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2026. I pledge allegiance 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.

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>> Thank you. move to our meeting opening and I'm going to pass um the next two uh portions of the agenda to uh Mr. Jim Sarkeesian the oath of office and then you can continue with the uh conflict of interest statement.

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>> Thank you madam president. Uh I'd like to give the oath of office to missia the cyber could you please stand and raise your right hand please and repeat after me. I, Priscilla K. Fatasha Cyber

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>> I, Priscilla K. Fatasha Cyber >> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America >> and the Constitution of the State of Indiana >> and the Constitution of the State of

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Indiana >> and the laws of the United States >> and the laws of the United States >> and state of Indiana >> and state of Indiana. I will faithfully execute the duties >> I will faithfully execute the duties >> of my office >> of my office >> as a member of the governing body

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>> as a member of the governing body >> of the of the Valparezo Community Schools >> of the Valparezo Community Schools >> board of trustees >> board of trustees >> so help me God >> so help me God >> congratulations >> moving on madam president uh before each

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of the board members you will see the conflict of interest statement. Uh, if you could please fill that out within the next seven days and get that back to Miss Nichols. I might also give some history in that regard. I believe Valkarezo was the first school board

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many years ago that required that. It's now Indiana state law. So, if you could get that within the next seven days, I sure would appreciate it. Uh, I'll be back to talk to you in a very short period of time. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh, next on the agenda is uh

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public comments uh pertaining to agenda action items. Who do we have listed? >> Um, none at this time, Madam President. >> Okay. >> All right. Seeing none, we're going to move forward. >> Sooner than I thought. [laughter]

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>> We'll let you continue with the election of offer serve as >> now board. Um, as we move to the selection of officers and legislative liaison, is there a motion to retain the current

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slate of officers and the purchasing agent, assistant purchasing agent, treasurer, assistant treasurer, and legislative liaison. I would love to make a motion to retain the current slate of officers, the

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purchasing agent, assistant purchasing agent, treasurer, and assistant treasurer, and the legislative may. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> Opposed. Thank you, board officers and

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attendant people. After that, I believe that uh concludes uh the procedures that I will be in charge of at this time. >> Yeah. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> We are now moving forward um for approval of the consent agenda board. Is there any discussion on any items in

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that for the consent? If there are none, may I have a motion, please? >> So moved. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> Okay. All in favor say I. >> I.

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>> There are no opposes. Uh motion carries. Um we are now moving on. I'm really excited about us changing slightly our agenda um in favor of our new superintendent. And so he had some layouts that we wanted to consider. Um

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and so you get to hear from the superintendent uh a little bit earlier or sooner than you normally would during any of our previous board meetings. So now we'll have our super superintendence report by Dr. Brian Smith. >> Thank you, Madam President. Uh

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appreciate uh having me uh allowing me to give this report. One of the things I wanted to do was try to communicate as much as possible and share as much information with the public as we can. So I added this agenda item and it'll we'll have it going forward. We also

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will continue to have bring positive things our students, but we didn't think we had anything until yesterday. We received a phone call yesterday um about an incredible thing that happened and we have to get that going tomorrow. Thank you to one of our board members who who shared that with me right away. So, I'm

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going to throw this in here right here because it falls under superintendent report because I'm reporting on it. So, um I want to do a offer and we're going to have the the mom come up in a minute because she uh the student couldn't be here tonight, but I want to do a congratulations to and I want to make sure. Is it Elon?

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>> Elan. >> Okay, got it. Elan Oro, uh, junior at Valparezo High School for the upcoming school year. Um, she plays club soccer for Galaxy, and if I get some of this wrong, please correct me. Uh, public soccer for the Galaxy Soccer Club and

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has been selected to represent the United States on the U16 women's soccer team. >> Yep. >> Um, she her dedication and years of hard work, commitment, and sacrifice to reach this level. Representing her club is significant achievement, but

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representing her country is even more extraordinary. Her journey reflects the high standards she sets for herself, her environment, consistently pushing herself uh more and more every single day. We're excited to watch her compete alongside the top players in the nation.

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I was looking at the roster, people from California, Colorado, you know, all over New Jersey, Massachusetts. It was crazy. >> All over the country. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. Um, so we're we're super excited for her and and am I correct in did I read correctly or hear the rumor

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that she verbally committed to play soccer at UCLA? >> Yes. >> Wow. >> Wow. That's incredible. >> It is. >> So is what we've done and we got a picture of her up here. Um, we're excited. Maybe when she gets back and is, you know, we'll get her up get her out here. But we always give Valpo

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cookies to our students. I don't know in her training if she can have them, but she runs lots of miles. >> A lot of calories. >> Yeah. a lot. [laughter] So, we appreciate it. But, um, could do you would you step up and tell us a little about your daughter for a few for a little bit? We'd love to hear about her. >> Yeah, she actually plays in two clubs.

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She plays um on Galaxy, which is an Illinois club, and and their seasons in the fall, which is our high school season. So, but in the spring, she'll play with uh NWI Lions, which is a local club. And um that's really who got her

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recognized was the Lions. She was called into a camp her eighth grade year and um she's been called back to about two camps a year ever since then. Um and the goal is when you go to a camp to be getting called back and to eventually make an international roster. So a

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couple of girls she plays with have um gone to um Spain and Italy to play. And so this time she she's going to play at home but against Mexico. So Mexico's a little rough. So fingers crossed. [laughter]

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bad happened. So, um, but yeah, she's she's very driven. Um, very driven kid. We have a a small soccer pitch in the backyard. I don't have a deck, but I have a soccer pitch. So, she's out there a lot. Um, we even have somebody loaned us some lights. Her coach loaned us some

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lights so she can be out there. She get the snow shovel out and and practice. But, uh, yeah, we're super proud of her. This is her dream. She wants to play, wants to go pro, and that's part of why she picked um at the uh UCLA there. There's four pro soccer teams out there

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she could possibly connect with um through through that touch point. So, but yeah, she's uh ranked I think 34 in the country for her age group and she keeps kind of going up the ranks. So,

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and she's killing it at school. She's got really great grades. Um, so UCLA is a good fit for her because academically they're it's a powerhouse as well from a sports standpoint. They're really they're really up there. So yeah, we're super excited. We only got a year and a

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half with her. She's going to graduate half a year early. >> So um but yeah, super excited. We go in August. We're going to be gone for a couple years. [laughter] Okay. But it's a college visit, our first official visit. and um that she'll

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sign her papers with UCLA and they'll have a media day. We'll have some photos you can post if you'd like. >> We'll make it excused if we get tickets to the Olympics or World Cup for Dame, but didn't happen. But UCLA is the right

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fit for her and she's super super excited. So, thank you guys for honoring her. >> Well, we're we're super proud of her. >> [laughter] >> No, I'm gonna be a little PR for a minute. Our NWI Lions Club has had nine

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kids go to camp, USA camps. And that's >> that's awesome. >> More than some of the higher level clubs in the region. So, that's my little plug for our soccer group. They just bought some land, so they want to, you know, get things going here. >> Did you play?

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>> Me? No, my husband my husband was the soccer [laughter] band marching band. >> Hey, that's good support. Marching band is good support, too. So, that's where she gets her hands from [laughter] there. >> Well, thank you guys. Thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you.

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>> Thank you. >> Um, a few more things I wanted to add, Madam President, with my my report. I want to thank everyone for being so welcoming and supportive these first few weeks. I added this report to the agenda because it gives me a chance to share with the public um and the board some things that are happening across our district. I still want to reserve the

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right an opportunity to say a few words at the end of the meeting if need be. Um I did add construction agenda item um as well. I think that was important. Our taxpayers have been extremely gracious in Valpo in funding these projects and we're going to have Skillman give a monthly update on the progress with

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explanations on what we're working on and our progress that's taking place. Um, I'm blown away by the collaboration um with the town, especially the fire and police department. Huge hats off to our own Dr. Barb Connect for working so diligently with our first responders and putting together emergency drills last

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week. Uh, 31 years I've never seen anything like that in in in education. Um, we hope to never be in these situations, but I'm so so uh so appreciative for those that helped with the drills from the fire chief, um, the the police, the school employees that

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played in some cases, uh, our own Dr. Watkins husband was shot in that one. So, um, I asked her jokingly if he had his life insurance policy up to date. So, um, I also want to thank, uh, just everyone who who had anything to do with that. and and then um the police chief

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for inviting me the next day um to come to the department and and tour their facilities, some cutting edge technology uh to that they're putting in place for to save residents and officers. Um it was a pleasure getting a chance to meet with Mr. Rex Richards and his executive

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board at the Chamber of Commerce along with all those who attended the meet and greet this past Tuesday. That meant a lot to me and I really appreciate all of your support. Um huge congrats to our high school. This was interesting. Um, one of our board members sent this to me. Um, the WIBC,

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um, which I'm not super familiar with, but they ranked the high schools, charter schools, public schools, and, um, private schools. That's over 500 high schools in the state of Indiana. They based their score on rigor, academic rigor, teacher quality, and real feedback from students and parents.

