Good evening. Welcome everyone to the South Bend Community School Corporation Board of uh Trustee Meeting. Today is Monday, December the 15th, 2025. It's 5:35. We are now calling the school board trustee meeting to order. Mrs.
Hernandez, can you please call the role? >> Yes. Good afternoon, Mr. Marcus Ellison. >> Present. >> Mr. Marcusello >> here. >> Miss Kate Lee >> here. >> Dr. Sturk Green. >> Mr. Carlos Lea >> here. >> Mr. Bill Snidei >> here.
>> Dr. Janette McCulla >> present. We have a quorum. Six members present, one absent. It is recommended that the school board of trustees adopt the agenda. Is there a motion to adopt the agenda? >> So [snorts] moved.
>> Is there a second? >> Second. >> It's been moved by Mrs. Lee, second by Mr. Ellison. Mr. Hernandez, can you please call the role? >> Mr. Ellison, >> I >> Mr. Costello >> I said it. >> Miss Lee
>> I. >> Mr. Leva. >> I. >> Mr. Sniki. >> Hi. >> Dr. McCulla. >> I Let me clarify. All right, Miss Ellison, did you say second? >> Yes. >> Appreciate it. Thank you. Uh the vote to adopt the agenda passes. Uh six votes,
one person absent. We now move to um superintendent recognitions and announcements. Superintendent Eid. >> Good evening, Dr. McCulla, board members, members of the public.
Uh I have a few couple of announcements. Uh first we'll start with the gift of lights. I want to say thank you to everybody who showed up. We had 840 members of uh Southbend employees who
showed up to enjoy a beautiful evening. Second, we have the graduation dates. I know we covered these before, but I thought we would go over them again because I need to explain something that is on the consent agenda that aligns
with the dates. So, our dates are adult education May 14th at Washington High School at 6 PM. Rise Up and Virtual School June 6th at the Century Center at 10:00 a.m. Riley High School June 6th at
the Century Center at 2 PM. Washington High School, June 7th at Washington High School, 100 p.m. John Adams, June 10th, at Notre Dame PCEL Pavilion at 6:00 p.m. Now, the reason um I said
they align with one of the items on the consent agenda, there is a contract to sign with Notre Dame for $21,000. All contracts must be approved by the board. This does not mean that the board will be paying the 21,000.
U John Adams will be receiving a $10,000 from the board to help defay the cost. They are raising money to cover the 11,000. The board will only be giving them 10,000.
I just wanted to make this clear because there were many questions about that. And the last thing is winter break will be from December 22nd, that would be next Monday to January the 2nd.
And before I finish, I would like to pay respect to two of our former employees who passed away. Mr. L was principal at Clay High
School. Philip L. was hired on August 30th of 1958 and he retired on June 10th of 1994 shortly after they uh won the state championship.
He was with us for 36 years. Another amazing coach and teacher is Mr. Christopher Clark. Thank you. That's all I have. >> Thank you, Superintendent. We now have the opportunity to hear from visitors under action items 9.01,
9.02, 9.03, 9.04, [clears throat] 9.05, 9.06, and 9.07. At regular meetings, the public is invited to address the board for three minutes regarding action agenda items. Visitors wishing to address the board on
action agenda items must sign the registration sheet prior to the meeting and state the action agenda item, which they will address. Individuals may only speak once during this section of the agenda. Speakers shall properly identify themselves after they approach the podium by stating their name and address
for the record. Personnel issues are not to be addressed during open sessions of the school board. The board president may interrupt, warn, or terminate a person's statement if the statement becomes personally directed or abusive. Secretary Lever, has anyone signed to speak? >> Uh, no one today.
