and student leaders from Mary Castle Elementary to lead us in our pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance 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 students. Uh Dr. Dr. Ble, would you like to introduce our students? >> Yes. Good evening, Dr. Smith, President Norman, members of the board. We have
Cardier Mormon from second grade, Rachel Ashagiri from fourth grade, and Preston Book Meyer was a sixth grader at Mary Castle. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Well done. At this time, I'll turn it over to Miss Carla Johnson so we can do
our above and beyond recognitions. Good evening, Madame President, Dr. Smith, and members of the board. This evening, we present our above and beyond to Steve Fishburn, Joseph White, and Wesley Van Brun. if they could come up.
>> Congratulations to Steve Joseph and Wesley, security officers at Lawrence Central High School for being selected to receive the Above and Beyond award. On December 3rd, 2025, security officers Steve, Joseph, and
Wesley responded to a suspicious vehicle near I465 and East 56th Street and found an expectant mother experiencing pregnancy complications and in labor. She had come to Lawrence Central High School because
she knew it would be a safe place for her and her five-year-old son. Our security EMT team assist assessed her condition and called an ambulance due to her complications. EMS transported the mother to the hospital while our team
cared for her 5-year-old son until family members arrived. The mother provided an update and expressed her gratitude to Steve, Joseph, and Wesley for their support. She sent a letter to Franklin Bush, who is here this evening, and he sent it to us. Congratulations
and thank you for all you do for going above and beyond. future student. >> Thank you so much. >> Mr. Bush, you win with your stars or not. plank. >> Yeah, >> come on down.
>> Yes, sir. >> CONGRATULATIONS. GREAT STORY. THANKS FOR the We're we're very fortunate to have um great staff to do that. So, thank you very much. Moving into our information items tonight. We have a full schedule.
We will lead off with Dr. Nesbet. Blue Ribbon 2 updates. >> Great. Thank you, President Norm, members of the board, and Dr. Smith. Let's take a look at Blue Ribbon 2. Here's our overview. McKenzie, uh, got a lot of good design work going on right now as we narrow that in. Craig Academy continues to move along. And then we're
going to take some look at some pictures in our classroom editions as well. Uh, our guaranteed energy savings. I'm happy to report that those those two lower right green ones are now fully functional. We just commissioned those over the weekend and so the controls are good. And then Winding Ridge Elementary, we're going to do the controls this
summer, but that chiller is installed. So, we have just in time. Well, maybe not today, but uh by the end of the week, we'll need those chillers and uh we'll be able to cool those areas. Cresby Elementary. There's a look at the outside and that's the music room actually we're seeing there. And then um
yeah, that's just a a storage area. And then the general hallway there. We're getting close to having the envelope sealed on Crest View Forest Glenn. There's a look from the outside and the inside. Also getting very close to sealing up the envelope on that building. And there's another look at
the inside of across the classrooms and in just one general classroom there. Mary Castle, we're pretty all wrapped up. We uh did a punch list on that recently and we are ready to go in there. Doing a little bit of work here over uh spring break. Uh you can see just a few on the left there. A few little wires hanging there that were
wrapping some stuff up, but we're pretty well wrapped up there. Craig Academy. So, this is a kind of a neat spot that that jig stairway there, that's where the old podium uh elevated stage was in the PD room. So that's that's going to come down and then that will look into the gymnasium and then upstairs there's some work
going on there and then there on the right there that's a lab area with drop down electrical outlets in the middle and sinks in there. So really coming along there. So that takes us through blur too. Happy to answer any questions you might have. >> Thank you Dr. Nesbet board. Any
questions or comments? >> Yeah, Miss Lawrence. >> Dr. Nesbet we've said on the days before but just for a matter of public um understanding. >> Even though Mary Castle is nearly done,
we don't have plans to have teachers move right now within this school year. Correct. >> Correct. >> Could you explain why just so that if anybody is has questions about that? >> Sure. We we try not to move teachers more than one time during a move. Occasionally it might happen, but
rarely. And so, uh just the way it is right now with the portables are still intact, they aren't going to be moving directly to those classrooms. So that would cause two moves in a short period of time. So we'll uh just get that area ready for uh school next year. >> I know our teachers appreciate that. Thank you.
>> Yes, Miss Dun. >> I um first of all just want to say we had a wonderful opportunity to visit Craig Academy last week to see um the construction. And while we were there, um, we also had the privilege of, um,
being escorted through the building by, um, this means. And it was just reminded of the, first of all, the amazing leaders that we have in this district who are navigating running school at the same time of renovations. And I think
about just we saw obviously the proud principal of um, Warren Central. I know um, Mr. Kraussor also um went through all that as have all of our administrators in one way, shape or form. And I just I don't know that we've expressed the gratitude to our building
leaders for just the the wonderful partnership, but then also their flexibility and willingness to make sure that they're doing everything they can to keep school going without missing a beat. It truly is remarkable. And so, thank you for leading that and thank you to our school leaders. It truly is um
it's pretty remarkable how that works. >> Not quite all schools. Mckenzie is >> I'm just letting them know what's happening. >> Yeah, we we did Mackenzie once the last since 2015. We've done every building and we're going back. This is round two. That's we were in phase two.
>> Yeah. >> Edition 2016. >> Yes. No, that was great. Um thank you again for the tour. It was really great to get in there. I hadn't been in there in several months. So to see the progress to see the old administrative offices that are now bright colorful
classrooms >> that was really nice >> and I just also our partners are truly incredible. It was amazing. Miss texted within five minutes the project manager was there ready to support us in the tour. It just really great partners as well that are doing wonderful work.
