001Not today. >> Not one more thing today. >> I don't know why. I guess he is really >> Yeah. >> He's homesick. >> His wife. >> Oh, that's right. Throw a few jokes in there. >> That's right. You ready? >> Yep. >> All right. 6 o'clock. Let's get started. Call to order the October 21st uh school board meeting. Start with the pledge of allegiance. I pledge >> allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for allible. >> Thank you guys for coming. Uh Tom's out today. We have four members present here today. Um we will start with a memo from Dr. Henshaw. >> I have nothing to add. Any questions from the board? Hearing none, we
002will move on to public comments. If you guys have public comments, please step up and state your name and address and keep it to 3 minutes or less. >> I'll do my best. She'll bring in 1300 North Wild Pine Brook. I'm here with for two reasons actually. I'm curious. I've been to a lot of meetings and I know before Vicki, you have brought up something about paying off school lunch accounts and I don't feel like there was ever a solution to that. I've had a lot of people reach out to me. I have a list a mile long of people that want to contribute and make sure that our kids are getting fed without the embarrassment of the alternate lunch. And I know that in at our school um you know sometimes the cafeteria manager
003will send out an email saying, you know, does so and so have a whole lunch today? And to me that's code for there's no more money in the account. And if I see that and can send it to the parent, nine times out of 10 they're like, oh my gosh, I okay, I'll put money in the account. But we don't often have time to check our emails. I don't think parents do either, but I have people that want to help before the end of the semester or before the end of the school year to zero it out. So, has there been a solution or something, a plan, a protocol, something where people can help? They want to and I'd like to go forward with that. I will help with that. I know maybe you need
004to get back to me, but if you could at least think about that and let me know, I would appreciate that. Um the other thing is today um after school at 409 I got an email an important invitation to collaborate on shaping the future direction of Yorktown Community Schools. That's awesome. It's tomorrow and I am hoping that you guys have other times planned that are well in advance so people can put it on their calendar so that they can be heard. Um I was at a meeting at school yesterday and and people I was encouraging them to do the survey and they're asking me but what's it for? What they there was a lack of communication. I feel like I think strategic planning is important if it's implemented in a in a good way. >>
005Thank you. >> We'll get back to you on feedback on the lunch accounts. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Thomas Fry, 3691 South Bell Creek Road. Um there's a lot of things going on in our school system. uh good, bad, other people may be disgruntled over the survey, whatever. I'm here on a good note. Um actually, one year ago, my son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. He's a second grader at PBE. And I want to just take the time to personally thank four women in that and administrators and teachers um from PVE for the excellent job they've done. They've set the bar incredibly high for the rest of the school district. So, um, Yorktown Elementary, Middle School, and High School, we expect the same level of engagement and encouragement that first off, um, Mrs.
006Eding gave helping us get a 504 plan addressed. Mrs. Schultz, his first grade teacher, she was amazing, always in contact with us, communicating how he was doing. Um, Mrs. Turner who has been thank you Kelly who has been not only just a supportive person um she also has a lot of compassion and understanding about diabetes for her personal reasons as well. So I want to thank them and most off Mrs. my has been absolutely amazing. So with that, I want to thank the board for making sure that there are such good professional and caring individuals within our school system. School system where we have all this planning things like that going on. It's important to take time to thank people and from my family um bottom of our hearts, thank you to to those women
007and and the school district itself. So thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. Good job. Anyone else? All right. Hearing none, we will close public comments and move on to the consent agenda. Dr. Henshaw. >> Uh, I don't think there's anything out of the ordinary there. So, if there are no questions. >> Motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. >> Second. >> Have a first and second. Any comments? All in favor say I. I >> I'll oppose. Same sign. Motion carries 40. >> Moving on to reports. Dr. Henshaw, teacher appreciation grant. >> I just want to be sure that I share in public the the beginning stages plan here for the teacher appreciation grant. And I think everybody knows that teacher appreciation grant has been around a long time, but the
008legislature has changed it significantly for 2526 and it will be limited to 20% of teachers at a maximum in any school district. And there are three award amounts that are established by statute. And I'll be honest, my initial uh plan was just not to apply for the money. Philosophically, I wasn't sure that uh that's where we wanted to go, but we had received a lot of guidance from our state associations that it was probably not a good idea to turn the money down. And so, with the permission of the board members, I did go ahead and submit to the state our intention to make an application, which we haven't done yet, but we're in the process of developing a plan. The legislaturator's taken a pretty strong stand on this that this is not bargainable and
