001some horses in there. Okay. Okay. You going to do both? I think so. Okay. Good evening. It's 6 o'clock p.m. So, I'll take roll call. Everyone present except for Jade Hall. Okay. Having a quorum, we'll call the meeting to order. Um, please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge 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. It's Monday, May 5th. This is the board of trustees meeting for Wabash City Schools. Wabash City Schools provides a relevant and rigorous education founded upon relationships to ensure each student is college and career ready for success in a global community. Welcome. Um we have two recognitions tonight. We have Kenley Mcwart who is our validictorian and Emma
002Weaver who is a saludiatoran. We're going to have them Yes. Can you guys stand up? Um, tell us where you're going to college, what you're majoring in, and what was your most favorite thing about high school. Um, I'm going to Johnson University. It's in Tennessee, and I will be majoring in youth ministry with a double major in Bible and theology. And my favorite thing about high school has probably been the sport, the sports, and all my friends and community. Okay. I'm Weaver. I'm going to IU Fort Wayne for dental hygiene. And my favorite memory about high school was the connections I made with other people on my team, especially dance team. Anything that the board would like to ask them. Okay. Congratulations. This shows years of hard work and uh perseverance. Thank you. [Applause] We
003have one revision. It's to approve revision 4.0 to P. I'll take a motion to approve. So move. Second. All those in favor say I. I. Those opposed. Motion passes. Is there anyone in the audience that wishes to comment on an agenda item? Okay. On to the consent agenda. We have minutes from April. Oh, okay. We have minutes from April 21st, 2025. Um, some claims. There's no donations and there's no financials tonight. Accept a motion to approve the consent agenda. So move. Second. All those in favor say I. I. Those opposed. The agenda passes. The next regular schedule board meeting will be Monday, May 19th, 2025 here at Wabash City Hall at 6:00 p.m. There's some items of communications. There is no old business tonight. New business, we have a Wabash High School student council update.
004Okay. So, I am Trevor Herren. I am the student body president. Karen Wilcox. I'm the student body vice president. So, what are we doing on student council? So, we are kind of finishing our year. We're finishing up our service project. Can hands for a cause. We have revised our date for when we're kind of finishing this up. Uh it was originally, I think, at the end of this week. Uh but we moved it another week back. So, May 16th, we'll be kind of finishing up. We'll be collecting all the remaining supplies we have of our aluminum. We'll be taking that and we'll be selling the metal source. Um we have actually chosen a cause. I'm not at liberty yet to announce it. I'm waiting to kind of get confirmation from them that they're accepting it.
005Once they do that, you should be seeing social media, not the school announcements. Um, as soon as we get that, uh, we are having a senior sun sunset, which is just a kind of a cool event that we do um, as a way just we did a senior sunrise at the beginning of the year. Now we're kind of doing our senior sunet. We're sunset. We're kind of at our end of the year. That'll be happening on May 16th at 800 PM on alumni field. um seniors who are interested in doing that, we encourage them to RSVP just on their uh email there, email there, Abby Hipkin has sent them an email. So, so um as we are coming to our end of year, I just want to highlight just some of our accomplishments that we
006have done on student council this past year. So, we've had 13 student council meetings this past uh year. We had four events. We had homecoming week, harvest ball, powder puff for fish, and we had sports spectaculars. And I just want to highlight once again that 149 attendees for that event. We had one new service project where so far we've had 77 pounds of aluminum that we've been able to recycle. We are approximating to maybe double that number once we sell off our current supply. Uh we had one food drive of uh that we ended up having uh 5,380 items as well as $1,971 that we were able to donate to fish. uh we fortified a mission which is as followed to facilitate and encourage student participation in school uh in in school events and activities.