>> Yep. Thank you. Any other questions or comments on blue ribbon phase two? Okay, we will move on to 3.2, the summer learning academy update. Let me make sure I acknowledge the team here presenting
Mr. Knik, Dr. Hos Brown, Dr. Thorp, Miss Llant, and Miss Neeem Meer. >> Good evening, Madam President, Dr. Smith, members of the board. We are proud to once again bring to you our update for summer learning academy 2026. We've offered this for many years.
sometimes had a different name, but for two years in a row now, we've called it summer learning academy. So, to shoot and um start for this evening, we're going to talk about some adjustments we've made both for budgetary and to be honest calendar reasons. It's a unique year. Don't forget that our regular school year goes past Memorial Day this
year. So, to make a little bit of adjustment there, but our overall um calendars will be June 8th through the 25th. Again, Monday through Thursday. Um we talk about that being for our rising grades 1 through eight. So when we talk about summer school, we usually refer to them as a grade they're going into for
next school year. So rising grades one through eight at all elementary and middle schools. At the high school, we'll continue once again to have some credit recovery options as well as our online Eltech option. Eltech extends into July as well. Uh times the elementary level will again be 8 to 2 uh
with parent paid afterare available and 9 to1 at the middle school. That's consistent with previous years. Transportation will be provided, breakfast and lunch provided at all those sites. Eltech, we're going to pitch that, but LTE instance for Lawrence Township uh E
community. It's our online summer squash. Our instructional design for first and second grade again rising first and second grade will be ELA aligned to the science of reading and math for third and fourth grade. So that's our current second and third going into third and
fourth grade. It'll be tightly aligned to I read three especially for students who have not passed including vocabulary and phonics, literature comprehension and non-fiction comprehension as well as some test taking strategies. Uh and it will also be ilearn aligned for math.
It'll be I learn aligned in both math and ELA for grades 5 through 8. And all curriculum instruction will be in English including at our dual language schools. And we'll offer both a pre and post assessment to measure how our students perform. who will be invited to attend. Um in our
elementary uh we will be inviting um students to attend. All second and third graders who do not pass i will be required to attend. Um that's our current second and third grade. So right now since we've closed the i window, we are talking with families. Now students
who are below proficiency on I ready or who are 10 points or less above proficiency, so right on that line, will be encouraged to attend. Any exceptions to these two descriptors will be made at the principal's discretion. >> Year-round preschool continues and so we
will be happy to offer year-round preschool at all uh six of our preschool sites through June and July. And then for students who will be attending summer learning academy, we do have afterare options. Um, we will offer after care for families Monday through
Thursday, June 8th to the 25th, just like the summer learning academy. That cost for those four afternoons a week would be $50 a week. In June, there are only two Fridays in June where we will have summer learning academy and that's not a holiday. So June 12th and 26th,
uh, we will offer to families for $40, um, a day. And those are only going to be at Annie Beverlin and Sky Test to help support those sites that have construction and renovation going on. And then once Summer Learning Academy is over, we are happy to offer for families
uh, child care from Monday, June 29th to Friday, July 24th from 7 to 5:00. And again, that'll just be at Amy Beverland and Sky Test for $175 a week. All right. So, at the high school level, we will offer um credit recovery from
June 8th through the 25th for grades students in grades 9 through 12. That's invitation for those students who um did not pass classes, just some credit deficiencies there to help them graduate and and get a handle on things before they move on to the next level. And then we're also going to offer Eltech, which
is a little bit longer. It ends in July, July 23rd. And that's for our students who want to get ahead of the game, earn um more credits before they start high school. Um try some other things. That is open enrollment and that is going to be primarily virtual and asynchronous.
During the summer school time, we will be offering resource support which will be provided at all grade levels and the support will be aligned with classroom instruction as well as interventions. We will also be offering life skills programming and those are for students who qualify based on student
recommendation at the elementary level. Life skills programming will be at Amy Beverland, Brook Park and Oaklandon. And then we will have a secondary life skills program which will be offered for grades 7 through 12 at Lawrence Central High School.
>> The team will be supporting our school leaders as they choose their staff for this summer. priority will be given at the elementary level especially for teachers who have completed the 25 hours of the state required literacy training that's required by the DOE in terms of reimbursement so that's very important strategic measure we have to do uh we'll
have exceptional learner and multilingual learner staff at each building we'll utilize classified staff if there's a need uh and we'll make sure we meet the minimum class size of 15 to1 again that's another requirement by the DOE in terms of reimbursement uh we have
a plethora of funding sources um that reimbursement that I mentioned from the state. We'll be using title one and two grants as well as fed part B as well as our Lily grant phase two and of course the education fund is happy to answer any questions you may have.
>> Thank you team board. I'm sure we have some questions. This is a lot of great information. >> Oh miss done. So I have a couple of questions. Um the first is with regards to I know um with
iid it is a requirement that students attend well that they have some sort of remediation. What um do we do for students who do not choose to attend summer school? >> So we note to parents that if they do not meet that requirement then there
will be retention. So we make that note. Did you have anything else, Mr. G? >> Yeah. So, it is mandated, but of course, we're not going to drag them in, anything like that. So, we make sure that we um we're working already right now starting today on students who didn't pass that race. We don't wait until the summer. So, we've already
started today with making sure that we're working with students who unfortunately didn't pass. We had successful round one to be honest with you, but we want to make sure that we're working with our students. So, even ahead of summer school, we're making sure that we meet their >> I just I know that it is so imperative that parents understand um that their
children attend. So that's more of just reiterating for anybody that may be listening or does look at our notes to make sure that they understand the critical nature of attending because I'm sure as we know research shows that if they do attend that they have a much better likelihood of passing. So it's very important. >> Absolutely.