009in fact they sent out a memo that if it is bargained that you it will invalidate your application. Um, and so one of the things that is permissible though is to have some discussion. And so I've been in communication with Crystal Phillips, Crystal Greg now, who is the president of the YTA. And so we'll be working with her to try to put together a plan that we think is workable and uh move forward with that. There are lots of different ways you can approach it. I read the guidance from the state to say that a minimum qualification is that the teacher must demonstrate more than a year's growth in a year on some objective assessment. And there are some workarounds in terms of common formative assessments, things like that, but different districts are approaching it
010in different ways. And so I think what I want to do is try to be as transparent upfront so that nobody is disappointed in not getting the money or nobody goes through the effort and is expecting to receive a teacher appreciation grant and does not. So we'll work through that plan together and I'll communicate back with you before we make the final application. I think we were distributing Cara can help me. It had to be differentiated between highly effective and effective before it was 600 and 900. Is that >> 25% difference? >> Right. >> But the the amount per teacher was typically in the 600 range, 900 range, >> but I should ask some teachers. Does anybody remember? >> But it was >> it was several hundred. The minimum amount now is $3,500 for tier
011one up to $7,500 in the top tier. So it's it's significantly more money but the state has also said you cannot award it to more than 20% of teachers. So adds some interesting wrinkles to the to the process like what type of defining items could be part of the CR. So for example like I think tenure could be one is that a lot is like okay no it's it is strictly based on student achievement as kind of a first screen and then even with the first screen you can add some additional leadership activities or duties and where where I am presently uh in my discussion with principles Dr. Sturgeon's been involved in that is maybe trying to identify teachers who would qualify under that first screen and see how many that is and then offer
012those teachers the opportunity to volunteer for a leadership activity that would qualify them then that there is real clarity that okay I' I've affirmatively volunteered to do this and I know that this is the stipen that I'll get as a result of it. Um, again, depending on the districts, some people say if it really is more than a year's growth, um, in a year, I've heard some superintendents say they don't know that they would have 20% of teachers qualify because, you know, many teachers don't teach subjects that are tested in a formal way. >> Other people are concerned, well, what if I use this and I have 30% of my teachers qualify? If I don't have some other screen, then I have to use an arbitrary measure to winnow it down to 20%. So, I've
013heard I've heard stories of lotteryies. I've heard stories of, you know, peer assessment from another district. And so, we'll just kind of work through this and see where it takes us. But, it is not the way I would have uh written it if I had the choice. But >> shoot the messenger. >> Remember that. teachers. >> Yeah. >> Any other questions, comments? All right, let's move to item B, roofing update. Um, so as we've been discussing for several months, uh, we've been in long process here and so on on the recommendation of some colleagues. I have been in some discussion with Duralast and we do have a legal opinion that it's permissible for us to purchase the roof through cooperative purchasing through Duralast. Their cooperative qualifies under the public works statute. And I also have
014communicated with probably between 15 and 20 other superintendent and business managers and uh facilities directors in the state. And uh the reputation of Duralast is pretty good in that regard. And so I would like to move forward with making arrangements to purchase the roof through the TIPS cooperative purchasing process. Um it is required that the labor at least our view of it is that the labor has to be bid separately. Um I was asking our local council today even about the status of that. So the labor would be bid separately and that bid would be awarded separately and then we would look to move forward with that sometime in early November. >> When do you think it'll actually bid? Um, well, it takes you have to run an advertisement a week apart and the final
015one a week before you open the bids. So, it will take you at least two weeks after you put the advertisement in. So, early November. >> And then we wouldn't do installation until it's temperature- wise warmer. I'm assuming >> probably not. Although, it'll it'll really depend. I mean, their Durass says they can do it. I think the later we get, we're more likely looking at spring >> and the bonds for this project are due to sell on Thursday. So, >> we'll have the financing lined up. >> I did talk to Dr. Henshaw. One caveat is the installers, and correct me if I get this language wrong, has to be a qualified installer of Duralas or >> Yeah, >> their term is master. >> Master. Okay. >> Installer. >> I saw that. And that so then
016the warranty comes from Duralas only if we use technically master installers that they have approved. >> Yeah. >> So that's the that was the piece that I was discussing with >> and it has to be a minimum of two years >> there. >> And so they're they're warrantying the >> product and the labor for 20 years. So, that's part of the >> Do we know how many qualified master installers for Dura Roof there are? >> I I don't give I can't give you a hard number, but I know that I'm gonna say it's four to six. >> Okay. >> So, I think that's that's a board understanding because again, we saw the pricing before, we saw the alternatives, now we have this. I do think cuz I talked to Nick Kuzzman today just about that
017is it it will be public bid but I think it theoretically removes some I guess competitors in that to some extent. So I think as a board we got to accept I I probably compare it to a Lowe's contract is you go get carpet they hire the installer but you're going to Lowe's if you have a problem. >> So we don't have any say over who that installer is which is is a risk I think but um I think just going to eyes wide open of how that's going to work. So, >> part of part of the reason for all the extra due diligence, I mean, I I've talked to way more people about this than I have on many other projects just because the pricing is incredibly good in relative terms. And so, that