We now have the opportunity to ha to hear visitors from visitors on other items. Uh at regular board meetings, the public is invited to address the board for three minutes regarding items not posted on the agenda. Individuals may only speak once during this section of
the agenda. Speakers shall properly identify themselves after they approach the podium by stating their name and address for the record. Personnel issues are not to be addressed during open sessions of the school board. The board president may interrupt, warn or terminate the person's statement if the statement becomes personally directed or
abusive. Is there anyone speaking? John 18420 Crown Hill Drive December 15, 2025. [snorts] The last meeting of 2025. Think back to December 20, 2024. Those of you who are here, the last [snorts]
meeting of the last year, wow, have things changed with this school corporation. The mood, the atmosphere in this building and around is totally different. We now have competent leadership, a
board that seems to center more on the teachers, students, and staff than personal agendas. The turnaround has been amazing. in a few short months. Many people have or are taking notice in this community
to and saying thank you to the current administration and board for working to make things better. The end of the year, a job well [snorts] done, but we can't sit idle going into 2026. There are many issues that still need to
be worked on and resolved. You know what they are. They asked me to name a few. more certified teachers, transportation and driver improvement, increase enrollment, the alternative school, and the CTE center.
But it's time to take a break and enjoy the holidays with family and friends. Then with the start of the new year, it will be time to roll up the sleeves and [snorts] continue to make this corporation better. Keep the momentum
running. The taxpayers say, "Thank you for your hard work and happy holidays. Make 2026 better than 2025." >> Thank you. Anyone else wish to speak? We now move to academic focus. >> I'm sorry. What is it? Oh, I'm sorry. I
didn't see you come to the podium. All right. >> Good evening. Tiana Batis Wadell, 330 Kofax Avenue, South Bin, Indiana. >> [snorts] >> Well, it still remains. Since 1980, no school board has held any superintendent accountable to the federal court order consent decree that calls on you to be
anti-racist. Instead, you enabled the status quo and mirror societal harm on black lives. In reviewing the last five years of South Bin School's discipline data since 2020, you have been steadily suspending black children 2 and a half
times more than white students, sitting at approximately 63% suspension rate for black children when they make up only 37% of the district. Why are you suspending and expelling black children at least two and a half times more? Why
aren't you sharing the data with the community on what exactly the behaviors are that you are seeing in your schools and how you're interviewing intervening through culturally responsive PBIS MTSS approaches. There is no data that shows
that black children behave any differently than white children. There is data that shows, however, that white female teachers, like other teachers, can exhibit explicit biases towards black children that mirror societal
stereotypes manifesting as lower expectations, harsher discipline, and different grading, negatively impacting black students academic and social emotional outcomes. We live in a country where whiteness is rarely named, where we don't talk about the fact that 85% of
teachers are white, 65% are white women, and the most people assimilate to whiteness because for most, that's how you feed your family. You uphold whiteness. But, you know, these implicit biases that white female teachers and other teachers hold could be mitigated
with self-awareness. There is data that shows this school board doesn't require much self-awareness from its teaching staff. I mean, where's the proof of your strategic plan to address implicit bias, which is clearly evident in the data
that shows up each year on your DOJ report? Because again, there is no data that shows that black children behave any differently than white children. This school board has allowed the status quo of a chronic 63% suspension rate for
black children, two and a half times harsher punishment on black children than their white peers for at least the last 5 years with no evidence to prove why >> 30 seconds >> they should be treated harshly [clears throat] and it persists.
This entire school board needs to educate themselves on how you are perpetuating racial discrimination at your fingertips and you are currently doing absolutely nothing to resolve it. Thank you.
>> Anyone else wish to speak? >> Okay. Now we move on to academic focus and today's academic focus is 2026 2027 course description guide and we have at the table uh Mrs. Lee
[snorts] Good evening, Dr. McCulla, school board members, Superintendent Eid, and our listening audience and in person. This evening I would like to come before
you and share our 2026 27 um school high school course guide. That's okay. in the guide. Um we are asking this evening um that the school board of
trustees give us the opportunity to present the guide which you have and my apologies for this technology error but technology is only as good as when it works.
So the purpose of the high school course selection guide is to communicate with parents and students and families in making strategic academic and career decisions. So as you know we have a
course a two course guides or two graduation pathways that are currently in our high schools. We have the core 40 which is under the guidance of our current sophomores, juniors, and seniors. And then we have the new
graduation pathway that our current 9th graders will pursue. And so the course selection guide will address both those um students who fall under one pathway or the other.
