001Uh, welcome to the regular meeting of the Wise School Board. For the f first school board meeting of 2026, our board is required to elect officers and take other organizational steps for the new board year. Until the board elects its president, which will be the first action item, I will preside over the meeting. At this time, would you please stand for our pledge of allegiance and the reading of our vision statement by Mrs. Tammy of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all citizens who positively impact their communities. As we begin this first meeting of the year, let us pause for a moment of reflection. We give thanks for the opportunity to serve our students, families, staff, and community. As we enter a new
002year filled with both challenges and promises, may we be guided by wisdom, patience, and a shared commitment to what is best for every child. May our discussions be thoughtful, our decisions be fair, and our actions be rooted in respect, collaboration, and hope. Let us move forward together with renewed purpose, open minds, and a dedication to learning and growth for all. Thank you for this moment. Let's proceed with our work. All right. Thank you, Mr. Bokart. At this time, we will begin the reorganization of the board by first starting with the election of the board president. I will now take a nomination for election of the board president. >> I'll nominate. >> Is there a second? >> All right. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? All right. That motion carries.
003Mr. Kripe, I will now turn the meeting over to you to continue forward. >> All right, there's probably going to be some errors here, so be patient with me. Um, at this time, I will we have to further go through the reorganization. At this time, I'll accept the nomination for board vice president. Is there a nomination? >> I nominate Don Booker. >> Is there a second? >> Second. Second. >> Oh yeah. >> I thought >> second >> and then uh what I see here. Any oppo? Uh all in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> All opposed. >> Motion carries. Next item at this time I will accept the nomination for board secretary. Do I have a motion? >> I move out for secretary. >> Is there a second? >> I second it. >>
004All right. All signify signify by saying I. >> I. Any opposed? And the next item is uh at this time I'm going to turn it back over to Dr. Troyer to recommend the remaining items under the reorganization agenda. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Kite. Um for item D, appointment of recording secretary, I would like to recommend Tammy Hutchinson. For item E, appointment of board attorney, I recommend War and Boone LLP. For item F, establish meeting time, day, and location. I recommend the board meet on the second Tuesday of each month with the exception of April, which will be the third Tuesday, and August, which will be the second Monday. In addition to our regular monthly meetings, uh the board also typically conducts work work sessions on the first Monday of the month. Uh board
005meetings will occur at 5:30 p.m. typically in the Wallace Professional Learning Center located at 801 South Sycamore Street in Syracuse. For item G, establishing board stipend or salary, I recommend $2,000 plus $150 per regular meeting and $75 per special meeting paid quarterly and capped at $6,000. For item H, appointment of administrators as the only board representatives to open sealed bids and received quotes for school business. I would recommend uh myself uh Brandon Penrod and Wade Wireball. For item I, approval of treasurer and deputy treasure. I recommend Rachel Moore as corporation treasurer and Barbara Casey as deputy treasurer. and I would be happy to answer any questions, but if not, um would ask the board to consider those recommendations as presented. >> Any questions? >> All right. This time I'm going to ask for a motion
006to approve Dr. Troy's recommendations. >> So move second. >> Great. Is there all in favor signify by saying I. >> All opposed. Motion's approved. Okay. All right, we are now beginning the Do I have to Now we just move right into the regular meeting, right? Okay. All right. Um well, I'm going to turn it right back over to you for the good news items. >> All right. Very good. Thank you. Uh some good news items to um go over this evening. WCY Community Schools would like to recognize our midyear retirements. Uh, congratulations to Sarah Bower on her retirement. Sarah's been our corporation nurse for 13 years. We wish her all the best on her retirement. And Don Yoder is retiring after 23 years of teaching. Don has spent her entire teaching career with Waw Schools