007Um and then we also created a logo to be able to kind of organize our branding and everything that we would have on Instagram and other social media platforms. So we have elected um our next year 2025 2026 uh student council uh being led by senior JC Jones and then her student body vice president is Bridget Bailey. So congratulations to those who were elected. So for our spring athletics we have track and field for the boys. Coulson Cougler broke the school record in the 400 meter dash with a time of 49.88 88 which be the previous time of 49.90 set by Brian Debor in 1993. He also broke his own 200 record with a time of 21.87 and multiple others ran the new PR to themselves as well. The track and field girls Anna Dory
008broke the 800 meter record previously held by Katherine Wilhelm and both their senior nights for this past Friday. Girls softball also just won their the Lady Apaches Classic defeating Taylor and North Miami and they're they're 7-7 on the record on the year. For boys baseball, they are 79 on the season and they did have a game today at Rochester at 5:30. And then for girls tennis, they just had their first win Saturday and they keep improving more and more each week. And then for boys golf, they have a golf match at home tomorrow, May 8th or May 6th, and they're improving more and more as the season continues. So for our clubs and organizations, uh this past Friday, I think it was, we had our theater program put on our uh our um our show
009of Greece. Um that's led up by Mrs. France and Mr. Ireland. Um it was a massive success. Um they are planning to do another musical in the spring of 2026. Um the auditorium was half full for both nights. So that's a pretty good size attendees that did end up coming. Um the only uh things that were that were heard to be bad was just some of the sound and lighting, but other than that just nothing but compliments. Uh we also have our prom committee. Prom is this Saturday um at the Honeyo Center. It's May 10th. Um and it's a midnight masquerade themed. Um there's going to be a dance competition going on as well as a coronation for our prom king and queen. Uh postp prom is set to um take place um shortly after
010that and it's taking place at the 1324 drive-in. Um gates will open at 11 p.m. That's done by SAD by Miss Clement. So some other things to note that are happening at WA Bash. Seniors, check your Skyward for important senior information and dates. There's also an IvyTech graduation this Friday, May 9th. And then our high school graduation is May 30th. And then we have approximately 13 days left. Approximately approximately. Yeah. I uh I stopped putting too much faith in my numbers. So now that you're already Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. Yes. Thank you. We've appreciated the updates all year. Yes. I'm hoping I I put forth uh my recommendation for next year is that they continue. Okay. Okay. Item B, board to approve the purchasing of American American Express cards for the following employees. Kimberly Hodson,
011who is a Japan Chaperon, Joshua Blossom, who's the middle school and high school principal, and Beth Philippy, OJ Neighbors principal. Each of these employees will be traveling with students to Japan or staff for professional development this summer. Each employee will sign documentation that they understand the WCS credit card policy. Cards will be held at the administration office and only distributed to such employees upon dates needed for their particular event and then returned to the admin office with receipts when returning. I'll accept a motion. So moved. Second discussion. Um first this is a purchasing card. We're not purchasing an American Express card. Um we did this last year with Mr. Chittenden when he traveled with the group to Japan. We're requesting that Mrs. Hodson have one since she's going with them this summer. We also are
012requesting that Mr. Blossom and Mrs. Philippy. They will be going um along with myself. We have a group of 13 that are going to the modeled schools conference. And whenever we go to dinner, it's just a whole lot easier for us to put it on a school card and then we can get those receipts submitted um instead of each individual person doing a receipt and having to turn something in. So, this will allow both Mr. Mr. Blossom and M Mrs. Philippy to have a card. That way, if we have groups going in different directions, different places to eat, they'll have a card that they can charge everything. Um, and it just makes things a lot easier for reimbursements. Um, Mrs. Hodson's card will have a $10,000 limit since she is going out of the country
