What are the mediums 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. It's birth and war cry. Present. Present. Present. Present. Sherry Tate. Present. Thank you. One of this time, I'd like to ask everyone to take the opportunity to moment of silence in honor of, recently passed four minutes. Thank you all so much.
Doctor Bus, we have some recognition for this evening. Yes, sir. We do. It's a wonderful day, a wonderful opportunity. We have so many of our staff who are doing amazing things, not only in our community, but across the state. And so we are thrilled to have three of those individuals with us today. I'd like to start with Diane Rogers, if she could please come up. Diane has been, absolutely incredibly engaged in work with the, media specials librarian throughout the
state, not only, here in the Embassy Wayne Township, but also, on on a state level serving in a leadership capacity. And, very thrilled to be able to recognize her. I actually received the official award, with two couple weeks ago now, at the conference. But Diane Rogers, Indiana Library Federation twenty twenty five Federation Leadership Award proudly representing the ninth grade center and the Metropolitan School District, Wayne Township presented 11/17/2025.
Diane, you've lost some great battles, especially as we have gone through some political, unrest around books and and, materials that are offered to young people, not only in our local library, but also our school libraries. You've been a mouthpiece and a voice for media special librarians around the state, as well. You've done some some great work with some, discussions, and some some in person discussions as well. And so I just wanna thank you for being a voice for so many, having such a leadership role to make sure that we've exposed our young people to do
literature and all that matters in life. So congratulations. Absolutely. Let's have my mother here and my husband. So my mother, Marion, who volunteers in our library at the library centers and my husband, Carl, is here with me tonight as well as my friend and colleague, Angie Barnes, and, assistant principal, Amy Keller, and my principal, Dom Dix. So they are all here. And Dana Lyle, so my boss at the end. I have many bosses. Well, congratulations. Thank you. You wanna tell me about the actual presentation of the award?
It was last week at the Indiana Library Federation Conference, and that was wonderful. I've been on the ILF board for eight years. I will be going off at December 31. So What were you in your time? And still on the public committees, intellectual freedom being one, which is why I've been at the state house a bunch. So, but, yes, let's hope we don't have any more culture war battles at the state house so I don't have to go ask for a day off. Why don't you need us to get official pictures? So Congratulations.
Thank you. Thanks for all you do. Thank you. Ashley, Wappella, could you please come up? So this was a a, I think, kind of a surprise. Right? We have a student who graduated 1.5 kids, the BU students, and actually nominated Ashley for the outstanding educator award, up at the University of Chicago. It was a virtual celebration, in which all of the students, I would imagine each freshman had the opportunity to nominate the teacher of their choice, and they actually recorded
for, a virtual presentation a little something about each teacher. And so it was fun to see students from all over the Midwest and all over The United States actually. They were nominated teacher from their district, and they actually was nominated by GIP. Can you talk a little bit about, your relationship with GIP and how this kind of came to be. It was during the COVID times, so, it was it was a rough Don's daughter was in that same class with us. It was a rough time. But it was a special group of kids with very disengaging, intriguing minds that just
wanted to be at school and wanted to do things at home. When I sent home little care packages of science, experiments for them to do, I mean, GIF was like, who knows? She's like, I almost burned in my kitchen once it, like so it was really nice. And at the virtual, presentation, they had five students, speak. And it was very it was a great reminder of what it means to be
a good teacher, what what it means to be a good teacher, and the highest students. Mhmm. Because they all spoke to challenge The teacher's a child, but they also want the specific teacher that want them. Challenge and relationships. And I know that we know that, but when you hear it from these incredibly intelligent student students that they were speaking, World's gonna be fine. It's still there. Right? But it does remind you that, you know, the the power of that conversation is not just yeah. Ashley has been a leader.
