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Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=DNJfcor_JDQ
Video-2: youtube.com/watch?v=HWA7GjtuTsU

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--------- I have an good evening everybody. I'm calling the meeting to order and quick roll call as we have a quorum tonight with uh Mrs. Wheeler and uh Mrs. Cashion. Please join me in the pledge of

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>> allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the stands one nation indivisibley and justice for all.

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We start off our meetings with uh our mission statement. So I'm going to run through that uh for you. Our mission statement is the Caramel Clay Schools will provide opportunities for all students to realize their potential in an everchanging world.

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Tonight we start off with some presentations of the Carmel High School Symphony Orchestra State Champions. uh tonight we'll recognize them for um and the Carmel High School wind symphony the number one state champs and the

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Carmel High School Ambassador state champs. So Mr. Creek could be to us in that please. Thank you. >> Good evening everyone and thank you to the board members Dr. Ori, Mr. Michael, Dr. Dudley, Dr. Carrera for your time this evening to recognize state

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championships by three of our CHS performing arts groups. This is the first time that we have won three concert state championships in a single year. And as we all know, doing something for the first time at Carmel High School is a pretty unique thing at this point in time. So so proud of these

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kids and and their director's efforts. The Isma State Championships for Concert Band, Symphony, Orchestra, and Mix Choir were held on Saturday, May 9th, and all three were won by concert ensembles at CHS. when Symphony 1, the Symphony Orchestra, and the Ambassadors. We've got students and directors representing

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all three groups with us here tonight. The Symphony Orchestra was awarded the Concert Orchestra State Championship for the second time in the last three years, an amazing 20th time overall. That's half of the state championships in orchestra that have been held under the direction of Tom Chen with assistance

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from Nicole Duire and Maggie Height. The symphony orchestra gave an absolutely stunning performances of some wildly difficult music. Um, the symphony orchestra is being represented this evening. I got to have these students and directors come forward here to receive some certificates from Dr. Ori.

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They're being represented here this evening by students Elijah Kim, Taylor Schwang, and directors Nicole Duire, and Maggie Height. Oh, I can just talk. I'm good. When Symphony 1 was awarded the concert band state championship for the eighth

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consecutive year and the 11th time overall under the direction of Kyle Young and Ethan Wilkinson. When Symphony 1 also gave an incredible performance at Lawrence Central High School and were unanimously awarded first place by all three judges. When Symphony 1 is being represented here this evening by

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students Emma Choy, Jasmine Choy, Nina Godbol, and director Ethan Wilkins. Mr. Young was unable to be with us tonight. He's down visiting Mickey Mouse in Florida with his kids and wife and uh couldn't make it back for this one. Our third group for the evening that we're

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going to recognize are the Ambassadors who were awarded the Concert Mix Choir State Championship for the second time in the program's history under the direction of Kyle Barker. The ambassadors also gave an amazing performance of some really incredibly varied literature. The ambassadors are being represented here this evening by

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students Grady Griffin, Annabelle Kim, Emma Miller, and Mickey Mora, and director Kyle Barker. Well, we'll be sure to share video of all three performances with all of you. it. They were truly tremendously musical performances of some very very difficult

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literature and the kids and and directors all did just absolutely incredible jobs. Thank you all so much for your continued support of the arts at Carmel High School and Carmel Clay Schools. Um we were also named one of the NAM National Association of Music Merchants best communities for music

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education this year um for the I think 13th or 14th time and it's certainly a testament to what Carmel Schools does in support of the arts. So, thank you all very much. Have a wonderful evening. The next recognition is the Caramel Clay School support staff member of the year,

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Miss Inkeep, please. >> Good evening, Secretary Brown, Dr. Orike, and members of the board, as well as our families and students. I'm honored to announce Mr. David Sunshine as our 2025 2026 support staff member of

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the year. Mr. Sunshine has worked for Carmel Clay Schools since 2014 and he is a bus driver in our transportation department. He had many nominations for this honor and the recommendations all shared a common theme. One nominator said it

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perfectly. Mr. Sunshine creates a positive experience for students every day. He is attentive, patient, and dependable, and families can trust that their children are are in good hands on his bus. He goes beyond transporting the students to and from school. He makes

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them feel welcome and cared for. His friendly attitude, kind greetings, and consistent professionalism help set a positive tone for the school day and make a real difference for our students and our families. Congratulations again, All right. Good evening, Secretary B

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Brown, Dr. Orike, and members of the board. It is my pleasure this evening to announce the recipient of the 2026 teacher of the year award for Carmel Clay Schools. This outstanding educator exemplifies excellence in teaching,

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dedication to students, and a commitment to making a difference every day. Please join me in congratulating our 2026 teacher of the year, first grade teacher Megan Kankite from West Clay Elementary School. Through her dedication, compassion, and

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commitment to student success, she has inspired countless young learners and families throughout her career. She fosters kindness, problem solving, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning, making a lasting impact on her students lives. Her passion, commitment,

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and unwavering support make her truly deserving of this honor. So, give me one more round of applause for Megan Kronhite. I just wanted to take one last moment to congratulate all of our students, our staff members, and most importantly, our

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families and parents and community members for being here tonight recognizing the outstanding achievements of our students, our staff members, our teacher of the year, our support staff person of the year. I also want a special thank you to Mayor Finham. She

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is uh here with us today and she uh she is a great supporter of Carmel Clay Schools, but love having her in person tonight seeing the wonderful accomplishments of our teachers, students, and our staff. So once again, congratulations. We appreciate you.

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Normally at this point after presentations and awards, we excuse those that don't want to stay on and hear about policy and budget and um and also the the kids so they go home and study and get homework done and all that, but maybe not tonight, but you

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can go home and have some ice cream or you can stay and listen about budget and policy. It's your choice. >> Run. Yeah. Run away. >> Thank Yeah. Thank you all for coming. >> At this point in our meeting, we uh have

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it open for public comment, but we do not have anyone that's uh signed up tonight to make comments. So, we'll proceed. Next on our agenda are consent items. And tonight the consent items include the personnel report, claims, payroll,

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the minutes from the April 29th, 2026 workshop session. They're having fun. The minutes from the May 13, 2026 executive session and the minutes from the May 13, 2026 regular session meetings.

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Uh as a reminder, uh consent items in the meeting refer to a designated section where routine items are grouped together for efficient consideration and approval in a single motion as opposed to individual motions for each item. Consent items typically include items

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the board must legally address but which should not take up considerable time including payroll, accounts payable, personnel reports, minutes from previous meetings and other administrative matters uh that do not require extensive discussion. By incorporating them all in

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a consent agenda, uh the meeting can be streamlined to uh through the approval process and allowing more time dedicated for critical topics uh and meaningful deliberation. Do I have a motion to approve all items in the consent item?

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>> Mr. President, I move that we approve items 4.2 through 4.7 as a group. >> Thank you. Do I have a second? >> I second. >> Okay. Are there any uh questions or explanations? Any discussion on any of the consent items?

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Okay. Um we will now vote. So all those in favor of the approving all the items in the consent agenda, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. >> That's everybody. So no opposed. Thank you.

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>> Uh Dr. Herrera has an announcement related to the personnel report. Dr. >> Yes. Thank you. So good evening again, Secretary Brown, Dr. Strike, and members of the board. This evening, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Brian Beerman as the principal of Woodbrook

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Elementary School. Brian has served as principal for the past six years at Feser's Elementary School. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to student achievement, educational excellence, and cultivating a positive school culture. He is known for building

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strong relationships with students, staff, and families while fostering a supportive learning environment. We are excited to welcome him as our new principal of Woodbrook Elementary School and look forward to the positive impact we will have he will have on our school community.

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>> Thank you. I also would like to add uh Mr. Beerman, welcome to Carmel. We're very excited to have you as part of the Woodbrook community. Uh board members, I will tell you this was a very competitive interview process. We had sitting principles all over the state of

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Indiana that wanted to come to Carmel Clay Schools and Brian stood out uh for his ability to collaborate on the high level and his knowledge of instructional practices and how researched he is and he is a lifelong learner. We are very

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pleased to have Mrs. Beer Mr. Beerman as part of our uh team here in Carmel. So congratulations again. >> Thank you. >> Okay, the next section of our meeting is on some action items and u our next one is the first one is

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the adoption of a resolution in support of military families. Mr. Woodward, please. Thank you, Mr. Brown. I would like to uh discuss Purple Star designation which is offered by the Indiana Department of Education. Uh the Indiana Purple Star

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designation honors schools that has displayed a significant commitment to service members, veterans, and students and families of those military members. And we are a purple star designated school. Purple star designation is valid

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for a three-year time period. And we received our purple star designation in the fall of 2023. So our time to renew uh is now. As part of the purple star uh designation process, uh I want to make

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uh the school board aware that we would need a resolution supporting uh military families. Um, in addition to the resolution, our renewal process includes a designated

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point of contact at each school uh who will act as the uh the point person for military families and their students. A dedicated web page that the schools have that provides recognition and resources for service members and their

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families. a public military display that recognizes service members, veterans, and their students and families. And each of our schools has these. And finally, um, military service members

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and their immediate family members who meet the minimum qualifications for job openings within the school corporation will be guaranteed a job interview at Caramel Clay Schools. So with this information, I ask the board to pass a resolution in support of

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military families which would allow us again to seek purple star designation. >> Great. Thank you. May I have a motion to adopt the resolution in support of military families? >> I move to adopt the resolution in support of military families.

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>> Thank you. May I have a second? >> I second. >> We will now take a vote. All in favor say I. >> I. >> That's a uh majority. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Bird.

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>> Our next action item is the authority to hire certified and non-certified staff and accept resignations from June 10th, 2026 through August 26, 2026. Dr. Ostrich. >> Thank you again, Secretary Brown and members of the board. Uh we request that

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the board give myself uh Dr. Tom Orike and also Dr. Holly Herrera, our assistant superintendent of staff and student services, the authority to hire both certified and non-certified staff and accept resignations from today, June

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10th, 2026 through August 26 of 2026. The purpose of this request is to accelerate the hiring process over the summer. Personnel hired or resigning during this time will immediately be reported to the board and will appear on the personnel report at the next board

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meeting. This is an annual request that we bring to the board so that we can be efficient in our hiring practices and it also allows other districts to uh quickly post the positions that where the um staff member has resigned. Um,

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oftentimes during the year, for example, if we hire a principal, which we did today, um, they don't resign until they're board approved. With this resolution, we will certainly go through all of the required background checks and legal pieces before we make that

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offer as we do in HR. But this gives us the authority to move efficiently uh, throughout the summer as we approach the school year. So, it is recommended that the board give authority to myself and Dr. Herrera to hire both certified and non-certified staff and accept

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resignations from today, June 10th through August 26, August 26th, 2026. Thank you. >> Thank you. May I have a motion to approve giving authority to hire certified and non-certified staff and accept resignations from June 10th, 2026

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through August 26, 2026 to Dr. Ostrike and Dr. Herrera. Thank you, Mr. President. I uh would move to give Dr. Orike and Dr. Herrera authority to hire certified and non-certified staff and accept

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resignations from June 10th today through August 26, 2026. >> Thank you. Any discussion? >> I second. >> Second had you filled in for some reason. Yeah. Is there Thank you for that. Any

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discussion? Okay, we will now take a vote. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Thank you. Our next uh agenda item is on actions is

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for the transfer of cash reserves. Mr. McMichel, could you fill us in on that? >> Yes. This uh transfer will rebalance cash reserves between funds. So has no impact on the cash. It's a matter of of balancing the funds and so the benefit

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of that is is we will uh it will improve our balance in our education uh operating referendum and rainy day funds as you know those funds are particularly considered with standard and horses as we consider bond issues and so forth. And then with regard to the uh it'll

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also min minimize the need for temporary inter fund loans to the self- insurance fund um because that fund in particular we're paying um claims really every week and

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so that sometimes the balance gets low enough that we as part of the routine we do an inter fund loan. That's not a huge deal but this simply would minimize the need to do that. And uh so that's that's the basis for the recommendation.

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>> Okay. Um may I have a motion to approve the transfer of cash reserves? >> I motion to approve the transfer of cash reserves. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Okay. We will now is there any

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discussion? >> Anything further? Okay. And just a quick comment. My my understanding on the operations transfer to the self insurance is that uh we need to get that back up to our normal level but it's been had some impact from some uh little

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more unusual claims but this just gets us back to our target. >> It certainly yes I don't know if it totally restores it but uh uh this past year as you know uh we we did um use some cash balance uh had a really a

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slight deficit comparatively speaking and so Yes, this will improve that goal. We wanted 12%. We we really were right at 12% and then it dropped a bit below that. So, this would would address that.

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Okay. Thank you. We will now take a vote. All in favor say I. >> I. I. >> Thank you. Motion carries. >> We're entering our discussion uh item at this point. Okay. The Caramel Clay Clay Parks Department

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um about regarding Veterans Park in the Greenway and the Caramel Clay Schools, we have Odin Woods and Mr. Klitsing to discuss for us.