013and Mrs. Philippy and M. Mr. Blossoms would be 5,000. And as we stated, once the trips are over, they do return those to central office and we store them in the vault. Questions from the board. What conference are you going to? It's the model schools conference. Where is that? It's in National Harbor, Maryland. Any other questions? All those in favor of approving the cards say I. I. Those opposed? Motion passes. Item C, board to approve an outofstate professional development trip to High-Tech High in San Diego, California, May 6, 2025 through May 10th, 2025 for Joshua Blossom, Randy Leage, Shawn Eer, Kyle Kelshimer, and Justin Denny. Participants will gain hands-on experience in projectbased learning in preparation for year one of the Wabash High School PECAP program. This trip is fully funded through the PECAP grant. Accept
014a motion. So moved. Second discussion. Um this training like you said will provide professional development to our teachers who will be implementing the PCAP program. PCAP is we have a group of students incoming freshmen that will be cohorted together and they will have math, English, and um the industrial technology classes all together. and they really work to make their lessons um hands-on um uh per or uh problem based. And so it's incorporating how do we project based how do we utilize math and language arts in these project-based lessons. And the school that they are going to is one of the top um project-based learning high schools in the country. And so they're kind of a training ground. They have schools come in. They get to spend time there and just learn how they develop their
015lessons and incorporate all of the math, language arts, and um the industrial tech standards. Is the is the class offered as in a unit of time? Yes. Okay. So, the kids will be together. Yeah. Maybe two two or three periods. Yeah. Two or three periods. Yeah. And was it are they recommended? Is it based on teacher recommendation for that? And we also look at um we look at their their test scores and their their grades. So it's we're targeting a group of kids that we hope um are going to get in there and hands-on learning is they're going to find as their passion there. Um there was one other thing. Um will they develop their own curriculum then these two? Yes. Sean and and Kyle and Okay. And the trip is fully funded through the
016PCAP PC PCAP grant. It's my guess that this will be probably pretty helpful for them as we go into the new educational requirements that are coming out, right? Yep. Okay. Any other questions? All those in favor of approving the trip say I. I. Those opposed? Motion passes. Item D, board to approve a change to the 2025 through 2026 calendar. January 19th, 2025 is MLK day. The calendar should read MLK day, makeup day, if needed. I'll accept a motion. Second discussion. So, this was really just a typo on our original. This year we had MLK day as a makeup day and we want that again next year and we just left off that little makeup day if needed. So we're just going to add that on. Hopefully we won't need it, but just in case. All
017those in favor of approving the change say I. I. Those opposed. Motion passes. Item E, board to accept the recommendation to approve approve employee number 12536 leave from May 12th through August 8th, 2025. I'll accept a motion. So moved. Second discussion. Um I recommend the board approve this leave request. Okay. All those in favor of approving the request say I. I. I. Those opposed. Motion passes. Item F. board to accept the recommendation to approve employee number 6379 FMLA leave beginning May 7th through May 9th, 2025. So move. I second. Discussion. Um I recommend the board approve this FMLA leave request. All those in favor say I. I. Those opposed? Motion passes. G. accept the recommendation to transfer Kristen Hoppus from 4-year-old preschool teacher to full-time sped teacher beginning the 2025 through 2026 school year. So
018moved. Second. So two years ago when uh Lori Gunderman retired, we did not replace her and um Mrs. Higgins has been coming in one day a week and spending time in our preschool classes um serving as a teacher of record for several of our preschool students and she's let us know that she just doesn't have time to be able to do that. So, one, we appreciate the help that she's given us for two years. Um but we do need to add another um special ed teacher at LH and so Mrs. Hoppus has the license. So, she will move into that. She will work with four-year-olds, but she will also work with um uh uh well, she'll work with three and four year olds, but she'll also work with some of the kindergarten students. So, her