018that gives you some doubts as to okay, what's the rest of the story? >> So, the material is um was like the bargain purchase, >> cooperative closet purchase. Okay. All right. Any questions on the roofing update? >> Do we have an estimate on We know what materials is. Do we have an estimate what we think labor might be? >> Well, he included that in his in his pricing up front. >> That's in that number. >> Yeah. >> So, what happens if the labor comes back higher? We have to decide when we event. Yeah. >> Okay. Any action needed on that? No. All right, let's move on to item C, softball and YMS fields facility update. I I threw these in together since they're both facility discussions that have been ongoing. And the first one is
019that Fred Po from Context um has given us a little timeline here of potential opportunities to move forward. He also sent me an agreement uh for his services and I said, "Fred, you're going to have to wait until after our bond sale and our roof project is awarded and then we'll have a better idea." So, I feel like that that process is moving along on his end and we'll have more information to report later. The second piece of this is sort of the ongoing discussion about how to address uh the fields at Yorktown Middle School. And I've thrown that into the court of Mr. Huber and Mr. Wagner. And so if I were going to characterize my thought process here, it's it's a high visibility site. It's very floodprone. And in terms of um value,
020I'm not saying it's of no value, but it's a lower value site in terms of comparing that to varsity facilities, classrooms, things like that. And so I think that's been a contributor to okay, what is how are we how are we going to say we're going to fix this? So one of the factors that's there is that the field that baseball is using for practice was a softball field. So outfield fencing is not exactly the right distances. And so just again to get right down to the bottom of it, what I have suggested that I want pricing for is improved and maybe even completely replaced fencing all the way around. And we would replace all four of those remaining dugouts with chain link dugouts and shade cover. And part of the thought process on that
021is that if you've been around, this floods about once every three years. Um, we get the fencing to look all uniform. We leave the existing bleachers there. And so really we're just pricing fencing. Well, then of course we have to make the decision about where that fencing is going to go. Outfield fencing in baseball, if you look, if we put it up in the ideal spot, is cutting into the soccer field. So again, I'm starting year nine at Yorktown, and it seems like every time we start to talk about this site, well, if this, then this. And so, do we do we want to invest in considering shifting our soccer field to the east in order to get the baseball outfield the way that would be ideal? And uh if so, then we need to
022have some consideration about what that would take to do that. So, let me stop there. Mike, what what am I leaving out? >> Um, well, so there's also a significant number of uh polls that are in the outfield uh currently or with like this uh proposal uh that would need to be removed. Uh the scoreboards that are out there right now uh do not work. Uh so there'd be potential replacement of them as well. Uh, and then I think we've talked about seating or sawing the infield of the baseball diamond to kind of make it more similar to what the high school field is. Um, and then a lot of the rest of it is just kind of filling in dirt, low spots. We do have fill [Music] >> tie your mouth. Um, >> do
023you know are these used for practice or games? >> Practice only. Did you guys ever play softball games on it? >> Yeah, >> it was scheduled just canceled. >> We never I don't think we ever officially had I think maybe we had one game, but I think rain took us out on that one. Um, but even when we walked it in its current condition a couple years ago, to play a game there was just going to be very much last resort. Um, but I think with the improvements, you know, depending on because a lot some of it was also safety, like some of those holes in the outfield are big. Um, and so if you could, I think you could potentially for a I'm talking like middle school. Not to say that I mean I
024coach middle school, so it's not it's not important. Um, but I think you could possibly use it depending on the level of improvement you wanted to put into as game. Now, baseball, I think that's maybe a different story, but um it certainly I know it also since we did the infield improvements, I know it's utilized by a lot of local like there's always youth baseball teams out there all the time, so it gave them another opportunity, another place to practice, but potentially, but there'd have to be some some pretty decent upgrades for it to be game ready. And I I think the the thought process here is that it's primarily for practice, but in the event of a really tight schedule or a scheduling pinch or a rain out that had to be rescheduled >>
025that we would ideally at some point want to get it to the condition where it could be used for middle school games >> as an alternative site. >> So, and to the point Mr. Huber made about the the posts, the light poles and all that. I think we've already made arrangements to have a local contractor come in and demo all those. We're just waiting for him to show up and do that. >> So, I think that's I've probably been most vocal just because it's so visible. Um, is if the intent is to play a game, the cost difference is drastically different. >> Yes, it is. So like we've talked about this for two plus years and the answer is always we don't have enough money for that. So I I would be you know more