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And as they are getting set up, I just want to say a thank you uh for being here tonight. We appreciate the city being here. if we look forward uh to tonight's presentation and as uh they will explain it does involve some of Carmel Clay School's land that they will

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um highlight this evening. Uh but we're very excited uh about tonight's presentation. So we'll turn it over. >> Secretary Brown, Dr. Oster, members of the board, thank you for this opportunity to share with you our plans for Veterans Park and Veterans Greenway.

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As Dr. Ori explained it is our vision is not possible without a collaboration with Kallay schools. So we wanted to share our plans, give you an opportunity to think about it, ask any questions and then our goal is to come back with a proposed agreement to allow this

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to happen. Uh so to give a little bit background and I want to thank Mayor Finham. This is a project that would not be possible without the support of the city of Carmel. The city of Carmel has provided $15 million to be able to construct this new park, a new greenway that is envisioned to go from basically

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parallel to Old Meridian Street, kind of from Main Street to a little bit south of Grand Boulevard, and also a new autumn greenway that will go east west from Old Meridian Street to effectively the Monan Greenway. And our goal is to

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effectively create a interconnected pathway off street greenway experience to to unite our two commercial districts uh in urban cores with open radian corridors. So we're very excited about that project. And then another component

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of it in addition to Veterans Greenway is this new park which is a partnership with the Carmel Redevelopment Commission as well as with the developer of a new multifamily uh project which made acquisition of this 1.6 acre park to

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honor and celebrate our veterans and military families possible. So to give a little bit of overview. Well, first of all, the timing is perfect with uh your recent resolution earlier tonight uh to be a purple star designation or continue to pursue that. This certainly aligns

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perfectly with that. And I also want to make one note in your board packet there was a misspelling totally my fault uh that had Dr. as ODN and my board historian with Karm Clay

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Park Board Jim Garrettson kindly uh indicated that the spelling was incorrect. So of course I did my due diligence afterwards and even though Google Maps shows it as ODN, it is truly Oom. So uh my my teachers uh

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would be proud of me fessing up for a mistake. So uh the first component of it is Veterans Greenway and we're developing this greenway in a couple phases. The first phase uh is the area that most directly impacts Carmlay schools and as I indicated uh this first

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phase will start right at Grand Boulevard, go north basically on the east side of the former Collegewood Elementary School site, certainly part of the Carmel Middle School campus through ODM Woods. um go onto our new

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park property uh continue north uh through private easements and then have to in a very small sliver come back on the school property before connecting to the icon on main development and portion of the trail that they're developing on our behalf. Um the easement request that

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we have for the schools basically is for the trail through ODM Woods as well as that little corner in the northeast corner of the Carmel Middle School property. Zooming in a little bit closer here, you can see Odin Woods. Um, we would also request a temporary easement

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for basically uh the layown of our construction equipment while the uh project is being completed and that of course would be cleaned up and restored as soon as the work is completed. Uh the other portion, zooming in a little bit, is literally just a small corner where

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we have to to zag a little bit to connect to the uh the property to the north. Moving on to Veterans Park. This is a new 1.6 acre park that will be immediately west of Caramel Middle School and the track

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that you have there. And here you can kind of see the alignment of it as well as representation of where the greenway interacts with it. Zooming in a little bit closer. This is the uh schematic uh design plans that the park board approved last night uh for the uh the

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phase development of this park and and the sort of big picture vision that we have for it. A big component of this is we assembled a steering committee comprised of various uh veterans and and family members uh that gave our design

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team ratio architects a lot of feedback as far as what they'd like to see this park be and not be. And and one of the big missions that we were given was to make it a instead of making a a park about veterans. Meaning they didn't want it to be like a single focus. You come

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to see like a a statue or one element that celebrates veterans, but it to be a place that is for veterans and their families as well as the community at large. And that's what kind of drove the design for it. It's it's a little bit more active than you see some

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traditional veterans parks. and active is a really loose term. It's not like it's going to have sports fields or those type of things, but it's going to allow a little bit more interaction. It o provides opportunities for for people to gather and and play and really enjoy

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themselves as well as tell the stories of of our military, those that have uh have contributed to it currently as well as in the past. those who have sacrificed their lives as well as their families that certainly have supported and been impacted by their service

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with this. Sorry, too far. Uh some illustrations of what it's going to look like. On the left is effectively the Greenway Trail. And when we talk about a greenway trail, obviously the Monon is our most famous

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one. Hagen Burke Trail is is also a good representation. and the Greyhound Trail which ultimately connects to this the football stadium. Those are all representative of it. And the idea is that you have a 10 to 12 foot paved trail multi-use for pedestrians,

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bicyclist, runners, runners, what have you, but it's an off- streetet experience. It gives a completely different type of experience than a perimeter path that follows a road. Makes it more inviting. It makes it feel safer. It makes it much more enjoyable. Allows you to embrace nature a little

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bit more as well. appropriate places have a little sense of uh urban life too. Uh so this is if you're going uh south just coming off of the Carmel Middle School property going through the park. Uh the park itself is going to have several different components on the

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north side. Uh several shelters that allow people to gather. It has a fireplace in it. Our veterans said that they wanted to have both water elements and fire elements in it. So this is how we embrace the fire components of it, but a place where people can gather. We we're calling this kind of the living

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room because it's a place where, you know, we can have cornhole boards and and other types of activities. We could potentially have some spray features in there, six of them to honor the six different branches of the military. uh swings that overlook the uh the lower

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grass area that can accommodate up to 100 people in an event as well as another green area. Off to the right, the the building in the background is the multif family development. That developer is actually developing the public restrooms and in perpetuity will

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be responsible for maintaining it. So, a way that we're partnering in a way in such to minimize the the ongoing operation expense for taxpayers. Uh sort of flipping to North looking view here. You can see a pond with a

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boardwalk that goes over it connecting the uh the greenway ultimately to a trail that goes off to Old Meridian Street which is the access point uh to our west from a pedestrian standpoint. That building also includes underground parking and that will be the parking for

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this park. But uh here the the water serves for storm water purposes both for the multif family development as well as for the park. It's the provides a little bit of relaxing elements. Uh does the check mark for the the water. We have a

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waterfall element. Again, six different waterfalls representing the six different branches. Some of our representation is a little bit more subtle, like six things. Um, but some of them will also have interpretive signage in different places that we're still working with the steering committee as

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to exactly what we're going to interpret, whether it's specific individuals, the six branches, combination thereof, but uh there will be both sort of very obvious elements and a little bit subtle elements. What's nice about this park as well as the

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greenway is it also effectively connects the BFW post which is immediately to the south to the American Legion post which is just past it on Main Street. And and we envision working with our our veterans communities there to have different programming. Uh you know

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certainly would invite students to come and have those programs. We enision bringing our summer camps there as well so we can have veterans tell their stories. We think that can be incredibly powerful whether it's to students or just members of the community.

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Uh zooming in on ODM Woods. Uh this is immediately south of the park. Uh the ODM Woods is kind of an L-shaped uh and consist of two different partials. This is the northern partial. And what we envisioned here with the the school board's consent is that we would

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ultimately this is probably a subsequent phase but we would ultimately create a trail network within the woods likely soft surface or or aggregate trails that would also include some type of artwork. Um the illustrations on the right are

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conceptual that's not specific but we would hone in on it but one of the ideas from our steering committee is is basically you know a brigade unit that is in the midst of combat. So, we can tell the stories and and the fact

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that, you know, involvement in the military has sometimes very severe consequences and and we don't want to hide away from that, but we also want to do it in a way that is educational, respectful. So, that's one of the things

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that we're thinking about and request your consideration for. Uh jumping to ODM Woods as a whole. Uh the box on the left is effectively about 10 acres. It already has an existing trail

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network that is illustrated in this uh this graphic. There actually is a little lake that takes it out to Grand Boulevard. Uh what we are proposing is that the school board effectively give us a management agreement for the for

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the property. Schools would retain ownership. Uh would have provisions that allow allow you to also use the property in different ways in the future if circumstances dictate with appropriate terms uh related to it. What it would also do is basically while it's under

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karmic clay parks and recreation stewardship, we would be responsible for all the operating expenses for it. So, you know, at risk tree mitigation, maintenance of of the existing trail as well as any new trails that we put in. Uh the agreement would also basically

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say that we'd have to do things consistent with the uh schematic plan that was approved by the park board as well as before we do any improvements, we would bring it back to the school board, ensure that continue to have consent to move forward. Uh we would agree to put a signage along Grand

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Boulevard that recognize it as woods so it's a little bit more prominent. Maybe Google will will get it corrected so that uh it's named properly for those that are searching for it. Um as well as uh we would work with Carmellay schools

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to have a commemorative educational signage within the the trail network to say who do why is it named after Dr. and what did he do? He was the first curriculum director for Klay schools. So we can work together to to share that story and that's something that Karmlay

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parks is trying to do for for all of our parks and facilities that are named after someone you know let the public know who they did why they were important to our community and have helped make us who we are. Um, with that, uh, that's the overview. That's

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the ask. I'd be happy to any questions that the school board has. >> Great. Thank you. Uh, Mr. Cliting, do we have any questions or comments with the board? >> Jennifer, >> I will say your department never ceases to amaze me to be quite honest. Um, I

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think you guys just do a phenomenal job taking into consideration the community that's really being honored through the work that you do or is going to be utilizing the parks that you guys create. And I've watched the conversations that you've had and how you've shared that with the community as to this work that you're looking to

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doing here. And I'm really proud of Carmel continually for how much we talk with the community about their interests. And I love that this park is becoming instead of an observation, it's an immersion really. And you know, you don't just go see a statue and then three minutes later you're like, "Oh,

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let's go to lunch." Um, it's really involving yourself in it and making it part of your life. And I also appreciate that I biked to it from my house. But, um, one question I do have just regarding the artwork installation, knowing that you are saying that any improvements would come before the board.

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I honor the military aspect of it and the brigade. I will say having statues with um guns essentially very close to a school is a little concerning for me. So I would want us to very much collaborate

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on that execution. We >> we thought that might be the the case and and the architects had a little bit more literal. I personally think that it needs to be a little bit more conceptual. Maybe it's shapes as opposed to literal

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statues of the day going the unit going through. So, but yes, that's something we're happy to work with and I think that's a conversation that that uh we would certainly welcome and embrace with Carl Clay Schools as well as the community. >> Thank you.

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>> Thank you for your presentation. Um I echo the comments that Mrs. Cashion made and also um and I know they were just conceptual. It did very much remind me of the K Korean War Memorial in Washington DC. Some of those photos may have been from that. And I think, you

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know, if you're able to capture the feeling that that memorial brings to mind, I think you will have done well, whether it's literal or conceptual. But that, you know, it is a very real um

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thing for for those in our military and their families. And you, for example, see sculptures of soldiers that look a little shell shocked that are looking behind them to see if there's anyone, you know, coming on their six. And um,

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you know, if we could do anything close to that kind of um, honorary memorial. I think that it would be a remarkable thing for our community. So, I appreciate that. Um, this may be a question for Dr. O, but is there a sense of when the management agreement might

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come before us or is that kind of a to-do item in the for the future? >> We started working on that. Um, and so I potentially it could be the next board meeting. >> Thank you. >> I I just have one comment. I've recently

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was in the the post at the VFW and they've got these same renderings on some pretty big boards and there there's a lot of excitement there and you know it's it's kind of sad in a way their location. They're they're tucked off the street. you don't even know they're there. But there's some very dedicated,

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proud people that have, you know, put their lives at risk in that in that post and similarly with American Legion. And I think it's really it's a wonderful thing to be able to on bring that honor to particularly Carmel uh people that have, you know, have served for us in

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that way. And I I I hear what you're saying with the the uh you know what we would like to see with the uh the statues and rendering, but it's it's going to be probably be a pretty fine line to draw u to I mean

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things there's a reality here with wars and and the things people have to do. So I I'll be interested to see how you guys can figure that out. I'm sure there'll be a a solution there somewhere. >> Absolutely. I I will be honest. I suspect that this will be a second or third phase of the project. So that's

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not going to be the first thing that that we developed. You're going to see the elements that are to the north, the pond, you know, all the the trails, the living room space, that that's what the dollars will get us first, the elements within the woods probably.

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>> One more comment. >> Yeah. Uh I just want to say thank you very much. Um, I often share with members of the community that when the city and the schools work together, we can't lose. And this is a prime example of that here today. I appreciate your work. I appreciate Mayor Frinkham and

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Mr. Klitsson uh collaboration together as uh we initially met on this and I'm excited. I also envision our students, especially at Carmel Middle School, having the opportunity to utilize this on a nice summer day, if that the English teacher can take uh his or her

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class over to Veterans Park and be able to teach a lesson or read a book or uh really immerse themselves into this uh wonderful uh park. And so, just want to say thank you very much. We appreciate the city and uh really looking forward to finalizing that agreement, bringing

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that back to the board for approval and then uh seeing what what our future holds. And so, thank you for all this work. We appreciate it. >> Well, thank you, Dr. Ori. And we certainly are very appreciative of the the long-standing collaboration that Carl Clay Parks and Recreation, the city of Carmel has with Carmel Clay Schools.

