Thank you. Yeah. >> The meeting is now called to order. Uh, roll call. Mr. Brown. All board members are present. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. >> I alian to the flag of the United States
of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. I will now read the Carmel Clay Schools mission statement. Carmel Clay Schools
will provide opportunities for all students to realize their potential in an everchanging world. Next on our agenda tonight are presentations. Tonight we're going to recognize the Carmel High School Boys and Girls Swimming and Diving State Champions, Mr.
Inskeep. >> Thank you, Mr. Shapiro and members of the board. Um, once again, it's always a privilege to bring some outstanding uh, young people in front of you who have just represented our community in a wonderful way and and really achieved at the highest level, too. So, I'm going to
start by having members of our girls swimming and diving team come forward. Um, these are our seniors that could be with us this evening. We do have a lot of kids in the program, over 70, which is just a huge swimming number, and uh, we're very proud of them. Uh before I
start saying a few moments and and things about their season and the state meet, I do want to pay particular attention to saying thank you to their parents and all the parents in our program because swimming truly is a family sport. Um if if you've been
around swimming families, you know that car pulls out early in the morning and you're like, "Where the heck are they going? I haven't even started my coffee yet." And then it's coming back late at night. And um but what they do for our kids and our programs are that they they provide all of the support that's
needed. I mean they they provide the timers at the meets. They're working the the computer systems, the hospitality, all the team meals, all the spirit, all the traditions that go on with our programs. I know our kids know how much they do to make it really really a special thing. So, I want to say thank
you to them and um they're just positive and um you go to these meets and you you can feel their energy in in the stands as well. So, uh the four weekends in February for us have become a very special time with the Carmel Swimming Program. The girls swimming and diving team led off the month with another
unbelievable performance at the state meet. The Greyhounds extended the nation's longest consecutive state championship streak with their 40th straight title. CARMEL started the meet with a resounding victory in the 200 medley relay with Leah Dvos, Molly Sweeney,
Ellie Clark, and Sophia Floyd leading the way. Ellie Clark won the 200 individual medley which was the 200th title by a Caramel individual or relay team. Molly Sweeney then won the 100 butterfly. Ellie Clark followed with her second straight championship in the 100
backstroke before Molly Sweeney won another individual title in the 100 breaststroke, which is her third title in the event in four years. And and I do think it's important to say that while this streak continues on, I I think it's important to note for this group of young ladies that this is the only time
that this group of student athletes is together and this is the only time that this senior class will have the chance to leave their mark and contribute to that culture. That's that's very impressive because I think sometimes we get lost in the mix of oh it's just another year in the notch but but not
for this group and so every group takes on their own their own season and their own um traditions and just intricate details and this one was very close as well. So at this time I'm going to have each of the seniors come up. They're going to introduce themselves and tell you what their plans are for Carmel
after Carmel High School. >> All right. Hi everyone, I'm Laura Russo and next year I will be attending the Catholic University of America in Washington DC. I'm going to be swimming there and studying marketing. I'm Molly Sweeney and next year I plan
to swim and study at the University of Tennessee Knoxville and I'll be majoring in neuroscience. Hi, I'm Sabrina Ledwith and next year I'm gonna I'm gonna attend Florida International University and swim and study health science.
Hi, I'm Lucy Enik. I plan on swimming and attending Florida Atlantic University and I attend on majoring in elementary education. And I just wanted to add I'm Tom Orike, superintendent here in Carmel. Uh we're very proud of the 40th straight state
championship uh for our girls swim team. So in addition to your certificates, um we did get flowers for all of you here tonight and want to present those to you. So that is uh that is from us at the district level and Mrs. Nobous will
pass that out to you. And then what we want to do also uh congratulations uh Mr. Chris Plum, coach of the Caramel Swim Team, who's also in attendance with us tonight. And so, Mr. Plum, if you would uh join
us uh for a picture in the back. And parents, if you want to follow and get pictures as well, we're going to go ahead and take a picture with our champions who are here this evening. And then girls will want you to take the 40 balloons with you as well. No, not there's not 40 balloons with the number
40. So, all right, we're going to go to the back for a picture. Great surgery. Anyway, At this time, I'll have members of the boys swimming and diving team come up as well. And while they're approaching, I'll tell you a little bit about their
state meet just a couple weeks ago. Uh the boys swimming and diving team extended their own state title streak to 12 consecutive years last month at the IU Indianapolis. The 12-year run is the third longest streak in any sport in the history of
the IHSAA. You might be asking who's number two because we know number one is is Caramel Girl swimming and divy Burus 14 in a row in volleyball. So um well we'll see in a couple years. Uh the the Greyhounds scored 408 points at the state meet
which is the fourth most in state history. And it is the third straight year they finished with over 400 points. And I can't begin to tell you how many points that is in a state meet. It's it's a lot. Um the team showed their depth throughout the meet, finishing one, 12, three in the 500 freestyle and
one 124 in the 200 freestyle, which is unheard of at the state meet. Uh the meet started with a dominating victory in the 200 medley relay featuring Carter Hadley, Yeang, Jack Street, and Donald Zhao. Trent Allen then won the 200 freestyle with Yi Zang winning the 200
individual medley. Trent Allen followed up his 200 freestyle title with a first place finish in the 500 freestyle. Carter Hadley then won a very dramatic 100 backstroke. Had to be there. Very dramatic though. Uh and then um the
Greyhounds capped the meet with a title in the 400 freestyle relay. The relay included Trent Allen, Carter Hadley, Lewis Zang, and Yeang. And again, this is a group that I think has been very special and very connected. You can see it on the deck. um their enthusiasm not
only for the sport but for each other I think really comes through for those that are around this group. And so at this time we'll have each member of the seniors that are here come up and introduce themselves and tell you what their plans are for after Carmel High School. >> Um first of all thank you for having us
and honoring us all tonight. My name is Carter Hadley. Next year I'll be attending Southern Methodist University SMU in Dallas, Texas to major in business marketing and minor in sports management. Thank you. >> My name is Will Leup and I'll be attending Xavier University next year uh
to swim and also study finance. Hello, I'm Corey Han. I plan on um attending Columbia University and majoring in like economics finance. >> Hello, my name is Lucas Biller. I'm currently undecided, but I'll be studying mechanical engineering next year.
>> Uh hello, my name is Andrew Dubo and I will be studying I will be dual majoring in finance and accounting next year at Satan Hall as well as swimming. Hi everyone, my name is Luke Feller. I plan on attending the University of Alabama next year, majoring in biology
on a pre-med track. Thank you. >> Hi, my name is Aiden Jen. I plan on attending University of Kentucky, uh, majoring in finance on a pre-law track. Good evening everyone. My name is Louisis Zang and I plan on attending the University of Pennsylvania to swim and
to study economics. Thank you. All right. And at this time once again, congratulations Coach Plum as well. We're very proud of you. If you don't know, uh, Coach Plum has the most state championships in the history of the IHSAA.
Uh, and it's not even there's not even a close second anywhere. Uh, he is well beyond anyone. So, coach, congratulations again. Let's go line up for a picture. How long is the season? It's quite a commitment though. Like you said, they started so early.
>> Yeah. in the laundry room. What? >> Yeah. >> Congratulations again to our state champions. You are welcome to stay for the rest of the meeting. >> But I Exactly. But I'm I'm sure uh we'll
give you a minute though if you if you'd like to leave in all seriousness. You're welcome. THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU. >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> Thank you all. >> Thank you. Yeah. Yeah.
>> Yeah. I'm starting to imagine what she's going to be like as a, you know, young adult, teenager. Pretty interesting. Scary, too. You know, you don't know. >> Typically, next on our agenda is public comment. However, no one has signed up for public comment this evening. So, we
will move on to uh consent tonight. Our consent items include the personnel report, hiring of James Fiddler as a recess IIA, claims, and payroll. Uh as a reminder, consent in the meeting agenda refers to the designated section where
routine items are grouped together for efficient consideration and approval in a single motion. Uh consent items typically include items that the board must legally address but should not take up considerable time. Uh by incorporating a consent agenda, the meeting can streamline the approval
process, allowing more time to dedicated critical topics and meaningful deliberation. Uh do I have a motion to approve all items on the consent agenda? >> I move that we approve all items on the consent agenda. >> Thank you, Mrs. Coke. May I have a second?