>> Um and then Miss Llant CCDF um for um summer school or for summer programming afterare we do accept that. >> Oh yes yes we accept CCDF and fill out provider forms for families to help them. So that was yet another just for the record to make sure that folks know that if they cannot qualif if they do
not qualify or able to pay for the 175 they could potentially use that. >> Um and then high school summer school is virtual correct >> or is it in person the first I know understand the LTE is >> that's credit but for the high school programming will be academic credit
recovery that is virtual correct >> no that's in person. >> Okay it is in person. >> Yes. So the top one that talks about the June 8th invitation only that's in person. What time does that go from? Is that from 9 to 1? Is that the same time? >> 9 to one for the middle schools, but it's really meets the need of the
students. Those students don't don't have to come all 12 days for the whole time period. Then we just have a little bit to work on. So it's individualized per student. >> Okay. Outstanding. Um, and then this is yet another question that I know the answer to, but I think it's imperative that our stakeholders understand like many other things that the state is
reimbursing, they do not reimburse to the full amount that is required. Um, and I don't need an exact number, but just um, could you give us like a ballpark of what actually the state does reimburse in terms of percentage? >> Mr. Miles, help help the team
>> of our cost for summer school? >> Yes. Typically, it's right around 50%. Um that changes year to year. Um and they with the with the third grade reading requirements that just passed, they now prioritize second and third grade costs. So we're reimbured. Last
year we were reimbursed 100% for those grade levels and then different percentages for the >> in total cost just rough again >> roughly last year we were um we got back roughly half a million
dollars from the state. >> Okay. So the district is encumbering about a half a million >> through those other funds. >> So I just I think that's important for individuals to understand especially as we know that we are getting a reduction in what we're receiving from. So thank you. >> Well Dr. Smith >> and that numberates
year to year depending on what the reimbursement is from the state which we don't >> okay Mr. Miles made a very important point the third graders it's required for them to be here. Okay. We'll get full reimbursement. We typically get pretty
good reimbursement on the high school. >> So, we'll see. We will definitely apply for reimbursement. >> And we are going to be offering our summer helpings as well. >> Dr. Harsher, will you come forward and just give a quick update on that even
though it's a little early, our summer food program? Yeah, we will be doing the summer servings. >> She'll be in various sites that we used last year. >> So, I just I think it's critical for our public to understand that not only are we bringing our children in for
additional support, but we're also feeding them at school. >> Yeah. And we feed them at the schools. And then we'll also have a community based program also, too. Yes. >> Yes. Miss Lawrence, >> first
team you guys like switching back and forth between all of you. I know all of you own different parts of the program. So, um, thank you for the work that you're doing. for our students. Um, Miss
>> Elementary, does that mean that they are not retained? >> No. But we just emphasize that this is another opportunity for them to avoid retention. >> To avoid retention. >> That message is And that's not something that we're deciding.
>> No. No. >> Please explain that to your >> No, that is a a state mandate for us. Um we if a student does not meet a good cause exemption and does not pass by the third grade, we have no option but to retain
>> based on the mandate that is a mandate. If I may add to that, madam board member, um I want to remind our third grade families that we have up to three chances to test them on IE. So we just did round one. Round two will occur in May. If they can come to summer school
as mandated, they can have a third opportunity to take that IE test. So there'll be three chances to pass that test and move on to fourth grade. That's a good job. >> A very powerful piece for is your professional educators, your principles meet with those families in addition who
are in jeopardy of that. So they're going to be retained. They're meeting with the building and that's required. We require that of all our additional questions. Um, in the past the we offered summer schooling that was
not dedicated to students who were maybe didn't do as well as we' hoped on standardized testing. Uh, could one of you I'm not even sure maybe Dr. Hos Brown maybe this is a question for you I think. Um, could you explain the shift
in rationale for the program because um I know many families have I've availed myself of that to make sure eight-year-old is actually engaged some in the day as well. So, can you explain why why the shift? >> The focus now on summer school is
remediation. Um, before we've had various models of summer learning. Um, you might recall we used to have jump start which was a get ahead. This is purely remediation at the elementary level. Any exceptions would be made through the principal. So, if a family
has a question about whether or not they should have been invited, they can contact their principal directly and he or she can speak with them >> and we have some flexibility there to allow students maybe are struggling with maybe on the cus those those conversations principles
will be having with individual families and if any family has a question they should contact their principal immediately >> and again I'm not really sure which one of you to address this question to but is there a a list of courses for the school in
which is not a re remediation program but instead a way for our students to uh maybe get ahead. I'm assuming that means like health for example because that's something the Lawrence household has yet to take and we do want these babies to
graduate and that's a requirement. So is there a place where parents like me could go look and understand? >> Yeah, there'll be communication that comes out from the high school usually around spring break. typically right after spring break. That's communicating from the high school. They have a big old flyer they use every year and it's
updated every year in terms of what courses are offered. And any course that we we offer a lot, but if there's any course that we don't offer, we do also give our students the option of Indiana online academy, but most courses we offer here in Lawrence Township. >> And then that would be credit that they
can use graduation. >> Correct. >> Okay, great. My final question, I'm sorry that I have so many of these staffing. Um, obviously it could potentially be a a competitive situation where we have many of our teachers and staff who who might want to
work the full calendar year. Uh, how are we determining staffing and who is getting those opportunities? >> Thank you. >> I just wanted to ask for clarification. >> Thank you. We've sent out an application to all of our certified staff to
determine who is interesting will be um selected based on student enrollment. So once we know the students that are rolled that will determine the amount of staff members. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Other questions? Board Dr. Mahaland. >> Thank you all so much for for walking us through the summer learning academy. Um just a question about the the supports that are provided um in the period after 2 PM. So I understand it runs from 8 to
2 and then there's the after care period of time. Are there indiv additional um supports or you know strategies or interventions offered during that time or is it primarily during the 8 to2? >> The interventions will be 8 to2. With that elongated time, it allows for them
to do tier one instruction and to do intervention support. And so two to five is primarily just child care. >> Okay. Thank you. >> That sounds great. I love it. >> Thank you. Did you have a question, Miss
Pucket? Oh, okay. Okay. Mine I think goes along with that slide that we're on currently. Um I noticed that they're going to offer Friday care for two of the Fridays. um in the past I think it was was it all four Fridays
>> it was so um a couple of things one we're not starting summer learning academy until June 8th because of that Memorial Day difference and so we have a shortened time and then the Friday in between is Junth and so we won't have care on that day >> okay
thank you for that any other questions regarding summer Okay well thank you the team this is always a great opportunity and um you know it helps our students a lot. So we
will move on now to 3.3 the results of the RFP bids for the student devices. Mr. Harsha. >> Good evening Madame President, Dr. Smith and members of the board. Back in February, you might remember I came to you seeking approval to put out an RFP
for student devices. Um there's a little timeline there that just kind of shows we did have a um we submitted the uh request, we received bids, uh opened those bids, and then spent some time evaluating the bids from the different vendors. Um and of course this evening,
I will be bringing to you our recommendation. On the next slide, you can see we um do use a rubric for uh different point totals. Um, of course taking into consideration costs, but also making sure that the bids that are submitted meet our requirements for the
devices, for warranty, um, ease of getting parts and maintaining the devices, uh, as they are being used by students and sometimes can take a beating. Um, so those are the results of our um, evaluation. And so, um, later this evening, I will be, uh, making a
recommendation that we contract with Virtcom for our touchscreen devices for grades 2 through 5 and with the repair depot for our non-touch devices which are used in grades 6 through 12. >> Thank you, Mr. Harsha. Board, any
questions regarding Yes, Miss Lawrence. >> I just have one point of clarification. Mr. Could you please talk about the federal funding uh discounts and why they're so critical as we go out to um to pursue these devices and also if you
might talk about the equity component when we think about all of the students within Lawrence Township. We are a onetoone uh school district which is somewhat unique or maybe maybe unique um compared with other districts. So, I
wonder if you could speak to both of those. >> Well, the to your first point, um I think what you're asking about is um different vendors that can provide us with discounted pricing. They might be members of um different um co-ops, different organizations that allow them
to provide us with um some additional um discounted pricing since we are a school uh district. And so, we always want to um leverage that. And again, when we put out those um RFPs, I think this one went out to 211 um different people that um you know, so we we know we're getting that out in
front of uh people that can give us the most competitive bids. The second part is um something that we're proud of that we do offer all of our students um those devices. Um we have designed a a refresh recycle plan where we uh refresh those
devices at right now three different grade levels. So students have those devices for three or four years and then they get a refreshed one. Um, which is fantastic for our kids. >> What do we do with the computers that are no longer in service? >> That's a great question. In some cases,
if we have a surplus and we can actually um utilize some of our um vendors out there do a buyback program um where they will um take those sometimes they are in bad shape and they just have to be recycled. In many cases, we keep them and we use them as loaners. So, a
student brings in a device that needs repair. Sometimes it might take some time to get that um p that that part back in. And so, now we can hand that student an older device that still works um and they can use that to make sure teaching and learning continues until we're able to get their device repaired.