Now what's interesting right now for us in adopting this guide is that it is a hybrid and it is a hybrid for the first time or non-traditionally because we are awaiting the release of the 2026 27
updates that the um Indiana Department of Education might have. And the reason that we are awaiting those or because it's a hybrid is that it has not been released to date. [snorts] But we have had several meetings with
the building high school high school building principles and the earliest with the high school counselors and we wanted to know how could we position ourselves to begin the work but also be compliant to the IDOE.
So with the high school counselors, the high school director, the director of CTE, we came together and we decided that we could do the work or begin the work with our rising juniors and seniors for next school year because their course selections will
remain the same. and we are hopeful by the time we conclude their course selections that we will be prepared to continue to move through grades um prek through 9th grade. And the reason that
is important to the high school counselors is because everything um is continues to have a green light when we talk about course selections and the description guide because that determines staffing. That
also determines conversation um additional conversations that we may need to have with our students who are on the correct course for graduation and those who are not. and what do we need to do early enough so that we can wrap
around and ensure that they are walking with their class. And then lastly, it will help us to strategically design a plan so that we are beginning to having those high school graduation conversations with our elementary and
our middle school students. And so what you will see in the updated course description guide once released again by the state, we will also include middle school courses as well as elementary courses because we believe that the earlier we can have that conversation,
the more strategic we are in supporting our students and our families. And then lastly, this course selection guide was not um in isolation. Thank you to the school principles, our fabulous high school counselors, district
directors, the director of CTE, and the CNI department. And especially um thank you to Dr. Bo Yan who has um provided a level of tech uh technology that has really
allowed us to expedite this work by creating um actually codes so that we can keep um our course selection sheets in a proper place. So that is the presentation for this evening. It is very short and we would
ask at a later date that you would allow um us to continue to move forward when that time comes. Any questions might you have? >> Anyone have any questions for Mrs. Lee? Mr. Castillo? >> Yes. Uh first of all, thank you very
much for your presentation and uh I guess I I'll I'll start out by asking the question is there anything uh in the uh 26 27
um course study here that's different from uh this this past year. >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. Costello. Jeff, if you would scroll down to page 196 and 197, I believe we had two schools that
requested additional courses be offered for their students. And that is John Adams High School and Riley High School. And so they um evaluated the current courses that they are offering and they would like to expand those options for
those students for their students. >> Okay. I guess my next uh question, and I think I've brought this up before, but uh I'm going to repeat it. If I if I did bring it up before, I'm going to
repeat it tonight here. And that is uh a look at our CTE program. Um we don't know uh as of right now where our CTE program will be next year.
>> Yes. Um hopefully it's still at clay, but are you or anybody uh making any type of research to see
uh alternatives to uh Clay uh high school? >> Yes, we are. We're we're working on plan B and plan C in case plan A doesn't come
through. Uh, one of the locations we're looking at is Warren. >> Okay. Well, you know, and I don't think you're probably far enough ahead to even give us a >> any any kind of u uh information about
alternatives, but I'm just I'm just concerned that we're working on something just in case. Yeah, >> I think that's the most important thing right now. I mean, we're we're too far uh from the start of next school year to
to be consumed by a fear that something might happen. Uh but uh we we must I think uh you know at least get out there and think about alternative
uh places just in case uh something uh develops out at clay that we don't like. >> Thank you. Anyone else? >> Thank you. >> Oh, I'm sorry, Miss Lee. I just wanted to say uh like it's been really
>> through my actual work like I've seen like the count the high school counselors for the South Bend schools really coming together along with their principles about these new the new graduation pathways the new requirements and really wrapping around this state career coaching framework and what
seeing them they were all at a meeting together and watching them talk about how aligning what they're doing among the high schools has been so meaningful for them. So, I appreciate you giving them the time to do this because it's a huge lift and corporate schools across the state obviously are dealing with
this, but watching our particular heads of guidance work together on this has been really great. >> Thank you. They are amazing and they are leading this work. They are the experts. I'm just along for the ride. >> Let them fly. [laughter]
>> Thank you. Anyone else? See, there's no other comments. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. And if I may, Dr. McCulla like to wish all of our freshman through junior students um both virtually and in person good luck on their finals this week and study hard and do well.
