001Um, thank you for joining the meeting tonight. We're going to go ahead and start with the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> We're going to pray if you'd like to join us here father. We thank you for the chance to be here tonight. We ask that you lead us and guide us as we make decisions. Please continue to keep your hand on this community and on this school and on everyone involved, everyone who works here and all the parents and students. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. >> Amen. >> Okay. I'm going to ask for an approval of the agenda. Do I have a motion to approve? All my Do
002I have a second? >> I'll second. >> All those in favor? I we're going to open it up for public comments on the agenda. >> There's no public comments. We're going to move on to the public hearing on our school budget. Well, welcome board and welcome everybody online. Um this is the time of year when we when we work on the 2026 budget uh for the school year. And so there are um few forms that we want to go over tonight with with the board. The first one is is a notice to taxpayers. That's our form three is what what they call that. We work closely with in Indiana what they call a DLGF um department of local government finance. And we have a new field rep this year and so he's been um learning
003and as we work together getting our getting our budgets um finalized and they do they do a great job working with us. Um so there are four main budget items um or categories that that we'll work through. We have the rainy day fund. Uh we have the debt service fund. We have the education fund and also the operation fund. So schools in Indiana are made up of those four funds. Um so I'll do a little comparison for what we had done uh last year but just wanted to present this to you tonight. So if you look at the main category budget an item in line two budget estimates um rainy day for 2026 right now we have we have zero in there that will be because we're not we're not asking for any tax dollars
004for that that will come from a transfer. So that so we're not asking for any kind of levy or any kind of tax increment on that. The debt service um debt service is simply to put it in put it in personal terms it's like your car loans and those kinds of things. Right now we have our our loans total up um for for this little bit is about $590,000 which will put our tax rate about 67%. Uh 67 cents is where where we're at currently. They will adjust that up or down as we figure out the AV which is assessed valuation of our of our territory. Education we lowered it just a little bit from last year because of due to student enrollment through INDLS. Um, so our proposed education budget is right at just
005a little bit more than 55 million. And then our operations, last year we were at almost 1.9 million for operations. Operations are your buildings and taking care of your grounds. And we were at 1.9. This year we're asking for 2.1. Very similar numbers going from one year to the next. And then the next four pages here, um, the, uh, the first part is just the debt service. And um it tells you they ask you from July to December what your numbers would be and then also from all of the budget year 2026 u debt service. In the next page we have the rainy day which currently we have 4.5 mil in our rainy day and we're trying we're hoping to add another 500,000 by end of end of the 2025 calendar which will put that
006right at five 5 million for us to in case of any sort of emergency. uh education fund is going to fluctuate up and down a little bit based upon enrollment. Um we have our first first uh first signature sign off on our enrollment coming up actually later this week. And so that's the education fund. That's where we pay teachers and uh our contract with Andy Le. And then also on the last page then would be our operations. Just your basic operations uh what it takes to run a school just like it would be at home taking care of your own maintenance at home. Uh we have a budget for operations here at school. Uh the last two pages is we're required by law to have a five-year bus replacement plan uh coming up in this
007next year um up for lease would be two smaller smaller buses and we just purchased a large one this last year. Um we have it down for two. It doesn't mean we have to get two but we have budgeted for two for two small buses activity buses is what they call it. And then the last page, uh, meeting with Abby, meeting with Marvin, meeting with people across the school district, like what are some of what are some of the projects that would be coming up within the next 12 months. Um, we have entry doors, uh, security doors on the outside. We have Jeff has been talking to us for a while about districtwide PA system, especially in cafeteria and being able to for for when people come in to use that. Um, replace our curves
008and then also our cafeteria flooring replaced. um we need to resurface our stage and then also the east gym wall repair uh that leans a little bit. We always want to keep that on on the list there. So So that's our that's our budget proposal coming up for 2026 and that will be posted and has been posted will be posted again and we'll be open for any sort of input uh from from board members and also from the community questions that open. Our tax rate is expected to be what is it >> right now? Basically, we the board passed a resolution. It's not going to be above 80 cents. Right now, we're looking at about 67 cents >> going into next next year for the school portion. >> Does anybody have any questions for Jaylen?
