School City of Hobart Board Meeting - 2026-05-21

001To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Board stands for the minutes of the executive session and regular session meetings held on May 5th, 2026. We have a motion in the second. Is there any discussion? If not, please place your vote. financial reports that would be this evening in the absence of our students. We have school education 1 million69 education for materials school operations $476 school lunch $179,716 insurance fund $2,420 $84547 Foundation $3,864 and learn project $87 fund $500 in grants $154. Overparters $1,6285 $32415 title one year 256 $4,3620 $3,7165 $460,207 $7,8492 benefits $482 insurance $3,8654. We have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? And that passes 5. Thank you. Are there any comments on

002the agenda items from the audience? If not, I do have a announcement that we are adding an agenda item in regards to permission to advertise a school construction project. So that will be in a little while. Next item on the agenda is personnel. Mr. Matt, >> for in your electronic packet, you received a copy of the personnel report, the personnel report addendum, the ECA personnel report, and the ECA personnel report addendum uh for May 21st. Board action is requested. We have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? >> If not, please There we go. All right. We were waiting for that to come up on the screen. A little bit of technical difficulty there. Um, so for the audience purposes on that extracurricular personnel report, uh, was the naming of our girls varsity

003soccer coach. And I'm going to do the pleasures of of introducing who that is. Um, she'll be shy. She will not want to come up here. I'll read it, then you get to come up here and say a few words. Okay. Um, Katie Reinus, uh, who is an amazing, amazing teacher and coach. Um, and I want to just read what the athletic director prepared for the, uh, recommendation that he sent to me, but I would have to tell you that I already know all of these things because of the individual that she is. Um, you know, great teacher and great teachers make great coaches, great coaches make great teachers. Katie is both. Um, and I've just had the pleasure of watching her as she is our our varsity dive coach, our diving coach. And sometimes

004it's hard to keep up with Katie. Uh, she is so passionate about what she does, whether it be the classroom or the sport. And so, I want to give you some background on her soccer background, uh, which you may not be familiar with. Uh, first of all, she is a Hobart graduate and a former four-year varsity soccer player. During her playing career, earned all Dulan Athletic Conference honorable mention honors and served as the team captain under longtime coach uh bricky coach Ken Klein whom many of you know. She's had the opportunity to continue to her career at the collegiate level uh but ultimately chose to attend Indiana University and focus on her studies. Um she is an early college instructor at our high school just for all of you to know that and she worked

005hard to get that and we are forever grateful for that. Katie She brings a strong background in athletics, leadership, and student athlete development, including more than 13 years of coaching experience at Hover High School, where she's built a reputation for developing a disciplined competitive program. And it's rooted in accountability, hard work, work, work, work, and positive team culture. Under her leadership, Hbert's diving program has grown into one of the largest in the state, and we have so much to be proud of. It gives me a heart attack every time they're on the boards. Um, and she's produced conference champions, regional qualifiers, state uh, competitors, and all-ameans. She also holds an NFHS coaching soccer certification and a certified US soccer grassroots coach. She's known for her ability to connect with student athletes while maintaining high standards.

006Coach Rhinus is committed to creating an environment where players are challenged to grow individually and collectively. Her vision for the Hbert Lady Bricky soccer program is to continue to build a competitive, disciplined, and united program that represents Hobert High School and it represents our community as well. It's with pride, toughness, and character. and I know she'll conduct that varsity leadership approach to that sport that she brings to our diving program and I would also just say to her classroom. And so with that being said, Katie, we welcome you as our girls varsity head coach. Welcome. >> Thank you very much. I'll be brief in case you're wondering. The girls tennis sectional is going on and they just won the semifinal in a third set. They're going to be in the finals. I think they're playing

007them tonight because they anticipated rain tomorrow which is why uh Coach Black is not here. Uh but I want to thank the board and Dr. Buffington, Mr. Black, um and our principles, uh Coach O. I keep saying coach Mr. OA and Miss Newell uh for their recommendation. And it it really is like with with great pride and and thankfulness uh for you guys to put the trust in me for a program like this that has such great tradition uh such great players. They built such a great program and I'm just so honored uh to step into this role. I want to thank our board that has been working hard uh to you know maintain uh everything while we've been looking for this new coach um and my assistant coach uh who I'm really looking forward

008to working with and and really moving these girls um you know forward and seeing what they can do because it really is a great team and I'm really excited uh to see what we can do uh in the future. So again, thank you just so much for the opportunity and I'm just excited to get started. So thank you very much. All right. Thank you. >> Our next item on the agenda is the presentation and recognition of the Hbert High School superstars. Dr. Buffington. >> That's right. Out in the audience. And there's a bunch of them out there. And uh I have our director of social emotional learning and uh Mrs. Matthysse is out in the audience. I'll call her up to the podium and I'm going to call up our Ricky uh uh superstar mentors

009if they want to come up as well. Um we definitely want to recognize them. Um let's call our students up that are out in the audience. And um we're going to talk a little bit about what this program is. Um and then I'll have Mrs. Matthysse say a few words. I'll say a few words. Um this is only a fraction of them. Everyone I probably I go over there. I will just let me get over there for just a minute. All right. So, for the audience purposes, um I was approached last year by Audrey Turley. Raise your hand over there. Let them know who you are. There you go. And so, um she had sent me a proposal to do an after school club on social emotional learning with of our elementary schools. Now, if

010you know Audrey, um, like I know her very well, she reads books non-stop and she was actually borrowing books that I had given to her mom who's a principal at Liberty Elementary and it was all on child psychology and development. And um, and I said, "Well, if you're wanting to do something like that, I really need to see what your lessons would look like, and I need to run them with my director of social emotional learning." And so, proposal and um we went through the proposal and it was very good and I said what I said you know how are we going to know if it works and um she said okay and I said no you have to pre and post test right and so I said you're going to have to come up

011with a pre-est and a post test and let's see if this really works and I I shall point out that her teacher And this is where a lot of this started coming from, right? And so I said, "All right, Audrey, if this is going to work pre and post post, you have to do the teachers and the students and then we have to look at the data, right? And did your program actually work?" And what we were really hoping was to work with our youngest students on self-control, discipline, trusting other people. And she ran the program. She ran it at Liberty Elementary. The results were unbelievable. And these were kids that were answering the surveys and their teachers and their teachers could not believe the change in the students. And I said, "You have a

012lot to be proud of." And I said, "We got this." Anybody that knows me, I'm like, "We got to scale this. Like, we got to do this everywhere." And so, um, I met with Mrs. Matis. We met with Miss and we met with Audrey and we said we've got to replicate this at our other elementary schools. And if we can take second, third graders and we can do this with them. Can you imagine how successful they will be going into those accountability um and just being confident of their themselves and knowing what to do having that self control. So then Audrey We started training other students to replicate program at the other elementary schools and um they actually did this after school and we did it successfully at all of our elementary schools. So I

013I do want to say you know I can talk forever because obviously I'm proud of her um and are proud of all of our students that under her leadership and this we were able to replicate this program but this is the power and initiative, right? And and I had an idea. Can somebody help me with that? And she did it and I couldn't be prouder of it. And by the way, um we should tell you that she's going to the University of Notre Dame and uh she will be studying neuroscience and child development. And so this is very near and dear to her heart and what she wants to study. And um for that I'm extremely proud. I know her parents are as well. Um, but I can't thank you enough for what you did

014for our other elementary schools. And so I'm gonna let Mrs. Matis come in because, you know, obviously falling under some of her leadership too, that we make sure that we have a standardized program under that leadership. So go ahead. So we did we went from one um instructor, which was Audrey last 10. And so they would meet with um with Audrey and I on Tuesday mornings. Audrey would I would have everything ready for her all of our materials and she trained all the students Tuesday and then in the fall it was Wednesday afternoon they would go out and teach for three hours. Um it was uh the eleving um during the fall and then the spring sessions we just had um just the normal uh just their superstar program that they implemented then and so

015yes we have Maria and Josie and Elizabeth and Lily here um today but yes there were 10 students that worked alongside Audrey she was also one of the instructors and I couldn't be more proud or impressed with um what they went in and these students are a little tired, a little done with school, yet they were like, "All right, let's play some games. Let's motivate them. Let's get them back on track. Let's have a little snack." And they were able to teach the content that Audrey prepared. And so seeing them from the start to the end of those sessions was really incredible and just the um the confidence that had support at home and then also at school a little bit better too. So incredible. Right. So one of the things too that we can