007at Syracuse Elementary in fourth grade the whole time. Thank you for your years of service. I know both of them are here. If you would make your way up, we have a a gift for you and uh we would like to shake your hand. [applause] >> I'm used to that. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. want once again want to say thank you to Dawn and Sarah for their years of service to Wawa schools and we wish them the best in retirement uh and good things to come. So thanks again. Congratulations to coach Derek Gilreath and the entire Wise High School girls basketball program. They received an IHSAA exemplary report from an official recognizing them for their sportsmanship throughout a game when it would have been easy to allow that sportsmanship to slip
008away. Thank you for representing Wawasi High School and Wawasi athletics with integrity and pride. Uh the United States Navy extended their appreciation to the Wawasi High School staff for assisting in proctoring the ASVAB for our students. Um, they displayed professionalism, coordination, and hospitality during the Navy's visit to the school. Thank you for providing the students with access to the tools that will guide their future planning while they pursue college vocational paths or choose to pursue a career uh in military service. If you don't know, the ASVAB is a uh exam that is um typically a leadin to um a military experience of some sort. Next up, we are proud to share that all three Wawasi Early Learning Center sites have successfully completed their annual paths to quality renewal visits. Each site has maintained its level
009three status. We're proud of our staff and grateful for continued support of Wawi Community Schools in making early learning a district priority. Um, next up, donations were received from the following people, organizations, and businesses. Uh, the Builders Association of North Central Indiana donated $500 to North Webster Elementary to help with student needs. Thank you to K. Greyber Construction for their $1,000 WAC Athletic Department scholar uh, sponsorship. Was Band received a $500 donation from Mobile Modular Management Corp. Thank you to Renewal Homes for their generous donation of $2,000 to the Wawasi High School Art Department. The Wahi High School robotics team received a $750 donation from an anonymous donor. Uh the Wavesy High School student council received $500 from Trinity Lock for their all for one event. Northern Indiana Johnny Poppers donated $1,200 to Wavesy High
010School FFA. Thank you to Patrick Industries for their $500 Waves High School Super Mileage sponsorship and the Wawasi High School Key Club received a $1,400 donation from the Kowanas Club of Wawasi to help with their annual conference expenses. Finally, Syracuse Elementary Principal Karen Brock is here tonight and has some good news to share with us. Mrs. Brock, >> good evening. I really just did want to share some good news about um some donations that we've had over the last couple months. Uh this year we were able to support many Syracuse families with Thanksgiving and Christmas assistance and we were able to do that because of the very generous uh community contributions. So I just kind of want to give a rundown. Thanksgiving we were able to provide 29 nine meals to 20 or 29 families
011and that was from the Eagles of Syracuse, Wawasy Building Trades and Wawasi High School boys basketball. For Christmas we were able to provide gifts to 45 families that included multiple clothing and gifts for all children in their families and also family gift wishes. Um, huge thanks to the Syracuse Elementary PTO, the Eagles of Syracuse, Wawasi Building Trades, Wawasi High School Girls Basketball, Hollywood, Syracuse American Legion Writers, The Sleepy Owl, Calvary United Methodist Church, Brew City Roasting Company, Syracuse Women's Group from Medusa Street, North Winona Church of the Brethren, Syracuse Elementary Staff, and many additional parents and community members that took tags off of our giving tree. Uh this year we took on a new initiative of food assistance for winter break and we were [clears throat] able to provide 30 families with boxes of food
012um generously donated uh money donated by the women of today. So there's also a lot of behind the-scene works when it comes to these uh initiatives and I just want to give a big thank you to the office staff of Syracuse for their time and talents with that. So WAC community, thank you for your generosity and the support of our Syracuse families. >> Thank you. Very good. Thank you, Mrs. Brock. >> Mr. K, that's good news. Okay. Uh, do I have a motion to approve the good news items as presented? >> Motion. >> Second. >> All those in favor signify by saying I. >> Opposed. >> Motion carries. Okay. Next uh is patron comments. This is the time in the meeting that we set aside for patron comments. We allow each patron to have three
