001Okay. It is 5:30. >> I would like to welcome everyone and call to order this regular meeting of the Wawas Community School Board of School Trustees. We will begin the meeting with the pledge of allegiance and vision statement led by Mrs. Karen Brock and the invocation led by Mr. Lee Snder. >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. students are competent, well-rounded citizens who positively impact their communities. >> All right, let's pray. >> Heavenly Father, we come before you this evening. Father, we just thank you uh for your many blessings. We thank you for this wonderful community. We thank you for our wonderful students and families and staff. And Father, we just
002pray your blessing on all of us. We pray your blessing on everyone here this evening. Um we're so thankful for the hope and the joy that we have as being a part of this community. And Father, as we as we interact tonight and as we work with our students and our families, Father, pray that you would lead us, that we would act justly, that we would love mercy, and that we would walk. We pray these things in your name. Amen. >> Amen. So before we start um the meeting this evening, I'm going to ask Dr. Troyer to give an explanation because this is a rather I don't know complicated complex is the correct word for this. Uh there's a number of hearings and u kind of meetings within meetings and I think Dr. Troyer can
003probably do a better job of explaining that than I can. >> Yeah, thank you Mr. Brokart. Um this evening is uh very much procedural um in terms of walking through a number of things that are required by statute. Um and and some of those things have to be in a certain order. >> So we're going to be opening up different hearings, closing hearings. Um each of the hearings that's going to come will have a patron comment period. The patron comment uh is specific to that particular hearing only. And then we will have a general patron comment period once we get into our regular meeting. Um that happens um starting with point number five. Um so a little bit um uh a little bit bouncing around and like I said I think it's going to be
004very procedural. there's going to be a lot of uh votes and um much of that is required just because of uh how we have to walk through certain things with projects um appropriations uh the budget adoption etc. So, >> okay. Yep. So, the first item on the agenda is for the board to hold a project and additional appropriation hearing on the proposed bond project. After a presentation by the administration and its adviserss, there will be an opportunity for the public to make comments about the project. At this specific hearing, we will ask that each person limit their comments to three minutes and that the topic be limited to the proposed project under consideration. The notices for this hearing were published as legally required. And at this time, I'll ask Dr. Penrod to explain the purpose
005of this hearing. >> Good evening. Thank you. The uh purpose of the hearing tonight, the first hearing anyway, the project hearing, uh pursuant to Indiana code 28-26-7-37, before a school corporation may spend more than $1 million to build, repair, or alter a school building uh that will be financed by a lease or bonds, it must hold a public hearing at which the explanations of the potential value of the project to the school corporation and the community are given. Additionally, pursuant to Indiana code, uh before a school corporation can appropriate any dollars it receives, uh it directly receives as geo bond proceeds, it must conduct a hearing on these proceeds for the additional appropriation or the authority to spend those funds. Uh the resolutions presented at the meeting later tonight establish the maximum financial terms of
006for the proposed bond project. We will now hear from the superintendent about the process of determining and communicating the project to the community and the need for the project. >> Yeah, thank you. Um Dr. Wilfong, if you could navigate to our school corporation website, um that would be helpful because I'm going to reference that here in just a minute. Um typically we u have kind of a running list of capital improvements that we need to address over um o over the course of a year or two years etc. Um those are very generally reflected on a capital improvement plan uh that we'll talk about here a little bit later. Um but through our work session last Monday um the request was made um to show uh a little bit more um transparency and openness with
007some of the projects that were on that list. Um so as I recall um during the meeting um Mr. wire uh was able to get um the list of projects up and then um in the like the next day I believe uh then we also were able to get some of the costs um associated with those projects up as well. I had a conversation along with Mr. Bout yesterday with uh a patron um and I know that they specifically referenced a couple of those projects and the cost. So what we try and do with these projects um is keep them as general as possible so that we can address the needs of the school corporation uh with as much flexibility as possible um and um through that then accomplishing things that are on our list
008on our to-do list. Not sure um what's going on with our internet here, but uh we do have this list up on our website. It's in Is uh Mr. Wireball here? Is it under operations? Yeah, >> if you go to the if you go to the um to the uh departments section of our web page and then uh click on operations um and scroll down then we have that uh that and a number of other things actually listed there. So, we're working on getting that pulled up, but uh again, capital improvements uh that are necessary throughout the district. Um, a couple example examples of those would be HVAC needs, uh, a generator, um, at the middle school, um, uh, some some general stuff with facilities. It may be, uh, a roof, a parking lot, that
009kind of thing. Um, and and as we explained again, we try and leave that as flexible as possible. Some of that to be responsive to immediate needs. Some of that to um to be able to use different funding mechanisms to accomplish a task. Here we go. Thank you, Dr. Wilfong. Uh go to departments and then operations. Yes. And then scroll down there. right there. So, this is our uh our current uh quote unquote list of things that we um need to pay attention to at some point. And so, um these may fit into a previous project uh that's still existing. Uh it may fit into this new project. Um but again we write uh we put together these projects to give us the utmost flexibility um as we put together how we want to fund
010these things. Okay. We will now hear from Dr. Penrod as he presents information from Stiffl Nicholas & Company Incorporated, our underwriter about how the proposed part project will be financed as well as information about the effect on a typical property taxpayer. >> Thank you again. Uh so this our our underwriter as you mentioned is Steifle and they uh they've been here for quite a while. So they're very familiar with the debt process that Wy community schools uh uses or goes through. And so if you want to go to that first slide there, we have outstanding debt payments. This is the current payment for WC Community School Corporation. Uh this is the number of uh at the bottom there you see the color-coded uh list of the outstanding um bonds andor leases that are uh that
011we that WC still pays on. And those are colorcoded uh for each one. So you can kind of see how they're stacked there at each at each of those bars. uh keep that kind of shape in mind as we get further down because we'll we'll come back to this uh this shape with a different slide to show you how the existing uh debt looks compared to the uh proposed debt. So as we move on to the second uh slide, this is our current total tax rate. So you can see um see the uh the four years there um at 0.5399 which is the again the total tax rate. uh inside that tax rate is a an operations rate and a debt service rate. So we'll talk about the debt service rate here on the next
012slide. I believe with the um with the current total tax rate of I'm sorry the yeah the the current total tax rate 25 bonds uh it's at the uh 6.6 million there. So we have um the the layered on top the the light blue uh that is the proposed bond the proposed 2025 geo bond uh layered on top there to show uh the tax rate leveling back out once we see the uh once we see the couple years 26 27. Uh the reason I ask you to remember that uh that shape of that other bar chart is because now all of that is gray and dark blue as existing debt with a light blue layered on top. But but the uh all the colored the colored stuff from the first slide is actually just transposed
013onto here, but now is gray and blue. Uh the gray the gray represents the uh operations fund levy. I'm sorry, uh rate and the dark blue represents the uh I'm sorry, I got that backwards. No, operations fund. And then the blue is the existing debt service. Sorry. Um and then the the light blue again is the uh is the proposed bond. And then finally, we have the the numerical parameters. We've got the proposed amount at 6.6 million. So again, that's a maximum. Uh the estimated cost of issuance on underwriters discount at 175,000. The estimated proceeds available then will be the difference between the two at uh 6,425,000. The estimated interest rate uh uh Stifel is looking at this between two and 6% and uh again those are maximums. These are non non-t taxable or tax
014exempt bonds. And so that 6% is uh likely pretty high, but because um we're we're looking at maximums and asking you to adopt a maximum rate, uh they set that high um on intentionally. The maximum final term then is 15 years. The uh maximum rate impact is uh the way that the state has us figure that is 0739, but the net rate, the net total tax increase is zero. And so uh we've uh discussed that before. One of the one of the board or one of the goals of the board in the past has been uh zero zero rate impact. And so we can see that last line there at zero. And then as we move on uh I guess that's the final one, but the uh the the uh rate then is zero like
015I said. So we're looking at 0.5399. Uh I I do want to also point out that uh because of Senate rolled act one that rate will likely change some p sometime past 2026 but at least for 2026 the uh the rate will is looking like 0.5399. Again thank you. We will now open the project public hearing. As I mentioned earlier, we ask that you state your name, limit your comments to the proposed project and financing, and keep any comments to three minutes. Would anyone like to speak? >> Good afternoon or good evening. I would like to speak on this additional appropriations. I don't know who posted uh the list you were just showing, but there's no way anybody in this room found it. Anybody find that list? They put it under operations. All the other
016stuff is under finance. I'm the one that has been asking all these questions. If I couldn't find it on your website, there's no way anybody found it on your website. Um, so I ask that you deny passing this additional appropriation until there is a plan in place that we can actually see using the $6.6 million. I ask the board not to give this ad administration another blank check. It's clearly taxation without representation, especially when we cannot find the information on your website. >> Anyone else? Rob Chalk, Syracuse, Indiana here. Um, I just got one question. Um, I believe I've spoke with a couple of you on this matter. Um, as I understand it in Gateway and Indiana, uh, in.gov there, uh, state board of accounts. Is it a fair question to ask, we currently have
017bond money available, roughly 2.7 million. Is that correct? I don't know the exact amount. We have some >> I don't know the exact amount either, but I'm I know it's over $2 million. So, here we are requesting another 6.6 and we still >> write it for just whatever I wanted. Then we could use it for whatever we want. Again, we're back to legislature complaints and I still want to make that by the way. But I think that's why we try and write them broad is so that we can I don't know exactly what that one was written for exactly. There's a lot of memoriz but my my assumption Bren are you hearing me? My assumption is that that remaining money is written in such a way that we can't use it for those capital projects
018but I'm not sure of that. memoriz. >> Yes, sir. Mr. Penrod, I believe you're correct because the 2023A bond is pretty much wide open and that one's got one point I think four on it. So, I mean, you look at some of the expenditures up there that um we're looking to do. We we already have financing to do that. That's that's what I'm confused about. That's my worry. I just ask that you vote no to look into that before we get, you know, just keep continue to compile debt. So >> work session would have been a good time for this. It's a good question. >> We didn't have this information though. Remember that's what you were even referring to. >> No, this the bond the bond was on Gateway. It's a great question. >> Yes.
