001Please stand for the pledge of >> allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Good evening. We will call this meeting to order at 5:35 p.m. record that we do have a quorum and it appears that there are not any And with that would like to make motion to >> I'd like to make a motion to approve the agenda. >> Made by Shrader. >> Second by Longi. All those in favor signify. I >> I same sign. Motion carries. Uh it doesn't look like we have any public comments on agenda items. So moving into the routine matters minutes of regular sessions of February 19th, 2026, claims 5493 428 and payrolls for February 27th, 2026
002and of March 13th. Any >> I'll make a motion to approve minutes, claims, and payrolls is presented. >> Motion made by Bunch. >> I will second. >> Second by Schwarz. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I post same sign. Motion carries. Mr. Mafy, this is your section C. >> Well, hey, the highlight of the month that we just wanted to bring to the board attent board's attention is on March 4th. Um, we had a special day at the high school that they have every year where kids get some opportunities to uh p to dedicate the day basically to uh prepare for life beyond graduation. It's kind of unique at each grade level. Seniors on that day work on scholarships and they participate in job interviews or they or job shadowing rather or
003they complete course work they're behind on. Um juniors take the SAT every year on that day uh which creates a a time management issue in the high school. Sophomores uh on that day get to explore future pathways by either visiting a university or by visiting a local business and learn about job opportunities that exist there. And then freshmen every year during that time this they continue to go with their regular coursework. Kind of a fun day um that we do every year um that uh is unique. I don't think every school does that. Um so I thought that was a cool thing to uh bring up to the board. Make sure all of you are aware of that. Um next we'll move on to our presentation for the night and Amber Bowling is going to
004present what's going on in her world as our data communication specialist. >> I'm going to move around so I can see I like that clock up there. >> Okay. So, um just kind of going through my my two main roles, which are communication and data. So, I was trying to I went to the Wordle, which I used a long time ago in high school, and was like, you know, let's put everything up there that I do with communication. So, it just kind of encompasses um all the ways that we talk to the public and to our staff. First one's the digital magazine. So this stemmed with my networking with Jasper. Jillian Blessinger is my counterpart at Jasper. Um her sole role is communications. So she has a lot of ideas and they um send out
005a magazine twice a year. Theirs is quite lengthy with just um trying to share current research practices and um whatnot. We kept it a little bit shorter and ours wants to celebrate the successes as well as just give information and what to look forward to. So we have the way we do it is when I send it out in January, it's covering first semester and what happened at each school. Um so a lot of pictures, the writeups talk about each picture essentially and just highlights every school. And then um anything that's fun like Raiders Reed, Coulson Montgomery came on and read to the kids. Um they were able to watch him zoom in. That was pretty awesome. So just sharing fun things like that. Um back to school information comes out in uh July, but
006PK registration comes out in January because we start that registration process. So it's that's theformational piece that we share with parents. It is bilingual um and we do send that out through parent square um to all the parents and then we also share it on Facebook. So just something extra we brought to the corporation television print. So this has been a huge goal for me is just trying to get our story out there however we can through every avenue of publication that I can. So it I have to say it's been very helpful having former students in the news stations daily for student and Mitchell Carter. So um even when my ideas are terrible they've been very very nice in telling me that. But they've uh helped out. Cody Bailey had has run a couple
007stories at Huntingberg. I know Mitchell Carter helped us out recently. And then just trying to get our publications out through print. Um I know it's become less common to get the newspaper at your house in the mailbox, but I know my mom still does. So um I send everything to the Herald, the Fernand News, uh Duvo County Free Press, Honeyburg Press, and Witz Witz. So, that's kind of how we're getting our story out there. I try to do one a month. Um, there is an idea coming up for this next month that I still need to talk to uh Mr. Mafy about. Um, but it's uh over our lunch ladies. So, um just their years of service. We have a family, a two generation family that's been working for us for over 70 years. So,
008>> wow. >> Just kind of getting stories like that out there. >> Um, social media has been another avenue. Facebook mainly for our corporation and then each of the schools has a Facebook account but since I've started this role our uh followers have increased by 30%. Um so it is gaining traction and it's not just about the graphics for me like hey we don't have school tomorrow or um PD day we're hiring but I do try to show things that we're doing across the school. So, um staff celebrating them, what they're doing in the classroom, uh how they're having kids, for instance, help build the rack. That was a huge hit for the most part. Um we had the kids go up to um Indianapolis with uh the mayor's youth council. And then my phone
009says I'm on social media too much. I am. 75% of that is me scrolling through the district page because it gives me a lot of ideas. And one of those was the snow day. Another school had um asked families to share their snow day pictures. So I did and it quite a few people turned in pictures. So it was just fun something to do that week that we were out. >> So how many total followers do we have now? >> That over 2,000. Um they are from multiple countries. I did look because I was curious, you know, do we have kids from Bangladesh? Right now we do not. Um, but we do have quite a few of them represented as far as where our kids are from. So, >> is our Indonesian population pretty stiff?
