001Hey, [Music] 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 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, [Music] 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 HM Central is definitely the students, the people, you know, all the people I met uh since I've been here cuz I moved here uh middle school. So like the people have been great. I made a lot of
002memories since freshman year, uh sophomore year, all the years. You know, some days you going to have days where like you going 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. There's always like good vibes. Everybody's like chill. [Music] 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.
003Um it's definitely welcoming. >> The teachers the most about the school. Yeah. My experience is 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 nation let's rock Hey, [Music] 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, [Music] 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 was 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. >> Good. There's never any like problems or nothing and it's always like good vibes. Everybody's like chill. [Music] 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. 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. >>
006Go Nation, let's rock. [Music] 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, [Music] 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 uh middle school. So like the people have been great. I made
007a lot of memories since freshman year, uh sophomore year, all the years. You know, some days you going to have days where like you going 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 or nothing. There's always like good vibes. Everybody's like chill. [Music] 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, I would say it's safe, it's
008loving. Um, it's definitely welcoming. >> Good evening everyone. Welcome to our Tuesday, September 2nd, 2025 regular school board meeting. And we say to our social media audience as well, welcome. So, can we now uh honor our flag? >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. Call to order. Trusty Guierra >> present. Trustee Stanford >> present. >> Trusty Spencer >> present. >> Trusty Canelera >> present. >> Trusty Blake King present. Uh Mr. Selenus, we do have a quorum and we're ready to proceed. >> Thank you, Trusty Blake King. Good evening, community members and uh community members who are watching at home. Uh this evening we are going to start off
009our meeting uh by having two student voices who are going to be sharing some information uh on an endeavor that they've been taking place as authors for a local publication. We have Miss Molina Mata from Mortyn High School and Joseph Helms from Hammond Central High School who are going to share their endeavors uh with you. So please welcome them to the podium. [Applause] Sorry. Sorry, I'm short. Good evening, school board members and community members. And thank you so much for having us here tonight. My name is Molina and I'm a senior at Morton High School and as well as an intern at Great News Life. My internship has given me the opportunity to grow as a writer and communicator while also staying connected to my school and community. Tonight, we will be sharing a little
010bit about our articles and that we have written and published along with why we believe Great News Life plays such an important role in supporting schools. With that, I'll hand it over to my colleague who will share more about their experiences as a great new life great news life intern. All right. So, my name is Joseph Helms. I'm currently a junior at Hammond Central High School. Uh, so what is Great News Life? So, it's an internship. It's an internshipbased journalism program for high school students and it was founded in 2005 in Valparezo. Now, originally the area it encompassed was just northwest Indiana, but now it encompassed like a lot of northern Indiana and some parts of Michigan too. uh it mainly focuses on local news and the main priority is to maintain a positive outlook
011on a community and make sure everyone's voice is heard and all the positive news is covered. So during the sum uh school months we cover four sections. What's going on in the school? What's coming up in a school? Uh teacher spotlight and student spotlight. And during the summer months we cover three sections. What's going on in the community? what's happening, what's coming up in the community and a community member spotlight. So, it's mainly just built on impact community and yeah, so what have I covered in Hold on. So, for my articles, I've I've published two articles so far, and my next article will be out tomorrow, but I've covered Paul Henry's Art Gallery, which is a open mic place in downtown Hammond ran by someone named David Mueller. And I've been going there since I
012was I want to say like 5 years old. And I've they have really good open mics. They have a lot of stuff in the community. I've covered Hammond Central's graduation. I've done a section on that. and I featured one of the graduates in my article and I also covered uh the League of Women Voters, more specifically the Kaid area branch and I've interviewed uh Barbara Schilling who's the president of the branch and I've also interviewed my aunt who's also a member of the branch for 30 years. Throughout my internship, I've had the opportunity to cover a variety of stories and events. For example, I have written written about an exclusive interview with our mayor, Morton High School's flag for football debut, and the amazing student leaders within Morton High School. Each of these stories have