019Okay. the bond the bond that you're referring to that you want to pass now. >> No, no, no. You're saying the previous bond >> Yeah, I did bring that up. I said when I sat in my chair, I said we have additional bond money available and I then Andy, you and I even went in and talked about that a little bit more. >> Yeah, in the same conversation. I hear what you're saying. >> I got it. >> Okay. Thank you. Anyone else? At this time, I would entertain a motion to close the project hearing and open the additional appropriations hearing. Can I have a motion? >> A second. >> Have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Any opposed? Motion carries. We will now open the additional appropriations
020public hearing. As I mentioned earlier, we ask that you state your name, limit your comments to the proposed project and financing, and keep any comments to three minutes. Are there any patrons who wish to speak on the additional appropriations public hearing? Then at this time, I would entertain a motion to close the additional appropriations hearing and open the bus replacement plan hearing. Can I have a motion? >> I have I need a second. Second. I >> have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Motion carries. We will now open the bus replacement plan public hearing. Dr. Penrod, please brief us on the purpose of this hearing. >> The bus replacement plan is a five-year plan based on the u assumption that a bus lasts for 12 years. And
021so the this particular part of the uh of the hearing is just for public comment uh to discuss what was posted. Uh Mr. Wireball uh had took a great deal of time to uh to correct what was posted and offer explanation as well on the website. And so um the hearing tonight and then we'll uh assuming u assuming all goes well and there are questions and questions are answered, we'll ask you to approve the bus replacement plan um during the during the regular meeting. Okay. Thank you. Now is the time for patron comments regarding regarding the bus replacement plan. As I mentioned earlier, we ask that you state your name, limit your comments to the bus replacement plan, and keep any comments to three minutes. >> Lisa Carl Milford, thank you for putting up the
022bus replacement plan and its explanation, but the blame was placed on someone that would have worked here four or five years ago. That's a cap out. you had five years to figure out this bus inventory. Uh just spot-checking the state police inspection site shows inconsistencies in the um bus inventory. In addition, about 2 million plus dollars were raised uh by a geo bond in 2024. Um, did no one remember that you would have set set aside some money for new buses? Um, and might have used some of the geo fund money uh for that. And again with Rob, we notice a big um a big balance in those GEO funds. And I feel like it's also a copout to say we didn't have any money to to buy new buses. I feel buses are very
023important living all the way on the other side of the school district. Um I feel it's a bus safety issue to make sure all these buses are running properly. Thank you. >> Anyone else? At this time, I would entertain a motion to close the bus replacement plan hearing and open a capital projects plan hearing. Can I have a motion? Is there a second? >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. We will now open the capital projects plan public hearing. Dr. Penrod, please brief the board on the purpose of this hearing. >> Uh capital projects plan hearing is real similar to the bus replacement plan uh hearing. And so it's just part of the uh part of the budget process for
0242026 and every year. Uh it's a three-year plan. 2026, 27 and 28. Um, and it is uh it's been uh posted um corrected or it's been posted and then um if there are any questions or anything, hopefully those get answered and then we'll ask you to pass a resolution tonight at the regular meeting. Okay. >> Now is the time for patron comments regarding the capital projects plan. As I mentioned earlier, we ask that you state your name, limit your comments to the capital projects plan, and keep any comments to three minutes. Would anyone like to speak? Lisa Croll Milford, I was so excited when Andy really went to bat and asked for this plan to be published. When I just heard it was under operating with all your other documents being under the financial area
025of district leadership, it's really hard to find this plan. Um, I really was excited to see it. You know, I saw it that night at the meeting, but then could not find anything um that helped me figure out what a plan might be. The same documents were on the website. >> Thank you. >> The documents you showed at the work session? >> No, the ones I showed. Yeah, the the original ones from last month. >> That's the plan. Did you go up again? >> The the document that she showed is the same, but we added additional information um to try and help clarify what would be spent in those uh plans. >> I couldn't find that on the website. >> I know. But did you call and ask? >> No. >> Like you could have
026called. >> It's so messy. It's so freaking messy. Why should I call and do your job? So to post it, it wasn't posted. >> We weren't happy because things weren't getting posted. So then we posted, but it wasn't the right place. So I guess our question but for five years. >> Yeah. No, no. For five years, you have all these postings in the financial place. Who would ever think to go, "Oh, it's in the department which is on another side of the website and then find it under operating." I like I honestly honest to God, I would have never looked there. I I honestly have looked for these documents. It wholeheartedly and I don't think anyone would have saw what was shown because I would have definitely looked at it. Definitely. >> I think what
027we're getting at, Lisa, is I think maybe when you couldn't find it, you could easily I mean, you've been in contact with us for the last several months, correct? >> Yeah. >> You could have easily said, "Hey, I can't find this document." And we could have led you to where it was. >> I mean, it's I'm done. I've been here five months. I'm not going to keep coming. I People need to know this stuff. >> The only department to finances is operations. So, that's where I just stumbled off. didn't even tell me. I get I mean >> whatever. Thank you very much. >> Anyone else? >> Alex Wild, Syracuse. Can we actually bring it up again? I just want to see if um there's something on it. I don't want to say out loud what
028it is because I I think I need to have an email or something with you guys. Um I just want to see if it's there. Can you just scroll? Keep going. No. Thanks. >> Anyone else? Finally, I would I would entertain a motion to close the capital projects plan hearing and open a regular board meeting. Can I have a motion? Make a motion. >> Second. >> All in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you to all who part who who participated in hearings. We appreciate your time and interest in the projects and the future of our community. Please note that the board will continue to work with the administration as professionals to look for efficiencies to conserve tax dollars while meeting our educational needs. Now is the time that we
029set aside for regular patron comments. We allow each patron to have three minutes to address the board. President, we would ask that you stand in front of the board, state your name, and if you reside in the district, and then proceed with your comments. Comments will not include students, personnel, or otherwise frivolous statements. If multiple patrons are here to speak on the same topic, I would ask that you choose a representative to voice your message. Patron comments. Good evening. My name is Kurt Ersy. I'm live on the southeast side of Lake Wallace. Um, first of all, I want to thank you for the work session. It was very productive and and helped a lot. So, it was a lot of time that was peeled off amongst everybody, but it was a good step forward. So,
030I want to commend you on that. Uh the one question that I do have that I've asked several different board members and I've gotten conflicting answers and it's just a clarification which it should be a very easy question to answer. Um it's concerning the safety. Um who is actively in charge of safety? If there was a an issue today, who would be it? Donna, I had a meeting with you and and >> you you followed up with me. I did after the one meeting and you said it was a committee member >> and there is a committee an actual committee. >> Yeah. Dr. Carter can give you that. >> And then Neil and I we had a a meeting as well and it was a little bit different. So, but I'm looking for clarification. Is
031there an individual one person that would be in charge of the committee? Is there an individual one person that if there was an active situation who who is that? uh during our WY Alliance meeting, they provided us with a flowchart on different departments and everything like that. The only place that I can find that on that flowchart was listed under the communication section and it's a very small blurb at the end and it references a committee. >> But standing here with my kids in school and everyone around, can you easily say this person's in charge? This is a plan that I don't want to discuss the plan obviously, but there is a plan. Everyone knows what the chain of command is. There's a committee that goes along with it because my understanding is the previous
032person that's in charge of the safety is not doing it anymore. And so is there a legacy that >> I think there's an update. >> Yep. >> Superintendent's in charge of school safety, but So the the the flowchart it would be adjusted then it would be >> correct. >> Yeah. >> And then is it a committee on top of that as well or? >> Yeah. So we have a committee uh consists of the five building principles. We also uh this year added our SRO's um and any other department heads that would be um stakeholders in that group I guess like operations, transportation um those are the two that come to mind right now. >> Is there a reason >> I'm taking responsibility for school safety. Is there a reason for the change from the previous