013minutes to address the board. Uh we would ask that you stand up front of the board of the podium, state your name where where you reside in the district and proceed with your comments. The comments uh will not include students, personnel or otherwise frivolous statements. If multiple patrons are here to speak on the same topic, uh we would ask that you choose a representative to voice your message. So now we are open for patron comments. >> [snorts] >> Hey, I'm Alex Wild from Syracuse. Give me just one sec. So, I know there's a lot we can't talk about, but I did want to talk about some issues that we seem to be having with our payroll reporting. So, I'll try to keep it hyper general. Um, so has the school district ever had an outside
014CPA firm audit our payroll? >> No. No. >> Has an outside CPA >> has >> I don't believe so. >> Are we good on the sound? >> Would you would you repeat your question? >> Sure. Yeah. So, has the district ever engaged an outside CP firm to audit the payroll tax filings? I don't believe so. >> No. Okay. Um, what type of internal audit or oversight currently exists for our payroll? >> None. Okay. Um, sorry. >> One, two. >> Who's responsible for payroll processing and what are their credentials? >> We have a payroll clerk. Better better. No. Yeah. >> Um, so we have a clerk. Okay. Um, and then I guess so we've had some issues with how our payubs are looking for our staff members. Thanks. And it seems that there's not enough detail
015being given on the payubs. So for instance, bus drivers have bus drivers have payubs that say one hour gross. >> Grab this one. >> Is this one good? >> Okay. Okay, sorry guys. Okay, so we have payubs that are not given enough detail. So for instance, and I'm just letting you guys know this because I I just doubt that you know, right? So um on some of our payubs specifically for bus drivers, they will have one hour. It says 1 hour and then gross, right? And then the next week it'll say 1 hour different amount of gross, right? because they run different routes, they do extracurriculars, all these things, right? So, when you're going to get a loan for something and you're a non-salaried employee and you have to show so many payubs, the gross
016is different, the hours are all the same, one hour. And so, when they come and they ask the payroll clerk or whoever they're asking for more detail, it's just not happening, right? Um, then we have a similar issue with our union employees as well, right? Like it's a gross amount. there's not enough detail. So, they can't see without reconciling against their own internal records how much they're being paid for each individual service, right? So, just as a person that enjoys things reconciling, that seems inappropriate that we don't have enough detail on the payubs. We've also had issues in the past with retirement accounts not being appropriately funded. Hence my request and I will email you all and request that there do be a formal um audit of our payroll system and potentially additional training for
017our payroll clerk, whoever all is in the HR department. Who can people go to if they have a grievance that they need to file and not just the union grievances, right? Like everybody else um and what their credentials are as HR generalists. Do we have degrees? like who is handling this very very important area of the district. One sec. Oh, and then also like if somebody has an issue with their payroll or their payub, like who can they go to to get it addressed? like potentially payroll clerk, but I mean we've already had issues with like not enough detail in the reporting. So I'm just the concern is that if we have issues, are they being addressed? And I know this may seem silly, but it is very important for the employees. So I think
018it needs to be taken seriously. So, I'm formally requesting, and again, I'll do this by email as well, that we do have an external CPA firm come in and audit agreed upon procedures specifically for PEF contributions, other type of um retirement account funding, and the actual payroll tax filings along with payubs and making sure that everything is being recorded appropriately and the information is provided to our employees in a way that they can understand without having to be able to only reconcile against their own internal records. Thanks. >> Thank you. >> We'll just pass it in case anybody else needs to use it. Uh, anybody else on same or different topic? Anything? Okay. Moving on. All right. Now we are into reports on our agenda. Um I'm going to turn it back over to Dr.
