from Sunnyside Elementary and their principal to lead us in the pledge of allegiance. >> Please stand. >> Good evening. This evening we are joined by Luca Sanders, Jesse Kario Munoz, and Laney Weise.
I aliance 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, Sunnyside Trailblazers. At this time, I will turn the microphone over in just a minute to Miss Carla Johnson. They're going to do some pictures of our students. We'll be moving into our superintendence awards. We have several exciting awards
to honor tonight, Miss Johnson. Good evening, Madame President, Dr. Smith, and members of the board. Tonight we are proud to present present our secondary, middle and high school students, spring sports and performing
arts and our chief of secondary education Dr. Crystal Thorp will take it from here. Good evening board president Norman, Dr. Smith, and members of the board. Tonight we are excited to celebrate Lawrence Township's excellence in spring athletics and performing arts at the
secondary level. We are our destin we are a destination of winners and Miss Randall, Mr. McGarero, Mr. Bush, and Mr. Floyd will each present and honor our students tonight for their contributions. So, thank you. First up, we'll have Miss Randall. Good evening, everyone.
Good evening, everyone. Good evening. Super excited to be here with you all tonight to present our spring athletes from Belzer Middle School. We have our girls head coach for track and field, Miss Fendala.
And then with us this evening, we have Miss Disney Wright, who is our MC State Champion for indoor 100meter dash. We also have uh Ruben Francois who was also MC champion for 100 meter and 200
meter. We also have Marcel McNeel uh MC champion for 110 meter hurdles. And then we also have Camden Morris MC champion for discus. I lost her award. I'm trying to find her certificate. I'm
sorry. Good evening. Tonight from Fal Creek Valley, we have our boys golf Mick Champions, head coach Samuel Moore, assistant coach Mary Jack, Henry Brenamman, Hudson Berglin,
Theodore Childs, Tate Finner, Grant Harry, Kelvin Greer, Michael Heis, Colston Hoffman, Aiden Lee, Lennox Mlan, Blake Miles, Quinn Miller, Maxwell
Murphy, Max Pouch, Michael Schultz, Ryland Singh, William Stout, Arthur Thomas, Benjamin Weaver, and Jude Wridge. Next we have our boys track and field Mick and Marian County champions head
coach Jerel Fairies assisted by Vincent Shepard and Keandre Montgomery. Miles Ael, Edmund A. Adams, Hudson Woodrich, Darius Austin, Terrence Ballard, William Beard,
Hythoris Beard, Trenton Brady, Xavon Brandon, Luis Kamacho, Jackson Crothers, Carter Connor, Cavian Crosslin, Corey Dylan, Gier Dunn, Kurban, Pierre Charles, Christian,
Nester Falcon, Banell Georgees, Tyrell Green, France Guerrero, Kaden Harris, Marcos Hernandez, Dominique Hollowell, Austin Howard, Alexander Idens, Lex Johnson, Carter
Johnson, Kendall Leford, Miles McElroy, Yanni Manard, Zion Miller, Braden Miller, Porter Nagel, Ethan Nymphs, Jason Paige, Watson Paul, Eli Phillips,
Joshua Reed, Jacobe Rent, Raphael Rifalo, Cornell Sanders, Aiden Savage Williams, Carter Sheret, Corey Williams, Elijah Smith, Julia Smith, Charles Stilabower,
Milo Combmes, Amaran Washington, Ethan Woods, Giani Woods, Dennis Ziggler, and Wesley Zimmerman. and our girls track and field Mick and Marian County champions head coach Carisha Sadi, Samantha Beckwith and
Aaron Dylan, Jasmine Terrell, Alex Stonic, Malia Smith, Sky Smith, Alyssa Shelton, Ariana Sabatka, Alexandra Robinson, Mariana Rivera, Madison Roads,
Gaither, Ashley Ramirez, Kad Remy, Sophia Perez, Marissa, Elise Levi, Ava Curts, Marissa Jones, Malia Johnson, Adelaide Johnson, Samantha Jetsky, Khloe
Jenkins, Alexis Hunt, Emory Hoskins, area Hollowell, Carolyn Hodson, Kenya Harris, Emerson Groves, Celeia Golder, Jri Glenn, Tegan Gates, Jalia EPS,
Shaniah Davis, Ava Kurt, Isabella Cortez, Essence Connor, Zoe Carpenter, Ardan Cannon, Savannah Brown, Tanner Bennett, Moxy Bonitez, and Nia Ashford. Hello everyone. We are going to
celebrate some students. Thank you for recognizing them today. They have all received uh gold rating at state isma solo and ensemble in one or more u ensembles or or solo. Alex Aila Hernandez Santiago Shik William Mills
Craig Hung Leu Katie Piointo Lauren Cheney Ian Young Kayla Aila Hernandez Ruth Barbara Bonitez Alexa Mononttoyo Olmito Jamie Davis Mason Parker Pton Pearson
Robert Boneamp III Bailey Workman who also was uh a part of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra side by side. Luna Sanchez, Islas, Baya Riley, Daniel Rogers, Adam Buckner, Kaden Lee, Abraham
Greenfield, Oliver Heyman, also a part of the ISO side by side, Alexander Train Forom, Eden Aronda Rodriguez, Lynn Lamb, Claire Watkins, Kevin Rodriguez, Samuel
Cover, Matilda Dean, Jeremy Lane, Anthony Ramirez, Ramirez, Hazel Reynolds, Pablo Maldonado and Isabella Choa. Thank you for having the Bears this evening. My name is Mosy Barnes, proud athletic director at Lawrence Central
High School, and I'm here to acknowledge our spring sports athletes accomplishments. Starting off with softball, our softball team won their first conference title since 1984, winning the Mick Championship this past season. In addition, they had the highest softball team GPA in the state with a
4.18 average GPA earning the team award for academic all state. Starting with our head coach Maya Macintosh and assistant coach Amber Leonard and Patrick Terillinger. Elelliana Lutter was also all Mick and all Marian County. Victoria Roarte,
Rebecca Radcliffe, Amelia Rimel, Isis Juinski was all Mick, Caitlyn Chris was all Mick, Abby Corl, Sophia Roo, all Mick and earned an individual academic all-state award. True Cunningham, AJ
Jackson, and Lucy Smith. Next up is our unified track and field team. Our unified team won the first inaugural Marian County Championship. Starting with our head coach Carrie Northcut, assistant coaches Roger Coleman, Ry Hower, and Yolanda Wardley,
Brandon Beaver, academic allate, Elijah Bris, LeBron Brown, academic all state. Michaela Carile, Alyssa Castro, Carter Dodd was the IHSA regional champion in 100 meter dash. Darion Gar, Keelen Holman, regional
champion in the long jump, Bana McKisick, Steven Moore, IHSA regional champion in the 100 meters, Braden Pullings, academic all state, Nolan Richardson, Damen Rowan, CBN Satderfield, Damen Smith, Gregory Smith, Derek Vaughn,
Derek Avon, and Haley Walton was academic all state. Next up is our track and field program led by our head coach William Glover and Chandler Ball. Our girls finished eighth overall in the state. Our 4x100 meter girls team won the state with the sixth fastest time in state meet history,
winning a 46 second 3.7. Our 4x1 meter team was also Mick champions and all Mick Marian County champions sectional and regional champions. >> First, Annayia McKenzie, Jeriah Rafford, Annayiah Penner, Jakia Alves, and our alternate was Annayia
Warram. Annayia was Mick champion in the 100 meter and the 200 meter. IHSA sectional champion in the 100 meter and the two 200 meter. Regional champion in the 200 meter. A state qualifier in the 100 meter and the 200 meter. Placing fifth overall. Annayia Pinter was also a state
qualifier in the 200 meter and all Mick. Jakia Alves was also all Mick in a state qualifier in the 100 meter in the long jump. And Annayia Woren was all Mick and in the 400 meters. Ariana Osby was a sectional champion in the 100 meter hurdles. Tony Stigler was all making the
shot put. That's all for our girls. Should we do boys and girls? Our boys track and field uh team also has several champions. Our boys 4 by meter team won sectional champions starting with Evan Williams. Evan Williams was all Mick. Now we got to
take some time for Evan Williams resume, guys. Okay. Evan Williams was all Mick. MC champion in the 200 meter and 100 110 hurdles. IHSA champion in the 200 meter and the 110 hurdles. Also runner-up state champion in the 110 hurdles. And also
Evan was recently named Mr. Hurdler and sprinter by the state track co track coaches association. Dalon Lewis 4x100 meter sectional champion. Santana Ectctor 4x1 sectional champion. And Earl Karns the third was se 4x1 sectional champion as well. He
was also all Mick and a MC champion in a long jump and a straight state qualifier in a long jump. And Sean Morina was sectional champion in the shot put. That's it for track. We had one uh student athlete for boys off. Chris Frank was all Mick. He's not
here today. We'll move along to baseball. Evan Connors all Mick and academic all state. Paul KS all Mick. We had one of our girls basketball athletes, Lola Lampley was an Indiana all-star and was also a
McDonald's All-American. And moving on to football, Elijah Wolffork is a North South all-star. boys volleyball Tyler Hover was all all Mick be before this picture. Finally, I would like to report that our athletic
department average GPA was a 3.6 with approximately 650 student athletes for the 202526 school year. What are you doing? Good evening, Dr. Smith and board members. Uh, tonight I for our performing arts, I have our director of orchestras, Miss Lori Mezer, presenting
uh, our recipients this year. >> Good evening. I am going to rep uh recognize the band and orchestra students from Lawrence North uh, for participating and uh, earning various things. Um, so everyone that is here and
everyone that's listed uh earned a gold or gold with distinction at Soul Isma State Soul and Ensemble, participated in the IVA Allstate Honor Band or part and or participated in the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra side by side. So,
first we have Maggie Ashburn, Landon Bear, Ruth Barber Bonitez, Tamar Barnett, James Bowler, Kobe Branson, Germo Sea,
Angel Delar Rosa, Matilda Dean, Omar Johnson, Samuel Catawitz, Annabelle Keith, Wally Keller, Andrea Kretler, Bennett Lawrence, Arya Lemmy, Gideon Reynolds, Ray
Robinson, Emily Santion, Elizabeth Santion, Thomas Scalleta, Cole Sheward, Benjamin Venoi, and Liam Welty. And just to point out that all the orchestras and bands were
very successful this year in multiple performances. Isma organizational, we uh earned gold or gold with distinction and uh the orchestra program earned the Indiana all music award for the second year in a row.