010Yeah, >> I did not look up Indonesia. That one I do not know the code for. So, I will have to go to the the state and see what that code is so I can find it in P school. Um, parent square was new. So parent square I use for multiple things. First one is sending out report cards. I learn I read scores. You know it's something we don't have to print in color. Number one and then mail to parents. Um same with I Ready. But the one thing I also wanted to show on that the lunch denial approval letters that Maggie sends for families as far as benefits. I've sent 809 of those this year alone. And that is normally her printing, folding, putting an envelope, stamping it, sending it. So, it's just things
011like that that have really helped other um areas of the school. >> $500 in postage. >> Yeah. >> Uhformational messages. This was something even the ambassadors had um recommended like the update for the rock road by HBE, you know, why why did we keep that rock? It's a mess. Blah blah blah. So, um they appreciated that message. the school zone with the broken flashing lights at one point, sending that out. So, I use it for messages like that. And then the uniformity for me is important because I know that parents with kids in sports are going through four or five different apps to get these notifications from coaches. And I know it's still happening, but we are getting closer to getting all the coaches to Parent Square. I've just set up the tennis coaches, their
012own parent square. um track should be on there. So to me that's important and parents can just constantly be on the same app getting the messages through there. >> Thank you. >> Ambassador program. This is we just had this this morning actually. We were at Honeyburg Elementary. We did the high fives at 7:30. Um toured the school and um they enjoy it. They love it. I mean the laughs even up here when you go through PowerPoint presentations sometimes you're wondering if they're enjoying it and then when you look out they're all like wow really and they ask questions and want to know more about it. So um it's been a really eye opening um just getting their feedback on different items here at the school and answering their questions and whatnot. So it's going really
013well. It's uh Melissa and I will sit for hours and work on these presentations and um edit the same slide 10 times. I'll come back two hours later. She'll delete the slide because she found something better to put on there. Um so that this has been fun. We I think we have two more sessions to go on this. It's once a month. And then internal communication. So this a the ideas from here stem from big four which so do the articles and whatnot that um get published which is between Chip Melissa Allison and I. So just talking about ways that we can celebrate our staff. Teacher of the year was a new one this year um >> Last year sorry this will be the second year and uh Freedom Bank partnered with us to sponsor
014these teachers. They're going to partner again this year. So, we've been able to do it during teacher appreciation week in May. Um, staff appreciation was a huge one. So, you know, I've taught for 16 17 years and you get appreciated all week as a teacher. But we have these behind the scenes crew that really help us keep the schools functioning. So, we had a lunch lady appreciation. They honestly the whole week it was just food galore for them. But, we did have them up here at central office and um had breakfast for them. And then every school held the breakfast for them. And >> they really appreciated that. They did time. They've been so much a long time. >> They had me in tears at one point because it was just a constant thank you,
015thank you, thank you type of situation. >> U maintenance and custodial logistics are a little difficult with them just because of their work hours and whatnot. Um but we did have a lunch for them and we made sure to have enough that they took with them and anyone who came in that night or whatnot had um something some goods to eat. And then we will have donuts at dawn for the bus drivers. That will be in April. So that one's gonna be a new one this year. >> Um and then processes. Um I work with >> You didn't really serve that fruit. Did you? This is an appreciation. >> Fruit really. >> But it's lunch ladies. >> I mean, >> now if you deep fried it and rolled it in chocolate. >> There were donuts,
016muffins. >> All right. I >> actually don't know if I had fruit, but it looked delicious. >> It It does. >> Um I work with Mr. Raffy quite a bit on just processes here and letters to staff. So processes for instance the recent student tragedy we had is you know sometimes you sit there I sit there and I just don't know what to do I kind of freeze. So just having those steps in place, who do we contact, what order do we contact, um having a letter in place that you can modify um given something happens again, and then letters to staff, I think really takes um the responsibility off the principles. Uh just me being able to communicate to all the staff. I don't need each of you buildings to communicate. I'll just do
