WLCSC - Regular Board Meeting May 11, 2026

001microphones help. Welcome everyone. This is a packed house. I'm not used to this. Um, welcome to the West Lafayette Community School Court Board of School Trustees uh, May regular meeting. The first item on our agenda is Courtney Fitz Simmons who's going to share with us about the food and nutrition services at the high school and the whole corporation. So, take it away. >> Thank you. >> All right. So, I'm Courtney Fitz Simmons, food service director and dietician. And I'm going to give a brief update about the food service department. First, I'd like to show pictures of our food. Uh this is the Red Devil dining court and it's featuring our pasta bar, our fresh station, and new this year, our ramen bowl. And then in the left corner is a picture of fruit and vegetable

002offerings. One of the days at the elementary school this way there. Perfect. Okay. For the past eight years, we have been part of K12's leading Indiana co-op, also known as click. Um, it represents over 27,000 students in Indiana in over 80 school districts. Uh, the co-op helps uh increase our purchasing power because 80 schools can get a much better price than we could alone. Um, the co-op procures the majority of our items and on our behalf with input from all stakeholders and uh this This is the list of vendors that have oneclick bids and that I'm recommending we purchase from um for the 2627 school year. All right, as a reminder, we are a self-sufficient department, which means we cover our costs from the money we bring in from sales. It's important that we maintain

003that self-sufficient notfor-profit status. Last year, we lost 150,000 due to multiple factors. The biggest one being the discontinuation of our supply chain assistance funds. Um we also lost some entitlement dollars for the upcoming year. So uh in anticipation of that, we increased lunch prices which seems to have helped offset some of those costs that we had lost. I won't know exactly how the year shakes out financially until the summer, but I have a pretty positive outlook. uh and our main focus will continue to be on ways to increase revenue and participation while decreasing expenditures. This table shows the breakdown of revenue from our two sources which are what students pay in blue and the USDA reimbursement in green. Um our corporation is around 23% free and reduced. This break down this breaks down to about

004427 per lunch. A good rule of thumb is to plan 40 to 45% of your revenue on the food costs and 40 to 45% on labor costs, leaving the rest for overhead, which includes equipment, repairs, small wares, trainings, etc. That leaves us with about $1.92 per lunch. Um, and we have to include whole grains, proteins, fruits, vegetables, and milk in that cost. On Friday, May 1st, we celebrated school lunch superhero day with a red carpet movie star theme. Uh these are the stars behind the trays at the junior senior high school. And I just have to say this staff is absolutely topnotch. Um this is a very fast-paced kitchen where everyone works together to serve between 600 and 700 lunches per day from over 15 different entree options. As a side note, you may have

005heard that we lost um Ivan Bulitzky as he transitioned into a different school nutrition position at GFS. Although we were sad to lose him, we're very happy for him. Crystal Gooden, she is was the former Willis kitchen manager and she's in the front left is our new manager at the junior senior high school. Here's our wonderful staff at the intermediate school. They've had quite a few changes within the last few months, but they continue to be a welloiled machine. Lindsay Connor, she's in the green, um, became the new kitchen manager. And Vanessa Gooden, she's in the silver, left the elementary school to cook for the intermediate students. Finally, this is our lovely elementary school kitchen staff. You can see them. They're autoging autographing their poster down there in the bottom right corner. small but mighty

006powerhouse. Courtney Foster, she's the one in the center, is our kitchen manager. New this year, we created the WLCSC Food and Nutrition Services Facebook page. If you're not already following us, please do. We like to share updates, pictures, and highlight employees. Also new this year at the elementary school is Tom, the Taste Bud Traveler. He visits once a month with an exciting fruit or vegetable for the students to try as part of the reimburseable lunch. It doesn't cost more to try it. You can see here some of the different items we've tried and what the students think about them. We always try to get some quotes of what they think. Yeah, they uh they don't always love them, but we're always proud of them for trying new things. This year we also partnered with multiple

007local farmers to provide fresh produce to our students. On August 29th we participated in Indiana food day which featured sweet corn and we um purchased ours from Prairie View Farms. A third grade class and a fax class and the department shucked over 1,700 ears of corn. And then October 16th, we participated in Indiana Apple Crunch Day by purchasing Somerset and Pixie Crunch apples from We Creek Orchard. And then this January, we started purchasing hydroponic leaf lettuce from Pretty Farms for our fresh station in the Red Devil dining court. And then finally, here is a picture of our intermediate students celebrating random acts of kindness day, which we celebrated on February 16th. Thank you for your time and here's my contact information if you need anything. Any questions? >> Yeah, >> go ahead. >> Um, the

008local providers that that you got the lettuce and the corn from, do we have separate contracts with them outside of the consortium? >> Yes. So, we can based on a certain threshold, we can do what's called micro purchases. So, since we purchase a little bit each time, we can we have the flexibility to do that with Anything? >> Awesome. I'm just curious the uh pictures of all the staff. Um, did you all have an event or is this AI? >> It's AI. >> I thought you dressed like that every day. >> I mean it's possible. >> Last year they were superheroes, right? >> Last year they were superheroes and I liked this theme because our doesn't typically get to feel very glamorous. It's not the most glamorous feeding kids every day. I love feeding kids.

009Um, so it was fun to kind of have them dressed Super fun. Anybody else? Lawrence? >> Yeah, I have a quick question. Uh, look at the the cost breakdowns. Uh, basically say we have 45% for I mean food materials and labor is 45%. So we end up with 10% say 43 cents per meal kind of for overhead equipment repair uh and the trainings that all kind of things. So I'm just wondering I mean given current situation the inflation not only for the laborers also for material everything going up. So from your point of view so in next two three years I understand we are kind of self- suspending kind of department but was your outlook uh in next two three years we can still maintain the self- suspending >> we we do have prices already

010for next year and they look really good they're honestly not much higher than this year so that's a positive um being in that co-op really helps us to to keep that best pricing and then with labor still looking at a couple places where maybe we can be a little bit more efficient. Um when we replaced Ivan, we replaced him with a kitchen manager instead of an assistant um director. So all those things we're always kind of looking at the ways to continue to be self- sustaining. >> Okay. Thank you. Another question. Basically my understanding the funding uh is uh a lot of fundings big chunk of the funding from the government entitlement things and you talk about the brown box or something. Oh yeah. >> And uh my understanding the entitlement uh I mean the

011funding will be increased in next one two years. That's your you expectations. So how realistic that can be realized? I mean >> yeah yeah it was it was exciting to see that increase so much and then when I went to in March you have to do a survey where you say where you're going to put that money. Um it didn't go as far as I wanted it to I think because of some of the cost increases. So those costs are separate than our other costs that we get through click. Um so it didn't go quite as far but yeah we're able to use ground box again where we couldn't this past year. So we can get things like 40 pounds of ground beef that we use for our meat spaghetti sauce and things like that.

012We're able to get that brown box next year which will be a big help. >> Okay. So the brown box is kind of a federal government program kind of. Okay. >> Yep. >> Okay. Thank you. That's all. really appreciate you guys did heroes did excellent work. Thank you. Appreciate >> anything else. Great. Thank you very much. Appreciate you. And and just as a general announcement, not directed, if anyone has anything they need to leave for at any time, you're not going to hurt anybody's feelings. Both doors work on both sides. So, the next item is communication from the audience. And I saw that Howell Lee was signed up for the first slot. So, please join us. Um, you get three minutes. And if someone could hand me the signup sheet, I'd appreciate it. >> Welcome.

013>> Thank you. >> Um, >> no, you don't. But, um, I will let you know ahead of time that we don't usually respond back, so don't expect an answer if it ends the question. Okay. schoolies. Um, so I'm a parent of child. So thank you very distractions engagement instruction. In fact, I was accessing friends or sending them vigilance to keep them states are considering the amount of time for law student that's part which we suspect might further allow parents to pop their children out of using one another laws soft register. So both these laws children Please academics allow students. >> Thank you very much. Appreciate your comments and we always like when people email us to follow up so that we know how to get in touch with you. So, um the website has our

014email address. Okay. Thank you. All right. The next item on the agenda is the consent agenda and I'd love a motion. Thank you, Rachel. Oh, go ahead. You have to say the words. >> I make a motion to um vote on the consent agenda for tonight. >> Okay. And Lauren seconds. Thank you. >> All right. >> I'd like to ask to remove the minutes. >> Please. >> Can do. We'll put those at the end. All right. on the remaining consent agenda. One moment while I start the vote. Here we go. This is to approve the remaining consent agenda without the minutes. And that passes 70. Um all right. One second. Mrs. Mumford, since he removed the minutes, uh I'll let you begin. >> Okay. I'd like to make a motion to approve the minutes with

015the addition um on page four, the second item on the roofing and add the phrase due to irregularities identified in the process. >> Okay. Is there a second David? Okay. Um due to irregularities. What was that? Due to irregularities >> identified. identifies us. >> Thank you. I couldn't come up with the verbs. Um, is there any discussion? Okay, I will begin again. This is to amend the minutes. >> Vote for the amendment or >> Yeah, we're voting to approve the minutes with the amendment. Okay, that passes four to three. Thank you. The next item we have is the referendum planning. Dr. Briner. >> Thank you, Mrs. Austin. Mr. Reutder is joining us. discuss the resemb that are with us this evening and kind of facilitated by our PR team of the part of our PR

016team and several members are here this evening we're not going to name tonight but thank you and say thank you at this I would also like to tell you that Mr. Barry will be sending out information regarding links to the online meetings and he'll be sending out agenda topics. Thank you, Dr. Grryer. And good evening, school board. This is really a follow-up conversation to what we've been discussing really starting last fall when we were talking about the budget and what might be coming down the road. Um, of course, this is not the first time you've had a referendum conversation. Actually started way back in 2010 when the district first ran their referendum. Actually ran the referendum for, I believe, for 43 cents at the time. But you never ever collected the 43 cents. You actually

017collected the 37 cents a year over year after that. And there had been enough assessed valuation growth that you never had to raise that rate. Uh but today we're actually talking about um what might happen between now and 2031 with the impact of Senate and roll back one which was passed last session. Um, and it was a very active session, probably one of the most difficult legislative sessions I experienced because things were moving so rapidly and and it was difficult to follow um all the different scenarios, but I'm going to start with the why. I believe I can advance this. I'm going to start with the why. Um, Senate roll back one really had substantial in substantial impact on the assessed valuation forecast between now and 2031. They in in response to what they felt

018um the need for property tax reform in 2023 and 2024, there were substantial increases in assess valuation on homeowners and were seeing substantial increases in their net AV as well as their uh AV uh with including the tiff. Um but what they what they've done to try and um mitigate some of the future property tax impacts is they have they're going to increase uh the supplemental deduction from its current level in 2025 of 37%. actually 37 and a half% and he increased that over time by the year 2031 it's actually 66.7%. So just some quick math on that if you have a $300,000 home by the year 2031 it will only be assessed on onethird of that. There is a standard deduction that's in place now that started off at $48,000 and it is actually