013given me the chance to highlight the positive work happening in our community while also strengthening my own skills as a writer and communicator. What I've enjoyed most about being able to spotlight the accomplishments of students, teachers, and community leaders who may not always get the chance to get recognized. It's rewarding to know that my work doesn't just tell a story. It celebrates the people and programs that make our school and community so much more stronger. One of the biggest things I've learned one of the biggest things I have learned is how valuable Great News Life is to schools. It matters because it spotlights students students successes in academics, art, sports, and leadership. It promotes school events like concerts, plays, games, fundraisers which brings so much more support from the community. It builds a positive school
014image by highlighting the good instead of focusing solely on the negative. It encourages students encouragement. It encourages students engagement by motivating students to get involved whenever they see other students being recognized. Um, it strengthens community ties by connecting partners, alumni, and residents with what is happening in schools and groups in their community. It supports educational initiatives by shining light on the programs, partnerships, and achievements that deserve recognition the most. These efforts don't just share news. They build pride, connection, and encouragement for both students and the community. Overall, this internship has shown me the power of pro positive storytelling and how important it is to highlight the good things that are happening in each and every school and in every single day life. I'm grateful for the chance to contribute and I'm excited to continue learning
015and growing through this experience. >> Oh yeah. Uh I forgot to mention oops I forgot to mention it's not just us two. There's also three other writers from the other payment schools that also write articles. So as you can see there's one for the ACC, one for Bishop Null, and one for Hast as well. So it's more in integrated in the community than you might think. I have one more point. >> Um, it isn't on the slideshow, but um, if you want your student to be featured, get in touch with your local student intern at one of your following high schools, whether if it's at him essential, Morton Area Career Center, and so much more. And you can find it just on their website. Um, you can set up an interview and you could get
016published and recognized. Um, once the slides get posted, you guys will be able to see our LinkedIns and connect with us as well. Um >> if you go I think >> there's no other it's okay. Oh, there we go. Yeah, those are QR codes to our LinkedIn. Um if you want to get in touch with us, >> hire me. >> Thank you so much for for supporting the youth in Hammond in our community. >> Thank you. Do we have any family members that are here that are with these two young outstanding young people? Would you like to stand and be recognized? Any family members that are here with them? Don't be shy. We want to thank you for all that you do to provide the support that these students need at home um and at
017in school as well. Um I think they said it best. They both said focus on the positive, not the negative. There's so much negativity going around the world right now and I think it's so imperative that even our young uh students are able to send that message to the community. So thank you again, Joseph. Thank you Molina. We're very proud of you. Thank you. [Applause] Um, we do have a second for photo opportunity if any of the family members would like to come up to the front. We'll take a picture with the students and maybe the board members if anybody would like to come up. No. No. All right. >> We'll take a picture with them. >> Oh, let's go down. I did have one question. Were you Did you all volunteer or were you
018selected? because I understand you're interns. >> Okay. >> So, I found originally I found it on Instagram and I saw it was promoting like positive news in the school and positive news in the area and I was like I want to join this. This seems interesting. So, I went on the website and I saw the writer for it. I knew her sister. So I got in touch with her sister and she put me in contact with the person who was writing it and the person who was writing it put me in contact with the journalism teacher and journalism teacher put me in contact with Great News Life and I went to the orientation of Valareerezo and I was able to get selected. I just told Molina about it. >> Excellent. >> Um yeah for me
019I just kind of inquired about it and like Joseph connected me a little easier. >> Thank you. Are they just coming up front or going? >> Yeah, we just [Music] Thank you very much. So, they will be leaving because they both have to go to robotics practice. >> Very good. >> At a tight schedule. >> All right. Our next presentation is going to be um by our very own data and assessment coordinator, Mr. Adam White, who will be sharing uh data on our I read three progress for the school district. Welcome, Mr. White. >> Uh good evening at uh acting superintendent Selenas, board president Blake uh King, and school board of trustees. Tonight I will be presenting the 2025 I read three results for both second and third grade students across our district. Um as