009>> Any questions? >> If not, I think I need a motion to close the public hearing. >> The motion. >> Have a second. Second. >> All those in favor? >> Now I need we're going to move into the regular meeting now. >> Um I need an approval for September's meet uh minutes and claims. I will make that motion except for we need to change the vote on the one classified personnel agenda item to 401 because there would not. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Do I have a second with that change? >> Second. >> All those in favor? I >> we're going to move on to the approval of the collective bargaining tenative agreement. >> I do them together. >> Okay. All right. Gotcha. >> Yeah. >> All right. Um thank you to Christa and Christie
010here who sat in on the bargaining uh portion of um trying to work out a two-year contract. And we're grateful for this. Um and within just a couple few hours, we had we had it all worked out. And so I want to highlight just some of the changes for you. This is this is a tenative agreement. So how this works is Kristen and Christie are representatives of the board. They'll now bring it back to the gentleman three so that the board as a collective group has a chance to look at it and agree from their portion of it like yeah, okay, we're okay with our with what's going on collective bargaining. Talking with JMA and Brooke um and Chelsea, they take it back to their there's 23 members in the teachers union. They'll take it
011back to those 23, answer any questions they might have, and then they will either come back to we'll either come back to the bargaining table if there's some issues or we will go ahead and sign the tenative agreement and then we'll if everyone's in agreement, we'll sign the final document at the next meeting. Um so, so tonight is the board's portion of this. I just want to highlight just kind of go through and highlight a couple of um couple of things here. Um, starting with leaves, if you look at um you look at leaves on on page six, um, going down to D and E, we're talking about maternity leave and paternal leave. We had a couple of teachers this year, um, went on a maternity leave. And so, your language was pretty solid in
012there already from the 2325 contract. And but we did add that we're going to um any teacher that has a baby and and and father as well, they they can take up the five days that don't count against them after the birth of the baby. Um you know, we do that for funeral leaves and those kinds of things and thought, okay, if they're having babies, that's kind of a big transition time for families. And we thought we'd be the first school corporation to do this, but we were actually second with to Yorktown, but they only give four days and we give five. So we one up them on that one is what we try to do. Um, and then if you go back to the insurance section, this was a question that I was trying
013to that we answered today. Um, that which is page nine up top insurance where it says the board shall contribute. Now, that's highlighted and and and made bold because that number is based upon option C for the single plan. So, that may fluctuate just a little bit. Um, not a whole lot, but just so you're aware. Um, we do a great thing with insurance here at Union School Corporation for singles. Uh, our job as as a board, the job as a board to take care of their employees and you do it as well, if not better than anyone that I've ever seen. Um, those that are on the single plan here at at Union School Corporation, they have it paid for and actually it's overpaid and some of that money goes back into an HSA
014for that person. And then there's clinics and so there's very little out of pocket for for those where where we have trouble with and where some of the discussion is around is family plan and because that that can be expensive and so board we did I did meet with a rep last Tuesday and so we're getting a census on on staff just looking at different options on that. So but that 850 number may change just a little bit just so you're aware of that. Uh moving backwards then if we go back to the compensation model on page 16 you'll see that now there is a on the base salary there's a 5% increase for the 20 25 26 school year and also and then 5% for the 26 27 which is a total of 10%
015over two years that's on the base salary. Now it's going to fluctuate as you move down the scale. It's not because the rest of the scale is not based on percentage it's based on a number. We're giving a $3,000 increase this year and also $3,000 increase moving into moving into um moving into the the next school year from there. So you can you can see the see the see the numbers on that. So it was the 01 for the for the last contract was at 50 and now it's at 53. And then uh we did extensive work, Krista and Christie and the board and and the bargaining team did extensive work on the uh extra on the extracurricular schedule both for things like academic coaches, student council, running rockets. Uh we are creating currently um
016Ryan and Jim and I and and the coaches are will be creating um expectations around each one of these each one of these positions so there's clarity around what respect to those and then they also went through appendix B2 which is extracurricular schedule and amended and edited many of the salaries that went through there too. So, so there's some minor changes going from one year to the next. Pretty contracts are typically fairly consistent unless there's some major hiccup uh along the way. Uh so the contract has stayed pretty much the same from one to the next with just a little bit of added language. Uh one of the biggest changes from last year, last contract to this is the legislature passed a law saying that um teacher increases, teacher bump in pay no longer is