Dr. Smith board is my pleasure at this time to introduce Mr. Pinrose, our athletic director, to present our athletes of this quarter. >> Thank you, Mr. Floyd. First team we want to recognize tonight is the IHSA sectional and regional championship boys
track and field team led by head coach Patrick Mallerie. And I'll read uh all the names into the record. Um first, Ethan Abraheim. Marone Baker, Julian Bray, Jaden Bush,
Juel Bustamante, Jaden Buyers, Janet Cross, Daryl Cumins, Corbin Donald, Josh Gamble, Aaron Getter, Randall Glenn, who was also all Mick and an IHSA qualifier in Pvault.
Cash Green, Vincent Harris, Ronnie Hernandez, Javius Hill, Elijah Hughes, DaVon Jones, Tyler Lince, Xavier Little who was all Mick, Jaden Lucindi, Breck Mallerie, all Mick and an IHSA state finalist and all state and discus. Kebon
Maddox, Xavon Moore, Edund Morris, CJ Pitman, Jason Russell, Manson Sales, Blake Smith, Almick, and an IHSA qualifier. Grady Tusant, Andre Watson, Xavier Wilson, who was Almick, an IHSAA state
qualifier in academic allstate. >> Conrad Schumacher, IHSA um state qualifier in Almick. Rowan Rebanick and Richard Austinorf, both academic allstate. Next, our IHSA sectional championship
softball team backto back. Do you want to do Okay. It's Next we have our IHSAA sectional championship softball team. Our head coach Matt Mareno is here. Samantha Carson, McKenna Dilman, Petra
Burton, Maddie Stewart, Jawit, Riley Arbuckle, Bianca Rondanella, Aaron Smith, Khloe Moss, who was Almick, Delaney Martin Thompson, Jordan Rogers, Almick, Joslyn Ample, Jane Martinez, Lillianne Fat, Simma Boyd, Jordana
Parker Reed, Haley Coven, Carmela Pacquiao, Vera Yates, Arm Humphre, Kylie Lret, Zarya Ever and Tessa Kramer who was all Mick, all Marian County, and she was actually the Mick Player of the
Year. >> We can do that or we can do the softball and baseball together. You're the boss. You tell me. All right, we'll do baseball and softball together. Our baseball team won the Mick Conference Championship this year led by
head coach Jason Tolman. >> Is he >> okay? So we also have assistant coaches JT Burns and Sun, Kobe Taylor, and our players Amari Moore, Carson
Mascll, Matthew Cunningham, Oliver Glansman. Oliver was also all Mick, Quinton Harper, Kale Eert, Jackson Whims, Shane Curtis, John Wedstone, Owen
Stone, Jeb Brown, Evansstone, Carter Ner, who was Almick, Luke Tatum, Chaz Irvin, and Jasper Weaver. All right, those were our team champions and now we have several individuals. that we would like to recognize. First,
our girls track and field team members. Uh we had Laniah Bright, who was all Mick, all Marian County, an IHSA state finalist, and was a two-time allstate placer. Alexis Allen, ALMC, IHSA state
qualifier. Mia Holder, Almick, IHSA state qualifier. Laniah Collins, Almick and an IHSA state qualifier. and Ammani Jones, IHSA state qualifier. And then Penelope Pritchard was academic allstate.
Other individuals we'd like to recognize from boys golf, Lincoln Noddingham was all Mick. Girls tennis, Annayiah Garton was all Mick and all Marian County. Uh boys volleyball, there she is. Okay.
Uh, let's see. We have Do we have Annayiah? >> Okay. All right. Uh, we'll do boys volleyball. We have Ashton Burns, all Mick, academic all state. Noah Garcia Felix, all Mick.
Nicholas Castro Chavez, all Mick. Uh, let's see. Adam El Shahawe, academic all state. David Cuadau, academic all state. Kaden Sanchez, academic all state. All right. And we'd like to thank our coaches for being here, Kristen Webster and Sonia um Gonzalez. Thank you
guys for supporting your athletes. Um for uh let's see, girls lacrosse, uh we have coach Alex Coker here supporting her athletes. And we have several academic all-state members on this team. First up, Katie Rafado, academic allstate, Cammy Castro, Elizabeth
Warbeck, Avana Lopez, Amelia Reynolds, Louva Ren, Rena, Addison Martin, Audrey Moy, and uh Garzia Sornell Ortega. All of these young ladies were academic all state.
And then finally, one thing that the Lawrence North Athletic Department did together on the boy side, we were the all um conference, all sport champions on the boy side for the second year in a row. All right.
I'll turn my ass. >> See you. Congratulations to all of our winners tonight. You represent Lawrence well. At this time, we'll take about a minute to transition. That's all I have. You'll be gentle.
All right. Ging out of the opening of the meeting and now gave back into the public hearing. Good evening everyone. and I'm opening the public hearing on the proposed superintendent contract for the Metropolitan School
District of Lawrence Township persuant to Indiana code 20-26-5-4.3. The purpose of this hearing is to provide transparency and receive public comment regarding a proposed three-year contract extension for our superintendent, Dr. Sha Smith. As
required by state law, this meeting was publicly noticed and the complete text of the proposed context has been available on the MSDLT website for public review. To ensure everyone has an opportunity to be heard, we will go over the particulars. Um, but at this time, I
am going to leave it to uh Miss Carla Johnson, chief of HR to present the contract on the screen. Good evening, Madame President, Dr. Smith, and members of the board. Tonight, we present to you the superintendent contract. Um the dates
are as listed. It's an extension of July 1st, 2026 to June 30th of 2029. Um it's a three-year extension. And then all of the other categories that are um listed have remained the same. and I will take
any questions that you may have. >> Okay. Thank you, Miss Johnson. As you had said, the we have the base salary listed for Dr. Smith. The contract dates running um July 1st, 2026 to July 30th,
2029 with the potential for five one-year extensions. Base salary is is listed above for the public performance incentive. Dr. Smith is eligible for up to 25,000 in annual performance incentive pay based on the
achievement of specific board approved goals and evaluation retirement and benefits. The contract includes the standard administrative health, dental, vision, and disability packages. It maintains standard public retirement contributions alongside matching 459,
457B, 403b, and viva allocations to align with competitive leadership standards, operations, and allowances includes a standard monthly automobile allowance for travel across the district. Standard technology support and provisions for professional
conferences and membership. This contract heavily mirrors the terms, salary, and benefits benefit levels of Dr. Smith's current agreement. It represents the board's commitment to continuity and leadership while maintaining predictable, responsible
fiscal management of our district's re resources. With those details presented, we will now open the floor to public comment. If you have signed up to speak, please step to the microphone, state your name and address for the record, and keep your
marks to the allotted threeminut time. Do we have anyone to speak at this time? The floor is open. >> Okay. >> You had to sign up. >> Okay. All right.
