Mt. Vernon Board of School Trustees Meeting

Dr. Parker presented Kathy Reed the Achievement in Excellence award. Congratulations to Data Steward, Kathy Reed for receiving the Skyward Leader in Excellence Award at the national Skyward conference. She was commended for her leadership in managing a major district data migration with minimal disruption, as well as for her proactive problem-solving and dedication to training and mentoring staff on the Skyward system. Kathy was also recognized for sharing best practices at state and national conferences and for the significant support and expertise she provides to the district. The board congratulated her on this achievement.

Mrs. Bond introduced Madisyn Fentress - 7th Grade student at MVMS to share the Good News Report.     

School Accolades & Notable Activities

• MVHS senior point guard Luke Ertel has been selected to play in the Allen Iverson Classic All-American Game.
• The MVHS boys basketball team won sectionals for the second consecutive year and will advance to face Pike for the regional title.
• Zoey Wood was named to both the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association and Indiana Coaches of Girls’ Sports Association All-State teams.
• Eli Broady broke the MVHS school record for the most career wins in boys wrestling, and both he and Ty Barnhart competed at Semi-State.
• MVHS Band Director Dr. Spangler and assistant Mr. Ahearn were recognized by the Indiana Arts Education Network at Arts Education Advocacy Day at the Statehouse for their contributions to music education.
• MVHS Mandarin students visited Fortville Elementary to teach first graders basic Mandarin and share information about the Lunar New Year.
• The Best Buddies program was celebrated at a February basketball game, sharing the message that Everyone Deserves a Friend.
• Students in MVMS’s Medical Detectives class participated in a relay race challenge, racing to correctly label the bones of a skeleton, and later this month, students in the class will "diagnose" staff and parents' illnesses. MVMS kicked off its Bring Change to Mind fundraiser, and the classrooms that raised the most money were able to see their teacher receive a pie in the face.
• MES students explored the planets through the Digitarium, an immersive dome experience projecting space around them.
• MCE hosted a schoolwide Pop-A-Shot tournament, with students competing for classroom, grade-level, and staff champions.
• Five MVCSC robotics teams from FES, MVIS, and MVMS placed in the finals (out of 20 teams) at the New Palestine Junior High “We Heart Robotics VEX IQ” competition.
• Several schools celebrated Read Across America Week with themed books and craft activities promoting a love of reading.
• MVCSC schools celebrated diversity and cultural awareness throughout the year. MVHS previously recognized Hispanic Heritage Month and, more recently, Black History Month through Spirit Weeks, trivia, announcements highlighting influential leaders, and student projects. FES incorporated lessons on notable historical figures and diverse authors, while MVMS highlighted Black History Month, Ramadan, and Lunar New Year through displays and student projects.

Community Connections

• MVCSC hosted a Multilingual Family Night, where Indy Eleven soccer players and their mascot joined families for the celebration.
• FES Student Council students created blankets to support IMPD’s Homeless Outreach efforts across Indianapolis.
• The MVHS FFA Chapter hosted its Annual Community Breakfast on February 28 with a free-will donation fundraiser.
• MVCSC recently hosted the Hancock County Chamber’s “Talk of the Town” luncheon, where leaders from McCordsville, Fortville, and New Palestine shared community updates.
• Our Teacher Recruitment Night welcomed 82 teachers, who interviewed and learned more about MVCSC, our open positions, and district benefits.
• The Mini-Marauder Preschool hosted an open house for prospective families, welcoming more than 30 families to see the newly renovated and expanded space.

Noteworthy Media

• MVCSC was featured in the March issue of Geist Magazine, which included a full-page letter from Dr. Parker and two additional pages highlighting Mt. Vernon schools.

Mr. Dave Gray, Hancock County Public Library presented the update for Hancock County Public Library.   The library reported strong usage across its digital resources, programs, and outreach services. Audiobooks were the most popular digital item with nearly 150,000 checkouts, along with over 162,000 physical books, thousands of songs streamed, and 655 live tutoring sessions through Tutor.com. The library also offers experiences beyond traditional materials, including museum passes, a “Library of Things,” study rooms, and public computer access, which logged nearly 54,000 sessions. More than 19,000 people attended 87 support programs, and patrons can receive personalized help through “Book a Librarian” services or curated reading lists. Outreach efforts include bookmobiles that served nearly 18,000 visitors, delivery services for 153 homebound patrons, and special classroom collections for teachers. To expand access in the eastern townships, the library introduced pickup lockers for convenient item retrieval. Summer reading remained a major initiative with about 4,200 participants reading 8.5 million minutes and attending 237 programs. The library also continues its partnership with the Community Foundation’s Imagination Library, serving about 2,700 children and celebrating more than 3,300 program graduates, with data showing participants perform better on standardized tests. Additional projects included updates to the library’s website and mobile app.  The Board thanked him for his update and appreciated his service. 

