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[00:00:02]

MR. PRESIDENT, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

SHALL WE STAND FOR OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

. WELL, GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO OUR PUBLIC HEARING 2023 2027 BUS PLAN, 2023

[2. PUBLIC HEARING: 2023-2027 Bus Plan, 2023-2025 Capital Plan, and CY 2023 Budget (Greg Foster)]

2025 CAPITAL PLAN AND OUR CY 2023 BUDGET.

AT THIS TIME, WE WILL GIVE AWAY TO MR. GREG FOSTER. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT.

GOOD EVENING, DR.

YOUNG. WE ARE HERE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PUBLISHED 2023 BUDGET, 2023 THROUGH 2025 CAPITAL PLAN AND THE 2023 THROUGH 2027 BUS REPLACEMENT PLAN.

JUST A REMINDER, AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE ALL THE FACTS AT THE TIME WE PUBLISH THE BUDGET.

WITH THAT IN MIND, WE TYPICALLY ADVERTISE HIGH TO PROTECT THE DISTRICT.

THIS IS A CONSERVATIVE APPROACH USED IN THE BUDGETING PROCESS.

WE ALWAYS WE CAN ALWAYS AND USUALLY DO ADOPT A BUDGET AND LEVY LESS THAN THAT ADVERTISED, BUT WE CANNOT ADOPT AN AMOUNT GREATER THAN THAT OF ADVERTISED.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT FORM THREE, NOTICE TO THE TAXPAYERS, THIS HAS BEEN PUBLISHED IN GATEWAY AS OF SEPTEMBER 9TH.

THE FORM THREE MUST BE PUBLISHED AT LEAST TEN DAYS PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING.

AS IN PRIOR YEARS, THE 2023 DOCUMENT BUDGETING DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE.

ALTHOUGH THIS IS NOT A REQUIREMENT IS IT IS AN EFFORT TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT IN THE BUDGETING PROCESS.

ADOPTION IS SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 13TH OF 2022, WHICH MUST BE TEN DAYS AFTER THIS PUBLIC HEARING WHERE I'LL BE REQUESTING THE ADOPTION OF THE 2023 BUDGET THE 2023 THROUGH 2025 CAPITAL PLAN INTO 2023 THROUGH 2027 BUS REPLACEMENT PLAN.

[INAUDIBLE] WE ADVERTISE FOR THE FOUR MAJOR FUNDS.

THOSE ARE THE EDUCATION FUND, DEBT SERVICE FUND, OPERATIONS FUND AND THE RAINY DAY FUND AND THE EXCUSE ME AND THE RAINY DAY FUND HAVE ADVERTISED $1 BILLION.

THIS IS THE LINE WITH HISTORIC PRACTICES, ALTHOUGH WE'VE NEVER USED IT.

IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE IT IN THERE JUST IN CASE.

IN THE DEBT SERVICE FUND, I HAVE ADVERTISED $15,000,901 WITH A LEVY OF $14,567,700 $641 LEVY.

THIS FUND IS GUIDED BY OUR AMORTIZATION SYMBOLS OF OUR OUTSTANDING DEBT.

ALSO INCLUDES THE AMORTIZATION SCHEDULE, THE ANTICIPATED DEBT OF OUR RECENTLY APPROVED GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS.

IN THE EDUCATION FUND ADVERTISED $84,500,000.

THIS FUND HAS NO LEVY AND IS PRIMARILY SUPPORTED BY THE REVENUE FROM THE TUITION SUPPORT FORMULA.

ALTHOUGH THIS YEAR THE THE PER STUDENT TUITION SUPPORT HAS INCREASED.

THIS YEAR OUR ENROLLMENT ENROLLMENT HAS DECREASED.

I HAVE ADVERTISED THE AMOUNT I HAVE INCORPORATED A DECREASE OF 200 STUDENTS, HOWEVER, AND OUR MOST RECENT ESTIMATE IS A DECREASE OF APPROXIMATELY 386 STUDENTS.

IN THE OPERATION FUNDS.

I HAVE ADVERTISED $32 MILLION WITH A $31,109,209 LEVY.

THIS IS A TOTAL OF $133,401,000 FOR ALL FUNDS AND A LEVY OF $45,676,850 LEVY.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE BUS REPLACEMENT PLAN, OUR BUS REPLACEMENT, WE HAVE ESTIMATED TO REPLACE 11 BUSSES NEXT YEAR.

AS A REMINDER, THE BUSSES SHOULD BE ABOUT 12 YEARS OR OLDER FOR REPLACEMENT.

YOU MAY NOTICE, THOUGH, THERE ARE FOUR BUSSES FROM THE 2013 YEAR SCHEDULED FOR 2013 FOR NEXT YEAR.

THE REASON BEHIND THIS IS, ACCORDING TO OUR RECORDS, WE HAVE ABOUT 25 BUSSES FROM THE YEAR 2013.

I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND TRYING TO REPLACE 25 BUSSES IN ONE YEAR.

SO I'VE PROPOSED TO REPLACE FOUR BUDGETS FOR BUSSES IN 2020 313 AND 2024 AND THE REMAINING EIGHT IN 2025.

THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO SPREAD OUT THE REPLACEMENT OF THE 2013 BUSSES.

JUST A REMINDER, THIS PLAN IS AN ESTIMATE AND IS REEVALUATED EVERY YEAR DURING THE BUDGETING PROCESS.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE CAPITAL REPLACEMENT PLAN SORRY, CAPITAL PLAN, INCLUDING OUR CAPITAL PLAN, IS A LISTING OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURES THAT ARE EXCEED $10,000 AND ARE EXPECTED TO BE ACQUIRED IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

THESE INCLUDE SOME TECHNOLOGY PIECES, INCLUDING CHROMEBOOK REPLACEMENTS FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THE HIGH SCHOOLS, PHASE THREE AND FOUR OF OUR PROJECTOR REPLACEMENT PLAN AND

[00:05:05]

THAT WE'RE CABLING AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

ALSO INCLUDED ARE EQUIPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION TYPE PIECES.

THEY INCLUDE CARPETING AND FLOORING, KITCHEN EQUIPMENT, REPAVING, RESTROOM RENOVATIONS AND HEAT PUMP REPLACEMENTS, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

AGAIN, THESE PROJECTS ARE ESTIMATES OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS AND ARE SUBJECT TO EVALUATION DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS.

OH, SORRY. IN CLOSING, LET ME RESTATE THAT.

WE'VE ADVERTISED A TOTAL OF $133,401,000 FOR ALL FUNDS, WITH A LEVY OF $45,676 ,850. I REALIZE THIS IS A LOT OF INFORMATION, SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M OPEN TO COMMENTS.

YES. WHAT IS THE AVERAGE LIFESPAN OF A BUS AGAIN? OH, WE TRY TO REPLACE IT.

WE'RE ABOUT 132,000 MILES.

SO I THINK IT'S ABOUT. THREE YEARS, ABOUT ABOUT 15 YEARS IS AS FAR AS WE WANT TO GO, BUT WE TRY TO STAY AHEAD OF THAT CURVE AND REPLACE THEM EVERY 12 YEARS.

AND YOU SAID THESE WERE REPLACING 2013? WELL, I WAS JUST SAYING THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THE BUDGET PLAN, THERE'S OTHER YEARS IN THERE AS WELL.

BUT THERE WAS 25 BUSSES THAT ARE FROM 2013 PROJECTING TO INCLUDE FOUR OF THOSE NEXT YEAR, ALONG WITH SOME OTHER BUSSES, 2008, 2009, A 2001 AND FOUR 2012S.

AND THEN FOR THE CAPITAL ASSETS, I SEE THE CHROMEBOOK REPLACEMENT.

AND WHAT IS THE AVERAGE LIFESPAN OF I GUESS I SHOULD LOOK.

CHROMEBOOKS WE DID FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND THIS IS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL.

SO IT'S KIND OF A PHASED IN REPLACEMENT PLAN.

THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? I RECOMMEND WE SOLICITED QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC [INAUDIBLE].

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AT THIS TIME FROM THE PUBLIC ON OUR PUBLIC [INAUDIBLE] INFORMATION THAT WAS JUST BROUGHT FORWARD? [INAUDIBLE] [INAUDIBLE] I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO SEND STANDARD DIESEL BUSSES. CORRECT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? [INAUDIBLE].

AND SPEAK UP LOUD, PLEASE.

I HAVE WONDERED FOR A WHILE WHY WE ARE STILL OPERATING ON YEAR ROUND SCHOOLS FOR THE.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WE CALL THAT, THE SCHOOLS THAT USED TO BE AROUND AND NOW THEY'RE NOT.

IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, I HAVE MULTIPLE BUSSES GOING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE SOME ARE GOING TO [INAUDIBLE] AND SOME ARE GOING TO EAGLE CREEK.

AND THEN I HAVE BUSSES GOING.

THE LINCOLN BUS IS GOING TO [INAUDIBLE] THAT STUFF.

I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN IT UP TO THE BOARD TO SAVE MONEY ON BUSSES, THE NUMBER OF BUSSES THAT WE NEED, TRANSPORTATION, COST, NUMBER OF BUS DRIVERS FOR EQUITY FOR OUR STUDENTS.

THERE'S STILL A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN A TRADITIONAL CALENDAR SCHOOL AND THE ONES THAT WE'RE USED TO BE ON YEAR ROUND [INAUDIBLE] LOTS OF PRACTICES.

[INAUDIBLE] I TEACH IN ONE, MY KIDS ARE ONE AND JUST FOR A SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

LIKE YOU MOVE INTO PIKE AND YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHERE YOU'RE GOING YOUR KIDS ARE GOING TO BE GOING.

AND I HAVE STUDENTS [INAUDIBLE] AND I HAVE KIDS THAT LIVED IN CLAREMONT AND THEY WERE ON THE BUS FOR 45 MINUTES DRIVING BY SNACKS, DRIVING BY EAGLE CREEK.

AND I JUST THINK IT'S TIME FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER IN A WAY TO SAVE MONEY, TO NOT HAVE SO MANY BUSSES, SO MANY DRIVERS, AND TO REALLY CREATE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND LIKE TO KNOW WHEN YOU MOVE INTO NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU'RE GOING TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL AND YOU ARE HAVING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY WHERE YOU LIVE AND YOU GO TO THE SCHOOL FUNCTIONS AND THERE'S YOUR NEIGHBORS AND YOU SEE THEM OUT AND ABOUT AND YOU KNOW THAT YOUR KIDS GO TOGETHER.

SO I WOULD LOVE FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER THAT AS AN OPTION.

I KNOW THEY GOT PEOPLE, BUT I THINK IT WOULD REALLY HELP THAT COMMUNITY FEEL THAT IT'S TRYING TO [INAUDIBLE].

THANK YOU. POINT WELL TAKEN.

THANK YOU. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTICE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THAT AT A MEETING ABOUT A YEAR AGO, TWO YEARS AGO, BEFORE THE COVID CONCEPT CAME UP.

AND THAT KIND OF PUT BRAKES ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS WE'RE DOING AT THAT STAGE.

[00:10:03]

BUT IT HAS DEFINITELY BEEN A POINT OF DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD.

AND NOTHING SAYS IT CANNOT BE DISCUSSED AGAIN.

SO THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE? OKAY.

NO ONE ELSE THEN. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THIS CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC HEARING AND NOW WE ARE ON TO OUR REGULAR DOMESTIC PIKE TOWNSHIP SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.

[3. FOR THE GOOD OF THE CAUSE]

AT THIS TIME, WE GIVE WAY TO OUR.

OUR COMMUNITY FOR ANY COMMENTS.

CONCERNS FOR THE GOOD OF THE CAUSE.

2 TO 3 MINUTES AND HOPEFULLY ARE FOR THE GOOD OF THE CAUSE.

AT THIS TIME, IF WE HAVE ANY, YOU CAN STEP FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND SHARE FOR THE GOOD OF THE CAUSE.

ANY AT THIS TIME.

GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT.

TO THE BOARD. DR.

YOUNG. MY NAME IS SHAWNA SIMMONS.

I'M SURE THE BOARD IS AWARE THAT TWO APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS HERE IN OUR DISTRICT.

I DID GET CONFIRMATION FROM THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND OPERATIONS WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THE PURDUE POLYTECH HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH WILL BE TITLED NORTHWEST AND BELIEVE PIKE ACADEMY.

THE NEXT STEPS ARE FOLLOWS.

OCTOBER THE 21ST, THEIR OFFICE IS GOING TO ASK FOR ANY CLARIFICATIONS IF ARE NEEDED, THE CHARTER SCHOOL WILL HAVE SEVEN DAYS TO RESPOND.

INTERVIEWS WILL BE THE END OF OCTOBER.

THE INDIANAPOLIS CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD REPLICATION HEARING IS SET FOR NOVEMBER THE 15TH AND I DON'T HAVE A TIME ON THAT.

SO I PRESS UPON THE BOARD AND THE DISTRICT THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE EDUCATE OUR PARENTS ON THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRADITIONAL PUBLIC EDUCATION, SUCH AS PIKE TOWNSHIP VERSUS CHARTER SCHOOLS.

ONE OF THE MAIN DIFFERENCES IS OVERSIGHT THAT THE DISTRICT IS THAT THE DISTRICT HAS VERSUS THE LENIENCY OF CHARTER SCHOOL.

SO JUST KNOW THAT I AM WILLING TO HELP PARTICIPATE IN ANY WAY FOR OUR DISTRICT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PARENTS TRULY UNDERSTAND.

JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING'S NEW IN YOUR DISTRICT DOESN'T ALWAYS MEAN BETTER.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. SIMMONS. ANYONE ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF THE CAUSE? GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND DR.

YOUNG. MY NAME IS BEN CHURCH.

I'M A RESOURCE TEACHER AT SNACKS CROSSING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

TONIGHT, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT TEACHER RETENTION.

OVER THE LAST DECADE, WE HAVE SEEN MANY TEACHERS LEAVE THE PROFESSION THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

THAT IS TRUE HERE IN PIKE AS WELL.

THERE ARE THREE REASONS THAT PEOPLE LEAVE THE PROFESSION.

ONE REASON IS PAY.

LAST YEAR WAS THE LARGEST PAY RAISE THAT I HAVE EVER GOTTEN, BUT WE ONLY GOT THOSE RAISES AFTER WE HAD HUNDREDS OF PARENTS AND TEACHERS PROTESTING OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS FOR THREE MONTHS, PLACING YARD SIGNS AROUND THE DISTRICT AND HAVING LOCAL MEDIA PICK UP THE STORY AND FOLLOWING EVERYTHING THAT WAS HAPPENING.

EVEN WITH ALL OF THAT, ALMOST EVERY TEACHER IN THE DISTRICT IS STILL PAID LESS THAN THE CITY AVERAGE.

IF WE WANT TO ATTRACT GREAT TEACHERS, WE NEED TO BE PULLING THE AVERAGE UP, NOT BRINGING IT DOWN.

I HOPE THAT THIS YEAR THE DISTRICT CAN COME TO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE TEACHERS UNION TO PAY TEACHERS FAIRLY, ENCOURAGE TEACHERS TO STAY IN THE DISTRICT AND ATTRACT HIGH QUALITY TEACHERS WITHOUT EVERYTHING THAT WE HAD TO GO THROUGH LAST YEAR.

NEXT UP IS SUPPORT.

MANY TEACHERS DO NOT FEEL LIKE THEY GET THE SUPPORT THEY NEED FROM BUILDING ADMINISTRATION OR FROM DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

THEY NEED MORE TOOLS, RESOURCES AND SUPPORT, SUCH AS INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS AND COUNSELORS TO ADDRESS BEHAVIOR CONCERNS.