016tell you um we were working with Victory for Kids for Home and the first semester she was able to give us a grant and we were able to pay our students who were doing that. without it. But keep in mind, they have to um under their graduation diploma, they they have to have service learning. Uh and so they would have done that without the pay. Um but then we just thought they were working so hard that how can we continue that was able to acquire money from the state to be able to continue the program. What is my desire, her desire, and I'm sure your desire that we're able to continue this psychology students and Mrs. Bert's social worker interns. So, kids that have to have a new diploma, they have to have a seal,

017they have to do work based learning, internships, apprenticeships and we hope through this program um we can provide that for our students and it's doing a great service um and helping kids as they go forward. This is called your names up so I can take your hand. Um and we're just really super proud of you. So Audrey Audrey >> Josie going There you go. >> Sure. You're the founder. >> Um, I just want to say thank you to Dr. Buffington and Miss Matthysse for really helping me and guiding me in this process. They really took my um, helped me take my idea and turned it into something real and showed me how I can um, leadership and make an impact. I'd also like to thank my mom because my mom was actually the first person

018I spoke to about this. She was like, um, you need to talk to Dr. Buffington. She can help you a lot more. So, that was very helpful. Um, same with my dad. My dad has helped and supported me a lot. So, just thank you to everyone. This was an amazing opportunity to just grow and learn a lot more. And we learned a lot with the kids, too. So, they weren't the only ones learning. I don't know if anyone else wants to say anything. So, thank you. Thank you all. Great job to all of you. And my apologies for future. If anyone would like to take pictures, you can move anywhere around the room. If you want to come back here by us, you're more than welcome to do that. This is not just our building.

019It belongs to everybody. So, all righty. Next on our agenda item is for the school city of Hobart retirees. Dr. Buffington. >> Yes, this is uh bittersweet. Um there's some people sitting out in the audience that are retiring and it is it's just bittersweet, but I you know um we will let them go gracefully and hope that they come back and visit us. Um and so we're going to start off with a couple of people that um are at the middle school. Um and the first person that we're going to recognize this evening and then I will call um their principal up. Mrs. Neely is out in the audience. Um and she wants to go up to the podium. She can say a few words. Um the first person that we're going to recognize is

020Betty Funkhouser. And if Betty would come up um I know she's not gonna want to do that, but Come on, buddy. And first of all, these are golden apples that represent their years of service. And she can open it if she wants. Um, and I see her lovely sister. And so she can open that up. Um, let me just say anybody that knows uh about the Brickies. You obviously know Betty Funkhouser. Um, she is just a mainstay here and you know seldom and I don't want to get too emotional here, but when you get the you get the notice that she's wanting to retire, it just made you sad. um because she she is an incredible teacher, incredible coach, and you know, I I've had the pleasure of working with her for a very long

021time, and I don't care what you ask Betty to do, she'll do it, right? And I don't care what it is. I mean, like, I'm gonna tell this funny story about her. She is just a crackup. So, I'm like, "Hey, Betty, there's this program that is on it's on word recognition. It was called forward and I said I need somebody that can motivate middle school kids because it's like even nonsense words but it's to help them if they're non-readers and I said will you help me with this Betty because you know coaches are motivating right so I want you all to know that this program was going on in the entire school city of Hbert to help kids with word recognition Betty Funkhouser had the highest in the entire district. Uh and and that's because

022that's who Betty is, right? And it's that competitor, but it's like, hey, if this is important for kids, we're going to make this count. We're going to do it. And she never she never hesitated to do anything for kids, right? And then, you know, you can even say, "All right, so like, hey, Betty, we need you to mentor a kid." And I'm talking with Mrs. Neely. This is hysterical. So, I get this email a kid uh a student I shouldn't say kid but a student emails me and for all of you adults out there that would never think about you would have never even known your superintendent or emailed them they have no problems emailing me and so I get this email could you ask Miss Bunkhouser to quit bugging me I call up Mrs.

023And I say to her like, "What is going on over there?" She said, "Oh, Miss Wilkhouser has his number." And so, um, I mean, like to bring out the best in students that have will problems, right? So, you could have a will problem. Why am I here? Um, and and how do I motivate someone to do their absolute best? And it would only be a person like Betty that could bring out the best in people, right? And um if you've seen her running around town, uh if you've seen uh the kids chasing behind her, um if you've been on the podcast show, um the kids all loved that podcast. You know her as the marathon runner, you know, gets knocked over by a deer, gets back up and finishes the race. Um she's just a

024legend and people that know her, you can't help but love her. And um she will be forever missed and I can't even like to tell you how much it means to us. Uh the the learn to swim program. You see, I could sit here all night and tell you accolades of her. Um there are just hundreds and hundreds of kids that learn how to swim because of Betty and um I don't know what else to say except for you go into that pool and on the first day they're petrified and by the end of it they're all swimming like fish. Uh and so you know that's a legacy that she leaves behind too that she started and and you know just her coaching capabilities. Obviously you all know her as a coach whether it's cross

025country, track, um basketball, um volleyball, you name it, she does it all. But she's got a heart for kids and that's why she did it. And so, um, I just want to say to you as as your superintendent, I mean, like I'm forever grateful, um, and immensely proud of you and I hope you come back and visit us because it won't be the same without you. Um, so like I'll give you a I'll give you a key fob if you want to. So, we'll break a few rules here. Um, but I'm going to ask her principal to come up and say a few words if you would. And then if anybody else is in the audience that wants to say a few words because I see a few people back in the background there that

026might want to say a few things. >> Okay. I love coach fun and I do not want to be emotional either and I'm aging myself but she taught my youngest son who was four to swim. He's 25 now. My oldest son who's almost 33. He was one of her guards. Um and so and I've been in the school of for a long time and there's always been coach fun. So, I asked Coach Funky for some of her stats, and I'm just cracking up with this. She's been teaching for 47 years, and you would never know. She taught high school biology for her first year and then was transferred to high school PE and then she went over to the junior high, as it was called back in the day, and it became the middle school.

027And this is where she spent most of her career. just fit her. She said she's have had the opportunity of coaching first the high school's girls cross country team back in 1982 and won the conference sectionals and placed 10 in the 10th in the state on their very first year. She's also coached middle school cross country basketball and track and has enjoyed every minute working with kids. She taught summer swimming lessons for 43 years. She said one of her best moments of teaching is when she sees students who have a fear of water, but they learn how to swim and dive leaving class smiling with a whole new level of self-confidence. Same is true when they learn to rollerblade. And she's on her roller blades all day long when they do rollerblading. Both are activities

028that will stay with them for a lifetime. Her favorite memory, and I have permission from the student's parent, her favorite memory is watching Jeremiah learn to not only swim and dive, but to do a perfect front flip off the diving board. I even had Jeremiah demonstrate for the entire class and she videotaped it and sent it to his mother because she was so nervous about her son swimming because he was not a good swimmer and now he's doing off the floor. >> She has three sisters. I love her little mom. Her mom's in her 90s, right? And just a few years ago they had a plank challenge where they got four planks. Mary would do them too and and mom or and Betty and >> which by the way we should say her mom made

029masks for all of us during co. >> So for those of you who did not know when there was a shortage of masks her grandmother made masks for all of our staff. How about that? >> Yes her and her little church ladies and they also made my birthday these little hot pots or whatever. So I put my bowl of soup in there so it would hold it little Mary and her church ladies. Um Betty has run over 80 and she started running in her late 40s, not past late 40s, but still there's old. Anyway, Betty is the biggest cheerleader for everyone. Everyone. And I find her in a very energetic, positive mood every single day. And she comes to work. She comes to work. And so I'm going to miss as we know her as

030Coach Funky so very much. I've spent the last 11 years as >> Yes. Does anybody in the audience want to say a few words before Betty does? >> Please do. >> Yeah. Come on up, Dan. You can take the podium if you want or stand right next to her. >> Dan is one of our maintenance engineers. um he runs the pool and just about any any other thing that we need help with. >> So I took the job 10 years ago and when I saw that pool and the shape that it was in back then I was put together with bandaids and every morning I didn't know what to tell. Are we going to have a pool today or not? She asked me. >> And there were so many days that I sat in Felix's

031office don't pushing this pool. Betty's got an issue. One more try. I'm like, "All right, I'll give it a try." And sure enough, we kept that thing going until we're able to do a remodel. And I just want to say that if it wasn't for your passion to teach these kids how to swim, we wouldn't be pushing that home into the future. I mean, that remodel probably wouldn't have taken place. >> So, It's an honor to get behind as a support service person to get behind such you're going to be missed. >> Thank you. >> He is the best. >> Our pool looks as good as it did when I first started here. >> And and it's so important. I mean that that mission that she had and the learn to swim program everyone. I