>> I'll second. >> Thank you, Mrs. Wheeler. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, we'll take a vote. All in favor of approving the items on the consent agenda, please say I. I. >> Motion carries. Uh, next on the agenda is our action
item for this evening, uh, is the adoption of bylaw 0167.3, public attendance and public comment at board meetings. Miss Wheeler andor Mrs. Cashin. >> Thank you. Um so this is the same bylaw
that we've now discussed twice um in two previous meetings. So um I have not I'm well we're happy to answer any questions but we haven't received any additional uh suggestions or comments since the changes that we had discussed at our last meeting. So
>> great thank you. Uh, do I have a motion to approve the adoption of the changes to bylaw 0167.3 public attendance and public comment at board meetings? >> I'll move uh for the adoption of bylaw 0671 67.3
public attendance and public comment at board meetings. >> Thank you, Miss Wheeler. May I have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Mrs. Coke. Any discussion? >> Miss K. I just want to say thank you for your work on this this I really like the way it's it's written and you took the feedback of the entire board and and
administration and it and it looks really great. Thank you. >> I would just echo those sentiments, appreciate your work and and the feedback and it's I appreciate that it started organically, right? we had something pointed out by a member of the
community, came back to the board, we took a look at it, did some research, and um you know, I I think that um just goes to show being responsive to what we hear. Um we'll see how it works and and hopefully uh you know, and if need be,
we you know, we'll make adjustments. But >> great, thank you both for your work. There's nothing else, we can take a vote. All in favor of uh adopting the recommended changes to bylaw 0167.3, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> All right. Motion carries.
>> Next on the agenda is our workshop topic for the evening, the Carmel Education Foundation Spotlight, Miss Pennix. >> Everybody. >> Hi. Hello organiz. here specific.
>> Nope. Now it's green. >> Oh, >> we have this. >> Is it working? Okay, perfect. Well, thanks so much for having us. Uh, my name is Sam Harris. I have been on
the Caramel Education Foundation board now for almost six years and I have the privilege of serving as our president. Uh this evening you're going to have an opportunity to meet quite a few of the volunteers that serve on our board as we walk you through uh the work of the Carmel Education Foundation and what we
do here to benefit Carmel Clay Schools. two folks who you won't hear from, however, uh, who are guiding our slides and keeping our time. Amy Bloom, who serves as our vice president of operations, and Jessica Barrett, who serves Oh, there she is. Keeping my
time, not your time. Who serves as our VP of community engagement. Uh, I just want to start off by thanking you again for giving us this opportunity to speak with you tonight, uh, and to share our work. First off, we just want to acknowledge that Carmel Clay Schools is
exceptional and that uh excellence is not an accident. Excellence creates opportunity and it also creates important questions that we hope to work through this evening with you. Rather than just tell you who we are, we want you to experience how we think. And
we're going to start this evening with our governance topic. So as a 501c3 we operate independently but in alignment with uh Carmellay schools and just that is so that we can
strengthen the student experience for all of our students. So before we evaluate our grant with a grant that hopefully you all had an opportunity to read. We are going to take a moment to clarify our role. Hi there Stephanie Flitner. Um I'm our
governance chair. So you'll see um a few of our governance guidelines up here. If there's one that I want the community to think about or hear tonight is that we're an independent 501c3 organization. We are not part of the school district. We are partner school
district. Um to sort of share how our governance works, we're going to do a quick activity. I'm going to quiz you all and some questions. Um, green means yes. You think the answer is yes. Hold up the green. Got a green card.
>> A chest. Okay. And then red means no. So for our first quiz question, can the Carmel Education Foundation endorse political candidates? What do you think? >> That is correct. No. Smart group. Um, we
are a 501c3, which means that we cannot endorse political candidates that would put our status as a nonprofit at risk. Um, question number two, can the Carmel Education Foundation support public education ballot initiatives such as a
referendum? Yes or no? >> Correct. Smart. Um, we can educate the public about ballot initiatives related to public education, including a referendum. However, to do so, our board of directors would need to vote to support that effort.
Again, support is not assumed. Um, it's it's something that's discussed and voted on by the board independently. Question number three, can the Carmel Education Foundation fund district staffing or operational expenses?
Correct. The answer is no. Um, we do not fund district staffing or operational costs. Public funding maintains operations. Foundation funding enhances learning. We look at it. So, Carmel Schools does not fund the
education foundation and the education foundation does not fund. We are separate, independent, but collaborative. Question number four. Can the Carmel Education Foundation fund
innovation not currently supported in the district budget? Yes. In fact, yay. That's exactly what we're here to do and how we operate. We're here um to support innovation, enhancement, and acceleration.
And our independence protects our integrity. Um so with that, now that we understand our guard rails, we would like to step into a decision. um that is modeled up or one that we might have to make. Thanks for having us tonight. I'm John
Ferguson and I am the chair of grants committee. And so tonight we're going to take you guys through a very abbreviated grants process. And I think everybody's had the opportunity to review the mock application. Um And I just want to reiterate that this is a completely
madeup grant. Um it's very similar to the grants that come our way. Um but it it's much shorter and condensed, you know, for our purposes. Can you hear me? Okay. Okay. So to just um start off with
um kind of our process, we have a grants committee that meets periodically throughout the year to to review educator grants as well as studentled grants. um that's a relatively new um grant process that we go to go through. All of the committee members get the
grant applications in advance of our meeting. They're able to then score the grants and then we come together as a group and then we review what we've read. And um this is kind of what we're going to do tonight. So often what I will start off with is just a very brief
summary of each grant that we review. So tonight we're going to review an AI literacy and digital citizenship grant. It's a middle school grant. Approximately 246th grade students will benefit directly from this grant and the
amount requested is $2,000. Um and in general in in summary, this is really a tool to engage students buying supplemental materials for um for the teacher, the educator to be able to talk
through how to appropriately use um AI tools um in their work. One of the things that um we always require and look at whenever we're reviewing a group is does it correlate to a current academic standard. So that's something
that anybody who submits a um an application, they have to go through that process to make sure that it's going to be in alignment with you know school curriculum. Um, additionally, um, for technology or curriculum related,
um, grant requests, um, we will often engage, um, the school district to make sure that those specific tools or those specific curriculums again are in in alignment with um, how we want to support students. Um, and so let me talk
a little bit about the rubric that you guys have gotten to score. Um there are essentially in the in the full rubric there are five components. They need to address the need. They need to address the innovation or the enhancement. They
need to address impact and alignment with goals because that's um and but for tonight you guys reviewed three of those just so that we could have um a simplified process. Um,
so now that you guys have had a chance to to review the application, can you hold up your card if you think the grant should be funded or not? >> No pressure. >> No pressure.
>> Okay, so for the most every Okay, we got a yellow. That's good. Yeah, >> we we wanted something else. So So for people who voted green, can you share a little bit about your vote and you know why you why you would support this grant? What are the components that uh
resonate with you? >> It's a timely issue. A lot of concerns with it. Yep. Thank you. Yeah. You know, and I I think your comment really goes to that innovation and enhancement piece. Like this is this is technology that's here. This is technology that corporations are
utilizing and a lot of people are utilizing. And so for schools to to get ahead of this um and really figure out how we're going to support our students um really addresses that criteria. Any other comments in terms of, you know,
what stood out to you or what you particularly liked? Sure. >> I like that it's more of a longevity grant. It seems like once you provide these tools to them, it could be used over a course of years instead of a consumable, then one year the benefit is over.
