I had a mic in. Testing. Testing. Yep. Is she in? Alright. Ready to board everything good. Okay. Welcome to our monthly Board of Education meeting. At this time, we would like to call up Principal Oglesby and student leaders from the Brook Park Bears Elementary School to lead us in our pledge of allegiance. And with me today, I have William Morgan, Yarlene Marcita, and Carly White. Come over here. Actually, maybe right here. Just get over here.
Please stand and join us for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Thank you, Brook Park Elementary. Well done. At this time, we'll turn to Carla Johnson for the Above and Beyond in Superintendents Award. Good evening madam president, doctor Smith, and members of the board. It is our honor to present to you Eric Walton for the Above and Beyond
Award. Congratulations to Eric Walton, head custodian at Crestview Elementary for being selected to receive the Above and Beyond Award. Mr. Eric Walton, despite construction projects limiting access to classrooms for deep cleaning, had just one week to prepare the building for the new school year. Eric worked well beyond his scheduled hours, ensuring every classroom and space was ready for students and staff. He went the extra mile to assist teachers as they reentered the building and made
certain Crestview was welcoming and presentable for families at Meet Me on a Monday. He takes great pride in Crestview and we are grateful. Thank you so much, mister Walton and to his principal, missus Cartwright. And next, we'll have the twenty twenty five Susan Jordan Summer Reading winners presented by Doctor. Emily Hass Brown, Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education. Thank you, miss Johnson, President Norman, Doctor. Smith, members of the board. I'm so very pleased tonight to bring to you our district winners of our summer
Susan Jordan Breeding Challenge, representing three different elementaries. I'll first ask each, administrator to come forward and they'll introduce their student and tell you just how many minutes each student read. And we'll start with our first and second grade winner with the proud principal of Forest Glen Elementary, Mr. Yearwood. Good evening, madam president, members of the board, doctor Smith. Forest Glen Elementary is very proud to introduce to you the winner of grades one and two, Susan Jordan's Summer Reading Program, Mr.
Fox Foley, who read five thousand six hundred and fifty one minutes. I'm very proud to introduce to you tonight, representing Mary Castle and Miss Courtney Thomas, the assistant principal, who is going to announce the winner of our third and fourth grade band, who is a two time district winner. Alright. Good evening. And Merry Castle is proud to present Simon Flannery who read eleven thousand six hundred and ninety minutes, and his goal is to win every year until six graves. Let's make that happen. And ready to, introduce to you our fifth and sixth grade winner, the proud principal
of Amy Beverellen Elementary, mister Jared Pennington. Thank you and good evening. I am proud to announce miss Nora Ebeling as the fifth and sixth grade, most minutes read, with ten thousand eight hundred and eighty one minutes. And next, mister Dan Kuznick, assistant superintendent, who will be sharing with you some secondary recognitions. Thank you, doctor Hass Brown. Good evening, madam president, doctor Smith, members of the board. It is this time each year we bring to you our AP scholars. We have a total of a 140 that are on the list. But as you will unfortunately see, not all are here this evening.
Unfortunately, every year, based on when we get the data, this is when we're able to recognize them and many are off at college already. So, unfortunately, they can't be here this evening or they're involved in something else at the school. At the very least, to be recognized as an AP Scholar, students have to receive a three or higher on three or more AP exams. Some students are recognized as an AP Scholar with honor, which is granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all of their exams and a score of three or higher on four or more of those exams. AP Scholar with distinction is granted to students who receive an average score of at
least 3.5 on all exams taken and a three or higher on five or more exams. Very impressive group as you can tell. And the last two are AP Seminar and Research Certificate, which is granted to students who earn a score of three or higher in AP seminar and AP research. And then the AP capstone diploma, they also receive a four on additional exams. Up first from Lawrence Central, our proud principal, mister Franklin Bush. Good evening. First up, Valerie Murray, AP Scholar. Lauren Chaney, AP Scholar. Evan Connors, AP Scholar.