>> Study hard, do well. Thank you. Good luck everyone. We now move to the consent agenda. It is recommended that the school board of trustees approve the consent agenda. Uh items [snorts] 8.01, approval of minutes, December the 1st,
2025. Items 8.02, financial reports and statements. Items 8.03, bills and payroll for payment. 8.04, personnel report. 8.05, resolutions requiring annual adoption. 8.06, gifts and
fundraisers. 8.07, Contracts for 50,000 or less. Do we have a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> So moved. >> Do I have a second? >> It's been moved by Mr. Snideki, second by Mrs. Lee, are there any questions?
>> Miss Hernandez, can you please call the role? >> Mr. Ellison, >> I. >> Mr. Castello, >> I. >> Miss Lee, >> I. >> Mr. Leva, >> I. >> Mr. Snicki, >> I. >> Dr. McCulla, >> I. The vote to approve the consent
agenda passes with six votes, one absent. It is recommended that the school board of trustees approve action item 9.01. Approval of agreement for mail metering services with online data. Is there a
motion? >> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> It's been moved by Mrs. Lee, second by Mr. Snideki. Uh, are there any questions? Mrs. Hernandez, can you please call the role? >> Mr. Ellison,
>> I. >> Mr. Cassello, >> I. >> Miss Lee, >> I. >> Mr. Lea, >> I. >> Mr. Siniki, >> I. >> Dr. McCulla, >> nay. The vote passes. Five votes, one nay, and one absent. It is recommended
that the school board of trustees approve action item 9.02, O2 approval of administrative services agreement for claims administration with JWF Specialty Company. Is there a motion? >> So moved.
>> Second. >> Second. >> It's been moved by Mrs. Lee, second by Mr. Ellison. Are there any questions? >> Yeah. Can you explain again what that's for?
>> Someone Mr. Austinino, could you please explain? Thank you. >> Thank you. So, this is a uh hiring [clears throat] of a third party administrator for our liability claims. Uh recently, we've made a switch where
the school is going to be taking a more active control and managing its claims uh with a different insurance company on our liability claims. And so, we're going to be basically responsible for the first $50,000 of exposure. in or and then we'll have coverage above that. But
as part of that process, we need to have a third-party administrator of those claims. And so, uh, we have, uh, recommending that we go with JWF. They already do our workers compensation, third party administration, uh, and we and they're approved by the
carrier. We've already had discussions with them on how to handle the claims, uh, with our team and and that's what their role is going to be. So this is like a another third party that's in between taking care of the [clears throat] insurance.
>> They're they're tracking the the claims. They will respond to a certain level of liability claims, but we will be overseeing that. We'll be we'll be in charge of assigning defense council uh making uh decisions on whether claims
get settled or not. Uh the reason we have a third party administrator though is because that's a requirement for our carrier above the retained limit. >> Now we wasn't Gibson doing part of that and I understand they're still in there
doing that too. >> So Gib Gibson is an insurance agent uh which helped us place the coverage and they'll they'll have be involved as an insurance agent but they don't really administer the claims. that that's the job that JWF will do.
And that that [clears throat] requires uh uh collecting uh information on on accidents or claims, setting up reserves, uh doing statements if we need them to do statements, keeping track of the claims, um and and being able to
produce reports for us, those types of things. [clears throat] All right, >> Miss Lee. >> So, internally there obviously be somebody who has to be the liaison with JWF for this. So, will this be assigned
to somebody who exists on staff? >> Yes, it already has been assigned to Katie Johnson. Uh, and she uh to my surprise, pleasantly already has good experience in the past life as an insurance adjuster. >> So, uh it worked out very well that she's able to do that and and fold that
into her duties. >> Nice. I also noticed I think Serita's name is spelled wrong in the it's Senita instead of Serita >> in >> in the contract. >> Oh, >> I didn't see that but I apologize. >> I was proofreading.