032mean when you have so many lakes and We need our kids to be able to swim and you've contributed greatly to that. And if you haven't seen the middle school pool, you should stop by. Pete Cortez put his marks on it as well. Our local artist is just beautiful. >> All right, who else was out there? I saw some hands. Come on up, >> Mrs. Pson. That's okay. So she knows I'm coming from a whole different perspective. I was one of her students. I was not a great student. I was one that you saw the name on the list and you were didn't want me to class. Um and but she never gave up on me. She was one of those teachers that um I would behave badly because I knew that you would just

033push me away and have nothing to do with me. And she never did that. She kept pushing and kept pushing me and kept being involved. Um, and she loves swimming and I went into swim class and told her I didn't know how to swim. Um, so three three days I sat on the side of the pool and you think she would have sent me to the office. She didn't. She came down there and played the game with me and made me fall in love with her and by day three I um I could swim lessons. She knew that wasn't true. But, uh, that's the impact that you make on kids. You make an impact on us as adults, but as kids, and I'm 45 now, and I still think of you all the time. And

034how you pushed me, and it makes me want to push my students and the students that do have those struggles to make those connections with them. And that's coming from you, inspiring me. So, I wish you the best and you know that you've made in a lot of people's lives. So true. >> See somebody else back there. Come on up, Mrs. Swapper. >> Okay. I don't ever do this. >> She does not. But you've got this. >> I have to. So I've known Betty for like forever >> as a student, as an athlete, as a mom of swim kids and kids. school and then a coworker, she was my coach through all of my running, my half marathons, the very first time I ever ran a race. I said, I think I'm gonna run a

035half marathon. What do I need to know? And and then I coached with her for the last 10 years >> and I could tell you stories. But I think the best part is just she's so like just motivating for the kids because it's not easy to get you know, 11, 12, 13 year olds after a whole day of school to say, "Hey, let's go run three miles in the hot heat on the bike path." And she did it. And she did it for me, too, because there were most days I didn't want to do it either. And she's just so uplifting and motivating. And every time, I'm telling you what, every day on that bike path, we would run past somebody. Coach Funkhouser, you look the exact same. And we run past Who was it?

036She's like, "Oh, a student." I said, "Oh, do you remember?" >> But she's I mean I think we all have a funky story that we could tell. So I mean she's left a legacy of all of Cobbert. She's taught all of Cobbert how to swim. Um, another funny story, we just had conference for track a couple weeks ago and it's Betty's last conference. And so the coach there, we're like, we should, you know, announce and do something for Betty. And she's like, do you have any stats on her? I'm like, get yourself. So we're down on the field. I'm like, so Betty, you know, how long have you coached track? And I'm like, 47 years coaching. How many marathons was that? 85 marathons. and she told me some great stories of, you know, college running

037and she was an athlete herself. And they actually started the announcement saying that she's been coaching 47 years, which was before Title N, before they even cared about girls sports. >> So, she's been around for a long time. So, she leaves behind such a legacy. And, you know, we're all going to miss her and I still think she's coming back. So, I I mean, fingers crossed, you know, August I'm pretty sure we'll see. >> Oh, yeah. I'm gonna be looking for on that bike. If you see me on >> anybody else, is there anybody else out there? >> I had something to say. >> All right. Go ahead. Both of my kids like me and we had tried other programs where I take my kids and like peeling them off of me to try to

038get them to just their leg. I love your style. There were no parents in there to us at the door and we all gave them life. Think of how many kids in the city of that lifeaving skill you gave them. That's a legacy that will go on for a long time. Thank you. Thank you. And I hate to admit how old I am, but I remember when you were >> But there was excitement from the time you first started because you were young and I love All right, Miss Betty, do you have some words? 47 years went by like that. Yeah, when I look back, I really think 47 years, but it has been that long. And they've been good. I've loved it. I've had a good career here. Got to work with a lot

039of great people, different principles, co-workers, teachers, custodial staff, cafeteria, bus drivers. Believe me, I've been on a bus And the kids, you know, every once in a while somebody will say something, "Was that water? Is it going to hurt me? I think I'm getting a rash." I'm like, "No, you're nobody's been in that water more than me." Well, trust me, I'm not gonna glow in the dark or have a rash. But no, I I have really truly enjoyed it. Met a lot of nice people. And um I wouldn't have made it through the last few years with all the technical things without Karen over here, my lifesaver. She's my lifeline on all our little technical things we need to do. But it's been good working with Nikki and everybody else at the middle school and

040all my co-workers, Tom back there and Aaron and Heather, everybody. It's I I've really enjoyed it. And you know what? I just try to be positive, be in a good mood every day, and just try not to give up on kids. Some days it's a little harder, but it's been fun. I've enjoyed it. I just worked at the high school girls track section the other night. I loved it and they did so well. It's nice to see them continuing on with something that you had a little bit to do with. And one thing, no matter where I go to a race, whether it's a marathon, a 5K, no matter where it is, it could be in another state, somebody always comes up to me and I hear Coach Monkey, and then they're running. And I

041love it because that's the whole point, the whole goal is to find something you love and keep doing it to keep yourself healthy fun and you exume that. We're so proud of you and come back and see us and I agree with Swaffford. Your legacy is it's incredible and uh we're forever grateful for you. Thank you. >> Can I say something? You sure can. Coach Funky was my in middle school and my volleyball coach. And then I was so thankful that she was there for all four of my kids. Um she taught them all four all four to swim. Um they were excited every every summer to go and learn and then they ended up on the on the the other end where they were wanting to be lifeguards. Only one went through with it.

042Um, but I will say at one point, gosh, it was it was probably 2020 or 2010 when I decided to to run the Chicago Marathon and, you know, mom with four kids. I was like, "Oh, I don't know." I had my little running group and you were so inspirational. I would get these messages and the morning of the marathon, it was run with the canyons. Enjoy it all. you know, you're running with great athletes. I was in the back. They were in the front. But it didn't matter. You were so encouraging. And she did the same for every every kid, whether you were fast, whether you were not. Um, you know, all three of my girls ran middle school, cross country, and then you would see her at the end. And my dad still says

043it funny because she stands at the end and she saysun run like that. And she does it for kid that comes through and and just so encouraging and um she's done the same with the high schoolers. She shows up at their races and and cheers for them and just the run run and has done the same too with with Audrey when she got admitted and with Autumn when she got her diamond scholarship. Um so, you know, just someone we're all going to miss. So, when I think of that heart of the teacher and positivity. This is this is the face that goes with it. >> Absolutely. >> All right. We have another middle school teacher that is retiring. Um and it's the incredible Darren Davis and we'd like to call him up. So Darren is

044one of the he is one of the the quietest but the most unique social studies teachers and the kids absolutely this is for you my friend a golden apple and um I have to tell you he is very engaging in class and kids absolutely love him but I would have to tell you I mean it's very hard to get kids motivated in a social studies class um and he does it they look forward to going to his class. He is and he makes it relevant to today. And that's one of the things that I most admire about him because sometimes you can look historically and you can't understand why do I have to know this? And um and so he brings it to life for kids and he helps them see the relevance of what

045they're learning and applying it to situations that we all face today. And so for that, I'm forever grateful for that and trying to just teach just citizenship and civics to our students and and we're really proud of him for everything that he's been able to do in his classroom. Um he's an excellent colleague. Um he wants to share ideas with people and again just an engaging teacher on something that a kid may not be interested in everyone. And you have to remember one of the most famous lines that kids use on us is like, "Why do I have to know that?" Right? That is like a common question. Why do I have to know that? And he brings that to our age today and makes it beautiful. So I want to thank you for that,

046Darren. Um because it's not an easy subject to teach. And so we thank you for that. And I'm going to call Mrs. Neely back up because she has some interesting information to share about you as well. This is my buddy Darren. >> Exactly. >> Yep. And so what you may not know is that Darren is Yes. a school teacher, but Darren is also the HMS personal plumber as well. He's a licensed plumber. And so anytime we have issues, personal issues at home or whatever, here comes Darren Davis to our house. And so he knows my husband. He's been to my house, fixed our water sprinklers and all that kind of stuff. So I know more than one of us has used him in that capacity as well. Some of my favorite things I'll just be