020you know i3 is a critical assessment that measures early literacy and ensures that students are on track to read proficiently by the end of third grade. This assessment not only provides a snapshot of student performance, but also serves as a key indicator of how well our instructional strategies, literary literacy interventions, and early supports are preparing students for long-term success. In this presentation, we will review the recent changes to the assessment, examine how our students performed at both the district and the school levels, and highlight the progress we are making towards closing gaps and building a stronger foundation in literacy. The iRad 3 is a required statewide assessment ensuring early literacy proficiency in third grade and is administered to grades two and three as well as older students who have not yet passed. Students are primarily
021assessed on third grade reading standards in three different domains, reading foundations, non-fiction, and literature. students uh for second grade uh or excuse me, results for second grade provide an early indicator of readiness with scores presented as pass, on track, or at risk. While third grade results indicate reading proficiency with scores reported as either pass, or did not pass. In 2025, there were significant changes that were introduced to the assessment. Second graders can now participate in both March and summer administrations where in the past they can only participate in the March window. Third grade students now had three opportunities to test in March and twice during the summer window. Districts were required to offer summer school to third grade students without a passing score and second grade students who were at risk. Those students attending summer
022school were mandated to have a 90% or higher attendance rate. Additionally, third graders in summer school had a chance at a third retest at the conclusion of the summer school session. Students who did not attend or who did not meet this attendance requirement and did not pass I read uh that was administered at the end of the summer school session received an individual reading plan for this school year. A major shift in 2025 was the implementation of statemandated retention. >> Any third grader who did not pass I read and who did not qualify for a good cause exemption was retained in third grade. This is a state requirement moving forward per Indiana code 2032 8.52. In total, 137 students were retained across our school district, and that's 137 third grade students, reflecting the seriousness of
023their state's accountability focus. Good cause exemptions allow certain students to be promoted to the fourth grade without a passing I read score, though they must continue to test until grade seven or until they pass. There are five criteria to qualify for an exe an exemption. An English learner who has received fewer than two years of EL services. Students with disabilities and receive special education services. It is important to note that for English learners and students who receive special education services, it is a case conference uh committee that must determine if the exemption should be granted. It is not automatically given um based on their status. Uh those students who were retained twice in kindergarten through third grade and students who scored at or above proficiency on the third grade math iLearn assessment. The final criteria
024applies um starting this year and it will apply to any student who was previously retained in third grade due to not passing I read in 20ou in 2025 106 exemptions were granted across our nine elementary schools. Now let's start by looking at the second grade performance on the 2025 I read. um the 2025 I read three early administration for second grade students. This provides valuable insight into reading readiness as students work towards proficiency by the end of their third grade year. This chart here shows the breakdown of score placements on the two administrations and then the overall combined score placement for 2025. Districtwide, 39% of second graders passed the assessment overall, which demonstrates that many students are already performing above expectations for their second grade level. It is important to reinforce that the I read
025three is an assessment to measure third grade reading proficiency. Second grade students are not expected to pass this assessment in second grade. Therefore, it is truly incredible that 33 of our 777 second grade students passed. Another positive indicator is that 15% of students were classified as on track, suggesting that the instruction and support happening in the kindergarten through 2 grade classrooms is effective for most of our students. 46% of our district second graders are identified as at risk and this signals a critical need for early interventions and identification in 2025. Second grade data shows encouraging growth in district performance while also highlighting areas for continued focus. This year, as previously stated, 39% of our district second graders passed. This is up from 24% in 2024 and 23% in 2023, marking a significant upward trend in
026early reading readiness. The percentage of students at risk decreased significantly from 64% in 2023 and 62% in 2024 to just 46% in 2025, indicating that more students are moving towards proficiency. Additionally, the percentage of students on track has remained consistent at 13 to 15%. The narrowing gap demonstrates meaningful progress and sustaining these gaps will will require continued emphasis on early literacy interventions. Our small group instruction and consistent progress monitoring. The 2025 I read second grade data highlights both growth in passing rates and encouraging on-track performance when viewed by school. Edison stood out with 58% passing and an additional 16% on track, meaning that nearly 34ers of Edison students are already positioned for proficiency by the end of third grade. If you want to go to the next slide. There we go. Jefferson also posted strong