019Troyer. >> Yeah, thank you. Um Dr. Wolfong does not have a learning report um this evening. Just as a reminder, she typically will give those at the board work session which occurred on the first Monday of the month. I do have a superintendent report this evening. I want to talk about two topics. Um the first is um some information related to the teacher appreciation grant or what we're referring to as a teacher achievement grant. Um I want to briefly update the board on this. Uh we refer to this as TAG. Um and we want to let you know how Wy is implementing it this year as there were some significant legislative changes uh last year uh that have caused um some significant changes not only here but throughout the state. Uh TAC is a statef
020funded one-time stipen program administered by the Indiana Department of Education. During the most recent legislative session, the program changed significantly. It is now explicitly performance-based. Um quite a bit more restrictive than what has been in the past and it limits both how many teachers may receive an award and the criteria that districts must use. These changes were driven by the legislature and are not optional for districts that choose to participate. For WAW, our allocation allows us to fund around 18% of our teaching staff in a given year. Because of that limitation, uh Dr. Wilfong and I worked um with WCEA leadership to design a local plan that complies with state requirements while distributing funds as fairly as possible uh over time. We made the decision to use tier one only. There are three tiers. Uh
021tier one is funded at an amount of $3,500 uh per stipend. Uh and the tier two and tier three amounts are higher than that. Um this allows us to reach more teachers rather than concentrating awards among a very small group. Uh to further support fairness, teachers uh who receive the grant this year will not be eligible to receive it next year until all the um eligible teachers would cycle through. Um so this would allow eligible teachers to cycle through over a two to threeyear period um given available funding. It's important to be clear that not all eligible teachers will receive the stipend in the same year. Uh the stipen does not impact base salary evaluations or employment status. Uh and receiving or not receiving the grant is not a judgment about a teacher's value. Locally,
022we are referring to this as a teacher achievement grant rather than teacher appreciation grant. That is intentional. Under the current law, this is a performance-based grant and not a universal appreciation program and we believe the name should reflect that. So when we refer to it as TAG, uh we're referring to it as teacher achievement grant. We have communicated this to staff in two stages. Uh first providing context for the changes and then outlying eligibility applications and timeline. Um we are in the middle of our application period. Uh and so I think they have through next Friday, next >> the 19th, that's this coming Monday, uh to fill out their applications and submit uh their intent to participate in that program. Um this [clears throat] program has uh been a challenge to implement but we believe
023this approach is the most responsible way to manage the funds in a fair, transparent and compliant manner. Um and I would be happy to answer any questions that the board may have about the teacher achievement grant at Wallace. I've got one more topic. Um, just to give you a quick legislative update. Um, I want to provide you a brief update on the current Indiana legislative session as it relates to K12 education. Um, it is hard to believe that we're talking about legislation again. Uh, but it is that time of year. This is a short session. Um, and that means that they're not doing the budget. So, they do the budget on a on a every other year basis. And um because of that then bills are moving quickly and we're still in the early stages
024of sorting out uh which proposals are likely to advance. Um but I think um for bills to move on, they have to be uh ready to go by the end of this month and then I have heard the legislation the legislative session will end by the end of February. So uh it should be over pretty quickly. Um that being said, there is a number of uh there are a number of legislative uh action items that are um revolving around the uh education landscape. One area that is receiving attention is the student cell phone and device use during the school day. Um there are uh several propo proposals that would further restrict personal device use. Uh potentially extending beyond instructional time. Um if anything passes, uh districts would be given guidance on implementation and exceptions and
025we would bring that information to the board as needed. Um there's not a lot of people that are aware that that level of restriction is being proposed. So, we want we want to make sure that people are aware of that. Um, and I've heard a number of uh parents that aren't real thrilled about some of the proposals that are out there. So, we want to uh encourage you to do some research on that uh as well uh before before legislators make decisions on those bills. Uh there's also several bills focused on education code cleanup and dereg. Um this has uh been a thing that's occurred over the last couple years. Uh another area we're tracking involves teacher workforce uh including licensing flexibility and compensation related discussions. Uh these proposals vary widely in scope and many
026are still in committee. We'll monitor the ones that advance um and see how we handle those moving forward. Uh related to that, the teacher appreciation grant which I just spoke of is part of the broader legislative conversation this session. Uh while there's no immediate change to the current program, there is awareness at the state level of some of the implementation challenges uh that districts have faced. I'll tell you that I have advocated to our legislators here locally um that schools be given a little bit more um local control in the decision- making on how those funds are distributed. right now it's very very prescriptive um and it creates challenges for us um in trying to distribute that fairly. Uh finally there are a number of bills that fall into what I would describe as just