017it. Um, so FOBs, for instance, if we we've had quite a few lost or destroyed FOBs. Um, so sending an email to the staff about that or the teacher appreciation grant. Um, just different things in that nature. The no photo students again came from Jasper. That was a really important one. So when you fill out your registration forms, you choose if you if you're okay with your child having their photo taken and and published. We never really looked at that. So, if you said no, that doesn't mean that they weren't being published at that time. So, that was I brought that in um send it to all the teachers monthly. Reminder, these kids photos cannot be shown in any facet except for the yearbook. So, um that was a Jasper. Jillian really brought that to
018my attention. Um and then data is my other part. So data has taken up quite a bit of time this year. Um internal residency audit to begin with. So all students must have a birth certificate and proof of residency and we have found that that is currently not the case but we are working on it. I have audited every student file in the district. Um every secretary has a list and they know how or who to contact to get that information. Um Melissa I help quite a bit with state reporting which is also at the bottom so I won't talk about that too much down there but the big one with her is our ADM count and working through powers school since I own powers school to make sure that those kids are reporting to
019the state. Um I think there were 10 plus kids I found that were not reporting to the state in the fall. >> What does ADM stand for? >> So um that is your membership. It's the number of students in your district that you get and you get money for every student. So if you miss miscalculate then you get less money. So you got to make sure you don't miss someone which is challenging because we have a kid move some kids will move two or three times during a school year and they'll be counted on multiple school systems and so you have to be able to prove that the kid was at your school on specific dates. >> What does ADM stand for? >> It's average daily membership. >> Average daily membership. >> Correct. Um program
020analysis was going through basically interviewing all the teachers and saying do you really use this program? You know we purchased it but are you using it in the classroom? So going through that saving money that way getting rid of those programs that aren't being used anymore. >> And were you able to trim >> programs? I don't know. Now powers school moneywise I don't know. It was it was about 15 different programs. >> It was 15. Wow. >> Yeah. Power School >> over $100,000. >> Power School I've trimmed I believe in the $30,000 range this year just with things that I am able to code inhouse and we don't need that extra support for them to give us packages per se. Um and then Allison currently working on curricular fees with her and substitute analysis. You
021know we have permanent subs in every building. are we using them or are we getting subs in and then just letting those permanent subs do whatever random work we need them to do. >> We discovered that we had one too many >> and uh that that position was resigned and we just didn't fill it back which the principles were like well why why wouldn't we fill up positions so we brought the data out and showed them it's not being used so that's a savings of probably $26,000 a year. Um so >> um Nathan just one really important I do a lot of data clean up for him so that he can just take the spreadsheets and do what he needs to do with tech. Um but one important thing with him is the fob system
022I'm working on and that is we have downloaded every person who has had a fob in the past 15 years and it is amazing. It is pretty much all of Honeyburg and half of Jasper. So, we are cleaning that up um big time. >> If you have one and you can't get in, let us know and we'll be >> Yes. Yes. >> an awful lot right now >> because there are names we I've never heard of. I've even gone on Facebook tried to find the person. Do I know them just by looking at them and we will end up just deleting those and and playing that game. If you need it, let us know. >> Um Leslie, I'm not going to lie, your name was on the remove list. >> That's fine. I said, "Nathan,
023she's here. Do not remove her." So, >> well, I I had to get into the gym to work out and I Yeah. >> No, we're not removing you. It was just a funny um and then data. We have data chats with the principles. Uh I would say every two months about so I pull all the I read, I learn data, dibbles data, analyze it, where are proficiencies, where are we not proficient? Um, and then we sit at a round table and we chat about it. >> We've talked to you guys about that before. That's where we're analyzing how they're doing on those state tests, going through the data with our teachers and our principles and >> seeing significant improvements that seeing quite a bit. We're excited that the we won't know the results for this
024year until August, which is absurd, but that's the way the state's doing it. But it'll be exciting in August to show you guys the growth that we had this year and and then we'll go after it again next year and just keep doing it. Uh the lunch status review I thought was important. So basically we fill out the free and reduced lunch application every year. Every year parents are supposed to fill it out. And we find that number one, they're not filling it out. And all these kids who were free or reduced last year are now going to have to pay because their parent hasn't filled it out. So, I do cross checks with all of our enrollments and I send Maggie the list and then we contact those parents and say, "Please fill it
