got to say. >> Mr. Selenus, would you touch base with the Hammond PD and see what they can do because that is out of our jurisdiction? >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. That ends public
021speaking. >> Oh, >> great. Mr. Spain. >> Thank you, Trustee. Our next item is resolutions. The resolution of the 20 uh board member compensation >> trustees before us we have board of trustees of the school city of Hammond resolution number 2526-005 trustee Stanford would you please read this into record before we uh take a vote on it >> a resolution of the board of school trustees of the school city of Hammond authorizing compensation for school board members for calendar year 2020 26. Whereas school city of Hammond board policy 0144.1 compensation requires the board to adopt a resolution regarding schoolboard member compensation at the annual organizational meeting. And whereas pursuant to Indiana Senate Enrolled Act 287, the school city of Hammond shall provide each school board member with a with basic compensation for calendar year 2026
022by resolution in an amount equal to 10% of the lowest starting salary of a teacher employed by the school city of Hammond. And whereas pursuant to board policy 0144.1, the board acknowledges that this is the right of any individual school board trustee to opt out or decline any annual increase in compensation for any reason. And whereas schoolboard members shall also be compensated on a perdem basis for their participation in meetings regardless of whether the meetings are held on the same date and or are consecutively held at the following rates. Regular meeting $112. Executive session $62. Special board meeting $62. Public works session $62. Public hearing $62. It is therefore resolved that the board of school trustees authorizes the chief financial officer and or treasurer or deputy treasurer to issue payments to school board members based
023upon the above compensation guidelines. >> Thank you, Trusty Stanford. Do I hear a motion to accept this um resolution 2526-005? >> Madame President, >> Trustee Spencer, >> I move for the approval of resolution number 2526. Is that supposed to be dash or is it underscore? >> I I'm saying it's a dash. Is it an underscore? >> It's a underscore, but is it supposed to be dash? >> It's supposed to be dash. >> Okay. Dash 005. Okay. Thank you. >> Is there a second? Second. >> It's been moved and probably second that the board of trustees of Disco City of Hammond resolution number 2526-005 uh be approved. Are there any questions? Are there any questions? All in favor say I. >> I. I. >> Any opposed? Eyes have it. Motion carry. Thank you trustees. >> Mr.
024Selenus. >> We have now come to the reports section of the agenda beginning with the superintendence report. Good evening everyone uh and happy new year to our school city of Hammond community. As we begin a new year and welcome everyone to the start of the second semester. I'd like to extend my best wishes for a healthy, hopeful, and successful 2026 for our students, staff, and our families. January uh is school board appreciation month and I would like to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude to our board of trustees for their unwavering service and commitment to our district. The work of a school board is often behind the scenes, but it is very impactful and felt in every part of our days by our students, our staff, and our families. Over the next month,
025we look forward to celebrating and recognizing our trustees for their dedication, their leadership, and their continued focus on what is best for our children. Congratulations as well to our newly elected board officers, and we look forward to working together as we continue to move our district forward. Can we give our school board trustees a round of applause for schoolboard appreciation? And yes, that is an actual holiday that takes place all month. I did not just make that up. You can look it up. >> Heard of seven years up until this board. I'd never heard of that. >> It's legit. I would also like to remind our community of the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative March and Celebration taking place on Monday, January 19th, beginning at 6:30 a.m. at the MLK Freedom Plaza located at
026Martin Luther King Jr. Park. This annual event is a powerful opportunity for our community to come together in unity, reflection, and service as we honor the life and legacy of Dr. King. We encourage everyone who is able to join us to please attend this event. Also, as we begin this new semester, uh I'd like to ask for a moment of silence uh to acknowledge that over winter break was a very, very difficult time for several of our school city of Hammond families and staff members who experienced unimaginable loss. Please know that our thoughts and our prayers are with you as we begin this new year and new semester. And as a school community, we stand together in compassion, care, and support. So, at this time, I would like to ask for a moment of silence.