FINALLY, MANY TEACHERS LEAVE BECAUSE THEY ARE BURNT OUT.

ACCORDING TO SCHOLASTIC AND THE BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION, THE AVERAGE TEACHER WORKS 10 HOURS AND 40 MINUTES A DAY.

THE CONTRACT OF TIME IS ONLY SEVEN AND HALF HOURS.

TEACHERS COME IN EARLY, THEY STAY LATE, AND THEY TAKE WORK HOME.

THEY WORK IN THE EVENINGS.

THEY WORK ON THE WEEKENDS.

THEY DO NOT RECEIVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR ALL OF THAT EXTRA WORK.

THIS WORKING ENVIRONMENT ISN'T EASY TO KEEP UP WITH.

44% OF TEACHERS QUIT BEFORE THEY REACH THE FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE.

THIS YEAR, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS CREATING CALENDARS FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

PLEASE THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX TO REDUCE BURNOUT AMONG TEACHERS.

ONE SUGGESTION WOULD BE HAVING THE KIDS COME ALL FIVE DAYS, ONE WEEK, THE NEXT WEEK THEY ONLY COME OUR DAYS.

AND THAT FIFTH DAY IS RESERVED FOR TEACHERS TO WORK ON LESSON PLANS TO GRADE MATERIALS AND MEETINGS THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE.

[00:15:04]

LET'S MAKE THIS DISTRICT A GREAT EXAMPLE AND AN INSPIRATION TO OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

LET'S BE PIKE STRONG.

THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY OTHER FOR THE GOOD OF THE CAUSE? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE RESPONDED TONIGHT.

[4. SPOTLIGHT ON PIKE]

WE ALL WANT THE SPOTLIGHT ON PIKE SARAH DORSEY.

GOOD EVENING. IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN.

OUR HIGH SCHOOL MEN'S SOCCER TEAM WON THE 2020 [INAUDIBLE] CHAMPIONSHIP LAST WEEK.

THAT WAS THEIR FIRST [INAUDIBLE] CHAMPIONSHIP.

ON MONDAY, THEY DEFEATED BIRKHOFF IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE COUNTY TOURNAMENT.

WEDNESDAY THEY CELEBRATED A 2-1 WIN OVER SOUTHPORT AND ON SATURDAY THEY WILL PLAY IN THE COUNTY SEMIFINAL AT NORTH CENTRAL AT 11:45 A.M..

SO WE'RE EXTREMELY PROUD OF THEM.

THEY'VE HAD A TREMENDOUS SEASON AND WE WISH THEM THE BEST OF LUCK ON SATURDAY AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE CELEBRATING MORE SUCCESS.

THIS WEEK, OUR INSTRUCTIONAL SPECIALISTS FINALIZE DELIVERY TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF OUR K-5 TEACHERS WILL RECEIVE A CLASSROOM SUPPLY OF MATH MANIPULATIVES TO COMPLEMENT THEIR NEW MATH CURRICULUM.

ONE OF OUR INSTRUCTIONAL SPECIALISTS, MR. DAVIDSON, EXPLAINED TO ME THAT WHEN DONE WELL, MATH INSTRUCTION MOVES FROM CONCRETE TO PICTORIAL TO ABSTRACT, AND THESE MANIPULATIVES WILL HELP OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS DO JUST THAT. IN ADDITION, OUR SIXTH GRADE MATH TEACHERS RECEIVE NEW SCIENTIFIC CALCULATORS AND GRAPHING BOARDS FOR THEIR CLASSES.

TOMORROW, OUR PIKE HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADERS WILL BE FEATURED ON OPERATION FOOTBALL.

SO PLEASE TURN INTO WTHR THE MORNING SEGMENT IS SUPPOSED TO RUN AT APPROXIMATELY 5:50 A.M.

AND THE AFTERNOON SEGMENT SHOULD RUN AT 5:45 P.M..

SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT AND SHARING THOSE LINKS WHEN THEY'RE POSTED.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, OF COURSE, IT IS HOMECOMING WEEK.

SO WE'VE HAD WEEK LONG CELEBRATIONS THROUGHOUT ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT.

PIKE HIGH SCHOOL HAD SOME REALLY CREATIVE SPIRIT DAYS IN THEIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

THEY ALSO PARTICIPATED IN DRESS UP DAYS, NOT QUITE THE SAME AS PIKE HIGH SCHOOL, BUT THEY'RE GETTING READY.

FROM 4:30 TO 6:30 WE'LL BE HOSTING OUR HOMECOMING CARNIVAL IN FRONT OF THIS STADIUM.

WE'LL HAVE TWO FOOD TRUCKS AVAILABLE, [INAUDIBLE] AND GRUB HOUSE ON THE GO.

AND THEN OUR CARNIVAL WILL HAVE BOUNCE HOUSES.

A LARGE INFLATABLE OBSTACLE COURSE, A 360 PHOTO BOOTH, A LIVE DJ, FACE PAINTING, GAMES, PERFORMANCES FROM THE MARCHING RED DEVILS AND THE RED DEVIL DANCERS AND A LOT MORE.

SO WE HOPE TO SEE EVERYONE THERE.

THANK YOU, SARAH.

WE ARE ON NOW TO THE REPORTS, TO THE BOARD.

[5. REPORTS TO THE BOARD]

FIRST UP, ALUMNI EXCELLENCE, DR.

YOUNG.

THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I AM SO EXCITED THAT HERE WE ARE BACK AGAIN WITH OUR ALUMNI EXCELLENCE.

AND YOU RECALL THIS PAST WINTER, WE LAUNCHED ALUMNI EXCELLENCE AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT SOME OF OUR PIKE GRADUATES THAT ARE DOING PHENOMENAL THINGS AS PROFESSIONALS IN THEIR FIELDS.

SO TODAY WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE MR. JORDAN GAITHER.

SO WITH THAT, WE'LL START OFF WITH A VIDEO.

[VIDEO] SO MY NAME IS JORDAN GAITHER.

I WENT TO PIKE HIGH SCHOOL AND GRADUATED SPRING IN 2009 AFTER [INAUDIBLE] COMING TO THE STATE UNIVERSITY WHERE I MAJORED IN THEATER. BUT ACTUALLY I SWITCHED OVER TO BUSINESS.

WHILE AT GRAMBLING I WAS PRESIDENT OF MY FRATERNITY, ALPHA PHI ALPHA, DELTA SIGMA CHAPTER.

I WAS PART OF THE STUDENT ASSOCIATION.

I SPONSORED A BILL THAT ALLOWED THE THEATER DEPARTMENT TO GET $20,000 EXTRA A YEAR FOR STUDENTS.

I ALSO SPONSORED A BILL THAT, IN TURN ALLOWED FOR US TO HAVE A NEW LIBRARY BUILT AT THE SCHOOL.

SO AFTER COLLEGE, AFTER GRAD STATE, I WENT TO GRAMBLING LAW SCHOOL.

FOR MY LAW SCHOOL, I STARTED A LEADING TECH COMPANY CALLED LAW POCKET.

I'M SURE THAT YOU WERE MUCH MORE ABOUT IT IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, BUT LAW POCKET SYNTHESIZES INFORMATION AND REFERS THESE TO YOUR ATTORNEYS.

AND WHAT WE ARE DOING IS MAKING IT EASY FOR YOU TO GET A LAWYER RIGHT THERE IN YOUR HAND.

YOU CAN SEARCH FOR ATTORNEYS.

YOU CAN TALK TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE ABOUT DIFFERENT TYPES OF LEGAL HELP.

AND YOU CAN ALSO JUST GIVE PLAIN, CONDENSED LEGAL INFORMATION FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND IN VERY LAYMAN'S TERMS.

[00:20:07]

WHILE AT SCHOOL WAS ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS, VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT I HAD AT PIKE.