025out because you more than likely do qualify for free and reduced lunch." Again, um so that's a big one to help her with. >> You know how many we currently have on free and reduced? >> I do not know. >> I don't remember the number came out a few years ago and it was far higher than I would have thought. >> Is it? >> Yeah, it was >> 60 some percent. >> I was going to guess 60. I think it's in the 60s. >> Low 60s. >> Yeah, I was going to say 62. >> Um, scheduling. I help with I love puzzles, so I help with the scheduling. Middle school, high school, and then parent squares up there again. And the state reporting, it's a lot of power school. Are we recording everything correctly in
026powers school, especially attendance? Did we mark the kid here or not? Why are they only here 70 days? They've been here all year type of thing. So um oh and this is uh last slide. So these are just some upcoming ones I know about. Uh usually weekly I get upcoming things but Greg goal has this vision for um really highlighting our early college in his words not being humble anymore. So he wants to look at every pathway. I have teacher testimonials, student testimonials. Um, and so I just need to get those written up and put into a pamphlet of some sort. Athletics infographics. That was It's not going to look like this. This was my first draft and I'm not a fan. So, it will be redone. Um, but the idea behind this is creating
027an infographic for every sport that includes the feeder programs. If I have a kindergartenner, what can they do in football up through high school? Just so we know, >> place for parents to go. That was an idea that came out of the ambassador uh conversation said, "We have young kids. We have no idea what's available if our kid wants to play tennis or soccer or whatever." So, that's where that's where this idea came from. >> And then bus driver appreciation. I mentioned that, but that is upcoming in April. >> And that is it. >> Board, thank you for uh allowing us to hire Amber for this role. It's been a very valuable one. I think she's paid for herself many times over and the savings that uh she's helped generate and she's been a big
028valuable member of the team up here with Allison and Melissa and me. So >> we I thank both of you. Number one, Chip, for you recommending this because it's one of those things you don't realize how much of a need you have until you see what it provides. And I know the communication is so much better now. It's so much more streamlined. And again, the more people are getting familiar with it, the better it's going to be. So I again applaud you both. This is >> been a great step forward. >> Lots of added value. >> Yes. >> All right. As John heads back to his seat, um just a couple other things I want to recognize during this time before >> except for let's not repeat the whole fruit thing, though. >> A couple
029other recognitions. Um I want to draw attention to the board. Obviously, we have things from all four buildings. It would take a while to read every line, which you can do. They're obviously available on our website as well as we post our board minutes. But for the high school, we want to congratulate Ben Fusler for qualifying um for the state swim meet. Great job by him. Also in our FFA agricultural, Mark Mcinich, am I saying that right? >> Um Mark got first place out of 145 students around the state in cattle judging. So great job by him. Um also, I know some of you got to see it. Huntingburg Elementary put on their fifth grade musical uh last week. The Jungle Book, a tremendous, tremendous program. Uh we're so thankful for the job that Kim
030Worthwine does and she has a lot of people that help her as well, Emily, our art teacher down there. Uh another big help. Uh so just a tremendous show. It was awesome to see. Also, we want to thank Stephanie Landon for the job she's doing out of Holland. We had our steam um steam uh celebration night out there. Actually, STEM and art both. and and Stephanie leads both of those programs. I know Melissa and I got a chance to stop out and see the artwork of the students and also some of their technology uh and engineering things that they've been working on. Very cool night. Uh awesome things going on there as well. So that's it for recognition tonight and we'll move on at this time to new business. I think there John. >> Okay,
031not much more to go. U field trip request as listed below. Would someone like to make a motion? Make a motion to approve the field trip request listed. >> Shrader. >> Second by Long. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Same sign. Motion carries. >> Number two, personnel. It's always a list. Uh, and continue. No, I guess it's all on this page. >> I'll take a motion to approve personnel. >> Motion made by Bunch. >> I will second. >> Second by Schwarz. All those in favor signify. I I same sign carries. Um, do I have any comments to add before an adjournment? >> I'll make a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion to adjurnn made by Shrader. >> I'll second that. Seconded by Bunch. All those in favor signify by saying I.
032I. O. Same sign. Good evening. >> Thank you.