We have somebody. >> Okay. Yes, sir. Um, please state your name, address, and uh, you have three minutes to speak regarding the terms of this contract. Thank you. >> Okay. Can you hear me?
>> Yes. >> All right. Good evening, everyone. Uh, my name is Sean Rounds. Um, I live in the district 46 in Ritter. Um, I have a speech already prepared, so I should be underneath the time. So, good
evening, president, board members, uh, members of the Lawrence Township community. My name is Sean Rounds. I am a proud graduate of Lawrence Township Schools. Um, having attended Brook Park Elementary, Belerin Middle School, and Lawrence Town, Lawrence Central High
School. I'm also a graduate of the Lawrence Township Stakeholder Academy and was recently appointed by Mayor Deb Whitfield uh to serve as the board member on the Lawrence Township uh water board. Um I'm only saying that just to
demonstrate my commitment to our community and its future. I'm here tonight on support of Dr. Sean Smith's contract as superintendent. When evaluating leadership, we should evaluate the results. Under Dr. Smith's leadership, Lawrence
Township has become one of the premier school districts in the state of Indiana. Our graduation rates have risen significantly. Students have access to innovative and academic and career paths, and the district continues to invest in
facilities and programs and opportunities that prepare students for success beyond school. One of the things that I admire most about Lawrence Township's commitment is to early childhood education. And if you know Dr. Smith, that is our secret sauce.
And I believe the results support that those results support that belief. By investing in our young learners, the district has built a strong foundation to that benefits students throughout their educational journey.
I also appreciate the district's strong fiscal stewardship. Kudos to you guys. Lawrence Township has made significant investments in schools while maintaining fiscal stability and remaining focused on outcomes. As
someone who completed the state coder academy, I understand more about the district's operations and vision. What I saw was intentional leadership, strategic planning, and commitment to continuous improvement.
The question I have for the board is simple. Is Lawrence Township stronger now that Doc since Dr. Smith's leadership has began in the district? Looking at the graduation rates, the investments in early childhood
education, the facility improvements, the opportunities that are available to our students today, I believe the answer clearly is yes. As a proud alumni and a community advocate, I respect and encourage the board to renew Dr. Sean Smith's contract
and continue the momentum that has helped Lawrence Township be a model for public education in the state of Indiana. Education has the power to alter the the trajectory of a student child's life and creating opportunities
to extend far beyond the classroom. Lawrence Township has established a strong educational system. >> You've got uh 10 seconds, Mr. I'm I'm wrapping up right here. We must remain committed to advocating that process, the progress, and ensuring every student
has an opportunity to succeed. Great communities are built through strong schools, and strong schools are built through strong leadership. Thank you all for your time. >> Thank you, Mr. Rounds. Thank you for sharing that. Are there any other
comments from the community? Well, thank you to everyone who shared their perspectives with us tonight. The board values community input and we take your feedback seriously as we govern the district. For our public agenda, the board will take the public's input into
consideration and anticipates voting on the proposed contract later during our regular action items this evening. Hearing no further comments, board, are there any questions or comments regarding the public hearing? Yeah, Miss Lawrence.
>> Thank you, um, Madame President, Dr. Smith, thank you for your leadership over these years. It's been a privilege to be working with you. Um, I did have one question, just a point of clarification for the community. Um, it's my understanding that even if we
were not to take any action, the way that Dr. Smith's contract has been written, um, the contract would automatically renew. the fact that we are voting on a three-year extension simply gives us more um stability in
leadership and longevity. And I just wanted to make that clarification here. And please, Miss Johnson, correct me if I'm wrong on any of these accounts. Um, but but I just I wanted I feel like it's it's very important for the community to understand that yes, we could have a
yearby-year renewal, but this three-year contract instead creates the stability that this district needs at a time where our state legisl legislature is uh uh coming against some very difficult
decisions as it relates to public education. Having stable leadership in a role like yours, Dr. Smith um is critically important for the for the uh for this district and for our students and the community that we serve. That's all. >> Yes. Thank you. Did you want to add upon
that, Miss Johnson? >> Thank you, Miss Lawrence. You're absolutely correct. Appreciate you putting that on the record. >> Yeah, currently it is um what's called an evergreen clause. So, if we were not to vote tonight, his current contract, which runs out on June 30th of this
year, would automatically renew if no action was taken by the board for one year at a time. I firmly believe this is Dr. Smith's um commitment to us that he wants to lock in with us a lot longer so that we have that stability. And this
current contract as presented also has that same clause that at the end of the three-year terms in 20 in June 30th of 29, it will also have an evergreen clause for a one-year renewal at that time. Dr. Smith is asking for no less or
no more than what his current contract is to remain stable. >> One one point of clarification, should Dr. Smith decide, I'm not trying to wedge you to anything here, Dr. Dr. Smith, but should Dr. Smith decide at that at the point where his contract is
complete, it's my understanding then that he would have the option to have an additional extension to that contract just as we're voting on it tonight. >> Okay. >> Correct. >> Thank you. Any other questions or comments from the board? Okay. Well, we will be working we will
be adding this this is already in our action items for later tonight. So, thank you to the community and the board for your input. All right, I will gave us out of the meeting and now back into our regularly scheduled board meeting. So many gavvels.
>> Yes, lots of gavvels. Um, starting with our information items, blue ribbon updates. Dr. Nesbet. >> Thank you, Madam President, members of the board and Dr. Smith. Let's take a look at our blue ribbon phase 2 update. Our McKenzie Center, we are just days away from uh locking that uh program
down and looking at our pricing. Um, Craig Academy continues. Just walked that today. It's looking good. And then classroom additions. We also walked those today and they're coming along. So, we'll take a look at some pictures from last week as we go through here. Um, our next slide shows the guaranteed energy savings. Um, Winding Ridge roof
is now in the was that aqua color. Um, and uh, so it is it just wrapped up and uh, Sunnyside is moving right along. Um, here's Cresby Elementary. We still have painting in the hallways and grid work up in the ceiling. And uh the cafeteria,
we took out those doors in the middle, try to open that up and make it more one large cafeteria. And there's a look at the playground uh or what's what the playground currently looks like. Hoping to wrap that soon. And Forest Glenn, here's the main uh area outside the six classrooms. Then a
little gathering nook there. And then there's a little mini toilet. And the uh each classroom has a restroom in it. And that's how the front uh looks right now because our guaranteed energy savings, we have all that everything condensed in there. So, it's uh it's pretty rough in there right now. A lot
of work going on. And then there's the the air handlers. If you're wondering what that is when you drive by, that's what's going in there as part of the uh the guaranteed energy savings project. Uh Mary Castle, the new front walkway there. And then also, we just wrapped up the ephus at the end of last week uh on
the front. And then the back, those the portables are gone now. We're pouring concrete. And then the gymnasium floor, that's all new flooring there and they're sanding that today. And then in Craig Academy, really like seeing the sharing place fully stocked again and they're in action. I was over
there today and they had a full house. So, um, really liking their new area all renovated for them. And then there's the look if oh, if you walked in door three like you did for the old board meetings, that's what you'd see. And then there is another angle and we'll take a look at the next slide. That's looking into the
PD room from the main lobby. That's a new entryway. That's an old storage area. And then just to the right of it, there's a new elevator shaft because we have a new elevator right in the center of the building. Um, and then there's your boardroom on the right. Um, that's the way it's looking right now. And then on the left there's the not PD room. And
then, sorry, go ahead. Sunnyside roofing project going on there. And a few action shots at Sunnyside. And I think we have one more slide at Winding Ridge. They they wrapped that up last week with the sheet metal around the outside. So that that busy summer for us right now. Uh
that takes you through blurb phase two. Happy to answer any questions you might have. >> Thank you Dr. Nesbet. Board. Any questions or comments? >> Yes, Miss Lawrence. >> Dr. Nesbet. Um thank you for always being my favorite. Sorry everyone else,
but his voice it's just it's a wonderful update to get. So thank you for that. Um, just a question for members of the public who may have family or have students in our different buildings. Of the ongoing projects that we have, uh, which ones will still be in progress at
the beginning of the school year? >> Uh, we we plan to have all the three classroom editions done. >> Mer has been done for some time. Forest, Glenn, and Cresview. It's going to be tight. It always is, especially with these short summers. Uh, guaranteed energy saving projects. Those will all be wrapped up before school starts. You know, we do have some planning going on,
but as far as our what the public will notice, they won't notice anything. Uh, knock on wood, everything goes as planned. They they won't see a whole lot. We'll be wrapping things up always. Um, I can already anticipate a few outdoor areas um that we might have
fenced off as we let grass get a stand and things like that. So, >> and and that's fair. Um, just a quick follow-up question on that. I know in the past we've been reluctant to move teachers midyear or you know so let's
say a project goes a little bit longer are there plans in place or will those teachers be in the same classroom for the totality of the year like we're just real close would we hold what what is our plan there >> we knock on wood honestly through the through my 11 years of blue ribbon one
and that we haven't had that situation come up yet so you're going to jinx me here with that question um So I I don't anticipate that happening, but we would do it case by case basis and whatever is going to be the least least restrictive to the teacher. >> I'm okay with the grass being cordoned off. I just don't want teachers to have
to move twice and I think you share the same. >> Sure. >> Thank you. >> Thank you board. Any other questions or comments? Okay. Thank you, Dr. Nesbet. Moving into finance 4.2 request to transfer funds, Mr. Miles.