027results with 50% passing and 14% on track. Oannon improved to 42% passing and 13% on track. Hest demonstrated growth as well with 38% passing and 17% on track showing nearly 55% of students progressing towards readiness. Burns Hicks, Harding, and Irving reported results in the mid 30% range for passing coupled with that 15 to 18% on track suggesting steady growth um even if still slightly below the district average. On the other hand, Franklin and Lincoln continue to be areas of concern, each with low ontrack percentages, 8% and 13% respectively, leaving well over half of their students still at risk. While both schools have improved from previous years, their combined pass and on-track rates remain far below the district levels. Overall, the data shows strong gains at schools like Edison, Jefferson, and Oannon, where most students are
028either already passing or on track. And it does underscore the need for intensified early literacy supports at schools like Franklin and Lincoln. If you want to move forward, uh, two slides, please. Yep, right there. Thank you. As previously stated, the I read three assessment covers standards in three domains. Reading foundations, non-fiction, and literature. Here the placement by domains over the past three administrations can be seen. The I read three domain data shows both encouraging growth and clear areas needing improvement. District performance improved from 2024 to 2025, particularly in non-fiction and literature, where the percentages of students scoring above nearly doubled. However, a significant gap remains between district and the state results, especially in reading foundations. In summer 2025, 59% of district students were below in reading foundations compared to 35% nation, excuse me, statewide. And
029only 5% of district SCU students scored above in any domain. While the district shows progress from the previous year, particularly in moving students from below to at or near, continued targeted support in reading foundations is essential to support to help more students pass or achieve on track status and close those the gap with state averages. You can go to the next slide. All right. The 2025 I read3 results for third grade demonstrate strong steady growth in district performance this year. 69.8% of students or 546 of our 782 students passed this assessment. This is an increase from 63.1% in 2024 and 57.9% in 2023, reflecting consistent progress over the past three years. Correspondingly, the percentage of students not passing has declined from 42.1% in 2023 to 30.2% in 2025, showing that more students are achieving reading
030proficiency by the end of third grade. While district performance still falls below the state's 87.7% passing rate, this upward trend highlights the impact of sustained literacy initiatives and early intervention strategies. Looking back over the past five years, we see a clear upward trend in performance. In 2021, the first year back after COVID disruptions, 58.4% of our third graders passed the IED 3, leaving 41.6% below proficiency. In 22 and 23, scores fluctuated, but remained well below those state averages. The turning point came in 2024 when we introduced our literacy coaches into our schools. That year, our passing rate rose to 63.1%. With cons continued support from our coaches, this year we saw even greater gains, reaching 69.8%. A six and a half point increase in just one year and more than 11 points higher than where
031we were in 2023. Equally important, the percentage of students not passing has dropped from over 41% in 2021 to just over 30% in 2025. This means significantly more students are leaving third grade on track with grade level reading skills. While we still trail the state's 87.7% passing rate, this trajectory is encouraging. These results show that these sustained literacy initiatives, targeted interventions, and the direct support of our literacy coaches are making a measurable difference with continued investment in our literacy coaches and early reading supports. We will continue to close the gap with the state. [Music] As we compare year-to-year growth, the impact of our literacy initiative has become very clear. In 2022 and 2023, our passing rates moved up and down and we lagged well behind the state. But in 2024, our literacy coaches were introduced
032and we saw that real shift. Our passing rate grew by 5.2% far outpacing the states. 6%. This year, with continued support from our literacy coaches, our growth was even stronger. And again, we increased by 6.5% compared to last year, surpassing the state's unprecedented 4.8% increase. I don't mean to diminish that. I It's truly amazing for the state to be at 4.8% considering that they were averaging well below 1%. Um, but I do want to pause here to recognize the wording that the state used in their I read3 score press release. The article stated that their 4.8% increase at the state level was unprecedented. Let me reiterate that the school city of Hammond's passing rate increased well above the state's average increase three out of the four years with an unprecedented 6.5% from 2024 to 2025.