047in his classroom. He'll be talking about religion. They have to cover that and he's talking about the different countries and religion and whatnot. And he describes it so beautifully and so descriptively and I'm like wow Darren, have you been there? Never have been. I'm like wow. I didn't even the way you're talking about it and talking in stories and whatnot. I think you've been there. It's on my bucket list. I would like to do it. I've never Not her, but I believe his wife Patty is here. And he is a girl mom, too. He acts all tough, but he's a girl mom, >> a girl dad. He has two daughters, Maya and Ellie. And um one of them, is it Ellie or Maya? That's a first grade teacher, Ellie. And Maya loves music. And so

048he would do anything for his girls. And that's what I do like as well. He acts all tough and he looks like Billy Bob Thornton, I say. Um he acts all tough, but you know, he is a girl dad. So, I asked him to give me a couple of cool facts as well. He has taught seventh grade social studies all at HMS for 24 years. He's coached middle school softball club, high school softball, varsity, and JV, middle school cross country, was awarded Hbert Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Educator in 2015 and was also a member of many of our teacher bands for the talent shows and other musical events at HMS. And so, again, I'm going to miss you so very much. So happy for this part of your life. >> Yeah, very good. >> I

049am a fan of yours. The teacher band was awesome. Um, do I have any comments from the audience? >> They're very shy. You can tell they couldn't get up here. Um, do you have a few words you would like to say, dear? >> Um, really didn't know I was going to be speaking. I have nothing to know. Um, I I like telling stories and so social studies fits me. That's really my model for teaching is to try and relate something to anyone I'm talking to in a story. Statistics, facts, and all of that stuff. Not that important if you don't have, you know, some background, something to build off of. So, that's the way I teach. I try to take something, make it better. You know, I I have elements of plumbing, of music, of

050all these things that I that I bring to my life that, you know, I use You mentioned my daughter's one's a musician, the other's a teacher, you know. So, so they listen to me. I don't know. Um, thank you all for uh the support all these years and uh opportunities and and honestly just for fighting for public education which you know, thank you all for that. >> Thank you. >> So, >> you will be greatly missed and just thank you for bringing it to life. >> Thank you very much. Give it up for Darren. Oh, Dan is coming up. Here he comes. >> Let's see. This could be a music conversation or a maintenance conversation. >> Plumbers music. >> Congratulations. >> So when I first started, he was one of the first people that I

051got to know. >> Darren always gets there really early when you're on the scene, Dan. I could just say that. >> So we had so much in common. We're both musicians. We both always I'm gonna miss two really good smiling faces in this building. I don't It's going to be so different you guys. It's gonna take a minute to get used to >> vote yet. >> There's another one. This is This is Maggie Craig. She used to be the AP assistant principal at the middle school and now she's principal at Joy Martin. I'm sure she has a couple stories. So, I met Darren back when I was teaching seventh grade English and he was across the hall and I like Darren would be one of the first ones in the building in the morning and

052I'd be like, "Where is that music coming from?" And I think that's how we started our friendship is I would kind of wander into his classroom in the morning and we started talking about music. Um, also a passion, but I don't play. And I loved watching how Darren would connect with students um outside of just what you taught. I remember you performing in the teacher band, but I also remember you sitting on stage with students and playing just with them. And I always thought that was so cool because you could see those connections that you were making and that inspired me. So, um he's also been to my house and helped with plumbing. I will say I have had that service as well there, which has been very thankful. Um I have called him sometimes

053when my basement was sweating and I'm like, "There's like I'll be there." I'm like, "But you when I'm invo he's like I got you and that's who he is like when you are a friend of Darren you are a friend of barren and he will do whatever he needs to do for you and that goes to his office so congratulations to go >> still come back to the future band you know >> I would do that >> I know that I missed that >> there you go >> all right well thank you >> thank you very Darren. >> All right, we're going to move to the high school and um I'm going to call up Mr. John Brumley. Um I will be uh just letting you know I mean like all of these people just

054mean so much to us because you know we spend an enormous amount of time with the people we work with. They're like family to us. Um, and John would be, um, one of those people that, um, you know, call me 10:30 or 11 o'clock at night. And it's because John's like family to me. Um, and I just love him, um, to pieces like I do our other faculty members. But to give you a little background on John, you know, it's not easy teaching higher level math. Uh, John, if you missed the last podcast, there's still really about calcul Um, and so you know, uh, he's teaching the upper level math classes and, you know, the famous calculator saying in your room and the kids just absolutely adore Mr. Rumley. Um, and just in terms of

055faculty, uh, knowing that they could go to John and talk to John about, you know, just the pressures of teaching, uh, upper level math and just any type of math or any type of concern that they have and knowing that he would be a listening ear, um, to be able to express their views. And, um, you know, he is just a person that you can go and talk to about just about anything. And then he tries represent that in a way that's problem solving. And that is a unique gift. Um I've had several conversations with John just to to help with problem solving up here with a staff that has 70 members that are just certified staff members and like how do you bring people together um on a common idea? And I couldn't thank

056John enough for that. You know, when you bring on a new teacher, that in and of itself is an experience because you want them to be successful, right? And so, John, uh, he just takes everything so to heart. And when you're bringing on teachers that are brand new and the methods classes not quite the same uh as like when some of us were in school and we have to help them in order to be successful and he is under his tilage and department chair at Hbert High School of the math department taken teachers under his wing and help them be successful. And I watched teachers that struggled like crazy and under John they blossomed and they became amazing teachers. You see, you don't give up on people that invest in their careers to be teachers

057and then they struggle and they don't know what to do. You have to put them in the hands of a qualified person to help them. And that's who John is. Um when I think about kids um and I think about physics and you know the trips up to Great America with physics class and I just think about, you know, when a kid has to decide if I'm am I going to take uh project lead the way uh engineering design and development or am I going to go into the calculus class and we're like you have to go into the calculus class um because they need that math background and they're like really and they get in there and they realize I'm looking back at my students and they're like really and they get in there

058and they discover that he makes it easy for And it's a hard it's a hard topic if you don't remember people. And um they come out of there and they they're better students because of John. And I would just tell you that he's been nominated more times by students um that are in the Hall of Scholars. Those are our top 15 students. Um every year we highlight those top 15 students and John has been chosen more than any teacher that I can recall. and uh he's been chosen as the outstanding educator, numerous nominations over the years uh just because students recognize what a great teacher he is. And I will just tell you that um I'm going to miss him um in more ways than one just simply because I can sit and talk content

059with him. I can sit and talk with him about how do you think we should do this? Um and he's always just been a wise individual on what we should do to be the in our school district and I can't say enough about him and just how much he cares and I am going to miss him forever. Um, and I don't know if there's any audience members. There's a few out there that have had Mr. Brumley and so look at them all out there and I see his fellow department chair out there. Um, but if you would like to come up and say a few words, we welcome that. So, who would like to go first? Come on up, Audrey. Okay, she was on the last podcast show complaining about calculus. I will just um

060I only had Mr. Brley for a semester, but he really did make a difference. Um not calculus is not my favorite class for many of the people in it. I don't know if it is, but going going into his class, even as a teacher, he's one of the favorites. Um when he's been gone, we really miss him. We about you every day. I hope you I I write word problems about him pulling carrots. We actually solved one of those today. Um we we just really missed him and he makes learning fun and he has a way of disconnecting with students and making it funny and the last 10 minutes we do word and connections which you got me and my mom into doing that and um we still talk about your red solo cup that

061you have in there and I was the drew the He um and you still need to tell me if me or my mom is the better I think it's a both me and my mom and he's just an amazing educator and we're going to miss him so much. >> Thank you Audrey. That was beautiful. Oh, she's bringing >> John was is an amazing leader. He helped me a lot when I first came here. He actually came when I was at the middle school. He actually was coming to the middle school and meeting with us because I was teaching algebra one and there was a test back then you had to pass an algebra one and I was very worried about my kids not passing it. So, come and help us. But he's been very helpful.