>> I I love that comment and that sustainability is something that as a committee we always talk about with with every grant that comes our way. Um, and it's not to say that small grants that impact a small group of students are not valuable, and sometimes we do approve
those, but we always love to get a grant that is going to serve a lot of Carmel students. Um, and we especially love grants when they're going to be sustainable over time and we're approving something that's going to um, you know, impact, you know, the same
grade for multiple years um, to get the most bang for our buck. Um you you held up the yellow. Would you like to share at all kind of what your thought was? >> Sure. I mean I would just have some questions on how it truly integrates with what we are currently doing. We
have a whole digital literacy curriculum and how is it integr? Well, and that that is an important question that um in a in a fuller grant request, we would expect for that to be answered. And then additionally, we will
we'll follow up with the school district to say, okay, does this really meet, you know, that criteria? Um, so I think that's that's a really important consideration. And one thing I want to add in terms of how our grants committee works, we have a lot of different uh
committee members who do a lot of different things in life. and they have a lot of different perspectives and one of the things I'm most proud of with our committee is that we have a lot of different voices who can point out gaps, who can point out different strengths.
Um, but we have we have a really great open dialogue and and then we end up voting and you know, voting kind of rules the day. So, um, I think it's a really effective process. >> Thanks, John. I didn't get a chance to introduce myself yet. I'm Peter.
So I think that was a good transition uh into before we add a little bit more context for this particular grant. We were curious, what information would you want before making a decision on a grant? Because as John referenced, we in our
discussions come from a lot of different perspectives, different backgrounds, different expertise, and to be honest, as to echo what you said, we we really do appreciate having that back and forth. We're not always in agreement and bring about some
really great conversations. So, um I know most of you already, you know, acknowledge that you could prove this with a with a green, but um what else would you want? What other information would you want in making a decision? >> I think I would just want to know what
is the research behind this specific program. Um what data shows that it that it would work and how was it formed? How how was this this specific curriculum made? >> Yeah, my question was similar like who who is the developer of the materials?
Are they wellknown? Are they credible? Are they proven? Um, and then I also thought about, you know, to the point of sustainability, is there a plan to share the results of this with the other middle schools in the district? because I know that you
have props to my peeps. Um I know that you have in the past funded grants like this that then are transitioned to all schools at that grade level in the district. So I I really love to hear about how the bigger picture um might be
addressed. >> Um I think it's important to show outcomes in your grant proposal. So I mean This is super relevant. It ties to a lot of things that want students to accomplish. I think somebody who writes
grants a lot for a living. Um often funders are looking to know what are your outcomes? How are you going to measure those outcomes? And I know we're talking about students and um but so what what is the educator looking to accomplish here with this grant? you
know, so and how do we measure the efficacy of that investment? >> I would actually say that that's probably one of the most commonly discussed points in in the evaluation piece and process that that our committee is interested in
because again, regardless of of the result of the grant, we want to understand that it's being measured, that you know, it's being looked at from all angles. And going back to to what you said, sharing that information. Um, you know, we do a great job as a organization trying to communicate and
share, but also we encourage the teachers, the staff, school themselves to to be sharing those best practices. Then also connecting back with you with um with the administration to say, hey, these are common requests that we're getting. Maybe this should be looked at from a
bigger level than what we can provide. So um there is some more information on just uh on the grant which is there were similar five similar requests limited funding pool um only two schools would benefit um the district sustainability
in year two and CF um doesn't fund additional years for it and so you know with that additional context would that change any of your votes if you knew that the foundation wasn't going to fund
it further. That if the benefit only impacted one classroom and one school, how would that change your vote for approving this grant? The interactive part. >> Yay. So, I would say it definitely, you
know, I would probably group them in at least for myself for discussion in like the green, yellow, red groups. And so I would move it to yellow knowing that context because I think we see this as a board and definitely I saw this when I
was on CF. There's only so much money to fund. So I would put it in the not sure and likely see how other applications kind of pan out. And if there's more money then you know if we have something left after we fund all the greens then
maybe we look at this one. Can I ask a question just to clarify if for when you have the and I'm I'm guessing the answer is yes, but when you have a whole application, are there links and specific information that then I'm love to >> actually dig into things. So
>> yeah. So so absolutely. So we encourage um our our applicants to include as much within a certain area that they can. Um we request a budget um pictures links to see actual items. Um John had referenced
that we connect with technology to make sure that that it's approved and also that that they have approval from their principal as well upon submitting. Student grants are a little bit different just because there's a video uh application which is phenomenal. I
would encourage all of you and we encourage the community to be part of our our committees as well. um they're they're just so inspiring and incredible and it makes it very difficult uh to make tough decisions when we do have limited funds or maybe limited information in order to approve these
grants or not. you know, and if I if I can just add for for the the studentled grants, um those videos are probably my favorite part of being a part of, you know, the grant committee because they are a couple minutes, but they are so
creative and, you know, to see a, you know, eight-year-old or a nineyear-old or an 11year-old put together a video and really take the lead. I mean, they they're super cute and um and like Peter said, they're very inspire. We got some
really really creative um interesting kids in our district who have great ideas. So >> I Peter, I'd also like to add um so for me uh first of all, I'd like to see if we can get a data privacy agreement with our technology team on this one. And if we can, that might move it, you know,
forward. And then in addition to that, I' I agree with Miss Wheeler. would probably put it in the yellow because even though it might not be sustainable, if it's a pilot and our technology and our curriculum departments agree that this might be something good to try, hey, if we try it as a pilot and then
the district's interested perhaps then they may be be able to move forward on sustaining it a little better. >> We would love you on the grant committee. >> That was my question. You you indicated that the community say community who are
watching um or some of the board sitting here would like to be part of the grant committee for students. How would we do that? >> Absolutely. Yeah. So they can reach out to um Jen Pennix is our executive director. Information is uh on the website but um can reach out to any
board members. So, we're always looking for committee members just to to share in that um discussion and have a voice and get an opportunity to see what's going on in these schools. >> Just for the record, scholarship committee also needs some more volunteers in case anybody's interested.