017based upon evaluation. It's now uh we worked for 10 or 15 years on rise on evaluation in Indiana. Boy, they had us going from from left to right and boy, they had us working hard and then they they just completely eliminated that language. And and so rise is not uh required or mandated anymore by by by the legislature. And so we can come up, we're not doing it this year, but going into next year, we'll look at creating our own evaluation system. And teacher pay is no longer based upon that. Uh, one other thing along contract lines, just so everyone's aware, tag grant, teacher appreciation grant, which usually comes out start of December, is very different this year based upon the legislation. Uh, legislator came out July 1. That's very, that's changed. Now only 20%
018of your staff can qualify for teacher appreciation. And um, it's leveled levels one, two, and three based upon um, we have to apply and have teachers approved. Now, we are in with INDLS on this and so we had an application I think look when I filled it out there was 122 teachers um that that qualify for the tech grant. So, and that won't be paid out until after spring break. So, there will be no teacher that stipen coming up in the start of start of Christmas. Just just so you're aware that'll be a major shift just in case anybody hears anything on that. So, but I'm open for Thank you, Christian. Christie, if you work on this, I'm open for any questions anyone might have. We also um increased the stipen for perfect attendance as
019well that we bumped that up to $500 per semester if teachers have perfect attendance. >> We felt like >> that was the least we could do for them to be in the classroom. So >> we were trying to offer something to kind of replace that >> appreciation grant at the state. >> Okay. You guys have any questions about anything? >> Okay. Well, then uh we'll do the initial approval and then we'll wait on the teachers to come back with us. So, do I have a motion to approve the tenative agreement? >> Make the motion. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. We'll move on to approving the hiring of the athletic director, Nick Puit, at a salary of $45,000 on a 210day contract. Do I have a
020motion to approve? >> Do I have a second? >> All those in favor? >> I I need a motion to approve the resignation of resource teacher Amber. Is it small? >> Small. Let me explain a little bit on this. We just hired her last last meeting and the very next day um there were there were some health concerns and so she was unable to accept the position. So that's that was the reason for the resation. >> Do I have a motion to approve? >> I'll make a move. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I move on to approving Ryan Cheddar as the girls varsity basketball coach. Do I have a motion to approve? Make a motion. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All those
021in favor? I >> I approve. Jeff Burke is the girls varsity assistant coach. Do I have a motion to approve? >> Motion. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> 401. >> We need to ask for a motion to accept the resignation of our ski volleyball coach, Shaylee Webb. Do I have a motion to approve? >> Motion. >> Do I have a second? Second. All those in favor? I Need a motion to approve the prom date. We're May 16th, 2026 at 7 PM at the event center in Hagerstown. >> Where is the event center? Is that the golf course? >> It's in the golf center. >> That's I mean that's where Hagerstown's prom is. I didn't know if that's called the event center. >> You got to get some
022putting in some work in >> I make the motion to approve it. I just wanted Do I have a second? >> A second. >> All those in favor? All right, moving on to the academic and student spotlight. >> You had to wait, Emma. Wait. You had to hurry up and wait. Wait is a four-letter word. So, Emma, you want to step up here? Ryan, you want to explain why Emma is here tonight? >> Yes. Adding prom. >> All right, Emma, come on up. >> You want to stand in front of us here, Emma? Were we facing this way or we facing this? >> No, face the camera. Okay, there we go. >> All right. So, so, uh, Emma, I'm very super proud of Emma. You know, she's a tremendous student for us. Uh, we're she's
023here tonight to be recognized uh because we have implemented uh using Study Island uh to collect data and also prepare for testing. And Emma is our first student to get what's called a blue ribbon, which means that she's uh completed all grade level um lessons um in both English and mathematics. Uh she's our first student, so we want to give her something for her efforts. Uh and Emma, it you gave me a list of a few things. Uh, this was not on that list because this is brand new. I initially told you that we could not do that. Uh, and but thanks to these people here, we can tell what it is. >> Yeah, it's a Nintendo Switch. Uh, I'm not exactly sure what that is. I assume it's a video game thing. Uh, but
024that's that's why we're here. So, congratulations. Great job. Yeah, I know. We got a shake hands. So, Emma, what do you want to do? What's your you're you're a junior this year, correct? >> Senior this year. Just kidding. So, what what are your what are your plans moving forward from college to study engineering? >> Yeah. And then what's your career? What do you want to do with that then? What's your goal? >> I want to be programmer. >> Awesome. Y congratulations. Great job. >> That's a good gift for you. Yeah, >> don't tear it apart. >> Okay. Um, we will move on and I'm going to ask for a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion. >> Got a second. >> Second. >> All those in favor?