026engaged in making this practice first getting that done making visually appealing and then figure out if you want to add those things. The scoreboards are expensive the outside fencing but right now it's just not playable for practices in general. Uh hardly it's not maintained because it's not used. Nobody drags the fields. JA is not using anymore. It's just not it's not usable in my opinion and it looks terrible. So I think those low hanging fruit getting rid of the poles, the demo cost and doing, you know, even the the dugouts aren't being used if you're not playing games other than store bags. So can you do a fenced dugout? I mean, I think for 50 grand, you can make this thing look usable or be usable and look nice with some help from partners around
027the community because there is people that would help donate time and services. I mean, I think there was a group of when when the Jay fields were not usable by some of the youth programs. They went to Selma and redid a field in 48 hours and made it playable. But it it took 40 people coming out there with equipment and making I think those people exist. Uh, I think we just got to have a plan that and make the ask. So, I don't know. It's my feeling. I don't know how you guys feel. >> Yeah, I'm kind of similar when you look at the available options like, well, get rid of it. Well, there's a real need for the space. So, I don't like getting rid of it. You know, we've seen what new fields
028cost to build at the, you know, vacant ground up there. That's not an option. So, I like sort of this progressive idea. How can we in the next year make it better practice ready with maybe the idea the next year if there's a need we think about game ready if that demand's there. So when it comes to thing like scoreboards like the ones that are there are no good right but can we leave the elect you know if there are things that we could kind of plan for potential future game readiness that'd be good game readiness is probably going to be different I mean probably going to bring restrooms into the equation and store so that's another level so it's like how can we do the things now to make it practice ready but kind
029of reserve the option in future years to do a little more I think that's the best of the available options >> and I think That's been the logic >> that's been behind this. >> The space is needed. I mean, you know, when you when you talk baseball and softball, I mean, >> we kind of sort of have one field for the entire middle school and high school on both sides. >> And it's there's too many kids, too many practices to try to coordinate. So, we need the space. >> It's not an ideal location, but we can't we can't change that. And that's that's been part of the the issue is with scheduling games like home games, especially with baseball. Um because you're trying to coordinate with a lot of different moving parts and weather issues
030and stuff like that. So I don't know that we had a whole lot of home games for baseball last year. So this almost impossible to try to offset that a little bit in a as needed basis. >> Just remember the district got a whale of a deal on this site when they bought it. Sure they did. paying for it. >> It was not being used for anything else. >> Does that soccer field get used? >> Yeah. So, middle school plays all their games there. >> What kind of work is it to move that down? I mean, is there >> is it just moving lines? >> Put in on the east end. >> There's also on the southeast corner. You can kind of see it on the map. There are trees there. >> Uh they're not
031in the playing surface, but the branches are. So, we would just need to kind of cut those down a little bit. But I there's I think I measured it's 90 about 92 feet to get to the tree line. So if we moved it about 60 feet east, there's still enough for the ball to travel and not get in the the trees and still be safe. >> What soccer is happening in the spring? Is it both? >> No. Um no, we do both in the fall, boys and girls in the fall. probably the reason why it's not in the middle of the old track because that space is also being used by football. Yep. >> I thought in our original talk of this though the major cons that's the reason why we demoed the existing concession
032stand. We didn't want to put money into a building that was sitting in the middle of a flood plane. And so if we're going, it's like we're going kind of backward. Like I'm all about if you want to make it a a practice facility, but to make it a practice facility that then's going to lead into bringing it up to the game standard with restroom, concession stand, handicap accessible walkways. I mean, that all >> I don't think I don't think we would put a restroom building back on that level. You know, if you were going to do that, you'd probably look for a spot higher above a flood line. That was that was wrong. I guess that would be my fear is that we're going to sit here and keep going and then we're going
033to be like, "Well, that was ready for game day. Let's go." >> We didn't tear that building down because of the flooding, but it lost its roof if you remember. >> And the cost of re-roofing it was not we couldn't justify it, but it was also significantly damaged by >> water multiple times. It was not in good shape on the inside. So, I hear you on that. I to me I think it's the best for a high visibility spot and and again I'm telling you we have been through this different board members different boards um this discussion multiple times of somebody should do something with it well and at one point we were ready several years ago to pull the trigger and totally demo all of it and then we got this well middle school
034could use it and so here we are and I I think this is the the best starting point is to try to make it sort of like the foundational pieces for practice and then we evaluate that piece by piece and if there are people in the community that say I would take that on and make that better. I don't think we would turn that down either. >> Is varsity soccer going to be playing over at the new field? Does that free up our field over in the sports park? >> I don't I don't think they would play every game there. I think they want to play some games there and I think the last I knew our new soccer goals were stuck in customs somewhere. >> They came from England. >> So, but we did