033individual that has done it for years and had continual training from my understanding to stay up todate versus just you taking it on when you have your hands full on everybody? I from my understanding you are in a delegation role on majority of that based on the flow chart that was given. >> Um there are reasons I prefer to not get into them. If you want to have a conversation privately, I would welcome that. >> I mean, you guys are laughing, but but >> privacy. >> Okay, I I I understand that. I >> was someone that was in charge and they're not in that position anymore. >> So, without saying the name that we we don't refer to names, so that person is not doing it anymore. There are reasons why that person is not
034doing that. So, again, like he said, we don't want to call people's name out. >> Okay. I >> and I had a conversation with that person individually and it was determined that I'm the best person to do it. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Mariah Roberts. Um I am a parent of an eighth grader and a third grader. I'm a former employee. I own a business and live on 620 East in Syracuse. Earlier this summer, I called two schoolboard members that I know personally to request an exit interview. Well, I was glad they listened. Um I was disappointed when um I was not reproached for that. Um I worked really hard to offer grace because I know you all are very busy people. Um, but I also know that you chose to um run for
035this seat on the board. As a constituent, I expect you to do your due diligence in your job. Um, and most recently, I was really pleased when another board member um was willing to meet with me, and I hope that is still in the works. But I'm here tonight because I can't keep standing by quietly and silently while I continue to watch my children's school system falter. There's a lot going on and I've followed public education since I almost quit teaching in 2008. Um, but we have to stop using that as um a reason why we're not doing our what we need to do here. >> Excuse me. We're not doing what? >> Well, I'll let me continue. >> Okay. >> Was continues to lose hardworking, talented, and valuable employees. kindergarten teacher in the middle
036of the year is not very typical. A bus driver recently and others over the summer. I watched colleagues of mine leave before I did and more that I'm probably unaware of. As I encouraged two of you this summer, exit interviews are an easy way to get both sides of the story. We all know there's two sides to every story. Um, it's important to get both because any good salesman, politician, central office, contractor, employee, whoever can spin the narrative whatever way they want. So, to my knowledge, there's no formal exit interview between schoolboard members and staff. Until that happens, my concern is that you all will continue to struggle and I don't want to see that. We've all been watching this and it let's just figure it out and you guys are working toward that and
037I appreciate that. Um, I don't want to continue to see you struggle, but when community members and staff bring you a concern, sometimes you investigate by name dropping. It happened to me in 2015 when I mentioned something to a board member and then my evaluator showed up in my classroom the very next Monday. Um, until you stop divulging your source of information, people are going to be tight lipped. Until you figure out the root cause of the retaliation that happens in our school corporation, the intimidation and the fear tactics, we're going to keep losing good people and the people we have are going to be emotionally unavailable to attend to the needs of our kids. We all care about Wawasi. Gathering information is your job. Please find a way to do it better. Alex Wild,
038Syracuse. Um, so today I'm going to talk about what's going on on our buses. Um, there seems to be a very very serious issue with um discipline and how we treat students um that are creating issues on our buses. That's one issue. The driving factor of that is that our bus drivers do not have support from their chain of command. Also, not knowing who their chain of command is. I think it was last month, Neil, you wanted people to reach out to you directly, staff members, but I don't actually think that falls in the chain of command per their employment contract. If it does, I'm sure they would love to talk to you. Instead, they talk to me so I can talk to you so that no one figures out who they are so that
039they can't get fired because we cannot lose another one. I don't know the whole story of the driver that we just lost, but most certainly there were issues with students on the bus and no one was having his back when it came to dealing with that. This is not a one issue or a single issue. This is not one student. This is not one bus. It's all of our buses. They all have issues. The drivers cannot do their jobs if they are not allowed to communicate. And maybe you guys don't know this, but they can't tell you either. And if the transportation director isn't available for the drivers, how is he reporting back to you, Mr. Superintendent, who's his boss? So, we have radios on our buses that do not work or work intermittently. There
040are service connection issues on the south part of our district, which means as drivers are driving around the lakes, which right now doesn't seem like that big of a deal, but come wintertime we know it's important, they may or may not be able to reach anyone at transportation office. if someone is there, which right now given the lack of drivers, your transportation director has been driving a minibus to assist with the gap, right? Get kids to where they need to go. But that means no one's in the office to talk to the drivers. So, we have shoddy radios, we have shoddy service. Our drivers were instructed by the Indiana trainer that came up that they are not to touch their phones if the kids are on the bus. How are they supposed to communicate with
041you guys? Well, not you guys. Transportation back home if the radios don't work and if the service doesn't work. The minibuses are a whole another issue. But what was just brought to my attention is there's no video on these mini buses. We're transportating stu we're transporting students in these mini buses. We have no way to secure anything that happens. There have been plenty of incidences of allegations against bus drivers that resulted in them being fired because of something a student said, even with video showing that it was not true. So you lost a driver because of something a kid said when there's video that it wasn't accurate. So what's happening on buses where there's no video? I'm out of time, but I have so much more. I'm going to email all of you. This is
042a very serious issue. Um, if something happens to a kid on a bus, what what happens? Who gets in trouble, right? Is it the bus driver? Is it the district? Is it a lawsuit? Like, where does it end? Like, I'll be emailing you guys. Okay. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. Before I start, I do want to say thank you. Uh there's been some good progress being made. Um but uh I'd like to start by thanking the board members for their attendance and action to the concerns that have been raised over the last few months. I know I've personally been contacted by three of you. I've spoken with two of you by phone and one via text message. Thank you. I would also like to convey my apologies for the assumption that you have all
043had adequate information and adequate time to make informed decisions regarding several issues that have been brought to you uh brought up after sharing and speaking with you. Um that's not been a proper assumption for that. Please accept my apologies. I would also again thank the board for additional work sessions for the public to better understand the decisions and the process that go to making the decisions. I hope this will be continued. I'd like to start by addressing budget concerns. It's been typical for me to talk about something, but I'm going to convey a solution. Um, after reviewing information through the Department of Education Gateway, I've concluded that Wall used a tax ratebased system to construct a budget. I believe this will lead to some catastrophic issues with the new HP1 bill, SB1 bill. This also
044explains why the operation tax uh operations tax rate goes down and the debt service budget continues to rise. In 19, the operations budget tax rate was 2677. This dropped to 0.20. 2039 and 25. The debt fund tax rate in 19 was.2507 and 25 it was 3360. Uh I do have some information for board members if you'd like. I'd like to explain what this means. Allow me to compare 22 verse 25. The operations rate decreased the debt rate increased. So overall the tax rate stayed the same. This basically means to get the max levy in operation the tax r tax rate decreased due to increased AV property tax values. So in order to keep the overall tax rate the same, the debt must be increased. So we issue debt. My question to Dr. Troyer is why
045do we use this approach uh when we construct our budget? I would suggest we look at a set levy approach for budgeting. Um in my opinion, if a set levy approach was used, we could help the debt situation likely increase our operations fund, which in turn could possibly help our education fund because you can transfer between the operations education. So in short, eliminating date eliminating debt will secure a much better future for our school system. With that being explained, does this corporation have a long-term strategic facilities plan? I cannot find it. What is the expected impact on AV due to SB1? All the research I've seen is a projected decrease of AV. This will this will impact our tax rate in a huge way. This will cause our debt to go beyond the 040 mark,
046which by state law code 6-1.1-20-3.6 will automatically trigger a referendum. I'm not sure that will go over too well in our community currently. I would like to suggest a company called Policy Analytics LLC out of Indianapolis do a study for our corporation on long-term AV and the impacts it will have on our community. I've also heard the comment, "We must use the money or lose it to our municipality." Can anyone explain that and perhaps give me any figures or examples? I don't think so. There's no examples with figures. If I'm reading and comprehending things correctly, our tax cap would greatly affect what money if or or if any money could be absorbed taken by municipalities. Before I get into debt, I've already asked that question. The 6.5 or 6.6 bond, uh, we still have money