033Our district grew at a faster rate than the state two years in a row and this year by a wide margin. This kind of momentum matters and it should cause us to celebrate this win and we will. It tells us that the strategies we have in place, our literacy coaches, our targeted support, our interventions, they are moving our students in the right direction. And if we can sustain this pace, we will continue to close this gap with the state and ensure that our students leave third grade confident and proficient readers. Right. >> The third grade results by school reveal strong growth across most school district uh school most district schools with several showing significant gains over the past three years. Jefferson showed substantial growth reaching 77.4% 4% in 2025, which is up from 57.4 in
03424 and 68.2 in 2023. Edison continues to lead closely behind with 76% passing, up from 73.6% in 24 and 68.3 in 23, demonstrating consistent yearover-year improvement. Franklin, Harding, and Hess each posted solid results in the low to mid70s with Franklin making the most notable gain from 53.3% in 24 to 72.2% in 2025. Oannon improved steadily as well, increasing from 55.1 to 70.7. Other schools demonstrated more modest growth or areas for attention. Burns Hicks increased slightly from 55.1 in 2024 to 58.2 in 2025, while Lincoln declined from 20 uh 65.7% to 60%. indicating a need for more targeted support. Irving showed relative stability at 68.9% maintaining consistent performance but with limited growth from 24 uh to 25. Overall, the data highlights that while multiple schools are making meaningful progress towards early reading proficiency, more targeted interventions
035should be prioritized for schools with slower growth or declining performance, such as Lincoln and Burns Hicks. High- growth schools like Jefferson and Edison and Franklin can serve as models for instructional strategies and best practices to help accelerate accelerate literacy achievement districtwide. You can go to the next slide, please. The 2025 domain results for third grade testers show both encouraging progress and areas that remain in need of attention when compared to state performance. In reading foundations, district students continue to lag behind the state with 38% scoring below in spring and 51% in summer compared to 22% and 46% statewide. Though the percentage of students performing at or near proficiency is similar to the state. In non-fiction, district students demonstrated strength in spring with 54% at or near proficiency, slightly higher than the state's 42%, but fewer
036students reached the above level, 21% versus 43%. The summer results dropped to 9% above compared to 18% statewide. In literature, um the district also trailed with 19% above in spring and 9% in summer compared to 37% and 13% at the state level. A highlight is that across both non-fiction and literature, the majority of district students consistently scored at or near proficiency, showing a solid foundation for growth. However, the lower percentages of students reaching the above category and the higher percentages remaining below, particularly in reading foundations, underscore the ongoing need to strengthen advanced literacy skills and early reading supports. All right. And in closing, the 2025 I read 3 data tells a story of meaningful progress, steady growth, and momentum across our district. We are seeing more students pass, fewer students at risk, and stronger gains
037than the state overall. You want to go to the last slide, please. Evidence that our investments in our literacy coaches, small groupoup interventions, and early supports are paying off. While challenges remain, particularly in reading foundations and at schools with slower growth, the upward trajectory is undeniable. With continued focus, collaboration, and support, we can sustain this progress and bring even more students to proficiency. Most importantly, we are moving closer to our ultimate goal, ensuring that every child every child leaves third grade as a confident and a capable reader. This is something worth celebrating and it gives us all great optimism for the future of the school city of Hammond. Thank you. [Applause] >> Any questions from any board members, trustees? Any comments, questions? >> Well, thank you for this wonderful presentation. is very clear and concise.
038>> And I just want to share a hooray. >> Trust me, >> thank again. Thank you that >> as I was looking through this the fact that you had you differentiated on different slides was great too. >> Great. It was crystal clear and uh I I my heart just is is filled with joy of the growth and just imagine as we proceed in this restoration and elevation mode what those scores going to be next year. I applaud every principal, every teacher, every parent, anybody involved, our custodians because you all played a part in making this happen. We are a team and we're going to show the world this team will stick together and we're just going to grow better. 10 times better. >> 10 times better. Thank you, Mr. White. >> Thank you, >> Mr.
