001[Music] like to call this meeting to order. Please, if you are able, will you please rise with us as we take a moment of silence and say the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance 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. Thank you. We have no one signed up for comments tonight, so we'll move on to our school spotlight. Dr. Redmond. Thank you, Mrs. Glover. Tonight, I'd like to introduce the principal of Yankee Town Elementary, Mr. David McConnell, who will introduce us to these uh sweet young students here in the front row ready to present us tonight. Good evening, guys. Good evening. Want to introduce my narrators tonight. First, Miss Sto, Miss Kendall Gray and
002Miss Annabelle McMullen. We also have a special you guys that um got something a little special for you guys to do. Okay, I'm going to show you. You ready? You guys ready? Welcome to Yankee Town. I've told people for years that Yankee Town Elementary School is the best kept secret in War County. But don't take my word for it. Let's get to know some of the faces of Yankee. There are so many things that sets Yankee Town apart. The staff, students, and parents are an important part of our school culture. Without the help of our parents, we cannot do all of the fun things we do at our schools. From our Halloween party, spring carnival, parent work days, and our deposit Tuesdays, which is a staff favorite. The first Tuesday of each month, the parents
003provide the staff with a refreshing drink, normally lemonade or coffee. Deposit Tuesdays Tuesdays is just one of the many perks of being a part of the Yinktown family, which we share with the board today. This year, we have set up a calming hallway. Thing I love about Ytown is all of the fun clubs we can participate in. This year, we have set up a The that I love about Yankee Town most is all the friendly people and teachers. This year we have set up a calming hallway outside the ABS and ED rooms. This is used to help regulate and calm our students. All of our students love this hallway. What I love about Yankee Town is all the nice teachers. [Music] are my friends and Miss. Each year we do a plant a promise. This
004is where the students plant a flower bulb to promise not to do drugs. We do this during red ribbon week and get to enjoy the beautiful flowers that come in April and May. The thing I love about Yankee Town is all of the books in the library and the sports teams. The thing I love about Yankee Town is all the nice teachers and all of my really good friends. Being such a small school gives the feeling we are all family. All our students enjoy the cafeteria food and the employees. What I love about town is the PTO giving us snacks every Thursday. The librarian, Miss Teeman, has helped us secure a book vending machine for the students to earn rewards for books. We just installed this about two months ago. What I love about Yankee
005Town is the amazing teachers and the very colorful rooms they teach us in. Being surrounded by nature, we have been given the opportunity to have our Yankee Hollow Trail and Outdoor Classroom with the help added from Kaiser Aluminum and our PTO. The trail has been revitalized and we are now putting up markers to identify the trees so it can be used for science lessons. When the weather is nice, the teachers take their students to enjoy the outdoor classroom. A little change of scenery is something fun that the students enjoy. Yankee Town offers many clubs to our students, one of which is Bob or Battle of the Books. Our Bob club won yet again for the fifth time in nine years at the competition that was held the 1st of April in Evansville. We brought their
006amazing trophy to show everyone. So the trophy is kind of a new thing this year. Um they presented us with this 10th year. This next year um Yankee is the only school that has participated and um have to give lots of credit to Mrs. Kersh that she has been coaching um every year. So um I joined her a couple years ago, but um these kids do an incredible job. Um there's a list of 30 books that all of them together have to read. Um and actually Fiona's gonna be really mad at me. I'm gonna call her out, especially Fiona for two years in a row. Um both fourth and fifth grade. She has set herself a goal and achieved the goal of reading all 30 books on the on the list. Um and then they
007get together and um you can kind of see on there they get in a little huddle um and they have to answer questions and so they score 316 points. Awesome. [Applause] Our environmental club helps recycle every Tuesday. Each classroom has recycling bins that the students empty every week to help improve our environment. We recycle paper, plastic, cardboard, and aluminum. Yankee Town is also part of the million can drive. Last year, Yankee Town was chosen to be the only Indiana school and competed in eight against eight other other schools across the country. We won first place in recycled 163,590 cans. This earned us a very generous donation to purchase Quaver software for our social emotional learning in every classroom. This year we are competing against 18 other schools and currently in sixth place. We have collected
008almost 100,000 cans so far this year. We have a large collection bin behind our school and we would love the entire War County community to help us continue to recycle aluminum cans and keep them out of landfills because recycling is really like magic. Here is one of our favorite songs that they have learned. [Music] I believe I got talent. I got strength. I believe in F. C. I believe in me. The student leadership has helped with many projects this year and has helped raise money to donate to several community organizations. Some of those include love like Ashton, the war humane society kitten room in memory of Camden Leak youth first society suicide prevention borrowed hearts and Dolly Part and imagination library. They also organized our Christmas food drive that provides our yes families with food
009baskets for the holidays. This year we supplied 41 families and 189 children. We have raised just over $3,500 for these organizations. A a few of our other amazing clubs include Spellball and Lego Club. At our talent show this year, we had 28 awesome student acts. We are so proud of our students and admire their courage to stand up on our stage and showcase their talents. Miss Rail A um is going to sing her song from the talent show for you. She will be singing you are my sunshine. [Laughter] [Music] My only [Music] Please don't take away the other night. As I sleep, I dreamt [Music] I woke mist. And [Music] I [Music] only know how much I love you. Please don't take [Applause] away our Yankee Towns Elementary School and seeing some of our family.