019and Stacy Bear will really split the case load between um the two of them. Okay, questions from the board. All those in favor of accepting the recommendation say I. I. I. Those opposed? Motion passes. Item H, board to approve Natasha Whitney as WMS summer school teacher at an hourly rate of $35 per hour. Second discussion. Uh, Mrs. Whitney will be our middle school summer school teacher. Um, this is will be for seventh and eighth graders that are recommended. Um, it runs Monday through Thursday starting May 27th through June 19th. She will paid be paid three and a half hours per day and we appreciate her willingness to be our middle school summer school teacher. Is that all online? The summer school some of it will be I mean they come in the students come in
020each day. Okay. All those in favor say I. I. Those opposed. Motion passes. Item I, board to approve Ashley Pilfrey as WMS summer school paraprofessional at a pay rate of $11 per hour. So move. Second discussion. Uh Mrs. Pelffrey uh will be our middle school uh parah. She is a high school parah now, so she's familiar with our students. She will be paid three hours per day for the 15 hours, and we appreciate her willingness to work summer school. Okay. All those in favor say I. Is it three hours to 15 days? Three hours per day. Per. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Gotcha. All those in favor say I. I. I. Those opposed? Motion passes. J. Board to accept the resignation of Brandy Brewaker effective April 17th, 2025. So move. Second. Discussion. Uh, we want to thank
021Miss Brewaker for her time and service to Wash City Schools. All those in favor of accepting the resignation say I. I. I. Those uh those opposed. Motion passes. Item K. Board to accept the resignation of Maria Anesta effective at the end of the 2425 school year. So move. Sadly second it. Discussion. Uh Mrs. Zesta has served as our kindergarten DLI teacher for the last three years. She was an awesome addition to the program and we're really sad to see her return to Spain. However, we understand they want to get back with family. Um, so we wish her and her family nothing but the best. Okay. All those in favor of accepting the resignation say I. I. Those opposed? Motion passes. Item L. board to approve the resignation of Ashar Kelshimer as corporation nurse/OJ neighbors nurse
022effective May 30th, 2025. I'll accept a motion. So moved. Second discussion. Uh Mrs. Kelshimer has been the corporation nurse and OJ nurse for the past six years. She's done a spectacular job and we absolutely hate to see her leave. She is looking forward to being able to spend more time with her family and I can understand that desire. Um she said that she will be willing to sub for us. So we're thankful that she will stay connected with us. Okay. All those in favor of approving the resignation say I. I. I. Those opposed. Motion passes. Item M. Board to approve Melanie Honeyut's retirement effective May 30th, 2025. So move. Second discussion. Uh Mrs. Honeyut has served as the director of food service for 23 years. Um over those years she has made sure that our
023students receive nutritious meals not only during the summer or not only during the school year but also during the summer and we just greatly appreciate the work that she has done and wish her the best in retirement. All those in favor of approving the retirement say I. I. Those opposed motion passes. Item N recommend recommend for the 2025 summer food service program that the following employees work as needed at their hourly or daily rate or subpay or stipen. Megan Harrell 40 hours. Justin Turner 40 hours. Britney Judy 37.5 hours. Linda Miracle 37.5 hours. Shelley Ford 32.5 hours. Diane White 18 hours. Alina Perkins 18 hours. Cassie Honeyut 12 hours. and Aaron Fry 12 hours. I'll accept a motion. So moved. Second discussion. So Mrs. Harold, who is our assistant food service director and will be
024taking over um when Melanie retires, is recommending these cafeteria employees to run the summer food service. Uh I went through and compared it to last year's recommendation and she did reduce the headcount for summer employees by three and the total hours by 142.5 hours. So we appreciate that she is still providing the summer food program but is really working to make it more cost effective. And we're still going to have OJ in the middle school, I believe. So those were the only two places we added. Yeah, there was one there's one place in the county that's not going to do it anymore. So, that one went away, but it wasn't hard. Yeah, it was but not our county. Okay. And we will make sure that that information gets out through Parent Square and social media.