22. Yeah. And has been a leader, all of those actually, almost all of those would be. Yeah. I still. They would have been there, but not as president. Oh, yeah. Not as when I was assistant. Yeah. Okay. But actually taking all leadership roles since early on in her teaching career. And so, Ashley Pavella, University of Chicago, that's an educator work probably representing center and the next level of solution we have to present. Thank you. And Ashley's taken on. She's been one of our leaders that's been involved with missile as well, or one
of our our classroom leaders. So it's been a little little added extra stuff this year. So I got it. There's more reason. You're welcome. You're welcome. And our last one is for Amy Stowell. Amy, can you please join me up here? With Leonard Seventh Patriot Center, Amy was recently recognized as the outstanding middle school art educator for the American No. Art education. Thank you. Yep. Yeah. We're probably representing Center and met all the school district waiting time to talk to us about it.
Of course, you're here for Arts Alive, and you're here for our annual superintendent art competition. Talk to us about this. I've had the chance to be in your art room and see how excited kids are right off the cafeteria there. Talk to us a little bit about the importance of art and what it does to enhance our students' educational experience and just why you were drawn to art education. Arts. I've always been involved with the arts since I was, a young person, like, probably four three or four.
And so, I haven't always been an art teacher, but what drew me to become an art teacher was that that sense of needing to create. I was in book publishing for a few years and thought this is not where I wanna be as far as editing and recruiting is concerned. So, I left that and and just I wanted to make a difference, and I wanted to pick a subject that I felt would make a difference freedom. Well, do you know how you're recognized?
Were were you nominated? I was nominated. So and and that was from a Yeah. And and Ashley. Yeah. And you for yourself. Possible. Let's get our first picture here. Graduation. At this time, we will suspend our working session and open the pre ratification meeting. Doctor Butts? Thank you very much, mister president, members of the board. I bring before you tonight the pre ratification agreements. And you've heard this, some of this before.
But tonight I bring it back to you again as part of the process towards the ratification of our contract this year. The 2019 Indiana General Assembly and act legislation to send it all back March codified at Indiana code 20 dash 29 dash six dash 19 requiring exclusive lawyer and school employees to hold public meetings to describe the tentative bargaining agreement before the agreement was ratified by the school board. The public will have an opportunity for public comment before ratification during a special meeting of the board on 11/24/2025.
That is next Monday. The Board of Metropolitan School District, Wayne Township, and the Wayne Township Teachers Association hereby convene this public meeting in accordance with senate and all deck three nine. Members of the Wayne Township Class Teachers Association serving on negotiations team included Lisa Priti Allen, president, Joni Waller, executive director, Dan Shafano, Scott Hatfield, Jen Block, Michelle Haim, Alastair Lutz, Lisa Braden, Melissa Mooney, Brian Kauffenstein, Hitzel Garcia Flores, Brian Hartman, and Patrick Davis.
And also several are here today. Thank you so much for being here. Appreciate that. Representing the MSU of Wayne Township Board of Education and management team during this process include doctor Suneya Suggs, assistant superintendent for HR, doctor Steven Samuel, assistant superintendent for finance, Brandon Bowman, board president, Ramika Graham, past board president, Kyle Fessler, deputy human resources officer, Amy Deegler, deputy finance officer, Mark Reynold, principal, Terry Matthews, principal, Greg Mendenhall, assistant principal, Rob Urban, principal, Dom Day, principal, Aretha Britton, principal, and Jen Nichols, principal.
The tentative agreement was posted on the district's website on Thursday, 11/13/2025, meeting our seventy two hours required by law. Indiana code 20Dash29 allows for a one year or a two year agreement. Again code 20Dash29Dash6 requires a limited bargaining to tops of salary, wages, and wage related rent benefits. Following on the substantive changes that were made in this tentative agreement, This is a one year agreement for the 2526 school year. No compensation model is included in this negotiated agreement because all compensation increases are being
given in the form of a one time stipend including for school year 20 '5 20 '6 $1,000 to all teachers. Teachers employed by the date of ratification of the contract are eligible to receive the stipend. The stipend will be distributed within a reasonable time from ratification of the contract. Salary range for teachers hired for the 2526 school year is 52,550 to $104,076. Teachers on the district insurance plan and have established a health savings account with a district approved vendor will be eligible to receive up to $1,000 of a health savings
account bonus incentive. Broken down, $600 for biometric screening, $100 for healthy standards, and $300 for the health savings account signature series. Also, board contribution for the health and hospital insurance, single plan for plan one, $157.30. For plan two, $163.27. Employee and child out for plan one, $390.98. For plan two per pay, $406.13.