>> Thank you, Madam President, members of the board. Dr. Smith. Uh it's that time of the year again or every 6 months when we come to you uh with a proposed resolution to transfer funds. This um gives our department uh on behalf of the board uh authority to transfer funds
between the education and operations fund. We want to do that uh at the end based on our end of June balances. And so we don't know those balances yet. We don't know the amounts that we need to transfer based on the expenses that were um uh correlate to those transfers. So
once we know that, we will report back in July. Uh again, this gets us um in line with state board of accounts standards and uh where we need to be. And again, just as a reminder, the maximum transfer amount from education to operations fund uh set by the state is 15%. So we will be underneath that
amount. >> Yes, I just did my research on that. My flowchart. Thank you, Mr. Miles. Board, any questions or comments? All right. Thank you. account reconciliation updates. Mr. Miles,
>> thank you uh again, Madam President. Now, this one um is not as u standard uh as as the prior. And so, we'll walk through this a little slower tonight just to give the board a good understanding of of what we're talking about here. And this is um this is a cash res reconciliation entry um that
we're we will later this evening ask for permission to do. Um it's really a cleanup. Um, if you think in terms of uh go back in your own personal accounts before we had uh online banking and and apps that you could see your balance every day, everyone balanced their
checkbook the good oldfashioned way. Well, we still do that. Um, and so we reconcile every month. Um, and obviously then again we are audited annually uh by the state board of accounts um as one of the larger schools in the state to do so. Um, so just again a little history.
Um, basically where we're at right now is we're at a need where we've been carrying a balance that's it's an unreconciled balance. It's so it's our cash is in essence overstated. Um, and I'll go through the amounts here in just a moment. Um, but but basically we keep
carrying that balance over monthto month, month to month and and we would just like to resolve that original uh point of origination for that is um is back in the uh 2016 to 2019 time frame. we changed bank uh accounts from one
bank to another. um doing so waiting on um whether it be waiting on new checks to come in and just different processes that took place uh you know 10 10 years or so ago we accumulated a balance where where the there was an unreconciled
amount there uh to the tune of $41,282.71 and since that time uh we've run very close to clo you know uh balance every month um we run between uh last year was close to $300 million through all of our
accounts. So, um these numbers are relatively small in in scope of of the full balance, but we want to uh make sure we're following proper protocol. Since then, we've accumulated an unreconciled balance that we'd also like to clean up at this same time um of an
additional $17,363.34 for a grand total of $58,646. and 5 cents. Uh we have addressed these discrepancies um this variance with the state board of accounts and per their recommendation and their guidance noting that we don't suspect or we don't have
any reason to believe of any u malfeasants or any kind of um fraud just clerical entries uh and clerical errors or timing entries really within our accounting software more than anything. They suggest that we run this through the board, get approval to clear it up
and move forward with a a reconciled zero balance. Um certainly something we'll want to watch as we go forward to see hopefully we you know the the bank the bank um transition most likely won't happen again. If if again obviously if it does we will watch that. But uh we'll
want to make sure we um monitor that and we'll continue to do so moving forward. But um that is a long explanation of what we're bringing tonight and we'll ask for approval uh later this evening. So happy to answer any questions to my to the best of my ability. >> Thank you, Mr. Miles. Board, any
questions or comments on the account reconciliation updates? >> Yes, Miss Lauren. Oh, >> no. Um no, I was saying to myself that I am used I am used to this process. No, I have no questions. No. >> Oh, okay. All right, Mrs. Lawrence.
>> Yes. Thank you, Mr. Miles. Um, I I would say as someone who isn't even really sure how I'd balance my checkbook anymore, I can appreciate how difficult that must be, especially when we're dealing with hundreds of millions of dollars um in public funds. Uh, two
questions. The first is um you mentioned that um that this is something we're going to be watching. I'm curious if you have any um any firm plans in place with your team to ensure that uh that this doesn't happen again. Again, I
understand that there's, you know, there's timing issues and all of that and uh but just would love to know what your thoughts are. >> Yeah, absolutely. Um you know, I've been in the role for nearly four years now. Um it's been something that we've been talking about almost every month during those four years. Um so, um certainly
getting to tonight, um as as much as we don't, uh it's not something we want to do often, we we've been trying to really learn from that. Um so, yes, we'll continue to monitor moving forward. I do think um there's some software things that may happen on the back end that are a little difficult to to put our finger
on from the uh the the accounting software that we use and I think those are generated from u sometimes we have to um back out of certain transactions or maybe a payroll entry was made incorrectly and we have to adjust things. So um there's some things right within that that we plan to really take
a close look at. Um, again, I appreciate, you know, it is a it's a small amount, but it is still an amount and it's certainly tax dollar, public dollars that we want to uh do the best that we can to to know where every penny is going. >> Sure. And the the second question that I have for you is it's my understanding
that this year uh our audit was clean. I don't know if I'm supposed to announce it or say say that >> or like knock on wood or what what the actual the what what I should be doing here, but I I do understand that we had a good audit this year. So, I'm
wondering if you could speak to that and and talk about what that process is just so that members of the public who may have questions along those same lines can really understand that it's not just you saying things will get cleaned up, it's the state board also looking into this as well and holding us accountable.
>> Thank you. Thank you, madam board member. Um, yes, point well taken. um our so we are one of 10 largest school districts in the state um with enrollment of over 15,000 uh per statute about five years ago um
state said hey we're going to keep a closer eye on those large districts because we don't want any to fail and so we are scrutinized to to a high the highest level of accountability for a public school in the state of Indiana so that's a state board of accounts audit every year uh using the GAP principles
which is the generally accept accepted accounting principles. So the highest level uh meaning um we have to account for payables and receivables, work in process, all of those things which we do um annually. We also work with outside accounting firm to convert our books
over from a cash basis to a GAP basis and then those are then audited. So it's almost a two-step process. Um, and auditors, a big part of what they they they're looking for anything that they can find to report back. And, um, typically speaking, um, every school
district is is almost always going to have some sort of findings. This year, we're very happy to say we had no findings, zero findings whatsoever on our audit. Um, so we're very proud of that and that would have included the time frame we're talking about here, too. >> Thank you very much and congratulations.