062John was my teacher and I don't dye my hair most of the time. So, it really makes his kids who have him currently think really hard. Are you sure? Yep. Um I was studying some math and I had to tell them when they were going to tennis was I was looking over some upper level math and somehow I still remember derivatives from years ago. I don't know how but it came back to me. But he's been very helpful with our entire department. It's been great teaching with him. He's taught me a lot of doing stats with the >> Yeah, he does keep stats for a lot of our athletic programs. He is incredible with that. >> And he does a lot of the SAT data. >> Oh, yes. >> He would do it. I would

063be like, I could help you, but he had it done. But he would show me when he was done. >> I should tell the audience we would get SAT data and we would get it at like midnight and by 8 o'clock, John had already disagregated it and sent me a report. So that's just who John was. >> But yes, want to come back. >> Come on back. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> Exactly. >> Anybody else in the audience? >> All right, let's hear from Tracy, his lovely wife. >> I actually just want to tell two quick stories. One is about you and they do have a very working relationship. >> Um, and so John is a night owl and in the summer he will get his nights like like I would be getting up in

064the morning and he was going to bed. Get that far off and sometimes I'd get up in the middle of the night to like use the restroom or something and it be like 3:00 a.m. and he's emailing and I'm like who are you emailing? And I'm like Dr. Of course she was responding. But the other story I was going to tell actually our daughter had John for four different classes in high school >> and students >> and yeah she spent a lot of time in there and um John is an excellent exceptional teacher but was not like behaviors are not really his thing like he taught calculus and physics and have to really worry about the classroom management kind of thing a lot. And the irony is our daughter never got in trouble. In fact,

065probably had a really good reputation by those of you who had them. However, the class that she would get in trouble for would be his because you know it's dad so she's not afraid to be her. So they would come home from school and there would be an issue because he hates to this day they're in their 20s if the kids call him He's like, "I am dead or I am Mr. John." And every day she would walk into his classroom and say, "How's it going, John?" And we they'd be having this little bickering thing and I would be like to Amy, "Please stop calling him John." I'm like, "You stop acting like you." And again, she has no discipline record. And I Amy, what are we doing? She goes, "What are we gonna do?"

066He could write me up and they're going to call my parents. After two years of that, they have all they've all done. But I know you're exceptional teachers for her as well. >> Thank you for all you I do want you to know I mean like when you do think of our our bricky motto all my life I want to be a bricky work work that that's John. Um and you can see it with the other people that we've called up here tonight but there's never been a more dedicated person to high school kids than John. um making sure that they have that allimportant math requirement that they need to go on to higher education um and they're afraid of it. Um and he makes it fun for them and I am forever grateful um

067for his his capabilities and dedication and commitment to teachers and students because that's who he is. Um and I just adore you, John. And I'm gonna miss you. But he does have my cell phone number, everyone. So, I'd like to say that John and I together. >> Okay, I will say this. Uh, we had everybody take a practice SAT test and of course John took the practice SAT test and um he had to tell me how hard it was. Um, and he told me that he barely finished it and I'm like, "Are you kidding me?" And then we expect kids to do this. Um, but um, that's just who he was and we're taking practice SAT to figure out how to help kids take the test better. And that's just the person that John was.

068Um, I just love him for that sort of uh, strategy. He's just a strategy guy. All right, our last retiree tonight. Um, one of my favorites here. It's uh our our one of our incredible bus drivers. And I'm going to call Terry McCormack up. So, Terry, come on up. And I'm gonna call up our director of transportation, uh, Mrs. Rosenbomb, if you want to come up, Becky. All right. So, I have to tell you like you have to understand like when all of you are barely getting out of bed, Terry is up and at it. Um, you know, he's always one of the first drivers that is probably out of the garage and picking up his bus. And he is one of the most dedicated people. And look, don't make me cry now. Don't don't

069do it. Um, but you have to understand when you're a driver, you and I always tell people this, this is the this is the first they see every every single day. Uh, and it's an important face, right? It makes a difference on how they come to school. Um, and it's the last face they see every day. And make me cry. Don't do it. Um, he's one of the most dedicated drivers and it's going to be hard to lose him. Um, you can see him on the road, you can wave to him, but you know that he has his bus under control and that he loves the kids on his bus. and um he is going to be forever missed by the kids. Uh he'll be missed by us and um your dedication has just been

070phenomenal. And I don't think people realize how difficult it is to drive a bus and it is extremely difficult and this is a man that's been doing it for a long time. Uh his service is impeccable. Um kids do love him and I'm going to miss him terribly and I know the other drivers will too as well as your students. Mrs. Rosenbomb say a few words about you, but we absolutely love you, Terry. >> Thank you. >> Well, I didn't spend as much time with Terry as Lisa did. >> Yeah, Lisa's out in the audience as well. Former transportation. >> Terry's had to deal with me for only a year. So, but he has been amazing. He's not afraid to tell you how he feels. Um, he's there every day. so dedicated to the students.

071Um they're so comfortable they even try to reach out to him personally. Um he just has made a really big impact on all of the students I think and all the families that he services here at the school city of Hbert and we really are appreciative and >> if you ever get bored, you know. >> Oh yeah. I I I forgot to mention that. You know, you you're always welcome to sub. >> Yeah, I hear that. I have I have to thank uh Lisa Wilson. >> She's out there. Come on up, Lisa. She was our She's a retired director of transportation. This is Lisa Wilkerson. Come on up, Lisa. >> I wouldn't have made it probably, you know, all these years, the 10 years I've been without her. So, >> I always said that she

072was the best boss I ever had. She was a great boss. >> He did say that and he was a great driver and like um Becky just said, he'll tell you what he thinks and I'm very direct like that, too. So, it was great when he would come to me and tell me what was going on. And I learned with him. I think the one thing he taught me even after working for 24 years as a teacher and four years as a principal before ever working with Terry or meeting him. But you can't take it personal. Whatever the situation is, it it's not me. It's not about me. But since I'm the boss, you got to figure out what he's actually saying, what needs to be done, and how can I make the situation better?

073And I always tried to look at it that way. Um, And he was always there driving whether he was taking care of his wife, whether she got sick, whether she ended up in the hospital. I remember I think it was him that called and said, "Can I just take my bus to the hospital? I'll get it back by morning, whatever." I'm like, "Yes, just do whatever you got to do if you need me to find somebody to come get the bus or get you back or whatever. We'll figure that out." But he was always faithful, always took care of his kids, and was always there. >> Thank you. >> And we're so grateful. >> Thank you. All right, everyone. We have one more agenda item before we recess. So, if you can hold on for

074one more minute because we got an important announcement that uh that we have a very important audience member >> and that is the recommendation of the administrative appointment for the Hbert High School athletic director, Dr. That's right. Um for the audience purposes, um our uh the recommendation for an administrative contract and appointment for our athletic director uh for Hbert High School in the school city of Hbert is sitting in the audience. Uh it's Mr. Keith Kilmer. Uh he is uh from LOL. Don't get nervous out there people. Uh I know I've heard that like LOL, what are you talking about? Um, but you know what? Like, take that, Mo. Um, he's coming to Hover. Um, and so I want to just talk about uh the the man that we've been able to get to know

075uh through the interview process. Uh, I have he comes highly recommended. Uh, and getting to know him in the interview process has been a pleasure. a a a man of deep integrity and character and he brings those values to Hobberg and that's what we want in our athletic program and we want somebody that has great integrity and values that will help our coaches instill those things as well and um you know we know him more famously on the football field as our nemesis um we won't hold that against him but I have to tell you he was an amazing coach. Um, and he is the assistant athletic director in LOL. He will be our athletic director, but he comes with tremendous experience and that experience is so welcome. Um, from running multiple IHSAA events, uh,

076which we do that here at our high school and you have to have someone that has that background. When you talk to to to Keith, one of the things that you learn quickly about him is that he is so student centered and you know the IHSAA, they really promote educationbased athletics and that's what's that's what he's all about. And when you talk to him, it's always about the transferability of the life skills they learn in athletics and how does it transfer to other things in life. And so we all know that when we bring our athletes here to a board meeting, their grade point averages are extremely high. They're out in the community doing other things and we want that value system in our athletic department. And how do we not miss a beat? And

077we found the person that we know that will continue the great work that we have here and take it beyond. One of the funny stories that I can tell you in the interview process as we were getting uh to know Keith really well, he talked about the L club and I'm like, "Whoa, you cannot say the L club here." And he goes, "Dr. Buffington, it's leadership." And I'm like, "Leadership is fine, but we're not using L club here." And he's like, "Got it." And he's so like he's like, "You got a H club, right?" I'm like, "Hub for sure. Do not use the word L." Um and uh so we kind of kided about that. But um he really is about leadership with our athletes and um he's run a very successful program down in