>> Subject to that correction. >> That's the only thing. >> Any other questions? >> Mr. [snorts] Hernandez, can you please call the role? >> Mr. Ellison, >> I. >> Mr. Cassello, >> I. Miss Lee >> I >> Mr. Lea >> I
>> Mr. Sniki >> I guess I >> Dr. McCulla >> I the vote to approve 9 uh 02 passes six votes once absent. It passes.
It is recommended by the school board of trustees to approve action item 9.03 03 approval of change order with train US incorporated for carpet replacement at Raleigh High School rescends prior award to value floor uh
flooring. Is there a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> It's been motioned by Mr. Snideki, second by Mrs. Lee. Are there any questions? Mrs. Hernandez, can you please call the role? >> Mr. Ellison, >> I. >> Mr. Cello,
>> I. Miss Lee. >> Hi. >> Mr. Lea. >> Hi. >> Mr. SKI. >> Hi. >> Dr. McCulla. >> I. The vote passes. Six votes, one absent. It is recommended that the school corporation um approve action item.
School board trustees approve action item 9.04,ou for the War Elementary School gymna gymnasium usage. Is there a motion? >> That has been pulled. >> I'm sorry. Go ahead.
>> Go ahead. >> That has been pulled. >> Oh, it's been pulled. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Nobody's pulled me. >> And the next one. >> Okay. >> Pulled. Sorry. Nobody told me. >> All right. >> The next one should be of the power. >> It is recommended that the school board
of trustees approve action item 9.05, approval of to ratify new bus driver. >> A that has been pulled >> as well. Okay. >> I know I have the printed copy, but I'm looking at the other copy here. So, I said that. >> All righty.
>> I printed this off just before I came. Okay. Um, it is recommended that the school board of trustees approve Oh, 9 >> 04 >> 05. >> It's 04 now. Is the approval of power
school [snorts] >> approval of the power school contract >> 9.04. Am I okay? Here it is. that uh the school [snorts] board trustees approve action item 9.06 approval of the parro school contract.
Is there a motion? >> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> It's been moved by Ms. Lee, second by Mr. Mr. Snideki. Are there any questions? Miss Hernandez, can you please call the role?
>> Mr. Ellison, >> I. >> Mr. Cassello, >> I. >> Miss Lee, >> I. Mr. Lever. >> Hi, >> Mr. Saki. >> Hi, >> Dr. McCulla. >> I The vote passes six votes. Is one member absent?
>> Is app recommended the school board of trustee approve action item 9.05 approval of the 2026 27 course description guide. Is there a motion? >> So moved. >> Is there a second?
>> Second. It's been moved by Mrs. Lee, second by Mr. Ellison. Are there any questions? Mr. Nes, can you please call the role? >> Mr. Ellison, >> I. >> Mr. Cassello, >> I. >> Miss Lee, >> I.
>> Mr. Snicki, >> she called your name. >> No. >> Hi, >> Mr. Leva. >> I, >> Dr. McCulla. >> I The vote passes. Six votes, one absent. >> We now [clears throat] move to board
communications. Is there anyone that wish to speak? >> We have an item from close. >> I'm sorry. >> So, uh, we have item 10 on the agenda for items from close session. There's one item which was the approval of a,
uh, retirement separation agreement. >> Okay. Because I don't have that on there. Okay. Go ahead, Mr. Augustino. >> This is the agreement that was discussed in close session regarding uh separation retirement of a school employee. I'd ask for your support and approval of
that. >> Is there a motion to >> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> It's been motioned by Mrs. Lee, second by Mr. Snideki. Are there any questions?