I know that's a lot of hard work on the back end. Thank you. Thank you. >> Yes. Thank you for that. Mr. Miles, are there any other questions or comments? Board. In my marketing brain from business school, it's like here, whereas the finance brain is over here. So to
summarize, basically our district's going above and beyond to ensure that we're being fiscally transparent and responsible and checking every every box. >> Correct. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> And thank you for the questions. All right. We will move on now to our 2526
board goal updates. Mr. Knicknik, Dr. Brown, and Dr. Thorp. Good evening, Madam President, Dr. Smith, members of the board. We bring to you an end ofear report for your 202526 board goals. Up first for student achievement, your first goal was
centered on iLearn and was to increase by 10% the number of students designated as approaching at or above proficiency on the annual iLearn assessment. You'll see that we have that noted as hold harmless because unfortunately we do not have our island results as of yet. This is a renorming year for the state. So we
actually don't expect those results back until August, maybe even September. Uh definitely after the school year begins, unfortunately. Next on the list is 9th grade on track. Our goal was to increase by 5% the number of students designated as ninth grade on track, which is a reminder that
means that at the end of the freshman year, students will have 10 or more credits, two specifically in English language arts, two in math, and two in science or social studies. Our projection at this time is to be at an 87.6% which is a 7.6% increase. And we did
reach that board goal. Next goal is SAT, which is to increase by 10% the number of students designated as approaching or at proficiency on the annual SAT exam. As a reminder, this goal was actually set based on draft one of the ADF accountability rule. That has
since shifted from being the main score to only 10%. I believe that recognizes its importance while also recognizing the broader measures of college and career readiness indicators. uh our we did not meet this board goal. For reading and writing, we dropped 2% and
for math, we increased 2%. On the next slide, you'll see three success indicators. The first one is student attendance. Our board goal was to reach 75% or increase by an ambitious 10% the number of students attending 94%
school days enrolled. As a reminder, that means students cannot miss more than 10 days in a given school year. But we fell just short of that board goal at 684% 68.4%. I would like to point out the significant increase of 7.1%. And I'll also note that that's actually two years
in a row with a 7% increase across the district. We did have seven schools reach uh that board goal and we had five more schools that had significant growth at eight or nine%. And the last two here you'll see are also noted as hold harmless uh because we do not have the scores back yet. I
read three, your goal was to increase by 10% or reach proficiency rate of 95%. Uh we expect those scores to be released in August at the state board of education meeting. I'm happy to report though things are trending up for i3. And then lastly, WEDA, our goal was to increase
by 10% the number of students reaching their language proficiency target as measured by that annual assessment. Those results are pending. We do have scores in however there is also a reorming year for the WEDA assessment. Uh and they're telling us to move with a grain of salt there because we will
expect new scores and new cut scores for WEDA as well. I'll turn it over to Mr. Miles. And the financial goals. >> Thank you, Mr. Kusik. Two financial goals uh that we've had u for the board uh over the last couple years. One is our cash balance goal, $14 million cash
balance at the end of the calendar year. So this was measured u December 31st and we met that board goal. We had a cash balance end of year 14,888,422. Also our second board goal equally important is to make sure we have at
least a positive balance uh in all of our local property taxing funds uh at the end of the year and that was also successfully met. >> All right. Thank you team board. Um any questions or comments? >> Yes, I do. >> Miss Pucket,
>> I do. Um for the student achievement slide, do we know what had kept us from reaching the um approaching at proficiency goal >> for SAT in particular? Asking >> Yes. I'm sorry. Yes. >> Yeah. I I would say while we while we celebrate many secondary uh successes,
we recognize that SAT uh performance remains uh an important college ready indicator. Um but I would say that it's just one measure. We also look at other things like uh dual credit uh advanced placement uh our CTE certifications over at McKenzie. Um but having said all that
would I would say we continue to strengthen both our college and career um readiness indicator efforts uh in particular for SAT. We're supporting the schools on working towards the curriculum for math and English language arts and and some targeted support as students prepare each year for the SAT.
>> Okay. And I apologize I didn't submit that previously. Um, I also have another question also because we're going to hear this more as time goes on. Can you please expound on what hold harmless means? >> So this year, so this fall the state will be once again um assigning letter
grades to schools, but they're calling it a hold harmless year because it's the base or the zero year. Uh it's the start of those of those scores. So basically, even though they'll be releasing those grades, um no school or school district will be held accountable for those grades this in in this year zero. >> Thank you.
>> Yep. Thank you. >> We don't use them. Talk about teacher evaluation. >> Correct. They're also not using the evaluations of teachers either. >> Thank you for the public knowledge. >> Absolutely. >> Good question, Miss Lawrence. >> Thank you. Uh Miss Pucket, you were
talking about the SAT and I just um wanted to call this out because um I I like you know I haven't had a child who's had to take the SAT yet. I wonder if you could explain um the new state requirement and why even kids who maybe
do not expect to go to college or want to go to college um what the state now requires of all of our students. >> Correct. All juniors take the take the SAT in their spring of their junior year. Um previous till now it simply was
a requirement to take the exam. So we were strictly hold accountable for students at least 95% of our students just taking the exam. So whether a student intends to go to a post-secary institute or not or if they plan to go straight into the uh the workforce they're still required to take the SAT.
So different mindset for students as they approach that test. >> And that would include all of our students who maybe are at McKenzie getting professional certifications things of that nature who are already preparing for a career after they leave our our walls. Absolutely.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. Any Miss or Dr. Maholland, >> thank you so much. Um just a question on the student attendance. Appreciate the um number on the 7.1% increase and do
you have an idea of what um that would need to go up by further to make the 75% I don't know if we have an estimate of that. >> Uh to get from 68.4% to 75%. So about 6.6% another 6.6%.
>> Okay. >> So we set the just a reminder we set the goal at 75% or an increase of 10% because we have 19 different schools there that have that goal that are at different levels. So that's why it's a an optional part goal two parts of that goal. >> All right. Thanks.
>> Yep. >> Yeah. Miss Lawrence, >> just a real quick follow up on that. Um, for my own edification, I remember us at one point talking about this being the goal of prior to COVID, like the the numbers reaching attendance. Is that
still what we're holding? >> You're talking about like pre- pandemic numbers. >> Prepandemic numbers. Is that still kind of our >> It's difficult to say because the state used to look more at a daily rate. So, you used to hear more about this 95 96 97% rate and I'll refer to Miss Bush if I need to, but um now we look at what's
called the the model attendee rate. So, it's two different numbers we're looking at now from five, six, seven years ago compared to now. Strictly now we're looking at every single individual student and every individual student's rate and then all of that combined to give you one rate for each school. >> Got it. I appreciate that. you know, we
have the privilege of >> I'm sorry, it is a big difference and you know, I appreciate that um we have the opportunity to go around to a lot of our schools and um many of our schools have celebration boards and things of that nature, especially at our elementary. I guess probably the high
school doesn't have that. They're too cool for that. But the elementaryaries certainly have um those celebration boards and it's been really nice to see our uh schools celebrating attendance because it is critical that we have kids in seats. Absolutely. And as assistant superintendent of academics, I'll remind
our parents, please try to plan vacations around our break so your kids are in school. >> Yes, great plug and reminder. >> Yes. All right, Dr. Mahalland, >> could you walk us through real quick the WEDA uh process again? When is it um
measuring that change? >> We do have scores, but they're telling us to treat those scores with a grain of salt because it's also a reorming year just like with iLearn with WEDA. So we don't want to give false hope that the scores are whatever they are uh when we're expecting new scores as well as new cut scores that will officially tell
us if students met their growth towards their targeted proficiency. >> Okay. >> Thank you. regarding the attendance um goals specifically even from what the state goal is. Can you explain to parents who have children with medical
or special needs what the schools are um expecting regarding the attendance if there's a waiver etc. >> All right, Miss Bush. >> Good evening. While an absence is an absence, um we did have a lot of parents
that had the question about their students ex excused absences. Um they are counted the same in the eyes of the state whether they're excused or unexcused. And of course we know and understand that there's going to be times that students are are ill or
hospitalized and you know that just is what it is. We don't want students to come to school if they have fevers, if they, you know, are are having serious illnesses. Um, but but it does, it counts the same way in the eyes of the state.
>> Can parents um also work with their building principal on a medical necessity letter uh with their physician if there is an ongoing illness? >> Absolutely. There is something that's called a certificate of incapacity. Um but it is there are certain
qualifications for that. I believe you have to have um 20 consecutive days out due to the illness. >> Okay. Okay. >> And of course if if a student is hospitalized or very ill obviously those those absences would be excused but
still still an absence. >> Okay. So the key is continually talking if you're in a situation with your building principal. >> Absolutely. stand in communication with the building principal so that the school is aware of what's taking place. Yes.