>> Thank you, Miss Florence. Board, any other questions on the devices? Miss Dunn, >> my question about the recycling, which is fabulous. Um, but I did I curious because I do see obviously that they uh we gave total points and so we're
looking at more than just the cost of the device. So, could you just explain a little bit about what more is included um in the purchase of these devices because I'm assuming there's there are other things other than just the device. Some of them are um well, we ask for a
specific device um as you can see there. And so some sometimes even though that's very um clearly stated, we do get um bids that are for different devices that maybe don't really meet our expectations. So those would not um even really be considered. Um they diff they
also have different um warranties and length of warranties. So, um, you know, we put in our expectation that it's at least a a four-year warranty, um, a three-year warranty on the battery and some other specifications. Um, that also can earn them points. And then really, um, as I mentioned, the the ease of
maintenance that is that is both the design of the device, um, as well as just the durability and and our availability to get pricing. I'll just give you an example. There are some um companies that might be able to come in at a really good price, but their distribution center that would provide
us parts is in Germany and that is not practical when we're trying to um get parts in regularly for kids so that they can be repaired. So, that one might not score as well for reasons such as that. >> Thank you. I know you all did a lot of work. This is not easy to go through all
these. So, thank you very much for your time. >> Thank you, board. Any other questions? All right. Thank you, Mr. Marsha. >> Information item 3.4, results of the RFP bids for mental health services. Miss
Neee. >> Um, good evening, Madame President, Dr. Smith, and members of the board. Tonight, I bring to you um the outcome of our school-based mental health provider RFP and interview process. We did interviews on March 6th, and the interview committee con um consisted of
Dr. Emily Hos Brown, Miss Stephanie Llant, Miss Shan Bush, and Mr. Brett Kraussor. We felt that this interview committee encompassed the district with everything from preschool through high school um as well as multiple multiple divisions. And as a reminder, this
process is needed due to the Senate enrolled act 246 making this a requirement that schools do have anou with licensed with a licensed mental health provider. Um based on the interview committee, we do have two recommendations. In fact, we'd like to
recommend two providers to support the school um school mental health um initiative. Um first one, Jane Paulie, and we did divide out the schools of the ELC's as well as their campus partners Amy Beverlin, Brook Park, Mary Castle,
Winding Ridge, as well as the diagnostic day treatment program in LAA. The other recommendation we have is adult and child and we broke those schools down into Crest View, Forest Glenn, Harrison Hill and Deian Creek, Oakland and Sky Test and Sunnyside, our two middle
schools, Belle and Fall Creek Valley, our two high schools, Lawrence Central and Lawrence North, as well as McKenzie. Um, we did select specific schools for each provider and this was based on their presentation as well as their strengths which we noted within the interview process. I can't stress to you
enough that both of these exemplify the urgency and energy that we need in order to support our schools, family, and our community as a whole. One of the two areas we focused on as an interview committee was need. We have a great need of mental health support within our
schools and breaking down those barriers and creating access for all of our families. and we really felt that these two um vendors understood that ability to support all students and all families. The other piece that we focused on was capacity. We need to
increase the number of licensed therapists and we really need to be focusing on decreasing weight time and weight lists as well as again allowing that greater access. As we reviewed over um the process, both Jane Paulie and adult and child had competitive
compensation, superb professional development, not only for schools but for our families as well. Um also being certified community behavioral health clinics was a key piece for us as well as having strong crisis support.
>> Any questions? >> Thank you, Miss Meyer board. Any questions? Miss Pucket, you had mentioned that um that we have a waiting list, which I would assume that we have a waiting list. Needs are great. Um do we have any
outside resources or partnerships that our schools um utilize for families that are on that waiting list? >> We do. We um we have different youth programs. some of our faith-based partners um we utilize um we've also been able to utilize other partners in
that mental health field that we've been able to um send students to or at least make contacts with. So yes, we do work through that um through that process and at times we um utilize therapists that we currently do have in different ways to help support at the different schools.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. Other questions, >> Dr. Mollins? Thank you so much. Um I I also just appreciate you touching on a few important points on just increasing the
capacity um of mental health providers because we do know that with that increase we can make a positive impact and supporting mental health needs and um where could you explain a little bit about how this works with the Jane Pauly Center and the adult and child because I
know that these are centers in the community and so do the the practitioners come to the Absolutely. Yes. Um Jane Pauly and adult and child are both mental health providers. And what does that mean?