078uh in LOL with his uh his L club and he does have a passion for unified sports um just like we do. And so when you want to talk about someone that comes with the total package, because I know so many people were asking me about who's going to be the athletic director, who's going to replace our athletic director. We found someone that has great great uh similarities and he will take the program and he will be able to continue it and to grow it. And we're confident of that. And so it's with with uh distinction and honor that I present to the board my recommendation for an administrative appointment of our athletic director and it would be Keith Kilmer. He will receive a two-year contract with a salary of $97,870. Um that contract will

079begin July 1. Uh we did add some extra days to his contract so that he can spend some time with Mr. Black and that will be noted on uh on a contract. Uh His contract is for 240 days. Um he's actually going to begin his role on June 3rd and I'm so thankful for that. He's leaving LOL uh when his contract is ending and coming straight here when I'm sure he needs a vacation. Um you all know spring sports are rough in Northwest Indiana. Um and so I'm grateful for that um to work alongside Mr. Black. he should be compensated his daily rate um on those dates that are not part of his original contract from June 3rd to June 30th. Um and that would be a total of 20 days that we're adding to

080his contract. Um so it's with great pleasure that I recommend Pete Kilmer for our next athletic director. I'd like to make a motion that the board approve the appointment of athletic director at high school as >> we have a motion and a second or is there any discussion? If not, please vote. Don't worry, Keith. It's just a technology. >> All right, ladies and gentlemen, our athletic director, Keith Kilmer. Come on up. >> Dr. T, give a speech as we were walking in. Then I have to listen to you. retirees to give your speech. I just want to thank Dr. Buffington and the the board for uh giving me this opportunity. Uh I couldn't be more excited uh thinking about what to say going through this process. I knew Cobert is a very respected rival rival,

081right? Like I I know so many of the coaches here, so many of the people here and and you looked at them across the the field and I don't want to use the word hate. You hated him. >> Soon as the game was over, >> hey, hey, the feeling was neutral. >> It's the first interview I ever had where, you know, they told me I couldn't say the word of the school I was at during the entire interview. So, but during my process, it was just as important to find out that even though they were a heated rivalry, it's a place that has the same values, the same beliefs that I have. I'm going to tell you, sitting here and watching the retirees come up in the way you guys love one another, that's a

082place I want to be. And I I thank you all so much for giving me the opportunity. I'll do my best to live up to the great Mike Black and Bob Glover who gave it for me to uh keep the Ricky tradition alive. >> Thank you, There you go, Keith. It's It's gonna be great. >> I have a gift for you. Uh >> oh. >> I heard in the interview you only had one purple tie. I love you. >> That's great. Thank you so much. >> You're gonna be awesome. God bless you. He knows these guys. All right. So, guess what? Oh, Mr. Turley, come on up. >> I just I just want to say um from the community and I texted Dr. Buffington as soon as Amy let me know that you were here

083and I had no idea they didn't leak it. And she texted me that that you're there. I texted Dr. Buffington right away and I said, "You got a great He is a great one. We're lucky to have him and we're thankful to have you great things here. Thanks for coming. >> Yeah. Thank you, Mr. >> All right. We have a brief recess for cake and punch. >> Please have some cake and punch. Everyone. Ha. >> Okay. But >> maybe >> it should be showing up. >> Yeah, but you're still not getting video on it yet. >> Yeah. Yeah. I don't know. and end of your activities. Mr. Porus, if you could read the title of the resolution, please. Yes, we have resolution number 2026 the drug graduation open school. >> Thank you board. Your pleasure.

084>> Byebye. >> We have a motion and a second. And we need a roll call vote as I was going to text you. >> Hi. >> And we passed that 50. Thank you, board. Our next item on the agenda is the overnight extended student trip for the Hover High School JOTC 2026 Cadet Leadership Challenge Summer Camp. Dr. Buffington. All right. Well, this is good prep for them. Uh always with the Raiders and the competition. They've been going for a very long time. This year it's from June 16th to the 21st. Um the focus is leadership, adventure training, uh not combat training. and activities uh include quite a few things that are very useful to our cadetses. Uh there will be a 1 to 10 ratio of certified JOTC instructors and cadetses. Um and uh it

085the director of the army instruction for the Indianapolis public schools is the commandant and his staff has the primary responsibility for planning it. There will be 14 to 20 cadets attending. Um if the group is 14, they will travel in an activity bus. If there's a few more then we'll take um a different uh we'll probably add an additional bus. The cadets will stay in troop barracks and they'll eat military dining halls. There's no cost and army furnishes all the meals and lobbying. Board action is requested. >> Like to make a recommendation that the board approves request for attend Leadership Challenge summer camp as presented. We have a motion on the second. Is there any discussion? If not, please place your vote. And that passes 5. Thank you, board. And the next item on our

086agenda is the PLW Distinguished District Award. Dr. Buffington. >> Well, I can't say enough about teachers and um Tammy May, our technology department, um our directors of curriculum and in sharing in the distinction of this award. Um I want to take you back to a trip that I took with Hank Jarvis in 1999, the Rochester Institute of New York where we became one of the project lead the way schools in Indiana. And when we did so well at that program for pre-engineering and starting the gateway program at the middle school and then starting the engineering program at the high school, we were so successful they gave us to pilot the biomed program um thereafter. And we've been a project lead the way school system for quite some time thereafter. Uh what this means is that

087all of our students pre uh prek through 12th grade um we have we units that follow a problem based learning model. It's hands-on uh very researchbased and obviously it's a STEM curriculum, science, technology, engineering and mathematics. And uh we have produced some amazing students that walk out with the background that they do here. A lot of people don't realize that it could be anything from engineering to computer science to biomed and um the curriculum is a nationalbased curriculum and they're always updating it and it's always relevant to real world problems and there's very few people um in our country that have a district recognition. The district recognition is because all of your schools and every student is offered this program. So meeting the criteria is extremely difficult. 30 districts in the country made the distinguish

088uh the distinguished list. Um you know there's been times when there's only like seven or eight and we were one of them. Um this is the sixth consecutive year for school city of Hbert and as you can see um it's a very distinct honor. I want to thank Pat for always doing her homework looking it up. Um only eight of those 30 were in Indiana and we are one of them. I would just say uh Tammy May, she is our um professional development um specialist in the department. She's written many grants to help fund a lot of the consumables that go with this. and we're just really dependent on our technology department um to help us make sure this program is running correctly. And then on top of it, Tammy is our professional development specialist

089for launch, which is the elementary program side of it. Could not do this without her. And then I will also just say to the teachers that have to constantly keep their skills up, computer science, um building the future, AI and manufacturing, that's just a sample of what they're taking this summer to be equipped to handle this type of curriculum and they do it without hesitation. And so I can just say to you um it's something that we should be really proud of. >> Thank you for that question. Do you have any comments in regards to this? All right. Next item on the agenda is the recommendation to accept the John Anderson Foundation grant. Dr. >> Well, this is an important grant um that we were made aware of by Mr. Rogers down there. And believe

090it or not, much credit goes to Pat Skoon for this grant. Um her and Tammy May and Chris Keane and some of the that we work with as we're collecting our data and our information. So, um every year we apply for this grant when it becomes available. Um and um it's for two purposes. The first is for $1,000 to the theater department. They usually uh keep their microphones up to date. I know every year um that we're lucky enough to get this award. It's for microphones for the theater department, but they break their microphones all the time. Um really delicate and and and I can see that. But the other 4,000 is being used toward a new program at Hbert Middle School called building the future and that is that project lead the way program.