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And out of those 500 and some schools, we came in 13th. So, that's a pretty cool number. I'd love to be top 10. I was a little competitive. I immediately looked to see how did we do in the DAC. We were number one in the DAC. So that was that was pretty cool. But uh great kudos to to everyone who's involved in

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that. Um many of you have noticed we posted a director of communications. I strongly believe this was needed at VCS. This position um in this position we're able to cancel some other services outside services that we use and some

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printing services. We feel like as we um we're slowly taking some of these services away, as the communication director takes that on, this will actually be costneutral and shouldn't cost the district additional dollars, but it should bring us um all kinds of

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of accolades that we do need. Um districts our size, districts smaller than us have directors of communication. I think it's an important position for for Valparezo. We do great things in our schools on a daily basis and people need to hear about and see the wonderful

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things our students and staff are doing. Um, and I mentioned my goals. My goals are listen, observe, learn as much as I can um about the community and the schools and concentrate on communications, transparency, and continue to give our students the best

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opportunities that we we offer. Um, and add where we can. That's it. >> Excellent. Thank you. Um I do want to add that we are grateful we now receive this this Friday will be our third um

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write up of how well uh Dr. Ryan has been doing and so we appreciate those updates. We keep uh chuckling about how much we appreciate um him informing us of what is happening throughout the week. And so that is that is definitely need to be commended as well. I'm not sure if that's the same poll last year

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when we were at 17. >> I'm not sure. I got a Google alert on that. So, I'm not sure where, but >> we'll look into it and see. >> 13 favorite number. >> We were 17 at one point and now we're moving up 13. And I know um we've been talking about being in the top 10. So, let's let's get there. Um all right.

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There is no old business to discuss. Um we are now moving on to new business. Uh high school calendar adjustments. Dr. Tab. >> Good evening. President Members of the board, tonight I request your approval of a calendar adjustment that will allow high

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school to implement a revised final schedule beginning with the 2026 27th school year. Specifically, we're requesting that the final the final full student day of each semester be changed to a half student day for the upcoming

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school year. This would change December 15, 2026 and May 23rd, 2027 from full student days to half days. This adjustment aligns the high school calendar with our elementary and middle schools while allowing us to implement a

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more balanced final exam schedule. Proposed schedule includes one full exam day with three final exams followed by two half exam days with two final exams on each day. This format maintains flexibility for authentic project based

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and performance-based assessments while encouraging stronger attendance through the end of the year and supporting Indiana's emphasis on attendance and accountability. recommendation was [laughter] through a collaborative process. We

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gathered feedback from an 18 member instructional and leadership team, 17 faculty representatives from across our academic departments and our students through a schoolwide survey. Our goal was simple to develop a final schedule

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that supports student learning, reflects today's instructional practices, and provides a more balanced assessment experience. The consistent feedback from both students and staff was to create a schedule that balances students testing workload and eliminates the need for

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students to return to a class after completing that class's final exam. The calendar adjustment before you tonight schedule possible. This recommendation recommen reflects thoughtful collaboration with our teachers,

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instructional leaders, and students while supporting academic rigor, meaningful assessment, and student success. Thank you for your consideration. I respectfully request your approval for this calendar adjustment. >> Right. Forward. Is there any discussion? I apologize. I'm out of order on the

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agenda, but we're going to continue with this one and then [clears throat] we'll go back up. I realized why you looked at [laughter] me, too. I appreciate you about I had already scrolled down on my apologize. >> We're flexible. >> You did really well. Thank you. I think

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Well, >> she was ready. >> Yeah, you were ready. That's We don't get ready. We stay ready in Bal. So, [laughter] >> um or is there any conversation discussion for Dr. Spo? >> No, I think this is this is great. I'm sure the students probably will really appreciate, you know, the half days and

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then also, you know, kind of having their tests spread apart and again, not having to go to class after you've already technically finished it, right? So, >> become a struggle. >> Yeah. >> So, what happens? So, if people have to make up tests or they have to come in and they need extra time or something

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like that, >> how does that study tables that take place throughout the year, those are already implemented by teachers. So, um, what we're going to work with, uh, our transportation department to do is try to extend that time so that, uh, kids can stay after they can study in the cafeteria and then we'll also give time

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for the kids that need to come in and make up extended time for. >> Y, it seems like it makes a lot of sense to me to to split that up and like I said, cut down on the okay, we have to sit here and then the teachers don't know what to do and the students know what to do and >> creates more. Our exams are four days.

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They take out four days by department. So by making this three days, it actually gives them one more day to have. >> Thanks. >> That's great. >> I would also add with the accountability, we're going to start going back to the A to F models and getting grades again. I remember those

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old days. They're coming back. And attendance is a portion of that. And as kids were skipping school or not showing up because they'd already finished their finals, that dings our attendance. >> Yeah. and there's nothing that could be done to incentivize them because you can't give assignments after the final grades are issued anyhow. So, this

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eliminates that problem as well. So, I think this is a great idea. >> If there's no more discussion, may I have a motion, please? >> So, moved. >> A second. >> Second. >> All those in favor say I. >> I. I. Seeing that everyone is I there are no opposes. This motion carries.

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Thank you, Dr. Don. Thank you very much. >> All right. Dr. Holy, Mr. Holyfield, J Money. Going back to J money, financial reports. Can I have a performance of budget funds, please? [clears throat] >> Thank you, Madam President. Uh, each month we present our financial report

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comparing year-to- date revenue to the year-to- date expenditures for our tax supported funds. Our year-to- date performance of funds report for June 30th shows the following. In the education fund, year-to- date revenue of 27,656,515, year-to- date expenditures of

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28,453,831. Uh the expenditures do include the monthly $655,000 transfer to the operations fund. In debt service, year-to- date revenue of 3,149,496, year-to- date expenditures of 2 million 2,939,193.

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All debt service payments have uh been made to date and the next tax draw will be in December. in the pension debt fund. Year-to- date revenue of 544,952. Year-to- date expenditures was that last

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payment of 702962. The $345,000 temporary loan from the rainy day fund will be repaid in December. And as I said, the final payment has been made. There will be one more final tax draw in December. In the operations fund, the year-to-

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date revenue of 12,268,292, year-to- date expenditures of 10,67447. Uh the revenue does include that monthly transfer from the education fund. Next tax draw will be in December. [laughter] In the operating referendum, year-to-

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date revenue of 3,524,237, year-to-ate expenditures of $2,7335. Next tax draw for that fund is also in December. Capital referendum year-to- date revenue of 5,991,49 year-to- date expenditures of 5,165,000.

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All debt service payments for this fund have been made and the next tax draw is in December. Uh the rainy day fund has had no revenue, no expenditure. the aforementioned ion $345,000 temporary loan to pension debt for uh cash flow

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purposes and there uh that will be that will be repaid in December. We believe a review of the fund shows a positive financial position and if there are no questions we ask that you approve the financial reports for June of 2026. >> Uh any discussion?

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If there is none, may I have a motion, please? >> So moved. >> A second. >> Second. Uh all in favor say I. >> I. >> Uh there are no opposes. This motion carries. Now going to contract considerations. Dr. Brian Smith.

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>> Yeah, Madam President. We um I have included in your your board packets there um the contract considerations and I would ask for your approval at this time. Discussion. >> Um we have some discussion. Uh okay.