I THINK PIKE DID A REALLY GOOD JOB OF REALLY SETTING UP THEIR STUDENTS TO THINK VERY BIG PICTURE LIKE YOU'RE HERE.

BUT ALL OF MY PROFESSORS AND MENTORS AND GUIDANCE COUNSELORS ALWAYS ENCOURAGED ME AND FEW, MANY OTHER STUDENTS TO FOCUS ON, OKAY, YOU'RE HERE BECAUSE YOU NEED TO TAKE THESE CLASSES.

YOU NEED TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE ACTIVITIES SO THAT YOU NOT ONLY SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS, BUT TO GET TO COLLEGE.

AND THAT IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT WAS VERY MUCH TOUTED HERE, IF YOU WILL, IS COLLEGE COLLEGE READINESS, COLLEGE REPORTORIAL, INSTITUTIONALIZED ACADEMICS THAT WERE VERY BENEFICIAL FOR A LOT OF STUDENTS.

I REMEMBER THE BUSINESS STUDENTS THAT GOT TO LEAVE FOR LIKE 2 HOURS AND GO WORK WITH SOMEONE IN THEIR FIELD.

AND I ALWAYS THOUGHT, WOW, THAT'S COOL.

YOU KNOW, AND THERE WERE SO MANY ENTREPRENEURS THAT I KNEW IN SCHOOL THAT ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT IS DEFINITELY STILL HERE AT PIKE.

DR. WOODS.

MR. [INAUDIBLE], MRS. STRATTONM MR. RUN. A LOT OF DIFFERENT MENTORS, SKIERS, SO MANY PEOPLE THAT I JUST THINK DID A GREAT JOB HAND IN HAND WITH ME.

WHEN I CAME TO PIKE, I DIDN'T KNOW.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO ACHIEVE WHAT MECHANISM I WAS GOING TO USE TO GET TO WHERE I WANTED TO GO? I KNOW I'M GOING TO BE THE STAR.

THE ACTOR IS THIS PERSON.

I KNEW WHAT I WANTED TO DO.

I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT.

AND THAT'S WHAT PIKE IS I PIKE IS THE HOW.

[INAUDIBLE] THIS IS WHAT YOU DO.

YOU WANT TO BE AN ATHLETE.

THIS IS WHAT YOU GOT TO DO.

RUN ON YOUR OWN BUSINESS.

SO IF YOU'RE NOT SURE WHAT YOUR CHILD WANTS TO DO.

YOUR CHILD'S NOT FOR SURE, BUT THEY WANT TO DO SOMETHING.

[INAUDIBLE] THERE'S AN APARTMENT.

THERE'S ACADEMY.

IT HAS ALMOST, LIKE, A PRETTY COLLEGIAL TYPE FEELING.

LIKE YOU'RE IN THIS RAIN AND YOU'RE GOING HEAR THIS STUFF.

I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT WHATEVER YOU DON'T KNOW, THERE ARE PEOPLE THERE THAT CAN ASSIST YOU.

AND IF YOU DO WHAT YOU DO REALLY WELL, YOU KNOW, STAFF AND SUPPORT WILL PULL OUT THIRD PARTY RESOURCES TO FURTHER ASSIST YOU.

SO I THINK THERE'S JUST SO MUCH HERE THAT PIKE HAS TO OFFER.

AND I THINK THAT IF YOU'RE TRYING TO FIND YOUR WAY, PIKE IS THE BEST PLACE FOR YOU.

WELL, AS YOU CAN SEE, JORDAN HAS AND HE IS DOING SOME PHENOMENAL THINGS AS A PIKE GRADUATE.

WE ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH THAT JORDAN IS HERE TONIGHT, SO IF YOU WOULD PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME JORDAN GAITHERS UP TO THE PODIUM [APPLAUSE].

WELL, I HOPE I HAVE A TIME LIMIT BECAUSE BECAUSE I'M ADHD.

[LAUGHTER] OKAY.

UM, WELL, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE.

I'VE NEVER BEEN IN THIS BUILDING TILL TODAY.

THIS IS. THIS IS A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT.

I'M SORRY. I'M JUST GOING TO MOVE THIS HERE SO I CAN LOOK AT THE PEOPLE.

NOT THAT I'M TURN MY BACK ON YOU, BUT I'M GRATEFUL TO BE HERE.

I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY, SPEAK ON BEHALF OF STUDENTS, FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT EVERYONE HAS GOTTEN HERE. AND I REALLY MEANT WHAT I SAID ABOUT THE HOW.

I FEEL LIKE WHEN YOU COME TO PIKE, IT'S A BIG MELTING POT OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT CULTURES AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU GET HERE.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU WHEN YOU LEAVE PIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU FEEL WELL QUALIFIED.

YOU FEEL WELL DIVERSIFIED.

ONE OF THE THINGS I MENTIONED THAT WASN'T ON THE VIDEO TALKED ABOUT INTERRACIAL RELATIONS.

ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS I THINK IS REALLY COOL ABOUT THE SCHOOL.

AS SOON AS YOU WALK IN THERE LIKE I THINK 50 FLAGS OR HOWEVER MANY FLAGS REPRESENT THE DIFFERENT NATIONS.

AND I ALWAYS FELT LIKE, YOU KNOW, STUDENTS, EVERYBODY GOT ALONG WHEN THERE WERE SERIOUS RACIAL ISSUES, WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS AND WHATNOT AND THINGS WERE ABLE TO GET REALLY RESOLVED.

AND SO I ALWAYS FELT LIKE HERE I WAS AROUND A LOT OF PROBLEM SOLVERS AND A LOT OF SOLUTION PEOPLE.

[00:25:01]

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN GREAT.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'LL OFTEN TELL PEOPLE IS THAT I'M ADHD AND I'M BIPOLAR.

I SUFFER FROM SUICIDE, ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION.

AND THERE ARE MANY MORE PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO ARE IN SCHOOLS.

AND AND I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HELPS MY JOURNEY IS TO HAVE A FOCUS IS TO HAVE A GOAL, IS TO HAVE AN OUTLOOK ON THINGS.

AND I THINK THAT INDIVIDUALS LIKE ME AND STUDENTS LIKE ME ARE AT PIKE.

AND I THINK THAT IF I'M ABLE TO GET WHERE I AM, I'M SURE THAT PIKE AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, HAVE THIS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, EVERY SCHOOL, EVERY DISTRICT, EVERY TOWNSHIP, EVERYBODY HAS SOMETHING.

RIGHT. AND I THINK THAT THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE WORTH HIGHLIGHTING, NOT TO SAY WHATEVER HAPPENS DOESN'T HAPPEN.

BUT I THINK TOO OFTEN WE DON'T LOOK OVER THE HORIZON ENOUGH TO LOOK OVER OUR OBSTACLES.

AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE SCHOOL THAT HAVE GRADUATED FROM THE SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, REALLY ARE BLESSED TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES.

EVERYTHING I HAVE, YOU KNOW, IS BUILT HERE.

YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO SAY THAT I'M A BIG BOSS.

AND I LEARNED THAT HERE AT PIKE.

AND WHEN I WAS AT GRAMBLING, I SAID, OKAY, WELL, WHAT DID I DO AT PIKE? AND I DID THAT AT GRAMBLING.

AND SO I DID THAT AT GRAMBLING LAW SCHOOL AND NOW HERE.

AND SO I'M JUST VERY, VERY GRATEFUL, VERY THANKFUL.

AND I GUESS I'LL TURN IT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR QUESTIONS.

HI, JORDAN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN TODAY.

YOUR JOURNEY HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL.

MY QUESTION TO YOU IS HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO MAKE ALL THE CONNECTIONS IN PIKE WITH IT BEING SUCH A BIG SCHOOL? I THINK SOME KIDS COME IN AND FEEL A BIT INTIMIDATED, BUT YOU SEEM TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE YOUR WAY.

WELL, I'M COMPETITIVE.