010If you're ever out this way, please stop by for a friendly welcome from our office staff. Visit our outdoor room or get a refreshing lemonade from our PTO. Thank you for all you do for our community. Hi everybody. We love town. [Applause] Y come forward please. Cassie Mr. McConnell all the students who spoke performed who came up in the back. Could everybody come and start on this end and just shake the hands of all the board members, please? Thank you so much for coming. Great job. Great job. Thank you. Thank you so much. Good job. I love all your reading. Good job. Thank you to all the Anki town students and staff members and families who are here. You are more than welcome to stay for the full me meeting, but if you'd like to
011leave, you are welcome to do that as well because I know the teachers really want to leave. So, while they're transitioning, then we're gonna we'll move into our next we have recognition of our 2425 student think tank. Dr. Redmond. Thank you. If I can have our think tank members just come stand up front here, please. I'm going to have them face toward the crowd first, then we'll shake hands in a minute. I didn't want to speak behind you. So, every year last year and in the previous years that we've had student think tank, we have invited the members to come be recognized. And typically, like last year, I just spoke about how much I love this group and it's one of the favorite groups I work with, uh, which is still true. Um and but
012we're going to introduce all of them tonight. But rather than hear me talk about the experience this year, we've I've invited two of our members to speak about their experiences on our student think tank so you can get the student viewpoint. Um but first I just like to announce all the members whether they're here or not. So I'm going to go through each school. If I say your name and you were here, if you can just step forward, wave, smile, whatever you're comfortable with. Okay. From Boomville High School, we have Maggie Bar, Lizzie Bick, Alyssa Straw, Sydney Thomas. You can see how supportive they are of one another, right? This is just a perfect example of how they are all the time when we meet. Um, Bodie Bullock and Lydia Aldridge from Castle High School.
013We have Miriam MJ Hank Bennett, Colin Pillsbury, Callie Hannah, Lesie Jacobs, Jacob Shamlas, and Jenna Smith. And from Tecumpsa High School, we have Desi Pototts, Andy Allen, and Thomas Pimbertton. And from WPCC, we have Brent Guyire. At this time, I would invite Jacob and Sydney to come to the podium. Would you guys mind sitting for just a moment in the front and then we'll shake hands. Hi, my name is Sydney Thomas and I am a senior at Boonville High School. This is my second year as a member of the War County student War County School Corporation Student Think Tank. Participating in the think tank has been a great opportunity for me that I am incredibly thankful for. I feel that it has not only developed my leadership skills as a student, but also has helped
014me to find my voice as a member of my community. When I walk into a think tank meeting, I know that I'm walking into a room of peers who are there for the same reason I am. We all want to improve our communities and enrich the high school experiences of not only ourselves, but every other student in the school district. And the most amazing thing about that is even the simplest suggestion or word from our mouths can have an impact. That is an incredibly incredibly meaningful feeling. Think Tank provides an environment where I can have polite and reasonable discussions with fellow students in Dr. Redmond. I don't always agree with every viewpoint I hear expressed by my fellow students, but that's what makes it such a valuable experience. In order to meaningfully contribute to the
015group, you have to look outside of yourself and at those whose viewpoints you may have never considered. I'm so grateful for not only the personal growth I've experienced because of Think Tank, but also for the positive impact I've seen in my school as a result of it. Thank you. Thank you. Uh good evening members of the school board and communities. Um first I just want to say thank you not only for the opportunity to speak here tonight, but just the general voice that we've all been giving like me and my peers. it feels like we have an actual impact on issues that you know are day-to-day issues and that wouldn't be possible if it wasn't for Dr. Redmond and the group here with me tonight. So, I just want to thank them. Uh the ability
