04 19 16 Special Meeting Minutes

SCHOOL CITY OF MISHAWAKA MISHAWAKA, INDIANA April 19, 2016 Special Meeting of the Board of School Trustees – 6:00 PM Adm...

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SCHOOL CITY OF MISHAWAKA MISHAWAKA, INDIANA April 19, 2016 Special Meeting of the Board of School Trustees – 6:00 PM Administrative Center 1402 South Main Street Mishawaka, IN 46544 SCM TECHNOLOGY PLAN DISCUSSION The first part of the meeting was devoted to audience questions and the second part was for Board and administrator comments. In response to questions, Dr. Speicher offered the following explanations. 1. The $0.2434 levy amount was calculated by financial advisors from Umbaugh. It is based on the assessed valuation and it is not calculated using an increase over seven years. 2. For an operating levy, there is no choice; it is either seven years or nothing. The statuary limit on capital is anywhere from one to thirty years. 3. In determining the number of out of district students that SCM could accommodate, we used the Indiana metrics. Dr. Speicher said that we are comfortable with the projections. Over the last five years we have had 543 out of district students. We are being conservative with the estimates. 4. It would be difficult to measure student performance by dollars invested because there are so many variables. However, we will develop some type of student performance metrics to use. 5. The most recent SCM audit will be placed in a more prominent location on the SCM website. 6. We looked at three buckets for the capital referendum; 8, 10, and 12 million. Working with Schmidt Associates, we will develop a list of priorities based on four categories: safety and security; stabilization of buildings; anything that would cause disruption of school; and air quality. We will want to use a fifteen year amortization. 7. SCM does not determine the referendum language. We will have to use language that the Department of Local Government Finance requires. Then it goes to County Election Board for the final language. Comments 1. Mr. Pemberton: He is very pleased with how SCM has progressed over the last year. The Technology Plan is excellent and it is what we need to make decisions. 2. Secretary Parks: She shared the plan with PTA and received positive feedback. Everyone seems to be excited to have a plan. 1

3. Vice President Stillson: South Bend Tribune had an editorial praising SCM for its transparency and diligent planning. That article along with the article about the Juday Creek well tells a lot of what is happening in the city and in SCM. We are a forward looking community. 4. President. Emmons: The plan is commendable. The committee put long hours and hard work into it. It is one of many pieces put into place for becoming great. 5. Mr. Wood: This just adds to the positive talk in the community. 6. Dr. Speicher: Early polling shows strong support. We have a lot to do in terms of messaging. A PAC is being assembled and we are working on getting 300 people to be “feet on the street”. 7. Dr. Stevens: Several members of the Technology Task Force were in the audience and Dr. Stevens acknowledged and thanked them. Adjournment – Emmons 7:50 p.m.

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