047out. I'd like to address our debt so we can understand the direction it's heading. I printed copies of the form 9 for all of the board members to review. Our total interest and fees on our debt for 24 was $3,731,612. Our debt cost for January 1st through June 30th, 2025 was 4,3328 or 4,332,87252. We more we made we we paid more interest in fees the first six months of 25 than we did all of 24. At this rate, the cost of our debt will total around 8.6 for 25. Now I would like to ask about our audit situation. The last supplemental audit appeared to have several issues regarding inaccurate financial data omitted grants, overstated leases and debts, unable to provide capital asset information. The corporation unable to provide documentation regarding payables and receivables. The corporation
048did not establish internal controls over depository reconciliations of investments, balances, and bonds among several other issues. In this report, it states the lack of internal control standard several times. The audit also talks about a conflict of interest disclosure that was never filed. May I ask what steps have been taken to address these problems and help eliminate further issues and I do have that available for you board members if you like. Form nine and also levy information. Back to what Andy's comment was about municipalities. >> Do you know sincerely did you know do you know the answer? I can't get to give me a clear answer to that question about can another >> um >> does the cap mean that they can't >> the our cap I'm going to go by memory here so our cap
049is we're currently at point Dr. Pinter may know this. We're at 773 currently on the uh cap side with a total possibility of one.73 I believe it is >> for the whole >> county. It's county I believe. Is that correct? >> Oh, there you go. She's got them. >> What does that mean? That >> so we're nowhere close. the municipal municipality is not taking the money because there's there's too much of a broad gap there and it you know >> what's that? >> Yeah. So they won't pick it up. >> No, they can't. They won't because >> they can't. >> Oh, then they >> we're not a cap loss. So they can't they're not taking >> Yeah. So they're not taking our money. >> I mean, but the the broader portion of that and I
050think I think uh Dr. Troyer, I don't know. May I ask sir, with all due respect, is there a reason you use the uh the 5399 approach versus a levy approach? Is it the only thing that you've ever done or? >> So that's >> I'm sorry. >> We we we drove we inherited that philosophy and that's not a great answer, but that's we thought it was responsible yet I'm still fearful of if we can't dump all that money into operations because of the 4% cap on operations. I still challenge that human nature will let us watch the track taxes drop and then when we need it he'll go cool back up. I challenge that. >> So let's let's take let's take your point just to I'm way over time. I apologize and thank you for
051listening. Let's take that a little further then. Um Mr. K because we're at 336 on the debt side. >> I think it's 336. >> Yeah. 3660. So with this new uh approval you just made next year when AVs go down it's going to be a referendum because he just pointed out it's going to be 007 cents. >> Yeah. Correct. >> Correct. >> It's going to definitely increase. Correct. I mean there's only Yeah. I mean, so that's going to automatically trigger a referendum >> and it'll fail. It'll prove my point that we're the referend Listen, if if it's going to fail. What I'm saying is I I don't understand the mech. Let's just say we do what you say, right? And then that or rate drops. We're going to have to go to a referendum to
052ask that to come back regardless. I'm simply saying we're making assumptions that that is all going to happen. It probably will, but I'm also talking historically. The only reason why I do believe there's an element of use it or lose it because I don't believe you get to recapture that in the future. Now, I don't like how they dictate how you can spend it. It'll give you some freedom to put in different silos, if you will. But that was what we talked about at the work session. Said we might not always agree, but that was the reasoning that happened. I can I can respect that, but I'm just my concern is when we when that debt does tap out and that AV does go down, we're not you're not going to be able to just
053keep adding go bonds >> geo bonds. I mean, so what are we going to look to do after that? Dr. Troyer, do you have any idea what we're what possibilities could be after that? Let's say we got another project. Let's say we have to I mean, let's say something happens at Wall C. We need another addition. What What are we going to do? That's going to go straight to referendum. Correct. >> That's correct. I mean, is there a way we can all figure this figure a solution to this problem out so that doesn't happen instead of adding more debt to get that 3 36 number? I mean, we're going to be pushing that point4 number within the next two years. Here's the thing, and you guys, I don't want to speak for you, but I
054get inundated with do this project, do that project, this facility needs upgraded, we need this, we have to have this, we need to be competitive, uh, we need a fieldhouse, we need a functioning pool, we need blah blah blah, on and on and on. The only way for that to happen is for us to issue geo bonds or lease rental bonds to address those things. So we can't have it both ways, guys. You can't you can't inundate us with requests for projects and things to happen and also at the same time inundate us with requests to lower the debt. Like the reason that we took on this $77 million was because a group of 50 plus people got together as a community engagement committee and identified probably 25 plus things that everyone in the room
055had their their pet project so to speak. Everyone in the room had their priority about something that had to be done. And the four that were identified at that time, three years ago, were the Milford Elementary School, Milford school at that time, the pool, the fieldhouse, and the performing arts center. And then there were a whole list of other things that were down below that. some of which many of which we've accomplished through projects, through geo bonds, through lease rentals, etc. The only way we can do this stuff is through the issuance of debt because we can't do any of those projects that were on that list through our operations fund. and and so we're trying I'm trying as an administrator and I feel like they're trying as a board to address the concerns and
056the needs that the community identifies as important. I bet you just this week you've probably gotten a handful of things that this is a priority. You got to address this. You got to fix that. The tennis courts, we have to fix the tennis courts and that has to be done immediately right now. Okay, it it's going to cost probably a million and a half dollars to fix the tennis courts and and yet at the same time that people are yelling at us to fix the tennis courts, then we have other people yelling at us to not issue any more debt. How do you expect us to fix the tennis courts if we don't have capacity there to do that? And to to whoever's point it was that said you have $2.3 million that hasn't been
057spent, there's more than $2.3 million that's on that list. And we have to find some way of knocking those projects out. And and another, by the way, the tennis courts aren't on that list. The pool wasn't on that list. the gener the well that's out at the middle school that we're spending how much weight on a lot. The well that's out at the middle school that disconnects the fire suppression system from the existing pool that was designed that way in 1990 when the building opened is not on that list. But that was discovered through the course of our pool project which then added an additional, you know, four, five, $600,000. Like that stuff has to be done somehow. And by issuing debt the way we do, particularly with geo bonds, that gives us the flexibility
058to address some of those needs as they come up that we may not know exist today. I can assure you I did not know and Wade if I'm wrong then tell me but I don't think Wade knew and I don't think our maintenance people knew that the pool was connected to the fire suppression system. Who would do that? You know when we have to that meant that when we have to drain the pool then there's no sprinklers in the building. Like that's something that we have to address. And Wade came into my office the other day and he said, "Hey, I got to know what's going to be a priority. Is it going to be getting the pool done before the November 25th deadline, of which we have a swim meet, or is it going
059to be getting the well done to get fire suppression back in the in the middle school?" Because since that project started, we've been paying two people to walk around the building and look for fires because that's what the state fire marshall required us to do. That was not a known issue when we started working on that project. Like I it's easy to come up here and scrutinize every last thing, but also you have to give us the flexibility or maybe you don't to say you are taking care of things in such a way that the district is operating at a pretty decent spot, that the district is performing better than it has in a while. that our enrollment for the first time in a long time wasn't down 10%. Like there are good things happening
060and we're talking about all this stuff. We spent I don't know remember how much money Wade How much money did we spend on the radio system two years ago to try and get radio coverage to every square inch of our district? A lot. So, it surprises me when I hear because I've not heard that. Wait, have you heard that? That we don't have radio coverage in all the spots on our district because we spent money to upgrade our towers so that we would in fact have that. Nobody said that to me. >> Can that be back to my point then? >> Chain of command. Just would like to point out that people were reprimanded when they spoke to people outside of chain of command. So that might be why you haven't heard it. >> Yeah.