Gabriela Freeman, AP Scholar. Hongqi Lu, AP Scholar with Distinction. And final here tonight is Gregory Poe, AP Scholar and AP Capstone Diploma. I will now read the rest of our names into the record. Mikayla Hargett, AP scholar. Eliana Lueder, AP scholar. Judith Villegas, AP scholar. Jonathan Riley, AP scholar. Kevin Rodriguez, AP scholar. Daniel Rogers, AP scholar. Alex Hernandez, AP scholar. Catherine Baker, AP scholar. Sage Balgman, Bowman, AP scholar.
Leanne Bradley, AP scholar. Caitlin Coleman, AP scholar. Samuel Culver, AP scholar. Chelsea Fields, AP scholar. Jaden Harper, AP scholar. Victor Jackson, AP scholar. Jenna Jenna Leonard, AP scholar. William Mills Craig, AP scholar. Samayah McCool, AP scholar. Jonathan Price, AP scholar. Habayah Rita, AP scholar. Nadia Reyes, AP scholar. Elizabeth Robertson, AP scholar. Ricardo Reyes, AP scholar with distinction. Abraham Greenfield, AP scholar with distinction.
Aiden Ouzner, AP scholar with distinction. Nathaniel Pickert, AP scholar with distinction. Samuel Poffenberger, AP scholar with distinction. Bailey Workman, AP scholar with distinction. Ileana Heppley, AP AP scholar with honor. Joy Sweeney, AP scholar with honor. Leonardo Avicito, AP scholar with honor. Chase Hover, AP scholar with honor. Allison Burbidge, AP scholar. Felicity Davis, AP scholar. Elizabeth Dickman, AP scholar. Alexandria Dumas, AP scholar. Jessica Hebner, AP scholar. Madeline Kovacs, AP scholar.
Jaden Lancaster, AP scholar. Laura Miner, AP scholar. Jay Ocha, AP scholar. Aiden Pierce, AP scholar. Stephanie Hernandez, AP scholar. Kenneth Rapp, AP scholar and AP capstone diploma. James Seal, AP scholar and AP capstone diploma. Isabel Simonson, AP scholar and AP capstone diploma. Claire Risby, AP scholar with distinction. Fernando Exway, AP scholar with distinction. Abigail Tarjanan, AP scholar AP scholar with distinction and AP capstone diploma. Nicholas Williams, AP scholar with distinction and AP capstone diploma.
Mary Jankowski, AP scholar with honor. Lena Markett Macris, AP Scholar with honor, and Nolan Dixon, AP Scholar with honor and capstone diploma. Thank you. Alright. Congratulations. Well done, Bears. Thank you for bearing with us as we read those names into the record because you know there's some parents listening at home that wanna hear their baby's names called, so we appreciate that. Up next, from Lawrence North, principal, Jason Floyd. Good evening. It's my honor to read Lawrence North's students this evening. First up, we have Makaya Gates, AP Scholar, Gabrielle Gomez Gonzalez, AP Scholar, Devin Kelly,
AP Scholar, Mackenzie Langham, AP Scholar. Logan McCoskie, AP Scholar. Maria Osuno Castellanos, AP Scholar. Paige Payne, AP Scholar. Lydia Quinn, AP Scholar, Kai Washington, AP Scholar, Miles Watson, AP Scholar, Evan Creason, AP Scholar with Distinction, Wesley Drake, AP Scholar with Distinction, Ewan Herbert, AP Scholar with Distinction,