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Like you said, together there's so much that that we do for the community to to make it a great number one place to live in the United States. So, and we certainly appreciate our partnership with the extended school enrichment program, the ability to use facilities

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during the summer to to help facilitate summer camps for for our community's kids. So, again, thank you very much and we very much value. >> Thank you very much for your presentation, Mr. Classim. Okay. Next on the agenda in the

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discussion item, we have the first reading of policy 4210 on wireless electronic devices. Dr. Ferrer. >> Yes. Thank you. Let me get set up um just in a moment. I want to be able to project the policy that we're going to

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talk about. Okay, Secretary Brown, Dr. Orike, and members of the board. Tonight I am presenting policy 4210 in response to sea 78 commonly referred to as bell-to-bell no cell law. The proposed

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policy prohibits students from using personal wireless communication devices during the school day and requires that such devices be powered off, stored away, and inaccessible to students throughout the instructional day. This draft policy was developed

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collaboratively with the director of student services, the director of technology, director of special education, our building principles, and input provided by our policy liaison. The policy was also reviewed by legal counsel to ensure compliance. In

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conjunction with this work, we reviewed policy 7540, responsible use of technology and internet and determined that no revisions to that policy were necessary at this time. So I am bringing policy 40 to10 before the board this

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evening for its first reading. >> Are there any questions you may have at this time? We have one. >> Not really a question, just an appreciation um to Mrs. Cashion, Dr. Herrera, and uh Mr. Woodward and the

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whole team, Dr. Dudley that worked on the policy. Um I know sometimes we read these aloud, Dr. O, is that something that you would like us to do? >> Completely up to you. U people certainly can access this online. Um, but if you'd

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like to read through it or give a synopsis of what it is, that might be good. Maybe a summary. >> Yeah, I'll just hit the highlights. How's that? >> Okay. Uh, because I feel like when I read them aloud and it drones on and on and wan.

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Um so on this again this um bell-to-bell no cell policy was developed as a result of uh a new bill that becomes effective July 1 in Indiana. it. Uh some of the differences between how we operate now

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and how we must operate under this new law is that there um it includes not just cell phones but all wireless devices that have internet connectivity which includes Apple watches and uh

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smart glasses and any kind of what we would call a a smart device um including laptop computers, digital cameras, gaming devices devices, um, anything that is connected to a cell phone, a cell tower, or the internet. Um, and

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while students will be allowed to use it on the bus and before and after school, students will no longer be able to use their wireless devices, during lunch periods, or during recess. Again, that is specified in the new law. That is not

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uh our district's uh personal policy. Um and also wanted to highlight that we talked today and are excited and appreciative that um the administration is working towards how we roll that out so that we'll have plenty of

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communications um to families about this new um policy. And if you don't like it, contact your friendly local legislator. Mrs. cash in. Anything else?

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>> I just want to emphasize that inaccessibility is essentially what the law comes down to. As Miss Wheeler mentioned, it no longer being available during passing periods or lunch. But what that really means is that it should be stowed away inaccessible from the moment school starts to the moment it

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ends. Not carrying it around in your hand hoping to get a text message from somebody. Um, it is supposed to be away. So again, reiterating what Miss Miller said, I really appreciate it. And I know we had a lot of back and forth over the last two weeks regarding this policy and had the chance to meet before this meeting to just finalize some details

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and an get some questions answered. And I appreciate the district's collaboration on that because I know a lot of parents in our community are wondering what's going to happen come this fall. >> Oh, and Mr. President, one more thing. Um Mrs. Cashion mentioned that we'd gotten questions from parents about,

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hey, sometimes when your child is rising to middle school or rising to high school, you think about buying them a new device. Um, my personal advice is do not do that because they can't use it during the school day. So, save your money, use it for something else.

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>> Okay? And looking at the policy before us, there are there's always exceptions and and I notice like with the IEP and the 504s, there'll be some flexibilities there if that makes sense. But so there will be uh I imagine writing the this will be

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manifested in a handbook, I think. Is that where we'll likely see it next? It'll probably be a lot of uh uh discussion and deliberation, I think, when we get to that point. But uh thank you very much for all the hard work that you started to put into it. I I think there'll be a lot more coming

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any more discussion on that policy. Okay. Thank you. Uh our next topic is we finally get to the workshop topic um and on the operating on the referendum and Dr. Ostrike, could you lead us? >> Yes, thank you. So tonight, our uh school board of trustees will

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participate in a referendum workshop as part of our continued discussion regarding the financial impact of recent legislative changes and the potential need for a referendum. During the workshop, I'm going to present a draft of some information and messaging uh

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that may be shared with the Carmel Clay Schools community in the coming months. Um the purpose of this discussion tonight is to provide the board with an opportunity to review key points, ask questions, provide feedback, have further discussion. Um and we have some

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new information to present tonight as well. So I look forward to sharing that with you um as we uh will begin our fourth uh public meeting on a consideration of a referendum. So at this time if we could transition uh to

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the uh tables in front of the dis and I will go ahead and get my computer set up as we begin begin tonight's presentation. All right. Well, strong schools are one of the de defining strengths of Carmel. They help attract families, support

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local businesses, strengthen property values, and create opportunities for students that few districts in the country can match. This presentation is about preserving that excellence. Over the next few slides, we're going to show you not only what Carmel Clay Schools

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has accomplished, but also why maintaining this level of excellence matters for the future of our community. Before we discuss the funding and the finances and the challenges ahead, it's important that we start with what Carmel Clay Schools represents today. one of

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the premier school districts in Indiana and in the nation. So, Carmel Clay Schools remains one of the top performing districts in Indiana and nationally. The district is recognized as a top public high school in the Indianapolis area in Hamilton County, a

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top 2% high school nationally, and an AP honor role gold distinction district. The point here is not just rankings. The point is that Carmel has built a culture of high expectations over generations and families move here because they

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expect the level of excellence to continue. Now, Carmel Clay Schools is ranked at the very top of Indiana in iLearn performance, number one in combined English and math, number one in English language arts, and number two in

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math. The DI district has also seen major IE growth among special education students and multilingual learners. Um it is important uh that Carmel is not only achieving at the top, it is improving outcomes for groups of

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students who need additional support. So I did want to share a little bit about dual credit because we got new information on this recently. Um and it's one of the clearest examples of re real value for our families. So we offer over 49 dual credit classes with more

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than 2300 students enrolled and nearly 4,000 total de dual credit enrollments. So let me give you a statistic from 2025. We had 2,277 students who took 5,144

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AP exams and nearly 95% of the exams that were taken earned a three or higher. And so these courses allow students to earn college credit while still in high school, saving families millions of dollars. And we estimate, and I think this is a low

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number, we estimate that our families have saved over $5 million in tuition because of these great courses that we offer at Carmel High School. So what you're seeing now is just an example of the accomplishments, recognitions,

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championships, awards, academic achievements, performances, student successes that have all taken place along Carmel Clay Schools just this year. In fact, there are so many accomplishments that the list has quickly become impossible to follow. And

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that's actually the point. We don't expect anyone to everyone to read every line. We want you to appreciate the sheer volume of opportunities and successes taking place across our district every day. These accomplishments span academics, athletics, performing arts, STEM,

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robotics, debate, media, music, service learning, and student leadership. They come they represent students with different talents, different interests, and different goals. When people think about Carmel Clay Schools, they often think about a championship team, a top

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academic ranking, or an award-winning program. But uh what truly defines Carmel is not any single accomplishment. It is the culture of excellence that makes all of these accomplishments possible.

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So, let's get into the data portion. So, think of Carmel Clay Schools uh budget like a delivery truck. It's bringing in funding our school needs and but that's made up of two primary funds. So one is labeled the education fund. This fund

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goes directly to student uh students and learn student instruction and learning. So think about teachers, instructional assistance, textbooks and everything happening inside our four walls. The second barrel is the operations fund which holds nonacademic expenses. That's

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transportation, utilities, building maintenance, all essential, but not the heart of the instructional day. So now, here's what's important. More than 78% of Carmel's total state support is dedicated to teacher compensation in the

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education fund. The state recommends 65%. Carmel Clay Schools, as I just said, is at 78%. The operation fund handles critical needs but still secondary to the classroom. The take the takeaway is simple. We prioritize

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learning. So now let's take a little closer look at one of the biggest funding sources we have the state basic grant. And so the blue paint as you see represents those dollars being poured into the budget. You'll notice that the

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vast majority of the blue money is going into the education fund barrel. That's not an accident. Caramel puts 85% of its state basic grant into the education fund. And as we just stated, over 78%

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goes to teacher compensation. And it means we're not just using those dollars exactly how it mean and it means that we are using those dollars. Let me preface that or clarify that exactly how they were intended for student learning. So

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then you'll see a small amount just 15% flow into the operations fund. Again this is about priorities. We direct as much as possible towards the classroom and our numbers prove it. Now let's take uh let's talk about the other big

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funding source uh local property taxes. The yellow paint represents those dollars and you'll see it being poured directly into the operations fund barrel. Unlike the state basic grant, property taxes don't touch the education

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fund. They're specifically designed to support nonacademic needs such as buses, custodial staff, technology, building maintenance, all the things that keep our schools running on a daily basis, even if they're not a part of that classroom experience. It is an essential

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part of our budget as we know. So another fund that we have uh as part of the school budget that we need to understand is the debt service fund. Think of this as a mortgage payment. When Carmel builds a new school, renovates a facility, or makes a major

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long-term improvement, uh we are required to borrow money to do so, just like families do when they buy a home. The way we then we pay that off over time. The debt service fund is how we make those payments. It's completely separate from the education fund and the

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operations fund and it's used only for one purpose, repaying bonds on past project. We cannot co-mingle those funds if as we've talked about in the past and we can't use it for teachers or classroom needs. Indiana law prohibits

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moving dollars in between those funds. The money in the debt service fund is legally locked in. It can't be used for salaries, programs, or anything else. So, let's talk about the green paint now. So, that represents the referendum

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fund, a vital source of revenue created in direct response to growing funding pressures and why we're here this evening. Back when the state support for public schools began to fall behind and property tax caps squeezed local budgets, districts like many of our

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neighbors and Carmel Clay Schools had to act. This is why this fund was established to protect classroom instruction from being shortchanged. Now, in addition to those continued pressures, the legislature has further reduce the amount of property tax

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revenue available to schools created creating an even tighter squeeze that we're going to get in and you're going to see some examples and dollars on that shortly. And so, the referendum isn't a blank check. It's targeted. It fills the gap that state funding doesn't happen in

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both of those barrels and it allows us to maintain the quality our community expects. The referendum ensures we can offer more than just the minimum. It's how we can protect programs, keep class sizes reasonable, and retain staff even

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if other districts are cutting. So now let's take a closer look at the revenue pressures that shape the funding that we receive. We're going to focus on that blue money next. And so each dot I think you're going to like this uh you're going to like this um graph up here.

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Each dot represents one of 37 Indiana's 376 public charter or virtual schools. So down at the very bottom you can see the lowest funded is a traditional public school Zansville ranked last

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receiving $7,026 per student from the state grant. So the state average is $7,734. Now as we move up the chart, we see various districts, Westfield, uh, Noblesville, Avon, and the top

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traditional public school is Gary at $9,266, ranked number six. Number six. There are five charter schools that are above Gary. And so when we reveal Caramel, we rank 375th

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in the state and the second lowest funded. Um the gap between our $7,047 per student and the state average is $687. Multiply that by our our enrollment and

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that's an additional $11 million we'd have just if the state considered us average. And so finally to note that all schools all note that all the schools that were showing up here from the

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bottom to the top all have operating referendums in place. So in fact one in five um Indiana public schools have a referendum. And so here, here's a look at our per

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student funding source since 2009 to 2026. Um, which we started at $4,969. You can see that for the first 10 years, growth was minimal. Those were the lean years when many schools turned to

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referendums for support. Eventually, growth picked up and bringing us to $7,047 by 2026. Now, here's our reality. Over those 17 years, funding increased about

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41.8% or just under 2 and a half% per year, but inflation, as you see up on the chart, um was over 56% or over 3.3% per year. So, if the funding had kept pla

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pace with inflation, we would be at $7,772 per students in 2026. The difference $725 per students, which means we would have an additional $11.5 million this year

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alone. So, let's take a look at the impact of the tax rate and how property taxes are calculated. So, if we take a home assessed at $500,000, the homestead deduction removes $48,000.

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We talked about this in one of our first meetings. Then the supplemental deduction in 2026 uh is 40% which brings us to the taxable value of that $500,000 home at $271,200.