>> We're on a limited time. So, scholarship is a whole that's next week's meeting and we've got plenty for that. I I did want to wrap up this section and in and just making sure you understood that in that grant evaluation process, we are looking for direct student benefit. We
are looking to align to the standards, the policies, the district priorities. We're looking for innovation, right? We're trying to encourage creativity and and enhancement of learning. Um, we're looking for that sustainability and the impact per dollar because we do have
limited dollars, but it's another reason that we're here and trying to make sure that we're educating everybody on what it is we do. Um, and we're trying uh to make sure that there's an appropriate use of the foundation. So, that's something that again makes sense written
on paper, but is is often very hard to to navigate through. Great job of it. Again, encourage anyone else to participate with us. And just some final thoughts, you know, we we get a lot of great grants, but you know, our biggest criteria is not, you know, is
this a good grant, but is it within our scope? Um because we get some grants where it's very clearly, you know, this is something that falls under curriculum. This is something that the school district um is really going to take the lead on. We also get other
grants that maybe a school PTO would be more appropriate. And so, um, whenever we're reviewing a grant, we want to make sure that it really fits the the scope and the mission of the Ed Foundation. Um, and then it's not just funding, it's stewardship. We we want to be grateful
and we want to be respectful for the dollars that we get. Um, because the money that we get, we really want to make sure that there's an impact on students and on the teachers and on the community. And so, you know, that's number one
in our head. That kind of wraps up our part. I think we're going to be moving into classroom impact now. But thank you guys. >> Hi, good evening. My name is Molly Wright. I am a Spanish teacher at the high school and I have been on the board
for a year and a half now. Um, so a quick show of hands. How many of you are able to recall some kind of classroom experience that made you rethink who you were as a learner? maybe kind of sort of. So this is um
excuse me this is exactly the kind of experience that the foundation exists to create and so our grants and the funds that we're giving to create these experiences. You can see uh eventually behind me there will be some amazing photos of some of our students interacting with these grants. But we
see so much benefit from the student perspective with what we're doing. Um, for example, I though I did not go to Carmel Clay schools myself, I did get to go to Biztown and I know that we send all of our fifth graders to Bistown and CF has been the one that has been
donating those funds for several years now. Um, I, as I mentioned, I teach IB at the high school. My seniors, some of them went to BizTown and they still talk about it as one of the most memorable experiences that they have. However,
some of them did not go to Bistown because it was before CF was funding it and they still talk about how angry they are that they did not get to go to BisTown. Um, these students during this experience, they get so much real world experience, which is so much of what the
Carmel Education Foundation is trying to bring to schools. They're learning how to apply for jobs. They're learning about bank accounts. They're learning where their money goes in a paycheck. It's a big shocker to them, as you can imagine. Um, and so there's so many things that
those students get in just this one day that carries them all the way through their caramel experience. Um, beyond just Biztown, before I was on the board, um, I was lucky enough to receive a grant that I applied for. Um, and so my grant, I applied for some books to
create a reading library for my Spanish students. Um, one I bought a novel that would enhance my IB curriculum. And then I also just bought some classroom books to hopefully inspire some of my students to try to read in another language. This is a common grant that we see across all
schools, all grade levels, teachers trying to supplement any kinds of resources that they have in the class. So a lot of the times with CF, we like to say that we don't fund core curriculum. We're strengthening and enhancing student experiences with what
we're doing. And so, um, being able to see the joy that students are getting after each grant or when we're getting the photos and the feedbacks after the grant cycles is always so great to see the type of impact that we're making. Um, but this is where excellence and
partnership can really begin to interact. And so with that, I'm going to invite other colleagues to come up and talk about that. Just out of curiosity, have any of you been to Bistown? Okay. If you're ever interested in
going, let us know. You can come down for an hour and uh share. We've got, I think, five more schools going this us um this semester and it will you'll leave just feeling really good. Like it is it is such a great experience. So, so
everything Molly described is excellence in action. But here's something that I like I genuinely wrestle with in my role and something I'm asked frequently when I'm out in the community talking to people
um inviting investment um they say if Carmel schools are exceptional you're excellent why does the foundation need any support we hear you're caramel what more can you And that's the paradox. It's a really
difficult scenario and a different difficult kind of conversation to have with folks sometimes. So I'm curious. We've got another um up there. So two statements are up on the
screen. So, if you agree with these pair um or I would like for you to hold up either your red card or your green card on which of these statements you feel you agree with the most. This excellence means there's no room for improvement or
excellence still requires partnership. >> The record show that they all passed. >> Thank you. Good job. That was exactly what we were hoping. But I'm curious of why what some of your thoughts are on that. What if you were in my position
and are out talking to X company and I they I say we really would like some help for our schools and they say you know what you got all you need. What can I share with them? Any ideas? I love the tidbits.
>> Yeah. Um I mean you can always be better no matter where you are. You can always be better and you know you need these like we heard tonight some of the soaring people kids that one's going to be a neuroscience go study that you know you need those
caliber students well so that everybody needs to be able to do the best they can no matter their situation so why wouldn't you everybody and I think it looks like what you're trying to do is fill holes in
improvement opportunity. >> Thank you. Any other comments or thoughts? >> Mine would be more from a um budget perspective that um if if you want me to go into that we are the second second lowest funded school district uh in the state. And so I think that's a good
thing to remind for people. So I think to remind them of yeah we're excellent but we do we are excellent with less money than most other districts. So, we our teachers can always use a little extra help. >> Yeah. And interestingly, uh we're going to talk about this a little bit later,
but we um with similar foundations, we're also probably the lowest funded foundation in the county. Um well, from the big four schools within the county. So, so we feel that, we understand that. Um so, if we were to reframe this, I'm
going to turn this to Peter. Um I think there's going to be a slide up or I'm sorry did anybody else have another any other comment? >> I was gonna offer that excellence doesn't happen by accident >> for sure. >> There's intentionality behind the works.
That's it. and >> I really like the way that you framed it too of inviting investment because I think that's where our community shines the best as we continue to evolve with our excellence is inviting those partners whether it be individual families to cooperate or the business
sponsorships as well so they can bring their expertise in. I mean, with all of our work pathways, too, having legitimate companies that have that expertise to come in and make it an even better experience for our kids, that's really the connection that I think the education foundation provides is not
just the financial dollars, but the the human capital as well. >> To Greg's point, you saw the example tonight, like where all those young people are going to school and what they're going to be studying. >> I was thinking that's not what I was doing when I was a senior. Yes. >> While being a high school level athlete,
>> it's impressive. And we we do um for that reference, we consider all of those people or all of the businesses and companies and organizations that do invest in us. We call them our community partners. We don't look at that as a sponsorship. And it really is a partnership because we want it to be a
win-win situation. And we also want them to kind of come along the ride for the year and be involved and see us at Ghosts and goblins and Taste of Caramel, but also come to our grant receptions or get involved um so that they can kind of have that that great picture.
>> Just want to piggy back on intentionality that you mentioned, right? Excellence, intentionality around that of continuing to strive for excellence, continuing to push that and that's where we come in. That's you know, as you said, trying to
fill gaps or um encourage others or provide another opportunity, another outlet for um teachers and students, staff, and really the entire school community. Um I think we we I've said it in in many different ways, but we're all
at the same point. Um if at any point we had decided that we're doing well enough, some of the experiences that we now have, um you know, we take for granted wouldn't exist. Molly just referenced Biztown. It is by far the most exciting fun place. Like I
think all adults should get to hang out there and aligns incredibly well with real world readiness preparing students. That is, you know, we wouldn't have had that. School resource officers um wouldn't be using the challenge coins
for the education and positive recognition. We hear some incredible stories. Those challenge coins are something that that this foundation um is exciting and proud to be a part of. And for again the past four years, oh we already talked about Biztown. Stop the
bleed kits. Sorry, there is a a number of things and I can't think >> it's hard to pick just a few. >> Stop the bleed kits that are in every single school, right? So it is not just those. It's it's not just the dollars. It's the human capital. It's the
opportunity. the connections. Excellence creates opportunity, but opportunity doesn't scale on its own. It requires shared investment and that shows up in participation. That is a transition to participating
as Jen said also as being a partner. And as you're making that transition, um I also wanted to thank your partnership with the Joseph Mey Foundation and disability awareness. We saw a picture of it on your slide, but that has been so impactful. I was just
at Clay Center yesterday, I believe, and uh stepped in and the how our students are engaged through that process and the conversations they're having about including others has just been tremendous. So, I just want to say thank you to the foundation. and I came to you
last year. I said, "This is something we want to do in Carmel and you stepped up and said, "Let's partner in that." So, I want to thank you for that as well. >> Absolutely. I was able to spend the day or most of the day at Smoky Row with their students and I tell you what, these second graders and
kindergarteners, the questions they had, I walked away again, the future is bright. Our future is very bright. Our students are amazing. But that has been a um a a really neat partnership to really and it fits it aligns very much with what we want to look at as
equitable experiences across the schools that everybody can have for participation. >> And Jen, I also wanted to thank you for the stop the bleeds because my recollection is those saved a life the first year that they were installed by a third party person that was at Cherry
Tree. So, um, they matter. >> These are all wonderful, excellent stories, and I think it highlights what we were hoping to accomplish here today. Um, but like Peter said, uh, as we're winding down our time together, I do want to talk a little bit more about what participation looks like with
Carmel Education Foundation. Uh, participation can mean so many different things. Uh, if I asked all of you right now, you would tell me something different. Uh but it boils down the way we look at it at three really key areas. That's giving, serving and amplifying.