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Yes, I just wanted to make a comment and ask questions a little bit about the contract with Dr. Jim McCall. Um, so regarding the consulting contract between Dr. McCall and Valprazo Community Schools, I would like it to be clearly stated that the services are

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provided on an as needed basis only. I would like to have clear-cut parameters stating that the $3,000 monthly fee is a a maximum and is not assumed amount to be paid for 12 months if the services are no longer needed. I would like for

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Superintendent Brian Smith to have the opportunity and availability to consult with Dr. McCall if he has a question for which he needs advice or additional information. And I would like for such sess such sessions to be uh reported to

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us in some way that you know Dr. Smith lets us know the services are needed and being used um and if the services are not required in a given month we would either consider cancelling the contract or no fee would be made and I have the

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utmost respect for both Dr. Smith and Dr. McCall. I'd like to provide every opportunity to make the tra their their transition a smooth one. I believe that allowing for consulting to be available if needed is an important step. However, I don't want to allocate monthly

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payments if no services become required. So, in order to vote for this contract, I would like to ask that the contract be written or amended to clarify the aforementioned points. I'd like to consider tableabling it

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until next month. I know others have other >> I was just going to ask I don't disagree that we want to make sure that we're not spending money unnecessarily on this. Um we are just getting into the the transition period want to make sure that that is available uh that any kind of

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consulting services are available. Is there any uh I suppose suggestions how would we be trying to amend that to do you know an as needed a partial three of the $3,000? I'm not sure exactly how we would do

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that and as opposed to a retention agreement where it's if you need it's there. So my my take on it would be I believe that there's already been some and correct me if I'm wrong some kind of consultation as this first month went

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through. Is that right Brian? >> Correct. >> Okay. And so to me it would be a coming up for next month. We're allowed to cancel it it at any time and Dr. McCall's allowed to cancel the contract at any time. Um one proposal that I have would be to approve it for this month

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and then come back next month with an amended contract or a different contract altogether. cancel this one and and adopt the new one. Um, if we don't think that the amount is appropriate, if we're not getting enough feedback from Dr. Smith that it's necessary, we simply

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cancel the contract. Um, I think that there there could potentially be some things as we get into the first few months of the transition where it would be necessary. I don't know if we're going to need the entirety of the month, but it would make sense to me to have that ability there. But if we're going to to take away the

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monthly structure of it, we would have to come up with something different. So, do we have any other suggestions on on how to do that? >> Yeah, I know that's one of the things that uh you know, Carl and I kind of worked on this uh

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um we had taken and Carl, please correct me if I'm wrong. Superintendent Burda um during that transition to Dr. from a call. There was a similar contract in place which we kind of reviewed and um working in consulting I had reviewed the

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contract and I Carl and I kind of went back and forth on this because I I didn't since it's not necessarily like a true consultancy I I don't have an expectation that you know Dr. calls keeping tabs and you know reporting you

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know 15minute increments or anything like that at the end of the every month but again since it's canceable I would assume if we're not using it and Dr. Smith would convey that he's not using it. We would therefore then cancel it. Um I don't I don't know how realistic an

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expectation it is to manage time like that when I guess he's not a a true it's not a true consulting contract, right? Um but I mean I think it's very reasonable to say that or add

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language around a if Dr. Smith says, "Hey, I'm not using this." Then we cancel it or there's no payment that month or whatever the case may be. I don't know how we go about doing that, though. >> It would definitely need uh further discussion because there were some edits

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made from what was uh initially presented when um uh Dr. Vera um was serving as a consultant. We wanted to make sure I know that in this piece that we allowed room for termination and that it wasn't we weren't just stuck to the

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full year and so that it allowed us some uh flexibility and to cancel the contract if Dr. Smith did not need it. And then so I I do um imagine we'll need further discussion as to how that would look, you know. So um because there has been some uh discussion and consultation

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this month. um do we just pay out this month and then um like you said come back next month with some um amendments to the contract uh having to uh making sure that we're addressing the fullness and the depths of this contract in full.

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>> I think for these reasons um my opinion was that maybe we pay for the current month that Dr. McCall has served and helped us. It's been invaluable. Um I think going back to Mr. Burda and Dr. McCall. Um, at that time, Jim McCall had

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never been a superintendent and probably did require a little more consultation. Um, as well as Dr. Smith has had 17 years and we've already had a couple of different issues come up. He's very capable and competent. So, I I think I

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would leave it somewhat in his hands to whether he feels he needs extra help. I I'd definitely want to provide it if it's needed, but if it's not, I'd like to reconsider that. >> Yeah. Well, is it something that we can then add the language in there that just

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says on like a reporting basis, if it's utilized, it's paid. If it's not utilized, it's >> I think that would require an amendment to do that. Um, >> yes, >> I think we should go ahead since there's been services provided. I think we

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should approve it tonight. And you know, my understanding is if >> the first couple months are probably the critical two, three months and um and then we can decide that if it's it's run

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its course, then we can terminate it. But I'm certainly open to looking at it, you know, if the majority of the board wants to look at it next month. So, your overall motion would be to approve it with the expectation of amendments um uh next month.

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>> It I think kind of where I'm going to jump in and say I think where you're coming from is that no one's disputing there's been some kind of consultation provided thus far and it was provided with anticipation that there was going to be, you know, under this agreement.

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This agreement hasn't actually taken effect yet. um regardless of of who is signing what when it doesn't become an effective contract until we approve it. >> Um as a matter of just basic decency, I

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don't feel terribly comfortable allowing someone to proceed with working under a contract that they assume is going to probably be approved and then yanking it out from under them. But I don't think anybody's proposing that. I think everybody's in agreement that we would be paying for the first month that's

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already largely been completed. And so to me, we approve it and then if we wish to resend it, the way that the contract is written, that can be done whenever we want to. So if there's an amended version with this language that you're talking about, I don't disagree with that language. We just have to figure

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out what that is. But then you approve this one and then come back with the to cancel it next month and replace it with whichever language we feel more comfortable with for the duration of whatever we want the duration to be. Um as far as the reporting uh to me that is

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a question of we don't have to have Dr. McCall account for anything because the person that he's consulting with is already our district employee the only one that we actually hire. So Dr. Smith is more than capable of telling us hey this is what I'm using this is what I'm not using. I don't think I'm going to

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need anything further. And we say, okay, then we're done with that contract. So, >> so it it proves that the editing of that contract is um beneficial in the sense that it has given us room and to be able to make the adjustments that we need to make. So, I'm going to ask that you make the motion with

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>> So, we So, what would those revisions entail then? The >> whatever we decide we want to do with >> and it would have to be mutually agreeable, >> right? Dr. Well, yeah. But the alternative would be there would be no contract if we're going to resend it and that would be >> yeah,

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>> you know, >> in our taste. Um, okay. So, we're looking at adding language around reporting, right? It's already cancelellable at any time. So, that's kind of a non-issue. >> Um, >> and the provision, I think, makes sense to say if it's not being utilized during

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a month, then no services are provided. >> Yeah. You don't. But then that begs the question of why is it on a flat per month fee as opposed to on an hourly fee or something like that? I'm familiar with the retainer agreement. That's that's what this reads like to me is he's being held on retainer. >> His expertise is being sort of leased to

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us as it's needed for a period of time. >> Yeah. >> Um maybe we need it for a month, maybe we don't need it after that at all. Maybe we need it for six months. I don't know. But that's going to be up to >> making himself accessible, right? Like that's that's the other caveat. not he's not saying like no I can't do that or whatever that's what the

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>> right >> the retainer I don't using the proper >> legal jargon is there for okay >> any other discussion board uh before um I ask John to make the >> Yeah so I have another contract question

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so um on the harp harper contract software >> um agreement how like so I know my understanding is That's classroom management, correct? >> It's monitoring of the IT resources. So,

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it allows Sorry, where where's somebody that could [laughter] you can >> It allows whoever's in charge to to view what's going on over school devices. >> Okay. >> So, it's monitoring all during class. >> So, when the kids are opening up the new