I'M A WINNER. AND I ALWAYS ALIGN MYSELF WITH KEY PLAYERS, DECISION MAKERS.

AND I TALKED, YOU KNOW, AND I DIDN'T KNOW ANYBODY.

AND, YOU KNOW, AT SOME POINT, YOU YOU SIT LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE THAT KNOW EACH OTHER, THEY SIT AT THE SAME TABLE.

AND EVENTUALLY YOU GOT YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO STEP OFF THE ISLAND BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE THEM AFTERWARDS LIKE, HEY, I MADE IT.

I'M TALKING, YOU KNOW. SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I JUST FOUND PEOPLE THAT WERE LIKE ME.

I GOT INVOLVED, DID I WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH TO MAKE THE BASKETBALL TEAM, BUT I WAS THE MANAGER [LAUGHTER].

SO THOSE WERE YOU KNOW, THOSE WERE RELATIONSHIPS THAT SOME OF THOSE YOUNG MEN, AS YOU KNOW, WENT OFF INTO, YOU KNOW, PROFESSIONAL SPORTS.

AND WHEN I SEE THEM SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, PART OF IT IS, IS THAT YOU'VE GOT TO STEP OUT.

AND I'VE NEVER BEEN ONE TO BE SHY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SAYING WHO I AM AND WHAT I WANT TO DO.

SO. THANK YOU.

I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION.

I JUST HAVE A COMMENT STATEMENT.

ACTUALLY, SEEING YOU AS A YOUNG AFRICAN AMERICAN BLACK MALE.

IT REALLY IT REALLY BLESSES MY HEART BECAUSE WE GET SO WE HAVE SO MUCH AGAINST US AND SO MUCH NEGATIVE PRESS, ESPECIALLY AS YOUNG BLACK MEN.

AND THANK YOU, DR.

YOUNG, TO SEE THE POSITIVITY OF A OF ANOTHER YOUNG BLACK MALE CONTINUING TO MOVE FORWARD IN HIS PERSONALITY AND IN HIS QUEST FOR SUCCESS AND GREATNESS.

OBVIOUSLY, IT COMES FROM, I WOULD SAY, A GREAT FOUNDATION BECAUSE MOST OF US UP HERE KNOW THE FOUNDATION.

AND SO WE CANNOT YOU CAN'T TAKE CREDIT FOR ALL OF THAT WITHOUT THE FOUNDATION.

AND SO BUT I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT THERE'S SO MUCH NEGATIVE PRESS AT THIS POINT BEING THROWN ON PIKE.

AND BE THAT AS IT MAY.

BUT BUT I'M GRATEFUL THAT THAT PIKE HAS BEEN A PLACE OF THE HOW FOR YOU.

AND AND YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU CREDIT FOR IT.

BUT BUT BUT I'M SURE GOING TO USE IT.

YOU SAID THAT YOU HAVE TO LOOK OVER THE OBSTACLES TO SEE THE HORIZON.

AND SO AND SO I'M GONNA BE USING THAT, BUT I'M GONNA GIVE YOU CREDIT FOR THAT.

HATS OFF TO YOU. APPRECIATE YOU.

KEEP ON. THE SKY'S THE LIMIT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] I'M SORRY.

I HAD TWO THINGS I WANTED TO SAY, BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED BLACK MALE IMAGES AND AND AND PUSHING FORWARD.

[00:30:03]

THAT'S WHY I CAME UP WITH LAW POCKET.

I GET THAT.

BECAUSE I FEEL WE'RE WE ARE IN A TIME AND AGE WHERE WE ARE AFRAID TO LOOK AT SOMETHING THAT'S NOT WORKING AND TO SAY, HEY, THAT'S NOT WORKING BECAUSE WE FEEL WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY OR THINK OR DO.

AND WHEN YOU MENTIONED THE STATEMENT ABOUT HOW WAS IT EASY FOR ME TO MAKE FRIENDS, IT WAS BECAUSE I KNEW LIKE WHAT I WANTED TO DO.

I CAN'T BE AFRAID FOR THAT.

SO THERE'S ONLY SO MANY THINGS THAT PEOPLE CAN DO BEFORE YOU REALIZE, LIKE YOU HAVE TO TAKE CHARGE.

SO I WAS IN LAW SCHOOL, I WAS TWO, I WAS TWO MONTHS IN.

AND ANYBODY THAT'S BEEN TO LAW SCHOOL REALLY HAVE ABOUT TWO AND A HALF MONTHS.

SO BECAUSE RIGHT AFTERWARDS IT'S TIME TO TAKE THE EXAMS. SO I CAME UP WITH LAW POCKET BECAUSE I WAS READING 1,000 PAGES A WEEK AND I STILL DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

AND ANYBODY THAT TELLS YOU THEY KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON THEIR FIRST SEMESTER OF LAW SCHOOL.

THEY'RE LYING TO YOU. [LAUGHTER] I WENT UPSTAIRS TO USE A RESTROOM, AND I NOTICED EVERYBODY WERE ON THEIR LAPTOPS.

THAT WAS A NEW THING FOR ME BECAUSE AT GRAMBLING WE DIDN'T REALLY GET ON OUR LAPTOPS LIKE THAT.

AND AS I CAME BACK DOWN, I SAW THAT PEOPLE WERE SHARING ANSWERS.

THEY WERE EMAIL LIKE THEY WEREN'T DOING WHAT? I WAS JUST LOOKING AT MY NOTES THAT I COULDN'T TAKE AND TRYING TO REMEMBER WHAT I READ.

AND SO WHEN THEY WERE ANSWERING IN MY MIND, I WAS LIKE, OH, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

AND I WAS LIKE, IF I DON'T KNOW AND THESE PEOPLE ARE READING ALL DAY ON THE INTERNET AND THEY DON'T KNOW, THEN THAT MEANS YOU DON'T KNOW.

AND WHEN I DID THAT, I WAS LIKE, OH, WE'RE NOT TEACHING PEOPLE IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION TO BE ACCURATE.

WE'RE TEACHING THEM TO JUST GIVE AN ANSWER, AND YOU HAVE TO GIVE MORE THAN JUST THE ANSWER.

AND, YOU KNOW, TO FIX THAT IMAGE, YOU HAVE TO GIVE A SOLUTION.

AND THEN YOU HAVE TO NARROW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S SOLUTION ISN'T FOR THE PROBLEM THAT YOU HAVE.

AND WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE TELLING OTHER PEOPLE WHAT TO DO.

AND SO LAW POCKET IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE WHEN I WAS IN ATLANTA, I WAS AT THE DA'S OFFICE.

SO MANY YOUNG BLACK MEN AND WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR WERE BEING, YOU KNOW, LOCKED AWAY, RIGHT OR WRONG.

BUT AFTER EVERY TIME, YOU KNOW, THOSE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WERE LOCKED AWAY, THEIR FAMILIES WOULD COME TO THE PROSECUTOR'S TABLE.

AND THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH I COULD TELL THEM.

AND BEING 26, 27, ABOUT TO GET YOUR LAW DEGREE AND YOU SEE THAT IT WAS THAT WAS VERY TOUGH.

AND I SAID, OKAY, LIKE, THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND SO I CAME UP WITH A LAW POCKET.

WE SYNTHESIZE THE INFORMATION, WE REFER PEOPLE TO ATTORNEYS.

I'VE BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY SERVICE.

I RECENTLY HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF VOLUNTEER WORK WITH THE YOUTH MENTORING GROUP CALLED NEW BOY.

IT'S REALLY GOOD TO BE ABLE TO GIVE BACK AND TO SEE PEOPLE DO THINGS AND TO HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE EMBRACE.

AND AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THIS IS MY LAST THING.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I HOPE THAT THIS CURRENT GENERATION CAN EMBRACE CHILDREN THE WAY WE WERE EMBRACED, BECAUSE IF YOU TALK TO THEM, THEY DON'T FEEL EMBRACED.