025Awesome. Okay. All those in favor of approving the recommendations say I. I. Those opposed? Motion passes. Item O. board to approve the use of the middle school facility for a first responders youth camp for June 23rd through June 27th, 2025. So moved. Second discussion. Um Officer Hipskin is working to put this camp on. It will be not only for our students but students throughout the county. Um, there are many agencies, police, fire, emergency responders, just to name a few, that will be coming together to help educate our students on the roles and responsibilities of these various agencies. Um, I recommend that we wave the facility rental fee for this camp as it is for our students and it's run by our school resource officer. Is this a free camp? Yes. Awesome. How many hours a
026day, Sam? Not enough for the parents, but plenty for you. going around 8:30 to 4. Oh, wow. That's Are you Are you teaching first aid and and CPR? First CPR, fire safety kind of things. Fire safety, water safety. Wow. What What's the age group? We're going to go 8 through 10th. Think if we can get them excited Career Center at that time, they can go to the law enforcement class out there. Good. Good. That sounds awesome. How many What's the enrollment right now? Do you know how many kids have Once we approve this, it gets sent out tomorrow. Is there a limit? Huh? Okay. Okay. Is there a limit? We're not going to put a limit on it, though. Okay. Cool. Awesome. Yeah. Is there going to be some publicity for the city to know
027what's going on in case you put a siren off, you know, everyone in town's not freaking out? Absolutely. Okay. Okay. All those in favor of approving the waving of wait approving of the facility usage say I. I. Those opposed. Motion passes. Thank you. Yes. Thank you. Item P. Board to approve employee number 12078 FMLA leave from May 2nd, 2025 through May 9th, 2025. So moved. Second. Discussion. Um, I recommend the board approve this FMLA leave request. All those in favor say I. I. I. Those opposed. Motion passes. Items from superintendent. Um, first I want to start by congratulating Kenley Mcwart and Emma Weaver on being the validictorian and saludiatoran. I know that that took a lot of hard work and you should be very proud of yourself. Um, I want to thank our high school
028student council. We have enjoyed having you. Um, you guys did a great year. So, we'll let the the next group know they have a high bar to live up to. Um, the students that were in Greece, it was amazing. I saw Jade at it. Um, and I told her that when they started singing Summer Nights, I almost started crying. Like, I got a little tearary just because it brought back my childhood and they were doing such a great job. Um, we only have 13 days of school left, but we have a ton of activities. Tomorrow is OJ's reenactment. I won't share too much. Beth probably will share some stuff on that. I did watch the video advertisement that they posted on Facebook and I'm really excited to attend. Um, this Friday we host the TRC
029conference track meet. We have a middle school high school choir concert on May 14th. We have fourth grade graduation on May 15th, kindergarten promotion on May 19th. We have our middle school awards ceremony on May 21st and the senior scholarship program on May 22nd. And then graduation is May 30th in Kman Gym. Um we will have one more big idea event during the school year on May 21st and we do want families to know that we will continue to do those in the summer. So just because school's out doesn't mean those those are over. So we'll make sure that we let people know that they can come back in June and July. Great items from COO. I just want to say congratulations to Melanie and thank her for all those years of running our cafeteria
030and food service. Uh she's done a great job caring about our kids and I think that's all you really can ask of anyone. So uh congratulations to her and hopefully she enjoys some time off. Other items from visitors. So I or I'm sorry items from administrators. I'm sorry. Um I want to also say that about Melody and or two. She's going to be building this to OJ the whole district I know. And then yes, reenactments. Um tomorrow looks like weather's going to be okay. It's going to put rain up by and so should be good to go 4 to 5:30. Um we've been popping popcorn all day today out there selling that taffy and rock candy. Kids have worked really really hard. Teachers have done a great job of starting to bring this back um
031like it used to be. I'm sure many of you remember how love that was. So, we're excited and it's just fourth grade, right? Fourth grade is because it's attached to the central standard. So, they're the ones who are doing most of it, but we do have students in other grades who are participating. But yeah, it's a fourth grade. Okay. Other items from visitors. I'm sorry. Reminded by Cameron and I'm surprised Mr. Pipkin was throwing stuff at me. So, we are having a another mock car crash this year put on by the student safety council. Um, I believe it's Friday. Yeah. So, it'll be Friday. So, there'll be I'm actually being a uh um a victim this year. So, I spoke last year on a microphone, but this year I get to actually be inside the
