Mt. Vernon Board of School Trustees

Mrs. Bond shared the following Good News:

1.  MVHS was named a Best High School by the U.S. News & World Report for the second year in a row;

2.  100% of the students enrolled in the MVHS Health Science 1 course passed their CNA test and earned their Certified Nursing Assistant Certificate;

3.  MVCSC School Board President Kellie Freeman was recognized by the Indiana School Boards Association and received an Exemplary Governance Award for her participation in continuous improvement and professional development activities;

4.  Wesley Perry from MES was recipient of the $500 Hancock County Promise Scholarship;

5.  MVHS Boys' Golf won the HHC title, first time in school history.  MVHS Boys' track won the HHC title, first time since 2016.  MVHS Girls' track won the HHC title, first time since 1999;

6.  For Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week, Hagerman, Lancer + Beebe and the MVEF sponsored "Together We Can Do Virtually Anything" t-shirts for all staff.

Mrs. Stephanie Miller Principal at McCordsville Elementary gave a report spotlighting her school.  She started by stating one thing she has really focused on is students are our focus, but the adults in the room sail our ship.  While still focusing on achievement, social emotional health of all have been at the forefront.  She highlighted several activities such as a recent boot camp for 3rd graders where McCordsville's SRO, who is in the National Guard, came in and talked to students about how he struggled in school with anxiety and how the military helped him overcome that.  She showed a video of him leading the class in pushups.  Students still meet in small groups with teachers and staff and one activity included fidget toys which helps students get through the day.  Mrs. Miller recently asked staff members what they loved about MES.  Responses included love the sense of community, willingness and eagerness to help one another and an overall passion for doing what is best for our students.  Love the people and atmosphere.  MES has truly exceptional teachers who strive to work together so that every student feels successful.  

Mr. Shelton presented Health, Safety and Facilities Protocols for the 2021-2022 school year, which will appear in student handbooks.  As  we don't know how next school year is going to go, these protocols are provisional and designed to keep students, families and faculty/staff and the surrounding community safe and healthy.  They align with CDC guidelines, Indiana Department of Health and Hancock County Health Department.  All procedures are contingent upon guidance provided by the local health department.   The tiered protocol encompasses five stages based on each school's percentage of absences due to illness.

Green Level:  MVCSC starts the 2021-22 school year under traditional guidelines with no limitations/adaptations and routine cleaning.  Low community spread.

Blue Level:  Absentee rate of 12% due to combined illness of students and staff within an individual building.  Moderate community spread. Start additional sanitizing procedures.

Yellow Level:  Absentee rate of 14% due to combined illness of students and staff within an individual building.  Community spread continues to increase.  Continue daily sanitizing, fog all buildings, fog between bus routes and students/staff encouraged to wear masks.

Orange Level:  Absentee rate of 16% due to combined illness of students and staff within an individual building.  Community spread approaching high levels.  Students/staff required to wear masks, deep cleaning, and daily fogging.

Red Level:  Absentee rate of 20% due to combined illness of students and staff within an individual building.  MVCSC will consult with Hancock County Health Department on possible closure.

If things continue to improve the expectation is to begin the school year as a normal school year.  Mr. Shelton stated decisions will be made building by building, the  entire corporation will not be lumped together.  

Mrs. Freeman stated the plan is very clear and thanked Mr. Shelton for all his work on this as it will allow people to know what to expect up front.

Mr. Edwards made a motion to approve Resolution 2021-14 Authorizing the Board of Education to Acquire Real Property considered by the Board to be necessary for school purposes.   It allows Mr. Elkins, as the superintendent's designee, to pursue a purchase agreement for the acquisition of property located at 8283 County Road 200W, Hancock County, Indiana  and to execute all documents necessary for closing on the property.  Mr. Gray seconded, and the motion carried 4-0.

Assistant Principals Annie Gale (FES); Ryan King (MES); and Garrie Woods (MCE) presented changes to the elementary handbooks for the 2021-2022 school year.  They collaborated together to align the three handbooks.  Assistant Principals Crystal Cooper (MVMS) and BrookeTharp (MVHS) presented handbook changes for their student handbooks for  the 2021-2022 school year.  Mr. Smedley applauded all the assistant principals for their work on all the updates especially the collaboration of the three elementary schools.  Mrs. Walls made a motion to approve the Student Handbook Changes for 2021-2022 as presented.  Mr. Edwards seconded, and the motion carried 4-0.

Mr. Smedley presented brand new Virtual Learning Handbooks for each of the buildings for 2021-2022.  He began by thanking teachers, staff and administrators for all their support to virtual learners this past year.  The handbooks were put together to provide guidance for potential virtual learners who choose to continue that path for the 2021-2022 school year.   Mr. Smedley outlined the four main areas highlighted in the handbooks' Table of Content with the first being Guiding Principles.  While it is believed that in-person instruction is the best form of instruction, the realization is there are certain challenges or variables that work better for some children to learn virtually.  The handbooks strive to mirror in-person instruction as best as possible.  The second area is General Commitments which includes building, student and caregiver commitments.   The third area is  Criteria for Virtual Student Participants which includes attendance, previous level of success in virtual learning, course selection limitations, special education  and medical expectations.  The last area is Virtual Instruction Model which includes course descriptions,objectives and expectations as well as other items such as virtual meeting expectations, grading, etc.