061>> Any other comments? As I'm sitting here, I remember that I emailed all of you a very lengthy letter and only one of you responded and told me, "Hey, can we meet sometime?" And I said, "Well, yeah, I could meet next week." And then we didn't meet. And then Dr. Troyer thought I needed to be to talk about geobonds. But I did reach out to you and no one reached out back to me. But Dr. Troyer, it's been really interesting to hear what you just said. It would be great if you could write something and tell us what you're using this money for. Tell us that it it it did that like you had a tower. I I think that's part of the problem. I carry more debt personally than most of you. We farm.
062I I'm in debt to my ears. I understand debt. It's not bad as long as we communicate our purpose. what you just told us if you I I and I don't know how. And Dr. Troy, you know, I've been talking communication since the day you were hired. I I don't know how to do it, but that's been my issue. Thank you, >> Mike Barger, Syracuse. Dr. Troyer, this is the only thing I'm going to ask. and and you guys I think you do a fantastic job. The question would be is how do we get more proactive than reactive? That's all I want to know. >> Jeff Ber, Syracuse, Indiana. Uh just with some of the things that we've heard and that doesn't include this whole board because you guys weren't here, most of you except
063for our chair. There was incident several years ago that I emailed all of the board stating my concerns about an employee of Wisey High School. I had two three high school kids who were in college took time from their final exams to email the entire board and got no response from you all. I asked you specifically, sir. >> I talked to you. I I spoke to you for about 40 minutes on my way. >> But your comment was, "We don't respond to emails." And I said, "You didn't have to give me an answer." >> I talked to you personally on the telephone. You did? >> Yes. >> After I called you. >> That's my point. I got nothing in return from the board. I raised an issue. I asked for some clarification and things and
064you told me we don't respond as a board. All I told you then was if that's your policy, okay. But all you would have had to say is, "Thank you for your email. We will take that under consideration." But I got radio silence. And so when you see a group of people like this in this room and you wonder where the communication is, one of you already said something to somebody else, why aren't you telling us this stuff? Because some of us have in the past and it falls on deaf ears. >> So >> I would say some of those things >> be improved. Some of those things also were personnel issues at that time and we do not publicly discuss personnel issues. >> But you could have acknowledged you had three alumni of your
065high school that you could have said thank you for letting us know of your concern apologize and we'll take that under consideration but instead it came off like we don't care. >> Well that was not that was >> well that's how it was received. I I apologize for that. >> I got a minute left. I just want to ask because I hadn't heard this and that was kind of interesting to me. So, Dr. Troyer, you are in charge if an active shooter in our school. >> Your running point on that? >> I'm leading the safety committee that that works on our school safety plans. >> I guess what I heard him say, and this is my question. If I I don't have kids in school now, but I got a lot of kids in school
066because I'm connected to them. If that happens, God forbid. Who's the one that's directing all the teachers in the hallway? Who's running the point? In all due respect, I don't think it should be you. You have enough on your plate. We need you to communicate to all of us and say, "Hey, we got this under control. It's being taken care of. I don't need you out there trying to direct." And then who's talking to all of us is my question. >> I don't you don't have to have the answer. I'm just asking. >> Stop there. There are protocols in place for active shooters and stuff like that. That is stuff that we don't get into. >> The public doesn't need to know that. >> I understand that. >> So, >> but he said he was
067running point. That's why that's where it's like, wait a second. >> The bottom line is us as a community, we need to stop with this whole gotcha moment like coming up and trying to trick us up, trick Dr. Troy up. We need to start working as a community. And that's is that's why we started these work sessions. That is why we started reaching out to everyone. >> I'm not trying to get a gotcha moment. I'm asking everyone's trying to do is get this, Dr. Troy. talking to you. I'm telling you as a board, I don't think it's appropriate that he should be the point guy. >> He's the in the moment. >> No, he is not the community. >> You are right. He is not the guy that goes in there with AR-15 and goes,
068>> but that's not We have procedures that >> Okay, >> it is all getting taken care of. We have procedures to where law enforcement is involved. We have procedures to where fire is involved. EMS, there is a whole team together. He is the point man for the committee, right? Because he's the top of the guy. So, he is the point man for the committee. So there is a committee a safety committee and there are appropriate law enforcement fire it is taken care of. >> And one last little thing that you um made a comment. I understand some of you thought maybe Lisa is it should have called. I get it. But again I have similar experiences. It would not have been hard. I mean I assume this is a big deal. everything we've been talking
069about over the last three or four months with the building and all we had to do is put on our website at the very top a button says here's all the information that was talked about the last board meeting on the homepage it's a simple fix you would had to go try to find it just a thought >> you remember that meeting we had with Alex >> it was >> that was me responding to your long email >> I didn't respond I responded with an email. I called you when you were in Cleveland Clinic. You said you had to call back. We had a two and a half hour meeting just with us. >> Yes. >> I feel like that's a pretty a pretty pretty overt response. >> It was a great meeting. Great. Thank
070you very much. But it had nothing to do with that email. >> Okay, >> I'll resend it. >> Thank you. Anyone else? Okay. >> Can I say something? >> Yes, you absolutely can. >> Most people know this process, but um excuse me. So probably in the last I would say several months uh we've had a lot of faculty uh constituents people in the public. They have reached out and we have responded. We've I mean I I believe all of us have have really opened up our schedules to meet with anyone, talk with anyone. Uh I had a meeting yesterday morning. I had a meeting yesterday afternoon. I mean I'm we're open. the the emails are open and we always discuss it. Um I don't know anything about retaliation so I'm not going to get into
071that. I'm not going to go down that path. Okay. I just want to make sure that's clear. Excuse me for let let me finish ma'am and I'll let you he can speak. My my point of all this is that if if there is some uh some information you would like to share by all means you all have our emails and and I respond. I mean Lisa you and I were texting today. So, I I just want to make sure it's clear that I I don't want it to ever feel like that it's uh it's it's you against us. That that should not even be even a uh even a fact. It shouldn't even be a factor. It should be you and I against the problem. And I'm not saying we're perfect by all means. You
072know, we're doing everything we can. But, you know, to Mike's point, I don't want to get into the gotcha moments. I was like, just help me out. I mean, Mr. Chalk, you've been with us for the last probably two, three meetings and you've been very strong and adamant about your points. Valid, you know, we love it. I mean, because we want to make sure that we're doing the right thing by our due diligence, but also doing the best thing for our school system because again, I say this over and over. I have a personal horse in the race. I've had two. I still got one. And the other I know three of the board members here also have them the same thing. So, we want the best for our schools. I'm not trying to give
073you a Tony Robbins motivational speech, but I know that's where my heart is. I mean, I do I do care about our school system, our faculty, and our our teachers. I met with so many different people. And you know what? If you email me, I will respond. Most times, we just want to make sure that we're all in unison of how we respond because what happens is it's a gotcha moment. Well, Steve Bout said this, well, Neil Lyens said this, and then it just becomes we're not in unison. We want to make sure that we're working together. So my request my request to our public is like listen if if if there's an issue or whatever bring it to our attention. You know I'm not saying we're going to agree with it. I thought Mr.
074K did a great job in the work session. I said I said this to him right afterwards because what he did he's like listen we'll just let you know where we landed on it. Doesn't mean we're going to agree all the time 100% but we want you to know that you know what I don't agree with what they did but I can understand where they got uh got that. And that's what we want to get to. You know, I want to make sure that our community is very strong. Lawy is very special and you guys all know this, but in order for us to continue that, we do have to be transparent. I hate that word because it's so abused over and over, but we want to make we want to make sure that we
075confirm that we are very open and we are. I don't believe anybody on this on this board or our faculty again, we all have our personal stories. We all have our issues. Every person in here is running through their own storm in their own life. What I'm asking of you personally, just as a favor, is if there is an issue, man, you've got my email. It's on the website, and you should be able to find it. I have no problem. My schedule's very busy, but I have no problem meeting. We did the two-hour meeting yesterday morning. I thought that was super productive with it. Uh, and they had some legitimate issues. And I believe after we left, we kind of came in agreement like, wow, this is we didn't realize this, right? So, let's just
076that's all I want to say before we start getting into the uh core of this meeting. There's a lot of people in this I look around that I respect, people I know here in the community and I know that you guys mean that's where your heart's at. You want the best for our school system. So, what I'm asking of you just please work with us because I I I know speaking for Neil, uh Don, Mike, Andy, Dr. Wellong, Dr. Detroit, we will. We will because by God, that's that's our job. That's what we were voting in for. And if and if it's not good, vote us out. I'm good with that also. But until that, I'm going to do everything I possibly can to make sure that our school systems ran the best possible way.
