February 10, 2025 School Board Summary

Mar 04, 2025

Key Takeaways: There is increased flexibility for students who want to take online high school courses this summer. Thanks to community feedback, the addition of four pickleball courts at WLES will now be entirely separate from the tennis courts so both can be used simultaneously. Austin asked board members to direct all questions to the superintendent through her instead of reaching out to him directly. However, after discussion, the majority of the board does not support this change. There continue to be issues with the meeting minutes.

Agenda with links to board documents

Topic Timestamps: YouTube Meeting Recording

1:16 – Work session on school board procedures
1:04:11 - 6th grader honored for published book
1:15:46 - WLIS update
1:37:19 – Approval of consent agenda
1:45:50 - Organizational minutes approved with 5-2 vote
1:59:55 - High School online summer course options
2:13:38 - Tennis and pickleball courts contract approved
2:28:18 - School Board committee assignments
2:36:24 - Superintendent update
2:43:14 - Board reports

The following is my summary of the public school board meeting, not the official meeting minutes. My personal thoughts and opinions are given in italics and represent my own views which do not necessarily reflect those of any other member of the school board. I identify myself as Mumford in the summary but use first person when describing my personal thoughts and opinions.

1:16 - The board held a work session before the regular meeting to discuss communication practices. No community members signed up to speak. Austin opened by reflecting on her first year as board president, emphasizing the need to refine board norms. She proposed discussing: board roles, public expression, and information flow. Purpura suggested adding email communication with the public, while Mumford asked to discuss how meeting minutes are prepared and revised.

Austin began by recommending that all questions for the superintendent be first sent to her to prevent overwhelming Greiner with too many questions. Mumford disagreed, saying that board members should contact Greiner directly rather than going through a middle person. Lyle proposed that instead of communicating through Austin, board members copy Austin on emails to Greiner, which would allow Austin to handle questions when possible. Austin countered that she preferred to be the initial point of contact, but that it would be fine for Greiner to be cc’d. Mumford said that the role of board president does not grant any more access to information than other members and questioned why it would be necessary to direct questions through the board president. She recommended copying all board members on any questions to the superintendent in order to reduce duplicate inquiries and noted that she follows this practice, but often receives aggressive responses from other board members.

Austin shared that she had recently spoken with Greiner about this topic and he expressed his desire that questions from board members continue to go directly to him. However, Austin said that she remained concerned about the board’s impact on Greiner and wants board member questions to go through her. Yin suggested that board members could share governance-related questions among themselves before including Greiner. Austin said that she strongly supported this recommendation. Greiner responded that he does not want to be excluded from board communication and asked that he be copied on all email exchanges so he could stay informed. He clarified that if an email was not addressed to him directly, he would understand that it was intended for internal board discussion and did not require his response.

Mumford acknowledged the concern about the large number of questions to the superintendent about the board packet in the days leading up to the school board meeting each month. She noted that many other school districts hold a work session several days before the regular board meeting to allow board members to ask questions about the board packet in order to be prepared to vote. She recommended adopting this practice which would reduce the need for as many email questions.

Yin raised concerns about lengthy email discussions among board members because this resembles holding a private meeting which is not allowed, is not transparent, and leads to public records requests and the cost of fulfilling those requests. She noted that community members have been criticized for making records requests and suggested streamlining the process to reduce cost and increase efficiency. Yin said that proactively sharing more information would likely reduce the number of public records requests. Lyle said that when a person files frequent records requests, it means “either that this person does this as a hobby or we have not done our job by putting out the information that people need to see.” He recommended gathering historical data on records requests to evaluate and improve the process. Greiner agreed to share this information in his Friday notes to the board.

Yin emphasized the importance of working together. Witt responded by criticising Mumford’s board meeting summaries, claiming that Mumford called Austin “many awful names” and that the summaries continue speculation that has harmed board culture. Purpura echoed Witt’s concern, stressing that board members should assume best intentions in their communications and avoid public criticism of each other. He said, “I don’t agree with the commentary about others, especially using specific names like Amy.” He urged members to be more mindful of their tone and work collaboratively.

I have not called Austin, or anyone else, an “awful name” in any of my summaries. Every summary I have written is posted on my website for anyone to see and you won’t find any name calling in them. You will find instances where my view on a school issue differs from those of other board members and you will also find instances where I criticize the decisions, behaviors, and public expressions in board meetings.

What continues to surprise me is the ongoing effort to stop me from writing these school board meeting summaries rather than addressing the issues they highlight. Instead of trying to stop me from publicly sharing my concerns, a better response would be to address my concerns. If our school board meetings were simply focused on conducting school business fairly and transparently, my summaries would reflect that.