035purchase new soccer goals for the the varsity football facility. So, >> if we had to though, like could middle school then be over at the sports park on the existing soccer field that's over there? Those fields I think are used pretty intensively by Delaware County football DCFC. >> No, our field. >> Oh, well, it's also used by DCF. >> Yeah. >> It gets utilized by the other travel teams and leagues also because it's not exactly all ours. >> I was going to say soccer field. >> It is on our property. The school district did not pay to build it. So there is an agreement there. You've you've heard these stories before. >> Yeah. Okay. Interesting. First time hearing that. Thank you for bringing me up to speed. >> There is an agreement that covers DCFC
036use of that field. >> Does Yorktown Community School get preference or priority? >> Yeah. >> So if we needed to >> I have to go back and look at the agreement, but yeah. >> Okay. Interesting. Thank you. Will having any of the soccer games on the new football field free up any of that? >> I would think some >> um Okay, let me pivot to softball. Um I think from a foundation standpoint trying to get something on the books to figure out from a strategy standpoint if if there is going to be an ask which I think that's what we did before in the football. I think that direction needs to come from the board at some point and then strategize with the board of like when that ask goes out. So if if the
037designing is done in January, February and then we're doing some alternates is like we really need to know how much they're willing to commit to raise to make some decisions. So, um, >> well, I think the the football approach worked. Um, and so maybe there are some lessons learned there. One of them is we we determined what the board was going to be willing to go in on. I think we went on a little farther beyond that. Um, but the fundraising continued after that, too. So if you look in your list there, you see like the first hard decision he's going to ask you to make is in December about turf or or sod. And so if that's the case, that's going to start to determine his pricing estimate and that can help us. And
038also when we have sold the bonds and awarded the bids for the roof, we'll have a better perspective too on maybe available financing. So, >> so I think as we look at the timeline, maybe just having a strategic meeting with a foundation somewhere in that list would be helpful. Yeah, right now I would say >> the foundation just doesn't have much direction. So, >> end of this calendar year or very beginning of next year. >> Okay, perfect. Any more comments on softball or YMS fields? All right, let's move on to item D, athletic conference discussion. I just want the board to be aware um and statewide media has had some discussion around the future of the Hooser Heritage Conference and so that has gotten back to people in the community who are interested in that
039discussion and Stacy's here and she can jump in on this at any point. But um essentially I think sort of baseline is the Hooser Heritage Conference will be down to six schools and so there's been some discussion uh among the remaining schools about how to expand the conference back to eight and there are some schools if I go and say more than I'm supposed to say on the record but parochial schools that have been approached about their interest in joining the Heritage Conference. they approach the HAC. Okay. And so that discussion then uh is happening within the current members of the Hooser Heritage Conference. And again that represents a change in what the conference is becomes more of a of an Indie Metro conference even more so maybe I should say and for the whole
040history of the conference it's always been public high schools in it. So that's a little bit of a change as well. And as I understand the bylaws of the HHC, so the principal and the AD are on the board of the conference. That's how the bylaws are set up. But it takes a two34ers vote to add a school. Is that right? >> Yes. >> So Yorktown and Delta are sort of the outliers geographically of the remaining six. The other three are in Hancock County and then South Madison, Pendleton Heights. And so in order to expand the conference, it would take the vote of either Delta or Yorktown or both to add a member. And so there's been some discussion around that. Then in the midst of all this, there's been an effort made to organize
041a new conference. I think Newcastle has been one of the leaders in that. And so this conference has not formed, but there's a potential to form a new conference of mostly 2A and 3A schools. Um, some former MEC Master Eastern Conference schools and former Tri- Eastern Conference schools as well as Newcastle and maybe an independent school. So, we're not unaware of this discussion. I think we've even had a board level discussion as recently as last month. I asked um Mr. Heiden Reich and Miss Brewer to survey our varsity head coaches for their opinions um on going staying reorganizing and I shared that with you and you can see there's there's lots of different opinions out there. If I were going to summarize, I don't think it's a consensus opinion, but I think a plurality of
042our head coaches would prefer to stay in the HHC for the time being. And I think that a a strong majority of our varsity head coaches is really not interested in getting into a conference that is primarily 2A schools. >> The other thing about that is that um many of our sectional most of our sectional opponents are not in that conference. And so you think about limiting your ability to compete against the people that you're going to compete against in the postseason. That's been a consideration. So, why don't I stop there and you can fill in my gaps. >> Um, we requested that each of the four apply to be members. Um, we are interviewing them next week. There's a mixed bag, I think, between the schools. Some are pushing very hard for all four.