077It's not perfect, but it's there. That's my request. >> Thank you. >> Appreciate that, Mr. B. I think that's well said. Um, I I also want to reiterate what Mr. K said and I think Mr. K and I started off on kind of a kind of a head, but I do respect what he says. You may not like my decision, but at least you know how I got there. And I do respect that. I don't have to like your decision, but I do respect the willingness and the openness to want to confer with us. It seems like that's becoming more and more apparent. So, as me, I appreciate that. Um, so I appreciate your statement. >> One last thing, >> and I do. We have had good talks. It's been good. >> You've given some
078good feedback. There's going to be decisions made today that you're going to be upset about. I still want us to keep going down. I want to keep getting better educated on this stuff. And some of the folks we've talked about getting involved, I'm in. But we are up against the hard clock on some of these dates and I'm frankly more fearful of inaction than I I'm comfortable with how I got here and I can look in the mirror. It doesn't mean I want you to know we've been this has been enlightening. It's been really hard, super stressful, but I am listening. I'll admit I four emails from four different places. I missed some emails. I'm doing a I finally got my IT guy from one of my companies to make sure every single email goes
079to one centralized email. It's a busy email address, but I'm not missing stuff now. So, I'm trying to do better at those things. So, some of that stuff came to light. I think it can be good. Um I just want you to know I I'm listening. I'm hearing you. I know we all are. Um yeah, that's that's it. So, we can move it on. Thanks, >> Rob. Sure. Go ahead. >> Mr. Boyer, I can't see if he's here or not. And Mr. Hersy, >> if something happened like an active shooter, >> Trigger may be the one who is in charge of the school, but and it goes for the church as well. If you can hear me, Jeffree, >> you you are in charge. You're the pastor of that church. But when law enforcement comes
080in there, there is no more Mr. Troyer's in charge or Mr. Boyer in charge. It's law enforcement. So >> yeah, it it's I there's things in place that the county does that the city, Syracuse, North Webster, there's things that some people don't know about that myself and Mike do. Um that it is not to worry that if he's the head man, it's >> I both your guys' answers. I was fine with that. I just want to make sure he wasn't. >> Yeah. No. Yeah. and he may do that until someone of one of us get there or defers law enforcement, but there is a command and it's not going to and he'll be a side of of that command, but it's >> it'll be taken over by law enforcement. >> Okay. I guess I would
081just add too, I don't really want to steal Mr. B's thunder, but um for me personally, this has been a very difficult three months. Um I I I definitely I'll be the first guy to admit I'm not the financial guy on the board. I I am not. U the strength that I bring I believe is an educational background. Uh I believe I've been u very impactful on many of the successes that we're seeing with reading scores and so forth. But with that being said, I can speak for everybody up here and I think for all of us in the room that what we want is the best for our kids, the best for our community, uh best for our schools, and that really is our intent. Um, so I I guess I I would ask
082for some grace um to know that we're not trying to run some shady outfit or something like that. If we've made mistakes, um, Mr. Boy, if I didn't get back with you, I apologize for that. That was a very difficult time. I hope you understand that as a board member. That was a very difficult time. Um, but trying to do the best that we can and it's it's it's tough being up here and taking this. It is. But I think some good has come out of it. I think we want to work towards um making some changes. I've become um I think advancing my knowledge of some financial things um that I've needed to do. um went down to the schoolboard association and um they're actually running some courses uh for board members because there's
083obviously been identified as a need for board members to better understand the budget process. Uh I ask um Dr. Troyer, Mr. Penrod or Dr. Penrod. I don't know if anybody really knows that if I started to take school finance right now to become a CFO, it would take me two years to complete that. It is that complicated of a thing. It is not like home finance at all. So, u I'm not apologizing for that part. I think we're doing the best we can. the debt thing. I I was gonna when you're speaking to that, uh when we started looking at Melford School, um amazingly it was that that school obviously there's no doubt that school needed to have something done to it. Uh when they started taking a look at it, they literally found bricklined
084sewer lines beneath the building. The estimate to renovate was $37 million to build new $35 million. So, and I guess again that the point that you make is we need to be more for more forthcoming on that information. And I think moving forward, obviously we're going to we started with the um work session. Um we're going to continue those and hopefully they don't last three and a half hours, but um I I think we'll get them more streamlined and hopefully continue to get more information out to you. So, uh with that being said, I'm going to turn it over to Dr. Troyer for some good news. All right, few things here. Uh Milford North Webster and Syracuse Elementaryaries um all held their annual walk-athons recently. Combined, over $70,000 was raised through the PTO's. Funds raised
085will be used to support students through field trips, special experiences, and individual needs along with helping staff and building requests. A huge thank you to our PTOs for the fun, their time and efforts, and for making our buildings a great place for our students and staff. Thank you to our communities, businesses, and parents for making these walk along walk-athons a huge success. The families, students, and staff of Northwesterbster Elementary a few uh enjoyed a few fall events. Uh Camp Crosley hosted a free event for the North Webster Elementary School students, families, and staff on September 14th. Families were able to participate in various events including the climbing wall, jumping pillows, uh swimming, a water slide, tubing, and archery. Uh Camp Crosley provided their campus um staff and food for free. On October 2nd, Northwesterbster Elementary
086hosted a fall family night for students and families. Families enjoyed spending time together, playing on the playground, explore exploring the beautiful campus, making s'mores over a campfire, and enjoying a free meal. Each child that attended also received a free book. WC Marching Warrior Pride brought home two championships recently, winning Scholastic A at the Penn Carnival of Bands Competition and Scholastic B at the Homestead Invitational. Over the weekend, the band qualified for a fifth straight state finals appearance. Congratulations to director Tony Pollicki and his staff along with the marching warrior pride. WC Community School Corporation achieved the 20 24 2025 Riley Corporation status and was recognized along with 63 other school corporations for its generosity and helping Riley patients each year. WC has cumulatively raised at least $1 per student enrolled in our corporation. The children
087and families receiving care through Riley Children's Health appreciate the philanthropic uh generosity of our staff and students. Remax of Syracuse donated donated personal hygiene products to the nurses at Syracuse Elementary and Northwesterbster Elementary for our students. Big thank you for those muchneeded items. Logan Neil, WASY Community Schools facilities manager, completed his certification as an asbestous building inspector and asbestous management planner. Logan took part in the training and coursework and passed his exams for each course through training services international. And finally, donations were received from the following people and organizations and businesses. North Webster Elementary received $400 combined from Troy and Rhonda Oley and the North Webster Church of the Brethren Women's Fellowship to help with student needs. They also received $100 from the American Legion Auxiliary Wise unit 223 to be used in the preK
088classroom. Syracuse Running Club received a total of $1,100 from the Syracuse Elementary PTO, Women of Today, and Kowanas Club of Wawasi. WC Middle School received donations from the North Webster Church of God and Brethren's men brethren men's fellowship for $100 to help with student needs and $400 from Medronics employee Rodney Wolf designation to be used for FCA and boys soccer. Wy High School student council received a total of $5,025. Thank you to Ryan and Amy Tweights, Michigan United, Manave Brewing, The Papers, Northern Lakes Realy, Syracuse Buds Body Shop, WC Bull, Lakeside Coffee, Northern Lakes Insurance, Justin Smith, Tet Meer, Ace Hardware of Syracuse, and Wy Community Bible Church for your generosity and supporting our students. Jill and Melvin Shields made a $400 donation to the Marine Mechanics program at WC High School. Northern Lakes Insurance
089donated $250 to WCI cross country. Uh thank you to Channeler for their $500 WY athletic scholarship. Syracuse Wy Rotary donated $500 to the Wy boys wrestling program. Wy High School Show Choir received $950 in donations from Brandy Swope, Adam Rich Creek Excavating, Shorts Pest Control, Todd and Candy Wells, Jacqueline and David Gibbs, and Mata Ma Mada Enterprise. Thank you the K21 Health Foundation for donating $500 to the Wii High School band. >> Thank you, Dr. Troyer. Any questions? I need a motion to approve the good news items. >> Motion. >> Is there a second? >> I second it. >> Uh, we have a motion, a second. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Opposed. >> Motion carries. >> Dr. Troyer, do you have a report tonight or we're running long? It's up to