016to shape the environment like in in one's environment. Uh it's a it's a nice gift and I don't uh sorry it's a rare gift and I don't take it lightly. Um, it's easy to to talk about change and to discuss it, but it's a whole entirely different thing to be brought into the process. Um, and to be given a chance to not only be listened to, but to be heard. Um, and at the same time, we have to recognize that change is not just a nice idea. Uh, it's necessary. In a world changing so fast every day, uh, the only way to keep up is to grow along with it. And growth isn't easy. It asks for openness. It asks for effort and for the courage to push beyond what's comfortable. Um, and so I'll
017leave you with this. Change doesn't happen by chance. It happens because of the people who are willing to step up to challenge what is and to imagine what isn't. Uh, it happens when we choose habit. I'm sorry. Happens when we choose hope over habit and action over comfort. The choice is never easy, but it's how every real step forward begins. Thank you. So, I hope that's just a glimpse of can help you understand about why I love that group so much. And they're such a great model of I think Sydney spoke to this. They're just a great model of a group of people who can have um great dialogue and not always agree on everything, but can be completely respectful of one another. And that is something that um feels like is becoming more and
018more rare these days. And these young people are excellent example of that. So if you guys vote, you can just start and then shake the hands. And I appreciate that you came tonight. And you guys are also welcome to leave once we Thank you so much. Thank you. Good job. Thank you. I know. Next on the agenda, item number six, consideration of routine business. Dr. Redmond. Thank you, Mrs. Glover. The routine business this evening includes approving the minutes of the school board meeting held on April 14th, 2025 and approving the claims and signing the docket for April 28th, 2025. Second the board approve the routine items as presented. Motion to approve. Second. Motion by Mr. Mosby, seconded by Mr. France. Any discussion? All in favor say I. Roll call. Sorry. No call. Okay. U Miss
019Glover. I Mr. France. Hi. Mr. Skinner. Sorry, I'm drinking this wonderful lemonade. I Mr. Baker. I Mr. Mossby. Hi, Miss Wilhelmus. Hi. And I vote I. Motion carried. Next item. Agenda item 81. Approve course edition. Thank you, Mrs. lover. Director of Learning, Mr. Jason Fischer, is asking the board to approve the addition of the following high school course offering for the 2025 2026 school year, English as a new language. I recommend the board approve the um re the request, excuse me, as presented. We have a motion. So move. Second. Speak up. Eric. Okay. Motion by Mr. Baker, seconded by Mr. France. Any discussion? So, this is a new course, right? Or is it like we've had these programs before, right? So, what's different about this? Right. So, for students who um need ENL services, there
020are a lot of different ways that we can do that. Some students just need some pull out help. Some people uh need some just additional check-ins through the through the week. This is a course that actually bears credit. Is that correct, Mr. Fisher? Yes, it actually bears credit. And we have a uh staff member who is now licensed. And so oftentimes at the high school level, the students who need the more intensive service can take the actual course and earn credit for it now. So that's how it's different. Um, it doesn't take away from anything else we're already doing K through 12 with our ENL students. Yes. But just to follow up on that, for an individual to teach this course, they have to be ENL certified and also have an English language arts certification.
021So with a what we call refer to as a newcomer, someone that scores pretty low to the assessment on the WEA assessment which measures English proficiency after grade seven if they join us and they have this limited English proficiency because they're entering high school. It's very difficult for them to be successful with English language arts credits when they don't know the language. So, this allows them to not only have the English language arts credit, but they're also receiving English uh language instruction. So, it gets two credits and it also provides them an English credit. Great. Thank you. Call the roll, please. Okay. Miss Glover. I. Mr. France. I. Mr. Skinner. I. Mr. Baker. I. Mr. Mosby. Hi. M. Will. I vote I. Motion carried. Next agenda item, approve social studies adoption. Thank you, Mrs. Glover.