019declining each year and will be zero by the year 2031. But uh when you get because the supplemental going up so much that will have a pretty substantial impact on on the assessed valuation. There's also a new deduction for uh what are considered the 2% 2% caps for residential or excuse me for apartments, long-term care facilities and agriculture. Now agriculture doesn't impact you too much, but the apartments do. uh and so uh where they have not had deductions in the past, they started this year actually in 2026 at 6%. And that will also grow to 33% deduction by the year 2031. There's a new um homestead residential credit and I believe this is really how they got it over the finish line. Governor Braun was really pushing a property tax cut. Um and what they

020came up with really late in the session was a credit uh in that they would give the taxpayer up to 10% or a maximum of $300 credit after that the taxes have been computed. Uh so we'll talk a little bit more about that as well this evening. There was also u a pretty substantial change to business personal property. Um they originally intended for that to get implemented in 2026, but due to some assessment timing issues, that got delayed. And so where there was um where people would report personal property over $80,000 uh and that that number now goes to $2 million by the year 2027. So we're going to see really the impact of the personal property uh change uh happening in this next calendar year. Um there was also change to the floor where

021there used to be a a 30% floor. Any new equipment put in place for businesses now will no longer have that floor. So that will also impact that future assess valuation. Now there were changes to the farm ground. Again that doesn't impact you too much. Uh so we won't spend much time on that. But this is really the reason for the why because that 37 cents that's been uh generous to you in the sense you've had nice growth in your valuation, we're going to have the reverse effect and that we have we anticipate a decline in the assessed valuation. This is um uh let me back up just a second. The district engaged a company called Policy Analytics, which I'm actually now part of, by the way. I actually joined Policy Analytics April 1st. Um

022but they engaged Policy Analytics to do a parcel by parcel analysis of the district. um in that they would uh take the uh the impact of Senate enrolled act and apply those deductions and forecast that out through the year 2031. And what you can see is there's some historical information there for you. Uh but mo now also you have two the district works off of two assessed valuations. You have the net assessed valuation that excludes tiff areas and and that is used to calculate the tax rates for your debt service fund and your operations fund. And then you have an assessed valuation for the referendum operating fund which includes all tip areas. And so we actually work with two two assessed valuations with the district. Uh but as you can see in 27, you know,

023a pretty substantial loss estimated right now 7.3% and then drops back a little bit because that first year of the impact includes that business personal property uh increase to$2 million. But then you can see in 2032 you kind of resume back to what would be considered trending or values going up based on property values going up. Um this next one's probably the most important one because that's what we're here to talk about is the referendum. And this is in billions by the way. I forgot to the whole note on the side there, but um uh you have a substantial amount of of property in a tiff area to to the tune of over a billion dollars. When you look at your net assessed valuation compared to your your assessed valuation, including tiff, it's it's about

024a over a billion dollars more in the tiff area that you actually benefit from on your rent on your referendum. But what you can see here, the same that same trend now, only goes back to 25. But you can see it doesn't work on that screen, does it? Um, as you can see, that trend from 26 to 31 uh is going to continue to decline year over year before it then starts to recover. But even when you look out all the way to the year 2026, we still don't get back to the year 2000, excuse me, 2036, we still don't get back to the year 2026. This is what it looks like in terms of dollars in in 2026. Um the referendum levy is generating just shy of $8.7 million. That is based on the

02537 cents. And if we were to hold to our 37 cents and not raise that rate, you would see that that revenue would decline between now and the year 2031 to to 7,68,000. Uh so a pretty substantial drop. and that doesn't even account for you know the cost of living going forward before it starts to head back in the other direction. So um so that leads us to the question should the district raise the rate to offset the impact of Senate roll back one. Now I will tell you there are a lot of districts that currently have referendums in this very conversation and I would anticipate a lot of them will be on the ballot ether in or in 28 asking to increase their rates to to mitigate some of this loss. Um so so

026like what where what is the right ask? And so this is similar along the lines that I talked to you about in November when I gave you just kind of a preliminary estimate at that time. Um what I've done is I've taken the current referendum levy 2026 and compounded it at 4% a year and um that would produce a result in the year 2031 of 10,584,000 in comparison then to what um what the 37 cents would generate of 7,68. You can see the difference there is about $3.5 million. Um, and so that's that's uh obviously the 4% by the way is also consistent with what the state has over the last three years, previous three years allowed the operations fund to increase. And so that's consistent with that with that trend. Uh but if you

027take then the 10,584,000 and divide it by the estimated AV of 2031, you can see the rate to replace the property tax impact of that to be 5540. A pretty pretty substantial increase compared to the 377 37 cents we're at current. The second question then is, do you want to raise the rate a little bit higher to make up for this new um homestead credit that was put in in the last session, which is that 10% or $300. Now, this isn't this is not a huge impact, but it does impact the operations fund if you don't um and it's it's in place. It's already impacting the operations fund in the year 2026, but our loss to this was zero in 2025, but the estimated loss to this credit in 2031 is about $317,000. And so

028if we wanted to make up for that new uh credit to to not to offset the loss in the operations fund, we would need to collect 0166 cents. So, um, when you, so when you look at where we are currently, um, the current rate of 37 cents, and obviously we've not, we haven't had the loss of the homestead credit in the past, but we'd be having it we'd be making a comparison of 37 cents to a total of 0.5706. Um, and that really is to mitigate two things. The the loss of assess valuation Senate roll back one and to make up for the loss of credit that that would be felt in the operations fund. Now that doesn't mean that we would go out and collect the 57 cents in year one. Um what it

029might look like and and this is where the board would have uh control of how much of the rate each year that you would want to impose at budget time. And you've had that ability. But and if you again if you rewind back to your first referendum, you already demonstrated to the community that you actually had the authority to collect a higher rate than what you actually collected at that time when it was 43 cents, but you only collected 37 cents. But what we'd be saying to the community this time, which is much different, is that um we would not be and not anticipate collecting the 57 cents in in the year 2027. It might not the year 2031 before we even get to that point. And so this is this would represent what that

030rate might look like between now and the year 2031. This assumes a levy again assumes that levy only compounding at 4% a year, which would be for the cost of living. So um Speedway, um I think I mentioned this last time to you when I met with you. They've actually have been doing this for quite some time. They ask their community for a much higher rate than what they actually collect. And so a lot of districts, there are a few districts that are rerunning their referendums and asking for the full amount in the first year. But I would say most of the referendums that are being run are going to have a strategy similar to this because you're now again trying to establish a rate. Even though I'm only showing through the year 2031, this

031would be an eight-year referendum. So, you're trying to figure out what what things look like eight years from now. So, u but when you get past the year 2031, we'd be at the maximum rate of 5706 and and hopefully we'd resume normal AB growth from that point and we'd start to see levy growth in the referendum fund again. Right now, we'd be experiencing a decline year over year. So, I created a an example just so you can see um tax this is this is only the referendum portion of a tax bill okay so this is not a tax total tax bill but I I used the um assessed valuation of $350,000 and uh Dr. Grryer and Mrs. and I met with the county auditor a few weeks ago. Uh there has been a change in

032the law uh as it relates to the question. Uh the county auditor has to has to to determine the median residence value of the district and then you round it up to the nearest $50,000. So if that median value uh is 301,000, you round it up to 350. Um the auditor was kind enough that she had uh made some calculations before we even got on the phone call and provided us with some estimates. This is not certified, but we will be talking about asking her to certify this amount, but that it is it is something less than 350,000. And there's actually some discretion for the auditor in determining that what the median resident value is, but it's my understanding the DGF is going to accept whatever the auditor certifies. But at this point, we're fairly

033confident that $350,000 will be used in the question. that value actually is put into the question. And unfortunately, the question will also require us to use the maximum rate and stating the impact. Um, and and that's going to look much worse than what it will be. Uh, because they we we will also only get to use the 2027 deductions. So, all the deductions won't be in place yet till 2031. So we will have a communication u you know trying to communicate like yes this is what the question says but that is not the intent of the district to collect all of that in the year 2027. So what I did is just to show you what the 2026 impact is of the 37 cents you have the $350,000 home. Uh they currently get the $48,000

034deduction. Uh they get 40% uh credit, excuse me, supplemental deduction. Then you get to the net assessed valuation times 37 cents and the referendum impact is $670. In 2027, if the if this is if the board would agree to that rate, the forecasted 4232, you've not agreed to that. This is just an example. Um the impact would be $78. Now, what I'd say is this is really designed to make up. We're really not This is a little bit different than other referendums where we might be asking for more. In this case, we are not asking for more. We're asking just to replace what we would otherwise maybe received prior to send back one. So, it is a little bit higher, but we're also um trying to make up for what that credit loss is. So,

035it would be a little bit higher. Now, Dr. grinder asked me this and I didn't have it in the original presentation and I was a bit reluctant to do this but I went ahead and uh did it. Um I I thought well let's let's see what it looks like in 2031. Now I want to put a big asterisk on 31. This assume this really is in today's dollars. Okay. It's likely that that $350,000 home is going to trend up that the values will go up. So I don't want to imply that that $350,000 home is going to be remain at that value. But in today's dollars, if you're comparing the the impact of 26 referendum to what it would might look like in 20 31, you can see that the standard deduction goes away, but

036then you're you're reducing twothirds of the assessed valuation. The actual impact is $5 less. Now that again that home value will trend up likely. Well, maybe not. Maybe you get a bad economy and maybe property values go down. That's that's let's let's hope that doesn't happen. That's always possible. But let's hope that doesn't happen. But um um so so again, we're really trying to replace now even under the old model pre one 37 cents. If that home value trended up, that 37 cents would off of that. And actually, when you look at your district over the last eight years, I went back and averaged over the last eight years, your referendum levy actually grew between seven and 8%. On average, between those eight years in this model, I'm only suggesting 4%. Okay, that we're ask,

037you know, we're showing a 4% levy growth, which is, you know, to reflect the cost of living. That doesn't mean you can't collect it. The AV doesn't decline as as much. anticipated to or we have some big development come in. This would still give you the flexibility to collect that. But um really what we're trying to do is really focus on the need of the district being 4% increase uh each year. So uh one last document and this is another confusion point with the new referendum. You pull up that word document. The the district has had to adop a revenue spending plan in the past, but now it looks a little bit different. Um, the ref the the spending plan now and the question, by the way, and the question that will be on the

038ballot now will require what's called a maximum tax levy. That is new. And I can tell you that's actually a dangerous number because if you set that too low, we're trying to figure out what might be out eight years from now. We don't know that. But I can I can only tell you how I arrived at that number really was to say if the levy were to compound at 8% a year, what would that levy be in the year 2000? Actually, not 2031. It'd be three years beyond 2031, you know, with the 8-year referendum. So, that number is a bit scary, but it is a maximum number. Doesn't mean we we will be collecting that number, but it is now in the question and and it's just my opinion that this the legislators put that

039because they were frustrated by the two years of 2023 and 24 when levies grew so much and there was no levy cap on that and they did impose some levy cap on some schools that depending on the timing of when they ran the referendum. You weren't because we had just run the referendum 23. We did not have a levy cap on ours but there were some districts that did get some some levy cap or limitations on their referendum that year. So, so um the question is not that you're you're not being asked to pass this tonight. You're you're really which is the next part of the agenda here. It's just you're going to be asked to initiate the process that we would begin if you agree with the logic and assumptions that we've used this

040evening that we would begin the process of sending letters to the county auditor and begin formalizing what we've talked about and you would not be asked to pass this referendum until June 8th. That's that's the board meeting. So, um, be happy to answer any questions you might have. I know it's a lot. Um, there's a lot going on here and there's there's a lot of assumptions and we're trying to be we're trying to forecast something a year now. Now, I what I'm trying to do is provide you flexibility to be able to make decisions year over year. And I think that's what this does. I think if the community agrees with passing the 57 cents that that provides the school board the flexibility to make decisions between now and then. Now I will also ask

041that doesn't mean legislators won't ask that limited again but what we know today that this is really designed around 57.06 and and the 16 million one as >> Wow. >> not like to run a referendum again in three years, right? You just ran in 23 and it's confusing doing this again. It's all a result we would not be talking about last year. And just for the benefit of all, I learned in a recent webinar that in the meantime, they've been funneling millions of dollars out of the public schools and into charter. And that is not cool, Amy. Um charter and um uh private schools. And not only have they taken those dollars, they've also taken around 150,000 students. So the million students in Indiana that are in public school has remained flat for 20 years

042and 150,000 which is the growth we should have seen have been funneled into different school systems which are taking anyway don't get me started. All right, everybody feels like they can go out and explain this to the community now, right? We're all experts. Great. Okay, questions. Lawrence. >> Yeah. How couple question? So, basically regarding these calculations, uh, say for example for property. >> No, just have a question about this 955 per year. Well, these are kind of typical uh properties in our community. 350,000 and uh the the tax will be increased by 900 almost $1,000. >> Yeah. So that >> we have to we have to put the worst in there. The $955 is if you were to collect the 57 >> in 2027. >> Okay. >> Which is the one I showed you earlier.