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We then divide that by 100 uh multiply it by the tax rate. And in this example, we're going to use 24 cents, which is the current combined rate of our referendums. Um, and the that's the annual tax impact. Dividing that by 12

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gives the monthly cost typically paid through a mortgage. So, let's uh let's just ground us here. So, this is the baseline year under the current rules here in uh 2025. So, or 2026. We're

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using 2025 as a point of comparison for what comes next. And so that $678, that tax impact is what most folks would see before SCA1, but it doesn't stay that way. And so let's dig deeper into

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that. So this year in 2026, the supplemental deduction increased to 40%. That's more savings for the homeowner and less for the schools. it lowers their referendum tax bill. So in this

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example that you see here, the annual impact drops from $678 to $651. That's a 4% cut. Sounds great for taxpayers, and it is. Don't don't doubt that. But it also means less money for

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schools. And it doesn't stop there. Let's dig a little deeper. So by 2027, the supplemental deduction is 46%. And you can see how it increases each year until 2031. By then, a home's taxable

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value will only be onethird of its assessed value. For example, the $500,000 uh home will be taxed at just 166,500, reducing the taxable value by over 41%

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from 2025. the amount that the voters approved will be reduced from $678 that I showed you to $400. So before making uh any decisions, what we did as a district is we wanted to

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make sure we were working from accurate defensible financial data, not estimates or assumptions. So to do that, as you know, at two of our meetings, uh, we had policy analytics, a firm that specializes in Indiana school finance

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and referendum analysis, come and present to us. So what they did is they conducted a parcel by parcel review of the entire district's tax base uh, and to model the projected impact of SEA1 on Carmel Clay Schools over the next eight

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years. You can go back to any of our previous, so this is our fourth meeting. Go back to our first couple of meetings and you can see that uh online and watch that their analysis looked at assessed value trends, tax cap impacts, new taxpayer credits, projected revenue

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losses, and long-term cash flow projections. This is important because the financial challenges that we are discussing tonight, they're not theoretical. They are based on detailed modeling using actual district property

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uh data and state funding assumptions. So the projections that you're going to see over the next several slides that I'm going to walk you through comes directly from that analysis and help explain why the district is facing significant financial pressure despite

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continued responsible financial management. So, as we look at this chart, this is something we've seen before, but not kind of uh in this exact way. So, we're comparing where our referendum's net assessed value, the tax

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base, was projected before SEA1 and where it's heading now. So, the yellow line shows our presea 1 um trajectory, about a 4% growth per year. The 2025 and 2026 numbers are the actual uh numbers.

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And then after that the um after that we look at the yellow line continued upwards in our old projections. Now postsea 1 the blue line shows that new trajectory downward. And so the space in between the lines represents that

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projected loss uh in the referendum revenue. And that's combined from what's was already approved by our voters in 2023 and then looking at the renewal of the safety referendum. So the gap adds up to an average, as we've shared

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previously, of $15 million per year lost in referendum collections. This year alone, we're down $2.8 million. And by 2034, we're projected to lose $21 million annually. And that's just the referendum. So other funds are also

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impacted as well. And as we shared earlier, um total reduction in revenue from 27 to 2034 um it's almost 120 million as we've shared. And so on top of those deductions, one of the biggest

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financial impacts from SEA1 is something that most taxpayers don't realize is affecting schools directly, and that's the unfunded taxpayer credits. So, it shows up right on your tax bill. And these credits lower individual tax bills, which is great for taxpayers, but

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the state doesn't replace the lost revenue to schools. And so, historically, schools already absorb losses from the property tax caps, often called circuit breakers. Uh, and policy analytics talked about this as well. But beginning this year, additional state

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created credits dramatically increase those losses. The largest example is the new supplemental homestead credit uh where eligible homeowners can receive the lesser of the $300 uh or 10% of their tax liability attributed to their

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homestead property. So again, while the savings helps taxpayers, the reduction comes directly out of our school funding. For Carmel Clay Schools, the impact is immediate and substantial. And so as shown here, uh, unfunded credits

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jump from 1.9 million to well over 3.2 million, uh, on the chart beginning this year and then continually annually. And so these are not reductions caused by district spending decisions. These are statecreated tax relief measures where

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local schools are absorbing this financial loss. And so this means fewer dollars available for staffing, transportation, student programs, safety, and day-to-day operations unless additional revenue or reductions are identified. So this is brand new data

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that we have um uh we have analyzed and u one question that we've heard is whether Caramel Clay Schools is operating efficiently before asking voters to continue their investment in our schools. And so to answer that, we

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looked at publicly reported financial data from the Department of Local Government Finance or DLGF for short um and compared Carmel to neighboring and similar school districts. As you can see, the result is clear. Caramel has

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the lowest expenditures per resident among every major district in this analysis. Additionally, one reason that Carmel is able to maintain a lower tax burden is that we operate very efficiently. In

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fact, Carmel spends about $858 less per student than the average Indiana school district. We also spend substantially less than neighboring districts. Despite that, our students continue to achieve at the highest

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levels in academics, the arts, as you saw tonight, and athletics. This isn't a story about overspending. It's a story about doing more with less. And so, we shared this uh sample question with you at our last uh

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referendum meeting. And here is a draft question that voters could see in November. So, we're proposing to raise the minimum rate to 42.74 cents from the existing rate of the two referendums combined. Still well within

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reason when compared to other districts across the state. Why? Because we're trying to offset the damage caused by legislative changes regarding property taxes and to provide additional revenue to further supplement the education

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fund. The new rate helps us maintain teacher salaries, class sizes, academic programs, and student support services. It's not about adding, it's about sustaining what we have. And so, the ballot begins by asking voters to

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approve an 8-year referendum um uh let's see, yeah, an 8-year referendum that combines and continues funding previously approved by the community. This proposal would renew the school safety referendum first approved in 2019

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which is set to expire and combine it with the operating referendum approved in 2023 into a single question. So the combined approach is being proposed in response to recent changes in the state law that will significantly reduce local

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school funding starting next year unless that referendum is approved. And additionally, the goal is to maintain stable funding so Carmel Clay Schools can continue providing the level of excellence in student services our

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community expects without major cuts caused by del uh declining revenue. And so I also wanted to point out appreciate the board's uh uh feedback and what they shared and what Mrs. Cashion shared with us, but including renewing and replacing

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existing referendums that I I just spoke to. And so that's something um that we had added previous to our last question. If approved, the referendum would allow our allow our schools to maintain current funding levels. This funding supports student safety, health, and

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well-being across the district, including uh continuing the employment and retention of school resource officers in all uh of our student occupied buildings, especially our elementary schools. It would also help us support and retain teachers and staff

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during a time when statewide funding uh is becoming more uncertain. Supporting strong educators and staff is essential to preserving the quality of education students receive here in Carmel each and every day. Additionally, the referendum

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would continue funding academic programs and student support services that meet the educational needs of students. Without this funding, the district would need to make significant reductions to staffing programs and student services. The referendum is intended to preserve

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those educational opportunities and support systems currently available to students and families. So, it is important to note, and we're going to show this uh over the next few slides that the rate shown on the ballot represents that maximum possible rate.

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So in the first year, the estimated rate will be lower, 31.94 cents per $100 of net assessed value. So for a median value home in Carmel, the referendum portion of the tax bill is

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estimated to increase by less than $143 per year in the first year. And we we discussed that at our last meeting. However, after accounting for the new state deductions and credits, the overall property tax bill for the same home is projected to decrease by

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approximately $263 per year. This proposal uh that we're bringing to the board continues the community's longstanding uh commitment and investment in our schools while providing combining uh prior referendum

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funding into a single question for our voters to approve. So before we dive into the numbers here, uh let me guide you through what the actual impact will look like step by step. So, we're going to start by clarifying the median home

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value in Caramel and so and what that really means for your tax bill. So, the median home value uh gross assessed value is actually $482,000 in Caramel. However, the ballot has to show that $500,000 because the legislature said we must

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round up. And so on these charts going forward, we're going to use the $250,000 home uh which is around that 25th percentile. Um and then also the $750,000 home which is around the 75th percentile. So we're going to focus um

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our next slides and step by step on that $482,000 um gross assessed value median. All right. So in 2027, uh, the first year, the actual rate is 31.94.

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So for a median home, that's a $762 impact, just about 8 cents above today's rate um of those two um two uh referendum combined. So let me see here. So here you see the current rate that is

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now in place of 24 cents. Um and the current rate um we're going to present that next to the rate um that we're going to look at putting in place uh or proposing for the board to vote on next year. The actual impact in 2027 is the

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difference between these two tables. Now stay with me even further. So the real increase for the referendum in 2027 is $189. That's what we what's added by the new rate far less than the $1,62 that we

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have to put on that question on the ballot. And so, and as a reminder, this is the change to the referendum amount amount, not the total or final tax bill. So, now with deductions and credits,

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your total tax bill drops in 2027. In fact, for a median home, it goes down by about $250. So that's the actual 2027 effect to your total tax bill for the same value home.

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also for the new referendum tax rate and after the property tax changes take effect next year. Most taxpayers will see a reduction but all will see little to no impact over the life of the

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proposed referendum. And so this slide, you've seen this before. Um, this slide shows how the referendum rates rises toward 2031, but the tax bill continues to decline because that net assessed value, which is the tax base, drops so

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significantly. And so by 2028, your taxes drop by about $650. By 2029, they drop by almost $1,000 when compared to your bill from this year in

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2026. Even with the referendum, taxes still fall long-term thanks to those legislative changes. And so, strong schools are one of the defining strengths of Carmel. Uh they help attract families, support local businesses, strengthen property values,

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and create opportunities for students that few districts in the country can match. This presentation is about preserving that excellence. I look forward to digging in uh with the board. I look forward to our uh discussion as well as our questions. I'm going to

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remain up here in case we need to go back to some slides and reference those. But at this time uh we're happy to take any questions and look forward to the discussion. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Ostri.

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>> My uh is this on? Great. Thank you. Um, that's a good presentation and we appreciate the first handful of slides being done uh at elevator uh speech speed. You bet. >> Thank you for that. Uh, so I'm going to open up for questions and comments and

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you know this is a workshop. I'd like to see it just be uh conversational and discussion. So open it up. Open it up. Who would like to go first? >> Thank you Mr. President. Um Dr. Orike,

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first of all, thank you. That is a ton of information at rapid speed. That is um incredibly indepth and down a rabbit hole. So much appreciated. Really love the graphics because I'm a visual

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learner. Um my question if you can go back to the draft referendum language slide, >> you know, whichever one you get to first. Yeah, I'll just do the big >> right there. So, um, at our May 13th meeting, that number that in this draft

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is currently, uh, a maximum annual amount that does not exceed 61,981,519 was at the May 13th meeting approximately 72.6 million. Can you speak to that change, please? >> Absolutely. I'll I'll let uh Mr.

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McMichael. Uh, take that one first and I'd be happy to add anything. >> Yes. U excuse me. In the in the previous um question, we had increased the 62 million keeping in mind that this

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is a maximum. And so I related to when we do a budget, we know we can we can if we we can never collect more than we advertise. So, we typically advertise high, not because we think that we'll necessarily use that. Um, but that's

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what we were doing. And so, um, which is which I'm finding is pretty typical with other school districts, you know, to allow because you're trying you're forecasting eight years out. And the reality is is the likelihood that everything turns out eight years from now the way we're assuming forecasting

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it now kind of slim enough. Uh so that's that's the answer to your question and I so I would want to emphasize however and the board knows this but for benefit of the public every year this board approves a budget and which means approving tax rates. So I've had

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questions for example we've had questions about that seems like a lot of money and how do you know you'll need that and we don't know. Um what we do know is that this referendum from the beginning was started to supplement

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state funding and and so and we know that's been pretty unpredictable and so so so what I would emphasize is is that every year the board has an opportunity

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to decide do we need the maximum and we we had an example early in recent years with our safety referendum. It was approved at 5 cents and it took three years. We're at 5 cents now, but it took three years. We ran three years with three and a half cents because we didn't

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need all the money. We in that example, it took a while to get all the police officers hired and so school resource officers hired and so forth. So again, I'd emphasize that every year the board has the opportunity and the responsibility to establish those tax

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rates and I at least have full confidence that our board is very conscious and responsible relative to taxpayers at the same time responsible to and I know we certainly care about children and their educational programs. So that's a

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difficult thing to balance because the great programs you know here educate children that somebody has to pay for. And so I know you I know that you all are are sensitive to that would continue to be that >> and I'll also add Miss Wheeler um thank

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you for that question based upon the board's feedback. That was an analysis that we internally took a look at as well as policy analytics. Um but we wanted to go back to what we've been consistently communicating through our um public board meetings that $62

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million. And the reason is that that 61 981 519 that's the actual calculation based upon all the data that we have shared previously. >> Thank you for pointing that out because that's what I was going to say on the record that sometimes what the community doesn't see is all of that work behind

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the scenes and it was the board working with the district to consistently say we are prioritizing teachers. We want to make sure we're taking care of our teachers. We want to be excellent schools, but we also need to be really good stewards of the taxpayers dollars.

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So, showing some restraint in what we would be going to ask for for that max levy amount, what allows us to at least continue our current platforms, take care of our teachers, um, but continue every year to see those opportunities to fund at a very reasonable level. And not

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that any of us want to in four years from now be coming back, but if something drastically changes at the state house like they like to do, we can always re-evaluate the referendum and have all of these conversations again. Um, so I do appreciate that change and I

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really enjoyed the new slides this evening that you put in that showed how we are doing so much more with less um than some of our neighboring districts. I'd also like you to give an uh just a elevator speech to the community as well. Some of the conversations we've

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been having about those expenses that have increased too. So, this isn't just about getting more money to ensure that we can pay our teachers and give them raises and retain our staff and have excellence, but it's also those expenses that just the size of the district, utility costs, insurance costs that

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those increase and we have to be able to afford those. >> Absolutely. And I'll also add to that, Mrs. cash in. If something positive happens uh for public schools and the legislature and there's changes, the board also has the opportunity to adjust the rate as well if it impacts the

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district in a positive way. Yeah. Thank you. I'd like to just make a comment on generally speaking we've got a situation where operating referendums have had been in place for quite a number of years. So this is not a new problem.