091It's brand new curriculum. The consumables are very extensive. But this program is centered around construction and carpentry and it's uh also entails uh pipe fitting, welding um and we're really an energy. were pretty excited about it because that was one of the things is you were looking at the data centers and you were looking at Amazon web services and what are jobs no matter what that kids can always fall back on and it's the trades right and so getting kids excited about the trades is really important and it this is a beautiful class that's being added at our middle school so again civil engineering uh with carpentry plumbing HVAC By the way, um this will be a great theater system for Hbert High School. Uh and I will let you know that IvyTech, um because

092of all the excitement that we've been building for these types of programs, um IvyTech, who is our early college program with career and technical ed at this at the career center, they had to add a welding teacher and they had to add um a pipe fitting teacher this year. Um so, we're pretty excited about that. I want to thank Pat, Tammy, and for their hard work on this and I would ask the board to accept the amount for $5,000 as we um will make sure that that is spent accordingly. >> We have a motion and a second. Is there any comments on the agenda item? I I would just say it was in your write up um that we've received 68,000 from the Anderson Foundation which is very much appreciated and they really don't want

093any hoopla about it. They just like to help people where they can And that passes 5. Thank you board. >> Our next item on the agenda is the first reading of resolution adopting updates forward school board policy. Mr. board before you. You have resolution 2026-17 and attached you have 21 exhibits including number of proposed amendments and changes to the bylaws and policies for the school city of Hbert. These are the uh bylaws uh changes that were uh reviewed at our work session this afternoon at 5:30 where we went through each exhibit and discuss the proposed changes. Changes for the most part are either technical corrections or are amendments to align board policy with changes in state law and federal law or federal regulations and policies. where those uh proposed bylaw amendments, all of which were

094recommended by Niola, contained optional language. The options marked or indicated represent the recommended choice of your administration. uh together with myself and we met and reviewed each of these and determined which of those options were appropriate before recommending it to the board. Tonight is your first reading on this resolution. It would be placed on the June 9th meeting for second reading and final adoption. I'm happy to review each of these in in detail if you'd like or or answer any questions. Although I suspect you probably remember our conversation from 5:30, so that's not necessary. Mr. Title board resolution number 20-7 resolution including amendments by laws and policies of the board of school. Your pleasure. >> I'd like to make a motion that the board adopt resolution number 2026 for the bylaws and policies changes in

095the comprehensive document bylaws and policies of the school city. We have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? >> If not, Mr. Roll calls elect And that passes 5. Thank you, board. Our next item on the agenda is the authorization of a purchase agreement for the sale of Bridge View School. Mr. Longer, >> board, you will recall that Geminis submitted the uh bid on the purchase of Bridge View School, which was accepted. And what was contemplated was that there would be a purchase agreement that would be entered into between the parties. We had set a deadline of May 1st to have that done and we uh are slightly beyond that. But we have a purchase agreement uh which was drafted by myself and reviewed and modified by Geminis and signed by them and

096that has been presented to us for our signature and acceptance primarily really reflects the conditions set forth in the letter of intent that they submitted as their bid. There are a couple things that are probably uh worthwhile to note. There are contingencies in the agreement as there were in the letter of intent and one of those is the approval of the agreement by their board of directors. Uh, another is their receipt of a grant that they've applied for to provide the funding for the purchase. We anticipate that their board will meet and hopefully decide on this in August, but we have a deadline in the purchase agreement of December 1st so that if it looks like we're not going to have an agreement, we have a date that we can basically uh terminate the sale

097and move in another direction if we need to. The purchase agreement contemplates it upon approval that we would order a phase one environmental assessment of the Ridge View property and we have a proposal for that. I think that is um attached to the agenda item and so you can see that the company that uh we're proposing is familiar with the uh the building as they are with many of the buildings in the school city. They are the same company that did the environmental assessment for the last parcel that we bought. from the Instros and uh so we have prior experience with them that is satisfactory and I anticipate that they will be able to get this done promptly because of their familiarity with the building. They have assured me that there'll be no problem uh

098doing what they need to do and working around the uh use of the building over the summer months without interfering with its use. So recommending to the board that it authorize Dr. Buffington to execute the purchase agreement and the proposal from America for the phase one environmental assessment. >> Yeah. And could I add too, Bill? Um just wise counsel back and forth with Mr. Longer on some things that we thought were really important to address with Genus and one of the things that we felt was really important to address with them was continuation of the lease agreement um with uh the Y and and so that that is also a big part of this and their intention being made known to the Y and um just our continued ability to be able to lease to

099them and that continuation while this process is going on and that there would be no um where they would conclude that lease and let them finish out so that they would have time to plan and they were very agreeable when we brought that concern to them. >> Well, and another reason I wrote that into the purchase agreement u the the right that we would have to relet the property if a tenant vacated and uh the requirement that Geminis would continue to occupy the property and and rent it and pay the rent uh during the penency of the agreement. I did that because I didn't want to have a situation where Geminis would terminate their their lease, object to a releting, and put us in a position where we're maintaining the property with no rental income

100while we wait to see if they conclude the purchase. and uh they have communicated to us that uh they will continue to lease the property and that they are comfortable uh with the YMCA continuing to occupy the part that they lease through the end of the upcoming school year. And with that representation, I'm comfortable recommending the execution of purchase agreement as it's worded. Your pleasure authorize the superintendent to sign the purchase agreement for the sale of view proposal. >> We have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? Have a question about why? Yeah. Um I I think that that was just crossroads trying to make it more accommodating. I'm not sure that it was a grant. I just think that they were trying to improve the surroundings that they had and they asked

101permission for it. They never mention >> they've invested quite a bit of money in the Hbert Y uh building as well. And uh you know they they do have some funds that have been made available to them from the fight foundation they've been able to use. >> I think it is important too to note that you know with the two of them seeing the facility right now they're good neighbors. I mean I've only had to referee one time where I was like play nice in the sandbox together here. We can share spaces. Um but um I do in great faith as as they were going back and forth and talking with Bill, it was very important to us that that the why have their intent and have notice and not interrupt services in the middle

102of the school year. And so we were able to to talk with them about it and they agreed with us. And so not only just that we won't have a vacated building if something happens, but we want to take care of the Y. All right, that passes 5. Thank you. Next is the added added item which is permission to advertise the notice of hearing on proposed school construction project. Dr. Um, in your packet, you have a copy of a notice uh that would be uh uh describing a proposed school construction project and uh that the board schedule and advertise a notice of a 1028 hearing on this project. Uh and uh we would ask that the board give us permission to advertise this notice of the hearing. Uh, and it will take place on June

103the 9th and it will be placed on the agenda item and I am requesting that you give me permission to put this out for action requested. >> We have a motion and Second. Is there any discussion? More to come. June the 9th. All right. Thank you. 5. Our next item on the agenda is our change of meeting date from the 4th to June 9th at 7 p.m. in the boardroom here high school. Um, just uh to refresh your memory as to why we're changing this. Um, we don't like to change meeting dates, but in recent um it would be appropriate to change the date. Um and I will be attending one of their um really lengthy awards ceremonies by the Legacy Foundation that our many of our students are receiving scholarships from Legacy that night.

104And so very appropriate that we move our our meeting so that I can attend their dinner. Our next item is updates, announcements, and reports. Dr. Buffington, >> well, I can say you have all the weekly agendas and newsletters out there for yourselves to take a look at. Lots going on everywhere as we're winding down. Um, you can read those at your leisure. And the next item on the agenda is the summer program. um in your packet you have a copy of the summer feed program and I think it's very important to recognize now that we have to go back to that old way that you have to be present um to have the meals and that's not by our design and so when you get complaints I am just letting you know this these are

105federal guidelines we cannot break federal guidelines and those are the rules of engagement Um, I will just say a lot of the the food service department, school nutrition if you would, um, received this information pretty late and they already had their summer feed programs planned and had to redesign these plans. And I want to give uh, Patrick Ry King uh, just a shout out uh, with Tracy Kleta because they really had to hustle and change their program. And so you can the menu, you can see the program, they'll make it be successful, but I think it's important to let the public know you have to be on site, right? And you there's no other way to do it. And they're just used to the drive up where they could get those bagged meals and you

106can't do that anymore. So, we get it done. Our next item on the agenda is upcoming activities and events. >> Well, I would like to say I think they're winding down quite a bit here. Um it's been a lot and they've been all extremely rewarding. Um in in comments, I'll make a comment about the May 20th uh senior citizen concert. Um first grade orientation going on tonight. That's a big lead for our kindergarteners going on to first grade. Memorial Day, of course, uh graduation at the Brickyard uh at 6 o' and don't forget to be there a little bit early to get your regalia up. Um and then the last day for students is June the 2nd. Kindergarten graduation. June 2nd. And if you've never been to kindergarten graduation, you do not want to miss

107that. It is so much fun. If you do want to participate, you would need to meet me in the fieldhouse at least by 5:45. Um, and we'd welcome you to participate in that as well. >> Next item is comments. >> Well, I could say so much. We've had literally something every night of the week for probably the last three weeks and it's extremely rewarding. I mean, you go home and you wake up the next day and you're like, "What day is it?" Um, and you're just like exhausted from the amount of time, but it doesn't matter because the events are so rewarding. And um, it's just been a pleasure to be at all of them. And I'm only going to talk about the that I thought was just extraordinary, which is my experience last night,

108and I want it to be on the record, which is why I'm going to reiterate what happened last night at the choir concert. We had a senior citizen choir performance, and um Mr. Wolf in the dark um was tapping me on the shoulder and telling me that we had a student that was having an asthma attack. And um you know, I I said, you know, did we 911 and as I'm walking out to try to engage and I said, "Where's the student backstage?" Um, and as I arrived going down that hallway of the performing arts, um, our students had taken control of the situation. And what was so beautiful about that is that uh, she had literally collapsed as she was coming off stage and our kids caught her. Uh, they had her down on