027>> Thank you. Thank you. >> Finally, as we look ahead to our second semester, we are excited to continue highlighting and celebrating our students. One such example is our student Kayla KP Patterson from Morton High School, who is now the all-time scoring leader in girls basketball. An incredible achievement. And we look forward to recognizing Kyla at the at a future board meeting and giving her the opportunity to share her story with us. So, we're looking forward to that. So once again, welcome back and thank you for all for being here. We look forward to a strong, meaningful, and hopeful second semester together. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Okay. Uh reports from the board. >> That's my cue. Um I I have a big one, but uh first I have another big one actually
028on top of that. Um Legacy Foundation that's popped up on my Facebook yesterday. um their universal scholarship. The deadline is January 15th, which is next Thursday. Um so any high school senior in Lake or Porter County, actually this is um 40 plus scholarship opportunities with one application. Um, so it's great for our students, but also if you have students or know somebody with students Lake or Porter County, a high school senior, um, they can make one application and apply to 40 plus different, um, scholarships, which is wonderful because I know those can take a while. Um, and then obviously the next biggest is the Harlem Wizards game is coming up this month. Um, we're really excited. It is January 22nd. Um, if you follow the Hammond Council PTA page, we've started making some announcements. We've
029got some fun players. We've got a couple of them in the room here. Um, and we'll be making the announcements every day, so stay tuned. Um, up until the date of the of the game. Um, we're really excited. We'll have assemblies in school assemblies um for the kids uh the same week of the game. Uh, you can find we've got the posters put up in every building. uh the QR codes on those. We've got the the flyers on on our Facebook page. We'll have them there. Um if you don't have it, if you got somebody who's got my number, you can you can let me know. I'll send it to you, too. Um we are really really looking forward to that. Um I spoke with their road manager on Sunday and they are very excited
030to come here. So, >> well, aren't you going to announce some of our illustrious players? >> You've been doing it on Facebook. >> We're going to do it so our public can hear. If you go to the Facebook page, you will see that um our first one was Sean Kinsey is the athletic director at Morton. Um uh two of our very own uh city council members were already announced. We've got one more um to announce. Um Barry Tyler was already announced and Katrina Alexander was already announced. Um this one what has not been announced yet, but our very own trustee Spencer will be playing as well. Maybe >> long breaking nail. >> That that was the compromise. Um uh who else have we announced? Uh Mr. Harold, we announced. Uh like I said, we've got
031a couple in in the room. Miss Han, we announced already. Um >> she said she said she's got her granny shot ready. Um >> I'm sorry. your your your kids are going to teach your tricks, right? Uh Mr. Fazini, we have not announced yet, but our our very own Irving assistant principal is going to be playing as well. Um so we've got quite a few. We've got like 35 players, so just just stay tuned. We've got a big big team. Uh it's going to take a lot of them to to go up against the Wizards. So, >> and don't forget your vintage >> cheerleaders, >> Stanford. We have our little cute little short skirts on. >> So, uh, we really appreciate you, Trusty Gara, for taking on this task. It's an tremendous, huge task. I
032look, we all look forward to it and it's all about community engagement and you really knocked it out the park with this one and we so appreciate you. >> Are there any other board reports? Madam President, just just one one quick thing, Madam President, before someone makes a motion to adjurnn. Um I know that the board discussed the calendar uh as far as a schedule of meetings for 2026. The staff reminded me that we should also, just for the record, indicate that our meetings are normally held on the first and third Tuesday of each month here at the administration. >> Thank you very much. Um so you've heard it from our attorney. Our board meetings are usually held the first and third Tuesday of every month here at the 41 William Street. Executive sessions are
033held at 5:15 and schoolboard meetings are held at 6:00 p.m. Thank you very much. And one other um announcement I would like to make. Uh the city of Hammond is opening up their application process for their uh grant. Uh and we would encourage all of our teachers, principles to apply for this. we normally do, but it would be nice to have 100% of our teachers, principal, whatever apply for this great. It's just so easy. The mayor has literally given you all money. The application, our students could fill it out. So, let's uh I encourage everybody to uh it's open. It's on on the website now. Applications for funding available through goham.com. Um mayor, city of Hammond. We certainly appreciate that opportunity. And then I would personally like to thank all of the uh the kindness
034that was bestowed upon all of us during Christmas. We you know it's too many to mention but one particular teacher I have to mention uh we all went to the makers fair and uh Miss Carrie Smith math class made me some adorable >> so adorable >> ornaments for my tree. These will be with me till I die. They will be on my tree. So, I tried to send her an email. I'm not that good at all. I hope she got it, but if she didn't and she hears this, I really appreciate uh her students taking their time out to uh make and they they sent it and put it in my mailbox. Miss Carrie Smith and Scott Middle School students the makers fair. So, we certainly appreciate that. So, that's it. We'll see you at
035the Martin Luther King March. We got our wizard game. Let's keep restoring and elevating and I'll see you next time. Just a quick reminder to everyone that tomorrow is our first early dismissal. Uh so again, we are beginning our early dismissal schedules on Wednesdays again. So just reminder for the community. >> And one other thing we notice flu is going around. Let's I I got something. So let's uh be careful with our kids, our teachers. Be mindful parents. If your children are sniffling, don't send them to school. So uh let's be mindful and let's stay as healthy as possible for this school year. Thank you very much. Motion to adjurnn. >> So move >> second meeting ajourn. Thank you.