Ben Braden

The meeting included a roll call and skipped the school highlight due to weather. There was no public comment, and the consent agenda was approved, including minutes from the October 13, 2025 meeting, financials, treasurer's report, technical corrections to compliance officer names, personnel recommendations, and travel requests. A public hearing was held regarding additional appropriations for a geo bond. The financial dashboard for October 2025 was reviewed, highlighting the total cash position and expenditures. The superintendent reported on the district not meeting the DOE funding floor requirement and recognized Mr. Bill Wilson as the District 2 Indiana Association of School Principles 2025 Principal of the Year. Kingsford Heights Elementary School was named a 2025 Indiana Purple Star School. Updates were provided on food service payments, technology issues, and safety and security, including AED maintenance by the Play for Jake Foundation. The board discussed Neiola board policies and considered the recommendation to approve and accept a donation from the Northwest Indiana Area Health Education Center for the Leaport High School HOSA and health science program. Updates to the 2026-2027 academic calendar were also discussed to incorporate professional learning community concepts.

The special school board meeting included a review of the tentative agreement between the Leaport Community School Corporation and the Leaport Federation of Teachers for the 2025-2026 school year. The agreement includes offering a retirement buyout to eligible teachers, base salary increases based on evaluation and academic need, and changes to the extracurricular schedule.

The meeting included the approval of personnel recommendations, including the appointment of an assistant superintendent of operations and an assistant principal. The board also considered and approved the Leaport Online School Handbook for the upcoming school year. There were discussions regarding procedural and administrative updates to the handbook, as well as changes to the structure of Leaport Online School.

The meeting included a presentation of Delta Kappa Gamma Grant Awards to teachers for special classroom projects, followed by a school spotlight featuring Critchfield Elementary School. A public comment session addressed concerns about child safety and suggestions for enhanced security measures. The consent agenda, including approval of previous meeting minutes, financials, personnel recommendations, and travel requests, was approved. There was also a first joint public hearing on projects and preliminary determination related to a geo bond for 2025, with discussions on existing debt, proposed financing, and estimated debt service projections.

The School Improvement Plan for Kingsford Heights Elementary School aims to enhance student proficiency in English/Language Arts and Math/Science, and to improve overall student attendance. Key strategic pillars include implementing a guaranteed and viable curriculum, utilizing multi-tiered instruction, fostering professional learning communities for data-driven instructional refinement, and engaging parents through consistent communication to address attendance. The plan also emphasizes integrating technology, ensuring a safe and disciplined learning environment, promoting cultural competency, and maximizing family engagement to support continuous school improvement.