Well, it offers a an a variety and array of services for our families. One component is providing licensed therapists and life skills clinicians that come directly to our schools. So, that is just one component of all of their list of things that they do to help support our families. By having the
therapists there in school, it's direct access with the students. um they can work with them at times potentially during a time of crisis but also offering that therapy during the day which does provide ease and access to a mental health therapist. Along with
that, these um vendors have other options for families, whether that's seeing a psychiatrist, med management, um outside therapy, they do have different clinics, and then it's also supporting the whole child. Um allowing them to have access if they're needing
potentially to see a pediatrician or, you know, a dentist or an optometrist. Um just making sure that they are giving um options and opportunities for our families to again support the whole child. Yes, Miss Lawrence. >> Yes, thank you. This is, as everyone up
here, I think would agree, this is critical and important work for our families and our community. Um, how are students prioritized? So, picking back piggybacking off of what Miss Pucket was asking, how do we determine if we have a
weight list, how how do we determine, you know, who gets services now? who needs to be put on a weight list. >> Currently, we have our partnership with Galaghue. So, we do rely on our therapists to pri prioritize what those needs are and at to to a degree that
crisis level. Um, we do have some kids that are at a higher crisis level um than others. So, those are some of the pieces we do rely on our therapist to help us determine and also we have very good working relationships. So it is at that building level where there could be conversations with administration
needing depending on that need or support or what's happening in that moment. >> Certainly not easy decisions when we're dealing with mental health matters. >> Sure. >> We want everybody absolutely. >> When we talk about adult and child, can
you explain what that what that means? Adult versus child. We're not talking about staff here. We're talking about >> Correct. Yes. Um well, one of the things to note with um adult and child that is the name of the the the organization. So
>> sorry that I apologize. >> No, that's okay. Um but I am glad you brought that up because um one of the elements with adult and child they are also going through um I'm going to use the word like a reorganization process in terms of they are going to be coming under a national organization. So
actually by the end of June they are going to become known as center stone. So it still will be adult and child as I like to say but a different a different name. So I hope that provides further clarification too. >> Thank you. And I do have room. >> Yeah, I appreciate that. And and one
other quick question. Um when we So I know that they're offering different modalities for our students to interact with therapists or get the kind of services they need. Is virtual care or virtual therapies? Are those offered as
part of these services? that would be dependent upon that the need of the student and how that would work with that particular therapist. >> Okay, great. And the the final question I have is do we offer now or do we have plans to offer group therapy sessions
maybe for students who have had similar thing a death of a parent people have experienced violence. Absolutely. And that was one of the pieces um I can comment both Jane Paulie and adult and child talked about is the different ways of being able to offer different types of therapies whether that's individual
whether that's group therapy um depending on the need. >> I know that can be hugely helpful for our students to find peers who have gone through some similar circumstances. So thank you to >> Miss Dun. >> Well first of all thank you. I know our
partnership with community and galoo has been long-standing. So this is definitely a bittersweet moment. I am very pleased. Um you know adult and child obviously has been in our community for a lengthy period of time. So a wonderful choice and then Jane
Polly obviously um as well. Uh my one question is going back to the fact that we have had this really strong fabulous partnership with Galahoo. um how do we anticipate and obviously you know not going into the weeds but transitioning and is there an opportunity for those
folks that currently have built relationships my own daughter included has built some really strong relationships with some fabulous Galahoo employees so I'm just wondering um what that transition might look like um part of our process is um all vendors had to
show how they were going to transition basically us from the world of Galahue Community Health Network into um whoever our new vendor was going to of which they both presented very strong um strong examples in how things would be done. I know one of the key elements is
really utilizing current staff and current therapists we do have and being able to have conversations with them and being able to have them apply, interview and potentially come on into with the new companies. >> Wonderful. That would be the ultimate goal. Yes. >> Excellent. That's which I know we had
spoken about but I wanted to make sure folks did know because I it's so important to the point that you were making our mental health. We know it's so difficult sometimes to have individuals who our children trust and to have those relationships that have been formed over a period of time. It'd be wonderful to keep as many of those
wonderful out people as possible. >> Thank you board. Any other questions? I do I do um from underg but it's uh to have access to licensed therapists, counselors and social social workers with our partnership ending with
our current providers in June. Will we have more access to counselors? So will the ratio of student to counselors because again we do have a waiting list. So, with this um are we able to have even more counselors or what does that look like? >> That is what the hope is. One of the
things that we have to acknowledge there is a shortage of therapists and we're all competing for those therapists and it's just not Lawrence Township. It's across schools in the state of Indiana. The one thing I can tell you is we were very pleased to see what their recruitment efforts were, what their
compensation packages were, what those benefit packages were to help support and retain um retain therapists and bring and more on and how we utilize therapists and life skills clinicians. So our hope is is that we would see um an improvement in that ratio of I would
say that therapist and students. >> Yes, Miss Lawrence. >> Yes. Thank you. It made me um think of one other piece. how um mental health can be a isolating and
sometimes stigmatizing um event for a family. How do we work to ensure privacy as well as individual autonomy for the children who are in those services?
>> Absolutely. And that is that is just so key and so critical. One of the pieces that we have to realize is that um these are our outside providers coming in that are held to you know furpa and hippo laws. So there is information that is um not shared and not permitted to be
shared because of the because of the subject what the child is going through. So that is one reason why we have to make sure that we have the correct office space that we have to make sure that um those pieces of confident confidentiality are taken very seriously and we do have those follow-up
conversations to make sure that there's not a breach of information. Please note that they also have their own computer system that they do use to log and to track that information that is separate from what we have here in the schools. >> Great. >> Thank you.
All right. Thank you, Miss Neer. Thank you to the committee and everyone for your work. >> All right, 3.5 common school loan update. Mr. Miles. Thank you, Madam President, Dr. Smith, members of the board. Um, at this time
of the year, we always bring to you uh it is our our twice a year opportunity to apply for a common school loan. Uh the spring loan has traditionally been one that's that's done every year by the state. We use this money to fund student devices. um as Mr. Harsha was talking
about earlier, the those RFPs that we uh send out for devices for all of our kids, that is our number one uh place that we spend this money on. So, uh just recently the state released um that application window and later this evening we'll ask your permission to apply for that loan as we have done in
years past. >> Thank you, Mr. Miles. Board, any questions or comments? All right, we'll stay with Mr. Miles for 3.6. 6 cancellation of outstanding checks. >> Thank you, Madam President. Again, a procedural item that we do at this time
once a year and that is to cancel any checks um that are need to be done uh as old outstanding checks more than two years old um as of December 31st. and uh the lists have been shared and uh really
in light of uh the number and the volume of checks and transactions that that the department processes um it's really a pretty small number of checks and and those can happen over a variety of reasons. Um maybe maybe uh they were reissued. Um it could have been a
duplicate invoice. uh a number of reasons could cause cause those, but uh we clean those up every year and we'll be asking for your permission to to do so later this evening. >> Thank you, Miss Lawrence. >> So, I believe that I've asked this every
year on the DEIS, what is there a process by which someone could go back and and get this get the money that they are owed? How is that communicated to the >> vendors? A lot of these have already been resolved through other processes
such as maybe an invoice being again a duplicate invoice and we just need permission from the board to clean it up. And if not, um this certainly we could always clean something up after the fact. This just cleans up our our checking uh accounts and and allows us
to move forward with clean books. So if someone sees their name on that list, >> if they if they see their name on that list and they think they owed some money, they should reach out to our business department and we and we will look into that. Yes. >> Thank you. >> Absolutely.