027monitoring uh things related to curriculum student health uh safety um and reporting expectations. At this point nothing in those areas is finalized uh or would require any action. So, I would characterize this session as active, but definitely still developing. We're still early, but it will be quick and we're closely monitoring that uh to see if anything would affect our policies, staffing, and operations. So, I'll continue to update the board uh as we move through the legislative session, but at this point, um our focus is staying informed and prepared to respond if changes are enacted. I have a question. I I just assume or anticipate not assume anticipate that that self some form of cell phone legislation is going to come out of there. How is that going to affect our staff when they're going to
028be the ones saddled with the implementation of restrictive cell phone use? I think I I mean I don't know that um you know from a classroom staff perspective that it adds a lot to their responsibilities because right now we have classroom restrictions about cell phone use and device use anyway in the classroom. Um what they're really looking at is um right now the way that it stands as a student after they leave the classroom whether they're in the hallways during passing periods this is at the high school level >> or in the in the lunchroom cafeteria they can have their phone out device out >> um it would be restricting those times. So from the beginning of the day to the end of the day, they can't be in possession of a cell phone is
029essentially what we're hearing that um the proposals are looking at. And so um I I think it, you know, it's it's good on one hand, but I think it presents complications on the other because there's, >> you know, reasons why people would want their child to have a phone at school and be able to be in touch with a parent. So, um, you know, I it's one of those things that I think there's definitely benefits and drawbacks, um, to any legislation that would be proposed. You know, our middle school currently, I think, is bell-to-bell in the locker and >> gotcha. Okay. >> Um, and so I think, you know, from middle school down, it doesn't really impact us anyway, but definitely at the high school level, it it presents a challenge. So, >> what's that?
030>> No, you do. >> Yep. >> All right. All right. We're on to group action items. We have received these in our packet on Friday. We've had opportunity to review them. Are there any questions on the group action items in the packet? >> Okay. Then I'm going to need a motion to approve the group action items. Do I have a motion? >> I make a motion. >> Have a second. >> Second. >> I'll sign by in favor by saying I >> oppos. carries. All right, then we're on to additional action items. First up, additional action items presented Dr. Troyer for I think the financial report. Is that correct? >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. Craig. >> All right. All right, I want to spend a few minutes walking through December financials, uh, especially since this represents
031our year-end position, uh, and include some indicators that deserve additional explanation. Uh, you can see those up on the screen. As of December 31, um, utilization increased across all major uh, operating funds, education, operations, and debt service, which is expected as we close out the fiscal year. Rainy Day continues to show no activity and remains intact as a reserve for unforeseen needs. Uh the area I want to focus on most closely is our education fund which uh reflects utilization exceeding 100% at year end. Uh you can see the percent encumbered there is 104%. Um while that number stands out, it's important to understand both what it represents and why. Uh at the close of the year, the education fund reflects expenditures exceeding available appropriations. Uh this was not the result of unexpected lateear spending or
032new obligations, but rather the cumulative effect of conditions that were already present earlier in the fiscal year. Uh through August, as we've discussed with the board um multiple times, expenditures outpace revenues in the education fund. Uh that early imbalance placed the fund on a higher than normal utilization trajectory. By the end of August, the fund was already um approximately 70% utilized uh which is about four to five percentage points higher than where it would than where we would typically want it to be at that point in the year. Uh following the close of the prior school year, the district of this past school year, um the district made significant and intentional adjustments to address this. Uh those adjustments included staff reductions and organizational restructuring within the education fund that resulted in approximately $829,000 in cost
033savings. These actions um materially improved our spending pattern and slowed the rate of growth as we move through the fall. um to see this play out. If we would continue a normal pattern of approximately 8.3% of appropriation per month from the 70.3% that we were in August, that would put us approximately 103.6% encumbered. Um because those corrections were implemented partway through the fiscal year, there was not sufficient time for them to fully offset the early imbalance uh from the uh before the year end. So as a result the fund closed with um a closed the year over the appropriation despite the corrective measures. So it is equally important to note that um outstanding incumbrances at year end totaled uh just over 180,000 uh while backing those items out would reduce the the util utilization slightly
034by roughly about 1 percentage point. Uh they did not materially change the overall picture. uh and that confirms the issue is not driven by late or unplanned commitments but by broader timing of revenues and expenditures early in the year. Uh the practical financial result of this was a reduction in the education fund cash balance from the beginning of the year to the end of the year rather than any disruption uh to operations or an inability to meet obligation. So looking ahead, uh these issues have um already been addressed and our planning for the upcoming budget cycle. Uh spending controls and organizational adjustments implemented after last school year are now in place for the entire entire fiscal year of 26. Uh which would position the education fund in a much more stable uh place moving forward.