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tabs and going on to, you know, whatever Steam site and playing video games, the teacher can write a message and be like, "Hey, maybe back to work now." without interrupting class. >> Okay. Um, how long have we been utilizing that for? >> Quite some time. >> Okay. >> Nice. Sorry. I just wasn't familiar, so

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I wasn't sure what that was on there. Um, okay. Um, I guess before we do vote on contracts, is there anything else? >> Well, just going back to the contract because we're kind of in the middle of that motion and we haven't voted yet on

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that first motion. But when we talk about utilizing the services, what constitutes utilizing the services? Is it maybe a 15 minute phone call in a month or is it several days? I mean, I what how do we

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monitor that at all? >> Well, that's why it makes sense to me to go back and if that's something that we're concerned about. We can try and and break it down and say it can be on an hourly basis. We can try and say that it must be more than a specific amount,

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but I think it makes more sense to have Dr. Smith reporting to us on what has been done or needs to be done than trying to get an accounting from somebody else if he he knows what's is or is not being. >> I agree with that. I we just don't have any of that language in there, which is

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I don't I don't want to get rid of it or cut out Dr. McCall at all. That's not my point. I just wanted to be a little bit more clear about A way to measure. >> Yes. A way to measure >> matching the dollars. >> Um do you uh excuse me. Do you think I

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should um do two separate u motions on one and then separate the other or just do it all together? >> You would need to do whoever. So if they had the motion then you have to wait for a second before you can move on.

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>> Oh, I'm sorry. Well, what I was asking is if we separate the two motions, just go ahead and approve the original contract that we have and then >> separate output one. That's >> I understand what you're saying. >> I don't know if that's necessary. >> I I think my motion is essentially to

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approve this late as is and then just come back >> on hand. In August, we can come back and decide what to do. I think that's the cleanest way. >> So then you just have one motion for all the contract considerations. Okay. >> And I mean, can we even go as far as

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saying that we'll technically cancel? >> No, I think you come back and revisit it next month. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. The reason I asked on some of the other boards that I sit sometimes when we have Yeah, we will separate them so that it is clear um

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especially for minutes um and other purposes. And so if we're all in agreement that when you make the motion it'll be all the contracts that are listed um with the uh adjustment to the Macall contract. >> If you there is no thing there is no

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adjustment >> and then for our next agenda >> just make we'll just add >> we come back and say hey this is a contract you like to have instead we can all look at it and say yes or no on that. >> Okay. Can you make the motion? >> So can we have that in the minutes that we will do that

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>> as part of the agenda? Yes, >> that's why it should be a part of the motion so that it is in the agenda. It is in the minutes so we can move forward. How about this? We already know that we're coming up. >> If we don't have a motion yet on the table, I would then move to add

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consultancy contract with Dr. McCall to next month's agenda. If we're going to do it as one motion, yes, I was going to offer this motion first so that everybody can feel comfortable that it's already been approved and is on next month's agenda before I move to >> for separating the two. So, let's do

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this so that we can move forward. Go ahead and [snorts] make the motion. We're only making the motion right now regarding Dr. McCall's and then we'll come back and do the others. >> So, before we vote, can I make one broader observation? Sorry. [laughter] Um, so one of our responsibilities as a

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board is to make decisions through an open public process. >> And so that means that agenda items are discussed here, that the questions are asked here, >> and that the answers are given here, and the public has an opportunity to hear

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that discussion before we take action, right, before we do anything. So, I think we're, you know, I'm aware that this agenda item has generated some discussion before tonight's meeting and, you know, I think everyone would agree with me that we welcome questions about

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board decisions and public comments and contracts, but and that's part of accountable government, right? Like, we want those questions. We want to hear them. But I don't think that the public should be encouraged to reach conclusions about a board action before the board even has an opportunity to explain it.

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>> That's good. >> Again, that's that's why we have these meetings. And my biggest concern is that when that happens, incomplete or inaccurate information can become part of the public conversation before the facts have even been presented here. Um,

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and it makes it harder for the community to evaluate the issue on what is actually being discussed in this meeting. Um because I mean this is probably the biggest audience we've had besides for Dr. Smith's uh uh vote. Uh but typically

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uh we are talking to Mr. Williams uh usually only. So um but that's exactly why this public meeting process you know is important. It matters. Um but yeah, so I just want to make sure

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that you know the understanding is is that this is the public meeting. This is where we discuss the contract. If there's questions, you know, please let us know. Please come to the meeting. Please email us. But um I really just want to be conscientious of inaccurate or incomplete information being out

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there. So appreciate your guys' discussion and you know, I'm glad we have a path moving forward. >> I think so. >> Yeah. and it is not um yet a path moving forward. I'm ready. >> So, >> I'm ready. >> We're ready.

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>> I would move that we add the a consultancy contract with Dr. McCall to next month's agenda. That's the first motion I'm going to make that we can talk about. >> Okay, I'll second that. >> Um

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>> and you have discussion on that. >> Any other discussion on that? >> No. All right. Um, >> there you go. >> All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposes? None. No opposes. Motion carries for that one. >> So, now knowing that we're going to have

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a discussion on next month's agenda and we'll have time to for people to to propose some additional language that we might want to discuss. I would move that we approve the existing slate of contracts that's in front of us right now. >> We may have a second.

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>> Second. Any other discussion? Um, all in favor? >> I sorry. Any opposes? Uh, seeing none, that motion carries. >> We made it through the contract. >> You did. Thank you. Appreciate it. >> Thank you.

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>> Thank you, Brian. >> I'm sorry. >> You're okay. >> I've been called lots of things in my life. >> Grants, Dr. Barb. >> Yeah. I'm super excited to bring this grant for you this evening. It's a birthto school grant uh brought to us

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from the Porter County Community Foundation. Uh the community foundation has created through uh first things first a group called the birth to school alliance and all of the schools in Porter County have committed to being part of this group and it focuses in on

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supporting families from prenatal all the way through age three. And then of course we've started picking up um that three-year-old to kindergarten through our preschool partners um forum and our professional development that we're

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partnering with. Last year we started doing a kindergarten buddy uh system where our kindergarten teachers are partnered with a preschool and they collaborate, they communicate, um they visit one another's uh classrooms. So,

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we're really building continuity between the preschools and our kindergarten. This grant allows us to expand that even more. Um, as we know, early interventions and connections to community and resources is the utmost importance when you're talking about

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littles. Um, so this adds a piece to really be able to expand what we're doing um and connect um our families and and really make those littlest Vikings uh Vikings as soon as we possibly can. So, we were gifted uh through a grant

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$90,000 from the community foundation. Um, and we're going to use that to provide uh networking resources and really connect um our families that are living in Center Township with Valparezo Community Schools early. So, I'm super

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excited about it, the opportunity, so thankful for Mary Jane Eisenhower, who uh many of us know um who just worked tirelessly and works tirelessly for um birth to to three in particular. So, um I really appreciate the opportunity and

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look forward to being able to um expand what we're doing. I'm happy to answer any questions, but if there are none, I would appreciate your approval. >> Questions that just excite me. That's that's my work. >> I know. [laughter] >> Well, I'd like to make a a comment, too,

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that um I did a fellowship um session, four-week session with Dr. Barb Connect at the Porter County Community Foundation with First Things First, and we learned a lot about the importance of zero to five brain development. And

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leaving that session, our challenge was to go out and create and increase awareness of those early years. And I'm glad to see that First Things First is putting their money behind it. >> It's really exciting. >> I love working with Dr. Eisenhower as

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well. She did >> uh on a FaceTime call. I was with these two and I had an infant so much. Excuse me. Um but I appreciate um you for bringing this grant to uh VCS. May I have a motion, please? >> So moved.

