Is she out tonight? >> She's right there. >> I feel like I'm on the wrong side for some reason. >> No, you're right. >> Yeah, [laughter] >> that's maybe to get away from me. I don't know. >> No, [laughter] no, no. Cuz I don't know
why. When I came in, I was going to sit right there, but You having flashbacks you were the secretary? >> Yeah, that's what that's what that is. Dr. How's it going? >> Yes. >> All right. Well, how are you all? >> Good. I think that's what it was
secretial. >> Thank you, Lord, Miss P. >> How did it go this afternoon? >> It went well. >> He helped. He helped me. What's your >> cuz he was talking
something. >> Okay. So, I'll try again. I because I was able to tag everybody else on the doctor >> that I see. >> But yeah, for some reason >> see cuz I think
so you know when people send stuff to our email address, it goes to it goes to like uh I forget what they call it, but it goes to another email address and we get it. >> Irish Irish. >> Yeah. So like they can email me as my
pipe email address but it comes to Alonzo Anderson 45 MSD Gmail >> cuz my everything comes to that >> for me but >> I don't know.
>> All right. I'll try to fix it. I'll try to see if I can add you to the document. >> Okay. >> I was going to do the ad stuff. Oh, don't do the last place.
>> So, so what do we want? >> So, basic. I think so. Okay. >> Okay. >> No, we don't. I don't see one. >> That's Dr. He sitting back here. You going to leave
it here again? >> No, not this. >> So, >> oh, did you have your button? We just need a motion. >> Okay. Okay. >> Well, hopefully get mad.
>> Okay. >> Yeah, he's back here. That's So that's all just went back to he was there. He's been for a minute. Mr. President, whenever you're ready,
>> shall we stand for the pledge of allegiance? 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. >> Well, good evening to everyone and welcome to our July 9th, 2026 regular MSD Pike Township School Board meeting.
Our first item up is the adoption of our schoolboard calendar for the year 2026 2027. >> I make a motion that we accept the adoption of the schoolboard calendar for the 2627 school year. >> Second.
>> We moved and second that we adopt our education calendar for the 2627 school year. Are there any questions? All in favor say I. I oppose. Thank you. We're on now to uh the good of the
cards. Any patrons that have anything that they'd like to share with you can step up at this time and take three minutes. State your name and share for the good of the cards. >> Good evening. Good evening. Chris Ludy,
>> PCTA president. Um, after last night, I wanted to rise tonight and say I believe we all need to strive to do better. Um, I can say that on a personal note
because last night I used language that I did not intend and if I offended anyone, I apologize. Um I believe people in leadership and especially those in
elected be it school board members or union presidents um we should be able to take criticism that does not mean we need to take abuse. I also see and I believe um
social media people need to be respectful. Once again, there can be criticism. There does not need to be abuse. And I think we've seen a little too much of that recently. Um, if I had my way,
you could only make social media posts with your name firmly attached to it. I do not like seeing people hide behind an anonymous label and then spew misinformation and hatred. And there's
just been not just obviously on the national scene, but we've seen it right here in Pike. I'm getting ready to start my 23rd year in Pike. I love Pike. I am Pike proud through and through.
So, I just once again say I think everyone, not labeling any one person, but I believe everyone we can all do better because we I know we are all Pike proud. Thank you.