58:57 - The work session was adjourned.

Even though we didn’t make much progress, I appreciate Austin’s willingness to discuss board procedures in a work session. That has not happened in the past. There has definitely been a shift with Lyle and Purpura now on the board. I was happy that they pushed back on Austin’s efforts in the work session to take control over the flow of information. However, as is clear in the regular meeting, the 4-3 board dynamic is still causing issues.

1:04:11 - The regular meeting opened with WLIS Principal Margaret Psarros recognizing Felicia Xie, a sixth-grade student, for publishing her book, Hunter and the Wolf. Xie recounted that her writing journey started in second grade in Mrs. Reed’s class, where she was assigned to write a story for a blank hardcover book. Encouraged by Reed, she researched the process of publishing a book. She continued refining her writing with support from teachers Follis, Carroll, Brown, Fernandez, King, Harmon, and Stan. Additionally, four of her friends contributed by helping design the cover art.

1:15:46 - Psarros shared the WLIS Update. The school’s enrollment remains steady at 538 students, including four essential skills students. Currently, 24.1% of students qualify for free and reduced lunch, and 7.9% receive special education services, with 43 students in special education programs. The staff consists of 38 teachers and 39 support staff.

This year, the school introduced a Cultural Night, which was a great success. The event featured dance performances, traditional attire, food, games, and music from 11 different cultural groups. With 28 cultures represented in the school, organizers hope to expand participation in future years. The MathCounts team also achieved notable success, finishing second in a regional competition behind the junior high team and advanced to state. Additionally, a new crochet, knitting, and sewing club has become popular among students, fostering creativity and social interaction.

The school also celebrated strong results in the recent ISSMA music competition, with numerous gold and silver award recipients in orchestra and band, and several students qualifying for the state competition. In academics, teachers have been working to analyze and isolate state assessment data to better support student growth. While checkpoint testing results have not provided as much detailed information as hoped, the school has implemented pre- and post-assessments, fluency checks, and diagnostic tools to track student progress more effectively.

Looking ahead, the rest of the school year has a packed schedule, including Awards Day, music performances, fifth grade camp, Math Bowl, grade level fun nights, the sixth-grade departure parade, art show, field day, the annual science fair, Living History Day, and a family PE night. Yin expressed appreciation for the wide range of extracurricular activities available and highlighted the WLIS club information that is available on the school website.

1:28:58 - Chad Rodgers, JSHS principal, recognized Tara Kim, sophomore, who will perform with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and received first prize for the virtuoso category of Michael Ben and Illene Komisarow Maurer Young Musicians Competition. Our school achieved first place at the Indiana Association of Students of German competition. Luca Reynolds placed fifth overall in the event.

1:31:36 Communication from the Audience (those who had signed up before the meeting began)

Randy Studt, JSHS German teacher, raised concerns about Senate Bill 1, warning that its passage could result in significant funding cuts for schools and community services.

1:37:19 Consent Agenda:

Yin asked to remove items from the consent agenda to allow for discussion. Austin responded that she could share her comments now without removing items. Yin expressed appreciation for Safe Harbor’s family satisfaction survey and said that she has questions about summer school, specifically regarding the approval of the Indiana Online Academy. She noted the availability of other summer school options and emphasized the need for clear communication to students and parents on details and costs. Witt voiced concern about promoting high school courses with fees, worrying that it could make families unable to afford these courses feel disadvantaged. Mumford motioned to remove the Indiana Online Academy from the consent agenda to allow for further questions and discussion. Wang motioned to remove the February 10, 2025 agenda and the January 13, 2025 Organizational Minutes. Austin said that a second is not required to remove items from the consent agenda. The remaining consent agenda items were then approved.

Inconsistencies in applying Robert’s Rules and our existing policies contribute to confusion and an imbalance of power. Consent agendas are meant to be approved without discussion; if there are comments or questions, the item should be removed for separate consideration. For example, including two different versions of the January 13 organizational minutes in the consent agenda should never have happened. If there are two versions, this needs to be an agenda item for the board to discuss. Additionally, our current policy 0166.1 requires two board members to remove an item from the consent agenda, where most school boards in the state allow a single member to do so. While I appreciate Austin's effort to align our practice with other districts, just deciding to not follow our policy is not the correct way to implement that change.