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It's just a matter of now it's taken another turn. Right. with SEA1 and also there's a tendency to lower the state ASA grant providing funds for other things like

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vouchers and programs like that. So that that has tailored off but also we've had we've seen some decline in enrollment that's my calculations has affected us about five million a year and um you know my question is this and I don't

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see what kind of answer you might be able to provide. If um if if we get if if enrollment is declining some at a great continues at some kind of a rate like what we've seen over the last five or six years, do we

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uh is our plan you think our plan would be to offset that with operating referendum rate or would we decide that at some point we have to shrink costs to uh to downsize with what our student population.

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>> I'll let Roger kick us off. And then I also have some thoughts for that too as well. >> So, as the board knows, but the public may not. Excuse me. When we lose enrollment, we're losing that $7,000 per student. As most people have heard, the money follows the child. And that's a

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very uh understandable but also very simplistic approach. Um so as enrollment if and when when when enrollment has declined we've also adjusted staff the best we could accordingly. So

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does make sense that fewer students you need you need fewer teachers. challenge is when if you in 15 schools and 16,000 students if you lose a 100 students amongst those 16 schools 15 schools the problem is is a teacher may have one or

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two less students but you can't eliminate the teacher or the rest of the teachers class size. So typically in our experience has been about half of that $7,000 um we we offset by reducing expenses.

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The other half is much more difficult because the other half assumes the the cost of all the other I want I don't want to say non-teers because it's all the teachers that are not in that classroom. art, music, PE, media

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specialists, social workers, counselors, and I'm there's others. Um, but those and as well as your administration, building administration. And so again, if a if a elementary school loses 10 students times 11

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schools, um, you still need a principal. And and and because there's just the offset on the other half is uh takes time. Now, if a stu a school is lo or if a school district is losing five, six, 700 students, thousand

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students like some of fortunately some of our uh urban environments, eventually you you close a school or at least you have the opportunity and that and we know how difficult that is. So, that doesn't always happen as timely from a financial standpoint as people like me

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would like to see happen in terms of cost. But then you kind of catch up because then you need one less principal and one less of everybody in the building not just the teachers. Again the teachers will follow the students to the to the remaining schools. So um

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about half of if when you lose enrollment about half of it is can be offset and caramel has done a very good job and a timely job of doing that. We don't we don't keep the same staff if we lose a hundred teachers. We we might like to because then we our class sizes

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go down but you can see the problem because the money goes away and um uh so so about half of it is offset the other half is the challenge um and it works by the way just the opposite when you're growing and Caramel benefited from that since we've had this money follow the

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child because when you're growing and you gain a 100 kids or 300 kids across the district um you need you need the half for the additional teachers. Um, but you don't at that point if you

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have not built a new building and expanded, you don't need more principles. You don't. So, it works that it works the other way if you're growing. So, it's it's uh it's kind of financially great when you're growing. It's very challenging when you're declined. The good news for Caramel is

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is and you're absolutely correct, Mr. around over the last several years for the first time in you know ever I believe uh karma lost enrollment after co for three years in a row then we started to gain a little bit not much but 40 50 kids something like that for

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for two or three years and last year we lost again and um having said all that the forecast is for caramel is that I'm talking about for the next 8 10 years again farther out it gets the less likely it's going come out just that

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way. But that forecast by a professional demographer says the enrollment is going to be very stable here. It shows some decline. By some I meanund less than 150, I believe. And so still $7,000 a student, but that's too

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close to call. So we have not taken uh enrollment or declining enrollment or growing enrollment into account um because we don't see that as as a a significant factor that we that we

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should. So so time will tell you how accurate that is. But as as as Kashan said um at the end of the day 2027 is pretty clear. We have a formula. Uh the piece that's still missing will be the

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enrollment in the fall, but it's pretty clear. Every year after that, it's a little little less clear and and economy. We know if we have a recession, particularly at the state, well, all levels, but particularly at the state

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level, uh because that funding is coming from property t from sales tax and income tax. So you know if we have a major recession people are losing jobs thus income tax

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and as when then selling you know the prop or the sales tax may go down typically does uh which is by the way what happened in 2010 as luck would have it. That's exactly when the 100red-year recession started and the state changed funding from property

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a mix of property tax and state tax to all state tax. So the timing couldn't have been worse and that's what also when we had our first referendum and that was more than coincidental >> and I'll just add to that as Mr. Mcichael already shared um and I've been

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a part of this for the last about a seven seven years with Dr. Dudley and now Dr. Dudley and Dr. Herrera, we have a very comprehensive staffing process where I know Dr. and Dud Dr. Dudley and I have made adjustments of the number of teachers based upon whether our

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enrollment goes up or down. >> Mr. President, may I ask the next question? Okay. Just wanted to make sure your question was answered. >> Um, I agree with Mr. Brown. You know, I think it's time to have a real

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conversation and and hopefully give the administration guidance on where we think we'll go. It's time to we're very close to time to vote. Um and I've had um folks, you

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know, publicly be concerned that um I, you know, don't support teachers and don't support staff. There's nothing could be further from the truth. And I I certainly hope that folks understand or at least the majority of folks

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understand since you can't make everybody happy all the time is that my questions and I think the questions of my brethren are all about transparency and making sure we understand the issues and shouldn't be, you know, interpreted

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as uh, you know, wanting wild swings in any direction or how we might vote on anything. I don't think that's fair. On the other side of the coin, I've also gotten comments from folks along the lines of, "Well, you just don't want to cut anything ever. You know, you don't want to have to ever do a budget cut."

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And and that's just not true either. Um the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Um, understanding that it's my personal intention to always pri prioritize people, meaning our teachers and staff,

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over things when it comes to what we fund. That will always be my rule of thumb. Um, and also understanding that we as a state and I think as a community may be

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more socially um progressive, but fiscally we are historically very a very conservative community. And I I do that leadin because essentially what we're looking

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at at this point is three scenarios that we've been talking to the public about. What I'll call a low, a medium, and a high scenario. That is this MAC going back to the maximum annual amount that does not exceed X.

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And those options, you know, to to refresh people's recollection, were essentially a not to exceed number in 2034, again, 8 years out, what's being recommended um is the 62 million, and if I make an

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error, please interrupt me. Uh the medium number was 59.3 and the low number was 55.4. Here's where I struggle as a board member.

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Do I thinking about, hey, is it is it reasonable for our community to expect we we are made whole? We are given enough funds that the community has historically with the referenda that they have approved, we get back to those

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numbers and we're able to meet the goals of our strategic plan and keep our staff whole and keep our programs whole. Is that what we want people to vote on? And so, do we take these what are scientific

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estimates, but still estimates? Do we take the highest of those three or do I look at it and say, "Yeah, if that if things don't play out, am I as a board member willing to say, yeah, I I think

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we can find $2.8 8 million of quote unquote things to cut instead of people. I don't know that it's reasonable to say no, I don't think we can. But that also doesn't mean that we couldn't use the

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top number and still not have to cut. And I think that is, you know, it I don't have a crystal ball. Um, and I want to make the best choice. Um, but I'm struggling with how to

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defend the 62 million versus the 59.3 million, particularly when in this budget year of 2026, we were able to make up for

340
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um a deficit of what was it 2.8 million. So, I'm interested particularly from Mr. Mcichael, from Dr. Oh, from Mrs. Kushar. What are your, you know, tell me, is there a red flag

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with that middle number? Does that make you nervous? If you had to cut things, what would you recommend? Like what? Give me your advice as a school board me member and as the experts on that middle versus high number. I'm very interested

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in that. >> Thank you for that. I I would preface by saying there's an issue that I I do not believe we made as clear as we could have and should have. Um your comments are right on in terms of making up what

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we've lost with Senate Bill One. The reason for the 62 rather than the 59 is the 59 would make up for what we lost. We're close to it. However, you'll remember that last year we the board

344
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approved and we settled a one-year contract. We used the money from both years of the bienium, the funding for two years to do that and still had a slight deficit with a 2% raise. And I'm I

345
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think that's in today's world that surely is not excessive. It finish with a deficit and if you give no increased no increases at all for salary and benefits including insurance which you really

346
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don't have control over uh which are in as we know the medical trend is is you know over the trend is over 10%. We've been fortunate to keep it in single digits but that's the problem. So the other piece of the equation that that we

347
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have not made clear is that if we did not have Senate Bill one, I would be recommending that this board increase that 19 cents to 22 or 23 cents as we did earlier when we started at 16 and it got worse when we went to 19. And that's

348
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the part we did not make clear. And so it's not a matter, it is a matter of cutting uh because the administration at least will recommend consideration of some modest or minimal increase in salaries

349
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um subject to this referendum of course but the alternative is is you either put it on the backs of employees because you do not have enough you don't we don't have money to give as I said to even cover the increased cost of insurance

350
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let and no increase in in in any other you know salaries and benefits and that's where we spend most all of our money so that's the problem and that's 27 I'm not talking you know that that's pretty clear as I said I'm not talking about three or four years out

351
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let somebody else forecast that but in the very immediate sense and we're going to we're going to start a formal as we're required to we'll start formal bargaining in in September and and there is no money. I'm want to make that very

352
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clear. There is no money. Uh and the only way there's money, but there is money. We have, you know, has been pointed out several times, we spend, you know, 250 million, whatever. We send 150 million the education, the operations. There's a lot of money and and I've said

353
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this to many people. So, we can give any rate. You guys can approve any raise you want. You just can't pay as many people. So, that's a polite way of saying you if you if you reduce cost for people and I'm not talking about just teachers but that is the largest chunk um by several

354
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million dollars then you can you would have the wherewithal to give the remaining staff a minimal increase your your other alternative is is you put it on the backs of the employees and don't give them any increase and and I don't believe this board is inclined to want

355
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to do I know you don't want to do that and I would hope you you wouldn't do that but that's that's the rest of the story that and that's the missing piece and that has caused confusion. That's why I'm saying in hindsight I we would have emphasized this in the first place more so than we did. Sometimes when you

356
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deal with this stuff all the time, you can kind of forget that not everybody is understanding it from the same respect. I hope that's helpful. >> Super helpful. Thank you, Roger. Dr. O, did you have anything else to add? So, I'm going to Roger try to summarize that

357
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in my nonaccounting brain. Can I add? >> Yes, please, please, please. >> So, you asked about kind of the is there is there a red flag? And so, I think for me what that is is just looking at our cash balances, particularly in the education fund and the operating referendum. Um, we are losing cash and

358
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we have been over the past few years. And then this year alone, we're losing over two million in cash across those funds. And that's with a budget that does not include any raises or any if we or any increases in health insurance. And if we projected those those

359
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increases, we would be even significantly lower than that. And so that really demonstrates, I think, the need for the increase in bigger increase in funding to really increase what we were getting the

360
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referendum to begin with. That's super helpful. Thank you, Mrs. Kushar. Um, so just going back to trying to summarize it for my brain. Um, if we went with the middle number of

361
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59.3 million maximum annual impact, we would as soon as next year in order to give our staff raises, we would have to cut staff to have the money to give the remaining staff minimal raises.