>> And the community and school liaison, are they part of that support team as well? >> Absolutely. >> Yes. Okay. Well, thank you for that. I know that's a question that we've faced sometimes ourselves. So, thank you for that information. >> Sure.
>> Are there any other questions? board. You had mentioned, am I just going crazy or is there a medical waiver or is that what you had mentioned? Is there just a >> there's not a medical waiver? No. The only thing that we have would be a certificate of incapacity.
>> Thank you for clarifying that for my own Yeah. Okay. >> Are there any other questions, board? >> I I will touch on finance with Mr. Miles. Thank you, Miss Bush. Um, the boards before us had set a cash balance
goal. Again, in my marketing brain, I understand that allows us to borrow at a lower interest rate. Correct. Potentially saving the taxpayers >> a lot of money. >> Absolutely. That is one of the nice that is one of the benefits of it. Yes.
>> I just wanted you to kind of highlight that on why we have a cash balance goal. >> Yeah, absolutely. Um and well um it's a great question because um some schools, you know, have different schools of thought on that. Um but we've
taken a an approach that um we want to have a s an amount of cash balance there that's enough to support our operational uh costs um for a period of time. Um really we've got about a month, month
and a half, two months potentially um worth of savings if you will um there that we can we can meet expenses for for a time being if if we should need to. So um it does help with our bond rating. Um and it's just it's just good business practice to make sure we're not just
living paycheck to paycheck. >> So it's like having a home savings account in case your transmission goes out. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Miss L. Thank you, >> Miss Lawrence. >> Thank you for that, Mr. Miles, and thank you for the question, Miss Pucket. Um,
just as a followup from that, um, I know there are many districts in the area that have um, operational referendums um, or uh, or other, you know, other things on the ledger. if you could just
really quickly talk about the times in which we have had to dip into the rainy day funds just as an example for um for individuals and the public like when our healthc care went up. I think of that as as one of the the pieces um and we used
that uh that balance to reduce the cost of health care on our teachers. I I may have already just explained all of that, but you feel free to feel free to clarify for me and then just explain to members of the public what what what it
really means that we have this uh this balance um and that we are in the black instead of in the red and not having to go to the members of the public to ask for these referendums. >> Sure. Absolutely. So, uh two two different funds, if you will. We've got our rainy day fund and then this is our
education fund. Um we have a balance a positive very good balance that's an important balance in both accounts. Um and both serve similar but different purposes. Um the rainy day fund is sort of an emergency emergency type fund uh for uh
one-time expenses typically um or we uh we we haven't years back we had very little balance in that rainy day fund. So over the last 101 15 years or so uh we've been able to build that balance up. It's around $10 million. Um, we have this education fund balance. We dipped
into that a few years ago to pay we were going to have an a big spike in health insurance expenses. Um, and we were able to put $3 million of this money u to pay that down. Um, so things like that that come up, being able to have some liquid
assets that we can use. Uh, very important u for a school district. And in terms of uh operation operational referendums, operating referendums, um this balance, having this cushion um allows us the the flexibility to um to
to not have to pursue things like that. Um it gives us uh some time that might other districts may not have in case we were to have a decreasing balance. >> And Mr. miles to put a a fine point on this. Obviously, members of the public are aware of the passage of SB1. Um, we
know that that's putting we there's been a lot of coverage about the pressures that that's putting on different districts. Can you just very briefly explain what that means to our district that we have this buffer as you said um and and how that uh is both an
accounting of your team as well as how we're managing our funds as a district. >> Yeah, absolutely. So, um, Senate Enroll Act enrolled act one from 2025 is putting, uh, it's giving tax relief to homeowners. It's giving tax relief, um,
in some ways to businesses, folks that may have rental properties, investment properties, those types of things. U, but it is it is re reducing revenues to school districts and we're seeing that as well. Um, what we would have normally
seen as an increase um, is reduced this year. So, we're watching that. We'll we'll know closer. We've we we watch projections. We we have our estimates that from our budget from the DLGF. Um but our tax our funds come twice a year. Um we will be getting those um we get
those in June and December. So we watch those closely to see what we actually collect because even funds that were taxed uh collections could come in under or over that um based on how those collections go. So, um having having that cash balance, um again, it buys us
some time. Um we will continue to closely watch um our cash balance versus the board goal. Um we'll get into go goals later, but um over the years, we've we've slowly raised our board goal, our cash balance goal. Um it's not
something we're looking to do this year based on based on those changes. Um and certainly meeting the goals will be a little more challenging. So, um, not only is our revenue, um, constricted a little bit this year, um, but certainly a lot of other costs still go up.
>> So, net net we bought a Camry and not a Porsche. Not that, uh, and and that is set us up for being fiscally responsible. >> That's a pretty good example. Yeah. >> All right. Thank you for those, >> Mr. Miles Ford. I I think we have to
keep it really simple. There are 11 schools in Marian County. Nine of the 11 have operating referendums. And it's real simple. We would have an operating referendum if that cash balance wasn't $14 million. Zone, understand that. That's that
simple. That means we would need to go out to our public and ask for additional dollars so that we could operate the district daily. So, not only were we blessed, we have worked extremely hard over the years to maintain a very strong
fiscal standing. And it's not easy to do because everyone wants to be paid very well and there's programs and things that we do and we've managed very well. There are only two districts in Marian County that don't have an operating referendum. Your district is one and
then our neighbors to the southside Franklin Township, they couldn't pass theirs. They didn't win. So, we are in that position to hopefully stay as sound as we possibly can moving forward. I caution everyone in this room. It is going to be very challenging if we
continue to reduce taxes andor we lose students. So the board, this community has to work very hard to maintain in order to keep us in this fiscal standing. And we work very hard as your administrators and the board works very hard, but the community has to understand the importance of this goal
right here. This is what we do in order to maintain this district to pay for our staff, keep the resources that we need and programs for our students. So we're very blessed. very very blessed. >> Dr. Smith, just a point of clarification for those who don't understand the
difference between a capital referendum and an operating referendum. Um, and I I did hear you say that only two districts um in the in the state or in our area don't have um a operating referendum. We being one of them. And it wasn't for
lack of trying for Franklin Township. So, we have never asked for an operating referendum. And if you could just quickly explain to members of the public uh what that means in terms of when they hear us talking about the the referendum that we >> two type of referendum operating is for
your day-to-day operations. That's what we just discussed. Capital is for facilities. And so all of you know back in 2019 we asked for a capital referendum to renovate our two high schools and I think we did uh eight of our elementary schools. And so we're very blessed in
this community. A matter of fact, we won that by 70% of the vote back in 2019. So, the community fully supported us renovating our facilities and I think they're quite attractive and I think our families are very pleased what they have. >> All right. Thank you for that. Thank you
for the questions, board team. Thank you for the updates. Um, moving the needle for students. If there are no other questions or comments, we will move on to the student handbooks for 26 and 27 school year.
Miss Shawn Bush. Madame President, Dr. Smith, and members of the board, the sole update to student handbooks this year is around our um policy on personal communication devices. uh it looks like a lot of words
but it is really one update that will be consistent across all three handbooks with language that mirrors the actual policy. So that language simply highlights our value of um being free
having learning environments that are free from distraction. Uh making the distinction that it is a belltobell restriction on personal communication devices and that the devices must be
powered off and stored from the beginning of the school day to the end of the school day. So that is spelled out in that policy and in also translating to the handbook. It is a law that goes into effect on July 1st. And
so of course that had to translate to our policy and therefore to our student handbooks. I will come back to you later this evening to ask for approval. >> I have a question. Sure, Miss Pucket.