Uh financial giving is not going to be feasible for every individual, every corporation. So that's where giving and ser or excuse me, serving and amplifying comes in. Serving, we've talked about our committee opportunities, board opportunities, attending our events,
amplifying, sharing our messaging and impact. Dr. you mentioned seeing what we shared on our social media. If you don't follow our social media, please do that today. Um, but the one thing that Jen alluded to earlier is that our participation really lags behind our
peers. Uh, we just recently wrapped up our Share the Love campaign, which is our annual campaign where we ask in every school in the district for a $10 gift per student. uh when that campaign wrapped, we didn't have uh even a dollar
per student donated over the course of that campaign. It's not to say that people aren't generous. It's not to say that our work doesn't matter. It's just a statement of fact that the support we see is lower than other peers. Uh and Jen learns all of this through her
involvement with INIPF, the Indiana Association of Public Education Foundations, speaking to our peers. But we have to ask ourselves why this happens to the Carmel Education Foundation. Is it because the district is so excellent that there isn't any
urgency? Um or is it just our messaging and visibility? It's not about creating pressure for our community. It's really just about shifting our culture around giving back. >> So what we're seeing with that is the
excellence paradox playing out. uh we celebrate excellence and we should we love to celebrate excellence but excellence can create that perception that nothing more is needed. So when that happens the partnership
behind the excellence becomes invisible and we don't want to be invisible. So we're working very hard to not be invisible. Hopefully you like our new rebranding and everything, but a lot of that is really was with the intent because we were learning that we were
somewhat invisible. People didn't know who we were. They didn't know the foundation was behind or a partner of the schools. If people only see outcomes and not that investment behind them, then participation does lag. So that's why excellence and partnership must be
linked in the stories that we tell. Our community has really built something special here with Carmel Clay Schools. Um, but those exceptional systems, Mr. Shapiro, you said it, they don't happen or they're not sustained by accident. They sustain themselves when leadership,
that's our board, our community, you all model that participation. So, our schools require strong partners and that begins with us, Carmel Clay Schools, Carmel Education Foundation, and our community partners together.
Thank you again for your time before we depart for the evening. I'm happy to take any final questions. I just wanted to thank you all so much. This was a great um interactive presentation. This is where we want to take our workshops. So, I so appreciate
I know this took a lot of time and effort to put together. You got guys didn't just show up here tonight uh with this presentation. Um I share um the concern about our messaging. I share the concern when it comes to like the the
current in Carmel article that came out this week about some of the tough financial decisions that face us as a board. What I think is likely going to happen as a result is you get more asks >> and you can't meet those asks which I know you want to meet whether they come
from the district or come from our teachers or our students if you don't have the funding to do that. So I would just ask our community if you've ever had a question about CEF please contact the folks here. They're wonderful advocates. If you want to see what they
do in real time it is fun as all get out to do. It's seeing our right, seeing our amazing kiddos in action and how your donations work. If you can't donate dollars, donate time, donate skills, do
an ink kind, you know, there's lots of different ways to support us. So, I'll do an ask on on your behalf as well because we need that support. >> And a last a couple quick reminders, Taste of Caramel is August 27th. So, where this is a big shift for us. It
feels it's been a very weird March, not having Taste of Caramel. Um, but that is our biggest fundraiser and we're pivoting uh to make that the big kickoff kind of for the the school year. So, we're looking forward to that and uh look forward to seeing you all there.
But, thank you. Thank you so much for the opportunity to be here tonight. Thank you to our board members who are here. Thank you to Jim is one of our board members as well. Um, so we appreciate the the time that we have been uh the opportunity that we've been given.
>> I I just want to say real quick for those watching live right now and those who will watch the video of this, where can they go to again to donate? What's your website? Where would they go to make a donation on the website and then also a plug for your social media?
>> Oh, perfect. So, our website is connected to the Caramel Schools website. So, it's the ccs.k12.in. us and then slashfoundation and on that foundation there's multiple places that you can click um donate. Uh but that's also the the way that you can get
involved and see what else is um how to follow us on social media and yes thank you. So, I don't know if you heard that, but type in Caramel Education Foundation to any of the our our social media platforms that we use are
Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn are our um primary social media. So, yes, please follow us, share, comment on stories we or anything. We would really appreciate that. Thank you.
Have a good evening. Thank you once again to Miss Penn and Carmel Education Foundation. That was wonderful. Next on our agenda, excuse me, is our discussion item. Uh the CPAC, Miss Wheeler and Mrs. Cashin.
>> Thank you, Mr. Shapiro. We wanted to take this opportunity to update um everyone in attendance as well as the community that will watch as well as to some of the steps that have occurred since the last board meeting where we mentioned the special education parent advisory council. Um so Chris and myself
did have a wonderful meeting with Dr. Ostrike that we greatly appreciated where we talked about policy 9140 as that is the current policy for citizens advisory um council and we talked through some of the instances in which it's enacted right now but also how that
might be modified in the future as we continue to explore the CPAC. Um what we aligned on basically is that we will have to parallel path any policy changes as we are in this formulation stage of what a CPAC might look like from the district. Dr. Ow and administration are
100% on board and collaborative with us in this and we are very excited to continue moving forward. So the next step that is currently proposed is that uh Mrs. Wheeler, Mrs. CO would be the ones to meet with district administration regarding what philosophically the CPAC might look
like, especially given their experience within those areas within the school district both personally and professionally that they'd be the best two board members to have those conversations to really flush out um how does this look for our district and our
community. I think currently the 9140 policy is very derived from a district perspective and we believe that this advisory council in particular would be much more collaborative in the sense of the board working with administration
and having that community element as well. Um we've heard from a lot of the parents that we talked to that they currently feel alone. So minimally this CPAC would be able to connect families across our district that are in the special education space and give them a community to really go to as a resource.
So we envisioned that that next step of our two board members meeting me administration would start to really flush out what's the mission, what's the goals, and then we'd eventually have those conversations brought back to the board for more of a work session so that we could all collaborate to see exactly what this CPAC would look like moving
forward, hoping that we can really get um a plan together in time for next school year. So, we wanted to bring that today just to update everyone to make sure we're on the same page and then open up discussion from the board as to those next steps and where we'd like to go from here.
>> Great. Thank you for the update, comments, discussion. M >> Yeah, I just wanted to I had some things pulled up um because I wasn't sure if anybody does watch these. Um hello. Um I wanted to tell you what when when we say
CPAC what that is. Um it is a special education parent advisory council. Um there are maybe a handful or a little more than a handful in the state of Indiana. Uh there are more across the country. So what this is and I'm going
to read from um my good friend Mendy Kulie who helped start one in Westfield schools. Um what it is is it shifts culture. It deepens partnerships between the school and home environments. It elevates parent engagement and helping
parent understand their role better when you are sitting there at an IEP meeting. And then the end result would be that there's a reduction in disputes um and encourages early resolution because on both sides there's a greater understanding and a greater education um and a greater collaboration.
Um, so there are a lot of really nice resources that um, I know the they have already had access to. Um, and it just so I just want to explain what exactly a CPAC is when we say what that is. Um, some people might think it's a political action committee. It is not. It is a
special education again a parent advisory council. So, uh, it's meant to be a collaborative relationship again between, uh, the school district and, um, parents of children who have IEPs or 504s.
>> Miss Cash, >> Mrs. Kok, thank you again for bringing up Mendy because Chris and I did have the opportunity to meet with her as well after your very um, gracious review and saying how what asset she was to the community overall. So, we took the time and she was fantastic and she focuses a
lot on this type of work. Now, so that is also um a topic we'd want to discuss is her potentially joining that meeting with you guys when you meet with administration to kind of help flush out how she has started the CPAC in Westfield, how she currently advises
districts across the state. Insource currently uh provides one hour of her time to any school district to talk about CPAC initiatives. So that first initial meeting would actually be covered under Insourc's budget. And then if we wanted her to meet with us further
to help um kind of moderate the work session, we would then have a minimal charge. >> Just uh love to offer a couple of thoughts. I I appreciate the work that's already been done on this. I know um a lot of some of this predates the
workshop session we had um around special education. Some of it came back around during that conversation. Um, and I know all of us feel pretty strongly uh about continuing to move this forward. And so I I appreciate the momentum that we've built
up here. Um, so I it's a little bit a moment of gratitude for that. Um because I love that we're making progress and that we're being responsive and and for me the the the goal being how do we strengthen the
relationship between families in the school district and for um a group of families to feel as if um they're being heard and especially families who are unfamiliar with how to navigate something um feel that they are more
empowered and have access to tools. Um, and we would I would feel strongly about doing that for anybody who feels like they need that. Um, number one. Number two, I appreciate the the proposed next step of that meeting uh with Miss Wheeler uh and Mrs. Kok with the
administration. Um, I think without knowing obviously what comes out of that meeting, I think maybe a next step would potentially be that work discussion. um before we go too much further because I I'm having a hard time
conceptualizing what exactly this looks like um because there's not enough information yet. Um and so I just I I want to make sure I think we all want to make sure uh but I don't want to speak for anybody else. I want to make sure
there's enough information available uh for us to discuss before we get too far down any any sort of pathway. And I I know that that is not anybody else's intent, but I just I know we're also interested in keeping momentum moving. So appreciate the information and the work that's been done so far and look
forward to the next opportunity to have more information and an update. Anybody else want to? >> Yeah, I have some thoughts. Um and I I think it's great that all five board members are in alignment with a need to
do something like this. the CPAC. Um I I think it's really it's it's an important thing to do and I I think we need to when I think of policy I think of policy board policies are pretty short. There's not a lot of meat there. They're just more like we need to implement this law.