Employee and spouse, $413.58 for plan one per pay, and $429.28 for plan two per pay. And for a family plan, $558.91 for plan one per pay and $580.13 for plan two per pay. Each teacher shall be entitled to three days personal leave for the transaction of personal business and or conduct of conduct of personal or civic affairs during each school year. Personal days will be subject to a 10% cap of staff absences at each school.
Teacher who provides eight hours of service during a school year is eligible for one additional personal day to be used only in the following school year. Any personal leave days remaining at the end of the school year will be added to the teacher's sick leave accumulation. Personal business leave may be used at the teacher's discretion. Request must be made in writing to the building principal no later than seven calendar days prior to the day requested. There are two snow days built into the school calendar. In the case that there is at least one unused snow day available after spring break as indicated on board approved school calendar. That day will become a no school, non work day to be granted on the
Friday before Memorial Day. This is the ECA schedule, including, like, ninth grade center, Raiders, and drill, lead school psychologists, elementary high-tech, school improvements, high school sports information director, high school detention supervisor, seventh, eighth, and ninth grade detention supervisors, and seventh, eighth, and ninth special education department leads. Eliminated from the ECA schedule include assistant athletic director, athletic trainer, and assistant athletic trainer. Thank you for attending this public meeting.
The school board will consider ratification of the tentative agreement on Monday, 11/24/2025 at 05:30PM at the Wayne Township Education Center. Public comment will also be recognized at this time. At this time, we will open up for public comment. We have one person who has signed up, Scott Hatfield, teacher at Maplewood Elementary School. Mister Hatfield, the floor is yours. I would like to make public comment. Very good. Any others who would like to make public comment at this time? Mister Bowen, do you want me to close the hearing at this time? Alright. This time, the pre ratification hearing is closed, and we will resume our working session.
Alright. The bus, do we have anyone sign up for public comment before the working session? No, sir. We do not. Moving on to new business for a Wayne township four h. Melissa Bros is here with, some of our four h students and other adults, volunteers who have been other personnel that have been involved with four h. I've asked her to give a brief, overview of some of the activities that have gone on. It looks like some of our students have some talking points, as, as we lead up to a pretty important event, in in the Wayne Township 4 H, and that's
a fundraiser. That was the cookie sale where you get some of the, best priced homemade cookies, all with a great story. So we're on the floor, and we're the kids too first because I'm sure that they're ready to be done. Alright. That's what we are. Okay. Go ahead, Some of those events that, that's for the auction of all sponsors or
four h camp that we take this summer, where we go to And then also supports other fundraising I know.
I don't know. Do you have any questions? Just a little bit about what you do in four h. Some up here have been involved in four h, some have not. So talk about your experience in four h and why this is such an important message. So what we do in four h, we do a lot of helping Europeans. We do a lot of volunteering, just, you know, the weekend. Do you have a door open? Okay. Was it the beginning of the month? Yeah. So it means store store house food. Yes. We did a Storehouse food pantry, and we help, load bosses for families who need
Thanksgiving. And we do a lot of volunteer work with that. We help out at but he's not rest and and we also are treating well. Yes. So the highest part? Mhmm. Yes. We don't need kids to be treating. Girl. There, we don't run activities for kid for the younger kids. Those kids, we have we we oh, how would you describe it? What? The younger Yeah. The workshops. Okay. The workshops. Yes. They're they have a lot of lots of the kids that are, like, kindergarten through
second grade. There are over buds that are the pre members. And then they help out g, slightly older ones as well, which is where they can go to the camp that they're trying to club. At Kent Woods Club, you'll have students from all four of you, students from all over the entire state, more than other other states there as well. At Camp Woodsmoke, we have kids from that we take. Lots of outdoor activities and learning how to live off off of the land.