043Some would feel better with two. So, we'll see how that process goes. Are we already playing the four right now? >> Play some of them in some sports, but we don't play all of them at all sports. >> And do the four have all the sports that we currently have, >> but not middle school? >> They don't have true middle school. So that's another point of contention is because we have a strong tradition for middle school theater programs. Yeah. >> So that would be a major shift. And this is going to come from the public teacher standpoint where sometimes I want to support just our public schools and I sometimes have a strong opinions against our parochial and private and charter schools. And so this is going to eventually if the future of public education
044in Indiana, if we're worried about preserving that every time that you allow another opportunity though for those students, it's possibly taking away future public education opportunities down the road. I look at that way, too. And we have um for because we've known about this for well over a year um we have solicited quite a few publiclix to join um and there just hasn't been interest. We we have really tried to get Hamilton Heights to decide that they want to be in the HHC and they I think maybe when their AD retires that might be an opportunity, but you know want to deal with all that goes into changing conferences. And I think part of it is it's just a demographic reality and uh having known a little something about the HHC for 25 years. You
045know, I've told the story that when I was at Delta, this is my I love to tell this story. HHC schools have a big wooden outline of Indiana that you affix your conference uh conference title plates to. And when I was at Delta, we had to buy a second one of those because Delta had won so many conference titles. And at that time, Delta was the second largest high school in the HHC, second to Greenfield Central. And uh now it would be the smallest high school in the HHC. >> Wow. >> So that just tells you how demographic change happens. Delaware County is not in the same place demographically as Hancock County. And and my takeaway from our board level discussions as well as I think our high school administration and coaches is our goal
046would be to stay in the HHC as long as we can be competitive and and it remains culturally the kind of conference that benefits our student athletes. And so that's that's probably a different decision point for other schools than it is for us. But we'll keep you informed. And I do I heard I won't quote anybody but if you want to volunteer and say you said this I mean we we are keenly aware on the administrative side that we don't want to be left out of the game and so trying to trying to be attentive to okay we want to be engaged in this discussion and we don't want to totally ignore this discussion over here and knowing that as the earth moves underneath us sometimes things can happen that you don't anticipate. The other
047thing I would say is I think Yorktown is a very marketable school if it if it comes to that point, but there can be some disruptions along the way as you try to figure out where you're going to land. >> So c can I ask a couple questions? You know, we've had a lot of conversations about this facing. What do you feel like are like the available options to us right at the moment? Like when you think of conference affiliation, like what are our real choices right now? I do not think that we want to join the the one with lapel and all the other it is um it will not prepare our teams for the the long haul goals. Um as far as the HHC I think that we would remain in a competitive
048state. um we haven't put ourselves we have an agreement um with all of the other schools that if we were approached or we uh dip our toe into the water that we would notify each other so that um we're just being transparent and for a very long time in this discussion we were lumped with Delta as they uh did some of their own exploration and we've had to be very hard and firm we are members of the HHC we are Yorktown we are not Delta we are not a package deal. Um, and so to be real honest, we have not been we don't want to leave the HHC. So there's not, should we decide that we don't want to be a part of the HHC and that's the charge is to find another conference, I
049think that for us as Yorktown, it wouldn't it wouldn't be super hard. Um, however, I do think that travel could become uh more at play because of the types of conferences we would want to join. It would probably mean more travel for us. >> So, I'd be interested in that. You know, from my perspective, there's very few options. And not that we wouldn't be attracted, but I don't know that there's openings, right? And so, if we agree that the Eastern Crossroads isn't a good fit, it's like, well, what other options are there? Um, so that takes us back to the HHC, right? The four schools that approach the HHC, do you feel like from their perspective that's a package deal for them? All four or nothing. >> Do I don't know that I um >>
050I mean they're in a they're let me ask it this way. They're in their own conference and there's only four of them, right? >> Yes. their conference has dissolved. >> They >> except for the four of them. It was much larger. >> Yeah, it's just the four of them. Okay. >> Um it is being presented that way. >> Yeah, >> we will have individual conversations next week when we have interviews. >> Okay. I just, you know, just worry about being left out, right? Like take those top four in the HHC, you take those four, pair them together, that's eight. There's one school in the HHC that is pushing hard for four. That is it. >> Okay. So, yeah, just >> and you have to have three fours. >> Yeah. Well, and you know the other
051option I didn't mention which is become independent is like the worst that seems like the worst possible of all options. So, we don't want to be independent. >> We don't particularly want the Eastern Crossroads Conference. So I think just trying to be proactive and stay out in front of that and we've talked about that >> to clarify because some of these surveys assumed there was going to be a 10 team conference that if we accept the four there's only eight, right? >> Correct. No >> 10 or you have to take off four of them. A and as a conference we've said if they truly are all or nothing >> and they don't I mean that's why we have a process that's why we have our bylaws. So we will go through each individual school there