>> [snorts] >> Mr. Hernandez, could you please call the role? >> Mr. Ellison, >> I. >> Mr. Castello, >> I. >> Miss Lee, >> I. >> Mr. Lea, >> I. >> Mr. SKI, >> I. >> Dr. McCulla, >> I. The vote passes. Six votes, one
absent. Anything else? Now we move to board communication. Anyone wish to speak? I can go >> Mr. Leva. >> Yeah, thanks. Um, this last week I got
the I attend the University of Notre Dame holiday reception. Mr. Eid Kate was there too and just looking around talking to everyone just the respect we have for Monure Eid. you know, being here for 30 years, you have that respect
and I think the community supports Eid and I want to thank the board for supporting Eid and we're going to continue. We got we're almost there. We got some some work to to go, but um thank everything that Mr. E has done. And then um I want to thank all the
principles too. Um you know, they're not only leaders, but they're also mentors for the the kids, the students, and our faculty. Um, you know, I just I didn't just I didn't come out of nowhere. You know, I've been
around a long time. Been coming to board meetings since I was 18 years old. Um, part of our service hours during my miracore program. I remember seeing every going back to when Bill was on the board and Marshall Hmel and now being here is it's really really cool and I'll
continue doing my best. Um, also like to thank um, Dr. McCulla here. uh for leading us. It's been a you know really tough year at the beginning but I think we gone through that roller coaster and things are starting to be stable so it's not easy being the leader of the board
and want to thank everything she has done. And then um also like to thank uh Dr. Steuart Green um you know it was tough going from the board president to um a nonp president and he could have took that the wrong way but he he
continued to help us. he wasn't bitter about it and he always gave us guidance, ask the right questions. So thank Dr. green and then um I want to thank Marcus and Kate also they always ask good questions you know what's the process like throughout what can we do to become
better and I think we got some good rapport going so I want to thank them as well um like to thank vice President Bill Snyki um growing up I remember Bill on the school board and his brother Larry mailman you know and I went to
school with his nephew and great family I was at highest respect for Bill. You know, sometimes we didn't agree with stuff, but he always called me the next day said, "Hey, you vote what you think is the best thing to do." And I thank him for protecting me as well. He always came out and anytime he felt I was
being, you know, bullied or, you know, being pressured, he always had my back. So, I want to thank Bill. Everything he's done. And then, um, like thank Mark Costello. He's the reason I'm here. He kind of called me back in 2024 said,
"Hey, Carlos, you know, you might this might be something that you want to do and support him from day one. You know, we always call me see how I'm doing." So, and thank Mark. Um, he's always been there and um continue to looking forward to working with him every year. Um, also
like to thank Pete Austinino. Uh, I know there's some questions about picking him as a border attorney, but I think everyone feels very comfortable. and then we're continue helping us. We have a long road ahead. It's all nice thing everyone and hope everyone enjoys the winter break and then um looking forward
to next year. Thank you. >> Anyone else wish to speak? [laughter] Okay. Okay. So, I appreciate the uh Mr. Pajeski talking about our accomplishments and we have accomplished
a lot this year uh as a board and an administration. Uh some of our accomplishments were we appointed a new CFO, we changed uh the superintendent adopting of hand handwriting as part of the curriculum, changes in some of our
policies, uh review of contracts below 50,000 or less and investigation authorization, compre comprehensive state board of accounts audit, transparency on our finances, uh record-breaking contract raises for teachers, uh new contract for bus
drivers, uh town hall meetings on school restructuring, [clears throat] seal of the old Marquette, terminated the outsourcing of maintenance, bought it inhouse, an estimated $4 million savings, uh change in insurance coverage for a health plan, uh savings of 8 to10
million. And I'm also here to announce that the board will be formulating a committee to review and report on the data presented to the cons court supervising the consent degree. That would be a report
on the makeup of this committee and the meth methodology to be used during our academic focus at our January meeting. We have a lot to do and hopefully with the next coming year we can get some things done. Appreciate you. Thank you. Good night.
January 12th. >> It would be January the 12th. >> I kind of told you that