109the floor. Um they they ran and got ice. They were getting water for her. They were holding her hand. Um trying to figure out where her inhaler was. Um and she was extremely she was in distress. And so when I arrived on the scene, you know, I'm watching them in action as I'm coming down the hallway and I'm I'm getting ready to call 911. Obviously, I'm running and like have my phone in hand and I'm I'm telling her to brea. Count to four. Breathe. Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe slow. And we've got your hands. And um I had a retired EMT person uh out behind me. Um I think people could see I was leaving the audience. Uh and as I'm calling 911, this is the crazy part of the story. I'm getting a call

110from Mr. Leo, our athletic trainer, and he was actually out at girls softball. I did not know that. Um he actually did not know where I was. He was calling me for something else but did not know that. Um and I I said where are you? And he's like I'm at girls softball and I'm like he goes where are you? I'm like I'm outside the blackbox. I have a student in distress having an asthmatic attack. I'm calling 911. He's like I'm on my way. He comes up in the golf cart. Um she's still breathing. She's starting to to to be able to bring herself down. Uh as we're waiting and I want to just students and how they responded. So, one of the students was like, "Give me your phone number." She was trying to

111call her mom for the inhaler and she's like, "Your mom won't answer my phone. Give me your phone." And so, they recognized that they needed to like have a phone number that the mom would recognize to bring the inhaler up here. Um, other kids coming. They've got ice packs. And the interesting part, everyone, the show must go on. You had kids still going on stage performing while all of this was still going on outside in the performing arts hallway. As Mr. Leo arrived, you know, I knew that she had she was not in the distress that she was when I arrived on scene. We took her blood pressure. Um we had her calming down. Her mother arrived. She had her inhaler. She was doing pretty well. And but we still felt like she needed to

112go to the hospital just to make sure. Right. So, as she was getting ready to to get up and go to the hospital and now, mind you, we've been out in the hallway for almost an hour, right? I'm just trying to make sure that everything's kosher and the show's still going on. Um, as she gets up to leave, she recognizes one of the students that that helped her and said she said, "Dr. Buffington, she she needs to get a B excellent on purpose." And that student said, "No, she deserves to get a B." And then she's like, "Oh, no, that student did this." And then it was like before you know it, they're announcing all these kids that should have should be recognized for like taking charge of the scene and being excellent on purpose.

113And I told I told the student, I called her by name, and I'm like, "Listen, when you're well enough, you can make the list of everybody that needs to get a VOP, and you and I will pass them out together. But I want to just say for what they did in a moment when a student collapsed and they caught the student and they responded. They got adults. They started taking care of her while the adults were arriving on scene and they just were magnificent. And I think the student it was very apparent that she recognized that they were excellent, right? And they helped her in crisis and distress. And I have to tell you, I left there It was very intense, very emotional. Um, but with a sense of pride that our students are that

114loving and caring for each other and could respond the way they did and then for the students to respond on how they had gratitude for each other. Uh, and I'm just telling you that's what we're about. and you could have left here on the most rewarding evening even though I didn't get to see the concert, right? It was a very rewarding evening to see our students behave the way they did. And so for that, it's a shout out to them. And um if you really think that excellent on purpose is just something that we say, it's not. It matters to kids. It really does. And that's my comments. That was a very wonderful story and honestly I I felt myself tearing up a little bit because it's it's really nice to see that we foster

115such a sense of community and and care for each other. It >> really is. >> I want to publicly thank John for his hard work on the board policy amendments. >> Yes. He does a lot of work before I even get the material that makes a lot easier for us to work through all this. And so I do appreciate all the work that he puts in. And I think it's appropriate for me to thank him, you know, in public once again for all that work. With regard to coach Funky, I uh am also the parent of a student that she taught us to swim. And I'm absolutely convinced that that learn to swim program that she's run all these years has saved lives with all of the water in this area, whether it's Lake Michigan

116Whether it's, you know, rivers, Lake George, private pools, public pools, number of kids that don't panic when they hit the water because she's taught them how to swim. She's saved lives. So, I thank her for that. >> Each of the educators be recognized this evening. Uh I actually had as a teacher at one point. Uh so that was really special. But I I again have to I have a quick story about Coach Funkhouser. Um first she did teach me how to swim way back in the day. Uh but and and most people don't realize this. When I was in sixth grade um I had casts on both of my legs. They were walking cast to some extent uh for a majority of my sixth straight year and coach Funko and coach Glass took me under

117their wing um and allowed me to participate in my own way uh in PD class. Um just doing different things whether it was running the scoreboard or or whatever. Uh but allowed me to participate in a way that made me feel a part of that class even though I couldn't do the same things as everybody else. So, uh, for students that are in very vulnerable situations like that, being a brand new sixth grader in this new environment and then now you can't do those things, I just really appreciated both of their efforts and it's something that has stuck with me forever. So, just wanted to publicly acknowledge that. >> That's a great story, friend. Thank you, >> Mr. >> Uh, I would echo those comments. Uh, I think it was really neat that Mr. Kilmer

118mentioned what he did. Perfect night, right, to be here. Um, I think a lot of us, Sandy mentioned, have Betty stories. Uh, I think there's probably countless. Um, mine maybe isn't as impactful. I could draw a tear from that. Uh, but for me, it was I when I learned to swim with Betty, I was I had to put my nose and I had these little nose plugs that I brought with me and kids were making fun of me. Um, and you can imagine that that he took care of that. And so I think it's a testament to who she is. Um, I have a ton of respect for Mr. Brumley, but something else I respect about him is just he can talk about sports and and all kinds of other stuff just like you can

119talk about physics and what have you. Um, Mr. Davis, I mean, he's one girl dad to another, uh, who I have respect for. And then, uh, Mr. McCormack there, that was beautiful. Um, what he had to say and getting teary eyed. We know first and last people that did see, right? So, I thought it was a beautiful night. >> Mr. policy updates that we appreciate that retirees impactful. Misser, she was my sixth grade teacher. She was my son teacher. She taught my son was my physics and calculus teacher. physics calcul as a parent his his daughter and my son are the same age so we grew up as parents together in the same and to Mr.'s point about I'm a big sports guy we talk sports all day long had tremendous love for high school

120athletics um you can see in everything he did in his his vast knowledge of memory that he knew every statistic and every player whether they were down south or they were around here. We could talk for hours at elementary events with our kids about sports while people were talking about other things. So I was found talking to him athletics. Wow. Um he is the right choice. As I mentioned last meeting when I heard the word I was had a hard time that talking to several people know everybody today. Thank you, Mr. Rogers. Easy. I'd like to say I always said before my mom said hello >> Mr. Yes, a nice celebration of all your hard work. My daughter was swimmer. And finally, I'd like to mention John supported sometimes. >> Congratulations to the retirees. I

121like the way you're retirement. I'm sure they were doing what they wanted in their career as well. looking forward to all the activities coming. I know they're so busy right now sometimes polic And I was a principal one, you know. So John, I know what you're going through before it makes work slighted like that and we know what to look for. I appreciate that. I'd like to start by thanking Bill and John as well. Sandy made it some. Um, so we'll just agree with her on that, especially the highlighted parts and pointing out what needed to be changed and this was just a technical thing or this is revised or that helps us to digest it a little bit easier and um it helps us to be more efficient as board members when we're trying

122to work before other meetings. So that's very helpful. Um for the retirees counter is a um beacon of light to our middle school students. Um she is very positive. She is encouraging and it's not just to specific students or to this group of students. It's to every student. Um, she like Lauren Swford or like Swford said, "How do you get middle schoolers to run three three miles after a long day school?" I mean, that's something only can do. I'm sorry, but I I can't see anybody doing that concert. And what a great loss to our theater system for hoping that we will be able to fill those shoes. Um, she is wonderful woman. She will be greatly missed as will all of the other retirees in their capacities as well. They were loved by their

123students and by their co-workers and will miss them as well. Um I'd like to say um how honored I am as a school board president that we were recognized as the PLTW Distinguished District Award. And that is not something that is a very small feat. It's actually a lot of work and it takes a lot of dedication by more than one individual but by leadership as well. So thank you for that. Um and uh if you please make sure that everybody knows that and um that's all I have. I'm just going to the meeting on that one.