052will be a vote. Um if we only vote two in and two are out and they say no thank you then we go back to the drawing board to you know try to solicit some other interest from other schools. >> What are the downsides to taking the four like what's the concerns? Tink is very challenging whenever you're trying especially in football um when you're trying to establish all your all your games. Um >> so challenging from a scheduling standpoint nineweek regular season. >> Correct. Um so then you have to have rotations or do you do big schools, small schools and then how do you determine conference titles? Um just across the board when you you get into 10 it just is a different dynamic. Um eight is nice and manageable. I have to go back
053to I feel like the first summary of this I feel like we were the only ones that had concerns with four. Are you saying now that's different? >> I don't know. >> I'll go back because that's what I may have misread it too, but I think some of the original correspondents like everybody's okay with it, but we prefer to only have two. Well, let me go back because I'm >> I think there's a perception out there that the other four schools in the conference other than Northtown and Delta are more open to it, but I think Stacy's telling you that she doesn't think that that's the case. >> No, we had a very frank meeting and everybody declared their desires. So, there are not as many that want four as there are that would entertain
054two and there are some that want none. >> And what is the con to just staying where we're at? What what are we afraid of? >> Um a 16 conference is weak. >> Just not enough. >> Yeah, it's weak. And um it just there's a it's kind of like a foundation of a house. If it starts to crumble a little bit, the the less structure you have, the more likely it is to just fall apart. >> So back in the day, they had Olympic conference that was like the best conference >> um in the area. Um it was a it was a strong conference, one at a time. People started to go away. It got down to four actually and it was an embarrassment. So, um I think that wherever next week lands I think
055that we will be fine either way. Um and we'll just have to continue to be diligent if it's if it is truly all four or none. Um, we as a conference just have to continue to put feelers out there and be um, I guess more creative about how we approach and who we speak to to try to make joining the HHC more enticing. >> We'll keep you informed. We're not the only people having this discussion. I mean, every every conference in this area is in the midst of it. So, yeah, these cycles of this, right? A lot of moving around right now. Any more questions, comments on athletic conference discussion? Hearing none, let's move to business. Item A, adoption of 2026 bus or budget, bus replacement plan, and capital projects plan. So, our hearing was
056on September 30th and all the information for the budget was presented. It has not changed since then. Um, so if there are no questions, I would recommend adoption of the budget, the capital projects plan, and the bus replacement plan. >> Motion to approve the bus replacement plan. >> Second. >> Got a first and second. Any discussion? >> I have a comment on buses in general. Um, I think early in the year we have some like three or four to a seat. Is there any reason to keep some of the ones we would trade in just to add more room or more routes or is that >> advantageous? Expected two times then. >> Yeah, I mean >> they have to be inspected more >> if we're training them in. They're they're usually way beyond end of
057life. So >> I think that's always the answer is there's two inspection just like what how how much more is an inspection? >> I I I envision like taking your car in and stuff. Well, they so >> the state police will come and they do an on-site inspection and uh it it depends on who your inspector is, but we have for years we never had with our previous inspector any buses ever taken out of service. And I don't know, we had one worn for being taken out of service because of a tear in a seat cover >> recently. I mean, they they can be pretty intense. So, is the inspection expense expensive or the potential? >> It's the process of prepping for it and getting getting the bus ready. It's >> there's no added expense
058to it. It's just the time and energy that it takes to do it. And in some cases, I'd have to go back and look at the list, but some of the buses are We have one bus out there that is only used for parts that is no longer serviceable, roadw worthy. >> Is it 12 years when they hit that mark now? So all the buses that would be on the rotational would be 12 years or older, right? Like >> if we're trading them in Oh, yeah. >> Yeah. And and we talked about this, I think, last month, but the ideal is with a bus replacement plan, you're supposed to have a plan in place to re to cycle your bus out after 12 years. With circuit breaker, it's not possible for us to buy enough
059buses with our operations fund to keep them that new. So, I mean, if that's your desire, we can do it. The the other thing that's out there is that we're we're staring down the barrel of SEA1 and going to make probably some significant changes to operations fund sooner rather than later. >> Okay. Um, I've got a first and second. Is that on the entire adoption of all the plans or just a bus replacement plan to clear plan? >> It's just bus. >> Uh, can we do them all together? >> You can. All right. Motion to approve all of the how do I say that? >> Capital projects and bus plans and etc. >> Yeah, >> there's like one two three eight of them. >> I have a first for all >> preferably resolutions. >> Thank
060you. Thank you. >> That exactly what he said. That's what >> there's a lot of titles. You're approving three separate >> well actually four separate resolutions. >> Um >> and you always put one in to do the reductions too. So but they're all related to the 2026 budget. >> Okay. If I have a confirmation I have a motion to approve all four resolutions in item A. >> That's what I said. >> Yes. I have a first. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> A second. Any comments? All in favor say I. I. >> All oppose. Same sign. Motion carries 40. Item B, spring 2026 transfer students procedure. This is something that we do every year since we have two count days and uh we do have space in several of our grades, especially K6.