THEY FEEL JUDGED AND THEY FEEL TALKED AT.

AND I FEEL LIKE WHEN WHEN WE WERE YOUNGER, PEOPLE COULD SAY, OH, WELL, THIS HAPPENED IN MY DAY.

YOU SHOULD DO IT LIKE THIS. BUT THESE KIDS ARE IN A WAR ZONE.

SO LAW POCKET, EVERYTHING I LEARNED IN PIKE, GRAMBLING, I'M TRYING TO IMPLEMENT THAT.

AND SO I HAVE MY MOM.

MY DAD IS HERE.

MY AUNT AND UNCLE ARE IN THE BACK.

AND MR. KAREEM HINES, NEW BOY, ONE OF MY MENTORS.

SO THEY ALL CAME OUT TO CELEBRATE AND LISTEN TO ME TALK FOR TOO LONG.

SO I'M SORRY. ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] WELL, I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK ATTORNEY GAITHERS.

AS A PIKE TOWNSHIP PARENT, I HAVE TWO YOUNG MEN AT HOME AND I'M CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR EXAMPLES THAT I CAN POINT TO.

I THINK IT'S PRETTY COOL YOUR DAD IS SUPERINTENDENT, THEY COULD CARE LESS.

THEY THINK I'M A NERD.

EVERYTHING I DO IS DAD.

THAT'S DAD THIS. DAD GLASSES.

DAD, THIS. I'M SO UNCOOL TO THEM.

[00:35:02]

BUT THANK YOU FOR JUST BEING SUCH A GOOD EXAMPLE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TRANSPARENCY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HONESTY.

AND YOU KNOW, YOU'RE EXACTLY WHAT ALUMNI ALUMNI EXCELLENCE IS ALL ABOUT, OUR CHILDREN AND OUR FAMILIES AND REALLY THE GREATER ANNAPOLIS AREA NEED TO KNOW THAT A PIKE GRADUATE WHAT THAT TRULY LOOKS LIKE.

SO YOU'RE A FINE EXAMPLE. SO WE THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THANK YOU. I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS.

OUR STUDENTS.

IS THIS AVAILABLE TO MADE AVAILABLE TO OUR STUDENTS? ALL THE VIDEOS ARE POSTED ONLINE.

ALL OF OUR ALUMNI ACCESS VIDEOS ARE POSTED ONLINE.

YEAH, I THINK IT'S UNDER THE COMMUNITY SECTION OR IT'S UNDER.

I'M TRYING TO THINK. YEAH, BUT EVERY SINGLE VIDEO WE'VE CREATED I'VE SEEN IS ONLINE.

THEY ARE, BECAUSE WE'VE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THEM AGAIN.

SO. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP, THIS THIS MRS. BRENNER OASIS RECOGNITION.

GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT WEBSTER, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND DR.

YOUNG.

[INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. SO TONIGHT I'M HERE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE OASIS INTERGENERATIONAL TUTORING PROGRAM THAT STARTED NATIONALLY IN 1989 IN SAINT LOUIS.

[INAUDIBLE] OKAY.

IT STARTED IN 1989 IN SAINT LOUIS AND PROVIDES READING SUPPORT TO EARLY GRADE LEVEL STUDENTS.

OASIS WAS ESTABLISHED HERE IN PIKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN 1997.

SO WE'RE COMING UP ON OUR 25 YEARS.

THE MAJORITY OF OUR TUTORS WORK WITH GRADES ONE THROUGH THREE.

56 STUDENTS CURRENTLY ARE BEING SERVICED BY 40 TRAINED TUTORS IN ALL NINE PIKE ELEMENTARY BUILDINGS.

MARY MCDONALD, WHO IS OUR COORDINATOR AND IS UNABLE TO BE WITH US AT THE LAST MINUTE TONIGHT, AND SHE'S VERY DISAPPOINTED ABOUT THAT.

I TOLD HER TO WATCH ON THE LIVE STREAM.

SHE WORKS TIRELESSLY AND PUTS IN A TON OF EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PROGRAM IS RUN AND RUN WELL.

SHE RECRUITS ALL THE TIME AND SHE'S A GOOD COMMUNICATOR, SO SHE AND I CHAT OFTEN.

SHE'S BEEN OUR COORDINATOR HERE SINCE 2005.

MARY PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND GUIDANCE FOR OUR TUTORS AND COMMUNICATES WITH OUR ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS TO PLACE STUDENTS AND TUTORS TOGETHER.

WE'RE VERY EXCITED THAT WE'RE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE OUR TUTORS FOR THEIR YEARS OF DEDICATION TO PIKE STUDENTS THIS EVENING.

I HAVE SOME TUTORS THAT ARE UNABLE TO BE WITH US TONIGHT, SO I'M GOING TO READ THEIR NAMES FIRST.

BUT WE DO HAVE SOME OF OUR TUTORS IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT, AND I WILL CALL THEM UP TO RECEIVE A PLAQUE TO COMMEMORATE.

SO THOSE NOT IN ATTENDANCE WITH US THIS EVENING, BUT RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE ARE JULIE EGGERT, ALICE BERNSTEIN, KATHY YOUNGS, CAROL STUM, SYLVIA [INAUDIBLE] AND JANET TOWER.

THOSE ATTENDING WITH US THIS EVENING.

AND I'D LIKE YOU TO COME UP WHEN I READ YOUR NAME, GLORIA [INAUDIBLE] WITH FIVE YEARS [APPLAUSE].

KATHY ROBERTSON WITH FIVE YEARS [APPLAUSE].

ELLEN LANE WITH TEN YEARS [APPLAUSE].

AND BOB PFEIFFER WITH 15 YEARS [APPLAUSE].

I'LL LET YOU SHAKE HANDS. [INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU. AND WE ONCE AGAIN JUST WANT TO EXTEND OUR SINCERE GRATITUDE TO THESE INDIVIDUALS FOR DONATING TIME AND MAKING SUCH A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF PIKE STUDENTS.

[00:40:04]

YOU ARE APPRECIATED.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH [APPLAUSE].

THANK YOU AGAIN, MRS. BRENNER, FOR THOSE DELIVERABLES.

ALL RIGHT, SO NEXT WE ARE ON TO OUR ACTION ITEM FOR TONIGHT.

[6. ACTION ITEMS]

AND BOARD MEMBERS HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE ITEMS FOR TONIGHT.

AND IF THERE IS NO DISCUSSION ON THEM, I WOULD LIKE TO OBTAIN A MOTION TO TO ACCEPT OUR AGENDA CALENDAR BY CONSENT.

I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE WE CHANGE THE AGENDA TO A CONSENT AGENDA FOR THIS EVENING'S BUSINESS.

SECONDED, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED, THAT WE ACCEPT OUR AGENDA TONIGHT BY CONSENT.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME? I HAVE A FEW, BUT I'LL BE BRIEF.

OKAY. THE QUESTION I HAVE WAS ON THE [INAUDIBLE].

WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE THAT WE APPROVED THE [INAUDIBLE].

SO ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE, AYE.

OPPOSED. THE QUESTION WAS ON THE [INAUDIBLE] AND I WAS WONDERING WHY THE CONTRACTS WEREN'T FOR ALL SCHOOLS.

IS IT BECAUSE OF THE COHORT COHORT YEARS? BECAUSE I SAW THAT LIKE COLLEGE PARK OR FISCHBECK WASN'T INCLUDED.

[INAUDIBLE] AND THEN COHORT, THE NUMBERS WERE 10 AND 11.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IS IT JUST A SEQUENTIAL THING OR IS IT BASED ON.

AND THEN MY OTHER QUESTION WAS AROUND A CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES.

AND WHAT EXACTLY IS THAT? JUST FOR MY EDUCATION.

WELL, I CAN SPEAK TO THAT.

SO. SO THE PLC ARE A PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT AT THE BUILDING LEVEL, OUR TEACHERS, YOU MAY HAVE A PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT.