Ms Ashtan Bennet, Vernon Township Public Library Directory presented an updated on The Vernon Township Public Library. Ms Bennett highlighted several early literacy and outreach initiatives, including the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program, which currently has 114 participants and 147 graduates. Children track their reading progress through the Beanstack app and receive incentives, such as an ice cream reward from Libby’s Ice Cream after reaching 500 books. The library’s storytime outreach program continues to expand, now serving 14 preschools and daycares across 27 classrooms. Additional efforts include multigenerational programming to support families where grandparents often bring children to events. Future priorities include updating the strategic plan, developing unique collections such as early literacy and resilience-building kits, expanding job-seeker resources in partnership with the Community Foundation, and promoting lifelong learning through initiatives like a permanent StoryWalk at McCord Square funded by a grant. The library also announced the beginning of a new 3,000-square-foot library space in the NineStar building, expected to open in mid-June. The new location will include study rooms, programming space, innovative collections, and access to the StoryWalk, while the main Fortville location will remain open and continue offering core services.  Board thanked her for her report.   

Dr. Katz introduced Erin Brown,  Kaitlin Baldwin and Jay Jones to present how the Middle School fosters a strong sense of belonging for students and staff through several key initiatives. Their approach centers on Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI), Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), and a Care Committee, all designed to build supportive relationships and address student needs. Staff emphasized the importance of personal connections with students, sharing examples of how consistent mentorship and collaboration among staff help students feel supported and valued. The team also highlighted efforts to support staff wellbeing through the Care Committee, which organizes morale-boosting activities, welcome baskets for new employees, and appreciation initiatives to ensure staff feel connected and supported. Overall, the presentation emphasized that a positive, collaborative school culture where both students and staff feel seen, valued, and supported is key to creating a welcoming environment at the middle school.

CLASSIFIED RECOMMENDATIONS

Allie Preston, MMP Instructional Assistant

Haley Baldwin, MMP Instructional Assistant

Alicia Dotts, MES Instructional Assistant

CLASSIFIED CHANGE OF ASSIGNMENT

Tiffany Shirley, Transportation Bus Driver to Temporary Office Assistant

Jamia Tunstill, Transportation Bus Aide to Temporary Non CDL Driver (as needed)

DeAnn Harmon, MVCSC Cafe Sub to MVIS Cafe Worker

CLASSIFIED RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS

Destiny McQueary, MMP Instructional Assistant

Luvina Flores, MVIS Cafe Worker

Kelly Keene, MVCSC Cafe Sub

ECA RECOMMENDATIONS

ECA RESIGNATIONS

Ryan Johnson, MVMS Volunteer Baseball Coach

Kristin Gray, MVHS National Honor Society after current school year

LEAVES

Christie Jester, Transportation (02/02/2026 - @03-06-26 TBD)

Susan Schmidt, MVMS/MVIS SLP (05/04/2026 - 05/29/2026)

Mrs Zornes was in attendance to receive the MVIS Art Club Donation and wanted to thank board for approval of MVIS PTO donation.  This donation was given to complete a sense of belonging mural for the MVIS Art classroom led. This project has been led by students of the MVIS Art Club. After Spring Break they will host a unveiling for all to attend.   Dr. Parker thanked Ashley for telling the board about the project and looks forward to seeing it soon. 

Mr Smedley share the request to approve the amendment to the 2026-27 school calendar.. The Administration reviewed the 2026-27 school calendar to ensure breaks align with surrounding schools and the new career center opening next August. During the process, they determined that the long-standing two-hour early release was no longer necessary and proposed removing it. The administration recommended the board approve the revised school calendar as presented.  Mrs. Nielsen made a motion to approve the amended 2026-27 school calendar.  Mrs. Freeman seconded the motion.  Motion carried 4-0. 

Mr Smedley shared the information for the 2027-28 school calendar recommendations.   The 2027–2028 school calendar was developed through a collaborative process that included presenting options to the board in January and February. Four calendar options were narrowed to two, and staff from each building provided feedback on their preferences. By a six-to-one margin, staff across buildings preferred Option One, which was the calendar presented for approval. The recommended calendar adds three student days, including two asynchronous learning days scheduled for Parent-Teacher Connection Day in September and a professional development day in February, with the third day created by reducing teacher workdays at the start of the school year from three to two. The board approved the recommended calendar.for different options on school calendars during work session.  Mrs. Freeman made a motion to approve the 2027-28 school calendar.  Mr Gray seconded the motion.  Motion carried 4-0.

Dr. Shipley presented a request for board approval to purchase new social studies textbooks as part of the district’s curriculum adoption process previously discussed at the prior meeting. The adoption includes seven textbooks covering five high school courses as well as middle school and preschool courses, along with a textbook for a new high school civics course required by the Indiana Department of Education. The materials were made available for parents and community members to review over the past month, and one parent provided feedback indicating satisfaction with the selections. The board was asked to approve the purchase of the recommended textbooks.  Mrs Freeman made a motion approve the curriculum. Mrs Nielsen seconded the motion.  Motion carried 4-0.