Mt. Vernon Board of School Trustees

Mrs. Bond presented the Good News Report.

School Accolades & Notable Activities

• MVHS Band of Marauders took Gold at Regionals in the ISSMA open class invitational and advanced to Semi-State.
• All FES students and staff had the opportunity to sign the last beam to be placed in the new FES building. The official topping-out event took place on October 5, 2023, with all 2nd-grade FES students watching. That grade will be the oldest students when it opens in the fall of 2025.
• Homecoming week was not only a success but fun for all students across the schools. MVHS decorated doors, had high attendance at their dance, and all schools had fun dress-up days celebrating the Marauder Community!
• MVHS girls Cross County finished second and boys Cross Country finished third at Sectionals to advance to Regionals.
• MVHS Senior Adam Koon won individual tennis singles at the IHSSA regional competition and will advance to state. He was the first individual sectional and regional champion, as well as the first state finalist in school history. MVHS tennis team ended with a #22 in the state, which is the highest ranking in school history, and also became HCC champs for the first time in school history.
• MVHS student Hannah Hauser has broken MVHS’s school 5K record for the second time with an 18:50 time.
• MVHS Girls Soccer earned a share of the HCC Champions, which is their 7th in the last eight years.

Community Connections

• Vernon Township Fire Department spent time with MES Kindergarten students teaching fire safety. They discuss the importance of home fire drills, having a designated meeting place, working smoke detectors, and more. 
• Buck Creek Township Fire Department supported the MCE fourth-grade students as they tested the scientific method of their egg drop projects. 
• We want to give a special shout-out to our Vernon Township which received the honor of being named the Indiana Township of the Year from the Indiana Township Association. 
• The past and present Ambassadors were invited to be recognized at an MVHS Football game on September 29, where they were publicly thanked for their dedication to MV and commitment to learning more about our school community. 
• Our McCordsville Elementary administrators, Mrs. Miller & Mr. Edwards, were great sports as they had buckets of green slime dumped on their heads due to their school achieving their fundraising goal. 
• The Mt. Vernon High School Alumni group had their reunion recently celebrating all MVHS graduates through the years. 
• October 20 is the MVHS Band of Marauders Community Night. At 7 p.m. at the Hancock Health Stadium, the MVHS Band of Marauders will be having a bake sale and selling hot cocoa. 
• The MVEF recently hosted the Chip in Fore Kids Top Golf outing and a Bags, Bourbon, and Bingo events raising over $35,000 collectively. Special thanks to Renee Oldham, the MVEF board, the attendees, and the wonderful community sponsors for all their support. 
• Special thanks to the MV Athletic Boosters Club for donating $35,000 to MV Athletics

Mr. Turner presented information on Mt Comfort Elementary School behavior support team.   He introduced Tonya Brown and Julie Nelson, Behavior Techs to talk about the behavior strategies Mt. Comfort Elementary has implemented with the students and staff.  Julie Nelson spoke about the REACTIVE call for assistance and shared how staff has been trained to provide more choices for students with behaviors.  Firm expectations in the classroom are set  for staff to help regulate students when students can not communicate.  She shared the chart on communication, breathing exercises and process for breaks to regulate students.   The goal is to successfully return students to the classroom safely.   This training has helped staff to build better relationships with students.   Tonya Brown shared information on the PROACTIVE approach.  This approach includes checking in and out with positive expectations, implementing better social skills and working with students schedules to help support behaviors.   Positive interaction to build better relationships.   She appreciates MV and the support the SPED team gives the Behavior Techs.   Mr Turner spoke on how the Behavior techs are working with several teachers and student.  The schools goal is to have 75% of classroom teachers voluntarily meet with each Behavior Tech and share positive behavioral strategies.  Several staff comments regarding the program were shared.   The program BUCS art work was shared standing for Bright*Understanding*Courteous*Successful.    Mr. Turner stated Tonya and Julie are an amazing asset to their staff and great to work with.  The staff appreciates all they have done.  Dr. Parker shared his appreciation and remembers when Tonya was the only behavior tech in the district.   He complimented Lacey Groce and share appreciation for her training with the behavioral team.  He is excited to hear more about the support they have given the district as a whole and happy to see the improvements it is making.   