Mr. Smedley noted items that will be different from this school year with the first being that virtual learning for kindergartners will not be offered next school year as they feel it is such a developmental year and in-person instruction is very important.  The second change is that they are asking families that elect to be a virtual learner commit to the first and second nine weeks before deciding to switch back to in-person instruction.  Once the board takes action, information will be pushed out to parents that are considering virtual learning to show what teaching models will look like.  A virtual town hall meeting will be held May 24th from 6:30-7:30 p.m. for parents who are interested in their child being a virtual student and the window to sign up for virtual learning will begin May 25th through June 1.  

Mr. Gray made a motion to approve the Virtual Learning Handbooks for 2021-2022 as presented.  Mrs. Walls seconded, and the motion carried 4-0.

Mr. Smedley presented, on behalf of Corporation Nurse Tracy Furnas, recommended changes for the Health Services Handbooks for 2021-2022.  He pointed out the major update involves the compiling of two reference lists to streamline what is being used in the classroom and donated for snacks in order to best support our policies and those students with allergies.. Mr. Edwards made a motion to approve the Health Services Handbook Changes for 2021-2022 as presented.  Mrs. Walls seconded, and the motion carried 4-0.

Mr. Smedley presented a revised 2021-2022 school calendar.  Mt. Vernon was recognized as a Performance Qualified School District by the Indiana Department of Education and as such, there are now two staff-only days (no students) added to the school calendar, July 28, 2021 and February 7, 2022 in addition to our standard two eLearning Days.  Because July 28th is now designated as a staff-only day, the first day of school for students will be Thursday, July 29, 2021.  The PQR Days will be used with July 26th as the traditional corporation gathering and building meetings.  July 27th faculty will meet in grade level/department teams to review curriculum and assessments .  July 28th will be used as self-directed work time.  February 7, 2022 a nationally known education consultant will work with teachers on grading and assessments.  Centralized Registration will be virtual this year and therefore was taken off the calendar.   The 2022-2021 school calendar will be based off of the revised 2021-2022 school calendar.  Mr. Edwards made a motion to approve the revised 2021-2022 school calendar and the 2022-2021 school calendar.  Mrs. Walls  seconded, and the motion carried 4-0.  

Now that the school calendars have been approved, Mr. Smedley asked the assistant principals to update calendars in the student handbooks. 

Mr. Shipley reminded board members that at the March board meeting, a presentation was given and the process that goes into selecting curriculum explained with the hopes that a recommendation would be brought to the board at their April meeting.  As more time to select materials was needed, the recommendation was pushed to the May meeting.  Mr. Shipley is recommending for Grades 6-7 adopting novels along with Literary Magazine; Grades 8-11 My Perspectives by Sevvas Learning with novels that go along with that; High School Speech classes The Art of Public Speaking; HS Etymology Vocabulary for the College Bound Student; and Sports Lit Into Thin Air.  He provided a list of novels for Grades 8-11 that go along with the Textbook Adoption  Teachers  made conscious efforts to create more diversity in their novel picks.

Mrs. Walls made a motion to approve the English Language Arts Textbook Adoption Request as presented.  Mr. Edwards seconded, and the motion carried 4-0.

Mr. Shipley presented a novel list that is not a part of the textbook adoption.  The process to add or change a novel on the list begins with researching the novel; discuss the novel with grade level team, librarian and principal; fill out Novel Request Google Form by  August 31st or January 31st; Novel Committee reviews all requests; discusses all requests and then votes to move the request to the school board.  A book with yes votes for more than half of those voting (31 educators) will be recommended to the school board.  Five requests were made that were not part of the textbook adoption.  Mr. Gray made a motion to adopt the Novel List as presented.  Mrs. Walls seconded, and the motion carried 4-0.

Mr. Elkins asked the board for consideration and approval of the MVHS welding room project contract with Pridemark Construction in the amount of $222,820.00.  Mr. Stan Wilkison, Assistant Principal at MVHS has made arrangements to purchase equipment for the project.  Mr. Elkins is asking for approval of a down payment of $56,798.18 to Praxair so the equipment can be ordered now enabling it to be delivered by the start of school.  The balance for the equipment will be paid 30% due prior to shipment ($28,399.09) and the remaining 10% net 30 days ($9,466.37) for a total of $94,663.64 which is $90,000 under what was anticipated for the project to cost.  Mr. Elkins thanked Mr. Wilkison for all his work in pulling this project together and Lancer + Beebe for handling the bid process.   Mr. Edwards made a motion to approve the contract between MVCSC and Pridemark Construction and the down payment to Praxair in the amount of $56,798.18. Mrs. Walls seconded, and the motion carried 4-0.