points and uh discussion. Well taken, Mr. Woody. Thank you. Is there anyone else for the good of the cause? >> Hello. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. My name is Sterling Davis. Um like I stated yesterday, been here
for 37 years. Raised my family here. Have four children. Met my wife here. Um, I'm not here because of the athletic director position. I'm not here for other positions. Um, I'm certainly not here to question anybody's character um,
that's sitting on the board. I'm here because I love Pike. Um, like many of the people that are employed, the people that you're looking to fill this vacancy um, are from Pike. They're loyal people. And so what I want to caution is that
you don't look over uh one the loyal pike proud people for a magical national or a bigger candidate. Um in addition uh I believe institutions are strengthened not by avoiding difficult
conversation but answering them. Yesterday I heard words like governance, transparency, collaboration and trust. Those are beautiful words but trust is not built by words. Trust is built by process. Trust is built when the public understand how decisions are made, not
just what decisions are made. Uh the deeper I looked, the more I've realized my concern is long larger than one decision. Uh I asked the question yesterday, was there practice? I have questions not only in regards to the practice of hiring uh the ad but the
practice even in the CFO position that you have uh a vacancy um from my understanding um there was a disagreement in January that was stated yesterday rather than that position should be co-athletic director assistant athletic director why
was the hiring process allowed to continue before that disagreement was resolved uh if the board's role is governance and the superintendent's role is administration. Where is that line? Then I looked at the CFO um
uh position last year. The question Mr. Moore requested that more information uh he requested that more information would with making these type of decisions. And two weeks later, uh that vote was amended and the interimm contract was
approved. Where are we one today in in that search? And why wasn't the CFO contract extended? Um, and what that makes me caution is why has there been multiple times in these key positions
where we had to alternate our change? Um, in no time did I ever hear yesterday, um, our board [clears throat] policy is, our, uh, administration uh, approach is this, right? And so I think for us as the um uh the community
I think better understanding would understand the process not only the process but the policy and statute that allows for certain things to happen. Uh these questions are not about personalities they're about patterns. I also want to say this many of us sat in the room and listened carefully. The
board presented it timeline. The community asked thoughtful question but very little >> about 15 more seconds >> uh occurred in public. Uh, and so all I say is this. Uh, we love Pike. Um, but at the end of the day, for us to truly
trust democracy and trust civically that the board is doing the right thing, you can't just tell us what. You got to tell us why and how those decisions were made. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. >> Let me just respond to that. >> The board, Mr. Sterling does not, and
this is for those who are listening on I don't respond. The board chose the best discretionary way to share information with the public last night without a blow up town hall
meeting. any any public person has a right to come sit down with this board individually and and and get the whole picture. In fact, we have seven questions that was taken from our
attorney that we will address and we will address them pretty thoroughly. We already looked at you can't speak no more. You out of time. Uh we will address them pretty thoroughly. And so I hope that these same folk and and
community members will tune in to the answer to the questions that we put on our Pike page that will answer a lot of your questions and a lot of the concerns. We had seven of them that we that we noted that we will address and and I hope that you get that back to the
committee. Thank you. Is there anyone else for the good of the cause? No one else for the good of the cause. We >> [clears throat] >> Hello board members. >> My name is Brian Taylor. I spoke yesterday uh similar longtime Pike
resident. Uh first thing I want to address um is that upon reflecting on yesterday, it seems like um there were statements made um as it relates to Pike educators, staff, etc. commenting on Pike business
publicly. Um there was an inference of code of conduct documents that if you worked any job, you typically got assigned in some capacity. Um however, I I guess have an issue. Um and that it seems like the people who are best
tasked to speak to some of our challenges are being told to not speak out on them. And that is just my inference. Um I know there's probably other avenues that we give or provide to our our educators um and our staff to communicate in terms of uh what feedback
forms etc. However, I think that allowing or providing clarity on what exactly is excluded um in terms of what is protected speech uh would be something that would be an acceptable type of a solution. Um when I was doing some research, it seems that other
metropolitan school districts have something similar. I don't know if you call it like whistleblower protections, what may have you, but some independent form or means for again our most engaged basically the cogs of the wheel to get keep everything moving to be able to communicate. Um that would be my first
call out. Um I'm going to try to be solution focused because I really I hate people who complain or I don't like to complain. I like try to focus on solutions. Um and so that would be one aspect, right? We can't in any way try to have an inferred I guess perspective or
view that we are trying to strongarm our teachers and educators from being able to speak out about what they feel. Um so either greater clarity in our policy and procedures or protections in the um what is that the bargaining agreement? I'm learning a lot about this. I've been on the policy docs the Indiana state
websites trying to get as much information as I can. Um, next point I'm going to cover is related to that co-ad versus cis and ad. I don't think necessarily that is I don't like that's the greatest use of time. I feel like if there's any role I'll be focused on, it's probably going to be my educators
or principles, the individuals who are daily working with these students who might be either special needs, what may have you, that would be the area that I would anticipate there would be a large gathering of sorts. Um, and so what I would like to propose is that hey, is there a possibility of codifying
uh no board intervention um in our hiring process? From what I gathered, the only position that the board even has a say on right now, at least to the extent of vetting, uh, is the superintendent. >> About 15 seconds left.