Voted 7 out of 7

1:42:18 - Wang motioned to amend the Agenda for the February 10, 2025 Regular Meeting by adding a discussion item on school board member committee assignments. Mumford seconded the motion. Austin said that the item would be added after Item 11, the tennis court contract.

Vote 6 out of 7 (Austin opposed)

Wang had requested this item be added to the agenda before the meeting, but it is unclear why Austin refused to include it or why she opposed the agenda modification.

1:44:12 - The modified Agenda for the February 10, 2025 Regular Meeting was approved.

Voted 7 out of 7

1:45:50 - Original Draft of Minutes of the January 13, 2025 Organizational Meeting and Proposed Revised Draft: The board was provided with two versions of the organizational meeting minutes. A five-minute debate followed over the correct procedure for motions and discussion when an item is removed from the consent agenda (These meetings would be quicker and there would be less chaos if Austin would follow Robert’s Rules). Wang explained that he had requested changes to the original draft, noting that the recorded votes for board president and secretary were inaccurate. He clarified that there were no separate yes and no votes and that the officer elections were conducted as a single motion, not two separate motions.

Austin claimed that the revised draft already reflected Wang’s request. Wang clarified that the revised draft only made the change to the president election votes and did not make the change for the secretary election. Austin proposed proceeding with a vote, explaining that a "yes" vote would support one version of the minutes, while a "no" vote would support the alternative version. After further debate, Austin agreed to accept Wang’s proposed change for how the secretary election votes are recorded in the revised version of the minutes. Purpura motioned to vote on it. Wang objected, pointing out that his request that the minutes record that the officer elections were conducted as a single motion had still not been addressed.

Mumford motioned to table the minutes until March to ensure a clear written record of what was being voted on. She said that the procedure for revising minutes should be for board members to submit proposed changes after the original draft is shared and that if any revisions are disputed, both the original and revised versions should be presented at the meeting for discussion. Wang had submitted revisions, but several of his revisions were not incorporated into the revised draft. Wang seconded the motion to table. Purpura said that a motion to approve the minutes was already on the floor and asked Mumford if she was proposing an amendment by tabling the discussion. Mumford said yes. Witt then made a motion to call the question. Austin asked which motion she was referencing and Witt said the motion to approve the revised minutes. Austin said that she would proceed with a vote on the revised draft, with a verbal agreement to remove the no votes for the secretary.

Voted 5 out of 7 (Mumford and Wang opposed)

My motion to table received a second and should have been voted on. According to Robert's Rules, invoking "call the question" to end discussion requires a formal motion, a second, and a two-thirds majority vote. This means that in our school board there needs to be 5 votes to shut down the discussion. If Wang’s requested revisions had been correctly included in the revised draft, I think they would have been quickly approved.

1:59:55 - Indiana Online Academy and Memo: Mumford sought clarification on the cost of the various online summer school options, noting that the high school counseling team compiled a document outlining available programs which is available in the 25-26 scheduling folder. Cronk confirmed that Achieve provides two free courses per student at no cost to families and no cost to the school district. The cost of students taking summer classes from Indiana Online Academy is mostly covered by the district, with only a few courses requiring family payment. The other options listed by the school counselors (Ivy Tech, IU High School, and BYU Independent Study) are entirely family-funded.

Mumford shared that she has received positive feedback on the increased flexibility of summer school options. She noted that in the past, students could only retake courses they had previously failed, and is grateful that this restriction has now been removed. She asked why science and world language courses were not included on the list of available options in the summer school document. Rodgers explained that science labs are difficult to replicate online, and world language courses require listening and speaking components that are challenging to manage in a virtual format. Mumford asked if that meant that these courses cannot be taken over the summer. Rodgers explained that the school provides a general list of summer course options and said that students can take courses outside the listed options. If they pay for them and earn credit, the school will accept it. He offered to confirm details with the counseling team.

Austin said that these types of informational questions should be emailed to Greiner who would gather responses from Rodgers and then share them with the board. Mumford responded that students are currently registering for summer courses and that it is important that families understand summer school options. She said that she has additional questions related to summer school. Witt made a motion to call the question. Austin requested a second. Lyle seconded the motion but said that he would first like to understand the school’s reimbursement process for Indiana Online Academy costs. Cronk explained that the school district is charged when students take courses from Indiana Online Academy and then she submits these costs to the state for reimbursement and typically recoups 30-40% of the cost. After Lyle’s question, Austin asked everyone to vote to approve the contract with Indiana Online Academy. Calling the question to end discussion only applies when a two-thirds majority feels that all the questions have been answered. This obviously was not the case.