Um, can you let us know what the process is going to look like for informing our families >> so that they are aware to look out if it's on parent square or >> Yes. So there is a communication that is going out to families I believe on July
13th. A communication will go out to families initially on July 13th informing them of this and that will be it won't be a oneandone. It will be a continuous thing there. so that we don't blend the two things. Miss Pucket's asking
specifically about the cell phones that's going to come under policy and that specific since that's such a major change that will take place not only by the district but specifically at each individual school. >> Correct. >> She's talking about the handbooks once the handbooks are approved. Those will
be given to everyone electronically at one time. >> I apologize. Yes. point of clarification concerning the cell phones for families to know what the process looks like for that. >> How will that be? >> But the madam vice president for the cell phones cuz that's such a massive
change. We have a whole community that will take place in July. >> So parents would they look out via like parent parent square >> all of our communication vehicles they will get all the details. >> Thank you very much. Yeah. >> Thank you Mrs. Bush. Any other questions
or comments board? All right. Classified employee handbook updates for the 2627 school year. Miss Johnson. Madame President, Dr. Smith, and members of the board, tonight we bring to you the updates and changes to our
classified handbooks. We have an overall classified handbook and then we have specific ones to our employees in the transportation department and in food services. So I'll begin with our overall classified handbook. Um what we've added
are just the various work days and hours of classification. Um we've also updated from our FMLA and medical leaves, our vendor source. It's changed this from FMLA source to absence resource. And we've also expanded our
eligible relationships to include a person for whom the employee has power of attorney, a deceased person for whom the employee is executive of the estate or the sole surviving relative. That's all under our FMLA changes in the
classified handbook. Next um are the changes that I'll highlight for you in the transportation handbook. We have changed and made some edits on page 10, the contracted status and all
guarantees it includes may be revoked per the discretion of the director of transportation based on excessive employee absences beyond the allotted acral days. Contract violations andor other factors.
on page 17 of our book, um, some updates to the special needs sections that all drivers and all monitors of the Lawrence Township Transportation Department are required to perform a special needs reertification
with MSDLT transportation department annually. Uh, we have a few other minor changes. Um on page 13, the last section, speeding on the transportation
department bus lot. Um if you're going over 20 miles per hour, um that is an offense through the GPS. So that has been added to our booklet as well. Our next section, um our next employee handbook is our food services that I'll
go through some of the highlights there. On page five, just an overview. Um they've added the fresh fruit and vegetable program. So that's really important. Um on page six um we have a revision that the changes to the
employee hours require an employee change request form. So they submit that to central office. On page seven, our food service is monitoring attendance. And so they've had added language stating that attendance frequency may be
reviewed if there is a pattern of absences identified. And on page eight, we've got some changes to personal days and leave without pay leave without pay clarification. So they've added consideration language
regarding leave without pay when employees provide advanced notice after exhausting all of their um personnel day. On page nine, we have some changes on just good health practices and food services, updated and clarified language
regarding hygiene, glove, hair restraints, uniforms, jewelry, illness, just all those things that are really important in our food setting areas. The dress code revision updates um just regarding footwear and just, you know,
being appropriate. So, in our cafeteria floor, safety and whatnot. And on page 14 was school delays and closing. Just a revision about the expectations for how the employees report their absences. So those are the changes that we wanted to
present to you tonight for all of our classified employees in the classified handbook. Food services and transportation. >> Thank you, Miss Johnson. Board, any questions or comments on the handbooks? Uh yes, Mrs. Lawrence. >> Thank you, Miss Johnson. Uh since we
were talking about the absences as it relates to our students and a lot of the changes to the handbook relate to absences, is there a process by which our um our team can come to their boss or things like like that if they have an
ongoing illness or they have to take care of their kids who are home sick and things like that. >> Absolutely. We're just trying to encourage that open communication so that nobody's just missing without knowing. We just want to have tight communication and understanding of all
those exceptional types of possibilities. >> Thank you. Any other questions or comments from the board? Okay. >> Can I have a >> Oh, yes. Dr. Mahaland, >> I I noticed that you mentioned something about the school cancellations for the
food service handbook. Is that also something discussed in the transportation handbook or is it handled a little bit different? >> It's just a little bit different. And so we're just trying to make sure that across all of our employee handbooks that those pieces are included. So in the food services, it just didn't really
clearly explain it before. And so we've just added some clarity in the explanation explanations in the food services handbook. >> Okay. Great. Thank you, >> Miss Johnson. in the court and um in addition to feedback from the directors
and leaders and chiefs from each of these divisions, where do we get the final input on what needs to be corrected, updated in our handbook? >> So members of our human resource classified team are working with the directors of transportation and food services. So they are gathering that
from their employees and just by the experiences that have taken place during the course of this year. And so as you go through a lived experience, you see where things might need to be changed and improved and updated just for clearly communicating and it gets added to the handbook.
>> Okay. And in Star Wars, they have the force field that's around everything. I'm talking Jedi here for the board and superintendent who's our ultimate backup to make sure that we have everything correct in our handbook. >> Human resources. >> No. >> Our legal counsel, our attorneys. Thank you.
>> Yeah, Dr. Scutter has Scutter. Please remind the board who does that for us. >> Please remind him. Mark Scutter. >> Mark Scutter is our um for employee and he has reviewed all of our handbooks. He's Jedi. >> He's a Jedi. Star Wars. >> Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. See the
audience understood that >> you guys talk education language too too difficult. >> I need a life. >> We all have our acronyms. >> Yes, we do. >> 4.7 Neiola updates. Um Niola policy updates. The meat and potatoes. Dr. Harshburgger.
>> Yes, Dr. Harshburgger. This is our second reading. >> Yep. >> Madam President, Dr. Smith, members of the board, at the June 8th work session, I brought forward for the first reading the Ola volume 38, number two, revision packet per statute. I now bring that
policy revision packet back for a second reading. >> All right. Thank you, Dr. Harshburgger. Board, any questions or comments on the Neola Nola policy updates? So, um, I just wanted to thank you again, you and Miss Pucket, for serving
on the committee. This was a very large packet to read through. >> Yeah, this was a fun one. >> And, uh, for those in the audience or in the community once again, this also go ties into the handbooks example would be the cell phone the, um,
personal communication device policy. Correct. that was decided by state law, Senate Bill 78 above us. So now we must comply with the state and so the policy team was working with Niola to change that policy. I I don't have the number
memorized but >> 5136 5136. >> Say it loud, Dr. Hosh Barker. >> 5136 and 5136.01. >> Yes. Thank you. So that will be on our policy um once we take action and vote and then at that point the state law
goes into effect as priorly mentioned and then it rolls down to the next level which will be in the student handbook and the communication >> A+ Madam President. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right board any other questions or comments? All right we are in the final
leg of the relay financial updates Mr. Miles. The most exciting leg is the final leg usually. Um so we will jump into our um our May financial reports and you'll have the general fund uh report in front of you first. Um as we
look at that, our ending balance in the general fund is slightly ahead of our expectations at this point of the year. Um revenues and expenses modestly outpacing projections. >> Um absolutely we will continue to monitor that as we've already talked a
little bit about tonight. Um, our ending cash balance at the end of May is uh just under $14 million. So, it has dipped a little. It's uh over this first five months of the year. We have had one three-month pay already, and that's always um a little more taxing on our balance. But once we get through the
transfers in June, um we'll we'll be able to take a look and see where we're at the half uh the halfway point of the year versus our goal. Uh but we are in a pretty good place right now. Cautiously optimistic. Uh, as far as the transportation fund balance, uh, likewise, and I think I say this every
month, we get our revenues uh, in transportation twice a year, so we have not received those yet as of this report. Um, so you don't see much on the revenue side. Um, you do see quite a bit on the expense side. Um, the expenses are actually underproed at this time. Um, so that's a good thing. Um, to the
tune of about $500,000. So our balance is running a little ahead. even though it's in in the red at the moment, that is anticipated. Um, happy to answer any questions on either fund. >> Thank you, Mr. Miles. Board, any questions or comments on the financial
updates. Okay, thank you. I did want to take a point of privilege and recognize we have an LT student here in the crowd, Mr. Benjamin Venoy. >> Howdy. >> Howdy. I believe now you're here in the capacity at a public meeting to learn
more. You're in the scout program, correct? >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Okay. Okay. Yeah, we'll take it. Okay. Well, thank you for engaging in us civically. Hopefully, you're learning some new things before the school year ahead of time.
>> Ben, it's my understanding you're going for Eagle Scout. Isn't that correct? >> That would be correct. H how long how long till you are an Eagle Scout? Are we your final check? >> Uh this is about final check. Um I'm not exactly sure when that'll be deadline is
December 26th birthday. The deadline is set for myself is November 1st. Early action clos >> and I know you've already been accepted to many schools. So well done, sir. Yeah, >> I check those things don't come in for another like six months. So, thank you.