Christopher Moore, AP Scholar with Distinction, Benjamin Vannoy, AP Scholar with Honor, Clive Guidry, AP Scholar with Honor, Tegan Hatley, AP Scholar with Honor. Sebastian Hoven, AP Scholar with Honor. Emoria Unfree, AP Scholar with Honor. Richard Ostendorf, AP Scholar with Honour. Naya Poe, AP Scholar with Honour. And Lilian Samira, AP Scholar with Honour. Unable tonight, we have Cheryl Chin, AP Scholar, Bryce Armstrong, AP Scholar, Lucy Boyden, AP
Scholar, Lucy Brent Lucille Brown, AP Scholar, Anais Clancy, AP Scholar, Franz Kenny Dorsalene, AP Scholar, Gabriel Inchill, AP scholar, William Fosbender, AP scholar, Caden Hirt, AP scholar, Wyatt Coon, AP scholar, Isabelle Clujie, AP scholar, Catherine Mulkey, AP Scholar, MD Rashid, AP Scholar, Emmanuel Rivera Lopez, AP Scholar, Maxwell Slater, AP Scholar, Wyatt Snow, AP Scholar, Leah Toole, AP
Scholar, Nathaniel Turner, AP Scholar, Julia Tureux, AP Scholar, Jada Vanuski, AP Scholar, Colton Vaughn, AP Scholar, Haley Wolf, AP Scholar, Kira Wright, AP Scholar, Simon Wynn, AP Scholar, Maya D'Annunzio, AP Scholar, Dominique Distinction, Matilda Dean, AP Scholar with Honor, Em Olshoi, AP Scholar with Honor, Alexander Lopez, AP Scholar with honor, Emily Sentinel, AP Scholar, Regan Wutrick, AP
Scholar, Gia Barlow, AP Scholar, Jalisa Boone, AP Scholar, Jasmine Dela Rosa, AP scholar, Lizzie Fuentes Sorrento, AP scholar, Nyla Heater, AP scholar, Tyus Hintens Henson, AP scholar, Jack Jint, AP scholar, Victor Marquez, AP scholar, Ruby Corino, AP scholar, Kate Rosenbrock, AP scholar, Nath Nathan Trinkle, AP scholar, Braden Williams, AP scholar, Aifa Zahan, AP scholar, Meredith Bruce, AP
Scholar and AP Seminar Research Certificate, Jean Hershberger, AP Scholar, AP Seminar Research Certificate, Griffin Slocum, AP Scholar and AP Seminar Research Certificate, Troy Chin, AP Scholar Seminar Research Certificate. Luke Jackson, AP Scholar with Distinction. Marina Solly, AP Scholar with Distinction. Kai Wen Minchin, AP Scholar with Honor. Rosa Mendoza Barone, AP Scholar Honor with, AP Capstone Diploma. Sydney Moss, AP Scholar honor and Capstone Diploma, Amaya Pittman, AP Scholar honor and class
Capstone Diploma, Jared Asimong, AP Seminar and Research Certificate, Bianca Candelaro Rico, AP Scholar and Research Certificate, and Victor Geis, AP Seminar and Research Certificate. That's the sound one here. Congratulations, Wildcats. Well done. Congratulations students and thank you parents. This was our first meeting doing student recognition, so this was exciting to use our new space, recognize our students. We'll give just a few seconds as we transition. This is also our first meeting. We'll have miss Dunn will be calling is calling in remotely.
Per our board policy, we can have at least 50% of our members here present to conduct our meeting. So she will be, she is on line right now. Just wanted to make that clarification. Alright. Okay. At this time, we are ready for our information items, 3.1, blue ribbon updates with doctor Nesbitt. Thank you, madam president, members of the board, doctor Smith. Doesn't do much for the ego when everyone gets up and walks out right before you speak, but we'll hop right in there. I guess I'll do something first. Look at the overview of Blue Ribbon phase two. We've talked about this a little bit before.