035Overall, while the year-end percentage in the education fund warrants explanation, it reflects a known and monitored condition, not an emerging risk. The district remains financially stable and corrective measures are already built into the coming year. Just as a reminder, the reason that became an issue was because of the um drop the dramatic drop in students in the fall of 24. So we lost like 112 students from the previous year which was not planned um and therefore had a discrepancy in revenue versus expenditures. I'd be happy to um answer any other questions about that but otherwise would look for approval on the financial report. I just um on you say loseund would >> 112 >> some of that was just lack of enrollment out of those 100 students. >> Yeah. >> I mean they didn't just
036go away to to another school. >> That's correct. I we lost uh we had a large graduating class of seniors that year before and we brought in a small kindergarten class. So this was a year ago, you know, almost a year and a half ago. But if if I remember the numbers correctly, I'll approximate like 125 uh excuse me, 225 in the graduating senior class, 173 in the incoming kindergarten class. It was a a big drop. So yeah, there was the the loss of significant loss of enrollment in 24 put us in that position where the revenue and expenditures didn't align. So, we've now had to correct that and we've got that uh situated, but but that explains that. >> Any other questions? >> Nope. >> Okay. I'm going to need a motion to approve
037the financial report as presented by Dr. Troyer. Do I have a motion? >> Second. >> All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. I keep This is all me, right, Troyer? >> Yep. >> Dr. Sorry. >> Yes. >> All right. Okay. Item 9B. Make sure I'm tracking here. Consider an updated Wisey Community Schools non-certified base wage starting rates. Dr. Troyer. >> Yes. Thank you. The uh following the raises and wage adjustments that were completed in December, uh we wanted the board to approve a newly updated base pay starting wages um schedule for our non-certified staff. I provided the board a copy of these wages in your board packet. Would be happy to answer any questions. Um but otherwise would ask the board to consider the starting wages
038as presented. Any questions? All right. I need a motion to approve item 9B, updated non-certified base wage starting rates. Do I have a motion? >> I'll make a motion. >> Second. approved by saying I >> I >> opposed. Motion carries. All right. Item 9C, consider the updated high school ELA curriculum list. Dr. Mr. Wolf, >> um, last work session I presented to you with a list of high school ELA curricular materials that were inadvertently left off the um, curriculum approval list last year. And uh, so this was just um to make sure that that properly went through the school board. All of the material has been posted on the website already. It just did not go through the formal board approval process like the new curriculum materials. So, I'm asking for you to approve that
039tonight. >> Okay. Do we have any questions on item 9C? All right. Uh, do I have a motion to approve 9C, high school ELA curriculum list? >> I make a motion. >> I have a second. >> All right. All in favor favor signifi signify by saying I. >> I. >> All opposed. Motion carries. Next item is 9D, the Basher Alternative Program Educational Services. Dr. Wolf, >> thank you very much, Mr. Crab. Um, we um have a partnership with Basher uh alternative program for uh several students and um we wanted to um provide that service to two additional stu students. So, this is a revised um agreement that um just moves it from three students to five students. >> All right. Any questions on that? Uh item 9D. Uh do I have a motion for 9D,
040Bachelor Alternative Program Educational Services? >> I'll make a motion. >> Second. >> All right. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> All opposed. Motion carries. Next item is 9F. It's out of state and overnight trips. Dr. Troyer. >> Um, you have point E first. >> Huh? >> I skipped 9E. Got too excited. Item 9E is a second semester in I incompassing contract. Dr. Wil. >> Thank you, Mr. Kite. Um, this particular contract is um in lie of us having a director of special services at this point. Um they are providing with us some specialized expertise in special education including uh working one-on-one with special education teachers uh providing some paraprofessional training and also on new IEP regulations and um writing um a complete and comprehensive IEPs. So we're having them come in