We need to address something and give an assignment more or less to the administration. Go figure out how you're going to do it. We say this is what we want. this tell us how you can implement this and and I think it's important to do it right and
I I think there's been a lot of sidebar discussions I know I've had some uh with the administration as well and parents uh parents that have had some some difficult situations and I my point being is that we really need to do it right and and I think yeah there's a
sense of urgency but I think there's a sense of making sure that we really we understand the problem we're going to solve you know what what is the problem that we're solving and I think we need to focus on that and I think I appreciate the the plan that you're presenting forward I think it's it's a
board decision on how do we proceed I don't think it naturally falls in the scope of the policy lison I think you know ultimately you will be writing a policy but I think we need to take a look at how do we really want to go from here and I really appreciate uh
Miss Kok Mr. Okay. Um, offering her experiences. You've got a lot of years with a a child that would, you know, fits into this category. And there's a lot of other parents that that have these experiences. I don't have. And I'm not sure where where we all set in on
that. But my point being, we really need to do it right. And I think we need to understand who is the customer, you know. And when I when I'm seeing the plan, I'm seeing, yeah, the we're going to involve some, you know, various people ourselves, administrators, but who's the customer? And the customer is
are the parents of these students of ours. 20 2400 some odd students. So about 15% of our students. It's a significant uh uh significantly important thing we're doing. Um I would like to propose at least have some
discussion on it here is that when I look at the board norm on what does the policy layers on do there's not much material written on on this uh that is not meant to be a criticism but it it talks about
um it's uh to to formulate policy We um work with the administration legal legal council and prepare policies for public and board presentation of these whatever policy changes or new ones we're putting
forth. A committee is is is a broader deeper um way to approach something like this. Um, when I look at our bylaw 155, 0155,
it's chartered to conduct studies, uh, receive information and make recommendations to the board. And if it's a boardappointed committee, it it would put it before the public. In other words, it would be subject to open door laws. So, the public would be able to
attend. Uh, we could have public hearings. Uh, and I'm not saying how we should how that that committee would actually work, but I think there's a lot of stakeholders that need to be involved in it. And I I think we need to have some of these kind of a survey thing.
And I think maybe even having a survey or like like what was done I think Christian and I had a discussion on this that you know one of the really um effective approaches that you did with the uh strategic plan was to have these
sessions where you know different times of day so people parents can can join in because you think of our customer base 20 the parents of 2400 students I'm sure there's a lot of valuable input we can get in distill it and make sure that whatever we do um that they're they're
the ones we need to satisfy. And so I would I recommend we take a look at putting together a an ad hoc committee that has a charter very limited focus that just figures out how we want CPAC to look. It's beyond policy. It's it's how are we going to do it? So it gets involved with the administration, you
know, what's the administration's uh involvement on it? What what are the problems we're really trying to solve? So and I'd like to hear maybe maybe tonight Dr. Frost right, you could provide some of your perspective on what you'd like or what questions you might have with with what we're talking about
uh going forward with here. >> Well, thank you very much. Um we're excited. We're excited uh to have the CPAC uh here in Carmel Clay Schools and uh when we do anything, we're going to do it well and uh and that's all we
know. That's all we know. And so I think it is important that we know what the purpose is. We know what the outcomes are. We do our research, which I think is what's being proposed here tonight. Um, and so doc, I know Dr. Dudley's excited. I know Mrs. Fairchild, myself, we're ready to roll up our sleeves and
get to work. And, uh, so for us, um, as an administration, um, and as I met with Mrs. Cashion and I met with Miss Wheeler, um, we just need clarity on how you want us to move forward. and uh whatever the board decides on that,
we're ready to go. So, we're excited about this opportunity, if the board uh you know, if you think that, you know, it's a good idea to do a survey or gather feedback or meet with consultants or whatever, uh we are open to all of that and uh we just need to know what
path you'd like us to take. You talked about it a little bit from a policy perspective, but then when it's time to roll up our sleeves and get to work, we're ready to go. So, we're excited about this. >> Yeah. Can I talk too? >> I
need to get there. >> Yeah. Um I I think um Greg, I hear what you're saying and it I actually agree with you. I I don't think it's just a policy issue, which is why we're bringing in Mrs. um Kugay, which I think
was your recommendation. Um and then I think a workshop I is the right next step. I I'm not sure. I think a committee is the right next step because I think we can do everything you talked about doing in a workshop. Um, but we want to make sure we know what we're doing in that workshop which I think is
part of what this meeting with the administration and Miss Cuket and hopefully Mendy um, you know, can help be our facilitator with that because you know kind of what I envision is let's figure out how how we want that to look so that we can have that broader
discussion. Um, also I think why Mrs. Cashion brought up um policy 9140 is I think what we're probably talking about with a CPAC doesn't really fit in that existing policy. Not to make it a policy
committee issue, but rather to note that what we're talking about is a bit different and at least the way I envision it will eventually be more parentled. you know that it truly is a parent-led group and they decide for
themselves what direction together. You know, are we going to have a community meeting where we can all get together? Are we going to have a sensory input day? Are we do we have feedback we want to provide to the administration on a particular program? You know, that is
for that group to decide. But however, because that is a relatively new concept, I feel like we need some board and administration fostering of getting to the point where that group is
self-orienting, for lack of a better word. Um, so, you know, I don't anticipate it's something that the board has its hands in forever. And yet, please, yeah, speak out if you agree, but I see Mrs. Kuket nodding but I think
because it's different because it's new and we all want to make sure we have that foundation of a common understanding and you know and and in our meeting with Dr. O he was like tell me what you want to do and and I'm ready to do it and my response was I'm not sure I'm ready to tell you what to do.