Fall Creek and, Bells are we're gonna cut the ribbon on those, the first Sunday in November. So we're, just wrapping a few things up there. Craig Academy, you're gonna see some pictures of here soon. It's, it's looking different. Classroom additions continuing at three of our elementaries, and then, of course, l e c c l e c c, we're wrapping up. So let's take a look. Oh, yeah. And our guaranteed entry savings, still three active roofing projects going on. We're looking to have those wrapped up fall break, definitely, before snow starts flying, in December. So let's look at Craig County. That layer on left is doctor Smith's old office, and then on the right is
just outside doctor Smith's office in that main hallway there. So you can see we're digging in and getting into some plumbing work and then installing new plumbing in different areas where they will not have sinks and bathrooms and things like that. LACC, that that picture is the middle of last week when we just had half the wallpaper up there into your board conference room, and the canopy was just starting to get worked on. If you walked in, you noticed today it's on both sides now. That blue canopy's up, and, work continues there. Burke Park Elementary roofing project is ongoing there. And before we did that, we wanted to get in and get these downspouts that, for years have just emptied out there right next to the building, which is starting
to cause some issues, with humidity in the building. So we're we're piping those out to the to the storm drain. Crestview, elementary, on your left there is, the foundation corner. Down the right is, what we call a rain garden now. It used to be it'd be dry retention, but that'll be, wildflowers and whatnot there. That'll be where rainwater will go, to hold water as we're we have to accommodate for that. Where we're building new building, we need to have that rain run off somewhere. So that's where we're doing that, and that's right there along 70 First Street. And the next one Is Mary Castle oh, Forest Glen.
Exterior walls up. The foundation for the exterior walls are are there. And, you can see that it's getting flat in there, so we should look to pour that foundation soon. And then Mary Castle, they're winning the, three team race there. They have walls up. And, I rest assured, I I I make sure I tell the other contractors, hey. Merrick Castle's winning right now. Try to have a little friendly battle with them. But they you can see all four classrooms taking shape there. In in Creek, roofing work continues there. Lawrence North, same there. We're just waiting on that sheet metal still, and then that project will be wrapped. And that takes us through Blue Ribbon phase two.
I'd be happy to field any questions. Thank you, doctor Nesbitt. There's always a lot going on in Lawrence. All good. Board, any questions about the blue ribbon updates? Miss Dunn, do you have any? Okay. Well, if we don't have any questions or comments, we will move on to our financial reports with mister Matt Miles. Thank you, madam president. Doctor Smith, members of the board, tonight I bring to you the August 2025 monthly financial report. And the first one you have in front of you is the transportation fund report. Happy to present the transportation fund.
Ending balance as of, August 31 is, ahead of projected. See the balance there at the end, $903,002.85. Our state support, slightly ahead of projection as well as expenses under projection, so good place there. Similarly, in the general fund, we see the ending balance at the bottom of the report, $12,000,006.81 $7.92 with, state support trending ahead of projection and expenditures under projection as well. Financial updates?
I know we'll be have the budget adoption later. Thank you. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Miles. Alright, this will move on now to 3.3, our board committee chair reports. First, we will mix it up and start with policy. Miss Puckett. Good evening to everyone. The committee is excited to bring forward NEOLA special update 2025 for the first reading this policy package in policy package in response to recent legislative changes and new laws impacting k 12 education. NEOLA has deemed this policy in this package to be the most critical for adoption as we start the new school year.
We have another packet coming oh, October. That'd be good. October? Yep. October. Okay. Alright. Thank you, miss Puckett. Lawrence Parks and Recreation, miss Dunn. Okay. Very good. Thank you, Ms. Dunn. Yeah, we can hear you. You are, our guinea pig on this. Now, we'll move on to the foundation with Doctor. Mulholland. Good evening, everyone. So for the Lawrence Township School Foundation, they will have a, week called LT Do Good Week, Lawrence Township Do Good Week, that will be October 6 through the tenth.
And it says get ready for a week full of giving, giving, gratitude, and impact. So just stay tuned for different announcements and activities that will be happening then, and ways to celebrate, impactful teaching, creative grants, and other ways to, you know, support the community through, things that you can do through that week. Okay. So, I'm gonna the community through, things that you can do through that week. Thank you, Doctor. Mulholland. And I know it's not the busy time, but did you have any input, on the legislative updates, Ms. Lawrence? No, I do not. Thank you. But I would say to Doctor.