090you. All right. Then we will move on to group action items. We all received these in our board packet on Friday and have had an opportunity to review. Are there any questions about the group action items? Then I need a motion to approve the group action items. >> Is there a second? >> I have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I opposed. Motion carries brings us to additional action items. First up under additional action items presented by Dr. Penrod is item 10A, the financial report. Dr. Penrod. >> Thank you. So we have our financial slide here the uh end of September on the tops the top part the appropriation uh which again is the authority to spend. So our net appropriation is 22 million in education fund uh
091spent 1.774 million in this month in education fund bringing our year-to date at 168985920. The unexpended balance just under 5.5 million the outstanding incumbrance that's 662,000 and the unencumbered balance at 4.831 million. So 79.04% encumbered. Uh no activity in the debt service fund. We'll see debt service again in December. Uh operations fund with 945,000 uh month-to- date expended bringing our year-to- date at 6,857478. Our unexpended balance at just over 4.4 million with 351,000 encumbered right now. And then our outst our unencumbered balance then at 4,54,7683 and that is 64%. should uh point out the debt service fund it remains at 53.38%. And no activity in rainy day. On the cash on hand or the fund balances, our beginning of the month balance uh in the education fund at 3,22769315. Our month-to- date revenue mostly from
092tuition support at a million 804543.88 and our month-to- date expenses about $30,000 less at 1,774-23753. Uh beginning of the year balance at 3,63789440. Year-to- date revenue uh 16,4296430. Our year-to- date expenses at 1680985920. And our current balance then at uh 3,25799.50. Uh no activity in the debt service. So that the balance remains at 2,673 98773. operations fund at a beginning of the month balance at 4,746,88786.80 revenue at 20,88333. uh month-to- date expenses at 945,38273 and our beginning of the year balance obviously unchanged our month-to- date I'm sorry year-to- date revenue at 5 million 53,89125 and the year-to- date expenses at 6,857 40478 leaving 3,8223740 in that fund. Uh that fund will continue to uh decrease in cash balance until we get to December when we get our property tax settlement and no activity in rainy
093day. So that is uh 2,ion46323191. Be happy to answer any questions. >> Yep. Any questions? >> Okay. Then I need a motion to approve item 10A, the financial report. >> I'll make a motion. >> We have a second. >> Second. >> Have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Motion carries. Item 10B is to consider adopting the 2026 budget resolution. Dr. Penron, >> thank you. The 2026 budget resolution uh also says form four at the top. That's a gateway form four. Uh it's a standard for every school in the state. And you'll notice the information at the top uh talks about what school it is and that kind of thing. Uh we went over these in the work session, so I'll kind of skim them pretty quickly, but
094this uh this resolution uh asks you to adopt the levy, rate, and budget for all the tax funds, meaning the four funds we just covered. And then ask you to sign at the bottom. The one thing I would point out, just a matter of logistics, um it'll ask you to sign by your name, but there's a column in the middle there that asks you your vote, yay, nay, or abstain. Uh please make sure you check your vote because uh without it, uh the DGF won't won't count it as any vote even if you sign it. So, please make sure you check your vote. >> Any questions? Then we need a motion, a second to approve item 10B, the 2026 budget resolution. >> I have a motion. Is there a second? >> I second. >> We
095have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I opposed. That motion carries. Item 10 C is consider adopting the 2026 to 2028 capital projects plan resolution. Dr. Penrod. So the excuse me, this one again is a review from the work session, but this one uh notes the hearing date and time and then asks you to approve the three years uh three years uh three-year plan. Uh it'll ask you to sign yay or nay and the secretary to sign twice at the at test at testation at the bottom. Okay, any questions? Then we need a motion and a second to approve item 10 C, the 2026 through 2028 capital projects plan. >> So move. Is there a second? >> I second. >> We have a motion and a second. All
096in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. Item 10D is consider adopting the 2026 through 2030 bus replacement plan resolution. Dr. Penrod. >> This one looks similar in form to the capital projects resolution that we reviewed at the work session as well. Uh again ask states the uh date and time of the hearing and then states the date of the adoption and then asks you to sign at the bottom with the secretary signing twice. Any questions? We need a motion to approve item 10D, the 2026 through 2030 bus replacement plan resolution. >> I make a motion. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I >> I opposed. Motion carries. Item 10E is consider adopting appropriations transfer resolution. Dr.
097Penrock. This one uh also is part of the budget process and again reviewed from the work session. Uh this one just allows for the uh school to make transfers within a fund. And so from a if a line happens to be overspent, another line is not over spent. Uh it would move money it would move money from that uh underspent line to the overspent line to balance everything out. Not changing the uh bottom line with the fund. So if the fund had spent uh you know 95% of the money, it would still have spent 95% of the money. changes in fund transfer >> questions. Then again, we need a motion and a second to approve the appropriations transfer resolution. >> So move. >> I have a motion. Is there a second? >> I have a
098motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I opposed. Motion carries. Item 10F is adopting education to operations fund transfer resolution. Dr. Penrod. >> This one is also part of the budget process. allows the education fund revenue to be transferred into the operations fund. Uh no more than 15% but the uh what what WAC's done this year is 250,000 which is the uh plan for 2026 as well. >> Okay questions? >> Yeah. Can we kick this to the next work session? >> That one you can. And it just has to be P. It just has to be if you're going to pass anything, it has to be done by the December board meeting. >> Well, I'd like to kick it. Um, let's just talk about it at the next board meeting.
099>> I mean, >> work session. >> Just do we have a deadline on this? >> Uh, December. >> December, right? Okay. >> So, we still have November. We can >> we have to come to resolution. We have to come to a resolution on at our work session preferably, but I'd like to take it to discuss it there. >> Yeah, that's fine. >> Okay. >> Have to vote on that? >> I just want I don't we we just table it or do we need to vote to table it? >> I don't think so. >> Yeah. Okay. >> You're not taking action on that, >> right? We're not. Yeah. >> Talk about it on November 3rd at the work session, >> right? Yep. Okay. So, we will defer action to the work session and then the November
100meeting. Um, where am I at here? That was 10 FG 10G consider adopting appropriation reduction resolution. Dr. Penrod, >> this one's also part of the 2026 budget process. And so the uh uh this resolution allows uh like we discussed for the adjustment of of appropriation uh what's remaining appropriation in 2025 allows it to be adjusted down basically to roll over into 26 to fund the 26 budget if necessary. And so, uh, this one, the DGF looks for this to allow the school to, uh, to respond during the 1782 period, which is that 10-day period where the school has, uh, an opportunity to, um, to make changes to the DGF's approved budget or request changes to the DGF approved budget. >> Okay, questions? Then we need a motion to approve item 10G um adopting the appropriation
101reduction resolution. >> So move. >> Is there a second? >> I second it. >> Okay, we have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I oppose. Motion carries. This brings us to item 10H. Consider adopting the project resolution. Dr. Penrock, could you please summarize the project resolution? Uh this resolution as we discussed in the work session establishes the maximum cost of the project, the tax impact and the timing of the impact. Okay, any questions? At this time, I would entertain a motion and a second to adopt a project resolution. >> Is there a second? >> Have a motion, a second. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I opposed. Motion carries. 10 I is consider adopting the additional appropriation resolution. Um Dr. Penroy, could you summarize the additional
102appropriation resolution? The additional appropriation uh after the additional appropriation hearing, uh the board is asked to approve the appropriation of the bond proceeds to be spent on the project costs before any bond money can be expended. Unlike appropriations of tax dollars, this additional appropriation of bond proceeds is not required to be approved by the DGF simply by the school board. >> Okay. Any questions? >> We're on J. >> Uh, >> we are on I >> I. >> No questions. And at this time, I'd entertain a motion and a second to adopt the additional appropriation resolution. >> So move. >> Is there a second? >> Yep. Okay. Have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. This brings us to 10J. Consider the final bond resolution. Dr.