>> I appreciate that. Um, and lastly, I think maybe some form of a hiring integrity checklist that kind of lists out what the panel is. Um, if there's an executive session, hey, what why does this qualify for executive session? Cuz we don't know what goes on there. Um, and then last, I would say, >> thank you, sir.
>> Financial is area of focus for us, too. So, >> we got to pass the referendum. We barely passed the last one. So, if we don't work together, we're in a world of trouble. The state's not giving us more money. >> Thank you. Is there anyone else for the good of the cause?
No one else for the good of the cause. We move on now to Spotlight on Pike. Mrs. Sarah Dorsy. >> Good evening. As always, we have a lot to celebrate and be proud of here in Pike. Um, we want to congratulate Lance
McMillan who was selected to receive an education matters scholarship for college students from the Indianapolis Urban League. We also just learned that we had four Pike High School students. Um, two of them just graduated. Canon Johnson and Christopher Garner, our
incoming seniors. And then our 2026 graduates are Malcolm Reynolds and Kennedy Chandler who were invited to attend an event at the cabaret featuring Broadway star Sophia Anne Caruso. They had the opportunity to see her and a Grammy nominated songwriter perform
neverbeforeheard songs from a brand um new musical that's in the process of being develop developed. Um the evening also featured dinner, conversations with the creative team and a talkback after the show. Um according to Mrs. Valinsky who's our Pike High School um co-depart
chair for our performing arts department and also our theater director. This is the second time we had Pike students invited to engage in this opportunity which is presented through discovering Broadway. And the managing director emailed her and told her how much they
loved having our students and also that the Broadway actress was very moved by their enthusiasm and excitement for the arts. So, we're very excited that our students had that opportunity. Two of them, in fact, um even got invited back for a master class the next day. We also
are excited that 2016 Pike High School graduate Lars Olsen was featured on the Overcommitted podcast for developers. Um even though the audience for the podcast might be uh developers and engineers, what he talked about was amazing. He is
a full stack engineer at Tate. Um, and in the introduction, the host shared that Tate is a live event technology company and they are behind staging the automation and show control systems for some of the biggest tours in the world, including arena shows in the Olympics.
So, Lars talked not only about his work on projects that millions of people see, but also some passion projects that he has um in development right now. and we were extremely excited to see him highlighted on that platform.
Well, last in this vein, I want to remind you that Saturday is going to be a great day for our Pike community. The Pike family is going to come together. We're partnering with Orthoindi YMCA and Pike High School graduate and Atlanta Falcon Mike Derell to host some incredible free opportunities. Um, check
in for Mike Derrell's fun football drill opens at 9:00 am um with the drills and the drills are for children, adults, anyone of any age and any skill level. That begins at 9:30 a.m. That will take place in the stadium at 10:00 a.m. the
YMCA I saw that Mr. Hooper. [laughter] The YMCA event begins. Um, that will be actually shifted. in the past has been in a freshman center parking lot, but it's actually going to be in the parking lot where our students um our student athletes park in front of the stadium.