Well, I wanna add on to it. It's a cool leadership opportunity for us to have some that experience that a lot of kids might not even have by that other ones. So I don't think it works. So who made the cookies? I I did. Okay. Okay. Have a favorite activity or two? My favorite activity is I get to my favorite activity in general is that I get to know Legos and I get to send it to the state clerk Did
a good job made it here. I also get, like, $50. So I'll be calling. I'm sure. My favorite, thing really is the meetings that we have on the month. I really like just planning all of the things for the little our kids, and, I also like playing the camp. I haven't gotten to attend as many times. I happen to cancel once. I counsel once. And it was it was a great experience. Never. Do you mention the cookie option the other date and time?
We do. We'll see. And where will it be? Grandma? Grandma. Grandma. Bradstreet. And four h has been in Ray's house yet for the third year. So not only are these kids going for it, but several of our goal volunteer for a portion of the part of Wake Forest Bridge under Calvin, Robin Lowe, Mary Mason, and others. I'm sure you're well aware that the relationship must have made speak on this a little bit. The relationship with the MSU Wayne township board of education and the Wayne township four h is a unique one. We don't often have that agreement, between the two organizations.
And so for many years, the Wayne Township community has supported four h in ways that is unusual with a lot of other, four h clubs. So, just wanna thank you over the years for all of your support, all of your help. And, it's it's truly been a blessing for our four acres here on the West Side Of Indianapolis to have these opportunities as a peer to peer help and support. So I have a question. In four h at Awesome.
Thank you. Yes. Like, doctor was talking about, we have been in the district. We actually started post World War two. It started with a home ec teacher at the high school that they started bringing four h here. And we are unique because we are one of the only us in Decatur Township are the only supported township groups with school district supported groups within the state. We are totally unique. I kinda when I go to things where I'm going for professional development from Purdue
and what they're offering their county educators, I am pretty much the only one there like me, where we come back and we support just mainly a school district. We have broadened our, offering to help some of the homeschool kids. We offer stuff in the evening that's not attached to a school specifically. And because of that well, not necessarily because of that. But back when I took over in August '22, we had an interest of about a 100 kids. This is after COVID. You know, we're still struggling. At this point, we're up to 286 kids.
Consistently had over 200 kids that we see on a monthly basis at our after school or in the case of ninth grade center. We actually go into the building during their club time, and we're there to help them with things. We actually had a student go to a national event called Ignite that National four h started putting on, and went to that activity last year and got to represent our township at that event. We have grown from being in just six of the elementaries to eight, and I'm
I've sent out things to the other ones and haven't heard a lot of information back, but we'll try again next school year to see if it works. We were working on, something else the kids do, not necessarily these kids, but in general, we do a quilt of valor. Every, when we have a day off on voting day, we meet for a couple hours and the kids work on sewing together and making the top of the quilt. That will be awarded, to our recipient this year, and I think I put on there about six forty five. So between dinner and our awards that we do, at the cookie auction, they will
award that to a community member, who is a veteran that the kids have made. We'll have an award ceremony where we talk about how many years the kids have been involved in four h. Anybody who went from county, went on to state, that type of recognition. We do an outstanding four h'er who gets, an award for that. Let's see. You guys have any questions? Oh, I guess I did forget one thing. David and Julie here, and we have one other person have come on to be, our assistance with me.
I did have one co person before, and she left, so we kind of broadened it to kind of work within that same scale and have additional people help. David is our leader for our teenagers. We have Kelly Stewart who is for our kindergarten through second grade, and Julie is assisting me with all the other things that aren't covered. Just wanna thank you for being so dedicated and making sure that our our students continue to have our our young people continue to have these opportunities. It takes so many people involved, but it definitely takes adults or a minute.