I KNOW OUR TWO BOARD MEMBERS COULD TALK ABOUT POLICIES AS WELL.

DEPARTMENT OR PARTICULAR GRADE LEVEL PLC IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS, THOSE TEACHERS TO COME IN, COLLABORATE AND WORK TOGETHER.

OFTENTIMES THEY COME TO THAT MEETING BRINGING DATA.

AND SO LET'S SAY WE HAD A RECENT ASSESSMENT.

THEY'LL BRING THAT DATA, THEY'LL REVIEW THAT DATA, AND THEY'LL MAKE PLANS BASED ON WHAT THE DATA REVEALS ON NEXT STEPS.

SO IN THAT EXAMPLE, WE HAVE A GROUP OF CHILDREN THAT FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY WEREN'T PROFICIENT IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA.

SO THEN THAT GRADE LEVEL, THAT DEPARTMENT WOULD MAKE A PLAN TO GO BACK AND SUPPORT THOSE CHILDREN.

SO IT'S KIND OF A CIRCULAR PROCESS WHERE TEACHERS ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT DATA, CONSTANTLY DEVELOPING PLANS, CONSTANTLY SHARING RESOURCES TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT NO KIDS ARE NOT PROFICIENT IN WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON.

SO THIS CONTRACT FOR SERVICE IS TO TEACH THE TEACHERS THE PROCESS OF AN EFFECTIVE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING.

YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

GOOD EVENING. [INAUDIBLE] DR.

YOUNG. WHAT QUESTION MAY I ANSWER FOR YOU? OH, SO IT WAS FOR THE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY.

YES. AND SO THE CONTRACT IS FOR THIS PERSON TO COME IN AND GIVE TRAINING, TRAINING OR BEST PRACTICE OR BEST PRACTICES IMPLEMENTATION, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE CONDUCTING OUR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY WITH FIDELITY.

ONE OF THE THINGS TO ALSO HE'LL BE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE BUILDING PRINCIPALS ON MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT ANALYZING DATA, PARTICULARLY MAKING SURE THEY'RE LOOKING AT OUR ISLAND DATA AS WELL.

WE WANT TO DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SEE GROWTH AND ACHIEVEMENT IN THOSE AREAS.

AND THEN ALSO ANOTHER THING TO PROVIDING FEEDBACK TO THOSE PRINCIPALS ON THAT PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY.

[00:45:08]

IS IT BECAUSE THEY'RE NEW A NEW CONCEPT FOR US OR JUST REALLY KIND OF.

I THINK IT'S FINE TUNING IT.

YEAH, I THINK TWEAKING AND FINE TUNING AND I WOULD SAY PLCS HAVE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME.

BUT ONE OF THINGS THAT I'M REALLY ADAMANT ABOUT THIS YEAR IS WHAT'S THE PIKE WAY? WHAT DOES A PLC LOOK LIKE? IF YOU GO FROM ONE BUILDING TO ANOTHER BUILDING, IT'S GOING TO LOOK DIFFERENT.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CREATE THAT STANDARD AND THAT EVERYONE IS IS IS TRAINED.

THEY RECEIVE THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SO THAT WE CAN WE CAN ROLL THOSE OUT MOVING FORWARD AT THE ABSOLUTE HIGHEST LEVEL.

AND THAT, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY REACH OUR GOALS THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

SO IT'S REALLY ABOUT PROVIDING SUPPORT.

MAKE SURE WE GET EVERYONE UP AT THE LEVEL THAT WE HAVE DEEMED IS WHERE WE NEED TO BE TO REACH OUR GOALS.

THANK YOU. I WAS JUST CONCERNED BECAUSE I THOUGHT I DIDN'T KNOW THE FORMAL NAME, BUT I THOUGHT WE HAD THAT IN PLACE.

AND WHEN I SAW THAT, I THOUGHT, WELL, IS IT SOMETHING DIFFERENT? OR WE DIDN'T HAVE IT BEFORE, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO IMPLEMENT SOME KIND OF CONSISTENCY OR GOVERNANCE ACROSS THE DISTRICT.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION.

NO PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOU.

YES, IT IS. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? NO DISCUSSION. WE NEED A MOTION TO ACCEPT OUR ENTIRE AGENDA TONIGHT.

I MOVE WE ACCEPT THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED, I SECOND.

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED THAT WE ACCEPT [INAUDIBLE].

I MOVE WE APPROVE THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECOND, THAT WE APPROVE OUR WHOLE CONSENT AGENDA TONIGHT AS PRESENTED.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE, AYE.

OPPOSED. THANK YOU.

WE'RE ON THE BOARD MEMBER ITEMS.

[7. BOARD MEMBER ITEMS]

MS. LOMAX.

GOOD EVENING AND HAPPY HOMECOMING WEEK.

GO, RED DEVILS.

HASHTAG PIKE PROUD.

AND WE THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR FOR THEIR REPORTS.

I LOVE SEEING THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING FOR SPIRIT WEEK AND THE HOT ROD, THE KIDS WITH THE HOT RODS.

THAT WAS THAT WAS REAL COOL.

AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO DID SHOW UP FOR OUR FORUM LAST THURSDAY FOR FOR SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY SAFETY.

IT WAS A REAL IMPACTFUL CONVERSATION.

AND IF IT'S NOT THERE ALREADY, IT'LL BE THE RECORDING WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE [INAUDIBLE].

BUT WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTED ON ON WHEN, WHEN, WHEN IT WILL BE AVAILABLE.

BUT IT IS WORTH REVIEWING IF YOU WERE NOT THERE FOR THE CONVERSATION.

THANK THE PARENTS, THE COMMUNITY, THE STAKEHOLDERS WHO SHOWED UP AND EVERYONE WHO HAD A PART IN MAKING THAT A TREMENDOUS EVENT AND GIVEN US SOME THINGS TO REALLY LOOK AT AND REACH FOR IN MOVING US FORWARD TO THE NEXT LEVEL AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE CAN SHOW UP AND BE SAFE HERE TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY.

SO THAT IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.

AND AGAIN, GO RED DEVILS, HASHTAG PIKE PROUD.

THANK YOU, MS. LOMAX.

MR. METZLER. AFTER 26 YEARS IN PIKE TOWNSHIP, I HAVE PUT A FOR SALE SIGN UP IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE.

SO I FEEL LIKE I TALKED TO THE BOARD ABOUT IT AND THAT I THINK THAT IT'S PROBABLY WHEN I'VE GOT A SIGN IN MY FRONT YARD, I PROBABLY OUGHT TO SAY SOMETHING PUBLICLY ABOUT IT THAT I'M LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE A LITTLE CLOSER TO GRANDCHILDREN.

SO SO SOMETIME, YOU KNOW, HOW THIS PROCESS CAN TAKE CAN TAKE ONE WEEK OR IT CAN TAKE SIX MONTHS.

WHO KNOWS HOW LONG IT'LL BE? AND I WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY WHILE IT'S HAPPENING.

BUT I ALSO DON'T WANT PEOPLE LOOKING AT THE FOR SALE SIGN IN MY FRONT YARD AND SAYING WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THIS GUY? SO, SO I HAVE LOVED MY TIME OF SERVICE AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO MY BEST, BUT JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT KIND OF PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE RATHER THAN HAVING TO BE PEOPLE WONDERING WHAT'S GOING ON.

THANK YOU, MR. METZLER.

MS. FORD, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.

MRS. RANDOLPH. YES.

LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE AT THE HOMECOMING CARNIVAL TOMORROW.

AND I WANTED TO REALLY SAY THANK YOU, MS. LOMAX, FOR ORGANIZING THE SUCCESSFUL FORUM LAST WEEK.

I THINK IT'S ALWAYS GOOD THAT WE GET THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND HEAR THEIR CONCERNS AND, YOU KNOW, POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS.

AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE PANEL WHO DID A GREAT JOB.

I SEE SOME OF THEM LOOKING BACK IN AT US.