043you wouldn't mind going back. >> Yeah, I see that. Uh >> I really only anticipate that you'd be >> what I think of 700. >> Keep going. Keep going. >> So we wind up like something like uh >> right there. So you got 78. So the question the question is going to say do you want to 57.06 6 on the tax rate. It's going to the median value is $350,000. That's an impact of $955, but I don't anticipate you're going to to do $955. I anticipate you something less than that. And that's where I assume the 4232, which the impact is 700. The real impact is $78 compared to what they're paying now. >> Okay. >> So, another thing the 16 million dollars. That's also calculated based on 57. Uh >> so that's really what

044I did there is just really take the the $8.7 million that we're collecting now. >> Okay. >> And compounded it by 8% a year. That's a little higher than what you've seen in the last eight years. But again, it's a maximum number. It's kind of like the budget process we use when we get when we go and advertise our budgets. We advertise them. say these are all going to come down real numbers and and this is an important point in that by August one each year the auditor is to certify the net assess valuation. So before you get your budget done, we will know the net assess valuation and administration will be be able to bring you a recommend recommended rate and we will be able to pinpoint exactly what that would be in that

045and that will be ahead of your referendum question. I would actually encourage the board to pass resolution to that effect. We will pass the budget. rate less than what is on the ballot and we passed a resolution said we're not going to collect this in 207. I think that would help with the messaging in November saying this is this is a different model where we've always adopted the maximum rate and we've collected the maximum maximum allowable to off that referendum rate. This will be a little bit different strategy. We'll be bringing a recommendate recommended rate to you and a recommended levy. But in particular in that first year that we would be pass a supplemental resolution. It's not required. It would be just something on the board's behalf to show the community you're good pay

046or what we're trying to do. >> Yeah, I I totally understand that's kind of a cap, but uh when you throw up on the ball, it's kind of little scary. So technically speaking, I mean financially we want to have some borrowers. So we want to have comfortable but uh when we I mean we talk about how to to get the community support our uh referendums uh do you think that number can be uh adjustable or there kind of uh uh kind of fixed number? So who who decide that that that number? Yeah, ultimately ultimately the board's going to decide what you need to decide sometime in the near future what that maximum rate should be. You can set that maximum rate higher or lower. You can say well I don't want to collect that take

047that. But what how I built this model was just to show you if you were trying to make yourself whole. This is my best how you would do that. >> Yeah. Another uh question regarding the basically all these things because of the legislation change. So I mean I heard the people also want to change that again. So from your point of view and you also have many years several decades regarding this I mean this Indiana. >> Yeah. Yeah. Do you think there will be some significant change in next schools? I mean one two. >> Very good question. >> Yeah. you know, election results change things. I'm not saying it will. Um, but kind of view the system that I'm put in place right now, I call I kind of call it weighed in the waters.

048And what I mean by that, they didn't put all these deductions in all at once. They put them in overtime. Representative Thompson, I believe, intentionally did that so that we can kind of see how this plays out. Maybe we don't get to year 2031 and and maybe we don't have all this deduction in place. And maybe it looks something different than what we know. I think in your case, you're better positioned to weather this change than many. You know, there are going to be some districts that wrestle with circuit breaker and tax rates and all kinds of problems, hitting the caps sooner than others. Um and so that from that standpoint feel like the property tax system is going to set in place and they're going to see how this plays out for a few

049years before they start tinkering with it. But I can't guarantee that. You know that's this next long session. Hopefully it's not as wild hopefully it's not going to be as wild as the previous session. This last board session I say we actually came out of it okay. There were a lot of conversations about local option income tax indirectly impacts you on some property tax replacement dollars but not in that you don't receive what's called cash dollars. So there there was there's still going to be more conversation I believe around local auction income tax but property tax my gut is that I feel like they set something in motion. Representative Thompson wants to see that kind of play out but we'll time that >> one hopefully this last question regarding uh you trying your proposal trying

050to we set the the the rate every year kind of gradually so we can compensate uh the change of assess values. So from your experience what other district uh I mean in practice how they do this in the budgeting uh cycles they I mean the board just recite every year or what's the >> every budget cycle >> so that's not the norm kind of norm >> every budget cycle the administration would be bring you a recommendation on what that what they believe the rate would need to be in order to meet the financial needs of the district. It might be higher it might be lower and so we might Maybe we won't see as big a decrease in the tip. I know there's still a lot of stuff going on in the tip. It may

051not decrease as much and you may want to collect it. May want to say, "Hey, we we don't want to give up that revenue that's being built." So those that 33% is working against you on those apartments, you know. So you're getting growth coming in there, but you're getting the 33% new deduction going. You're mitigating some of the new assessment dollars you would otherwise. All right, let's I'm sorry. >> Yes. No, I'm just Yeah, thank you for your answer my question, but I mean my my feelings I spend hours try to understand these things. It will be quite difficult to to explain that to the communities how see like you spend I mean >> quite complicated uh >> yeah so that's um but I really appreciate thank you for you uh bring the information here

052>> where we got to get the community in the trust resolution at budget time I think that's where step is to show on the trust is that we will not collect this rate in year one and we would do that before actually. >> Okay, thank you. That's all my questions. Thank you. >> Okay, let's go to David then Rachel then. Okay, >> I have two maybe three questions. Depends on how this shakes out. Um I'm going to start with um sort of what I think might be the easier question. Um given that there are likely 100 plus school districts in the state running referenda this year, do you expect that there are going to be concerted efforts from outside groups to fight against um passing referenda? >> Well, >> and if yes, are any recommendations

053on how we can prevent that from impacting us? >> Yeah. Um, I don't think there will beund there probably 50 active conversations. Maybe a little more than that. I don't know how many of them will actually end up on the ballot because you're honest. There's there's some some of them are not are not as far along as you are. We've been talking about this since last budget cycle and we talked about November. We've been talking about this. There are some that have not had enough conversation about it. They might just wait until 2028 to do that. Um, but there will be a number of them. And now the good a little bit different about this referendum than other referendums. We were always running referendums for the most part expired. They would go away. Your old

054referendum does not. So if you were unsuccessful, I think your community will support your school. I think you know you had a track record of support from for your referendum, but you're not losing all the way to zero. You're still going to go 37 cents. Now I would say you probably start you'd have to set things in motion to start reducing expenses, right? So that's if you were unsuccessful, you would probably All right, what's our plan to offset what we are not going to get from our referendum? Now, you would have this is new as well. You can only run in the general election now. And so that's even years 26 26 28 30. So, so you would have another shot if people were unsuccessful. Now, there is also this doesn't But um in 2028

055referendum after that point and beyond we'll have to share dollars share some of their dollars of the referendum of charter schools that's not treated 26 that's not impact you at this point but that that is a risk for some districts that might wait that they have to run to supplement some of the charts that's not in play for you >> on that note. So, I just asked one quick thing about that. Um, in 28 and beyond, they had to share um referendum revenue with charter schools. Is that by county or is that going into a general fund that gets split between all the charter schools? >> Uh, you would be you would you would portion of your 11 charter schools in your in your district. >> Okay. >> Cool. >> Yeah. Not not statewise. >>

056Yeah. I don't want to know where that money was going. >> So, you didn't actually answer the question of do you think that there'll be a concerted effort given that there are going to be a lot of schools. Are is there likelihood that there'll be a concerted effort from outside groups to try to uh push against referenda? >> I can't answer that. I don't I just don't know. I don't think there will be. >> Okay. >> I think I think in your community I think you have a support base that will support your district and understand it. I mean, there'll be someone that frustrated with property tax might be frustrated with their school about something else. I mean, referendum, you know, I don't like your grading system. They could be they could be frustrated with

057some other topic and get caught up in reference. I've been experienced that myself with the previous district. >> So, you get other topics sometimes hold me hostage to referendums. >> Okay. My other question, um, you' reference 2031 as kind of that big year. Um, and you had calculated 4% increase based off of what we're getting this year to generate a 3.5 million gap between what we should expect versus what we'll get uh likely with this rent or with um without running the referendum. Um but if you look at 2032 and 30 and 33 and 34, we then lose the 3.7 million, 4 million, and 4.2 million in those years. So if we because um 4% um comes out to a higher number when you're multiplying 4% by a bigger number. Uh and so we actually

058continue to lose even more money over what would be uh years six, seven, and eight of this referendum if we don't pass it. And then um if just looking at those first five years um I appreciate the 3.5 million number but that's just the one year it's 10.9 million that we would lose as a district over five based off compared to what we should expect. And then compared to what we should expect over eight years, it's nearly 23 million that our district would lose in school revenue. Um >> accumulatively and I think that's an important number to get across because um 3.5 million in one year is a lot, but the amount that it hits us time and time again um I think that that's a huge number that I think should be part of

059um our education campaign to the community. Yeah, we could we could calculate that pretty easily. What the difference between now I do want to stop the reason went to 2031 >> is because that's when that's when everything stabilizes in terms of deductions and had we had the old 37 cents it goes back really that model. You have the 57.076 cents and you live off whatever growth comes in. So you kind of you're you're you're really using the same live by since 2010, >> right? But if the um if we're basic in 2031, if we're basically um using what would be the cap of our number um we're not going to be increasing, we can't increase beyond that for those next few years where the the gap is going to be even bigger. But you you

060won't lose the 57 cents and neglect that and you should have positive trending your >> right but it won't be as positive of as what we would have expected had we stayed in the current model. >> Um >> if we stayed in the current model in 2032 we'd be getting 11 million 2033 11.5 um and then 2034 it would be 12 million. >> Correct. I had yes good if I took 4% a year >> and compounded it out >> for eight years is about $12 million compounded it out 8% to get to 16.1 million >> so you have the flexibility to collect it so I really didn't view the years 20023 as lost that really if the AV grows gets back into a pattern of growth, you should see new dollars coming off at 57.