362
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>> Not quite. And here's why. Uh, and again, You can see how confusing the state required question is because the maximum is the 59. The maximum tax rate is the 42 cents. It's

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not the 31 cents that was up there a minute ago. So you could say, well, we're going to we're going to give a raise next year or some kind of adjustment in salary. Um and but the the tax rate then would not be 31 cents. It might be 35 or six, whatever, whatever

364
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it takes. And so with this question, uh, this board wouldn't do this because you've explained the intent, but you could you could start at that 42 cents for all eight years. >> Okay? >> And so you could see you would you'd have significant amount of additional

365
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money should you do that. Uh, I know you wouldn't. Um, but you could. And so the human nature such as well let's do that and we'll worry about eight years from now later >> and and um

366
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typically I I we kind of know how gave me a heart attack eventually later comes this is like you know we'll worry about retirement later right and well I'm now of an age that I realize how that didn't work out so good but but uh u so so you could you we can deal with next year u

367
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And even we could even more than deal with it next year financially because you've got that whole attitude to go from from instead of 31 cents, you could go immediately to 42.74 and and you'd have plenty of money in 27

368
01:48:50.560 --> 01:49:06.960
and but our estimate would be that again it's forecast um but the like the you'd have an in very an increased likelihood that you would have significant financial problems. in in those later years and we may

369
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anyhow this just raises the risk. And my point is is that um if to the extent the board is reviewing this every year um you you have you have some opportunity to to make a you you

370
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make a decision every year. And so the lower that high number is, which is why many districts are adding to that and as as you noted earlier, we had had it at 72 million. Not because today I think we'll hit 72 million, but if you get to

371
01:49:40.960 --> 01:49:56.320
year three or four and and another program at the state like a voucher programs takes another billion dollars out of the pot, it'll change the financial circumstances. And the uh remember this referendum is there because of inadequate state funding

372
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since 2010. That really hasn't changed. It's gotten worse. And so that's that's the reason we would still recommend the higher amount. And and we we wouldn't do this, but if we had we we could have had the higher amount be 72 thou 72 million

373
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and then you know it might feel better if you pick the middle one at 62. It just happens that we were sufficiently conservative enough that in some ways it kind of can be detrimental because it's very e

374
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it like well you're you're you're going for the highest rate possible and and then to the extent that there's there can there's a perception by some people that those those school uh administrative bureaucrats they they spend the maximum money they can get in

375
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marijuana and which does round me up a little bit because I want to remind people I get paid the same either way and I don't get to keep the money here. So, um and my children aren't in the public schools anymore. So, um what what in motivation would we have to to do

376
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that? The answer is no. >> So, that's the back to the difference between the tax rate and the max levy amount, right? >> Okay. So, thank you for that clarification. That's really helpful. And to your point, Mr. Mcichael, I mean, we are a taxing authority. We we do a

377
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lot we talk a lot about setting the budget and approving the budget, but part of approving a budget and why we were elected is to set a tax rate. I'm not afraid to do that, but I'm going to do that fully within the the education I

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get from our professional staff and the administration. And I have no doubt that neither one of you would recommend we go to the max anyway. Right. So, that's really helpful. >> One last comment. I really I'll be quiet. I'll try >> because I have a question for you.

379
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>> I'll try to be um it's exactly what you said. Um this is a maximum rate. It's simply um in my mind it speaks to it's not as though oh you're going to raise this much money my taxes are going to go through the roof.

380
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We'll tell you that each year or you will as you approve budgets and and and my assumption is is that if your constituents feel you're being excessive um that'll that'll come up at the next

381
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election and as it should. That's that's a wonderful thing about our system. Um, so you've been entrusted to look out for your community, you know, the voters and the taxpayers and that's exactly what you do. >> I think

382
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>> I'd like to pull a little bit more of that McMike math out of your head for you to educate us because I think we've talked a lot about those rates and the buildup and then what the max levy is. I think what we haven't heard yet is

383
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some of that background math as to the projections you made to say why we need things over the next few years. I know we talked about how the net assessed value is projected at an average 4% growth each year. However, were there calculations in it for the expenses that

384
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are going up? Were you assuming a 2% raise would be recommended for the teachers each year? like trying to get a grasp on that number rising, what that covers to say, "We're not looking to put in five new pathways in the high school or we can't build any buildings with it

385
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anyway." But the things that you would normally hear from the people that say you guys will spend every penny that you have because like some of the expenses that you guys collected for us when we were doing some of the background education, right? That health insurance you mentioned in 2016 was 19.2 and in

386
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2025 it was 29.2. Those are the types of increases that we're seeing. So, can you better educate the board and the community on what inputs went into why you think next year we need 31 and so on and so forth? >> Yes. First that

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remember that 80% of the money is from the state formula which you have no control over and we don't none of us here have any control over and and in my view it's been inadequate. That's why we have a reference and and so starting

388
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there the 4% is for the other 20% which is the referendum. And so again that we we looked back and said well the average funding you know how averages are but the average funding from the state has been about three and a half%. Now in 27

389
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it looks like it's 26 27 it's a little less than one and a half percent. That's the problem. and and so that this is supplement to that. So if this is one and a half% 80% is one and a half percent and this this goes up 4% it

390
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helps but you it doesn't mean the whole pot is 4%. Or whatever that total is well that would be the total or up 4%. And so so we we simply we we certainly are aware and look to the past and yes we assume

391
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there would be the 4% kind of represents in our mind an inflationary rate and and in recent years it's been higher than that but in prior years it's been lower than that. That's why it may not be enough or it may be too much. Thus back

392
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to the every year you you consider all that and so that's where the 4% came from after 27 and so that you'll see that the 31 cents is more than that. So, as I said, we first need to get up to where we would have been had there not

393
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been SEA one and then, as I said, we need some additional to further supplement the state revenue for 27. And so, we have not assumed that need going forward beyond the 4%.

394
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And so, that's why anybody's guess whether that's enough. the likelihood it would be too much is I think based on the history since 2010 uh is pretty slim and I realize past doesn't guarantee of the future but but um but that's how that's how it all

395
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works and so that's that's why we settled on the 4% because again this whole forecast is assuming all kinds of you know enrollment is as Mr. Brown said, um, inflation, state

396
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funding. I mean, it's it's all of that's in there. >> Um, on the extent side, we projected minimal raises. Um, that is our hope to be able to do that for our staff and then we pulled historical data for all the other expenses to to project it out.

397
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Um, we we're hoping that improves. I don't know that we're headed that direction, but um, we looked at what has happened recently. We looked at different timing for those and then we did projections based on that data and that's what we used to project which of

398
01:57:12.080 --> 01:57:29.119
these scenarios was going to be best. So just to summarize from my perspective what I just heard was essentially that all those expenses were accounted for and that is why it is recommended for a stair step. It is not so that we can get more money figure out how to use it and

399
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what to put it against. It is literally to take the staff we have the curriculum we have the programs we have everything and supply our education fund salaries to those teachers our SRO's our mental health um and be able to maintain the

400
01:57:45.840 --> 01:58:03.440
excellent caliber that we have here and to Chris's comment earlier about you know we're getting close to that decision so where are we at and like I I think I've communicated before and and Miss Wheeler said today too is like being around that 59 feels like a really

401
01:58:03.440 --> 01:58:20.639
good spot because we are trying to show some restraint in the budget situations that a lot of the public is having. I do understand though that we don't know what's going to happen in eight years. So there is some flexibility that needs to happen with the anticipation that that state basic grant could continue to

402
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go down and put us in a less favorable position on a per student basis. Um, I do think there are things we could look at in the district as we are the only district in Hamilton County that does not have open enrollment. So, there are things that we could explore in the future if we really had to as well and

403
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having that larger conversation outstep. Always keep in mindable I've got a few questions if I can interject. I appreciate the conversation. I think it helps all of us understand. Uh I have one question on timing. We've talked a lot about 2027

404
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and we're entering the budget uh process for that approving the 2027 budget this fall. So if the vote or whatever gets put on ballot is let's just say it's approved

405
01:59:28.159 --> 01:59:45.920
um we can't really can we use that new rate are we still confined to the 19 cents for the operating safety >> no the new the new rate would be 27 starting 27 so yes you can you would use the new rate

406
01:59:45.920 --> 02:00:03.520
>> so this fall that be Well, >> for the 2027 budget, >> well, here's where it gets the 27 budget is a county year budget, as you know. The state funding is on a fiscal year, which is 2627.

407
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The supplemental income revenue from the referendum is on a calendar year because people pay taxes in May and November. So, it's a it's a combination, but this money that we're talking about um that would would uh become available in

408
02:00:20.560 --> 02:00:38.159
January essentially. I mean during 27 and which is always what happens. We receive it twice a year but we're anticipating it for the entire year. >> So we could do an additional appropriation in 27 if the referendum passes. >> Yes. Yes. Additional appropriation is

409
02:00:38.159 --> 02:00:54.239
just is just a another way of saying authority to spend cash. First you have to have the cash to be able to spend it. And so um and we haven't started bargaining and so um we absolutely can't be presumptuous as

410
02:00:54.239 --> 02:01:10.320
to what the outcome of that would be because then you would not be bargaining in good faith if you already decided you knew what to happen. So so we're careful to make that clear. But with all of our other employees,

411
02:01:10.320 --> 02:01:25.599
we are not anticipating recommending salary increases at this time because we don't know that right now. I would tell you until unless it changes, you don't have the money to do that unless you make

412
02:01:25.599 --> 02:01:42.239
cuts. And so I would not recommend that you, you know, reduce, you know, several million dollars to do that. I would recommend that later if it became necessary quite honestly because being the the alternative is is just sorry but

413
02:01:42.239 --> 02:01:58.159
we can't give anybody salary increases of any kind and in fact under the law you can reduce their salary. Now start to imagine when remember that all of our neighbors have referendums as well and there is a competition out there these days for employees not just teachers and

414
02:01:58.159 --> 02:02:17.360
so it's a much bigger discussion but you know, certainly CFO and I know you wouldn't do this can't be presumptuous that this is going to pass. We're hopeful, but if it is put on the ballot, but

415
02:02:17.360 --> 02:02:34.800
in this case, we need to know. So, yeah, let me clarify that again. You may have answered it, didn't catch it. So, in September and October, we're going through the budget and we're going to be approving a rate for the referendums. Those are already capped at 194

416
02:02:34.800 --> 02:02:54.080
>> for 26 27. >> So, so we approved the budget this fall >> just before the vote. >> Yes. >> So, so the max week ago, aren't we limited to? >> Yes.

417
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Which is why uh based on the current circumstances um we will not be presenting a budget that results in mill you know several million dollars of deficit. Um for example if we

418
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said well as we typically have when we have a formula and we know the money and so forth and we would we would as you know you would approve two-year contract and um But but in 27 it's going to be different

419
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because as we said in 26 that the the money that will be available for 27 right now u will will not be sufficient to to assume any any adjustments in salary or

420
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anything else for that matter. And it will likely also show even at that you're still running a deficit. Not as large a sum, but but still be more likely it'll show a deficit. It won't show it won't we won't

421
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recommend we won't be making a recommendation that chooses to make it worse. put it that way. >> So, but then in theory, are you we going to be planning a budget that's $6 million short and having >> on your definition of short? If you if you don't anticipate any of expenses you

422
02:04:19.520 --> 02:04:37.760
can control which is salary if you don't if you if you basically don't say we're not going to allow that to go up which is why we're saying we're not we're going to put a recommend a pause on any salary adjustments because you

423
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don't have the money and if a referendum is approved then you at least consider salary adjustments at that time. So, so here's where I get confused. Looking at this, this chart got right up

424
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here. 2027.314. We're creating budget, approving a budget for that. >> I would say yes because remember you approved the budget. So we will be budgeting at the 247. >> I I I expect that we're going to get

425
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some guidance from the DGF because there are going to be, you know, about a hundred schools that are in the same situation because there's so many referendums running this fall where budget season is happening as these referendums are running. And so I expect that they will give us some guidance on

426
02:05:35.440 --> 02:05:52.400
how we're supposed to this year. They have not yet, but I expect they will. At the same time, um, this is a unique year. There's no question about that. So, it's hard telling, you know, what what the outcome will be. But, um, up

427
02:05:52.400 --> 02:06:07.520
until now, at least when the state approves a budget, um, they will they will approve it to the extent that you demonstrate that you have cash to support. Now, um, in spite of everything that you're thinking, we do have cash

428
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balance. So we could we could create a budget that's that as long as in other words they they include cash balance. So if you said we're going to create a budget and $6 million of it is going to be funded with with onetime money of accumulated savings or reserves they'll

429
02:06:25.679 --> 02:06:44.000
prove it. So you're indicating the rainy day fund essentially utilizing >> all the funds have cash not just rainy day but I mean the education all three of the funds that we talk about education operating rain all that has cash um I wouldn't be advising you to

430
02:06:44.000 --> 02:07:00.719
approve a salary increase supported by rainy day funds because we know that the salaries are recurring accumulation of cash balances that works the first year you got got a crisis the second and particularly because we we maintain a

431
02:07:00.719 --> 02:07:16.079
very we've been very conservative in maintaining cash reserves. Um and in fact things have changed where we're now increased them a bit or trying to so that's kind of the whole picture. I I don't want to make too much of 27

432
02:07:16.079 --> 02:07:30.960
because at the end of the day you you approve a budget in 27 and if things change usually it's you're increasing it additional appropriation because you receive more students or you have more money so you you know things go up. It's

433
02:07:30.960 --> 02:07:47.679
it's it would be no different. You you you could sometime during 27 now you know whether you have a referendum or new referendum or not. Remember the old one safety referendum goes away. That's a that's a huge but as far as the operating referendum it stays the same

434
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but it'll decline based on everything we talked about. So,

Part: 2

1
00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:16.640
What would happen is or at least you'd have the opportunity to say here's the 27 budget as we approved in the fall before we knew whether we're going to have a referendum or not and then in January one and if it if it is approved

2
00:00:16.640 --> 00:00:32.480
then I would anticipate there would that would be followed prior just as it always is in the fall or sometime prior to the end of the year. additional appropriation in this this case it might be a significant additional appropriation uh that would match the

3
00:00:32.480 --> 00:00:48.320
success of the referendum. I think for the purpose of tonight's meeting, since it's such a referendum conversation, we should probably follow up with a secondary budget meeting just to better understand that because I think Greg and I when we met with you last time, we indicated one wanting to start the budget conversations earlier,

4
00:00:48.320 --> 00:01:05.040
but two, that is one of the questions we've had is how do you almost parallel path budgets to understand if the community did reject the um referendum this fall, what does that really mean in terms of our budgetary process? We hope