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>> Uh second. >> Second. All in favor? I >> I no opposes. Um this motion carries. >> Thank you, board. And again, thank you to the community foundation. Very excited about it. >> Moving on to donations and gifts. Back

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to you, Dr. Smith. >> Yeah, thank you. I'm excited to see all the generosity from this community. Um Hein Hein Elementary is um their PTO is is going to the elementary school. The amount of 17138 for the principal's

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discretion. um at Thomas Jefferson Middle School, Albert Iceman percussion bell kit, including two practice pads and stands valued at $200 for the band program. For the corporation donations for our school district, donor John and Vicky

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Lubc Living Trust, two $25 to school nutrition, and $25 to the backpack snacks program. two separate anonymous donations of $250 each for the backpacks and snacks program. Heritage Evangelical Lutheran

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Church, $50 for the backpacks and snack program. Um, Ismael De Jesus Jr., $500 for the backpacks and snack program. Kevin Pollock, $200 Stra and Vanill gift card for the backpacks and snack program. in Palmer photography uh

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photography services, photo rights, and printed signage valued at $220 for the superintendent's welcome and reception. Uh the following listed um below are for the school nutrition which um serves the hungry Viking Fund food service accounts

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um donation donors of 27 people grand total of $524.87. Um the following donated Katie Newton 20 uh $2.30 30. Natalie and Garrett Connor, $60.40. Um Tamara Jo or John's and Kayla Brown

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35. Julie Fletcher Golding and Emily Golding $4.75. April and Justin Brandy 50. Ashley and Addison Bowen $13.60. William and Andrew Dicki 28.85. Paula and Grace George 955. Uh Sarah and Grace

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Griffith $165. Karen and Chris Chris uh Bow Ringer 32 cents. Continuing Candace and Vivian Nix Kim and Michael Reeves $18.20. Elaine

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and McKenna Bogner $13.35. Dana and Luke Samarich $4145. Kathy and Samuel Rogers $49. Diane and Grace Sullivan 46. Tracy and Sophia Perry, $12.75.

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Carla Jones and Samantha Sang, $17.80. Shelby and Owen Topping, $2745. Diane and Dina Wyn, um, $94.55. Sarah and Benjamin Baron, 70. Ashley and

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Jace Smith, uh, 30 or I'm sorry, $3.90. John and Sarah Beckenrich, $43.50. Bruce and Emily Stovas, uh, $1945. Kim and Albert Iceman $47.50

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and Amber Mccanchi $9.50. >> Thank you very much. >> Uh for dismiss uh does require board consideration, may I have a motion, please? >> So move. >> Second. >> Second. >> Uh all in favor say I. >> I. Uh seeing that all is I. No opposes.

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This motion carries. Um moving back to you, Dr. Smith. um with an addition to our agenda construction updates. >> Yeah, I'm going to invite tonight um from Skilman um I don't know if he's been here before. Paul, have you been here before or you have a few times, Dion? It

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depends on who Skilman sends, right? >> So, I go way back with Paul in some some stuff at at Highland as well. So, um take it away, Paul. Yeah, >> thank you. >> Uh good evening. A busy summer to say the least. Uh you'll see quite a few pictures in the reports.

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Got it. >> All right. So, uh I'll run through the agenda here. So, we've got the whole facility renovations and the vision maintenance building Thomas Jefferson playground as the veil facility. The renovations on

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the interior of the addition uh the roof on the addition was completed. Uh work is dried in so we can start our interior work there. Corridor from the ramp from the old school time in the new addition going up to the culinary cards area is in place. Exterior brick on the addition

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is complete. Uh game bathrooms are demoed and is complete. Uh currently being framed in we've got ceiling grid completed in the culinary by the time I wrote this report. It's now completed graph parts as well. ceiling tiles have been dropped and the culinary u the py

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tile on culinary is about 60% done should be completed by Wednesday of next week in which the food service equipment will start coming in on Thursday so we've got good tight timeline but we'll be ready for start school uh culinary classroom we've got the uh BCT is down

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ceiling tiles are in place and now our BCT is working down the fourth floor area so lot going on a lot of pieces to the puzzle but this is the fun because you start to see people start moving. Top left picture

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top left picture that was a long time coming new transform place. He cut over from the old transformer to the new transformer Monday will take care of that for us. Some old bed pictures there. And then you've got

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the future boys and girls bathroom which has now been block wall and middle separated bathroom concrete's been poured down. So by the time I send these pictures or the updates quite a few things happen but a few other pictures on the exterior.

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All the windows are installed. Caul like I said gra the car sealing paint drop and the BCT poring is down. Bottom right contrib ceramic tile prep which about 60% of that floor is now already

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tiles installed. We're up to the maintenance building. The top right picture you can see the structural steel finished. Uh bottom left picture is pretty current. They've got the pan going around the exterior of the building here in the next four weeks. We'll start

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interior block walls and the mechanical electrical contract will start. Uh this was the original phasing plan that we were working off of before and the maintenance and IT building. Uh the top yellow section is the maintenance IT

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building just to give you everybody an idea. We'll be working in there through about December of this year that the mail portion we've got section three section four have been completed. Section five will be completed here in

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the next two weeks. Section section six will be completed as well. And section one is the culinary yards and culinary and breads also. So basically veil will be put back together and insurface mill construction and will be broken out

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back. Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin there uh we've got wall covering that was removed that Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin will work in cafeteria's painting started uh by this week. By Saturday of this week all plaster work will be completed. Saturday. Next week,

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all painting will be completed once we're put wall covering back on Facebook. The auditorium at Thomas Jefferson is slated for December. We'll have about 20 classrooms that we'll do for that time

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at Thomas Jefferson during the school year in the auditorium. So, >> can I stop you right there, Paul? We wanted to wait on the auditorium. There was and Dr. Alson couldn't be here today, but he came up with some really good ideas. You want to talk about really quick what for the

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>> the on the chairs? >> Dr. Smith today. Um, you were discussing the u you talked >> No, I'm talking about in the auditorium for the chairs the rail the rails that they >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Made a more durable seat choice.

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>> Yeah. We I found I was a middle school principal and teacher for 15 years and they're not nice to equipment usually unfortunately. >> You got a lot better arm rest. >> Yes. So we um last be a lot longer. Uh that decision was made by theoration.

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>> Yeah. >> That's been made um monthly. I'm on the auditorium seed. They were on site this taking measurements. So >> yeah, in the auditorium, they're going to they're waiting to finish it all until after a lot of the winter

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concerts. >> Correct. Yes. So we can >> we won't miss >> Yeah. We won't miss any of those winter concerts that our our music teachers put on and our public comes to. So yeah. >> Yep. >> Uh playgrounds. Uh a lot of work at uh

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North View Central and uh right now North View has been completed. The uh play service has been completed. We are at Flint Lake. Uh playing the surface is going in on the north side of Flint Lake. Uh the south southwest side will

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be completed as well next week here and then they'll move back to central to complete that. All playgrounds should be in place by August 5th except for the southwest playground which we >> is there a plan for because that's the

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third fourth and fifth the older kids right are they just get the back field or Yep. Okay. They got a lot of space over there which is nice. >> We do. So unfortunately we have a lot of so make some adjustments for the first few weeks until it's ready and

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>> Yep. >> It'll be good. >> Let them run around, get all sweaty. >> Yeah. >> 95 degrees out. >> Yes. >> Those are the kids you maybe don't want. [laughter] >> Only eighth graders. >> Yeah.

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for the asphalt and boilers project [cough] the administration building here completed the high school we had the resurfacing along with striking that all has completed we have punchless block down next week uh boilers we completed

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startup on Friday of last week and completed owner training on Monday of this week so that's all been completed engineering tomorrow You guys had us walking over it turned out well. I think the

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parking lot didn't >> Oh, it was so nice. >> Yes. >> The only question I would have, Paul, and I they always say attorneys say, "Don't ask a question you don't know the answer to." So, I hope I think I know the answer to this. Um, it won't delay any start of school or anything. We We

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have great plans in place. Right. >> My 18 years, 17 years as superintendent, we've done a lot of projects. It's amazing how much work they get done the week before school starts. >> We had a rough uh rough rain season for us. >> Yes. >> But you'll start seeing a lot of the

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pieces get get pulled together. A lot of people on site say get that done. But uh it's it all flows together. >> We're ready. >> Okay. >> Thank you.