Mulholland, I really hope that we, do not get stuck clearing brush because one year myself and, several of my colleagues all got poison ivy from from clearing from clearing the the brush. But no. It was no. It wasn't. In all fairness, it was actually at the parks but it was the adjoining between Lawrence Township and the parks. Well luckily, there's a lot of things, a lot of ways to get involved. No, that's great news. Thank you board for the updates.
I will say legislatively, I'm sure Doctor. Smith, we already kind of have to start thinking future forward for the 2026 session. Yes. Oh yes. Alright, we will move on to our action items. At this time, we will be doing conducting the votes by a roll call because we do have a member logging in remotely. The one item that will not be able to be voted on remotely, by Miss Dunn will be the approval of the budget. And that is just per our board policy zero-one hundred and sixty five and state
statute. So, at this time, we will go to 4.1 approval of the budget. I will have mister Miles present that. Thank you, Madam President. This is a follow-up to our public hearing which was held on 09/15/2025, where we presented the budget originally and public comment was heard at that time. So following state statute tonight, just as a reminder, our budget has been shared as as required by statute, including the bus replacement plan and the capital projects plan, both
on our website and at the DLGF website as well. I will do have one follow-up to our prior meeting just as a point of clarification. As we look at the budget summary, the 20 there's there's two pieces. The way they split out the budget summary is, for the second six months of the current year. So that's what you have at the top section is is the last six months of 2025 followed by, the full twelve months of '26. Again, per statute and how we submit the budget, appropriate appropriately there.
I had no additional information to share. Everything was shared at the original, hearing, once again on the fifteenth. And, just present this, the budget, again, including the bus replacement plan and the capital improvement plan, to the board for, approval. Thank you, mister Miles. At this time, I'll entertain a motion to approve the 2026 budget. So moved. Seconded. Properly moved, miss Puckett and seconded, Doctor. Mulholland. Before we move to a vote, are there any final questions or comments, board?
I just wanted to say, mister Miles, thank you for your point of clarification. I know in our last meeting, thank you for thank you for that point of clarification. We're just counting more money than what we did previously and so that that accounts for the discrepancy. So thank you for that. You're welcome. Thank you. Thank you, miss Lawrence. Any other comments or questions? Okay. At this time, we will move to a roll call for the vote.
I will call out each board member by name. Miss Lawrence. Yay. Yay for myself? Yes. Miss Puckett? Doctor. Mulholland? Yes. Okay. Four yays. Alright. The budget for 2026 is approved. Now, we'll move on to action item 4.2, approval of request for resolution. Authorization naming of Craig Academy Professional Development Room. Mister Dan Kuznick. Good evening again madam president, doctor Smith, members of the board. At the September 15 work session, I presented a request for a board resolution. And at this time, I recommend the board approve the resolution authorizing the name of
the Craig Academy Professional Development Room in honor of Mr. Troy Notar. Alright. Yes. That's okay. Properly move, Miss Puckett. Do I have a second? Second. Seconded, Miss Lawrence. Alright. Any comments or questions before we vote? Mr. Noterer, I am so sorry I missed the retirement celebration on your behalf. Work obligations kept me away but that is that does not mean that you are not in my heart. Congratulations on a wonderful and very impactful career in this school district. Yes, thank you. Well done, sir. At this time, I will move to the roll call for the vote.
Miss Dunn? Nay. Miss Lawrence? Yay. Yay for me? Miss Puckett? Yay. And Doctor. Mulholland? Yes. Alright. Five yeas. Alright. Congratulations, mister Noderer. Mister Nauder always presented, information about the plan to move student achievement forward. And one of them was the retired teacher cadre. So, I'm surprised that miss Carla Johnson's not jumping at the bit to sign him up. That's true. Yeah. Yeah, that's the other part. Okay. Congratulations. And we know you won't be a stranger. Alright, 4.3, approval of the 20Five-twenty6 and twenty six-twenty seven early enrollment window update.