032car. So, it's lot what time, Mr. Epson? I believe around 2:55ish 3ish once the students get out there after 7th period. What day? We will put that out also. Yeah. Yeah. You might want to let the parents from OJ know because of traffic and stuff. Yes. Okay. Anyone else? Okay. Items from board members. We'll start with you, Joan. I believe next week, I just saw this on Facebook, the National Honor Society from the middle school is having a food drive because they want to dunk someone in the pool on pool day. if they collect like 500 cans or something other. I don't know who is going in, but someone's going in that pool. Okay, Jason. Uh, so May seems to be one of the busiest months of the year. Um, and so first of all,
033thanks to all the teachers. It's a teacher appreciation week and I know that they OJ had uh Sundays today and the rest of the week there's throughout the school district there's others getting that treat. Um, so thank you for all the features and what you guys do day in and day out. Um, appreciate that. Uh, I also went to the Greece. I know you didn't say anything about it, but it was awesome. I was there, too. Um, it was really cool. I I'm I'm not a theater person. I like going to theater, uh, but I'm not a singer by any stretch by like their standards. Like the supporting cast were awesome just as much as the people who were like named as the the main characters. And so, uh, I was blown away by some
034of the people who could sing up there. That was really cool. Um, so kudos to Mrs. France and Mr. uh, Ireland for all that they put into that and took that on. That was huge. Um, also, uh, Levi Failed Fairchild and I can't remember Cole's last name for the life. There it is. Okay, thank you. Uh, went to Vincenz this last weekend and graduated with their, uh, associates degrees. Maybe I shouldn't even talk about that. I can't remember it all. Uh, but I know Levi, he walked away with a Magna Kumla dealio on his shoulder. So that was really cool to see. Um, and so I wanted to put that out there. And lastly, I just saw some chatter about the questions about like why are we looking at potentially, well, we have nine potentially,
035but why is middle school and high school combining? And um I just know that it's a lot about efficiency and a lot about just doing something we're already kind of doing anyways and making it uh utilizing our our our resources in a better way. And so I know there's a lot of chatter out there and I just want hopefully people if they really have questions they reach out to the school central office even administrators instead of just going to Facebook and hoping that they're going to get all the wonderful answers that way. Connie, I think it's so cool, you guys. The food drive was really big when I taught. One year we collected 10,000 items and filled the corner of the gym, the high school gym, and the gentleman came from Fish to collect it.
036And he was in a little uh Ranger Danger pickup truck and uh he came in and our student council sponsor said, "Your truck isn't big enough." Mhm. And the the gentleman came in and he started to cry. And um you guys don't know who you're feeding. And it could be the kid next to you in class and that kind of thing. And when you look out in the classroom and you wonder, you know, who's going to have supper tonight and who isn't and you're addressing that and that's so cool that you're that you're pushing that again. Um because there isn't enough that we can do for kids. So it's really great and congratulations on graduation. I know it's a scary time. Uh you know the most common gift is money and luggage. I you know
037what are your parents telling you there? And so so I wish you the best and my biggest hope is that Wabash has prepared you well. You know in the early college it is that's why I asked earlier because that's going to save a bundle of money for you and that kind of thing. So way to go. I never heard anybody and to the valictorian saludiatoran. I never heard a kid graduate and say, "Gee, I'm sorry. I made good grades." You know, it translates it translates into success. It translates into money at city schools. We have a wonderful scholarship program. It's just great. So, I'm very proud of you guys. Way to go. Thank you. Um, I wanted to say that um, our esports team I saved it for you. I didn't we have an esports
038team and they do really well. The um, Rocket League team um, went to state and they won state. And then we had another there was another kid who went as well, but I can't remember what his name is or what he played in. So, I I believe they're coming next board meeting and so I'm sure that Mr. Burns or Mr. Menock will explain that, but it's really esports seems kind of silly, but it's not. It's there's really it's becoming big and big in colleges. Ball State has a building for their esports. They're giving away scholarships like full rides to go play these these esports at college. So, I encourage anybody who is interested in video games to maybe look into going out for the team next year because it it really is neat. Um Dan
039and I went this year to watch it again and it's just fun. It's hype. There's tons of kids there. So, congratulations to them. Um with that, we'll adjourn. Thank you. Thank you. Have fun, guys. Yeah, the weather is good.