022Director of learning, Mr. Jason Fischer, is requesting board approval of social studies adoption for grades six and seven. The new materials and textbook will be utilized beginning August of 2025. I recommend the board approve this request as submitted. Motion to approve. Second. Motion by Mr. Mosby, seconded by Mr. Skinner. Do we have any discussion? I did went over and took a look at some of these materials. What I'm most excited about is the new civics uh civics, right? The new civics course that our sixth grade students will be taking a full semester of just teaching civics. statemandated new uh a couple years ago, but browsed through that book and a lot of good stuff that um we hear a lot of complaining about, but people don't know the basics of our constitution, of our electoral
023system, of our branches of government, and and yeah, they all get a little bit throughout the grade school levels of that sort of stuff. This is a whole semester in sixth grade dedicated just to that. I think it's a great thing. Agreed. Mr. Okay. Miss Lever. I. Mr. France. I. Mr. Skinner. Hi, Mr. Baker. Hi, Mr. Mossby. Hi, Mr. Wilhelmus. I I vote I. Motion carried. Agenda item 83, approve math adoption. Our department of learning has been really busy. Um, director of learning, Mr. Jason Fischer is requesting board approval of math adoption for grades 6, 7, 8, and high school. The new materials and textbooks will be implemented beginning August of 2025. I recommend the board approve the request as submitted. Approve. Second. Motion by Mr. France, seconded by Mr. Immer. Any discussion? Did you
024look at these books? I did. Okay. I'm encouraged by the comments. I really appreciate the review committees and the notes that they share uh on the pros and cons of the proposed textbook, but in in the as a whole it's a lot of uh support and positives. Can you call the role please? Good. Miss Glover. Hi. Mr. France. Hi. Mr. Skinner. Hi. Mr. Baker. Hi. Mr. Msby. Hi. Miss I vote I motion carried. Next agenda item is a four approved bid for JH Castle classroom edition. Thank you Mrs. Glover. Assistant superintendent Mr. Todd Armstrong is recommending the board award the bid for the John H. Castle elementary classroom addition to Ark Construction at as the lowest responsive responsible bid. I recommend the board approve the request as submitted. to approve. Second motion by Mr. Igner,
025seconded by Mr. Skinner. Any discussion? Mr. Igner. Miss Glover. I. Mr. Fran. I. Mr. Skinner. Hi. Mr. Baker. Hi. Mr. Mosby. Hi. Mr. Wilhelmus. I. Motion carried. Next agenda item 8.5. Approve bid for the Castle High School showquire renovation. Dr. Redmond. Thank you, Mrs. Glover. Assistant Superintendent, Mr. Todd Armstrong, is recommending the board award the bid for the Castle High School Shelf Fire renovation project to Dyke Brothers Construction as the lowest responsive responsible bidder. I recommend the board approve the request as submitted. So move second. Have a motion by Mr. Baker, seconded by Mr. Mos. Any discussion? Yeah, I got one question. or these these are all going to start at the end of school. That's more like a strut. I mean, these are going to start after school's over, right? Yes. Yes. They're scheduled
026to start once the school year is complete. Thank you, Mr. Hopefully completed before school year starts. All right. All goes well. If all goes well, we did indicate August 1st as a substantial completion, but uh I fully expect all the contractors we're working with on all of our projects this summer so far have always been able to pull together the last couple weeks and get us into school on that first day. So, I'm sure it won't be easy, but you know, it never is. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Glover. I Mr. France. Hi, Mr. Skinner. Couple of showquired kids that might that I have in this program. I'm excited for this and I'm definitely an I. Great. Be in trouble if not. Mr. Baker I, Mr. Mosby. I, Mr. Wilhelm. I vote I. Motion carried.