039Selenus. >> Thank you very much, Mr. White. So, just to reiterate, did did you say that uh our growth was greater than the state? >> Okay. unprecedented. >> Unprecedented. >> Just wanted to get that on record one more time. >> Oh, yes. Oh, we're gonna do a press release. >> Unprecedented. >> Um, our next item is our first uh public expression period. Uh, Trusty Stanford. >> Thank you. Our first and only public speaker for first session is Wanda Pucket. Good evening. I'm Wanda Pucket. I got a question. Do we have any aids bus aid monitors on the bus for the kids? Uh we got cars going around the bus when the kids is getting off the bus and Lord forbid when the kids get hurt. Uh I know we got mo I know we got
040officer out but officer can't be in all the places all the time when the kids is get on and off the bus because we do have a lot of road rage out there and this need to come slow down. When you see the bus, that don't mean go around the stop sign when they put it out. Stay still, parents. And I'm talking to not on to the board. I'm talking to the parents that's sitting at home looking at this. You going around the school dropping them kids off that circle. Y'all impatient. You are not the only parent going through that circle to drop your kids off. Be patient. You coming down through that alley a little bit too fast, too. And y'all know what alley I'm talking about. Coming down from the speedway. You have
041kids that getting out the car there trying to get across the street, too. I'm begging. I'm asking the parent, please slow down. Coming down Pine in Chicago, that's not a speedway. >> This not Indianapolis 500. We have our babies that is crossing there. Parent, you hit one of those, how would you feel if somebody ran over yours? And I know y'all sitting at home looking at this. Let's get it together cuz I can be there. I ain't coming out of retirement, but I can be there to support them babies. And I can keep coming to this mic to support them babies. We in what, three or four weeks of school and the way I see y'all driving, Slow down. Coming up that alley over there by Edgars. Slow down. run over one of them babies
042over there by Edgars going up that alley flag. You better slow down there, too. Coming up to Hammond Central. The way y'all driving through there, slow down. Kids is getting out of school and going to school. Slow down. Pay attention. These is our babies. That's all I got to say. >> Thank you. That's all. >> The next agenda item is uh unfinished business and there is no unfinished business this evening. So the next agenda item after that is the consent agenda. >> Trustees, what's your pleasure with the consent agenda? Madame President, >> Trusty Candelera, >> I move for the approval of the consent agenda items A through E as presented. >> Second. >> It's been pro moved and properly second that we approve the consent agenda items A through E. Are there any questions? Any
043questions? >> Oh, I'm supposed to have something. Yes. I'm sorry. I forgot. Accounts payable docket register um dated September 2nd, 2025, consisting of 113 pages. Total claims 1,359,27544. Total payroll 1,933 933,686.99. >> Thank you. Any any more questions? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppos. >> I. >> Opposed? Eyes have it. Motion carried. Mr. Selenus, >> the next agenda item is new business. Item A is asking for approval of the HF Acorn grant for Hammond uh Central High School. >> Madame President, >> Trustee Spencer, >> I move for the approval of the HF Acorn Grant for Hammond Central High School. >> Second. >> It's been moved and properly second that we approve the HF Acorn Grant for Hammond Central High School. Any questions? Any questions? All in favor say I. >> I. >>
044Oppose. Eyes have it. Item B, approval of bid award for snow removal services. We have a motion. >> Madam President, >> Trusty Candelera, >> I move for the approval of the uh bid award for snow removal services as presented. Do >> I have a second? >> Second. It's been moved and properly second that we approve the bid award for snow removal services. Are there any questions? Any questions? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any any nazs? I eyes have it. Okay. Item C, approval of transportation longevity increments. MOU. Madame President, >> Trustee Spencer, >> I move for the approval of the Transportation Longevity Increments. >> Second. >> It's been moved and properly second that we approve the transportation longevity increments. Are there any questions? >> Any questions? All in favor say I. >>
045I. >> Opposed? Eyes have it. Thank you. Item D, approval of I Ready assessment K through2 and instruction K through8 purchase. We >> a motion. >> Madam President, >> Trusty Spencer, >> I move for the approval of I Ready assessment K through2 and instruction K through8 purchase. >> Second. >> It's been moved and properly second for the approval of the I Ready assessment K2 and instruction KA purchase. Any questions? Mr. Selenus, could you expound on this just a little bit? >> Um, actually I would like to, but Mr. White is here, who I think would do a better job than I. >> Exactly. >> So, I'll give him the opportunity. Mr. White, thank you. >> I Ready is our district diagnostic that we have been utilizing in our district four years now. Um, and so
046it is uh in assessment of students in kindergarten through second grade is how we are using it this year. um it will assess them three times a year in reading and in math. Um in the past we had um implemented the assessment K through 8 but we are required to implement the state checkpoints which takes the place of that what we are able to do for the specifically for the 3 through 8 is we're able to take their data their results from the checkpoint and sync it with I ready in order to construct individualized pathways that are going to help with remediation and intervention that becomes automatic in K through two they're after each benchmark um they get a pathway that's automatically generated. Um I have to say this has been a request from teachers