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>> Busy busy. Thank you. >> All right. Now, we're going to go back to new business. Um, we are at permission to advertise the 2027 bus replacement plan and capital projects plan. Mr. Jim Hol. >> Thank you, Madam President. Well, this

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is the official start of budget season. Um, Indiana Code section 20-40-18-6 provides that before a school corporation may use money in the operation fund for replacement school buses or for capital projects, a hearing must be held, followed by a resolution

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approving the school the school bus replacement plan and the capital projects plan. This resolution then must be submitted to the Department of Local Government Finance. Also required by Indiana Code section 20-40-18-9C, the school corporation shall post the

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proposed capital projects plan and bus replacement plan on the school corporation website before the hearing and publish a notice of the hearing in accordance with the Indiana code 5-3-1-2B. Uh we are requesting permission to advertise the hearing for the bus replacement plan and the capital

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projects plan to be held on August 27th as well as permission to post both plans on the top roader community schools website and in the state's gateway website. We ask permission to do those things.

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>> Any questions? Can I have a motion? >> Second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Uh no opposes. This motion carries. Back to you, Mr. Holyfield. Approved microurchase threshold resolution.

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>> Thank you, Madam President. Uh the current microurchasing threshold for using federal funds is $10,000. In other words, uh the procurement of any items over $10,000 requires that we obtain three quotes before making that purchase. Our procurement policy uh 6223

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as well as Indiana code 522 uh-8-2 sets the threshold at $50,000 for all other purchases. As of 2023, the code of federal regulations 200.320 allows for government agencies to self-certify raising the microurchasing threshold for

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federal funds to be quote consistent with state law which as I said in Indiana it's $50,000. In order to do this, the board has to pass an annual resolution to set our threshold for microurchasing using federal dollars at 50,000. Uh as with

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other uh i non-federal dollar purchases, having the threshold set higher will simplify and expedite procur procurement for our nutritional services department as well as procurement done using federal grant dollars. Uh the board has approved raising the threshold each year

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since 2024. If the board does not pass the annual resolution, the threshold will revert back to the $10,000 listed in policy 6325. We are requesting that the board once more approve increasing the micrasing threshold uh to $50,000 this time

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through June of 2025. >> Uh any uh discussion? I feel like we just >> I just have a question. Um why does it revert back every year? Why do we have to do this every year? which was what the state >> make sure you really want to keep doing that

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>> that that way make sure that most things are going to get bids if they're large enough to need bids but over the passage of time some things it gets very cumbersome for some items to have to keep trying to get bids for things where there may not be multiple contractors in

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the area so it interferes with some things. Um, can you think of any examples of the types of things that we've utilized this $50,000 threshold for? Remember doing this last year, my first board meeting that I was a board member.

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I say uh there was this is mostly for the food service department. not familiar with uh what should their bid be used for. But u that's why we do this because we can use $50,000

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threshold for any other tax dollars when it comes to the the federal funding especially for nutritional services. The $10,000 is advice unless we choose to raise it. >> If there's no more discussion, may I have a motion? >> So moved. >> A second.

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>> Second. Second. Oh, >> Carl. >> Carl, taking a second. All right. >> It was a tie. >> All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Everyone is at. Uh, so, uh, this motion carries. >> Thank you, Mark. >> You're welcome. Um, now we are moving on

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to technology, equipment, unusable, and no value. Mr. Chris Clifford. >> Good evening, board. I come before you unite to request approval to claim the equipment on the list as unusable and/or no value to VPR community schools. The

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equipment on the list has served us well but is now beyond end of life, unrepable or has been place been replaced by more current technology. Uh the devices will be offered for vendor buyback or auction and anything that cannot be sold will go

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to OE secure shred uh for several years now who has disposed our e-waste responsibly and with a guarantee of data discharge. Uh with those considerations I ask for the board's approval to dispose of the equipment. >> Any questions? May I have a motion,

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please? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. Uh motion carries. May as well state continue student technology repair fee schedule. >> Each year we update the student technology repair fee scheduled to

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reflect the current prices of repair parts. Uh the addition of new hardware as well as updating the replacement values to reflect the actual costs of replacing devices that are lost damaged beyond all repair like being run over by a car. I use that example every year but

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this is the first one for Dr. Smith. [laughter] fil on that story sometime. Okay. >> We make our best effort to keep any charges uh for damages as low as possible for students and families and pass along only our actual parts costs. Uh with that, I ask for approval of the

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updated service device repair schedule. >> Any questions? None. Motion. May I have a motion, please? >> So move. >> A second. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. Motion carries. Thank you, Mr. Thank you.

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>> All right. We are now at uh public comment non-aggenda orformational items. >> Jason, >> Jason, we can't raise your last name. >> Are you? >> If you don't mind, I would mean if they want to go ahead because

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I'll defer to last. >> You defer to last. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Um Okay. Brian Williams. >> Brian already knows. of the questions. >> Okay, we look forward to hearing from you during our public comment. We recognize the value of public comment on

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educational matters and school matters. A few reminders. Please come up to the podium to speak to the board. Please keep your statements to 3 minutes or less. Discussions involving personnel, litigation, and student discipline will not be permitted. Thank you, Brian.

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>> Brian Williams, 1308 Jibralter Court. Welcome Dr. Smith. Welcome back board. Um, [clears throat] as you know, I I communicated with all of you by email about communication and I just wanted to reiterate some of the

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high points or perhaps low points of that communication. Um, just so it is out there. Um, when I say the district needs to communicate more and better, and it does, I mean in letting people know what is going on in the district and why, and

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engaging the community's interest in those things. I say communities plural because I mean both the VCS community, parents, students, teachers, grandparents, employees, and the Valpreso city community, residents, taxpayers, former VCS parents and

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citizens. Applicants this year for appointment to the school board expressed ignorance of what goes on in the schools and how things work. If interested residents like them applying to be members of the school board don't know what happens in

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VCS schools, what are the chances of an average Joe knowing anything? When I say better communication, I mean VCS should organize and host community presentations, public forums, informational open

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houses, question and answer sessions, a monthly board meeting item. a monthly board meeting agenda item of information about a topic of interest to the communities and and the like. VCS should increase, widen, vary,

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improve communications that are sent out. You should provide please meat and substance and not just happy news. The Viking View Mailing made a start at that in the spring 2026 issue with Mr.

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Holoffield's informative explanation of the recent bond re refinancing and its implications for city residents. Um that was wonderful that that sort of information should be out there and it was and I found that great. Um Viking View has the potential to be useful and

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important but it has so far squandered that potential in my opinion. Uh so please put more meat into V bik Viking view and other communications and especially um you need to initiate and carry through on a new energetic program

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offormational open houses and all those things I suggested as possibilities. Um get out in the community, let them know what's happening. And all of this includes talking about problems.

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Valparezo Community Schools like everyone has problems. A problem can be addressed or it can be ignored. The former is healthy, the latter is not. In fact, discussion of discussion of a problem may be more useful and sought

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for than other topics. So, talk about problems. Um, tell your story. I keep harping on this. November 5th, 2030 will soon be here. If you expect

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taxpayers to shell out extra cash in a referendum that day, you'd better let them know the reason for it. >> We're just about out of time, Brian. >> Okay, in conclusion, but even more than that, much more than that, communication is

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how you build a community and how you keep a community. And community is vital to life, to health, and to well-being. Communication is connection is community. Again, communication is connection is

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community. And that is what VCS is here for in the first place. >> Sorry, Brian. We're >> to build young people into contributing citizens of their community. So, please do what you are charged with doing and build and keep a healthy community.

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>> I have a question for you. Thank you. >> Do have you seen any of a slight glimpse of communication change at all from this board? I'm just asking because I can tell you that we have and you may think otherwise. I'm just interested in knowing.