Doctor. Hass Brown and Mr. Kuznick. President Norman, Doctor. Smith, members of the board, as you may recall at the September 15, work session, Mr. Kuznick and I also brought to you information regarding our recommendation for the application enrollment windows for the twenty five, twenty six, twenty six, twenty seven school year. And we do recommend that those be approved as submitted. I'll entertain a motion, for the approval. So moved. Seconded? Properly approved, Miss Lawrence and seconded, Doctor. Mulholland. Any questions or final comments before we vote?
Alright. I will move to the roll call. Miss Dunn. Aye. Ms. Lawrence. Yea. Yea for myself, Ms. Puckett. Yea. And Doctor. Mulholland. Alright. The yeas have it. Thank you, board. Okay. And now, we will move on to 4.4, approval of the board minutes. Doctor. Mulholland. I present today for approval, for approval the minutes from August 18 and and 09/15/2025. Okay. I'll entertain a motion for the approval of the board minutes from August and September.
So moved. Second. Properly moved, Miss Puckett and seconded, Miss Lawrence. Any questions or comments? If not, we will move to the roll call vote. Miss Dunn? Yes. Miss Lawrence? Yes. Yay. Yes. And Doctor. Mulholland? Yes. Alright. The board minutes have been approved. Thank you, board. Yes. Madam president, I, I move that the street Ashland Island 4.5 Through 4.11 at the residential. Alright. Thank you, miss Puckett. Do we have a Second. Second. Alright. Approve alright. Properly moved and seconded, miss Puckett, seconded miss Lawrence for the consent agenda.
4.5 through 4.11. All in favor, we will do the roll call again. I'll start at the other end. Doctor Mulholland. Yay. Miss Puckett. Yay. Yay for myself, miss Lawrence. Yay. Miss Dunn. Yay. Okay. So moved. Alright. Properly moved miss Puckett and seconded doctor Mulholland for approval of the consent agenda. We'll go to the roll call. Doctor Mulholland. Yay. Miss Puckett. Yes. Yay. And, miss Lawrence. Yes. Miss Dunn. Yes. Okay. The yays have it for the approval of the consent agenda.
Thank you for this this board. I know this, was actually a very short and effective meeting. We've done a lot of our digging and questions and work behind the scenes the last, three weeks. So, thank you. And thank you to the team for all of your work during this time. I'm gonna move on now to our administrator and board comments. Would anyone like to go first? I don't have anything to say other than thank you, doctor Smith, for being available for the last minute questions. And, yeah, appreciate you. Appreciate all of you. So thank you for giving us what we need to be effective and efficient.
So thanks to you all. Very good. Miss I would second what miss Buckett said and and would also say. Okay. Thank you. Miss Dunn? I don't have any of this time. Thank you. Thank you. Doctor. Mulholland. I have a brief comment. Just wanted to thank the teachers for their time on Thursday. The parent teacher conferences really, appreciate the conversation and for both I have two kids that we had conferences for, so thank you to all all the teachers. Yes. I second all of that. Yes, thank you. It's really fun to be able to get back or to get into the classroom
and see the work they're doing and see the different types of learning that they're engaging with our students. I'm actually wearing earrings that were three d printed in my daughter's class, another way of, like, teaching math. So, it's just really encouraging to see the way that teachers are, meeting kids where they need to be met and how they learn. So, thank you for that and thank you, board. I will turn this to Doctor. Smith for any other comments. Madam President, I don't have anything. Do you want to remind him of our next meeting date, which is a national
holiday because it's, the superintendent's birthday? Oh. You probably don't want to say the number. Yes. Yep. So, yes. Our next meeting time will be here October 13, at 05:30. And, at this point, if there are no other Oh, I did want to welcome Doctor. Thorpe. We have a new person at the dais. So, welcome. And then, at this time then, I will entertain a motion to adjourn. Seconded. Properly moved, miss Puckett and seconded to Doctor. Mahalad. Thank you everyone.