103Penroy, could you please summarize the final bond resolution? >> This resolution establishes the amount to be borrowed, the maximum term of the repayment, and the maximum interest rate. It also contains the details about the bond such as the form of the bond. The resolution also approves the forms of the 14th supplement of the master continuing disclosure undertaking in the registar and paying agent agreement. This uh securities and exchange commission requires that a school corporation enter into a master continuing disclosure undertaking before it issues bonds. The school corporation has entered this enter into this type of agreement previously. It require it basically requires that the school corporation agree to provide annually certain types of financial information to the SEC's IMA database and provide notice of certain material events on a timely basis. >> Questions? I want
104to read it. It says is that after this it's 133 tax on the first page two >> I don't have that in front of me what's the um >> whereas the boards corporate corporation debt service fun that's after theal Is that included in this or >> uh that'd be before it >> read it? >> Yeah. Okay. What you at? board finds the school corporation's debt service fund tax rate. Is it the fourth paragraph you said on the first page? >> Yeah, just one sentence paragraph. >> That's that's right now the date here of 3360. >> Any other questions? Then at this time I would entertain a motion and a second to adopt the final bond resolution for the GL bonds. Is there a motion? Got a motion. Is there a second? >> Got a motion
105and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. This brings us to item 10K. Uh Whitley County Consolidated Schools withdrawal from the CTE cooperative. Dr. Troyer. Yeah, I spoke about this last uh week and Whitley County Consolidated Schools has requested to withdraw from our CTE co-op. They are um forming their own co-op and then um because of um some county uh conversations their direction. Um there's some pressure to be aligned with other schools in their county. Um, and so they have requested to withdraw from our co-op. >> I don't know. >> I mean, >> they probably just need formal authorization that we're releasing them from our co-op to go join their co-op. SCTTE becomes more. Are we going to probably see more of that if schools forming their own?
106>> Um, >> or maybe not necessarily. >> I I will tell you this. I don't think the state likes to have these individual school co-ops. Um, and so there's a process that they want people to go through. Um, and so they do have additional partners. I really can't speak for their situation either, so I don't want this to be about them, but >> Right. Right. No. >> Yeah. >> That they're ready to do it and they just have to have formal authorization from us to release them. >> Right. Yep. >> Any other questions? >> Just to add to the people who did come to the work session, it was brought up about the fire 102 class um EMT class that would not be offered anymore because Whitley County was the one that offered that. Um
107there is talk already. Uh I spoke with the new fire chief of Syracuse um in regarding that question that was brought up and so there is plans in place that he's been working on for a while. So it may not happen right away but there is been talk about it. >> Mr. Lyens, we do have a meeting scheduled already. I need go back and look at that. Uh uh Tuesday, October 28th at 12:00 p.m. Um Quinn Hunter, Chief Lyens, myself, and you. >> Okay, there. >> I'm not sure that you were the school as we want it to happen faster, but uh I don't think you know there's things in place we have to get taken care of, but there it is in the process. I just wanted to clarify that. >> Sure. Yeah. Great.
108Thank you. So, we need a motion to approve item 10K. So, move. >> Is there a second? >> There's a motion, a second. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. Item 10L is considered the Jones Petri Rafinsky proposal for soil soil boring at the high school and the middle school tracks and the what was high school wait room. Dr. Troyer. Yeah, I've referred to this a number of times over the last month probably as the soil boring conversation. I think I even said yesterday in our meeting with Mr. out and um to parents that it's kind of a silly thing to spend so much time talking about, but we have regardless um based upon um the conversation that happened at the work session uh about the soil boring proposal, then
109um I am going to recommend that you consider moving forward with the high school middle school track borings and table the weight room uh boring until a later time uh if and when we're ready to move forward with that project. Um the as a reminder, the tennis court uh piece to that was already approved at the September meeting. So that is um getting underway here in the next couple of weeks. As soon as the season's over, they're going to get on it and >> start that boring project. >> Any questions? I will say that I'm not I can't remember if all of us got an email regarding the track conditions at the middle school, but it was provided um to us and I appreciate that and it was taken to our work session uh for
110us to discuss that how bad it was. So it included pictures that were very informative. >> Yeah, thank you for that. I agree with that. Thank you for that. >> That track is the same age as the middle school itself, but so it definitely is in need of some work. Any other questions? Then I would entertain a motion to approve the soil boring for the high school and the middle school and tableabling the wait room till a later date. >> Is there a second? >> A second. >> I have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. Item 10m is consider the spendbridge subscription agreement. Dr. Troyer. >> Yes, I spoke with you about spend the state provide that purch. I need a motion. I thought
111you were going to ask a question. Then I need a motion to approve item 10M. >> So move. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> I got a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. Item 1010 10N is to consider the Northern Education Consulting. Dr. Troyer. >> Yeah, thank you. I did um I did allude to the fact that there may be occasionally things that we're not able to talk about at the work session just because of the timing. >> We start putting this stuff together now. >> Um we start working on the board packet for a particular meeting whether it's a regular meeting or a work session the week prior to that. Um and so this was one of the items that
112we did not have. There's two of those this month. Um so the first of those is the Northern Education Consulting. Um you found this for consulting services. Uh Dr. Wilfong secured these services um early in the school year to help with student observations, teacher coaching, behavior intervention planning, modeling, feedback, etc. for a total of 21 hours at $100 per hour. Those services were specifically designated to provide additional support at Syracuse Elementary. So, I would ask that the board approve that contract so we can pay that u consulting out. >> Sure. Any questions about that? >> Sorry, theou, not the contract. >> Okay. Yep. Right. So, we need a motion to approve the Northern Education Consulting. >> I make a motion. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Got a motion and a second. All
113in favor signify by saying I. I I opposed. >> Motion carries. Item 100 is consider continuing the Melford SRO agreement. Dr. Troyer. >> Yeah. So, finally, um we did uh right before school started um sit down with uh some folks from Milford um and talk about the fact that they uh wanted to change the structure of their agreement in terms of providing an SRO. Um that's been something that we haven't necessarily addressed uh immediately, not because there hasn't been any coverage. They've been um providing some as much as they were able, but we wanted to organize a bigger conversation that included all of our law enforcement partners um before we committed to moving forward with you with them. Um essentially the town um started I believe in 2018 uh to providing a full-time SRO in
114the building. Um that has since uh backed off a little bit over the last couple of years specifically. Um and they are unable to do that um at this point anymore. So thisou um would include um essentially Milford police providing an officer on one of their offduty days uh to go in and um help a set number of hours per week. So uh I think if I understood it correctly, it would potentially be up to four different officers. This would typically be um something that I wouldn't necessarily be in favor of just because you have a rotation of people through, right? But I think in a small town it actually works really well um because the kids get to know those officers that they, you know, they end up eventually uh seeing working out in
115the community. Um and so with a small town and a small town force then I think it it is potentially beneficial um with getting familiar familiarity uh between um police department and school. So um I think this is the thing that we need to do at this point. Um, we have had some conversations um with our other law enforcement leaders about potentially looking at um some other options down the road, but we feel like right now we've got to get something in place to get some more regular coverage in the building. So, >> any questions? >> Then, uh I would entertain a motion to approve the Melford SRO agreement. So move. >> Is there a second? >> I have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Opposed. That
116motion carries. And lastly, item 10P is approval of out of state overnight trips. Dr. Troyer. >> Yes, we have two of these. Uh Wy High School band is requesting to travel to Indianapolis October 24th through the 25th for the Bands of America Super Regional and the Isma Scholastic Class State Finals. There will be male and female fe female chaperons on the trip. Um, also the band is requesting permission to plan and travel to Walt Disney World in the spring of 2027. Students will perform and participate in a Disney performing arts workshop. This group would include high school band members along with eighth graders who complete the marching season. The trip will be a total of seven days by charter bus. students would potentially miss two days of school depending on the final dates. There would
117be ample numbers of chaperones and they want to be able to start working on planning and also fundraising for that trip. Um so that's why they're requesting an early approval. >> Sure. Questions about the overnight trips. Then we need a motion to approve the out ofstate overnight trips. >> I make a motion. >> Is there a second? >> Second. We got a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. This brings us to other items. Anybody have any other items? Then I need a motion to adjurnn. >> Is there a second? >> All in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Meeting is adjourned.