061And so this would just be approving this process so we can get that out on our website and take any new transfer applications that would come in for the spring and also sets up the procedure for the lottery if we need to have that. >> Do I have a motion? >> I can discuss. >> Um so on our kindergarten, didn't we go down this year? We we so >> this 51 is going back to nine teachers then in >> K, right? If if we uh if we get to 51, we'll talk >> Okay. >> before spring. >> You are you are correct. Yeah. >> Okay. >> I think that's unlikely, but that's our old cap number of 225. You are correct. We did go down to eight sections of >> any other comments, discussion. >>
062Can I have a motion? >> Motion to approve the transfer student procedure. >> Second. >> First and second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. All oppose. Same sign. Motion carries 40. Item C, second reading in adoption of Neola policy updates. >> So these have not changed since you saw them in September and I would ask for approval if you are willing to do that. >> Board have a motion. >> Motion to approve the second reading and adoption of the NEO policy updates. >> Second. First and second. Any discussion? >> All in favor say I. >> I. All oppose. same sign. Motion carries 40. Closing comments from the superintendent. The good news is I have another whole set of policy updates that I just handed off to Mrs. Low to start keying in today.
063So, Miola keeps us busy. Uh congratulations to all of our teams that have won sectionals so far with uh uh some still playing and contending for that. So, that's fun to watch. which uh it's a high percentage of our fall teams that have won sectionals and so it's always fun to see that. Um I did want to mention that I gave a tour of the high school facility with the help of Miss Brewer and Mr. Bloom and some others to the Yorktown Chamber of Commerce this morning and so I think they were excited to get in there and see what was unfolding. That was fun to be able to do that. And then also I wanted to mention about administrator assistance. their process is going along and yes I mean that is on us about
064the notification for the meeting on Wednesday there was a actually a reminder email that was supposed to go out last week via our bright arrow system that did not go out and so we'll we'll send a reminder out tomorrow again we'll see what kind of response we get and I've already been in communication with administrator assistance if we need to add another meeting we will try to do that so >> sorry for confusion on that. That's all. >> Thank you. Closing comments from board members. Say it over to you. >> Uh congratulations to all of our sports, the boys and girls cross country volleyball team, football team that'll start sectional a week from this Friday. And they just played two great games against Mount Vernon. I was able to go watch the boys soccer sectional
065game over break at Miss Sino. They did not win, but they played very hard and it was a tough game. And the cheerleaders as well and I got to go into PBE and volunteer over my break, too. And thank you all for letting me come in and do that. >> Thank you. >> This is Gasteline. >> Um, I just wanted to say thank you to those that came and spoke tonight. Um, and yes, Dr. Hen and I had been in deep conversation about the lunch accounts prior to uh the end of the school year last year. So, we were trying to find some solutions to that situation. So, we'll try to revisit that again. Um, I received a few phone calls over the past couple of weeks of just parents wanting to express their um,
066gratitude for our teachers within the building taking the time to go the extra mile. It might be something as as simple as maybe it was a kid that was cut from a team or a sport and another adult reached out to them and said, "Hey, I could use you in this manner." Um, you know, so taking that time to invest in our kids on that personal level. Um, that means a lot. So, know um it's been kind of quiet and not let's keep it that way. And >> you're not you're not allowed to go into a school and say quiet. I don't know. But um no, thank you to our our teachers for doing those things that are not they're not big accolades. They're not huge accomplishments in the public's eyes, but they don't go
067unnoticed. So, thank you very much. >> Thank you, Mr. Brooks. >> Uh nothing too much to add, but just thank you to teachers and administrators and the public for coming to the meetings. We appreciate it. I know there's other things you could be spending your time on, so appreciate coming here and yeah, it's been a good fall sports camp. Thank you. Yeah, I echo everything else and just thank you for the work that you guys have done. Thanks for the foundation. There's a lot of time that nobody sees that goes behind the scenes of teachers obviously and I think, you know, appreciate kind of working through the the grants because I think it would have been a shame to give that up even though I know it's going to be a pain to kind of
068cycle through the best way to organize that. It's still a win for at least 20% of the teachers. So, I think that's a a benefit. So, I'm glad we're kind of working through that. Appreciate you guys on the facility side. I know we're getting closer, but we're getting there. So, thanks everybody. Have a good night. We stand adjourned at >> 7:53. >> Thank you all for coming. >> 653. Wow. >> Wow. You guys been here a long time. I thought you flew through that