027Agenda item 8.6. Approve agreement with Ford Center. Thank you, Mrs. Glover. Castle High School principal, Mr. Jim Hood is requesting the board to approve a facility lease agreement with the Ford Center for the Castle High School commencement on May 17, 2025. The school board's attorney, Mr. Cliff Whitehead, has viewed and approved this agreement. I recommend the board approve the agreement as presented. Motion by Mr. France, I'm sorry, seconded by Mr. Mosby. You have any discussion? just comment uh for public or uh folks listening. Um it's a change for us, right? I just want to moralize. It's a change. First time we've done this, but it was put out as a decision by by the school, right? Yes. The school requested the move and then u to ensure that students and parents were interested in a
028move like that, we actually put a survey out uh earlier. I say it was right before Christmas break or October, November, fall to Christmas break. And um I quite frankly was surprised that at the high percentage of students, the parents didn't surprise me, but the students, we were at like 70 high 70 78% or something, um voted for it to be at the Fort Center. Um and what it allows is no limitation on the seating, which can be tricky for the Castle High School graduation, especially if we have to move inside. Um, and there just isn't that concern about having, you know, having to spare a few tickets and who gets to come and who doesn't. Um, and so we're going to try it this year. We're going to see how it goes. And if
029it's successful and we like it, then we're going to, um, you know, we'll consider doing it again in the future if that's still the desire. Prior to this, there was kids and families trying to decide who actually gets to go to my graduation. So, to me, that's a that's the winner right there. My whole family can come. That's true. Okay. That's correct. Thank you. Yes. And costwise, I want the public to know that corporation is spending our normal amount. That is correct. Castle High School is making up the difference through donation money that comes through a local business through through HUPS. Yes. Right. Yes. So the amount Yes. So the amount of money being spent on Castle High School graduation this year out of their building level money would is the exact same as it
030would be if they were holding it at Castle High School. Right. So, no additional cost from our school funds. Yes. Good point. Will they still have fireworks? I don't think so. Contract agreement. Okay. Hey, there are a whole there's a whole fireworks pyrochnic show in the Ford Center every New Year's Eve game. So, would not be it would not be out of the realm. They can do it. Okay. Not in the contract. And now you're trying to hike that price. Wait till the castle parents hear about this. No, I was down there this year. So much fun. The attorney says no. Mr. One question. Sorry. We have I don't know if that change I don't know if we resolved that change was approved or was not approved. Do do we need the motion to be
031with the change suggested by counselor being approved? I did get confirmation back from Mr. hood that the port center accepted that. But if we want to phrase it that way just to be certain, I don't think it's necessary. Okay. Okay. I'll do roll call then. Uh, Miss Clever, I Mr. France. Hi, Mr. Skinner. Hi, Mr. Baker. Hi, Mr. Mosby. I, Mrs. Williams, I vote I. Motion carry. Agenda item 8.7, approve donations. Okay, you're ready. Thank you, Mrs. Glover. We have two donations this evening. At Newberg Elementary, we have a $1,000 donation from Newberg Youth Basketball to purchase uniforms and other equipment needs for sports activities. And at Tecumpsa High School, we have a $1,024 donation from the NRA Foundation for the Tecumpsa Clay Target Team to purchase supplies. I recommend the board approve the donations
032as presented. I have a a motion by Mr. Baker. Oh, sorry. Take my glasses off. Seconded by Mr. Mosby. Any discussion? M. Ragner, please. Okay. Miss Glover. I. Mr. Frames. I. Mr. Skinner. I. Mr. Baker. I. Mr. Mosby. I. Mrs. Wilhelm. I vote I. Motion carried. Agenda item nine, consideration of personnel, personnel recommendations. Dr. Gresham. Thank you, Mrs. Glover. Human resources has the following business for the board tonight. Agenda item 9.1, consideration of employment certified staff. Melissa Lia, special education teacher at Sher Sharon Elementary School. And all of these teaching positions are for 2526 school year. Aaron Connor, special education teacher at Newberg Elementary School. Eric Overbermmyer, band director teacher at Castle High School. Brandy Keller, facts teacher at Castle High School. William Hwig, physical education teacher at Taccy High School. And James Honeyut, physics