CERTIFIED RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Wendy Mayo, MCE Temporary Dream Room Special Education Teacher
2. Administrators Salary Increase and One-Time Stipend
3. Matthew Hankley FTE 1.25

CERTIFIED CHANGE OF ASSIGNMENT 

1. Yesenia Avila-Gentry, MVMS Resource Teacher to Essential Skills Teacher

CLASSIFIED RECOMMENDATIONS 

1. Classified Staff One-Time Stipend
2. Kelli Bennett, MVMS Permanent Cafeteria Substitute 
3. Natalie Buccat, MES Food Service
4. Pamela Kimmell, MVMS Food Service.
5. Tia Dalton, MVMS Food Service
6. Matthew Shultz, FES Custodian
7. Kelly Courtney, MMP Instructional Assistant
8. Tamara Barnett, FES Permanent Building Substitute
9. Benjamin Miles, FES Custodian
10. Courtney Stellema, Administration Registered Behavior Tech
11. Tyler Kidd, FES Custodian
12. Christian Corrado, MVHS High Intensity Instructional Assignment

CLASSIFIED RESIGNATIONS/RETIREMENT

1. Kelli Bennett, Administration Food Service
2. Emily Griffen, FES Custodian
3. Jessica Rinaldi, MCE Food Service
4. Josephine Mercado-Cruz, MCE Instructional Assistant
5. Gerri Burge, Administration Head Custodian

CLASSIFIED CHANGE OF ASSIGNMENT

1. Daniel Knight II, MCE Head to MVHS Custodian
2. Chrissy Estep, MCE Custodian to Head Custodian
3. Hannah Baldwin, MES Building Substitute to SPED Instructional Assistant
4. Brian Hunt MVMS Custodian to MES 2nd Shift Custodian

ECA RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Fortville Elementary, Student Council
2. Michael Myers, MVMS Volunteer Junior High Wrestling Coach
3. Katheryn Wilhelm, MVHS Assistant Girls Swim Coach
4. \Elissa Page, MVHS Assistant Boys Swim Coach
5. Max Hayes, MVHS Assistant Wrestling Coach
6. Dylan Freeman, MVHS Freshman Boys Basketball Coach

ECA RESIGNATIONS 

1. Steve Hiner, MVHS Assistant Wrestling Coach

LEAVES

1. Jarod Newton, MCE Teacher Paternity Leave (February 19, 2024 April 15, 2024)
2. Emilee Wright, MCE Teacher Maternity Leave (March 2, 2024 to May 24, 2024)
3. Anna Stover, MES Teacher Maternity Leave (January 4, 2024 to April 22, 2024)
4. Margaret Price, MES Counselor Maternity Leave (December 24, 2023 to May 16, 2024)
5. Angela Griffin,FES Custodian (October 23, 2023 to November 23, 2023)
6. Garrie Woods, MCE Assistant Principal (October 16th 2023 to October 24, 2023)
7. Jacob Clark, MVHS Teacher Paternity Leave (January 4, 2024 to March 8, 2023)

Mr. Elkins presented the Resolution 2023-24 Budget Appropriations and Tax Rates.  Public can reach out within seven days of the public hearing and there has been no response.  Mr.. Elkins presented the information.   He is asked the board for approval of Resolution 2023-24.   Mr. Edwards made a motion to approve Resolution 2023-34.   Mrs. Walls seconded the motion.  No discussion.   Motion carried 4-0.  

Dr. Parker presented the seven policies for first reading review.  He reviewed the updates on each policy.   Policy C125 Admission to the Corporation of Legal Settlement is now required to have an annual update.  

Mr. Hamilton presented the Technology surplus.  Secure Tech solutions is the new recycling vendor.  They will issue a credit for certain technology they can salvage.   Mrs. Walls motioned to approve technology surplus. Mr Edwards second the motion.   Mr. Gray thanked Mr. Hamilton for being proactive on working on this surplus and doing it correctly with a new vendor.     Motion carried 4-0