I'm not an subject matter expert on this. Let's get those subject matter experts in the room and figure that out. Um, and I kind of agree like I wanna I want the momentum to continue, but I'd rather do it well than do it fast. So,
um, I think everybody's on the same page in that regard. I also just for people's edification, because we talked about this a little bit, um, at our last workshop, the state um, administrative
code on this is title 511 IA7-36-1. It's called Parent and Community Participation, which I think is a really good title for what we're trying to foster. And it says, "A public agency, which is us, is encouraged to establish or support the establishment of a parent
advisory council committee, task force, or group. The public agency's goals for a parent group may include, but are not limited to, the following. One, supporting student and family membership in the school community, which is what
we're talking about. two, inviting parents of students with disabilities to participate on school decision-making committees. And three, fostering effective communications with families f focused on student learning and development. I think those are three
great goals. Could we add more goals? Absolutely. But that's what the state gives us when they're talking about these concepts. And I've heard all three of those things mentioned today and in previous meetings. So, I think that hopefully gives folks, we're talking,
you know, special education disability community, inviting parents to participate in decision making. I don't know if decision-m is the word I would use, but to have input on decision-m is probably the phrasiology that I would use and
then fostering that effective communication with our families. >> So, I hope that is helpful. Thank you, Miss Kok. >> I mean, I think in the end we all are on the same page, honestly, this evening,
even if it might seem like we have I I think what I hear I feel like everyone saying is the next step would be to have a meeting um if possible with uh Miss Kulie and administration and um some
board members and see what we do need to do next, what the next steps are. I think I if I hear Greg correctly, what he was kind of trying to say was at at at one point when we get to those next step beyond this next meeting would be to consider having um I think commit
I don't know committee or what like a a meeting a meeting like what we had listening sessions like a feedback session like what we had with the strategic planning where you know we maybe have some questions that we ask and we have groups at at tables and um
parent concerns, parent wins, parent every we have parents there because we at the end of the day, right, we want the parents in the district to have this to be equal in this partnership. Um and so I I think that's what you were trying to say. I think we want maybe, you know, somewhere where we at some point, not
too far down the line, begin to involve parents um so this doesn't just look like we're trying to railroad something through. So, um I know that's not what we're trying to do, but I don't want um I don't want it to look like that, and I want parents to feel heard. >> Yeah. U I just want to reiterate uh the
purpose of a committee and and we have a tendency in this district to not have committees. It it was in our uh it's actually in our norms to say we don't use committees. I think the actually I think the the uh board norm is not the most current one that's online. We may
want to take a look at that. But because there was discussion on this before other districts do use committees um it's it's an efficient way to mobilize uh a team of the right people. I I think having it uh um you know sessions with the parents and that are that are open
and maybe there's a different way to do it. I don't know. uh I don't think it naturally fits in the scope of what the policy leazison would do. I really don't. I I think we need to have uh open it up to say what parents might want to provide input. So one way or another
that's I think what Mrs. Kok was catching on and underlining is that you know how are we going to uh advertise to the committee and says we're going to have a hearing an open like a hearing kind of a format where you know you can
come in and share your your thoughts and approaches. Um and I'm just not I'm seeing if it just seems like when I look at the plan I'm not I'm not seeing that opened up. Uh I'm just not sure how but you know again
uh I I'm not on this committee at all. I mean my name wasn't even on the list of the board members that are participating because we have to watch our you know if you guys are out meeting having these things uh and having discussions and it's just two then you're not subject to open door laws. And I think that's
exactly the opposite of what we're trying what we need to do on this. I'm going to call it a project. It's where we need to say hey now's the time to open it up. We're going to go solve a problem. So we need to really define the problem. Uh we need to define the outcomes. I think we need to we had a
conversation the other day Dr. Ostra and I about uh you'd suggested that how do we know our what's our baseline? You know what what's the problem that we're trying to improve the outcome of where we are today? How are we going to take it to the next level? But how are we going to know that what we're doing is going to take it to that? So there's
just a lot there's a lot more to it I think than you know some meetings with a consultant uh a workshop where you know we're we're talking amongst ourselves and the parents are on that side of that ribbon. I I think we need to I think we
need to make it a committee and and really open it up. Um and I I would like to I would like to make a motion to that point at at some point when it's the right time to do it. So, I just I want to jump in for a second because I want to I'm I hear everything you're saying
and I'm I think in my mind there's a there's there's a misalignment, but maybe I'm maybe I'm mistaken. Um, what I'm hearing or what I heard proposed as a next step was this
conversation with Kristen and Chris and Dr. row right right and right and a couple of members of administration and then we would have a work session and I I don't want to
think about it in this setup right but we we would have a meeting where we would then discuss what was talked about there what some potential opportunities are not a presentation but a work session where we would have an open discussion
>> where one of the things that could come out of that very well might Let's do a survey. Let's have a committee. Like we would just we as a board in a public setting would have a very open
conversation. >> All of us >> correct >> with administration work through we'd have more information to be able to have to make informed have informed discussion and informed decision- making about next steps which may include
>> all of the things that have been mentioned. this evening. Um, right. So, we're not there isn't a decision being made in in this next step that was just outlined. >> Yep. >> Correct. >> That is correct.
>> Okay. And you wanted to say something else. I saw you had your hand up. So, I'm sorry I didn't mean to jump in before you. I just I I'm I wanted to make sure I was not confused as to where things were. >> Well, and I think there's some confusion, Mr. Brown, because we're not saying this is a policy decision. And it ended up starting with us because of the
power that that policy gives to the district to create these types of committees that based on moving forward, which is why I said we had to parallel path this because based on those next conversations and John, you are correct, the intent of that work session would be for us to have this collaborative um
conversation and one of the reasons we wanted to add it to the agenda today is so that we could have this narrative as well is we can invite parents to that conversation. I do think though Kristen has been championing a CPAC for two years and lives and breathes this every day. Mendy is also from that environment
and is that point of expert. Chris has lived this herself. I've lived it myself within certain parameters of my children as well. Um I do think we as community members could expedite this. The more we talk to more special education people in the community and bring it forward. I
will say my fear of starting a committee is it will elongate how long this takes for us to go active versus us being able to talk to people in the community as their board members and bring those perspectives. But then certainly we could invite other people. I mean CF, you know, non-school district employees
all here today and did a wonderful presentation. Thank you for how collaborative it was. Um so we could explore that as well. But as John kind of summarized for us from this is that meeting would be us really sitting down and saying here's what we think we need to do to get this going. It's not
necessarily saying we want 15 people. Here's the 15 people. Let's go. Um and then also leaving some room for once that CPAC is established for them to have the power of their voice to say how they enact whatever mission and goals we
put forward for that CPAC. So, I think what we're seeing right now is just the evolution of our workshop topics is we're we're going to hopefully have that one really be us digging in and having a lot of great conversation of what the board wants so that it is very clear to
administration of, hey, here's what the community and the board's saying. Let's go get this done. >> I think it Thank you. I think it's also an evolution of talking about work sessions versus business meetings versus workshop and those things are not all always the same. Um, and that's
something I know we as a board have talked a little bit about recently, but I I think that that's an important thing, right? The importance of a having open public discussion prior to making decisions uh is legally required, but two doing our work as part of a meeting
uh is is necessary because of open door law and that we need to think differently about the way our meetings are structured sometimes in order to make that happen. And so having a work meeting where we are literally sitting at a table not at the deis and and having the conversation of doing the
work of digging into what could this look like and what could this be and using this as the example. There going to be other times this year where it's going to be other things. You know, we all know the work that lies ahead of us this year. Um and I we're going to we're going to have to do it for other topics as well. It's just that's the way it is. Miss Wheeler.
>> Yeah. I was just going to say to Mr. around. I I agree with everything you're saying about the input and things like that. I would just ask, and I'm not telling you not to make your motion, but I just don't think we're ready for a committee yet. My ask is that you let us
get there because this next meeting with the um administration and the um work session that we're talking about is how we get there. And as Mr. Shapiro said it may very well be a committee comes out of
that right now. I don't know what to tell the committee to do yet. I mean, we're like I'm still trying to make sure everybody's on the same page. We have have administrative input. Everybody has buyin like and I and I will tell you I'm
a committee for a board of five people. I'm not anti-committee, but it feels a little bit like this is a meeting that could have been an email. Like I worry about it becoming something else, especially when we don't at least I don't know what I tell that committee or
ask that committee to do today. I just don't. >> So, if I can interject then or see if I paraphrase what I'm hearing is that so we we're still defining how we're going to go do this. Okay. I wasn't clear on that. It sounded like there's a plan and
the plan looked okay as a first initial thoughts look really thin. So, u if the work session and we'll probably have to do a special session given that we're kind of booked up for the rest of the year and I'm fine with that. Let's let's >> we'll see.
>> Yeah. Okay. Okay. I think that's to be to be determined if it's a special session, if it's if it's reshuffling the deck. I mean, I I think we've got an outline, but it's I mean, nothing is carved in stone, per se, right? I mean, And we could even use a regular meeting. Yeah, why not?