So, we're asking that guests come um through the Zansville Road entrance and park in the stadium parking lot. They're going to have um the DJ, the bounce houses, they'll have free immunizations, free sports physicals, free lunch. Um there will be also um a thousand
backpacks with school supplies given away. So, they do ask that people pre-register, we sent out the registration via Parent Square yesterday. We will send it out again tomorrow, but it's also on our website and on our social media channels. So, we look forward. The last time I spoke to
Mike Derell's rep, I think it was yesterday, she had 400 people who had registered and I think that the YMCA may be over the thousand people mark. So, we're really excited and we hope to see everyone there. And last but not least, we of course, as always, want to thank the generous donors listed on this
evening's agenda. Um, Burger King Foundation [clears throat] and Kids in Need Foundation donated school supplies for students and teachers at Lincoln Middle School, and it was worth an estimated value of $150. Common Ground Christian Church donated $166.67 to support the Pike Red Zone Food
Pantry. Dr. Diana McDow donated $1,000 to support our orchestra program at Lincoln Middle School. And the Pike Educa Pike Township Educational Foundation total donated a total of $950 to support classroom grants at New Augusta South and Central Elementary
School and we're sincerely appreciative uh for their generosity and support. >> Thank you, Mrs. Dorsy. Um reports to the board. Dr. Maggie Bishu. >> Good evening, Mr. President, members of
the board, and Dr. Young. This evening, I bring to you 11 policies for your review. The policy committee has met and gone through many policies, including these 11. If you have any questions during the next two weeks, please feel free to let me know and I will provide
you with additional information. Um, otherwise, I will ask for your approval at our next meeting. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Bishop. We're on to action items. First up is um the minutes
of our board of education regular meeting June 26, 2026. June 25th, I'm sorry, 2026 for approval. I make I'd like to make a motion that we accept the amen the minutes from our
June 26 25th 2026 meeting as presented. Second >> move and second that we accept our minutes from our regular meeting June 25th 2026 confidentiality at this time we will not
discuss our uh minutes I'm sorry the minutes from no that's IHR all in favor I'm sorry of accepting our minutes from the last 25th of June 26 board meeting say I >> I oppose
>> we're on to HR Human Resource Report, Mr. Eric Elmore. >> Thank you, Mr. President, members of the board. Dr. Young, I ask that you approve the human resources report as presented. >> So move. >> Second.
>> We move and second that we accept our human resource report as presented by Mr. Eric Elmore. And due to the confidentiality and the nature of our HR report, we will not entertain discussion. We're on the vote. All in favor say I.
>> I. Oppose. >> All right. Next up is our C and D contracts, Mrs. and donations. Mrs. Gray. >> Good evening, Mr. President, members of the board, and Dr. Young. I request your
approval of action item C uh and D uh which include 11 contracts and six donations as presented. >> I move that we accept the contracts action item C and donations action item D as presented. >> Second.
>> Move in second that we accept action item C and D as presented. Are there any questions on action item C and D? No questions. Then we're on to vote. All in favor say I. >> I. Oppose.
>> Thank you, Mrs. Gray. We're on the board member items. Dr. Moore. >> Thank you, Mr. President. I want to uh encourage my president uh on the meeting on last night um and how you tried to handle it to bring it to the community uh to make sure uh that they would have
clarity on things that uh are going on. Uh most people don't have the whole uh story, but the board has the whole story uh of what went on and most people who are commenting are commenting on only what they have. Uh and and we respect
that. Uh but there is a um in order to understand truth, you have to have both sides of the story. And um I want to thank you for how you attempted to try to handle it in the midst of all you had to do. I want to thank Miss uh Dr. Bishop for um uh working with uh Sister
Kelly and I on u uh the um u the report tonight. Uh and I hope all staff members will will look at the 3362.01 uh 4362.01 threatening and intimidating behavior towards staff members.