AND KUDOS TO YOU, MR. GRUBER, FOR HELPING TO FACILITATE THE THE ANSWERS WITH REALLY THOUGHTFUL AND COMPASSIONATE ANSWERS.

[00:50:06]

AND THEN FINALLY, JUST WANTED TO SAY CONGRATS TO THE BOYS SOCCER TEAM.

YOU KNOW, I'M A SOCCER FAN AND REALLY HAPPY TO HOW THEY'VE PROGRESSED AND JUST ASKING OUR FAMILIES TO REPRESENT THEM WELL THIS WEEKEND AT NORTH CENTRAL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. RANDOLPH. MR. HENDERSON. I WANT TO, AS ALWAYS, THANK OUR DONORS FOR REINVESTING IN OUR GREAT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND ALSO TO OUR COMMUNITY COMMENTS. WE DO APPRECIATE THOSE BECAUSE IT GIVES US A LOOK OUTSIDE OF THE BUS THAT WE'VE TAKEN TO CONSIDERATION.

ALSO TO THE ALUMNI.

EXCELLENT. THAT'S A VERY GOOD PROGRAM, DR.

YOUNG, AND A TRIBUTE TO WHAT OUR ADMINISTRATION AND OUR STAFF AND EVERYONE HERE AT PIKE PUTS IN TO HELP OUR STUDENTS BE SUCCESSFUL.

AND THEN ALSO TO OUR TEAMS THAT ARE GOING TO PLAY AND ADVANCE FURTHER.

AND THAT'S IT. THANK YOU, MR. HENDERSON. MS. KELLY.

GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SHARED INFORMATION WITH US THIS EVENING TO BROADEN OUR HORIZONS, AS WELL AS CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE THAT WERE HONORED FOR THEIR SERVICE AND TUTORING THE ALUMNI THAT ARE DOING GREAT THINGS. JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO AGAIN, AS I'M ALWAYS SAYING, MOVING FORWARD, MOVING IN THE FUTURE, KEEPING AND CONTINUING TO KEEP PIKE GREAT AND MAKING IT EVEN BETTER AND LOOKING FOR WAYS TO DO THAT.

SO AND GREAT HAVE A GREAT HOMECOMING THIS WEEKEND.

EVERYBODY SEE EVERYBODY AT SOME OF THE FESTIVITIES.

THANK YOU, MS. KELLY. YEAH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. FIRST OF ALL, YOU KNOW, GOSH, I'VE BEEN IT'S MY 25TH YEAR.

MR. METZLER HAS BEEN ON THE BOARD THE ENTIRE TIME I'VE BEEN HERE.

SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE.

YOU'VE BEEN A PILLAR. YOU'VE BEEN THE EPITOME OF A PUBLIC SERVANT.

AND WE ARE SO APPRECIATIVE THAT YOU HAVE SERVED THIS LONG AND YOU HAVE DEFINITELY EARNED AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE AWAY FOR A WHILE.

I KNOW YOU WON'T BE AWAY LONG.

YOU'LL WHERE YOU'RE LOOKING TO GO IS NOT TOO FAR AWAY.

SO WE KNOW YOU WON'T BE A STRANGER.

BUT I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY ON BEHALF OF OUR ENTIRE SCHOOL DISTRICT THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

I WOULD ALSO MENTION WITH THE ALUMNI EXCELLENCE WE DO HAVE, IF YOU'RE LISTENING OR IF YOU'RE IN THE CROWD, IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO YOU THINK WOULD BE GREAT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE, THE APPLICATION IS ONLINE NOW, SO PLEASE GO AND HAVE THAT FILL OUT.

PLEASE RECOMMEND NOMINATE SOMEONE THAT WE CAN HIGHLIGHT IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

YOU MAY RECALL LAST YEAR, REALLY JUST THIS PAST WINTER, WE LAUNCHED IGNITE PIKE AND THAT WAS AN INITIATIVE TO REALLY BRING EXCITEMENT AND JOY AND RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE OUR STAFF.

SO WE HAD A REALLY GREAT MEETING THIS PAST WEEK.

WE HAVE SOME EXCITING THINGS FOR OUR STAFF TO GET INVOLVED IN SOME GAMES AND IT'S A PRETTY COOL STUFF.

SO THAT WILL BE COMING OUT HERE, THANKS TO AARON NAYLOR, TO TIM DAVIDSON, WHO WHO LEAD THAT EFFORT FOR THE DISTRICT.

SO STAY TUNED.

COOL STUFF COMING. AND THEN YOU KNOW THAT THE INDIANAPOLIS COLTS HAVE COME ALONGSIDE THE DISTRICT AND THEY ARE DONATING A PLAYGROUND.

WELL, THE CEREMONY AND THE BUILDING OF THE PLAYGROUND WILL TAKE PLACE ON TUESDAY OF THIS WEEK.

SO I'LL SEND SOME MORE INFORMATION TOMORROW.

SO THANK YOU, OK.

THANK YOU, DR. YOUNG. AND MY CLOSING COMMENTS IS, AGAIN, WE WE WE APPRECIATE ALL OF OUR TEACHERS.

AND AS WE PREPARE TO SETTLE WITH THEM, WE JUST WE JUST CONTINUE TO HOPE AND PRAY THAT TEACHERS EVERYWHERE ARE APPRECIATED BECAUSE TEACHERS ARE ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

AND IT'S AND IT'S JUST A TOUGH TIME EVERYWHERE WITH TEACHERS [INAUDIBLE].

SO WE APPRECIATE OUR TEACHERS AND AND WE CERTAINLY HOPE AND PRAY THAT THINGS ARE SETTLED SOON AND QUICK TO THAT END.

AND THEN I ALWAYS SAY, AS WE CLOSE OUT, TELL SOMEBODY SOMETHING POSITIVE TO LOVE ON SOMEBODY.

WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF NEGATIVITY AND IT'S JUST IT'S JUST EVERYBODY'S ANGRY.

SO THIS WEEKEND, ENJOY SOMEONE, BE POSITIVE.

AND WE'RE JUST GRATEFUL THAT GOD IS CONTINUOUSLY GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE.

MR. METZLER IT'S BEEN FOR ME COMING UP ON FOUR YEARS, AND I SAID TO YOU WHEN YOU SAID WHEN YOU ANNOUNCED IT TO US A FEW WEEKS AGO, COMING ON THE BOARD, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO GIVE PEOPLE SPACE TO LEARN PEOPLE.

BUT WHAT YOU HAVE MEANT TO ME AND YOUR AND YOUR WISDOM AS IT RELATES TO BOARD ORDINANCES HAVE CERTAINLY BEEN BEEN A HELP TO ME.

YOU CALL ME PROBABLY ONE TIME WHEN I FIRST BECAME BOARD MEMBER AND WE HAD A GOOD EXCHANGE.

[00:55:07]

AND SO, MAN, I WISH YOU WELL.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG YOU'LL BE, BUT BUT I WISH YOU WELL.

AND I REALLY BELIEVE AND I'M CLOSING [INAUDIBLE] I REALLY BELIEVE THAT PIKE IS IN GOOD HANDS.

AND AND EVEN THOUGH GUYS LIKE YOU THAT'S BEEN AROUND ON THE BOARD FOR YEARS, I STILL BELIEVE THAT PIKE IS IN GOOD HANDS.

AND THAT AND THAT STILL.

YET THE BEST IS YET TO COME, REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE SEE.

AND WE ARE STICKLER AND WE WANT OUR PARENTS TO KNOW IN OUR COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT WE'RE A STICKLER ON PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HELP OUR DISTRICT, OUR COMMUNITY AND EVERYONE THAT WE CAN TO CONTINUE TO GET A HAND ON OUR PUBLIC SAFETY SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO BE THE DISTRICT THAT MR. GAITHER TALKED ABOUT IN TERMS OF EXCELLENCE.

THANK YOU ALL. AND THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.