061>> Yeah. >> So, but cumulatively that's correct. I mean, if you look at the dollars when we're balancing a budget though, we're trying to fix cost fix the revenue, anticipated revenue. And so, that's why we're always the annual revenue that it's a lot of money. We don't do Great. And I think that's part of the education campaign. >> Yeah. >> Do you have something you wanted to say? >> No, I was just going to point out that he's also looking at the potential development in the tip district, too. So, that's another component of that high number. >> Doesn't mean that we're collecting more from from a homeowner necessarily. You're looking at everything, aren't you? >> Yeah. >> All right. Rachel's turn. Do you feel comfortable that 350,000 is a medium home median home value? >>

062That that median value is actually lower than that right now. And so even maybe takes a little different view what med is policy analysts in their less than $350,000. So I feel like we're in the safe range that the assumption of 350,000 assumption and how we'll know that officially is when we if you agree this evening to kick off the process the we have a letter prepared to go to tomorrow requesting the certification of that. >> Okay. And you will know that I'm sure hopefully before you tack on your name. I think you will because she's already she's already taken the effort to to >> um it's I think it's important that our community understand as part of that kind of heavy lift of education is practically what those cuts would mean. Um because our

063leadership have already been very conscientious in reducing and leaning things down as much as they can. um particularly on hiring. If if we do get into trouble, it's going to be a big impact trouble. Um there's not there's not much left to to cut, >> right? You you're really, you know, a big part of the school budget is personel. >> Yes. And I think >> you trim you can trim and trim, but you eventually get into person. >> Yeah. You there's and I'm just I don't think that we're far off of personnel at this point. That's my opinion, but I'd be interested in understanding that a little bit better as we get into the process of of what that looks like to our teachers, our staff. Um, my last question is, you know, this is

064um it is a heavy lift education in our community and our community has shown really phenomenal support over the years, which is wonderful. Um, and in general, I think comparison is a path straight to hell. But what does it look like compared to other schools in the state? Because there will be people who say why does it cost this to educate a child in West Lafayette and this to educate a child in some other county. would say, you know, we the the rates vary some because depend on the assess valuation. The set valuation plays so much so much into the individual referendum rates in community. But I would say what I'm seeing in other districts, what your rate is going up or being proposed to go up, it's pretty similar to that other communities that

065I'm seeing. No one mentioned them by name, >> right? No, I'm not asking you to. I just kind of want to know >> increase 37 57 pretty big jumping similar things like that. >> I think that 955 number is the number that's going to stick out on the questions and that's for some families that's that's a lot. >> It is. It sure is. It again unfortunately we don't get to decide that >> right. We have to put the maximum rate in which they're going to use the 2026 valuation of the going to use the 2027 deductions and then they're going to apply the maximum rate. So the auditor knows that too. She has to certify she has to certify. So those are just my estimates right now. So a little different but that's >> Thank

066you. UA your turn. Thank you and thank you very much for the information and I found the um the page for the comparison is very helpful because one misconception I noticed is that people feel oh with this new referendum my tax will increase for the referendum but the comparison says otherwise right so I but I wonder uh whether it's possible to create a sample for some other home values as well as possible at all. >> That's a good question. Policy analysis later and see what that impact might be and we could even go to the extent of plug rates to be over that period of time so that the right results from that. So, I don't think we're ready for the calculator yet, but it is in the wings and we'll have to fine tune

067some of those assumptions in that calculator, but we should be able to put that out for people to to run their own impact. >> Can I add a quick thing? It might be important for us to make sure people know that Zillow uh numbers are not what their actual assessed rates are. They're much higher. So that if there is an education campaign, I think something like that could be helpful too. >> Yeah, they should get the assessation from they should be getting a notice of it every year, but they're make sure they're using what's included in notes and I just got my personally this last week. >> Yeah. So that's part of the problem too, right? So I'm showing you in today's dollars 350,000 but people's home values hope that my home value would be

068increasing. I want my home value to increase but you know that impact but that would happen under the 37 we the district would have been new. >> Okay everybody else set. Thank you. May I sorry uh very quick question and uh you mentioned that um people may be against it for various reasons like greeting or bus or whatever and do you think it might be a good idea to ask um residents and if they don't support it why so because currently we are conducting a community survey I wonder whether that kind of question will be a good one to ask >> they They kind of in in the question they kind of play with the tolerance thing, but yeah, it's hard to put that into question because they don't everybody's everybody's going to fit into

069it somewhere different. So, I don't need to put you on the spot here, but I don't know that we have the question that trying to the top of my head. I don't think >> we're we're going to get from that survey how >> Yes, I noticed that. But I just I I didn't see the question about why if people say it's unlikely I'll support it and there and whether they will be asked for the reason. I just wonder about common practice >> there are sometimes they need because of the personal situation in their life right but I just can't but or you I just think in general your parents are supportive but you are talking about two most personal things in a person's life kids and the money and the reverend are very sensitive they're

070worth it might political campaign because you're talking about two two most sensitive things. >> Yep. Absolutely. I am so grateful that you understand all of this so that we can try to and I'm appreciate your time so much and if everybody else is all set I think we're good. So thank you sir. >> Yes. >> Thank you Mr. We appreciate you. >> Okay little stretch. Anybody need a Okay. Next item is number nine. The resolution authorizing the administration regarding the auditor certification. Dr. Bryer. And this is the item that uh following that Mr. Roder was just uh talking about. Tonight, we asked the board to vote to approve the resolution authorizing administration regarding auditor certification so that the district may proceed with the required next steps and timelines associated with the proposed operating referendum process.

071>> Okay, I need a motion, please. George. >> George moves to pass. And that was Rachel um seconding. Any discussion? Okay, I will go ahead and I've started the buttons and here we go. >> Excellent. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> The next item is back to you Dr. Grryer for special education and Medicaid billing. >> And we have Mrs. Qualio in the audience. This is actually her item. The administration recommends that the board vote to approve the agreement with the PCG Indiana Incorporated for special education Medicaid billing services for the July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 term as presented. >> Okay, I need a motion, please. I have a motion to Lawrence. Okay, is >> there a second Rachel? Thank you. Okay, it sounds like George has some discussion. >> Yeah. Um, just

072wanted to get a clarification on the contract. Um, but if the contract is uh good and valid and approved by attorneys, we're going to get it in in time before the changeover where we can no longer have indemnification clauses and public school contracts. But, uh, is that something we want to include in this or should we go ahead and get ahead of the get ahead of the eight-ball, so to speak? We've run all this through our attorney and our attorney proposes that we go with the way the contract currently is. >> Any other discussion? Great. Hearing none, I will push a bunch of buttons. There we go. Excellent. That passes 70 also. The next item is the Westside and Purdue Department of Speech Language Hearing Sciences Memorandum. One more time. >> Again, >> administration recommends

073that the board vote to approve the independent contract services agreement between West Lafayette Community School Corporation and Purdue University's Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing uh sciences for speech, language pathology services for August 1st, 2026 through May 30th, 2027 term as presented. Okay. Do I have a motion, please? >> Lawrence, thank you. Second, Rachel. Thank you. Any discussion? >> Lawrence, go ahead. >> Oh, short clarifications. When I look at this contract, basically my understanding is either party can cancel the contract with 30 days notification or something like that. So my understanding our uh special education um is kind of mandatory. So in that case uh do we have a continuities lines something like that? That make sense? >> Would you repeat the second part? Do we have >> Yeah. Do in the in case that

074happened do we have continuities uh lines of backup >> like would we have a plan to address that? We do. We do not. We this is an agreement we had last year. Okay. uh and and uh it was through glass at that time and so now we're just taking it on because uh glass is dissolving. However, what it could mean is that we would look at maybe hiring another speech pathologist and posting and hiring. Um, this is just a great agreement because it allows us not only to work with Purdue for speech services in addition to our current speech pathologists, but it also then allows us to have students student teachers in or student speech pathologists in. Do you am I >> clinicians? Thank you. Yeah, not student teachers, clinicians. But so it it's just

075a it's a great relationship that works well for all parties and certainly our students. I would suspect it would be posting another position if we didn't have this agreement. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else? >> May ask another question. >> And so when when we had the service with glass so the this resource was shared with the whole glass, right? But right now it will be only for ours. This is something I'm going to look at her to make sure I say this correctly, but this is a a something that um Mrs. Pio came to us last year and glass was still intact of course and it was a vision she had to have this great relationship uh with Purdue where students Purdue and West Lafayette benefits. It was West Lafayette's

076services even either mainly or completely. Correct. >> Yes. So it's it's something we already have in place. It's just that because glass was in place, the contract was held at glass level and now that that'll dissolve, it'll be under West Lafayette's um title. >> So, it's a continuity of the >> previous service. >> Correct. >> Okay. It's not the new one because of the diesel. >> That's correct. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I think it's a good idea that we eventually have our own. Thank you. >> Yeah, thank you. Okay, any other comments or questions? All right, in that case, I will go ahead and start the vote to approve. There we go. 70. >> Thank you. >> And next item is, you know, I find that roofs are always poorly timed. Um, Mrs. Roth, let's

077talk about the roof. >> Absolutely. As shared in the board packet, the bidding process for the junior senior high roof is complete. Windward Roofing and Construction was identified as the lowest and most responsive bidder to complete the roofing projects this summer for the junior senior high school at a cost of $1,119,947. And this is for the two base bids and the alternates. Work is scheduled for a June 1st start with a September 30th date for substantial completion and August 31st is the closeout date. Um, please approve the base roof bid areas as well as accept all alternates from Windward Roofing and Construction as recommended. >> Okay. Can I have a motion, please? >> I have a motion. >> Thank you, Lawrence. >> A second. Thank you, Rachel. Any discussion? >> Yeah, I have a quick

078clarification questions. So, basically the Bitwinner Windward roofing. So my understanding this company is based in uh Chicago Indian noise. So do they have any project uh they have done business? Oh >> so this is um I would we did actually are graced with the presence of Mr. Michael Regenovich and Mr. Andy Mura project manager and construction administrator at Fanning Howy and they can answer hopefully any questions we might have. Yes, I'm just look at the the contract. First of all, thank you for your guys participate and that's really I look at the document is really nice. Uh we have pretty good speeding process and you guys join us. But the only question when I look at that you guys are kind of basically uh based in Chicago Illinois. So you have been have some project

079in uh Indiana because there may be different coding things. >> Yeah. So they have worked in Indiana. They are finalizing all of their local licensing, local permit. >> Um, but we have they're gonna do a good job here. We met with them last Thursday to go over all of the pre-awward items that we typically do. And yes. >> Okay. Yeah, that's all uh all I have. Thank you. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. We appreciate you guys, >> Rachel. And then George, please. I'm just interested with the timeline what the disruption to the school is going to be if any sir in addition to being poorly timed generally speaking also loud. We discussed this at length in our call last week and both them and us were going to do everything we can to do as

080much work as we can over the summer in terms of expediting all of our shop drawing submittals and reviews of all of those types of things because as I'm sure you guys are aware the actual start date of construction is not changing but the procurement times get pushed back one month so we're dealing with that with the contractor is willing to work with you guys to do as much as they can over the summer. And then once the school year starts and students are back in, they're going to be hopefully done with that entire bus corridor and only be moving material from that back service entrance. Obviously, anything that would be happening overhead would only be happening when students were not present. >> Okay, thank you. Great. and George. >> Yeah. Um, did you say

081that they're working on getting their local licenses now? >> They just need to submit their >> Okay. Talk to the municipality >> because the website says you already have them. >> Oh, wonderful. So, they did that. >> No. So, that's what I'm wondering. So, did they say that before they had them or did they have them already and just hadn't finished the process? Just want to make sure we're not doing anything strange. >> Yeah. So, as of last Friday, um the contractor had told me that the local municipality was waiting on their bond paperwork and as soon as they had that, they would license. >> Great. Okay. Anything else? Super. Thank you very much. All right. In that case, I will go ahead and start the vote to approve the roof. Thank you. 70. Okay.