>> TBD, I think there's more to come. More shall be revealed, as they like to say. >> That's good. I appreciate the clarification. Um and and I'd like us just to think about maybe trying trying an ad hoc committee on this as an opportunity to say how how would it work? And I really want to make sure we
open it up to the parents that I mean, you're hearing from parents. I've heard from parents. Um, but it's when I think of, well, how many kids were that of the 2400? It's pretty small. You know, I'd like to make sure we really open up and say, hey, can anyone in the community come in and and
help us uh really take this to the next level and really really make it an incredible incredibly effective uh implementation? And so, brilliant. Thank you. I >> I think Greg, I think it what you're sharing is incredibly valuable. I think similar to the strategic plan, the
opportunity for as many people to offer feedback and share experience is is really important and we want to make sure that that opportunity exists and I think there's also a balance is not the right word but
there's an opportunity to share experience and share feedback and and also ensure that the design of what this will um is serving purpose long beyond the time that the five of us are sitting here, right? In terms of offering
expertise and build and relationship building between community and district. Um and so offering the feedback is helpful like sort of at the ground floor, but we want to make sure that the elevator goes all the way up to the top floor too, right? So great. I mean I don't know if there's anything else, but
this is a really good >> really helpful conversation. Yeah. No, thank you everybody. Okay, moving along. Dr. Throw strike superintendence report. >> Well, good evening again, President Shapiro, members of the board. Um, want to say thank you to our Carmel Education Foundation and the executive board here
tonight. A wonderful presentation. I'm a huge supporter of the Carmel Education Foundation. I personally have been on an education foundation board in my previous career and I just appreciate the work you do each and every day to innovate, support, enhance uh the work
that we're doing at the district level. and we are so fortunate and lucky to have partners like all of you tonight. So, just wanted to say thank you and I appreciate you being here to this evening. Before highlighting um several outstanding accomplishments across our district, I do want to begin by
expressing sincere appreciation for the incredible professionalism demonstrated across our schools today. So, early this morning, uh Carmel Clay Schools received multiple swatting calls. uh want to thank our administrators, our teachers,
and staff across the district for their calm and professional response. I would especially like to recognize Mr. David Woodward, Mrs. Emily Bower, our safety team along with the Carmel Police Department. We have Officer Gosset here from Clay Center Elementary this
morning. He was at Clay Center 6:00 a.m. very maybe before that early in the morning sweeping the building uh working with the Carmel Police Department to ensure that our buildings were clear and they're safe and we are grateful for you
officer Gosset and I'm very fortunate that you're here today. Uh you're going to need some rest tonight after uh the job you did. So let's get put our hands together for officer Gossip. So, Officer Gosset's partnership, the Carmel Police Department's partnership is uh invaluable to our schools. Uh
you're invaluable to remaining uh having our schools remain safe and secure. Um and that we shared accurate information with our uh community as soon as we could. So, grateful for everyone involved today. Um additionally, we get the message out that our schools have
been cleared and we're safe and these were swatting calls. Um then we experienced severe weather right as that was happening this morning on the commute uh with our high school students. I want to thank our bus drivers, our transportation team, Gary
Clevenger, our students, our teachers, our administrators for their patience, their flexibility um as we navigated those conditions as well safely. Our transportation staff works works tirelessly every day to ensure that our
students are transported uh and arrive safely and today was just another example of their professionalism and commitment to our schools and commitment to the safety of our kids. They were mid route. They stopped at the closest school. We got them in the building. We
got them safe and secure and they sheltered in place. We have some great teams and great people here in Caramel. And so I just want to say a special thank you and gratitude to everyone involved today uh with the events that we had this morning. And then during
that uh we had our expedition uh last session here today. So we had members of our community, we had city counselors here, um we had parents, we had business leaders that we were teaching uh all about Carmel Clay Schools. I was able to
do a presentation. So, I was presenting and then after my presentation, I went out and did a video to the community and updating the board as much as I could. And so, it was all hands on deck today and everyone worked beautifully together. And so, uh we have a fantastic
district and a lot of great people. So, just wanted to say thank you for that. Now, I would like to highlight several incredible student uh accomplishments across Carmel Clay Schools. Uh recently our radio, TV and journalism teams uh
the highlight and also the pinnacle um they traveled to New York City and they received numerous numerous national awards. I'd be here all night if I would say them all. Our Hounds HQ teams as well are receiving awards left and right
at the national level. So we have a long tradition of excellence in our student media production and storytelling. These recognitions certainly highlight their incredible creativity, technical skill, and dedication of the students and their
adviserss. And also a thank you to the parents as well. Uh Peter's out there. I know Peter's son Marcus is heavily involved in our uh student media team um as well as students across the district. So congratulations. I also wanted the
community to know that our teacher of the year nominations are still live. Uh you can go to our social media pages. You can recommend a teacher for the teacher of the year. We have uh committees that select those teachers at every building. We've already received
524 nominations across the district. That's more than we had last year already and we're still open for business until Sunday at midnight. So get those teacher of the year nominations in. just a testament to the fantastic staff and
teachers that we have here in the district. Uh we talked about mock trial uh earlier and so I wanted to follow up again state champs. So they went all the way from county to regionals to state and so our mock trial team are Indiana
state champions and we're very proud of them and hopefully we'll recognize them uh at a future board meeting as well. Also, DECA Carmel High School DECA, our business team and leadership team. Um, they qualified 91 students uh for the
International Career Development Conference, which is one of the largest and most competitive student business competitions in the world. 91. Wow. And so, we're very excited and we wish them the best as they go on to that
international competition. And then as you've seen time and time again here at our board meeting, our high school speech and debate team once again our state champions. Uh and so we're very proud of them. They'll come back and we'll recognize our speech and debate
team as well. Earlier a few weeks ago, our cyber hounds uh cyber patriot team won the state championship as well. Um and I believe this is their sixth consecutive state championship in a row. So the work that is being done in the
classroom through our student clubs through these state level uh national level international level competitions uh our students are thriving. Our caramel quiz bowl team I think this weekend just won state as well. My
goodness uh the success our kids and our families are experiencing is just tremendous. And then finally a little bell ringer here for us tonight. So, uh, Saturday night, Saturday night, if you were watching online or you were there with Mr. Shapiro and I were there
cheering on the Greyhounds, our Caramel basketball team in sectionals, not expected to win whatsoever, took on the number one ranked and uh, nationally ranked top 16 and undefeated 24-0, 23-0
at the time, Fischer Tigers. Um and Caramel came out victorious in a thriller 50 to 49 and they are sectional champions once again and the Greyhounds move on uh and they will uh play Fort Wayne Snider at Newcastle. There will be
plenty of tickets as Newcastle is the largest high school gym in the nation about an hour from here. Um so we hope we also have a fan bus going to Newcastle. I was so excited to see that. Um, and so go ahead and cheer on uh our
Caramel uh boys basketball team. The atmosphere was simply electric. Um, it was unbelievable. Fisers is what going into the game was 83 and2. Now they're 83 and three. And two of those over the last three years, two of those losses
were to our Caramel Greyhound. So just a quick shout out, Coach Osborne. My goodness, one of the best X and coaches in the nation. Um he is simply phenomenal and the whole uh coaching team, our student athletes who did a phenomenal job uh and also I want to uh
kudos to their families as well for all the support as you heard Mr. Hinskeep talk about the support it takes from our parents and our families uh s to sustain this level of excellence. And so congratulations to our boys team. Um
whether it's academics, whether it's performing arts, athletics, career pathways, as we heard tonight, our Greyhounds continue to demonstrate what is possible when students are supported by outstanding teachers, coaches, mentors, and their family. Thank you to
everyone across Carmel Clay Schools who continues to help our students succeed. And take a look right behind me, our vision. Together we achieve. We'll continue to do that. Thank you very much. >> Can we clap? Just
>> thanks Dr. O. Um, may I have a motion to adjurnn? >> Motion to adjurnn. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> All right, we are adjourned. Thank you everyone. Pardon? >> Yeah. Yeah.