That is something that you need to look at and uh ask her questions about that. That is something that is going to be a new policy. Uh something that I think is very much needed in Pike Township for our staff members. Very much needed,
very new policy that will be there for staff. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Moore. Ms. Wilson. >> Okay. Sorry about that. [laughter] Um so uh again my first experience with
the town hall meeting last night it was very interesting. Um the one thing that I did want to address there was a comment about um are we going to be making it a a a practice of interfering with hiring. Um we've been asked to
approve when someone is is this is just me so I'm a new so just make sure you understand that but my understanding is when someone is presented for us for hire we have to approve it when it's recommended me coming from the background that I come from if you make
a recommendation for someone we want to be hired and you want me to approve it I would like to know why am I approving this person if they're going to be working for our district and if you can't give me those reasons that make sound sense, then I'm going to ask you
to give me those things that's going to make sound sense. My member, the members on the board had the same thought. And when someone and what made me think this was one time there was an um something was something was um up for approval. I
approved it and about oh maybe a month later someone says I asked them they asked me about it and I said well okay sure well Miss Wilson you approved it. I said oh really okay. Now I'm going to always make sure that when there's
something that needs to be approved that we have sound information to make a sound decision about who's going to be representing Pike. That's all I wanted to say. I'm not sure what's out there, but we have no hidden agenda. And that
we love Pike. My daughter grew up in Pike. I teach in Pike. I worked in Pike. I go to church in Pike. I bleed Pike, too. And I'm still bleeding Pike. When I go to those girls basketball games or football games, I bleed them. So, we want the same thing. We all want the
same thing. So, again, to Mr. Ludy, we all have to do better. and we can do better if we want our our community to be better. >> Thank you, Mrs. Wilson. Mr. Huffer. >> All right. Um, again, kind of echoing
what others have said and really want to thank everyone who came out last night. I I think community engagement is important. Uh, we need that at all levels of government. We need we need more people interested. We need more people coming out to vote. We we need all of those things. So, I appreciate that. Um, it was also my first
experience on this side of the desk at a town hall. I've been on the other side of the desk. And Mr. Ludy, to your point, I've stood at a podium similar to that at the other school at the school we were last night and said something that came out in a way that I didn't intend for it to also, and I emailed every board member and apologized
afterwards. So, um, we've all been there. We're all human and we can all do better. And so, absolutely. Um, I also want to thank and I apologize I didn't write down your name, sir, but the the um gentleman who spoke up here and mentioned going out and reading policies and learning. Learning is important. The
more we know, the better we do. Um, and so I appreciate that. I appreciate that effort. Those policies aren't fun and easy to read. No offense, Dr. Bishop, but but uh so I appreciate the uh um the taking the time to do that. And then I want to address something that Miss Dorsy said. She was talking about the I
believe it was the young ladies that had the chance through performing arts to you know had that exceptional experience. Our athletics are awesome. They they excel at a high level. I I love that. Our performing arts department, I would put them up against
any anywhere in this area and beyond as being just the the top notchotch, the top bar. So, I'm guessing even though the room's not as crowded as the one last night, I'm going to guess we have a higher attendance uh online maybe than typically. So, I want to put a little commercial out there for that. Uh when
the school year starts and the schedule gets put out, don't do it to support the kids. They deserve that support. Do it as a favor to yourself. When those performing arts shows come up, buy a ticket. It will be a fun date night. Trust me, and you'll see a great show. I've never once been disappointed. So, I
want to thank that department. And then the last thing, um, because we only have one this month, I wanted to remind the community that on, uh, 7:20 from 4 to 6 is the food pantry. That's the only one for July over at the freshman center. Uh, please come out if you have need.
That's what it's there for. >> Thank you, Mr. Hoer and Mr. Anderson. >> Uh, first, I would like to also comment like on my fellow board members about the meeting last night. I'd like to commend the president uh, for handling the meeting the way that you did. I understand that in that position only a couple couple of us has been in that
position. You want to say things but to a certain extent we cannot say things due to you know confidentiality especially when it comes to HR issues. Uh but I will say this that we are committed to uh getting the information translating
out to the community because we are the community. You elected us we're no different. We're we're not above anybody but we're just elected to be good stewards of that. And to the gentleman that did talk about policies, I would encourage everyone to understand statutes, bylaws, and policies and where they fit in the hierarchy of those
three. Also, all in all, uh we are a great school district. Everyone here remembers our many battles and we're undefeated against charter schools. And when they come in here, teachers union, the community, the board, the employees, we all pull together and we we're
undefeated. It's in that same spirit that should outweigh any of the mess that we have going on now. We'll get it straightened out. We will get it straightened out, but just remember what we can do as a as a guideline that what we're striving for. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Tash and Miss Kelly.
>> All right. Good evening. Um glad to be here with everyone tonight. Again, thank you for all those that came out last evening and shared with us and allowing everyone to gain new information and perspectives and look forward to
continuing our work together as a community unified and striving for, as has been said, the for the betterment of our district, the betterment of our students, and our Pike community as a whole. >> Thank you, Mr. Kelly. Dr. Young.