033science teacher at Boomville High School. On the non-certified staff side, we have Brenda Buck, 6.5 hour cafeteria position at Boomville Middle. Christina McVey, 6.5 hour cafeteria position at Castle High, James Kund, full-time custodian at Tcumi High. Gabrielle D. Rosett, full-time custodian at Johnny H. Castle Elementary. Wayne Bordon, full-time custodian at Tennyson Elementary. Christina Horn, multi-responsibility position. Andrea Loggston, ABS, program assistant at Sharon Elementary School for 2526 school year. And Thomas McInness, head custodian at Duma Middle School. And for varsity coach, Dakota Adcock, Tacumpy High School, varsity girls golf coach for 2526 school year. Motion to approve. Second. I have a motion by Mr. Mosby, seconded by Mr. Igner. We have any discussion. Okay, Mr. Okay, Miss Giver I. Mr. France, I. Mr. Skinner, I. Mr. Baker, I. Mr. Mosby, I. Mr. Wilhelmus. I I vote
034I. Motion carried. Thank you. Agenda item 9.2 leaves Beth Baron, language arts and publications teacher at Bumba Middle School. Kaylee Holder, agriculture teacher at Blooma High School. Rebecca Schneer, science teacher at Bumba High School. Kimberly Boyd, temporary job chair program assistant Sharon Elementary School. Carissa King, program assistant at Castle High. Melanie Davis, custodian at Castle South Middle. Mary West, health aid at Tennyson Log and Bumbo High School. Steven Michaels, custodian at Oakdale Elementary. Terresa Connor, 3.5 hour cafeteria position at Castle South. And Stacy McDonald, 4.5 hour cafeteria position at Castle High. Motion to approve. Second. Have a motion by Mr. Skinner, seconded by Mr. France. We have any discussion. Mner. Mr. Glover. I. Mr. France. I. Mr. Skinner. I. Mr. Baker. I. Mr. Mosby. I. M. Wilhelmus. I vote I. Motion carried. Thank you. Agenda
035item 9.3 report of transfers. Cecilia Susett, special education teacher at Yankeetown Elementary to halftime special education teacher at Yankeetown Elementary and halftime special education teacher at Newberg Elementary. Alec Brown, title one teacher at Lynville Elementary to elementary school teacher at Newberg Elementary. Kelly Yar, 6.5 hour cafeteria position at John H. Castle to 5.5 hour cafeteria position at Boomville High. Joanne Monroy, 4.5 4.75 hour cafeteria position at Sharon Elementary to 5.25 hour cafeteria position at Sharon Elementary. Ashlin Wingy, 3.75 hour cafeteria position at Johnny's Castle to 6.5 hour cafeteria position at Johnny's Castle. Joshua Katy, multi-responsibility position, changing around is cafeteria part of it. Sarah Mays, full-time custodian at Newberg Elementary to full-time custodian at Boonville Middle. Jason Buyers, assistant principal at Castle South Middle to assistant principal at Wet Boonville High School for 25.6 school
036year. Agenda item 9.4, Four, report of early return. Lucy Nellis, special education teacher at Newberg Elementary, has filed appropriate paperwork to return early from her previously approved leave of absence. 9.5 resignations. Kelsey Murray, after program assistant Sharon Elementary, resignation effective April 24th, 2025. Rachel Cartwright, 3.5 hour cafeteria position at Newber Elementary, resignation effective April 10th, 2025. Kayla Knight, 4.75 hour cafeteria position at Castle North Middle, resignation effective April 14, 2025. Melinda Simpson, part-time custodian at Oakdale Elementary, resignation effective April 18, 2025. Linda Tennyson, 4.5 hour cafeteria position at Sharon Elementary, resignation effective April 15, 2025. Michael Martin, bus driver, resignation effective April 21, 2025. Kelsey Cobbs, special education teacher at Castle South Middle. Resignation effective June 1st, 2025. Michael Wilson, clerk of the works. Resignation effective May 31st, 2025. Jesse Nyrider, job share program assistant,
037Castle South Middle, resignation effective June 1st, 2025. JD Overton, program assistant at Log Elementary, resignation effective June 1st, 2025. Madison White House, program assistant at Newberg Elementary, resignation effective May 8th, 2025. Midhe Misra, program assistant at Castle North Middle, resignation effective June 1st, 2025. Tiffany Pearson, program assistant at Log Elementary, resignation effective June 1st, 2025. Sarah Miller, Braille assistant at Sharon Elementary School, resignation effective June 1st, 2025. And Alyssa Kennedy, 4.5 hour cafeter cafeteria position at Castle High, resignation effective June 1st, 2025. Thank you, Dr. Gresham. Now, Dr. Gresham, I think you just had more people resign than you hired. That's a problem. Your your work's cut out for you. Get a break this summer. to do. Okay. M. Uh, agenda item 10, reports. Dr. Redmond, we have two reports tonight. Uh, one from Mr.
038Armstrong and one from Dr. Gresham. Who would like to go first? Flip a coin. Chop chop. Um, first off, uh, in the board packet this this time were several months of construction committee meeting minutes. um we were able to get those all compiled and put in there. So, if you didn't notice, there's several pages of the minutes of the last four construction committee meetings. Um in summary, they basically outline all of the projects, etc. that we have going on uh that we're moving forward with for this school year. Um tonight, just approved two more of the projects at John H. Castle, the addition of the classrooms and at Castle High School, the renovation of the show choir area. Uh we've got several more coming in over the next couple of weeks, including Sharon Elementary's ramps.
