Mt. Vernon Board of School Trustees

Mr. Smedley introduced administrators from each of the buildings who presented their proposed student handbook changes for 2020-2021 per the attached;

Mrs. Annie Gale, Assistant Principal Fortville Elementary; Mr. Ryan King, Assistant Principal McCordsville Elementary; Mrs. Garrie Woods, Assistant Principal Mt. Comfort; Ms. Crystal Cooper, Assistant Principal Mt. Vernon Middle School; and Mrs. Brooke Tharp, Assistant Principal Mt. Vernon High School.

Mrs. Walls made a motion to accept the student handbooks as presented.  Mr. McCarty seconded, and the motion carried 5-0.

MVCSC Corporation Nurse, Tracy Furnas, presented the changes to the K-8 and 9-12  Health Services Handbook, per the attached.  

Mrs. Smith made a motion to accept the Health Services Handbook for 2020-2021 as presented.  Mrs. Walls seconded, and the motion carried 5-0.

Mr. Shipley presented Students Fees for 2020-2021, per the attached.  He noted elementary fees were the same as 2019-2020 ($149.00) and middle schools fees very similar.  High school fees are based on the students' schedules. 

Mrs. Walls made a motion to accept the student fees as presented.  Mrs. Smith seconded, and the motion carried 5-0.

Dr. Parker announced he has been working with the Classroom Teachers' Association and administrators to develop 2020-2021 School Calendar Contingencies.  These calendars would allow MVCSC to have a quick revised 2020-2021 school calendar adoption should the need arise once Governor Holcomb shares his plan in July to reopen schools.  Under the current calendar, school will start July 29, 2020.   Calendar Contingency J would have the first student day as August 24, 2020, one week for Fall Break (October 12-16) and the last student day June 15, 2021.  Calendar Contingency K has the first student day as August 17, 2020, one week for Fall Break (October 12-16) and the last student day June 8, 2021.  It is Dr. Parker's hope not to have to use these calendars, but wants them ready in case the need arises.  

Dr. Parker asked the board to accept the calendar contingencies, directing him to utilize them if needed and communicate the calendars with parents. 

Mrs. Smith made a motion to accept the 2020-2021 school calendar contingencies and direct the Superintendent to utilize these calendars should they be needed after the Governor provides direction and guidance this summer. Furthermore, I move that we direct the Superintendent to communicate these calendar contingencies to our parents as possible school calendars for the 2020-2021 school year.  Mr. May seconded.  Mr. May asked how the decision will be made between the two calendars.  Dr. Parker responded if an extra week was needed, we will go with Contingency J, allowing for a later start date. 

The motion carried 5-0.

Dr. Parker held the 2nd Reading of Attendance Policy C175 which was brought to the board during the April 20, 2020 board meeting allowing us to tighten up our attendance policy and finalize administrative guidelines.  Mrs. Walls made a motion to accept the Student Attendance Policy C175 as presented.  Mr. May seconded, and the motion carried 5-0.

Dr. Parker presented 1st Reading of the following policies.  Changes in policy are due to recent legislative changes and recommendations of our attorney.  

Policy A325 Communicable Disease - Provides for definitions of Communicable Diseases;

Policy C125 Admission to the Corporation (Legal Settlement) -  Includes new legislative updates related to defining an employee who is a parent of a transferee and residency of students with military parents; ]

Policy C300 Programs for Students with Disabilities and Least Restrictive Environment - This is a response to a recent Title II policy audit that English learners are not to be mistakenly identified due to their language barriers;

Policy C525 Medical Needs at School - lncludes mental health treatment notification, gives school nurse leeway to ask questions or refuse when physician orders are confusing, and allows us to refuse to administer anything that doesn't have FDA approal;

Policy C550 Student Search and Seizure - More clearly defines an administrator as well as more clearly articulates searches of student vehicles;

Policy D200 Standard of Care and Supervision of Students - Clarifies that staff members are only allowed to communicate to students on school-approved applications and sites;

Policy D275 Drug-Free Workplace - Revises the language for clarity as well as provides where employees can seek counseling and information on a confidential basis;

Policy D325 Personal Background Checks and Mandatory Reporting - Adds a provision that corporation employees/contractors will not assist other corporation employees/contractors in obtaining a new job if they have reason to believe the employee/contractor engaged in misconduct with a minor or student; and

Policy D475 Justifiable Decrease in Teaching Positions - Tightens up a few things including: ability to "non-continue" a teacher contract for an administrator, allows us to use the 3 most recent formal evaluations, and clarifies ranking for academic needs to include certain leaves.

As this is first reading of these policies, no motion required. Second reading and board action will occur at the June board meeting.

Mr. Rollo presented a price comparison report for certified staff chromebooks.  Currently, teachers are using chromebooks that were the better of the group formerly used by students.  Mr. Rollo is requesting to purchase 300 new Lenovo chromebooks from Five-Star at a cost of $365.00 each for a total cost of $109,500.00.  Additionally, Google Management Licensing will need to be added at $25.00 each for a total cost of $7,500.00 once the chromebooks are received.  Mr. May made a motion to accept the quote from Five-Star for 300 staff chromebooks in the amount of $109,500.  Mr. McCarty seconded, and the motion carried 5-0.

Mr. Shelton presented a quote for the purchase of five new school buses at a cost of approximately $126,000 per bus.  The buses he is requesting are Blue Bird Buses.  He recommended Blue Bird over Thomas because all the buses in our fleet are Blue Birds, they last a lot long, can get additional add-ons such as luggage area underneath and they will come installed with video cameras. 

Mr. May made a motion to accept the quote for five Blue Bird buses in the amount of $661,565.00.  Mrs. Walls seconded, and the motion carried 5-0.

Mrs. Bond's Good News Report was included in the board packet:

1.  MVCSC Food Service has distributed 62,525 meals in the past 8 weeks.  Psi Iota Xi provided lunch multiple times along with a parent who partnered with Kinsey's.

2.  MVHS was named a 2020 Best High School by the U.S. News and World Report, specifically #17 in the central region and #64 in the state.

3.  All three elementary schools held a staff parade through their respective neighborhoods led by a school bus and local police.  

4.  MVCSC held a community blood drive where all spots were filled.  Throughout the school year, the MV community has filled approximately 300 blood donations.

5.  MVCSC community supported the local "Pack the Pantries" event, which included filling a school bus's storage compartments and delivering to the pantry.