082The next item on the agenda is number 13, student handbooks. And we're back to you, Mrs. Roth. >> Information from each principal was shared in the board packet for review. All three handbooks have one common updated student code of conduct section that was reviewed by legal counsel and recommended to reflect changes in law and policy. Beyond that, the junior senior handbook has updated its attendance policy and then in the intermediate and the elementary have only made conforming changes. You are asked to approve these handbooks as requested by each school. Okay. Thank you. Is there a motion, please? >> Thank you, George. Second. >> Second. >> Okay, David. I'm gonna just to mix it up a little. Um, >> I do have a question. >> Yes, sir. Go ahead. >> Um, stop. >> In the junior

083senior high school attendance policy, um, there's just a couple of the odd red highlights and I'm wondering if the wrong word was highlighted. Eric, can you pull that up if you can? on the second page or the third. >> It's in the uh >> the Skyward codes attendance code section. >> Okay. Yeah, it's in the attendance policy in the Skyward attendance code section. I'm just a little bit confusing to read the in the attendance codes, uh, the word and is highlighted in red instead of does or does not. Is that intentional? Yeah, >> this is in the uh the separate I'm sure it's in both, but it's in the separate attendance policy document for the junior senior high school in the section called Skyward Codes. >> The pages aren't numbered in the PDF. It's page

084eight >> as an absence. I I believe that would have been highlighted because it was a change not because that's going to be in the final >> okay >> copy as it just to clarify the >> wording >> the red or the highlight >> the red uh an absence does not count as an absence and the an is highlighted. Um, yeah. >> Me to me, it looks like all the red is is the additions. So, >> it was just grammatically updated to be correct. >> Okay. Cuz the way the way it reads with the ands by themselves, I thought they were emphasizing something. >> Okay. Most of the attendance written there is just updating either some grammatical errors that we had or some clarifications that we kind of discovered as we dealing with families this

085year. >> Okay. >> Just want to make sure I'm reading it right. Thank you. Anything else, Dea? >> Um, I have a couple questions. The first one is I noticed at the elementary school it said that there'll no longer be a crossing guard at Lraange. What kind of contributed to that decision and what is how does that decision get made and why? >> Oh, okay. I just I know it's been there forever, but I and I >> cards are typically employed by the city. Yes. >> And so my guess would be >> okay. >> That's great. Thank you. Um okay. The next one would apply to all of them. It's under the student code of conduct. The section that says right to appeal currently it says that um the board of school of trustees has

086voted not to hear any exposion appeals. Could we add a sentence after that that families may pursue any remedies available under state or federal law? It feels like to me we're kind of misleading families in if you have an issue with this, you're just not allowed to appeal. And I feel like if we can add a sentence on to let families know there are other options out there that it kind of to me is a little bit more familyfriendly and um just more letting them know there are options not that that it stops there. How does is that just something that like right now I would like is that something that would be more appropriate to have all the administrators say that they agree with and then we come back later and add this or

087what's a good process or does anyone else have concerns or what are thoughts on dealing with that situation >> from administrative perspective we don't have concern but we don't have concern either way with what you're asking. So if the board wanted to discuss that, our recommendation after working with legal counsel is what we have, but as you're aware through our discussion, legal counsel and what you're suggesting, there's it's okay to. So if the board wants to discuss that, we are very comfortable with the way it currently is presented, but we also understand if the board wants to discuss that and you have a a collective view on what you would like it to look like. Is that fair? So then we would just once the board talked about it or right now I could make

088a motion to add it and then do it. Okay. So I would like to motion >> to add in the code of conduct under right to appeal an additional sentence that says families may pursue any remedies available under state or federal law. >> Families may pursue any remedies available under state or federal law. Thank you. Okay. Um, is there a second? >> I'll second that. >> Okay. Um, is there discussion? You right. And that's what the legal council suggested. So, I think it should be safe to say that. And I also agree with Dea and they make it more friendly rather than oh board will not listen to you. So that's yeah I think it's helpful to say it this way that's exactly the the wording they they provided. >> Okay George you got your

089microphone on that because no there was one other thing I wanted to ask about in the uh high school policy. >> Hold on. We'll come back to that. >> Any other discussion about this particular sentence before we vote on it? >> No. Okay. >> Oh I'm sorry. Go ahead. >> I will double check. So DeAn's proposal that sent and that language the legal council already revealed that uh is that okay? >> Yes. So to clarify legal council suggested what is currently before your uh packet and then Mrs. Mumford asked could we look at some verbiage that could address her concern. So we shared that with legal counsel and legal counsel is comfortable with what Mrs. Mumford >> is comfortable >> is suggesting. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else? Okay. Super. This is to approve that.

090There we go. Okay. I need to write that down. Um Okay. So, now we'll return to the previous motion, which is to approve the uh student handbooks as amended. George, >> um just making sure I don't have a reading comprehension problem tonight. Uh the I saw in one of the other schools policies that there was a provision about searching lockers. I didn't see it in the high school policy. Is it there? They don't use them. I can't get my kid to not carry all his crap with him all the time. >> This would be covered in the same thing. They said the code of conduct is the same across three schools, but in like in the high school policy or um code of conduct document, I didn't see it. I think I found it in

091the intermediate school document. >> Yeah, >> I'm looking. Oh, it's it's out of Indiana code. I bet it says um Indiana statutes authorize and regulate student lockeres searches in the public schools. So, I would assume that it was just left in there because that's what the law says. Is that >> something? >> We should just because parents are going to look to that first instead of looking at state law. where my market is like the personal items like backpacks and all kinds are backpack. So I'm just wondering it's in there but >> what would the search term be for that? Would it be >> search backpack? >> Backpack maybe. >> Um yeah that's not being found. >> Search for the principal the word principal. is authorized. >> Oh, there are 57 instances of >> I

092search backpack. It's not in there. >> Um, can I ask a question, >> please? Um, I guess I just I'm more interested in the process, the development process of this. Um, at at what point did teachers become engaged in seeing it, weighing in, giving feedback, or is it, hey, this is passed and here's your set of rules to work with. Like what's your process for teacher feedback on these? >> So, So that's a good question. So right now most of it is just really minor changes. So it's already kind of been there. If we get into major ones and like for example the the assistant principles just sent out survey about attendance just some of the changes we had. So we'll collect that kind of input and then if we needed more steering we would

093investigate further up on that. As far as um the minor changes, no, we don't. >> The one that that comes to mind for me is like the the changes with cell phone. There's been a whole lot of conversation about that. >> And so I I feel like teachers probably have the clearest view of what that looks like in their classroom. And so I'm just curious how that plays out. >> We don't have that yet. So we're still waiting for guidance from the state as what is defined how they are wanting that that law implemented. >> Okay. >> Um and then from there um we will share what we what we feel like is the the correct way to do it in our building and then sure that we would solicit input from teacher leaders at

094that point in time. So a very good point. Well, it is you do have I mean there is a statement about them not being used in the classroom unless teachers permission. So >> that was already kind of there >> that was the previous any change is going to come through as >> correct. So now with the new with the new law it's more strict and we're trying to navigate what those changes are going to be looking like for us. >> So that will be updated for sure. >> And so that'll come out just like as a separate I'm assuming you have to get these to be printed. So you're dealing with >> like a placeholder in for that. Basically it said follow the law my memory serves me. Um but yes kind of the way

095we had to do attendance a year ago when when we do attendance guidance was changing but we didn't know exactly what. So we had to put that in and then we'll send that out so that the printed documents will be what you see the live document we can change online. >> Okay. >> So it's kind of the nice thing about that. Nikki, >> I have a question on the makeup work for absences. So, um I maybe missed it. It looked like at the elementary school and the high school it gives them one day. >> I haven't heard or experienced much concern at the elementary school because I don't think we have a high homework issue. The question that I have is and I appreciate that it says that the teachers that they can be flexible.

096The concern is not all teachers are flexible and there are situations for various re reasons. I mean there's field trips sick where a student is doesn't have any time to work on any sort of homework that full day they're absent. To give them one day with the level of homework students have normally plus jobs or extracurriculars to me is um limiting our students. It's affecting their grades. it's affecting frequently some students to feel very overwhelmed like I don't even know how to do this all and so they're not turning in those assignments and so I wondered can we make it a little bit more flexible even two days to me would be a big difference because I have known times where like the day they came back they then had a extracurricular activity they didn't

097get home till 10:00 at night they have that days of homework and it's like they're supposed to make up the day befores it seemed very unrealist istic and like I said is some teachers are flexible but unfortunately other teachers just say this is the policy um and so the question is can we change that to at least be two days in my view seems a little bit more what I'm used to seeing in other schools >> is it really sounds serious like I've never seen two days >> yes that was what I had experienced in other places but that's not here >> so let's see if we are defining one and two the same Okay, >> maybe we are, maybe we aren't. So if I am absent tomorrow, my work is not due. Tomorrow's Tuesday,

098it's not due Wednesday, it'll be due Thursday. Exactly. Right. >> So that's that's one day. And are you saying then you wouldn't say it should be due Friday? >> Yes. what the mindset is. So, I'm not the student's not there tomorrow and let's imagine they're on a field trip to Chicago and don't get home till midnight or >> they were sick and like really aren't able to do any work. So, the first time that they're kind of dealing with school again is Wednesday morning. >> So, they go to school all day Wednesday and then they go to their job or extracurricular activity and then they have quite a few hours of homework because they attend Westside and there's typically a lot of homework. I don't even a one day of school. >> Okay. >> So

099then it's like and then they're supposed to make up all the homework that they missed on the other and have it turned all that in by the next morning. >> There's no flexibility of that day being a busy day. Let's say they're in, you know, some of these sports are difficult because if they were absent, they can't compete that day. But >> there's traveling sports where they're not getting home till 10:00 at night, then they're expected. So, I just feels like it gives them no flexibility. If that's a day that they put a lot of hours in at their job, they now are staying up till 2, 3, 4 in the morning, which I know is reality from some students. >> And so, it's about >> Can I throw out there a differing viewpoint on

100this matter? >> Sure. >> Our students first job is to be students. And if they that means that they're not able to go to an athletic practice or an extracurricular or an external job that's between them and their parents. And in my family situation, it would say, hey, if you are have been out sick and you are not feeling well and you are recovering from that, you are not going to go to track, for example, you need to take a break from that and focus on your academics. So I'm saying that's my family's viewpoint on it. And I understand your family's viewpoint on it might be different. But that's why I think actually the decision belongs with the teacher because the teacher knows the student. They know how well the student is utilizing class work