039Um we've got Middle School air conditioning going in. We're finishing up projects that we worked on over the winter. We've got new roof work that may need to be done at Boomville Middle School that just came up this week. Uh needless to say that when your when your facilities are aging, and ours are, the the key to making them age longer is the maintenance and upkeep. And we're putting a great deal of effort into those things so that we get the best and longest use out of the buildings we have. So that's what we're working on right now. Thank you. Question. Asbestous removal. Does that come up as whenever we open a wall or something or how usually the floor? Um we've got an asbestous plan that outlines all the asbestous we have in the
040county. Uh the issue is when you do a renovation and you move something, does the asbestous become fryable? And a lot of times it does. So, we've been getting hit with surprises in certain areas that you look through the plan and it has this floor, but it doesn't have it on the other side of the wall. And so, when you get that coming in as a change order, uh, surprise, the price, number one, it slows the project down, and the price is usually higher than it would otherwise be. So, we built contingency into this for the first time. We're trying that just in case if there is no asbestous becomes friable, we'll get a credit for it back in the project. Yeah, but that's generally when it comes out sometimes in the depth work. Okay,
041thank you Dr. Gresham. In the work session earlier tonight, Mr. Armstrong went through the entire personnel committee agenda that we had from our meeting. But what I can report on is three weeks ago today, Dr. Mr. Arnold from Newberg Elementary, Mr. Susett from Elberfeld Elementary, and I went out to USI for their teacher fair. All their graduating seniors are now looking for teaching jobs, and there were probably 20 school corporations represented, and we just got to mingle with all of their graduates. Um, try to promote War County School Corporation, um, urged them to keep track of our website and positions that we'll be applying open. And it was it was a a much more well attended event. I think the number of teachers in their school of education has increased over the last few years.
042Certainly more than there was out there three and four years ago. Uh I don't know if there was as many as there were 10 years ago, but definitely a positive trend at USI particularly in the school of elementary education. Lots of elementary education. the secondary numbers aren't where we would like them to be, especially in all disciplines, but moving moving in the right direction. And to tack on to that, we recently posted some elementary positions at four of our elementary schools, and two of those schools had 48 applicants for each position. So, that those are really good numbers. And we are doing a roundrobin style interview um from those pools of candidates. We will be speaking with can't remember if it's 36 or 37 of those applicants on both Wednesday and Thursday. We have to
043do it over two days because of the number of applicants. So, some positive things going on in HR. Thanks, Dr. Cresian. I don't have a report. I just had more a series of announcements. Um, we are there are a lot of things going on with our students this spring. So, if you drive around any of our school campuses after school, you're going to see spring sports in full action at elementary, middle, and high, track, golf, tennis, girls softball, boys baseball, all of all of the things. So, if you are interested in just, you know, exploring and stopping by and seeing some great things with our kids, we have all of our athletics in full action. There are so many other things that will be happening between now and the end of the school year, but
044I did want to highlight a couple of other opportunities that are happening this week, including a concert in the park at Freiedman Park on Thursday evening, May 1st at 6 o'clock. That is our Castle High School choirs and our Castle Middle School, both South and North uh feeder choirs. So, that is again happening at 6. I believe they have food trucks at 5. Food trucks. Yes, food trucks at 5. Concert starts at 6 and that's open and free to the public. Last chance to buy the halfp pot tickets, too. Okay. Okay. See, see Mr. Skinner's children. And then um on Friday, I think we mentioned this, but since it's this week, I think we've mentioned this before, but we have our first WPCC signing day. That's happening at 2 o'clock this Friday. And that's where
045we're going to have several of our students who have been in our programs out there signing uh for employment or apprenticeships um or you know jobs that they have earned and are getting hired and we're going to um re celebrate that on Friday. And then the last thing uh that I wanted to highlight this week on Saturday is the children's play day at Freiedman Park. That is from 10:00 until 2 o'clock. That is also free to the public. 10 until 2. It is for children ages three through 10 and we will have a booth there. There will be several booths as I understand, but Warick County School Corporation will have a spot there. So, please come and say hi. And u we have all kinds of fun things uh associated with our Warick County School