>> Before before the two years is up. >> Any other questions board? >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Miles. 3.7 requests for the RFP of custodial services. Dr. Nesbet. >> Thank you, Madam President. Members of the board, Dr. Smith, uh yeah, in your
board packet there, you have you'll see a request for proposal for custodial services. You'll see a couple of those tonight. Is we have contracted services and as those contracts come up uh for renewal in an effort to make sure we're getting the best bang for our buck and and these times of uh passing Senate
Bill One that we really need to make sure we're getting as saving as much money as we can, we're putting those out for RFP to see what else is out there and and uh that's just the thing to do right now. So happy to field any questions you might have. >> Thank you. Any questions board?
>> I just point clarification for anyone who doesn't understand how we staff our custodial services. Dr. Could you just quickly explain what is covered here and why it was decided to outsource those
services? >> Sure. We've outsourced for about four years now uh our custodial services. When we looked at uh again when you look at budget, we were paying more than market value for custodial services. Uh so at that time we we investigated it and we put an RFP and we were able to
realize savings through contracting those services out. >> Thank you. Other questions board? So just to clarify on the timeline um after reading through that this will be coming to us at our next monthly meeting. Correct. >> That's correct.
>> For approval. Okay. >> All right. Thank you. 3.8 request for RFP for security services. Dr. Nesbet. >> Thank you madam president members of the board. Dr. Smith. Second verse. Same as the first. Yeah. So, uh, we're doing the same thing we did with custodial service
with the security services, uh, and again putting out for an RFP to see what, uh, what offers we might get, what proposals we might receive to see if we have any opportunity to save dollars to the district while not sacrificing any of the services we're getting. >> All right. Have a clarifying question.
Unlike with our um, custodial services, security services currently are not being outsourced. Is that correct? We we are we are looking at outsourcing the same services. Most of that is inhouse and that's the the gentleman that received the above and beyond
recognition but we do have some services you might see their cars parked at the entrances to the high schools and you also see them as you enter large sporting events doing the metal detecting services for us. >> So that is in particular what we're looking at for this. >> Yes. So we would because I the reason I
think it is important for that clarification. That's what I understood it to mean. But I do think that um just seeing tonight the incredible work that folks are doing and I know that um Lawrence Township is unique and that we hire um a lot of officers who are right
here at uh you know Post Road at our Lawrence Police Department. And so having that connection in the community is such a beautiful thing. So I just I want to make sure that um folks understood that we would still continue to have those >> everything will be the same as it is now just perhaps it could be a different vendor supplying those those very
particular services >> and Mr. Parish does an outstanding job. So just have to name what a great job he does over there. >> Dr. Mullins like this is too detailed of a question but so you can answer it later if we need to. But do they the the
outside security they still very much dress in the Lawrence Township? I mean um Yeah, >> they're very much part of the >> Yeah, and you might see that in RFP packet. You know, the car needs to be identifiable as a security vehicle. They need to be easily identifiable as a security personnel for us.
>> Miss along those lines, um how do we ensure because especially when we're talking about people who interact with our kids on a regular basis, um and obviously security is something that that our kids interact
with regularly and metal detectors and both our middle and high schools etc. and our custodians I know are some of the favorite employees sometimes in schools. How do we ensure that those staffs who are being they're beholden to
a different employer? How do we ensure that they still have the connective tissue with our district in order to uh create those types of relationships which really are critical to our our students learning environments? Well, the the the staffing that they
have, you know, we're fortunate that our contract and this is a a benefit of the contracting out services is if someone is not if their personality, they can't develop those relationships. Um, we can just tell that person we're contract with, we don't want that individual back
at our campus. And we can also relay when we and we do when we really like an employee that this person's really good, you might consider helping them, you know, with their compensation or whatnot. you know, make sure they're that re is reflected when they're evaluated in their their end.
>> I actually, and thank you for that, but what I was actually getting at is do we let them come to sporting events? Do we encourage them to be part of the Lawrence Township community even though they don't necessarily report to us? >> Well, I think some of them I I know I
certainly see some of the sporting events, you know, it's it's you know, it's certainly something we aren't going to keep them from doing. they are required to have the same background checks. Yes, we require that are required by >> just like with all of our construction
workers. Anyone that's test on campus that's contracted even through a third party has to go through a safe vendor program. There's different programs we do, but that's all in our contract language. They have to go through those same procedures. Make sure there's no criminal element in their background.
>> Board. Any other questions? >> Okay. All right. And then when I read the RFP, just to clarify again, time frame, it looks like interviews are April 21st time timeline. >> Yeah. So, at the same timeline, we're prepared for the next board meeting to
present to you a uh a vendor that that we uh it could be the same vendor, could be a new vendor. Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. So, yeah, both um RFPs with a goal to come to us next month. Thank you, Dr. Nesbet. >> Thank you. >> 3.9 Financial Updates, Mr. Miles.