041and do that. >> Okay, Dr. for Wolfong. This is a continuation of their contract that the board approved in the fall, correct? >> Yes. Yes. So, after um they they did their work in the fall, we talked about uh what they saw as some needs in our corporation and and uh we work mutually um with them to come up with this plan. >> Okay. Do we have any questions on item 9E, the encompassing contract? Questions? All right. I'd like a motion for item 9E. >> So move. >> All right. A second. >> I got a second. >> All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> All opposed. Motion carries. Now item 9F, outofstate overnight trips. Dr. Troyer. >> Yes. Uh Hope Bechal Wise Middle School music director is requesting permission to travel to
042Sandusky, Ohio. We all know what's over there. On May 30th, 2026, the uh Wy Middle School Music Department will cover the cost of transportation for students. Parents will be chaperoning this voluntary trip. Sounds like a good time. Any questions? All right. I need a motion to consider 9F the out ofstate overnight trips. Do I have a motion? >> I make a motion. >> I have a second. >> Second. >> All right. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> All opposed. Motion carries. Next item, other items. Uh, this brings us to item number seven. Other items. Do we have any other issues to discuss? Nothing. All right. Then I need a motion to adjourn. Can I ask you a question the three options that you gave the work session? >> No. >>
043Yes, that's different. >> Good question. Um, okay. I need a motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Opposed. >> Motion carries. Thank you. >> Committee meeting. Dr. Dr. Troyer will lead us in initially presiding over that committee meeting. Dr. Troyer. >> Thank you, Mr. Kripe. I'll be happy to begin uh the board of finance committee meeting. Uh Wall State Community Schools bylaws designates the entire school board to also serve as the corporation's finance committee. The committee is required to elect a president and secretary. To avoid confusion when signing key financial documents, it is generally recommended that the president and secretary of the finance committee be the same persons that were elected president and secretary of the school board. That would also be my recommendation to the finance
044committee. At this time, I would entertain a motion to elect the president of the finance committee. >> I would like to nominate uh Andy Kripe as president and Steve Bout as secretary. >> Do I have a second? Second. >> All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> All right, the motion carries. Mr. Kripe, I will now turn the meeting over to you. >> And you're going to give it right back to me. >> Yeah, that's what I thought. >> I'll keep it I'll keep it going. >> All right. Uh the first item on our board of finance agenda uh is to review investment policy um and approve the investment report. In your board packet, you are provided with a copy of our most current investment policy of Walt Community School
045Corporation. Policy 6144 details the investment vehicles uh allowed by Indiana code along with the processes to be followed for investment related decisions. Uh there have been no changes to the board's investment policy and our current policy follows guidelines set by statute and follows the guidance from uh the state board of accounts. Um in 2025 Wii Community School Corporation invested in Lake City Bank and Terra Credit Union and Trust Indiana. Uh I have provided the board with a copy of the revenue history report detailing all investment revenue for 2025. be happy to answer any questions about our investment policy uh or the report uh that was provided to you in your board packet. >> The no action required, >> right? The investment vehicles are pretty strictly >> guided or or correct >> dictated by state law.
046>> Correct. >> Okay. >> Very very prescriptive. >> Okay. >> All right. If there's no additional questions, I'll move on to the recommended financial depositories. I would recommend that Wawa City Community School Corporation continue using Intera Credit Union as our financial depository along with Trust Indiana as our primary investment company. Mr. Bokart, I do feel like um do we need to take action on approving those two things? It feels like we do. Well, >> but I don't have that in my notes. >> Do you remember? >> Why don't we just do it? >> Yeah, why don't we take action on approving those two things? >> Um, and then the the last item, the do report is just a report out. >> Okay. I don't think we did it when we switched last time, but Okay.