101time. They know their pattern of getting work done. And when we start dictating to teachers, they must give a window of time. Then they are less free to manage their classroom as they should. And and different families are going to have different viewpoints on this position. Um so I actually think that the decision belongs with the teachers. That's my opinion. >> So your point also part of your point is that you feel like there's maybe some inconsistency. >> Definitely. Gotcha. Some rigidity. Right. >> So it it does allow I think you acknowledge that it allows for flexibility and it's saying the designated time limits. This is kind of where we start, but we do allow that. I I know that we do have teachers that provide that flexibility. Um, if you're asking, can we move

102it to two? This will go back to her comment, teachers, like I would need the teachers input on this one. I I would not want to I would not feel comfortable unilaterally making that call. >> Um, >> and I've only been in four districts. I'm trying to think. Four districts. So, it's not a wide variety, but but it has been standard. you're out, you get you get a day to make it up. You're out three days, you get three days to make it up. That's been kind of standard where I've been. It does not mean that there are people that have two and it doesn't mean that it's not worth a conversation. Um, so I'll just leave it there. If it's something that the board wants me to revisit, we absolutely can. Um, this, as

103you mentioned, this is like a policy that's been there for a long time. This seems like maybe something we should take offline and and discuss. You discuss with the teachers and your department heads and with Dr. Grryer and maybe I I just don't know that this is something that needs to be decided tonight when we need to get these to printing and so on. So, I mean I if we have suggestions for homework policies, I've got a couple too, but you know, especially when things are due at midnight anyway. So, because they work till 11:59, you little weirdos. I see you in the front row. So, that's my daughter. Um, so anyway, I think this may be something to have, you know, raised as an issue and to think about and to maybe implement next

104year and so we can move on to voting on what's in front of us. Is that acceptable to everyone? >> Okay, great. Thank you, Chad. >> Yes, Lawrence. Yeah. >> What I'm thinking is the high school uh uh junior senior the lockers issue. You also want add some language in the handbook. That's my understanding. So maybe >> Okay. Yeah, I was going to return to that. I've heard a lot of words and I've heard no motions. So is there a motion regarding the words in the actual document that we should be adjusting? George? >> Yeah. Um, I I will make a motion to add the uh locker and belonging search that's in the intermediate school code of conduct to the high school code of conduct. >> Um, WLS code of conduct to WLJS C. Okay.

105Is there a second? >> You can take out cubbies. >> Yeah. And remove cubbies. >> Good call. These are >> maybe they'd use them. Um, okay. >> So, I I have a discussion on this one. I >> First, we need a second. If there's no Oh, did you? I didn't hear that. Thank you. >> Um, I think that this is a little bit of a dangerous territory. Our job is to set policy for the corporation, not to dictate the language in the handbook. >> So, I think that we're out of bounds on this one, and I would propose that we not vote on this, that if we have concerns about the handbook, that we take those back to Dr. Dr. Riner and we say, "Hey, Dr. Riner, would you work with your administrators?" I know

106that might sound silly because we all probably can agree on locker and cubby searches among us, but the reality is it is just not ours to decide. >> Okay. >> So, I'm going to I'm I'm just kind of weighing in on my opinion on that. >> Well, we did vote just a second ago to add some language if we approve this whole thing. So, should we just table the policy all together or the table? >> Well, we can't. I mean, we have to they need to print the handbooks. So, it's and my my thing is look, if we want to talk about cubbies and whatever, that's fine. And and Mr. Rogers probably is not going to hate us forever for making that decision, but what's to stop us as a board saying, "Hey, actually, we

107think that there should be uh metal detectors at the entrances of all the schools." And we make that decision, not including our administrators, that wouldn't be such a great thing to do. And so, I just I think we're out of our power of authority here. >> Okay, David. David first and Lawrence, please. >> Um, why do they have to be printed in the next 30 days? >> Like when the dockets, they're in the front of the dockets, the kids no notebook homework things, >> the planners. >> So, it's a book. They get printed. >> Okay. And that can't wait a month. >> I don't know. >> Okay. I I get the concern about this potentially being not being, you know, within some people's perception of authority, but if we don't, then we run the risk

108of printing something that's inaccurate and we'll give people wrong information. >> I I just I'm concerned with the president. That's the bottom line. I'm concerned with the president. We we work hard on policy to stay in our lane. This is out of our lane or my opinion. So I would say so legal only because that stuff is actually in our purview legally to do. So there's a lot of things that are in Indiana code that we don't have specifically and I think we want that. I guess that's okay. But um again that's kind of why it took me up when you were asking. It's great to put it in. I think it's great to be clear, but you know, we are allowed, if we have a a reason to believe that there's something, we are

109allowed by law to be able to search personal items. And like I said, the lockers are our our school's possession, if you will. So, we can always search those if we if we want. So, I guess my point would be there. I think there's a lot of things that's in Indiana code that we are allowed to do as administrators that may not expelled out in handbook and if we need to look at doing that. >> Yeah, I'm I'm with Mr. Rogers on this. I I really appreciate Mrs. Wit your point because it is important to understand the process that Mr. Rogers explained with teachers on things that involve teachers and require um particularly how they impact in the classroom. So, I appreciate that. What I would say here is that Mrs. Munford, your approach to

110asking questions in advance allowed us to do what Mr. Rogers suggested, and that was to ask the questions. And so, if we can ask questions in advance, we'll do the research for you. Uh, and we'll talk with administration. If administration thinks it's something that teachers need to discuss, they'll discuss it in addition to legal counsel. I'm with you, Mr. Rogers. You're not overly concerned. It's something you do anyway. If we want to clarify that, we could work with legal counsel if the board is comfortable with that and change that language and explain it in Friday notes >> because it's following law anyway. Like Mr. Rogers said, they're going to if they need to search a locker, they're going to search a locker and probably have. >> So, this is covered in our board policy C550.

111um it's current policy that deals specifically with um student search and seizure and that includes their possession. So we have done our job as board and making sure that this is covered in our policy and complying with Indiana code and that it is yeah and our entire direction is the superintendent shall prepare administrative guidelines to implement this policy. So, I have a a compromised suggestion. Um, how about we table your motion and allow the process to uh go for next year like I said on the other and and they'll look at putting it in and since it's not become an issue, there hasn't been any conflict regarding it and it's already in policy. Can we look at clarifying it for the following year's handbook? >> Yeah, I don't mind that. But just given what we've

112already done tonight, my my point now is that we have already voted to make a change, but now we're tableabling another change. So, we're not even being consistent tonight, much less >> going forward. >> I would just say to you though that what you've proposed in terms of edit is less than what is in our policies. So it would be um so there are standards for search and seizure, searches of storage area provided for student use, searches of students outer clothing and items in the students immediate possessions, searches of students inner clothing or person, use of breath test instruments, searches of student vehicles, law enforcement assistance in school searches and disposition of seized items as well as recordkeeping. >> Rachel, I think >> I just feel like it's >> I I'm not arguing with you

113about what you're saying, >> right? What I'm saying is we have already voted to make a change tonight. So if we go forward, we're already doing what you didn't want us to do. So should we table the entire handbook to comply with what you're talking about? >> But if we do that, we're not giving our students what they need when they show up in August and need a docket. >> David has an idea. Go ahead, David. >> The language is in the other two handbooks. We should be consistent. I think it's fine to add it. I mean, we're already voting on that language for the other schools, so I I don't see a problem adding it to this. I think that's better for consistency. As long as Mr. Rogers is okay with that and agrees

114with the language there, I think it's fine. I mean, and it's going to be the high school students who are going to argue with you, well, it's not in the handbook. That may have been me. They not for locker seizures or anything like that, but um but I I think it's fine just to add add that in since we've already made the changes. It reflects our policy. Uh policy does go broader than that as well, but for consistency. >> Okay. Shall go ahead, Lawrence. >> I just a quick clarification. Make sure I understand. Uh Mr. Roger. So, we cannot wait for another month. >> Sorry. We can wait another month, but we will not have the the dockets in in time. So when we say like in other words I'm trying to not say no

115we can't I mean we can always wait if we need to but we will not have the in here for the start of school >> but start you mean talk about the August start of school >> correct >> so right now it's May so if we pass >> they're printing them for every student in the country like >> they only print every once a year >> not the same company but >> right so a long time for us to print them off and then get them printed and then get them Oh, okay. >> So, you prefer we still want >> I mean, correct. Ideally, we would like we would like to be able to take whatever we get and then send it so we get all those back and ready to go for all of

116our students. >> Okay. >> And then, >> okay, >> do the same way, right? >> Okay. I got Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, that's Yeah, if that's the case, probably we'll use George's suggestion. And we just update that tonight. And then next year when we do this probably as what John said, Sean said, we can I mean get the questions whatever before the meeting and we end up better meeting. >> Okay, sounds good. Dea >> um first I was wondering just procedural could we move this to April in the future to cover this so that if we have questions that come up they this we're not it is hard when we're vote we're like we have to vote on this like it or not in some ways. So if we were to bring the handbook

117forward in April if there was something like this we would have a month leeway I think would help this whole procedure um run better is the first suggestion. The second one I'd love George to help me because I do the board has asked to vote on this which means the board has a voice in what goes in this after we've received input from administration. I would love to understand why this is something just because I don't understand this world while you're why you're recommending it since I don't know which where I stand at this point. >> So I'm not recommending making that change for any dire reason. Uh, I like making information available, making it consistent for everybody because right now that information is in a handbook for students that don't even use lockers and

118it's not in a handbook. I mean, this is the first thing that people are going to get when they get to school. And yes, it's in our policy and yes, it's in state law, but those are places that most people are not going to look to first. And just like David said, you know, students going to be like, well, it's not in the policy. And, you know, we if we can head off that argument, Okay, we ready to go ahead and vote on this? Okay, super. >> I don't know. We're voting >> vote. We're currently voting. >> We're going to vote a lot until we're done. Um, no, we're voting on whether or not to include the language about locker searches pulled from the elementary school's code of conduct into the high school code of

119conduct, but removing the word cubbies because they don't have any. Although maybe they would use them. I'm sorry. >> It's the intermediate school. >> Intermediate. >> Thank you. Yes, the intermediate school. I misspoke. Okay. So, we're voting to include the language about locker and belonging searches from the intermediate school code of conduct in the high school junior high code of conduct. Sean, did you have something to say before I hit buttons? >> I have to some I have something to say after you vote. >> Okay, super. Ready? Go. Oh, we're on the wrong screen. Okay, so that's six points. Shoot, I'm on the wrong page. Um, okay. So, we'll get that folded in. Um, and then now we need to return to the previous motion, which was to approve the handbooks as a package. Um,

120is there any further discussion on handbooks in the general? Okay, let me fix. Yep, Lawrence, go ahead. >> Little bit off topic maybe. So, this handbook update, my understanding we update the tendencies and also cell phone usage. Uh, there's major update. So, are we going to communicate with parents? Uh, use apply English to because this this policy when you look at that is usually take some time to understand that >> we didn't change the attendance policy. We decided to table that and wait and look at it. Right. It was >> what we changed >> the m right the it was the um expulsion that families may pursue remedies under state and local law or federal law. Sorry. >> So that will be tabled. No, that we approved and and we approved the belonging search into