Voted 7 out of 7

Yin asked a follow-up question about why the state does not fully reimburse summer school costs. Greiner explained that the reimbursement percentage is determined at the end of summer and depends on the number of districts that apply for funding. Since the state allocates a fixed amount, as more districts submit requests, each receives a smaller reimbursement.

Lyle asked Cronk to confirm that Achieve is free while Indiana Online Academy is paid by our school district. Cronk verified that Achieve is free because the costs are covered by the Wayne Township school district, which submits its own reimbursement request. She submits the reimbursement request to the state for our school district’s payments to Indiana Online Academy. Witt asked if priority would be given to courses required for graduation. Cronk responded that the focus is on elementary literacy summer school. Cronk noted that the state allocates reimbursements to literacy programs first. She also noted that no legislation has been passed to increase summer school funding or create separate funding for literacy programs.

Yin referenced the document Mumford had mentioned, confirming that while students can take courses from other online providers, families are responsible for the cost. Roth verified that as long as the credit is from an accredited Indiana school, it will be accepted by the high school. Austin said that any further questions should be directed to Rodgers and his staff.

It was Witt who made the motion to end discussion and Lyle gave the second and then both had additional questions on this topic. The school board needs to follow Robert’s Rules.

2:13:38 - Tennis Court Contract and Memo: Cronk provided an update on the tennis court replacement project, stating that the district has been working with Hellas Construction for several months to design new courts based on community feedback. The project will replace the existing asphalt courts with post-tension courts, which are more durable. This initiative was included in the 10-year Capital Improvement Study, the 2025 budget capital projects plan, and the 2024 General Obligation (GO) Bond project list.

Hellas was selected through the Sourcewell Cooperative, a purchasing group that has already completed the state-required RFP process for athletic surfaces and lighting. The final contract for replacing the 10 tennis courts at WLES and adding four pickleball courts totals $1,698,900, aligning with previous estimates and competitive with other school districts' costs. Due to specialized drilling requirements, the lighting contract will be presented separately at a later date. Helus is working with local vendors to secure the best pricing for lighting installation. The project will be funded using both city-provided funds and the 2024 GO Bond.

Austin noted that the new proposal separates the four pickleball courts from the ten tennis courts. Witt pointed out that the contract states that fencing is not included, and Cronk clarified that it should be. She agreed to confirm with Hellas and request an updated contract. Purpura inquired about the expected cost of lighting which Cronk estimated at around $500,000. She explained that the expense is due to the installation of additional and taller lights.

Mumford asked about the project timeline, and Cronk explained that they aim to begin at the end of May by pouring the concrete, which requires 21 days to cure before additional work can proceed. The estimated completion time is around three months, though this depends on weather conditions. Athletic Director Strode and the tennis coaches have discussed possible scheduling flexibility in August. Mumford asked why multiple quotes were not obtained for such a significant project. Cronk responded that using a purchasing cooperative for athletic surfaces is becoming more common due to the specialized nature of the work. She emphasized that the district has worked with Hellas from the beginning, is pleased with their performance, and is comfortable with the quote provided.

Wang said that his understanding is that our legal counsel needs to be asked to review the contract. Cronk said that it is a standard contract but agreed to have our legal counsel review it. Lyle said that there will be a cost for this review, but Cronk clarified that reviewing the contract should fall within our legal counsel’s standard services without incurring additional fees.

Voted 7 out of 7

2:28:18 - Wang said that it is important to allow discussions among board members before making committee assignments. He suggested that members should have the opportunity to express their preferences and gain a clear understanding of each committee’s role to ensure proper representation. He also highlighted that an inclusive and transparent process would help foster a more unified board.

Austin responded that she asked board members to email her their committee preferences, which she considered carefully in consultation with Greiner, the parks department, the city, and the president of the West Lafayette Schools Education Foundation. She clarified that assignments were not made arbitrarily but followed board policy 0155, which grants the board president authority over committee appointments.

Wang asked if this policy applied to external committees, such as the Redevelopment Commission and the Parks and Recreation Committee. Austin explained that Mayor Easter personally invited her to serve on the Redevelopment Commission, and she accepted the role. Yin suggested that committee assignments should rotate to allow board members to gain new experiences and broaden their knowledge. Austin noted that continuity is an important counterpoint. Control over committee assignments limits certain members' participation, especially as more outsiders have been elected to the board. Each year I have indicated the committees I would like to serve on and have never been assigned to any of them.