5
00:01:05.040 --> 00:01:21.520
that guidance comes out, but yeah, because we're also waiting on guidance on a policy that goes into effect in three weeks. So, like, you know, >> you just don't know. Um, so I guess that would be the ask to you guys is for the board to better understand. I think we would lean to the idea of how do you budget for if it did fail? Like what

6
00:01:21.520 --> 00:01:38.400
does that really look like? And then we'd love to have Yeah, it passes. So, now we're good here. But, uh, I think we need to feel more comfortable with what that looks like in this scenario, too. But I know this is specifically about the referendum, the rate, what we're leaning to for the vote at the next meeting. So that'd be a good followup

7
00:01:38.400 --> 00:02:02.479
for us. So I guess I'm kind of thinking two tracks are thinking about referendum, putting on the ballot. I'm also thinking about our budget cycle this year. We we've spoken a lot about 2027 be the 31

8
00:02:03.759 --> 00:02:25.360
So when I see this this referendum value called 47.1 million line you know in these cards here that's that's the gold line that's a$2 million difference that's like

9
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it's not that much I've shared this with a number of people my talked about the three lines, three options you guys proposed. My my leaning is for the middle line

10
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which would be less than we had on the ballot question here. So I'm trying to understand, you know, taxing agencies tend to there's two things going on with the budget. One is that what we're really asking for is

11
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voters have asked speaking for believe property taxes that have increased dramatically in the last six years or so at a very consistent rate even this last 26 payable 27

12
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property tax they're they're still on that same height trajectory so the idea so all our budget lines here are starting at that I'll call it a higher level base than where we had been a a few years ago. So, we we've seen an

13
00:03:31.040 --> 00:03:46.560
increasing slope on the the assessed value rates and our legislators and governor have been try to deal with that and now we're trying to deal with their way to deal

14
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with and and I'm totally convinced we have to do something. We have to raise the operating referendum rate for where it was three years ago. we had it brought before the voters at 19 plus the 5 cents. So I I I get that it's

15
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just it's a matter of how high and I know uh you know I've had a number of people say we can't cut 1% we can't cut 2% out of you know such a huge budget. [clears throat] I I had hoped to seen some restraint over the last year

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with this coming problem that we knew didn't quite be with we knew we'd have some problem. We really haven't done that. I haven't seen us other than through the raises and I' I've got a different opinion on

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how we ought to budget for that. I I I don't think we should put it on the backs of our employees, >> but you have to the extent that what two years ago we gave 1% raise to everybody but teachers and we gave teachers 2% because we reduced teachers in order to

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cover the second percent. And so, so, uh, and I've heard a lot about belt tightening and individuals. We can all do that. I get a little excited about that because our belt tightening is reducing staff. And so, it's only 2% and

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2% is $3 million on 150 million. So, if you all would tell me where you want to cut $3 million worth of people, then it'll all work out and you'll cut you'll cut the 2%. And so, we're not recommending that.

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in 27 the different it's difference between the 45 and the 47 is $2 million and so again um I gave you a chart of this is how much you know 11 teachers for a million dollars you know a certain number of IAS for a million dollars I

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need would we would need two million at that red line as opp so so that's again that's what it comes to and there's no easy no comfortable way to say that that's what it comes down to and that's what you'll end up

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voting for. But you're again you're not voting on what it's it's you'll vote the way your you know your conscience on a referendum. You have the opportunity at least to give the taxpayers an opportunity for

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them. They did not get to vote when the when the state cut taxes out because people wanted their taxes cut. our taxpayers five times said you can you have my approval to raise my taxes raise their taxes not cut them but when they

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got cut they had no input and so that's where we're at you're simply giving them an opportunity to to voice their opinion and if they're will of the people if they vote it down then then you've been heard they so >> I I guess what I'm saying Roger is that

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we our cost base has our ability to get revenues and it's to the point now there's any bending of that curve down where we have to take it out is

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I'd like to see us do something different >> what what would you have in mind that's where all the money is spent you say it follow it's follow you're right we've we've maximized the money and it's been enough money to give a 1% raise and so

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um and so the alternative this and some of our neighbors did it. They cut their their referendum rate and two years later their $8 million in deficit. I didn't think that was a good plan. And so they also then froze some of their uh

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staff salary. I didn't think that was a good plan, but then that's just me. And and so um and I I get the idea that we spend every dime we can get. When you start out with inadequate funding, that's typically what you do. and it's still not enough and that's why we had

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this referendum in the first place and our taxpayers approved it or we wouldn't have it. They said they they they were good with it and they've been good with it for 16 years and so and it's gone up and and this would cause it to go up again and they may say this time no but

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I haven't heard that. Um, which doesn't mean we don't have we absolutely have taxpayers that are that think we should reduce our expenditures. Um, but they're not the ones you are that will vote to take people's jobs away from them and services away from children. That's

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where it's at. I I guess what I'm suggesting is that in in the budgeting process that we create a pool, a raise pool that's not limited by increases that we're going to expect to get from state basic income because we see it's

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declining and the only way to do that is to have less cost. So, you know, we >> is that a polite way of saying then we'll have this pool and and if it if we need to reduce a hundred uh employees in order to give a whatever raise you would

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like to give. Is that what you're saying? >> I'm not saying we reduce any staff. >> We don't have the money that you have to do one or the other. I I what I'm trying to point out is that if we make our raise pool dependent upon what the

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state's going to do with the basic income also impacted by enrollment um it is on the burden of the employees and I'd like to see when we talk through the budget cycle if there's maybe another way to handle that. >> When you say another way are you talking I just would be clear that when you talk

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about the raise pool are you talking about determining an amount of money we're going to spend on raises? >> Yeah. >> Okay. So pretty hard to do that unless you consider the money that is made available to you because unlike the private sector and perhaps where you and

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I have worked previously um it's not you can't you can't raise the price of the widgets to get more money and then set the pool. The state says this is how much money you get. Do do the best you can and it's not been enough. And so the result is is you'll either have a you'll

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have no money in the pool or you will reduce employees because that's where the money's at and then that will allow money to be in the pool for the rest of >> essentially. It sounds like Mr. Brown. Actually, you might support the $62 million line then because in order to

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make up for the inadequate funding, you would be raising the amount that you would collect through the referendum because those two things are what fund our teachers. Um because yeah, when I worked in marketing and I was in charge of very large brand budget and we had to cut $15

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million there, oddly same number. It was I was able to say, "Hey, marketing, you're not going to be able to spend $2 million on advertising because I have to protect sales." Hey PR, we're not going to do that $150, you know, influencer thing. Unfortunately, with the limitations from our state once they did

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the 1% property tax cap and offered referendums, they require our buckets of money to be spent on certain ways. I know we have discussed before the money that does transfer over from education fund to operation fund, but it has that maximum quota and those costs have increased

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too. So, there's a concern um that we originally had that we know we really can't explore. Even if it freed up $50,000, that's not going to do much. So, I definitely understand the concern of we want to be able to give our teachers more. We love our teachers. They are the heart and soul of our

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school buildings, but to Mr. Mcichel's point, the only way you can do more if you have the same amount of money for each teacher is to have less teachers to do it for. And that's not something we currently at this point as a community, I think,

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would be wanting to explore. If the referendum fails, we'd have no choice but to have that conversation. Um, but for right now, the safety net for that bucket would be to have a larger maximum levy that we put on the ballot.

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>> So, that's exactly right. >> [clears throat] >> And I think it's worth noting that this board has has very much restrained themselves in terms of salary increases. If you and we have the information that we've made available that if

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the the the salary increases for the last 15 years have been very modest and that's you know that's subjective but I think they've been in the one 2% range. When when the state reduced our pension

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obligation we gave I think a 3% raise or thereabouts which was the highest raise in 20 years. and and um so we're certainly not giving excessive raises in my opinion. Um we

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have not lowered class size but we've tried to maintain it but at the end of the day when you when you address salary and benefits and then how many people you're going to give it to it's over. Uh there are other things. I mean typically

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and somebody asked the question, how much do you spend on travel? And the answer is 200 some thousand dollars. That's a big number in my house, but in in that 150 million, that's not going to solve this problem. And and if you reduce supplies for teachers to that

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that doesn't seem to make much sense to me. far better off to have a have a fewer teachers and have adequate support including salaries for the remaining staff uh because they have families as well. Um so they can do their job and

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you can rem maintain comp being competitive so we can continue to attract the best and the brightest teachers. That's all where it's all about. We talk a lot about spending. We talk and and waste. What if all the money we're spending in salaries, what

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if those that first part of this presentation, we went through it pretty fast, but that didn't happen by accident. That happened by having starting with the best and the brightest teachers and and and and the rest of our staff. But what if they what if we were

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just mediocre? Is that waste? That's where all the money spent. What if what if our output was average or below? In my mind, that's that's waste. Um, I took this board uh months ago, a reduction in

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salary of our some of our maintenance staff and it was very hard for you to support it and it was hard for me to recommend it. So, we look at those things all the time. I do. That's my job. And so, we just

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don't advertise it. But I mean, we're always looking to uh reduce uh operational expenses because we abs we know we're here for to educate children. And so, uh we're always looking at that.

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We've had a whole conversation this year on overtime. After COVID, uh we couldn't hire staff. We we we got very creative of having people doing two jobs because one bus driver and one in food service. Well, guess what? at some point that

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puts somebody into overtime and so well things are better now. So we're we're consciously focused on um reducing that overtime. Um which also means we've we've we're we're doing a better job, frankly, of scheduling custodial staff

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at the high school because they're not a five day a week operation. And so when they if you schedule everybody Monday through Friday, guess what? Some a lot of people end up working overtime on Saturday and Sunday because things keep happening, right? So, we look at that all the time and I've not shared that with you. Um, I've chosen not to because

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I'm pretty adamant about uh I didn't need state legislation to be to become more effective. And so, I can show you I've been in districts that have tons of ways. Some of them made the press as as being some kind of a night and shining armor, by

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the way. But, but um so it's not that it's not out there. It's out there in the private sector. It's out there certainly in in government and state government. Um so it's not that there's not waste. This district operates very efficiently

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and and all the data that we've suppi that we've talked about the 78%. You can't be really wasting a lot of money and have be [snorts] one of the highest percentage of dollars going to the classroom in the state. Just the math doesn't work. It's just not possible.

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Hey, Roger, can I ask you a a big picture question because I think there's a fallacy here and please correct me if I'm wrong. Yes, it's abs. I mean, I've lived here for 20 years. My property tax bills have gone up

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considerably. We know what that looks like. Looking forward to whenever I sell. Not selling anytime soon. Not going to get that benefit. So, I I understand that concern, but I think there's a false assumption that those increased property tax bills

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resulted in the same it in a proportionate increase in funding for the school districts. And I think that's not true. We didn't get more money. We actually ended up getting less because of how the state decided to change our

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funding in 2009. Is that Yeah. I mean, because we're already It goes to what Dr. O was his slide on how much less money we're getting today versus then. To me, that's where we've already

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tightened the belt because we had to take into consideration that we are getting less money even though people's tax bills are going up because property property sorry property tax supports

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counties, townships, cities, towns, libraries, special taxing districts, which can be fire. They can be all kinds of different things for a special taxi district and schools. So,

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you know, I just think that to pres I I think it's a mistaken public assumption that because my personal property tax bill went up, Carmel Clay Schools has proportionately the the same amount of additional funding. They've gone up in

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in large measure because the same state politicians that passed SP1 has given a mill billion dollars of sales tax and income tax to non-traditional public schools including vouchers. Starts there, >> right?

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>> And so that contributed to and further funding was inadequate in the first place in spite of the fact that the state raised sales tax from six to 7% and you say that's a percent. Well, it's 16.6% 6% increase and those of us in Carmo are paying that and we've raised

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taxes our property taxes back up because it wasn't enough and it was made worse when a billion dollars was given to other folks. Now, they appreciated it, but I didn't. And and so, you're absolutely correct that 80% is what's

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driving this referendum in the first place because it's inadequate. And so, our that's not the only taxes, you know, we receive. Um, but that's what's driving this whole discussion in the referendum. And it's driving the concern about,

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you know, the 45 versus the 47 or the red line and the yellow line. And it frustrates me because you didn't contribute to any of this. You know, we're left to deal with it and this is this is, you know, you have these, you know, emotional debates because

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everybody cares. Um, and so do our taxpayers, but they and they also care about how, you know, how much money they can afford. Um, but in referendums, they at least get a voice. In most taxes, it's like

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you have to pay it or they'll sell your house, right? and and u and you don't get a vote because and Indiana really has a very controlled situation because when they pass that circuit breaker homeowner is not going to pay more than 1% of the assessed value unless they

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agree to and that's what and that's what they do when they if they pass a res referendum um and in all other cases they certainly have an opportunity to remmonstrate like you know we frankly we hear a lot about you know the caramel facilities and so forth Um we're the

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only district that that doesn't ask you to raise your taxes to build buildings. Uh we stay within that cap. Um and and so um but if you regardless if you if a taxpayer doesn't like it, there's a they can come and remmonstrate and and they

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can stop you from selling. They absolutely can. And and that's a good thing. That's that's the whole basis for our system. One last thing I'd say because it's been mentioned two or three times is belt tightening. And [clears throat] so at home, you know, if we belt tighten, I I can keep the car

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longer. I can quit going to Starbucks. I can do all those things. The belt tightening in a school district is cutting services to children. Now, if you think we're wasting money in that and it won't make any difference, then then you you should vote accordingly.