When you have the fundraiser for Kevin, if you have not, as the annual flower sale, always, and I would say, party's flowers and and some of the most beautiful flowers that go by anywhere. So keep an eye out for that in the spring because it's always a wonderful opportunity for four h as well as the cookie auction coming up, but drink up these. Which the difference between those is the cookie auction goes just into the fund that goes for the teenagers. So that's the funds that come out, and they all take the bus that we borrow from the the rent from the district to take us to and from, Camp
Woodsmoke. And then which also helps families that couldn't drive to take the kids there. They don't have to. They just leave us over, which is right now next to the bussing center because our bill our office is in the emergency services education center. Those funds also, they go to help offset if some I'm not somebody I put out, pay us $50 to go. If you don't pay me $50, I'm not gonna tell your kid they can't get on the bus. I don't force you to tell me one way or the other. If you give it to me, great. It helps offset it, but I'm not gonna chase after you to find out about
it. And these kids are the ones that run the show. We have an adult for every eight kids that we take, which the last couple of years, we've been about 25 kids that go. That's pretty much state consistent. But the kids are the ones in charge there. We're there to make sure they're fed and nothing happens. That's our only goal. They're the ones that sleep in the cabins with them. So when a kid can't sleep at night, they're the ones that are dealing with it when the kids are swinging from the from the rafters and wanting to jump
off of the bed. So it is a great experience for them as being leaders of those that are, in some cases, just a year younger than them, but they're the ones in charge. And I think that's great thing going into junior high and high school being able to take that initiative of being leaders within their own respective groups. So Thank you for giving us the opportunity to be able to provide this. Thank you. Doctor Busch, do you have anything to move this evening?
Just a few things. Thank you very much. We are, excited to continue to work with our students in Ben Davis High School as we prepare for the upcoming holiday. There's still time if you have not yet ordered and still need a few sides for, Thanksgiving from culinary arts program. There are link on our, posting this past weekend for family. So if you're interested in that, definitely an opportunity there. But we also have as a matter of fact, we'll be interviewing a couple of our, senior leaders tomorrow to talk about preparation for the upcoming Thanksgiving baskets that Melissa
Edwards has been so involved with for Valley. That is really, really good in this. And you might recall, and I I kept it on my, on my desk. Melissa shared a pack of tartar sauce, about a year year ago at our community with Maine with a little ribbon on it because, reminding us that that's all that her mother had to eat was tartar sauce that she would get at the various restaurants. And so, I keep that on my desk often to just remind myself that, you know, there are lots of our students and families who are struggling.
We were thrilled to see, the government shutdown close or open back up again, which we know is really important for our families to be coming to the holidays, especially those who are depending upon some of those benefits that that are provided. As we all know, the visitation for mister Danson, we recognized earlier today, will be this upcoming Friday from three to eight at Grand Hall, and the funeral will be, there will also be visitation from ten to twelve at, Flanagan Speedway with services following immediately.
After that, it's at 12:00. And then the burial will happen, just soon after that at the West Ridge Park Cemetery. That's the one we'll be there on the Raceway and 21st. So, anyone who, is planning on going to either one of those, will be, those be the arrangements. Also, just, keep thoughts and prayers to the Doyle family as they, experienced the loss of Penn and the 2025 graduate top 30 student, in a a tragic accident last
week. So, we definitely will let you know more about that as as we learn about the details with that. With that, so we do not we meet again next Monday. Just as a reminder, 05:30 will be here, for the ratification of the teacher agreement. You wanna thank, mister Bowman and miss Graham for being representative of the board on that. And, of course, doctor Suddox, doctor Samuel for the heavy lift, throughout the process as, this has been one of our more extensive negotiations as as we know that the
times are are tough. At the end of December 15, we're mainly just flow, let you know Mhmm. Couple of things are gonna happen. One, we're gonna have a human resource report, that doctor Seuss, mister Pestler have been working on. We will also have the opportunity to hear a little bit more about the work of the profile of the waiver, and that's been exciting to to gauge folks in that process. And then work is ongoing with setting all that one commission. Lots of discussion there. And as we expect, there's some tough decisions that, will need to be made, but
hope to have some recommendations for you early in the calendar year as we finalize some of those numbers and break to you some of the recommendations coming out of that commission, to implement for the 2627 school year, as we work for the balanced budget as a result of seven of that one. So I have this present. Thank you, doctor Buds. I'm Gordon Kabinet. I've got a thank you card that was presented to us from the Davis High School athletic director, Heather McGowan, who followed in the passing of her husband.
Doctor Bud's cabinet and board of education, I want to thank you all for your kind words, cards, love, support, and patience you have shown me and the kids. The beautiful planter resides in our living room. I'm grateful to work in such a passionate district and with such wonderful people. Feeling blessed, Evan. Or does anyone else have anything to see?