2:34:32 - E-Rate Category II - Technology Equipment Purchase, Memo, Evaluation of Proposals, Affidavit of Publication: Cronk explained that the IT department is continuing network infrastructure upgrades as part of the 2025 budget plan, with existing equipment nearing the end of its lifespan. The district secured E-Rate Category 2 funding, covering 50% of the $180,600 cost, with the remaining amount funded through educational and operations funds. Wintek submitted the winning bid, as lower-cost proposals were incompatible with current equipment. The upgrades will take place over the summer, and Cronk requested board approval for the purchase.

Voted 7 out of 7

2:36:24 - Superintendent Report: Greiner provided an update on the district’s strategic planning process. On February 21, Mr. Jones from Skybound will lead a workshop with administrators and principals to align actions with Indiana’s Graduates Prepared to Succeed dashboard. On March 10, Jones will present board survey results and focus group themes, followed by an April 10 workshop with school and community representatives to develop goals and strategies. The final strategic plan will be presented to the board on June 9.

Greiner also outlined plans for the future of the Happy Hollow building and property, with a staff and community survey to gather input. Similar to the strategic plan process, Jones will facilitate focus groups to explore potential uses. The preschool is currently at full capacity with 18 students. Enrollment for next year is open, and the necessary steps are being taken to secure On My Way Pre-K funding. Delaney, WLES principal, reported that 13 of the 18 spots for next year have already been filled.

2:41:57 - CFO Report: December Financial Report - Funds, January Financial Report - Funds, Credit Card Statement, Claims Docket Object Breakdown, 2024 Year End Cash Flow: Cronk reported that claims for the period from January 9th to February 4th totaled $3,087,794. This amount includes regular corporation expenses and costs associated with the Wabash Valley Education Center. Of this total, $2,000,376.71 was allocated to wages, salaries, and benefits.

2:43:14 Board Reports

Policy Committee: Austin stated that Purpura requested to serve on the policy committee, so she added him alongside Witt and Wang. There is a significant amount of work that needs to be done to prepare the policies for board approval. My request to serve on the policy committee was denied because I write school board meeting summaries (2024 October 10:02).
Legislative Committee: Lyle, along with Greiner and Cronk, attended a local legislative luncheon where they learned that all local representatives present opposed making school board elections partisan. There was also discussion about Senate Bill 1 and its potential funding changes, with some optimism that it might not pass if enough public opposition is voiced. Witt inquired about potential Medicaid changes that could reduce funding for ABA therapy, expressing concern about the impact on students who may need services. Lyle had not heard specific details but agreed to raise the issue at the next legislative meeting.
Public Schools Foundation of Tippecanoe County: Mumford attended the meeting, which was held at the Greater Lafayette Career Academy. She highlighted the enjoyable experience of having lunch at the academy café where students showcased their skills. The foundation’s spring teacher grant cycle is open until March 12. Additionally, the annual Cupcake Bake-Off and Tasting Party will take place on February 13 from 5-6pm at the career academy.
School Board Training: Mumford referenced her past request to bring in an outside trainer, noting that a significant portion of each school board meeting is spent dealing with procedural confusion. She stressed that a structured Robert’s Rules training for all board members would improve the efficiency and effectiveness of meetings. Austin thanked her for the suggestion and said it would be considered.
Parks and Recreation: Purpura reported that the Wellness Center is upgrading its exercise equipment as many machines have reached the end of their lifespan. Cason Family Park is progressing as planned, with a grand opening scheduled for May 22. He encouraged board members to visit the site to see the exciting developments.
West Lafayette Schools Education Foundation: Witt shared that 66 seniors applied for scholarships this year, closely matching last year’s total of 67, with recipients to be notified in April. She reminded everyone that the Scarlet and Gray Dinner and Auction will take place on March 1 and that Founders Day is set for March 27. She also announced that the foundation is partnering with the student council to support the new RDP Gear Fund, which will help provide students with essential items such as school supplies, hygiene products, coats, and PE shoes.

2:54:19 The meeting was adjourned

Upcoming Public Meetings in the Central Office Board Room, located at 3061 Benton Street:

Work Session: Monday, March 10, 2025, at 5:00pm
Regular Board Meeting: March 10, 2025, at 6:00pm

This document is my summary of the public school board meeting, not the official meeting minutes. My personal thoughts and opinions are given in italics and represent my own views which do not necessarily reflect those of any other member of the school board. I identify myself as Mumford in the summary but use first person when describing my personal thoughts and opinions. Previous agendas, minutes, and audio recordings can be found at the WLCSC website.

Meeting Summaries

February 10, 2025 School Board Summary