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Um, but the belt tightening is is is is people again travel you raise travel budgets and I've seen it happen. U and and that that's a $200,000. We need $15 million

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a year and so it's just not there. It's it's there in the pot. It's only 2% or 3% as was noted. Um but that 2 and 3% is salary and benefits. 96% of this education fund that's

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inadequately funded and the operating referendum combined 96% salary and benefits. There isn't much left. So >> and some of those salary and benefits are special education staff that we are legally required to supply. I believe

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the number you gave me or Mr. Brown actually when he asked the question was they live in the last nine years it went up 40% the number of special education students that were enrolled in Carmel schools and we have no choice I mean we are very happy to help all students

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thrive but legally we have to have those services um so that also tells you that those numbers will continue to increase even if we cut staff in one area we have obligations to potentially increase as other legal requirements are going to be taken away certain special education

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therapies outside of schools that may require more within them in the next few years. >> And I wanted to go back to because I think it's I I I don't want to predetermine what we're going to do in negotiations with the teachers union,

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nor should we. But I do think we need to understand from a meta perspective what not knowing what's going to happen with this referendum means for us for our budget setting in the fall. And to

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me, my interpretation of what Roger has said and based on my own experience in setting budgets for counties and cities is as follows. One, we cannot set a budget that assumes this referendum is going to pass.

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All we can do is set a budget based on the current referendum amount and decide whether or not we spend any cash on hand to provide teachers with a minimal

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increase going forward. If we use that cash on hand and put that in our budget for 27 and the referendum does not pass, what I

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think Roger is saying is when 28 comes or the next contract cycle comes, we don't have enough money to keep it at the level we approved for 27. And the only way to fix that is to cut PE human

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beings. Did I read that right? >> You're close, but it's worse than that. Unfortunately, I wish I don't really I've been not enjoying this conversation because I' I'd like to share something positive. But um again, the way the system works is if that referendum

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failed in January, uh you have all of your uh certified staff, teachers under contract and they're entitled to be paid all the for the first half of the year whether you have any money or not. So there's your cash balance going out the window. You won't have it to for those

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raises. Assume there is no raise. U you still will drain cash very quickly and you will have to you will have to at that point um make major millions of dollars worth of cuts. And you have to do that

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before you give those teachers another contract which is you know in the summer and fall, right? So you you'd have to act you would it would necessitate very quick action because you can't take a year to think about it. You can't you'll

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run out of money and and or will run out of money and and so that's how desperate and and how convoluted the whole system is. Um and we've we've talked a lot about budget. I'm not concerned about the budget. The budget is just uh it's an authority to spend. And so a

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simplistic way is to say we build the 27 budget assuming assuming the worst let's say and um and if the worst didn't happen we would as we do regularly really we would have additional appropriation now we have if we now have

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cash to support that then we'd simply appropriate it. That's the least of my concern except for the for the uh safety referendum. That's almost $8 million that goes away January.

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So, and your staff is still out there right now. And so, and and they'll want paid January, first pay in January, right? And so, so so again, I don't have a good answer for that. um except that

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the likelihood is is we would we would start there by using cash balance um because I can't think we're going to you know decide now to to undo all the safety referendum everything from student

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therapy to SRO's right so and we won't know until November whether we have the money to pay for them in 27 the other it falls back to the to the existing 19 cents but as was shown that but it'll

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drive you know much less money. So that that's a problem too. But the but the safety referendum referendum would be a absolute crisis that you would immediately have to address. And then on top of that, you would also have to immediately address the operating

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referendum as well. U because while it doesn't go away completely, it's woefully now inadequate and you and will not sustain the level of expenses which is again the way to deal with and and not giving

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raises isn't enough. That's not near enough. So, you would then need to to reduce staff all across the and you wouldn't have much time to do it. And having unfortunately had those experiences over the years. Um I can't

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it's unimaginable to me how you get all that accomplished. But you won't have a choice. I've seen it take a year to talk about a deficit and not nearly this big because You're dealing with people's jobs. You're dealing with services to children. And and everybody's got an

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opinion. And it is a big beast. And and 2,200 employees. And and trying to finally decide which position is going to go is is very time. It'll be

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>> Well, and I know you don't want to be negative, but um I don't think that's an what you just said is an exaggeration. >> It's not an exaggeration. >> I think it's the truth. I think we need to tell our voters the truth. This is was a crisis that was created by the

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supermajority in our state house. And if you're unhappy [snorts] with our This is just my opinion. If you're unhappy with this school board's decision, whatever it will be to handle it, you know, we didn't create the

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problem, go talk to those that did >> and they do get a vote. So, if they if they like what the state has done to them, done here, um then they vote no, it'll stick, right? So,

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and they have that opportunity. They did not have that opportunity when it was red. >> Yeah. This is why it's so important that we craft the ballot question proposal that that the voters will support. >> That's right.

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>> And that's why, you know, like I my opinion has been in all these discussions that we have to do something. The operating referendum is not new. We've had that out there since 2010. >> Yes. >> And it's to fill this budget for it's by design. it is that wealthier communities

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are expected to get property tax. So, it's just a matter of where we set that rate and and to make sure we put something before the voters that has good odds of excellent odds of passing. The other interesting thing that I just

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uh to just wanted to point it out is we're in a situation where there this curve is going down over the years. The net assessed val increase you know a decrease in how much money is

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available. larger gap >> a larger gap there. So we got to put a rate in that is at that biggest differential. So it's really going to be up to boards coming up the next few years to

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manage to responsible line. It could be very tempting to say well next year we only need 31.94 cents but we're going to make it 35 cents because whatever reason we're going to be really trusting future

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provide that throttle but that headroom needed problem but every year the board's going to be held accountable do something fiscally responsible. >> They are and that's called local control

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and unfortunately [clears throat] you don't have that for 80% of that pot. The state decides what's good for the whole state and then that then you get what you get. They did SP1 is a perfect example. There's many communities four

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out of five don't have referendums um and we do and our neighbors do. So if you're in Hamilton County, it seems like everybody does, but the fact is it's 20 a little over 20%. So um and so when the when the legislation was

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passed, it was everybody felt the same. We're going to lower property tax for everybody. And this is a community that five times said, I've just approved raising my taxes. I didn't ask you to lower. Um they could have, but they

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didn't. Um, and so I agree with you. This is an example where where local control I think is better because if you don't have the pulse of the community, there's no chance that some folks in Indianapolis are going to. And and uh

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and if our comm and our community thinks you don't, they'll vote you out of office. And um and it's a different situation. you know, they're elected as well at the state, but again, there may be a majority of the state that wants wants

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and needs their property taxes reduced. Um, I'm not saying, you know, I I enjoyed it when my assessed value went up until I got my tax bill and then I wasn't near as happy, but So, um, and by the way, that it's not correct to assume that the the

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system was designed so that the wealthy income wealth would pay more. We had that system and they got rid of it. That's when we had a combination of of state support with sales and income tax and property tax and it was about a 6040

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split and and exactly the way it worked was what you suggested but they they they eliminated and that is that the the idea was if 10 cents raised uh 60% of the money as it did in Caramel as an example

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uh then the state was the equalizer and they'd make up the rest. So there, you know, it was called equal e, you know, equal effort. And so, so if a, if a 10 cents or a penny raised twice as much

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money as a a rural community, then you raised twice as much money and the state made up the difference. I thought it was a pretty good system because it did equalize the funding. Didn't matter whether you lived in Elwood or Carmel, equal opportunity financially for children's education. Now it is gone

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back to the halves and the have nots. The one out of five that has a referendum is the have and the four out of five that is the have nots. And by the way, the 50 50 or 60 referendums aren't all in wealthy communities. Uh but I'm talking not to be confused, I'm

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talking about income wealth, um not not property value. So, so there's been a lot of this ch a lot of change that that in the last several years that and by as as is typical the

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local community and the local school boards and local elected officials are left to deal with and some some will you know come out the other side better better than others but but it's and unfortunately what it does it divides

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this whole conversation is as we have it, the community will choose upside. Some of them will think we're, you know, spending every dime we can get and there and implying therefore therefore we are because we don't have enough, but you're wasting it. And the other part will say, are you sure you

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don't need more and a divided community doesn't get you a 94 90% 94 95% approval rating on on your in-depth survey that you just took. That's part of the problem. I really think we've had a very robust,

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healthy conversation and I >> I will ask if there's any more questions. >> I think we can move on to the next. Thanks for the the candidness and the slides and information. It's all it's all very helpful. It's a tough situation

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we're in and I agree with you, Roger, when that it's we're putting something before the voters and but there's still an element It's a headroom limit we're putting in, but it's future boards that are going to have and administration that's going to have to, you know, they

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could exploit the situation. There's no way around it. So, just have to let run its course. And I I think we're ready to move on to uh the uh superintendent report.

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>> Thank you, Secretary Brown. I'm going to cut it a little bit, but also make sure I have some meat on the bone as well. And so, first, I do want to take a moment to congratulate the nearly 1,250 Carmel High School seniors who recently graduated. I want to first say thank you

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also to the school board. Every single school board member was at graduation on that stage. And so, I we appreciate the support, the families, the students, the administrators, the teachers. Thank you very much for being there. We really appreciate it. We are excited for all

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that lies ahead for our seniors and we're grateful for the impact that they have made uh during their time here in Carmel Clay Schools. The spring also brought out several accomplishments with athletics. We have three state champions

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uh this past this past spring. We'll start with the boys lacrosse team who brought home their second state championship in the last four years. Then uh shortly afterwards, our girls track and field team won state for the

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second time in a row back-toback state champions. And so that was exciting as well. And then the next day, our Caramel girls tennis team won the state championship and they had a gauntlet of a route, beating the number one team,

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the number four ranked team, the fifth ranked team, the sixth ranked team, the 10th, 12th, 13th uh on their way to the state title. They were ranked third. Um and because of their determination, their grit, their mindset, oh my gosh, they're phenomenal. So, congratulations

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to all of our spring athletes. Uh, we still have golf out there. They uh won not one, they advanced in their sectional, so they play at regionals on Friday and have an opportunity to go to state. And then our number one doubles team will compete on Saturday um in the

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state tournament uh in the individual um route for doubles and singles. So, we're very excited to see how they will do. And then finally, I want to provide the board with an update uh on our continued work to launch a CPAC or a special

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education parent advisory council. And so we are excited to move this uh important work forward in partnership with Mindy and Cool Abilities. Um as part of the launch process, uh we will identify two district co-chions who

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will serve as the primary administrative partners throughout this engagement with our parents. And so given the size of our district, having two um co-chions will really help ensure continuity um shape capacity and provide strong communication as the council begins it

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work its work. So we will have that those two identified very very soon. So we're excited about that. And then on July 7th, we're going to hold our first formal CPAC training for our principles and key special education leaders. And

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so the training will induce the CPAC concept, the model and the benefits. Uh we'll also ask those building leaders and special education leaders um to help identify founding parent council members as well. And so every principal is going

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to leave that session with a customized CPAC uh reference guide for building staff as well as a customized letter that we'll be able to send out to our parents uh to see if they'll join us even if they're not part of that. um parent um identified group that works

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directly on the uh actual CPAC. All parents are invited to all of our meetings and so anyone can come which is really exciting. And then throughout July, August and September, our district co-chions are going to review the names uh start uh outreach to those parents

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and then parent leader training will launch uh shortly thereafter. And then during this time, all groups are going to work together to help develop the council's vision, mission, bylaws, and then other founding documents as as well. So, that's really exciting. Um,

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and then in September, October, November, that that is when we're going to have our first three formal CPAC meetings. That will be the official launch. Um, and so these meetings will be co-f facilitated by Mindy Kulie with our district champions and our parent

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champions as well. And so that's exciting. And so then we're going to lead through a gradual release model uh with uh Mindy Culie. And the goal is have the parents um take that increasing o ownership over each session and then

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by December January it will be the official handoff and will be hopefully humming in a really nice direction. So, we're grateful for the opportunity to strengthen uh family partnerships, elevate parent voice uh through this work, and the launch of CPAC uh reflects

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our continued commitment to listening, collaborating, and supporting all students uh and all families here in Carmel Clay Schools. So, a lot of exciting work ahead. I do want to thank Dr. Dudley, also Mrs. Fairchild, uh for all of the planning that's gone into

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this with Mindy And, uh we're ready to rock and roll. So, we're excited for that launch. Thank you. >> Very good. I'm really glad to hear the progress with CPAC. Got a good schedule on it and steps to

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get to. With all that said, may I have a motion to adjourn this meeting? >> So moved. >> I have a second. >> Second. >> Further discussion? No. This this

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meeting's adjourned.