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>> I have >> say no. >> And I would like to discuss that with you oneon one, but yes. >> Okay. >> I >> I appreciate your comments. Thank you. Um let's uh Robert Cotton. >> Yeah. was not here early enough this

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>> You're welcome. Please come up, Mr. >> I appreciate you, Mr. and I do appreciate meeting you, uh, Dr. Schmidt, uh, at least becoming acquainted with you. >> Uh, a long history, we missed you. >> Long history of greeting superintendent

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um, dating back to some of the challenges with Dr. Benway with regard to keeping our neighborhood schools all the way up and through to you. Um, and I was really delighted by the pedigree uh that you bring to the school. I was also

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somewhat confused but and thankful for the discussion tonight about the consultancy agreement with Dr. McCall. Um, I was confused because of the the uh the rich as it was

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perceived by the taxpayers contract that you signed. you know, you came with a with a great pedigree. I think it was well rewarded. Um, and so therefore uh I was going to say Dr. Patasha. [laughter] Anyway, Katasha,

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>> that's okay. You can you can call me that. >> The point about uh a consultancy with uh Dr. McCall with with Dr. Bura had very much to do with him being brand brand spanking new and you with a very

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uh you know nice and I think u respectful uh pedigree as well as the compensation it seemed a bit odd and a bit um un an un un it just it didn't sit real well with regard to why why that

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might be necessary and in the form of whether it's used or not. I mean, the service that it would be $3,000 a month. Um, people have characterized it as a a sweetheart deal for a superintendent who quite frankly

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breached his contract. Um, two months versus 6 months as it relates to having you guys in a bind, a short window to find an excellent superintendent. So transparency and accountability has been a big theme uh that uh we we we

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talk about or we've introduced here here tonight. And quite frankly, you know, even the u the objections or the notion that maybe this should be refined and looked at more carefully was just glossed over with regard to the fact that the consultancy has already

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happened. So therefore, if we approve the contract, it's whether he's 15 minutes or or 30 hours, it's still that $3,000 that we're obligating the taxpayer to pay for this first month of service. So, you know, again, I'm I'm

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here because people have asked questions and when they ask questions and we talk about transparency and accountability, you know, I'm certainly saying that unless Dr. Smith expressly requested this and that does seem odd relative to

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how well compensated he is for his pedigree um and for his existing superintendency. Um you know it just seems to me that it's it's a difficult thing to explain to the taxpayers and so I I I appreciate

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the the ongoing discussions. U I would have preferred that it be tabled altogether. Dr. McCall, I'm certain I've known him since he was a principal and even before that was a teacher of my children. I know he still bleeds green and I think he'd probably do this withoutation

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in a manner that the public perceives as a sweetheart deal. >> Our time's up. >> You're welcome, Dr. Smith. I'll look forward to meeting you more personally. Thank you very much. >> Nice to meet you. >> Thank you, Mr. Patton. Uh Jason, >> I'm sorry, sir. What's your last name?

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>> Solid. Oh, thanks M. I'm sorry I didn't even recognize you, Mr. S. How you doing? >> All right. Yourself? >> Good. Thank you. >> Um, I was just uh coming in because I had a conversation with Bronica uh in city hall as far as um the mayor said to come back to talk to you guys

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and about setting up a meeting with possibly Mr. Smith and Veronica Tabone about my son's uh condition and then possibly what Valpo can do or offer as far as him coming back to school. So that's the reason I'm here on the mayor's request and

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that's uh 12 Veronica Tabone and she sent an email stating and sorry Mr. Smith, you're walking into this. Uh they're stating that the February 25th uh what they were offering uh to come back in school as normal student at high

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school in Vale um which is not an option with his with what's going on with him. Um or the OP Ed I believe it was called Minnesota and with his condition um you know they're not going to be h you know be able to handle what's going on with

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him. So, I was told by Riley's and I was told by uh multiple other people to come back to address you guys to figure out, you know, set up a meeting cuz school's 3 weeks away. Um to see if he can't return to Valpo, what other options are

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out there cuz you guys probably deal with this, you know, um you know, with concussions and all this other kind of stuff. you know, what options are out there that, you know, he might be able to implore where he's not falling behind again because, as you know, he missed February all the way through to this

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date and, you know, things have not gotten better um you know, with the TDI along with other stuff going on. So, um Mrs. Debone said that I didn't make any kind of um gesture stating that about you know the worry about him coming back

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which I don't want to get into public light but you know um Mr. Cotton was there at the city hall meeting and you know and as the mayor said you know address you guys again he said good people down here so that's why I'm here to see if Balpo is not a fit for his

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condition if someone from the school can help try to turn to say hey you know what this may be an option um or this school that handles people with his kind of condition is an option and that's why I'm here today.

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>> Have you sent an email to Dr. Smith yet. >> Um I do not have his email. So um yes. So that would be advantageous. I have been communicating I think four times. I was hoping she would stay with Dr. Done. But and that's where she reiterated February 25th um offer of where he was.

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But like I said, things have changed, medical stuff that you guys don't know and everything else. And it's just trying to get something done before you know the school starts. >> Okay. Um I would uh recommend that you send Dr. Smith an email. Um, and so that your your request can be made.

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>> Okay. And how can I get his email? >> It's the same as uh it's the B Smith. >> Bithalpo.k12.in us. >> Okay. >> So, just B Smith. Yeah. >> Okay. Fair enough. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right.

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That is it for public comment and now we move on if uh Dr. Smith has any other superintendent comments that he'd like to >> um None at this time, Madam President. >> All right, we're moving on to board comments.

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I know that Ashley has some, but I was pretty excited to uh I asked the board um this morning, but they did not respond to me at all. Shame on you as we are transparent and talking about the board, right? Um I just

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>> I texted you yesterday. >> You did. You that was yesterday. Um, but just we wanted to um I wanted to highlight um just some of the things that we've done uh last year uh as a board and hopefully they'll chime in if there's something that I missed. Um uh

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and and so I'm excited about the chapter that we are now in uh with Dr. Smith and just ready to do some some things slightly different um from a communications director, from the support and really listening to the community. Um, and I know uh oftentimes

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they don't feel heard, but like our room, I'd love for it to be filled every month. Um, with uh the community being concerned about all things and also applauding the work that we are attempting to do. This is definitely not a good old boys club because we are

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majority women on this board and so I don't know where that concept may come from. Um but we're not even a good old girls club, woman club or lady club or however you want to um identify us. But we are definitely um a board I can say

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in the five years now six starting today um has last year has been the absolute best year that I've served in this capacity and it is because I get to sit with people who are strongly uh considering all thoughts and trying to

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move just this conversation um our conversation as open as possible. So, I do want to applaud uh Ashley for completing her first year as our legislative lead. So, uh kudos to that. We've done some work in we've hired our

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first uh superintendent. Uh we have also been identified by the ISBA. Um our board received an honor award this year as well as some individual awards. I wore my pen today because they did get it wrong. I made it

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to exemplary and they finally sent me my right pen. Um, let's see. We spent some time uh at the beginning of the school year with pom poms. This year we might move up to signs. Clark uh joined us and we rallied a lot of our students um back

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to school and so I want you all to get ready uh so that we can do that again. um in five years we had never had um all board present uh during the ISBA conference and last year we had all of the board members present uh with our

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superintendent and so that is exciting for me. Um this year I had company at at the legislative lunchon. I had Ashley with me and so hopefully we get to go back uh to do that. I was grateful to have uh Mr. Solid present uh at the

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reception on Tuesday. um Mr. Charbano uh will be uh talking to uh Dr. Smith. And so we are really trying to involve the community. We missed some of the council members. Uh we had a great uh event on Tuesday. Uh too bad we couldn't invite

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everyone uh because everyone didn't get a chance to talk to Dr. Smith and so that means we have to do some rotation and coming back. Um let's see. Did I miss anything? Oh uh teacher appreciation. >> Yeah, >> this year we show For teacher appreciation, we each went

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to different schools. We either donated uh bought donuts or just gave of our time. I got to spend time with Carl and we were flight attendants over at Parkview. And so we had a good time there. And let's see, we took board pictures this year and a group photo.

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>> And I think that's it. I think that's a lot. >> Are you just saying what the board has done? >> Yes. What else did we do? What else did we accomplish this Well, we did refinance the bonds tax saving the taxpayers a significant amount of funds and um the project at

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the veil is underway. Um that's a that should be a really good project and support for not only the veil but for maintenance it and and some of the other classrooms that will be there. the new energy projects and construction

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that we've been going through >> um have a significant impact on the finances of the district going forward. Um I look at that and this was before my time. I'm not trying to take my own [clears throat] I got nothing to do with it other than approving, you know, these

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little changes here and there. Um that that makes a significant difference in our budgets. It means that more money is freed up for doing the things that you want to do for students instead of having to pay to keep the lights on. The lights are still on. We're just paying less for it because there's foresight

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put in place to try and keep the the overall cost down to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars a month. >> So, >> yeah, >> the bond reduction that we had was how much, Paul? 15 million. >> I don't have I don't think it was quite that much.