Thank you. >> Well, I know how how >> good you do or how well you do in your classwork. So, thank you for that. Glad to have you here. >> Y >> Yes. We're thankful to have you and always grateful to have students engaged. >> Thank you, too, Mom. We know you, too.
Thank you. >> Yes. >> Um, and then I believe we also have a PhD student here, Mr. Burns. Yep. Thank you for coming to the crowd um coming tonight. Now we will move on to our board committee chair reports.
Um I will start with the foundation with Dr. Mahaland >> report for today. >> Okay. All right. Um Miss Miss Dunn is traveling um and is unable to attend. So I told her I would give the Lawrence Parks and Recreation update. Um, a lot's
coming on because we have the Fourth Fest, which MSDLT will be a a big participant of in the uh parade. The parade will be starting for the Fourth Fest in the city of Lawrence at 10:00 a.m. Um, that will be near Franklin
Road. We will have our band and a lot of our students participating. It will be followed by the car show, music, fireworks, and fish fry. We will see you there. And then finally, every Thursday at the Fort Ben Cultural Campus from 4 to 7 is the Fort Ben Farmers
Market. >> Oh, sure. >> All right. Policy, even though we just covered it, Miss Pucket, do you have anything to add? >> I do. Subsequent to this evening's approval of revision packet volume 38 number two, Niola has issued a special June 2026 update. The update contains
revisions to three technology policies, one replacement technology policy, and five new special education policies. Adoption of these revisions ensure the district policies remain aligned with current state and federal laws and
compliance requirements. That is my update. >> Thank you. And thank you for your reading hours that you've logged this summer, Miss Puget. I'm trying to earn my uh pizza, my little pizza voucher from school. Remember back in the day?
>> We got McDonald's. Yep. So, yeah. >> Very good. >> Yes. >> And we don't have any ISBA legislative updates right now, uh, Miss Lawrence, but I know it's going to get start ramping up in the fall. So, yeah. All right. Well, we will move on to our
action items. Uh 5.1 approval of the superintendent contract. >> Yes. Presented by myself. >> All right. So earlier in the meeting we had our public hearing. At this time I
would like to present it once again the proposed superintendent contract. I will entertain a motion to approve. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Properly moved. Miss Pucket and seconded
Miss Lawrence. Um, if there are if there are any questions or comments, speak now. If not, all in favor to approve the new contract for Superintendent Dr. Sean Smith, say I. >> I. >> I. Any opposed? All right, the eyes have
it. Dr. Smith, you get to >> accept. >> All right, he accepts. That's good news. >> Kind of awkward if he didn't, right? Yeah, >> that's our um adult version of a prom posal. He's staying with us for a few years. All right. >> A lot of upset people.
>> Yes. >> All right. Well, that was the big stuff, but this is also big. 5.2. Approval of the resolution to transfer of funds. Mr. Miles had presented this earlier. Go ahead, Mr. Miles. Madame President, I recommend the board approve the
resolution to transfer funds between the education fund and the operations fund as presented. >> I'll entertain a motion for the approval of resolution of transfer of funds. >> So moved. >> Mr. Lawrence. >> Second. >> Properly moved, Miss Lawrence, and
seconded Dr. Mhalland. If there are no further questions or comments, all in favor of the approval of the resolution to transfer funds, say I. I. >> I. Any opposed? >> All right. The resolution to transfer funds has been approved. 4.3 Approval of
resolution for account reconciliation. Mr. Miles. >> Madame President, I recommend the board approve the resolution for account reconciliation as submitted. >> I'll entertain a motion. >> Oh, sorry. Let on that. >> You got it. >> Done good with the motion.
>> Second. >> Properly moved. Miss Pucket and seconded, Dr. Mahaland. If there are no other questions or comments, all in favor of the approval of resolution for account reconciliation say I. >> I. >> I. Any opposed? The eyes have it. 5.4.
Approval of student handbook updates for the 2026 2027 school year. Miss Bush. >> Madame President, I recommend that the updates to the student handbook as presented earlier this evening be approved. >> So moved.
>> Second. Properly moved, Miss Pucket, and seconded, Miss Lawrence. Um, if there are no further questions or comments, all in favor of the approval of the student handbook updates for the 2627 school year, say, "I." >> I. >> I. Any opposed? The student handbook
updates for the 2627 school year have been approved. 5.5 Approval of the classified employee handbook updates for the 2026 2027 school year. Miss Carla Johnson. Madame President, I recommend the board approve the classified employee
handbooks for the 2627 school year as submitted. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Properly moved, Miss Lawrence and seconded, Dr. Maholland. If there are no further questions or comments, all in favor of the approval of the classified
employee handbook updates for the 2627 school year, say I. >> I. >> I. Any opposed? All right. The classified employee handbook updates have been approved. 5.6 Approval of Niola policy updates. Dr.
Harshburgger. >> Madame President, I now recommend the board approve the policy update package as submitted. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Properly moved. Miss Lawrence. Seconded. Miss Pucket. If there are no further
questions or comments about the approval of the Neola policy updates, um, say I. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Any opposed. >> All right. The the very large NELola policy update packet has been approved
for the updates. Thank you. >> All right. 5.7 approval of the board minutes. >> Actually, Madame President, I would uh move that we treat action items 5.7 through 5.11 as consent agenda. >> Second. All right. If there are no
further questions or comments, all in favor of treating action to move it. >> Oh, >> I think she has to move it as >> No, she did. >> No, not yet. >> We We still do that. We still have to >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay. All in favor of treating action items 5.7 to 5.11 as consent
agenda. Say I. >> I. >> I. Any opposed? >> All right. I move approval of consent agenda. >> Second. >> All right. properly moved Miss Pucket and seconded Miss Lawrence for the to move approval of consent agenda. All in favor say I. >> I.
>> I. >> Any opposed? All right. The consent agenda for 5.7 to 5.11 has been approved. This is our board minutes, personnel reports, claims, service agreements, and field trips. All of which are available on our website.
Thank you board. We will now move into 6.1 administrator and board comments. Would anyone like to go first? >> I'm happy to start. >> Yeah, Miss Lawrence. >> Yeah. I just um you know, yesterday was Father's Day and I want to thank all the fathers out there. I'm going to try to
do this without crying, but my dad had a stroke last Tuesday. And it occurs to me how important and critical our fathers are to our lives and our
support and stability as a community. Dr. Smith called me to check on me um to make sure everything was okay. My husband stayed with my family overnight so that I could be here in case something went wrong for this board meeting. It is the support of community
and the support of one another. And so thank you to all the fathers out there and thank you for your support. Not just you, Dr. Smith, but the members of the board as well. >> Thank you, Miss Lawrence. >> No comment.
>> No comment, Miss Pucket. Dr. Mhalland. >> Okay. >> I just wanted to to verify. I think this is the last week of Let me get if Let me see if I say it correctly. Summer Learning Academy. Correct. >> Yes. So, I I've heard it's going well.
Um, but I I want to thank the staff. >> Yes, correct. This is the last week and uh students in third grade are taking I read this week. >> Okay. So, those results will be available within like the next month. Is that correct? >> Correct.
>> Okay. That's great. Okay. And then every they'll get a break until August 6th. So, yeah. I just um yeah, thank you board. Thank you to the team and the community for um a busy but really good
informative board meeting. It's always great to sign the hundreds of student certificates. Our students are very talented and this is what grounds us in the work that we do. Dr. Smith, >> Madame President, uh members of the
board, I don't have much today. Just enjoy the celebration of our students. We did sign 300 certificates today, Madam President, and it's a joy to do that. That's a reflect reflection of the hard work of our faculty and our students from performing arts,
athletics, you name it. We always compete well and I'm honored to uh continue to serve you. As you well know, I'm your one employee that you have and I'm honored to continue to serve. So, thank you. >> All right, our next monthly meeting and upcoming school events. So, our next
monthly board of education meeting will be here Monday, July 20th. This is a combined work session and monthly board meeting and will begin promptly at 5:30. With no other comments, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Properly moved, Miss Pucket and
seconded, Miss Lawrence. Thank you everyone. Have a good night. >> All right. Oh, cupcakes. >> Thank you. Okay, some