047wanting back this program as much as we possibly can. Um and so there's a great deal of excitement in our district. So there was a break in um in in the service of this >> um last year um grades three through eight did not have any I ready. Um so they we did this in K last year it was K through two they had the just the assessment part with no instruction and three through eight had nothing with I Ready. So we're working to bring this back um to support our students and our teachers. >> Absolutely. and that could have impacted some of these scores that we have today. >> I agree. >> Thank you so much. And just for the record, >> thank you, Mr. White. >> Uh the cost is two I'm just
048going to read it straight from the uh board doc. The cost of this is $221,742 and it's coming out of title one. >> Correct. >> We have a motion. We have the question. Are you ready to vote? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any oppose? Eyes have it. Motion carried. Thank you. Uh, item E, approval of Ready Rosie contract renewal. Do I hear a motion? >> Madam President, >> Trusty Spencer, >> I move for the approval of Ready Rosie contract renewal. >> Second. >> It's been moved and properly second uh for the approval of Ready Rosie contract renewal. Are there any questions? >> What is this, >> Mr. >> That's okay. Uh this is a um ready Rosie is a family engagement resource for our Head Start program. >> Thank you. >> You're
049welcome. >> We've heard the question. Are there any more questions? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppose. Eyes have it. Uh item F, approval of contract with Melissa Benley. >> Do I hear a motion? Madame President, >> Trusty Candelera. >> I move for the approval of the contract with Melissa Benley as presented. >> Is there a second? >> Second. Oh, >> it's been moved and properly second that we approve the contract with Melissa Benley. Are there any questions? Mr. Selenus, could you expound on this one because this is this is good. >> Yeah, I'd be happy to. Uh, I'd first like to give credit to our um interim director of special education, Mr. Tim Seaman. He is responsible for this. um he reached out to Melissa Benley who is a retired teacher for
050deaf and heart of hearing. Um she recognized the need that we have in servicing our students and in a effort to not disrupt uh services she um opted to come back and help us and so she will be providing services for our uh deaf and heart of hearing students. She will also be co-eing the crisis prevention institute program which is CPI uh training our staff in effective deescalation techniques to promote safe and supportive learning environments for all our students. And again um kudos go to our interim director Mr. Tim Seaman for securing this um contract. >> Thank you very much. Are there any more questions? >> All in favor say I. >> I oppose. Eyes have it. >> Thank you uh Mr. Selenas. Our next agenda item is the calendar. >> Tuesday, September 2nd will
051be our executive session at 5:15 p.m. and our regular school board meeting at 6. On Tuesday, September 23rd, we will have an executive session at 5:15 p.m. And uh at 6 p.m. we will have our regular school board meetings. Subject to change. Also, I would like to announce every third Wednesday of the month, which will be on the 17th of this month, we will have our WJO radio show. And we're asking uh any teachers, principles, um any staff, if you have anything you want to uh boast about, um you know, stick out your chest about on school city Hammond, contact Mrs. Lopez, the office, and get get them scheduled so they can be on WJB so we can have some more bragging rights. Um, don't we also have a meeting on September 30th? Tuesday, September
05230th. >> It's not on here. Okay. Yes, we do. Thank you. Uh, September 30th is a public works session for at 6 o'clock. Okay. September 30th. So, that's so noted. Thank you. Um, Trustee Spencer public work session. So, that that is our school board meetings. So moving right along, >> it's public expression. >> Our next agenda item is public expression second period. Trustee Stanford. >> Thank you. Our first speaker is Linda Trinkle. >> Trinkle. >> Linda signed up. >> Oh, you just signed in. >> Don't worry, I've done that. ruin. >> Okay, we'll skip you. >> No problem. Next speaker, Wanda Pucket. >> I won the puck and I'm back again. Now, this what I want to say. I'm asking anybody out there with an MA degree, come to the school board or either go
053down on Colombia, I mean Calid and fill out an application to be a par professional in the classroom. We as parent need to show our support to the staff of school city of Hammond. We getting tired of sitting down watching soap operas. Y'all can go do what y'all want to do. But when it come down to them kids, we need y'all in the schools. Get y'all background check. Now you want to know where you can go get one at? I can tell you where you can go get a third one for all 50 states and come back and present it to the trustee, the superintendent. So you'll be able to get up in this classroom. We need child help in the morning and after school. But order to deal with these kids. You got to