047So, I'm going to group those. Can I get an I need a motion for approval of the investment policy and approval of investment report and um um Intera is being the financial depository for our school district. Do I have a motion? >> Yes. >> Second. >> I second. >> All in favor signify by saying I >> opposed. >> Carries. >> All right. Thank you. Sorry for the confusion there. As I was reading through that, I felt like we needed to approve those formally. So, the last item on the board of finance um uh committee agenda is to review the DOWAB report. DAB stands for distress units appeal board. Um and it's essentially a list of fiscal indicators uh that we review every year at this particular meeting. Um the report is required annually and provides
048a standardized snapshot of enrollment demographics, fund balances, revenues and expenditures over time. Uh the data shown here comes directly from a state report from state reported sources and is presented in the same format used statewide. So on slide one uh we have a corporation overview and ADM trends. Um this provides a highle snapshot of the corporation uh showing our uh ADM or average daily membership at um 2,567 students. I'm looking at the date there to make sure uh 2425. Uh the district's net assessed value for 25 is uh or was approximately 4.06 billion and the estimated population within the district is just over 20,000. Uh the bar chart shows our ADM over time. As you can see, enrollment has gradually declined over the past decade. On to slide two. Uh demographics and fund balances overview.
049Demographics is on the top half. This slide begins uh with student demographic trends. The chart shows the percentage of students qualifying for free and reduced lunch uh and those receiving special education services and identified as English language learners. And as a note there, that is only through 2324. So that's a lagging indicator um that continues to update a couple years afterwards. Uh over time we've seen gradual increase in economic need and special education services while our English language learner percentages remain relatively low uh but consistent. The bottom half of that slide uh shows our fund balances. The lower portion of this slide shows uh the balances by fund categories across multiple years. This includes major funds such as education fund, operations fund, capital funds and rainy day. Overall, the chart reflects positive positive fund balances
050across the required funds um with noticeable growth in the capital capital related funds in recent years. And um those that's where um the proceeds from bond sales go to sit in those funds to be used as um the projects that we have going on that are um close to finishing up. um as those pays become uh come up for due um then they're paid out of those funds. So that's why you see that uh large spike right there in 23. That was the um the sale of the bonds for the big project that we've had going on the last couple years. All right, on to the uh third slide, the annual deficit and surplus which is at the top. Uh this particular chart compares annual revenues and expenditures with the yellow bars indicating annual surplus
051of de or deficit. While there have been individual years with modest deficits, overall revenues and expenditures remain closely aligned. Uh the black line represents the total fund balance which has trended upward over time. Uh the bottom part of that slide then shows our fund balance as a percentage of annual expenditures. Um DAB guidance generally looks for a healthy reserve level. Uh and WC's fund balance percentage has remained strong particularly in recent years ranging in the low to mid 30% range. On slide four revenue type revenue by type um and operating referendum. Uh this slide breaks down revenue by source including state revenue, local tax revenue, federal revenue, debt revenue, and operating referendum revenue. State and local revenues make up the majority of the fund uh corporations funding with federal stimulus revenue visible uh during the
052pandemic years and tapering off. Um and the chart below uh for operating referendum um the district does not have an operating referendum and so we do not have any operating fund or operating referendum revenue associated with that. So in summary uh the DAB report reflects stable financial indicators for the corporation positive fund balances controlled expenditures and predictable revenue sources. This report fulfills the annual board of finance requirement and provides um transparency into the corporation's long-term financial trends. I'm happy to answer any questions that the board may have. Thank you. Do you have any questions? >> Okay. Uh at this time, I entertain a motion to adjourn the financial committee meeting. >> Is there a second? >> I second it. >> All in favor signify by saying I. I >> opposed. Motion carries. >> That's it.