121the high school's code of conduct. Those are the two things I wrote down anyway. Did anybody write down anything else? >> Yeah. Yeah. So now we we kind of the whole the full document. Right. >> Now we have the full document as amended. Okay. Right. >> So that's my my question is >> including the attendance policy. >> Yeah. Yes. That's attendance policy. That's so have four four documents. >> What does that mean? Those we were talking about. >> Yes. All of Yes. All of the documents. >> Yeah. Yeah. That's >> as a in the folder. The the handbook, the attendance, the code of conduct, >> all of all of the handbook documents. I was taking them as one. >> So, we are going to So, given the conversation we were having about homework, we're going

122to revisit the attendance policy later because you mentioned tableabling. I want to make sure the correct >> Oh, I was tableabling the discussion. >> I can't even open it, y'all. What is happening? Um >> I don't think we any >> that's why that's why I'm asking make sure >> okay so so we have >> so code of conduct for each school that's three document and one attendance so four document >> right >> it's the attendance the code of conduct the handbook the handbook the handbook >> yes four four documents >> now documents >> yeah we haven't tabled the attendance we >> discussion that's the memo >> you're right >> so we have Right. >> Handbook for each school. >> I can't open I don't know what's happening now. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Their first document

123is just >> three handbook plus one attendance. >> Yeah. >> My question will be our >> we can't computer today. We're sorry. >> My question to our administration is uh those update uh are we do we have plans to communicate with parents uh of these updates? Well, first of all, for clarification, the attendance policy is updated and approved. Correct. Okay. Secondly, we are adding the language families may pursue any remedies available under state or federal law. Correct. >> Yes. >> Are we adding that the high the locker component of the high school? I didn't realize that we were. >> Yes. >> But we are. So we will work with legal to make sure we clearly state that. So we are adding that to them to be consistent. Okay. >> But we still need to get

124as corrected. >> We need to get direction from uh Indiana Department of Education regarding cell phone um uh policy and how that will look. And then from there there will be dialogue with our administrators. We will engage in dialogue with teachers and in the end we will develop a consistent plan where consistency makes sense and we will develop if it's individualized per school based on guidance in a way that makes sense we will develop that too. Uh and then we will be communicating very clearly to families to make sure that we are following the new requirements um as required by law related to cell phones and cell phone usage. Does that make sense? >> Makes sense. Thank you. Appreciate it. >> My pleasure. >> Okay. Right now we are voting on the three handbooks and

125the other thing right the code of conduct. >> Right. Okay. And nobody has any more discussion. There we go. >> All right, that passes. The next item is >> And I made note that we will look at April. And you're welcome. And um I know that Mrs. Julian will make note too to make sure that we're all having dialogue to make sure that we are prepared to bring uh suggested changes at our April board meeting. >> You're welcome. >> Okay, next item is policies. Do we need to take a little break before policies and come back at 8:00 or are we going to just push through it? >> Push through it. All right, Rachel, it's up to you. >> Bring it home. >> Have our last two policies. um and which is pretty exciting. Uh

126last two policies, the first one that I would ask you to take a look at, let me get to the right page here. I'm not box there either. >> So, we have two policies in tonight. The first one is H175, questioning of students. This is a second reading policy. Um we came through and looked at this one. um administration worked with law enforcement, legal counsel. Uh the policy committee recommend that the board approve the policy as presented with the redline changes with one addition. In the last paragraph, we recommend adding responsible for determining in consultation with the super superintendent or their design if the reason given is a valid emergency or for protection of life and property or property. Um really that's just to make sure that if we're in a situation where students are

127being questioned that our top of our administration is involved in it. And so that was what we had some conversation about and that is supported by legal and administration and law enforcement. >> Okay. Uh I need a motion first guys. >> Like to make a motion to approve H175 with the changes included by the policy committee. >> Okay. Is there a second? >> Second. Okay, thank you. Discussion, George, go ahead. >> Yeah, I'm just curious, why are all the individual federal agencies listed? Is there one that we don't count? I'm just curious. >> No, it's just it's just the way that the policy is is written. It's just language. >> Okay. >> It is interesting that they're all listed, but yeah, especially if the National Forest Service is involved. >> I wondered what circumstances, like

128is there a forest fire? What are we doing? Um, okay. Dea, >> I had a question. In paragraph three, it says it lists just the superintendent has to be informed and it feels like in other places we put superintendent or designate. Is that was that discussed? Does that matter? I don't um >> I don't even see it in >> Well, so there's there are two different things. um it's law enforcement officer or DCS case worker request to interview and that generally speaking in in our understanding and I think what we talked about would be kind of an urgent thing they're going to come in there's a really there's significant problem they're going to walk in the door where we added that um is in the last paragraph where we said superintendent or their design must

129be involved if the student if if they want to take the student off our property. So the actual speaking to them is emergent. The decision to remove them would take a higher level authority. That's my recall if you and Lawrence have different recall. >> Go ahead, David. >> Um I rethinking this that if the superintendent is sick, absent, unreasonable, I think it does need to say designate. So I will make a friendly amendment to my own motion to add the word um the superintendent well to super word superintendent there or designate to be added in into that third paragraph. >> Okay. >> It's a friendly amendment. We don't need >> Lawrence. Do you still second the friendly amendment? Yeah. Okay. Cool. Um neat. Okay. Uh thank you. That's anything else that we need to discuss

130on that. Okay, we are voting to approve H175 as presented with the friendly amendment. There we go. Let me write that down. Okay, hit us with the next one. >> The next one, E2, sorry, >> E250, use of artificial intelligence. Um the policy committee, we talked about this one at length. There were two thoughts that came out of that. Um one, a policy committee recommended not implementing this policy at this time. Administration has continued to work with teachers to determine best practices. There's a lot of work to be done with this and a policy is premature. At the present time, general policies related to plagiarism and other ethical behaviors are already covered elsewhere. Two, we would like to see this general policy put forward, including the edit in blue for vote, understanding it will likely

131need to evolve. So, basically, we didn't have consensus in the meeting between policy committee. Option one, put it on hold. Option two, uh, pass it. It'll need to evolve. Because we did not have consensus in policy committee, we are deferring it back to the board for discussion in this meeting. >> Okay. Um, George, >> can I make a motion to put it on hold then so we can start practicing what we're preaching? >> Sure. Is there a sec or do we Yeah. Is there a second? >> David. Okay. >> Yeah. Until >> proper Robert's life. >> Because why? I mean, sorry, I understand that. Because why? Sorry. because it is covered under other policies that have already been approved and because it needs to evolve and be further investigated by administration. >> Okay. Um, so

132I have a question on that. Can we I had brought it up when I brought this up last time. Can we put together a community committee to talk about AI in our schools and how to support our teachers, our students, you know, number one, from a policy perspective, but to me the bigger perspective is the influence AI has on our teachers and students. And it's a we are in a community that I think could be a leader in the state of how we handle AI thanks to Purdue and a lot of professors and our teachers and so would like to see teachers on it. I'd like to see some potentially older students, parents and decide. It feels like to me right now teachers are just doing the best they can with the limited time that

133they have. Teachers that get AI are using it and embracing it. teachers that have no idea how to use AI are running from it and scared from it. And students are getting mixed messages. AI is good, AI is bad. I, you know, you're a cheater if you use AI. And I just think that we're putting a lot on our teachers that they're supposed to figure this out on their own. Um, and like I said, as I went to a dayong training with ISBA and was excited to hear how many school districts are doing this where they're putting a community committee together to decide what kind of trainings do teachers need, how do we support our students? You know, what type of policy would we need? And so, I guess my question to administration is what's

134the best way to do that? Is that a vote of the board, a consensus that we're interested in something like that? Is that just something you're already doing? How do we move forward on this topic? We would want to first engage in dialogue with teachers because like you said, it's a lot on their shoulders and so we want to understand teacher perspective. A lot of teachers are already using it. Mrs. Roth actually is already working to develop kind of a cadre of teachers that will study that. That's futuristic. Um, Mrs. Roth, I'll let you talk a little bit about that. I don't know that we would be in a position to necessarily do a community study as opposed to really working with educators and administrators. Um, but I want you to speak to that if

135you would, Mrs. Roth, because I know you've got a vision to some degree of uh how you want to move forward with some leading teachers that want to kind of take the lead and I know that IDOE has done some of that as well. Um, but just speak from your perspective where you are interested in going since you've had some vision here. Uh we do know that there are teachers that are very interested in the topic. We also know that there are teachers that are less interested, more hesitant, a variety of emotions. Um, success in working with educators has traditionally been found with working with those who are invested and very interested to kind of lead the way and then using that to work its way out to others in their buildings and in their

136schools. That way there's that clear educator voice. So that is the direction we were looking to head. And then with that we've worked closely with legal counsel regarding the questions about does there need to be a policy should there be a policy given you know the constant evolution and the reason that our uh we don't they don't have a policy now is because of what Mrs. Wit had shared that uh it it there are protections in place with other policies and if you're not careful given the evolution and so forth you could be creating a policy that uh is out of date before you start it if it's not very general uh or broad uh as well as um we really do want to uh get teacher and administrator input working together on this through

137the process of lead teachers as as Mrs. Roth had stated. >> Okay. All right. So, if I understand correctly, at this point, you don't want to involve the community. You only want teacher input. And so, maybe after that, I just I think that um from my perspective, teachers play, you know, their full-time job is teaching. So, any of this extra stuff is really on their own time to learn how II works. We have um Purdue professors who this is their full-time job. they go to, you know, conferences, this is what they research. And so to me, bringing them together because they're not in the classroom in the high schools teaching or, you know, the different ones. And so I find real value in bringing the experts on both sides, experts on the topic who this

138is their full-time job studying it, know the latest research, what is, you know, evidence-based interventions with AI, all that type of things. But then I think the teachers are some of our core because they're in there. And so I guess the question is would this be better once we hear from the teachers then to propose bringing in the community or how would >> I think the goal is to hear from teachers first about >> what they're to think at the landscape how people are using it how people are curious about it what they want to know more of and then that's when you start to say okay where do we draw in this expertise there might be expertise in the room amongst teachers >> if I'm a third grade teacher and I'm very interested in

139AI And I would love to share that with my colleagues creating a structure that permits the time for that and and stipens money for that to occur for everyone involved. So that's where I think it's very important to hear first from teachers about what do I want to learn more about and then to go out and find the expertise that can help them learn that. >> And you make a good point with the Purdue partnership too or that as a resource. It's certainly something that we're already taking advantage of and that right now that choice of people that want to go out like Mrs. Roth and I have attended the AI summit both years and it's been very helpful and we've seen teachers that are requesting to be on to to attend and have attended

140and so that is an absolutely great resource right in our backyard and so um as this cadre is developed um certainly Purdue will part we will be engaging with Purdue and they're very open in multiple ways as you know of partnering with us so that's certainly going to be a component of it >> perfect is there a tentative timeline online at this point >> starting over the summer. >> Over the summer. >> Yeah. Um and this is not something that you brought it up, so obviously I'm talking about it, but it's not something that's otherwise been widely released. Uh but there will be opportunities over the summer. And I I would be shocked if people were not saying, "Oh, so and so at Purdue has this knowledge." I know we have parents who are in

141our schools who have excellent knowledge and have spoken at some of what's gone on at Purdue, but I also know that there are educators in nearby districts that have excellent knowledge as well as educators in our own classrooms that would be Yeah. that would be happy to share. So, I think it's key to hear first from teachers about what their needs are, what their interests are, and then look for things that match that. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> Okay. Um, yes. Go ahead. >> Just to help fellow board members and those listening, the policy that I would think applies to this that's already in place. Responsible use of technology is ethical, academically honest, respectful of rights of others, and consistent with the corporation's mission. Technology should be used by students to learn and communicate in

142correlation with the curriculum while under the teach a teacher or supervisor's direction. Um, so I mean, and it it moves on. There's a whole lot of other content there. Um, item D then says users must respect and protect the privacy and intellectual property rights of others and the principles of their school community. Um, and it just kind of continues on, but it's an extensive policy. If you care to read it before we get you get to this again, it is A300, responsible use of technology and internet use. >> Thanks. Okay. Um before we go on, I have been told that we don't have discussion about motions to table. We just vote. So this has been an important exercise, but let's go ahead and vote yes or no on the motion to table. Yes, we table.