054have that background check. We need more par profofessionals inside our buildings with the teachers. I'm asking y'all because I know some of y'all got your MA, y'all bachelor degrees because I talk to y'all constantly. Please, let's put it to use. Y'all got early childhood development classes. Y'all don't pass that. Let's put it to use. Let's come out. Support our kids. We need bus aid. Apply for that. Let's do something to show our kids we are interested in them getting that education, that piece of paper. I'm working on my grandkids getting there. I got a 10th grade and a ninth grade and you better believe they parents on there and I'm I'm here to support too. Let's get together on this. Our kids need our help. We got to keep bringing that that test score up,
055not down. When our parents get involved, let's help the kids and showing them that we are interested in their education. I need y'all per y'all come on back to Hammond and get back in these schools. Y'all teachers, y'all come on back to Hammond, too. Get back in these schools cuz we need you. I'm crying for these kids. Let's make this work in a good year. Urban, I'll be over there to see you one day this week. That's all I got to say. >> Thank you. That ends s second session, >> Mr. Selenos. >> All right. Thank you, Miss Pucket. Our uh next session is uh reports. So, um I will start with my reports. uh for the evening. Good evening everyone. Uh thank you for being here. Community members, administrators, teachers, it's very nice to
056see you here uh this evening. Uh the school city of Hammond will be proudly recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th through October 15th. This is a time to honor the culture, traditions, and contributions of our Hispanic and Latino communities. We look forward to celebrating this important month across our schools. And in addition, we will be participating in the Mexican Independence Day parade on Saturday, September 13th. The parade will begin at uh noon at Morton High School, and we are excited to showcase our district's pride and unity at this community celebration uh this um Hispanic Heritage Month uh beginning September 15th. I have a few shoutouts that I would also like to share. Our very first shout out goes out to um some of our unsung heroes, our clerical team. our clerical team. A huge
057shout out to our amazing clerical staff across the district. They continue to do outstanding work enrolling and registering our students, ensuring our schools are well prepared for success. And in addition, our clerical team engaged in their professional development sess sessions during the early dismissal that we had a few uh weeks ago presented by our accounts payable specialist Marshall Witherspoon. We're grateful for their dedication not only to service but also to their own professional growth. Let's give a round of applause to our clerical team across the district. Thank you for all that you do. And I do want to highlight Mr. Adam White. Mr. White, thank you for your detailed presentation tonight on our IE3 data. We are on a very positive trajectory towards success in meeting state expectations in literacy. This progress is the result
058of a collective effort among our teachers, our literacy coaches, our principles, our families, and of course our Hammond students who are trying so hard to become proficient readers. And as we know, reading is the number one indicator of future success and we remain committed to supporting all Hammond students in their literacy journey. Thank you for that presentation, Mr. White. our student presenters. A heartfelt thank you to our student presenters this evening. Molina, Mata, Joseph uh Helms, >> Helms, I'm sorry, Joseph Helms. You exemplify the very best of what Hammond students are and what they can become. Thank you for serving as a positive role model for your peers and for our community. I also want to thank the families for their encouragement and participation at home. Your support makes a world of difference. Thank you
059very much. And finally, along with uh Miss Pucket's message, the School City of Hammond is still actively hiring for several positions. We are encouraging all interested applicants to join us at the City of Hammond job fair on Thursday, September 18th from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Hammond Civic Center. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with our district and consider a career in serving the children of Hammond. Thank you for your continued support to our students, families, and schools. And together, we are restoring and elevating Hammond one day and one student at a time. Thank you everyone. >> Thank you, Mr. Selenas. Are there any reports from the board? >> Trusty Guer, >> I have one for uh PTA. Yes. >> Um we came back from uh we had a our first in-person
060convention in the past 5 years um back down in Indianapolis. We came back refreshed and ready. Um we learned quite a bit. Uh one being that PTA at its core is an advocacy um advocacy group um statewide. We actually go uh we'll be going in March to Washington DC um to advocate on the hill with congressmen and senators. Um and then regularly we have a legislative person who is down in Indianapolis um legislate advocating down there for legislation that affects our kids. Um so we're just ready. We do have some exciting things coming up. We've we're doing reflections again this year. The theme is I belong. Um, like I said last time, I think it's an easier theme for the young ones. Um, that deadline is October 31st and we'll be we'll be pushing out
061more. Um, and then we're also partnering with the district for the kindness campaign and we've got some exciting things coming for that. So, just keep your your eyes and your ears peeled. >> Thank you. Any other trustes? >> Believe it or not, I have nothing to say. >> So moved. >> Second. >> So moved. Amen. Have a good evening everyone. Thank you.