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>> 16 million. Do you do you is it that much >> over the life of >> about $16 million. >> Okay. Right. And several million dollars more saved over the course of these energy projects as they move forward. Um so that's that is real money that we're

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making available to reinvest in the district for the purpose that the district exists for which is to educate the students to make sure that those resources are there so students have opportunities. Um, it's not particularly exciting and interesting to look at the

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day by day. I know spreadsheets, I love it, too, but it's hard to sit there and get excited about some of the numbers and the financial reports, but that is actually what the board does. Um, the board is supposed to be doing that type of approval. I think there's there's still some confusion out there about

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what our function actually is. And as important as all of the issues are that people care about with schools, the school board doesn't have the day-to-day control over well, what's happening in this particular building. If it's brought to us, we can make the superintendent aware of it and they can

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deal with it. But the way I'd explain it to my kids is like we're essentially like the Congress where we make the rules and pass the the policies and make sure that those policies are getting followed, but when it comes to what actually happens on a day-to-day basis, that is the superintendent, that is the

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principles, that is the assistant superintendent or CFO, they're the ones that handle all of that. Um, sometimes people come up and and expect that we know something that has happened that week at a school. We don't have any way to know that um unless it's brought to our attention. So

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yes, bring things to our attention. But we are usually not the people to address a problem in the school unless it requires a change of the rules, unless it requires the rules not being followed. That's what the board does. So for me, the board kind of

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getting its feet under it again about how are we moving forward to make sure we have the best possible set of these rules. It's not exciting work, but it is necessary. And picking the person who's going to put all that into play and handle all the problems when people come up and say, "Hey, this isn't happening."

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That's who makes it happen. So, our job is to put the right person in place and the right rule framework in place and continue going through to make sure that that's the case going forward. I think that the communications all the things that we've we've heard about about uh community engagement and

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meeting with the community and having community ambassador programs to try and reach out and those education sessions. Those are all things that Dr. Smith is putting in the queue. Having a communications director helps put that

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out so that it's not just the happy things that are going out. It is also a way to communicate what the actual problems are and what the solutions that we're looking at look like. So, I'm excited about that. I look back at this first year on the board and I'm very grateful for the people that we have up

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here. Everybody has different skill sets that they bring to the table. They're all very respectful and dedicated to finding solutions that work for our kids. I look forward another great year. So, thank you everybody for coming. Anybody else? >> Device policy for kind of >> I'm not going to dig that back. Yes.

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[laughter] >> Trying to find ways of complying with state law to come up with a device policy that makes sense based on feedback from community and teachers and students etc. >> and re-evaluate it to see right at put it in play. Not every policy is going to

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work perfectly the first time, but you got to put it in place because we're required by law to put it in place. >> The only thing I want to add is I'm I'm going to not let the cat out of the bag. I'm just going to open the bag a tiny bit. So, um, I'm not going to steal J Money's thunder here. Down the road,

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we're going to give you some data that's coming in, some significant savings because of your foresight and things that you did and some rebates coming back from NIPCO as well. So, good, really good news later. We just

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don't have it all yet to share. >> Excellent. Thanks for opening up the back. >> Well, I think one of my most rewarding times this year was teacher appreciation week. And we did go to the schools. We went to a lot of different schools and we saw every school has its own

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personality, its own character, and they were doing all kinds of things to honor their teachers, involve the kids. I think one that was so cool was at Northview. All over the building, they had posters with post-it notes and it said, "Give this to a teacher who made

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math learnable for you or fun." That'd be Mr. Foster, probably. Um, or give this to a teacher who read you great stories and just the kids were just grabbing them and running. And so then I went around to the classrooms and the teachers had these notes up and they

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said, "When I'm having a bad day, I'm gonna read all of these comments." And it was just so cool. And you know, one school did the airline theme, one did snack carts. Every school was just so different, but it was so such a positive

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week. And so that was one of my favorite things. And also with the cell phone policy, every every single day we get a an email from ISBA with highlights of what's going on throughout the state. And it's kind of interesting to see how

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all the different districts are handling this cell phone policy. And they're actually boiling down to almost being the same. There's a pattern emerging, you know, turned off, put away either in your locker or someplace throughout the day. And um like Dr. Smith said, we'll

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have to evaluate what works and what doesn't. But we're all struggling or compensating to make these legislative actions work. And I think we can do it. So, this feels good. >> I agree. Carl, anything?

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>> Oh, nothing further. Yeah. >> Um, I'm going to call out Mr. Cotton really quick. You still have my phone number, right? I do. >> Okay. I was going to say because prior to today, I received one phone call on the contract. Um,

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and we had a great conversation. It was about 90 seconds. Questions were answered. Um, so I just want to take a a quick second because you know, you kind of addressed our our admin team and they are phenomenal. They are exceptional. They've got great expertise,

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no questions asked, right? Um, but I I realized that when we were talking about the contract, you know, we didn't address that there are superintendent specific matters. There are things like um the ongoing projects. We touched on the construction projects, uh,

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contractual matters, legal issues, uh, external relationships where the outgoing superintendent has knowledge and context that no one else does, right? And so that's really the gap that this agreement is is intending to address, right? You know, I think everyone up here has the utmost

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confidence in Dr. Smith's capabilities of doing that on his own. Um, but it's about recognizing that there's value in the historical context behind many of those decisions and understanding not just what decisions were made, but why they were made, the context in which

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they were made. It can save time, prevent unnecessarily duplication of effort, and help kind of just avoid unintended consequences. So, you know, again, I think we've we've got the intent that that's not going to be a year long. It's not going to be, you know, forever, but uh there is value

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kind of just in that knowledge and and historical context for things um in a in a variety of different matters, right? Um and just call me next time [laughter] and say I think you can Google my name and my phone number pops up, but our emails are there too, you know, happy to

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to always have that conversation. But um you know I think that takes me to something else before we adjoin adjourn adjoin um I'm going to call on Sarah public here for in a second. [laughter] Um I'd like to request that we place an

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item on next month agenda regarding our communication with other governing bodies. Um specifically our relationship with the city council liaison. I believe there are governance questions that warrant discussion by this board. Um, over the past several months, I've becoming I've become increasingly

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concerned about maintaining appropriate boundaries between our two independent governing bodies. And to be clear, this is not about whether anyone has the right to ask questions or express opinions about board decisions. Uh, public accountability, as I said earlier, is super important and I

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welcome thoughtful questions. My concern is more about the process by which those discussions occur and the appropriate role of the liaison. Um, we've begun to see situations where pending board actions are publicly framed before this board had the

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opportunity to discuss them in an open meeting. Again, inviting the public to draw conclusions before the board has the opportunity to explain the facts, discuss the issues, and deliberate in public. I've also become concerned by repeated requests for information or comment

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regarding board matters before those matters have been considered publicly. I believe board members have a responsibility to deliberate together in public and I don't believe individual board members should be expected to provide commentary or insight outside of that process. In my view, the purpose of the city

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council liaison is to facilitate communication between this board and the city council by conveying the work and actions of each governing body to each other. The role should not create an expectation of privileged access to board members, board deliberations, or information outside our established

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public processes. Nor should it become the narrator or interpreter of board business. We already have established public meetings, public comment opportunities, direct communication channels, and administrative processes for community engagement, and those should remain the primary avenues for

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discussing discussing board business. When those lines become blurred, it creates confusion about the respective roles of our governing body, and it risks eroding public confidence in the board's decision-making process. Ultimately, this isn't about personalities or anyone individual. It's

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about protecting the independence of two separate governing bodies, preserving direct accountability between this board and the community we serve, and ensuring that our public meeting process remains the primary forum for discussing board business. So again, just for those reasons, I'd appreciate placing that

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topic on next month's agenda. >> Well done. Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Thanks, Maria. Appreciate that. >> Yes. >> All right. If there's no further discussion, board meeting. >> Yes. May I have a motion? So moved. >> Second.

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>> All in favor? >> I. >> Thank you all for coming. Have a good