>> Thank you, Madam President, Dr. Smith, members of the board. Uh at this time we're bringing before you our February 2026 month end financials and the uh the year of 26 just seems to be humming right along. So uh we are happy to
report uh both ending balances are slightly ahead of where we were as far as projections uh for at the beginning of the year or pri going into the year. Um as you see the general fund um both revenue and expenditures a little ahead
of expectations meaning um uh even on the expense side, our expenses are a little more than what we projected, but the revenue outpaced that and so leaving us uh in a good place there at the end of the month. Likewise, the transportation fund, again, just as a
reminder, we we only get those those are local property tax dollars that go into our transportation fund. So, we get that twice a year. So, we run run expenses obviously every month um and then reimburse uh when those monies come in. And at this point of the year, we are in a deficit as we always are. Um, but it
is less than what we had projected. So, we are uh feel like we're in a good place with both funds. >> Thank you, Mr. Miles. Board questions. >> Just a quick call out. As someone who has managed budgets many times in my professional career, I know how
difficult it is to hit a budget exactly as you think it will be. Um, you sometimes overspend. you often times overspend and you sometimes even underspend. So, I just want to shout out the uh the staff who work very hard and
very diligently to ensure that we are as close to projected budget as possible. Thank you. >> Thank you, madam board member. It's a team effort. >> Thank you. Any other questions? >> I do. I know that we lock in our gas rates for our busy um early on, but I
have a question um concerning il. Do we have lockin rates for that or how does that work? >> We work um that's a great question because that just seems to be in the news lately. Um and and we are certainly seeing increases um just just like
everyone else. So um unfortunately yes we we do fall under that. I know sometimes the question comes up hey do we get certain discount because we're school district. No no we don't. Um we we would love to and if that comes through someday we would take it. Um but
we do work with um we we work with a third party that helps us um with some of the pricing on those things um from a utility standpoint particularly on our natural gas side. Um but um unfortunately we're we're subject to the
volatility of of the market as well. >> Oh man. All right. Thought I'd ask. Thank you. >> Thank you. Good question. Good question. >> And that's also true of impacts from tariffs etc. our pillow any
>> most. Yes. The the one advantage absolutely you're the answer to your question is yes. Some of those contracts that that Dr. Nesbet was talking about earlier that's that's really an benefit of some of those outsourcing and and some of those other kinds of contracts.
Um the fuel that we purchased for buses would fall in line with that. But most things were we're that comes back to your point earlier about m meeting those budgets >> even if they're from one of our contractors who are working on one of our buildings to see some of those tax
costs. >> Yes. >> Thank you board. Any other questions? >> All right. Thank you Mr. Miles. Board committee chair reports. Since this is a big week for the foundation we'll start with Dr. Maul
Holland. That's right. >> That's right. It's a big week for the foundation because it's a gala week or gayla, however you like to say it. And uh they are sold out. So, but people can still um bid on auction items and you can donate to the event if you're not
attending. So, it's um going to be an exciting Friday. And uh thinking of the Lawrence Township School Foundation crew. >> Thank you. And I think it's a different location this year as well. >> That's right. It's at the built well. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Yeah.
>> All right. Lawrence Parks and Recreation, Miss Dunn. >> Well, spring is sprung and or it's almost here. It's Indiana. It's 72 degrees one day and flurries and 22 the next. Um, however, we are getting ready
for our spring fest which is on March 28th at Community Park on um at 9:15. So, a little Easter egg hunt. Um, and then we uh just to mark your calendars in April, we will have our health and wellness fair April 18th as well as the
cleanup day on April 27th that coincides with Earth Day. Um, and you can find all this and more if you go to the visit indiana.com website where you can find all the great happenings here in our city. >> Thank you, Miss Dunn. It'll be nice to
have the parks busy again. >> Yes, it will. >> All right. policy in this bucket. >> All right. The general assembly finished the short session and several new laws affecting K through 12 education were passed. A review of these actions reveal policy themes that will influence
accountability, operations, governance, and funding. That being said, the policy will the policy committee expects an updated policy package early April. That's it. Okay. We will look forward to
that. Just a side note, I did finally read all 465 of our board policies until we get the updates. So, >> yes, >> very informative. >> All right. Thank you, board, for those updates. Now, we will move into our
action items. 4.1, approval of the student devices bid. Mr. Harsha. >> Good evening again, Madame President, Dr. Smith, and members of the board. I would like to uh recommend that uh you approve Virtuic and the repair depot as
uh vendors for our student devices as submitted. >> I'll entertain a motion for the approval of the student devices bid. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Properly moved, Miss Pucket and seconded, Miss Lawrence. Before we go to a vote, any questions or comments? All
right. All in favor of the approval of the devices say I. I. >> I. Any opposed? All right, the eyes have it. 4.2, approval of the RFP bids for mental health services. Miss Neee Meyer.
>> Madame President, Dr. Smith, members of the board, tonight I'm requesting approval for Jane Paulie and adult and child to be the school-based mental health providers as submitted. >> Second. >> Properly moved, Miss Lawrence, and seconded, Miss Pucket. Any other
questions or comments on the mental health services? All right. All in favor say I. Any opposed? >> All right. The eyes have it. The RFP bids for the mental health services have been approved. And Miss Neee, did you
have some guests to introduce? >> Yes, I do. Um, very fortunate that we have both Jane Paulie as well as adult and child. And Jane Paulie, if you could please stand. I'll do names. Um, we have uh Dr. Laura Yo, Dr. Cassam, James
Melton, and Dr. Karen Hill. So, thank you. But they were all part of the RP. And I would also like to introduce Daltton Child. Um we have um Kelly Espazito with us and Asia Bridgewater. And again, they were part of the RFP and
interview process. >> Thank you very much. We look forward to working with you. >> 4.3 Approval of the Common School Loan. Mr. Miles. >> Thank you, Madam President. At this time, I ask that the board approve the
application for the common school fund loan as submitted. >> All right. I'll entertain a motion. >> So moved. >> Properly moved, Miss Dunn, and seconded, Miss Lawrence, for the approval of the common school loan. Any final questions or comments?
All right. All in favor of the common school loan approval say I. >> I. >> I. Any oppose? The eyes have it. Thank you. Board 4.4. Approval of cancellation of outstanding checks. Mr. Miles. >> Thank you, Madam President. At this
time, I recommend that the board approve the uh cancellation of outstanding checks as presented. >> I'll entertain a motion. >> So moved. >> Seconded. >> Properly moved. Miss Dunn and seconded Dr. Mahaland. Any other questions or
comments on the approval of the cancellation of outstanding checks? All right. All in favor? >> I >> I. >> Any opposed. All right. The cancellation of the outstanding checks has been approved.
4.5 Approval of requests for RFP for custodial services. Dr. Nesbet. >> Thank you, Madam President. At this time, we uh uh request your permission to publish the RFP as presented for custodial services. >> Okay. I'll entertain a motion for the approval.
>> Second. >> Properly moved, Miss Pucket, and seconded, Miss Dunn. Any other questions or comments? All right. All in favor of the approval for the RFP for custodial services say I. >> I. >> I. Any opposed?