046Corporation where dreams take flight. We have a whole theme going on and lots of fun activities even if you're older than 10, but they put the they put the cap on the age. So, but fun for all. So, please join us for any of those things if you're out and interested. The Castle Band has a concert, a free concert tomorrow night, too. Yeah. And I'm certain Boom Bell to come see. I'm certain they have all their arts programs as well. Yes. Between now and the end of the year. Yeah. Great. A lot of talented students, a lot of lot of things. One thing that I saw Pathways tomorrow from 11:45 to 2:15 They're having their stick drive. Oh, they need volunteers to come in and let them stick you with a needle. Okay. What it
047says? Glad I do exercise. I'm going do the exercise. I'm barely surviving the exercise. Did you for their biomed science kids? No, in all seriousness, that is true. The students get they get uh 30 sticks required for them to not all in one person right no they're going for their phabbotomy exam so it's part of their exam so they do need the public they need volunteers and then I also want to announce u personnel committee meets May 12th at 5:30 he's not Dr. at 5:30. May 12th, May 12th, 5:30. And construction committee will meet May 13th at 7:30. Mr. Mos, we had to leave Dr. Gresian clarified at 6:30. Oh, 6:30. That's right. There's no work session. Yeah. And student learning is tomorrow at 11 o'clock. Admin building admin building policy committee will next meet
048May 12th at 5:45 here at central services. Um you want to hear the legislative update now? Sure. I thought maybe you were uh s no I could not pass it up. I do want to thank the uh commend the War County Teachers Association for a lovely dinner last week honoring the retirees and and 25 plus 25 year plus veterans. It was a very lovely fun evening and I thought they did a great job and I'm glad to be included. Okay, this is the last legislative update from me. As you know, the session ended last Thursday with approximately 40 new laws passed that will affect public education. Budget passed and despite the forecast of two billion decrease in state revenues, the legislature made cuts to public health, higher education, state agencies, and some K through2 education
049categor categorical grants. plus the increase cigarette tax to help offset increasing Medicaid cost. This will free up general fund general fund monies for K through 12 education. Presumably, these measures will generate an average of 2% tuition support increase per year. However, monies allocated for curriculum support will be included in the funding the I forget what they call it not the trust funding but funding support for student and not reflected as a separate line item. Uh, additionally the income limit for universal vouchers was eliminated for the second year of the budget. Therefore, students in the state, regardless of their parents' incomes, will be eligible for a choice scholarship voucher beginning 2027. And schoolboard candidates must declare a party affiliation or present as independent or nonpartisan. Next time you run for uh candidacy, you submit your petition
050for candidacy to the school board. My concern is that a board vacancy will be filled by one, a caucus if the vacating member stated an affiliation with a major party or two, the remaining members of the governing body, if a candidate or if that board member did not uh present a party affiliation. I should clarify on the petition for candidacy you could either declare uh Republican, Democrat or independent or nonpartisan or not affiliated with any party. So if you if someone does present with the party and later must vacate their seat, the caucus will choose their successor. If the person did not declare a party or no political affiliation, then the remainder of the board will fill the vacancy. Is that outlined in that bill? Yes. Set that out. Okay. Yes. Uh, as always, I
051hope all future boards will continue to focus on students and not allow politics to interfere with what's best for kids. The schoolboard association will uh send out a digest of new laws within a month or so and then we'll have a report an update as a spring regional meeting that's scheduled for May 19th and I've got it in my head on central time but I don't remember is it like uh network at 5:30 Jasper time. Yes, we always have to leave pretty early. We do. We do. And I'll get a leave time for the group or anybody who wants to ride up together on May 19th. We can leave the parking lot, but we leave Yeah. 3:15 3:30 usually or some people depending on schedules just like to meet us there, which is totally fine
052as well. I hope you guys can all everybody registered to sign up to come out of town. Every six of the seven I believe. Yes. Very good. Do we have anything else for the board? I'd just like to say that I believe we've been served my whole life by a system we had very well. Why not? And I think it's very disappointing that our legislator to decide that education should become a political issue and not what's best for the kids. Totally agree. Ridiculous. Well, I think Mrs. Glover said it best. This board has always done a really nice job of centering decisions around what's best for students and and the board has done a really great job also of listening and being respectful. Just like I was talking about our students earlier, this board has
053really done a good job of that uh when we encountering encounter differing opinions. So hopeful that that will not change as we move forward because we don't want those kinds of things to get in the way of the work that we have to do and need to do for our students. Thank you. Anything else? All right, we are done. [Music]