143No, we don't. Is that good? Okay, let's do that because Yeah, we're not going to >> that's that's what I'm trying to uh discuss regarding this table. Well, but it's not a motion that gets debated. It's just moved, seconded, voted on. >> We made a >> I I messed up Robert's rules because there are so flipping many of them. But let's go ahead and vote on whether or not to table and then we'll uh use the information. I think talking during the um uh leadership meeting with Dr. Grryer about this issue would be smart and I will add it to the agenda. Um, so I'm writing tabled the sixth one. Okay. I don't even know what's next. >> Okay. So, last item on um the P policy section. There is one policy left in the

144old policy section. That is policy 5540. And I'd like to make a motion that that be rescended at this time. >> Second. >> Thank you. And um I'm gonna hope there's no discussion on that and we can just go through it. Let me do the There we go. Okay. Neat. Okay, that one passes 70. Alrighty, moving on to reports. Dr. Yes, sir. >> Can I just add a quick note of gratitude uh for Rachel and Lawrence for all the work on policies done as well for everybody. I think that this process went um over time. We figured out how how to do it smoothly and everybody contributed in ways um that really helped us get to the end of policies >> which is >> for now until the state changes things and we have to

145change and update things. But we're in a good place. So, thank you to both of you as well as to everybody else for your contributions. This made a smooth process that I hope if we ever have to do anything like this again that we can model after this process. >> Thank you. Yes, that's important to say and I appreciate you raising it >> and adding to um all of our administrators who have been part of this process reviewing and reading multiple versions, checking with legal and all that. We really meeting at 7:30 in the morning um pre second cup of coffee. We really appreciate that and Robera for making those cups of coffee for us. >> Yeah, you're a rock star. >> We really did get into a group there. And and with that, the

146um ad hoc policy committee is disbanded. >> Is no more. >> We're ad hawking no more. Okay. So, having heard that and I do very much appreciate all your work. Um, it has been the practice of the board for a long time to have a standing policy committee which would review things as they come from church or previously from Niola with the superintendent and prepare those for the board and if anyone is interested in serving on that I think it should be three people just for the sake of unity and um so please email me with your interest and um we'll figure that out as we go forward. Hopefully, we'll have a month or so break. Dr. Grryer, would you like to give your report? >> I would like to do that. And I have

147several items, but I will try and go rather quickly for your sake. Um, the first one's is focusing on the CA canvas issue. As you're aware, recent reports identified a data breach involving Canvas, which is utilized at West Lafayette Junior Senior High School as its learning management system. Based on the information currently available, we are learning that we do not believe West Lafayette School Corporation was impacted by this incident. However, out of abundance of caution, the district has taken precautionary measures, including temporarily disabling data connections between Canvas and our uh student information system while additional review occurs. We've also notified our cyber insurance carrier and are coordinating with them regarding recommended next steps and communication protocols. At this time, we are continuing to monitor updates related to the breach if it is determined that district

148data was involved in any way. Communication will be provided promptly to the affected families and staff with guided next steps. The lottery process was completed at the end of April per board policy. Thank you for the policy to our board. There were 35 priority students per the deadline that were part of the lottery. Uh the 24 spots were filled and 11 students were weight listed given the limited number of spots available. The spots were filled by 10 kindergarten students, three first grade students, four second grade students, two third grade students, two fourth grade students, one fifth grade student, and two sixth grade students. Beyond uh the priority students, we also have 22 students weight listed uh that did not submit applications by the priority deadline. So 40 or 22 30 33 students at this time.

149Beginning May 14th, the district's community phone uh survey process will begin and it is expected to take approximately 5 to 10 days to complete. Calls will appear from Morris Leatherman Company with either a 651 or a 507 area code. The as the board is aware on June 3 at 5 pm the results of the survey will be presented to the board during a scheduled work session. The last day of school is May 20th. Hard to believe that it's a week and a half away less than that as of tonight. and graduation is May 22nd at 7 p.m. We are grateful for our teachers, our students, and our parents who work together in this amazing school district throughout each year to make the learning the quality experience for all who are part of our learning community.

150As our seniors prepare to walk across the stage on February on sorry, Friday, May 22nd, let's wish them much success in the next phase of their lives. and may they always know that our school community is here cheering them on wherever the next phase takes them. >> Thank you. >> Concludes my report and we'll turn it over to um Mrs. Roth if conclude. >> Certainly. Uh claims for the period of April 9th through May 4th, 2026 total 2,882,14282. This amount includes both information and uh claims for the corporation and the Wbash Valley Education uh center, their expenses, salaries and benefits for the period totaled $1,746,0006460 and then a final fund report was included in your board packets for the month of March uh March 2026. Also, total funds on hand amounted to 27,800,89425 and the

151education fund balance rest at 8 million8 uh 8,321,2632. And you've got the preliminary fund report for April in the board packet, but as normal, it has not been completely reconciled and completed yet. >> And that concludes the superintendent's report. Of course, we'd entertain questions if there are questions. >> Lawrence, go ahead. >> So, you start you say the the phone survey will start May 14th. >> Uh, yes. May 14th. >> May 14th. You say, six days will be finished. >> 5 to 10 days. Correct. Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. And then, uh, they'll be reporting that out during our board work session that we have scheduled. >> Thank you. >> My pleasure. >> Okay. Okay, I'm going to start and we'll go that way just because I have a lot and I

152don't want to forget. The Early Childhood Education Center is um hosting listening sessions or public meetings um on June 17th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at city hall and on September 2nd from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at city hall. Um this is the city listening to the community about the environmental impact and there were several other things. I got an email hopefully other people in the community did as well. Um the foundations and plumbing should be completed by now at Leml Park because the meeting was four weeks ago and um the lighting foundations on Robinson and Indian Trail have been almost completed and the polls are coming. Um but in exciting news from the RDC uh 425 North was approved by city council. So we're going to be getting a new road in from River

153Road 43. Um, as far as school activities, um, Allison Walters and Joe Tailinda hosted a wonderful lunch and learn about mental health and gave a lot of fantastic resources for parents and kids. And I am told the slides are online. I've not been able to find them, but um, do look for them because it was excellent. I thank them for their work on mental health in our schools. Um the Indiana Coalition for Public Education had a webinar on Facebook that I attended um extracurricularly and it was about the referendum wave which is coming in Indiana as a result of the things we heard tonight from Mr. Reutder. Um it it was a very good refresher considering we haven't done this in a couple of years on um the communication. uh they had people whose referendums

154had succeeded and people whose referendums had not succeeded and then one school district where they had run one that failed and then another one that succeeded. So, it was interesting to hear from them what worked and what didn't. And um I encourage you to go to their Facebook page, again, it's the Indiana Coalition for Public Education to look for the video and I also sent the slides to the board. And a reminder that the um retirement reception for our retiring personnel will be June 8th in this location at 5:30 p.m. And there will be snacks. And I do think that's everything from me. So George, would you like to do your report? >> Um mercifully, um the Indiana legislature is not in session and the uh Congress only returned to session today. So there are

155no developments on either of those fronts. As we all know, primary elections were held on May 5th. There is still an outstanding vote and that will potentially be resolved on May 15th when Fountain County counts their provisional ballots. Um if not, there may be a recount and then there may be legislation. So the primary season is not over yet. >> Thank you, Lawrence. Yes, there's no uh public school foundation. >> There's uh no public uh uh foundation typically no counties uh meeting. So I don't have any update for that. But I attend uh the glass the last meeting of glass uh that's the final meetings uh before their dissolvations. there's no major business conducted and the superintendent from three uh school district uh they joined the meeting they offered closing remarks and also express interest

156in further collaborate uh collaboration opportunities and Lisa also say it has been her honor to serve glass over the past three years so that's pretty much all that you want to report to >> I can yeah sure >> yeah go ahead that's all for me thank you Okay, thank you Rachel. >> Um, mark your calendars. Willil will host the annual scholarship program and reception on May 18th. Um, foundation manages 28 scholarships awarded to graduating seniors and that totals $56,000 this year. Um, so you should have received all an invitation to that. Um, Wilsuff will be the featured nonprofit of the night at Lafayette a Aviators game on Friday, June 5th. You can visit the um foundation website for more information and to purchase tickets. Um this summer they are working on plans to host 1976,

1571986, and 2006 um for homecoming in September. Um backpack program continues this summer with food being distributed every few weeks to 23 students um as experienced during the year. This an increased number of students being served compared to previous years. And finally, Wilsuff uh and Wendy uh Aaylor is always wonderful about this, but she really wants to thank um all of the volunteers that support the foundation. It's really phenomenal the number of hours um that people invest in the foundation um and in our students. >> Thank you, David. >> To add on to what Rachel said about the Wils event at the Aviators game, first pitch will be thrown out by a Westside kid who may or may not be related to me. He is related to me. Um, so I'll be there. It'll be

158a lot of fun. Um, parks and wreck. Um, it's farmers market season, which is wonderful. It opened last week. Um, every Wednesday, uh, at Cumberland, um, camp is starting relatively soon because school is ending in four, five, six, seven days, right? >> Yeah. Um, and fun fascinating fact, um, at the Lily Nature Center, um, over the winter they tapped trees for maple syrup, and they've made maple syrup. Unfortunately, because of the weather this year, they weren't able to make enough to sell, but they were able to make some that you can try at the farmers market. So, if you're interested in trying local maple syrup, go to the farmers market and otherwise things are going really well in the center or uh parks and recre wise >> and I couldn't make the glass meeting and

159Lawrence helped me. He already reported. Thanks. >> Okay. Thank you, Kesha. >> And then there was some confusion with the community council. So, I don't know if Dr. Griner has anything to share from that or >> we mainly discussed from our perspective the the um the referendum and communicated out information on that and I want to apologize to both you and Mr. Wong for that um confusion. >> Okay, that's it. Great. Um upcoming dates of interest are on the agenda and everything's on the website and I need a motion to adjourn. >> Motion to adjourn. >> Everybody wants to adjourn. We're going to call that Lawrence and George. And I'm going to hit the buttons real quick. Sorry. But everybody gets to vote yes on a jouring from this warm, warm room. There we go.

160Thanks all. Have a good evening.