Tim Bless

The meeting commenced with a moment of silence in remembrance of a teaching assistant, Haley Mole, who recently passed away. The board reviewed its vision, mission, and core beliefs. Significant time was dedicated to celebrating athletic achievements, including recognizing a state boys swimming medalist, Josh Pendleton, and providing details on the successful wrestling team's performance, including multiple state placers and team achievements. Student athletes presented on the accomplishments of the junior and senior wrestling classes. Board member reports covered several areas: the first reading of a draft policy (D525) regarding school employee injury reporting, which the board decided required a work session; discussions from the Business Advisory Group concerning early childhood programs, pre-K funding cuts, and sustained graduation rate improvements; updates from the school foundation regarding the upcoming South Asian Gala to support STEM programming and the Good Better 5k Run; an update on youth advocacy efforts concerning safe vape disposal boxes; plans for three public discussions regarding redistricting due to a new elementary school opening; information on the upcoming Indiana Youth Survey for 6th through 12th graders; and reports on IU Columbus athletic program impacts and legislative updates from the Indiana School Board Association day, notably Senate Bill 78 concerning cell phone restrictions. Cabinet reports included a brief review of operating referendum survey results showing approximately 63.3% positive support for renewal.

The meeting was a work session intended for discussion and questions with outside consultants regarding work being undertaken, not for decision-making. The primary discussion centered on the community survey conducted by School Perceptions regarding the potential renewal of the operating referendum scheduled to expire in 2028. Key findings presented included demographic data of respondents (with a high turnout from the 65+ age group and strong representation from staff and parents) and the overall community sentiment toward renewing the referendum at a lower cost of $9.5 million annually. The weighted support prediction for the renewal at the base plan level was 63.3%. The presentation also explored community priorities for potential additional funding across early childhood education, safety and security, and STEM programs, though support levels for additional funding remained below 50% across all tested amounts for the non-parent, non-staff group.

The document outlines the 'Legacy' two-way immersion program at Clifty Creek Elementary, focusing on its commitment to fostering confident, bilingual communicators proficient in both English and Spanish, while achieving high academic standards. The program utilizes a research-proven 80/20 instructional model to ensure long-term bilingual success, aiming to provide students with a lifelong gift of bilingualism and biliteracy, thereby creating a legacy of academic and cultural achievement.

The meeting commenced with a reorganization session to select the board president, vice president, and secretary for 2026, using roll call voting. Following the reorganization, the board observed a moment of silence to honor a recently deceased employee, Ms. Tina Howard. A key discussion involved the presentation of support fundraising efforts for the United Way, resulting in a contribution of $24,732.68. The Board of Finance financial report was presented, detailing investment yields from bank balances and Trust Indiana for 2025, and an update on treasury yields from extracurricular activity funds and a $40 million long-term treasury investment. The financial report also addressed the status regarding the Distressed Unit Appeals Board (DWAB), confirming no current concerns. Board members provided updates, including a reminder about the ISBA State House Day on February 17th and upcoming referendum surveys and a districting and facility meeting on February 5th.

The meeting began with the pledge of allegiance and a roll call confirming a quorum. A significant portion of the session was dedicated to recognizing individuals, including the presentation of the 2026 Education Hall of Fame award to Miss Kathy Dell for her 43 years of service in music education. Her acceptance speech detailed her journey into teaching, her collaborations with colleagues on various programs such as holiday performances, square dances, musical productions, and Veterans Day programs, and acknowledged the profound impact music education had on students' confidence and personal development. She also mentioned teaching education majors at IU Columbus and thanked parents and administrators for their support.