All right. The custodial services RFP has been approved. Now we will move to 4.6 approval of the request for RFP for the security services. Dr. >> Nesbet. >> Thank you again madam president. Again request the board's approval to publish an RFP for security services.
>> All right I'll entertain a motion for approval. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Properly moved. Miss Dunn and seconded Miss Pucket. Any other questions or comments? All right. All in favor of the approval for the RFP of security services say I.
>> I. I any oppose? All right. The RFP for security services is approved. Thank you, Dr. Nesbet. 4.7 approval of board minutes. Dr. Maul Holland. >> Thank you, Madam President. I present to the board for approval of the monthly
board minutes for February 23rd, 2026 and the executive session meeting minutes for February 27, 2026. >> Okay. >> Properly moved. Miss Pucket and seconded Miss Lawrence. Um, any final questions or comments on the previous board
minutes? All right. All in favor of the approval of the board minutes from February 9th or sorry, this one's off from the previous month, say I. >> I. >> I. >> I. Any opposed?
All right. The approval of the February board minutes has been approved. Thank you, board. President move that we treat action items 4.8 through 4.14 as consent to >> Okay. Do we have a second? >> Second.
>> All right. Properly moved, Miss Pucket and seconded, Dr. Mahaland to treat action item or I'm yeah action items 4.8 to 4.14 as consent agenda. All in favor? >> I
>> I any opposed? Okay, >> I move approval of consent agenda. >> Second >> properly moved Miss Pucket and seconded Miss Lawrence for the approval of the consent agenda. All in favor say I. >> I.
>> I. Any opposed? All right. Action items 4.8 to 4.14 have been approved as consent agenda. Thank you board. Moving to our administrator and board comments. Do we have a
volunteer to go first? It's been a busy month. I know. >> Um, and it's kind of ties with this since we have a lengthy agenda today, but it's something that I use that I find in this climate that we're in now is super helpful. Does anybody do brain
dumps? I highly recommend a brain dump. I'm glad you asked. Okay, brain dumps. It's basically when you take everything that's in your head and you just like write it out. It's not like journaling. It's like just a freelance. Just get
what's in here onto here. You write down everything that's on your mind. But there's a process. Circle what actually needs your attention now. Cross off what you don't need or don't need to carry for the day. And then focus only what's
focus on what's important to you at that moment. The reason why I say that is there's so much going on, but I found that that's something that I use and with mental health, as we've been talking about today. It's a tool that's in my toolbox that has been helping me out a lot. And I did a little research
on it. When you write, your brain moves from amygdala, stress, emotion, to prefrontal cortex, which helps your clarity, decision making, and leadership. So, I just wanted to pass that along because I've been dumping a lot and the dumps have felt great.
That's my comment. >> That was really >> I will remember that. Thank you. >> Miss Lawrence, >> I just wanted to wish everyone a happy spring break. I know the Lawrence family will be uh availing ourselves of some
time away as a family which is going to be really uh welcome um because of it very good to have that moment with the family and I wish everyone uh everyone was the same as well. >> Thank you. Well said,
>> Miss Dunn. >> Would like to wish everybody a happy Women's History Month. Um, also Josh, congratulations on your honor. Much very welld deserved. Um, and thank you to Lawrence Township for acknowledging the fabulous women. I feel very fortunate to
work amongst some of the brightest um, females that I know. So, um, happy women's day to us or women's month to us. Um, and then also, you know, it's we have an opportunity to read um, just things that the superintendent is telling us that you all are doing. Um,
and so I also I want to shout out um another fantastic woman, Carla Johnson, um, who is currently doing what a lot of people don't realize um, and that is HR is working in overdrive to find the best and brightest folks to fill the seats and the vacancies here in Lawrence
Township. I know this is probably your busiest season and so um, just want to express gratitude to you and the work that you are doing because um, I know that you're out and about across the state. So, thank you and I know that you're finding the best and the brightest for our kids. Sometimes in
>> sometimes in Puerto Rico and if you ever need anybody to go with you there, you got a travel buddy. >> And prayerfully, there will be a lot of uh education graduates here coming up in May from all the universities. >> Yep. So, yeah, Dr. Mahaland,
>> speaking of which, I was excited to see the um Lawrence Township will be down at the universities including IU. So, I hope that all goes well. >> Very good. Um, everyone's shared some wonderful remarks. Um, I share all the
same sentiments. Just wanted to add, um, I enjoyed the sixth grade basketball championships on Friday night. Thank you to the township for supporting that because, you know, a lot of schools, some schools have sixth grade in their middle school. So, it gives them that
really competitive feel. And, uh, they brought it. It was it was a really good game. Um, and thank you to the coaches and all the parents. Also, I wanted to, um, we were able to attend the Bears unfortunate loss. So, now that secondary
basketball's over, um, we did have some state champions though in VEX Robotics. So, congratulations to Fall Creek Valley. And I'm gonna I want to make sure I get it right, but I know it was uh, Skyle Test perhaps or Yeah, I'll
turn it over to Dr. Hus Brown, >> Sky Test and Amy Beverlin were teammates in second place in the state and Forest Glenn third and all will be going to Worlds. >> Yes. So yes, this is this is wonderful news. So we will be well represented at
Worlds. And um my last comment is something near and dear to my heart. Uh March is developmental disabilities month. Um we again our schools do a fantastic job of serving all students and we want to say thank you. Um
sometimes you're the extended family we don't have nearby. So thank you for that. I will move on to Dr. Smith. >> Keep it simple. Madam President and board members, be prepared. Next month the Army is coming. We will celebrate Lawrence excellence with student recognitions at our next board meeting
in April. It will be a packed house as we've done very well in academics, performing arts and as well as athletics. So we will celebrate our students next month. I do remind you board that we will be busy on Thursday. We will do a school visit. We will be with the globe drivers who just won a
bunch of hardware. So we'll be there Thursday morning visiting during our tour of Mary Castle Elementary. >> Yes. Thank you. We are looking forward to that. Enjoy our school visits. Our next monthly board meeting will be April 27th here at 6:30 sharp starting with
the student recognitions and it will be a combined work session and board meeting as we have a lot going on. Um we'll be traveling as a board for the National School Board Association as well in early April. So enjoy your uh spring break as well. I'll entertain a
motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Properly moved Miss Pucket and seconded Dr. Mahal. Thank you everyone. I have to go by because somebody