>> Thank you, Mr. President. Um I would like to also echo and thank everyone that participated in the town hall meeting uh last night. Thank you for uh expressing and providing feedback. Being someone that's born and raised in in Pike Township, attended Pike schools uh
K through 12, [clears throat] Pike has been and I don't doubt that Pike will continue to be a community that values um education. and I know that they will continue as a community to keep
expectations high u for all of us. So, thank you for your feedback last night. Um you know, even though school is out and our children are are away from school, there are many staff members that are still here trying to wrap up this past school year, they are
completing state reports and federal reports and then trying to ramp up for another year. many staff members are getting our buildings ready and prepared for students and our staff so that they have environments that are more than conducive for excellence uh which is
what all of our children deserve. So, thank you to all of our staff members. Just couldn't be more proud of you. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you everybody for their um comments tonight. I want to wrap up uh with my Thank you Mr. Ludy for um
sharing tonight. you know, when I came by, I rub you on the back and and we and we joke. I didn't know that you were going to step up and make the statement that you made. That to me, uh, that's a
stalward man to do that. Um, I can remember some time ago when Mr. Meetsler was on our board and I was chairing the meeting and Mr. Metsler made a statement and I I cut him off. My emotions got the
best of me at one point, but I came right back the next meeting. Mr. Mr. Mes wasn't even I called him first, told Mr. Mes, I apologize. Came right back in the public meeting and apologize again because that's that's what should
happen. Um, we again I said last night, we can't control the drum beaters on social media. In fact, what I found out today was all the opsene names that I was called to the point that it really
rubbed my son the wrong way and and I understand he had a good exchange talking about now you're going to cross the line. So, so this is bothers me. I will say this to teachers that work for Pike and employees that work for Pike.
We have a policy that we about social media. I hope that we pay attention to that and adhere to that because if we are are inflaming then then there there'll be some concerns there if we uh as workers for pipe we can't stop those
that don't work for pike can't stop that but those who work for pike if they are inflaming and we find out then then then that then they have to be dealt with. So um that's one thing then the next thing is those so that we understand
uh legalities some things are not good to say for for the very protection of others and so when we um last night this is not our first rodeo we've seen this picture
before and uh so when we choose how to dissimilate information. Just know that we're after protecting the best uh possible character of others and not and and and not putting them out there uh in an
embarrassing way. Uh we we we sought not to to use inflammatory words or accusatory words. However, uh we we we would have hoped that the information went over as we would. Now, we will be
responding to um those seven questions which I think we probably will uh respond a little bit more open so that uh those of you who want to know more will probably respond a little bit more
open than what we did last night. So, you'll know just a little bit more about the situation. Uh what we also believe ultimately though is that is that we can pull it together as a board, as a administration, and as a community. Mr.
Anderson said something that's very important. Uh when you talk about uh uh the governing body of the board, you got statue, you have bylaws, and then you have policy. Uh bylaws and policies never supersede the state statutes. And
we want y'all to know that. So if a state statute says something, it supersedes bylaws and policies. And we hope that bylaws and policies are in a in accord with state statute. So uh that was asked last night. In fact, that's
asked on our paper that we will answer. So just know that. And then at the end of the today, I believe that seven board members and administration all again uh want the good of the district and and and the good of our children. Sometimes
it's a matter of how to get there. Uh and it's a matter of uh the steps and the process that we take to get there. And I think that's what one of these this whole thing is about a process. And so we will uh continue to drill down on
good processes and and good uh legal uh laws that we uphold and live by. And I really encourage anyone in our community if you want to uh this year I think it's u I think the four candidates already up
already running this year. But if you want to run for the school board always pay attention. seats are up and they change over and uh and we will welcome you uh run for the school board and see what it's like and uh and in fact see if you can even do a better job. And what
we'll do is be supportive in any kind of way we can. So with that said, uh drive home safely and everybody have a good evening. I got to run out of here. My wife is waiting on the on the lot. I need to get over to a church service. >> President, >> yes.
>> Could we thank Miss Pedford for setting up Yes. at the at the town hall for us on yesterday. We never we never thank her for her setup >> at the town hall for us and we need to do that. >> And while you at it, would you >> so move?
>> Uhoh. Uhoh. >> Okay. Good. Good. Don't you be running over here. >> Okay. Yeah, just