March 10, 2025 School Board Summary
Key Takeaways: The surveys and focus groups held as part of the strategic planning process highlighted the need for a broader definition of academic excellence, stronger mental health support, improved communication and trust, better service to the whole community, and increased staff support. Teachers and community members are encouraged to join the strategic plan draft process on April 10. The board approved the installation of new lights at the football field. During the work session, board members reached agreement on clarifying procedures under Robert’s Rules, though disagreement over the format and content of board meeting minutes continues.
Agenda with links to board documents
Topic Timestamps:
YouTube Recording for Work Session
0:06 – Work session on Robert’s Rules procedures and minutes review
YouTube Recording of Regular Meeting
0:05 – Family Friendly Schools Designation
12:05 – WLES update
28:51 – Public comment on the board needing to follow Robert’s Rules
32:30 – Approval of consent agenda
33:27 – Strategic plan update with public participation encouraged
56:24 – February work session minutes will be revised
1:08:22 – February regular meeting minutes will be revised
1:12:34 – Football field lighting replacement approved
1:20:12 – Superintendent report
1:29:44 – CFO financial report
1:30:39 – 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.
0:06 - The board held a work session before the regular meeting. No community members signed up to speak. The work session focused on two main topics: reviewing the board's use of Robert’s Rules of Order and improving the process for meeting minutes.
Austin shared her view that Robert’s Rules are a tool rather than a strict legal requirement and noted that different boards apply them with varying levels of formality. A reference sheet outlining common parliamentary procedures was distributed to board members to assist in following proper procedures. Mumford said that consistency in how Robert’s Rules are applied would improve the efficiency and the effectiveness of meetings.
Mumford asked for a discussion on the order of business for agenda items, specifically whether a motion should be made before or after discussion. Purpura expressed a preference for discussion to occur before a motion, allowing for a clearer understanding of the issue before proceeding. Austin said she would modify the traditional procedure so that recommendations, presentations, and discussions take place before motions in the future.
Mumford noted that the reference sheet provided to board members specifies that a simple majority is all that is needed to end or limit debate. She explained that every other source she has found describing Robert’s Rules states that a two-thirds vote is needed to end or limit debate. Austin quickly agreed and said that our board would require a two-thirds majority to call the question in the future.
Referencing the draft of the February 10 meeting minutes (a new format that is a 35-page auto-generated transcript of the meeting), Austin recommended not including details in the meeting minutes and suggested only a 1 to 2 sentence summary is needed. Meeting minutes prior to 2023 had so little detail that they often did not specify which policies were approved or revised by the board (e.g. September 2020 agenda and minutes).
Witt expressed opposition to summarizing the content of presentations in meeting minutes because the information is already available in the board packet documents. Witt emphasized the importance of both the board packet and live-streamed meetings as key resources for the community, providing full context and details that written minutes might not effectively capture. The board packet was not publicly available prior to Mumford v. West Lafayette Community School Corp (2022). Witt was board president at the time when the school board lost their fight to keep the board packet confidential.
Austin proposed replacing presentation summaries in the minutes with direct links to the relevant board packet documents. She suggested a format where the minutes would include the agenda item number, a link to the corresponding board packet document, and the final motion text along with the vote outcome. Witt supported the recommendation, noting that it would help maintain neutrality in the minutes. Austin also asked the administration to establish a permanent location for board documents to ensure the links remain consistent and the minutes remain accurate. Yin expressed her support for including links in the minutes.
Mumford said that the key considerations for meeting minutes are: (1) compliance with Indiana law and (2) providing useful information to the community. She said that in addition to documenting motions and votes it is also important for the minutes to capture the “general substance of discussions” as required by Indiana code 5-14-1.5-4. Mumford said that the minutes when she was first elected to the board only noted that a “discussion ensued,” without providing any details about the conversation. Mumford noted that the Indiana Public Access Counselor said that the phrase “discussion ensued” that was commonly used in our meeting minutes does not meet the legal standard for recording the general substance of the discussion (2023 November 36:28). While the law allows some flexibility in how discussions are documented, it requires more than just a record of motions and votes. Based on this guidance, Mumford argued that the minutes should include a brief summary of each discussion, both for legal compliance and to provide the information to the community.
Witt expressed her view that linking to documents in the board packet provides sufficient context and transparency without the need to document individual board member viewpoints in the minutes. She emphasized that once a decision is made by a majority vote, all board members are expected to stand behind the outcome as a collective body. Witt argued that identifying who said what during discussions is unnecessary and serves no purpose.
Purpura emphasized that the primary goal of meeting minutes should be to ensure the community has access to information about board decisions. He pointed out that the board already provides a link to the recording of meetings, which allows community members to review discussions in full if they wish. Lyle proposed that instead of summarizing discussions in the minutes, the board could include a timestamp from the YouTube recording for each agenda item. This would allow community members to easily access the relevant portion of the meeting without requiring board members to interpret or summarize the discussion.
Mumford pointed to the WL City Council meeting minutes as a model that the board could follow, as they provide a clear and helpful summary of each discussion. Their minutes are written by a city clerk, rather than a city council member. They are then reviewed by the board secretary and each member is allowed to make revisions before the minutes are brought to the meeting for final approval. Mumford said that a concise summary is of value to community members who do not want to watch the entire meeting in order to be informed.
Witt argued that the city council is not a valid comparison for how the school board should handle meeting minutes because the two bodies have different histories and dynamics. She noted that the school board has experienced significant conflict, particularly over how minutes are recorded, whereas the city council does not spend nearly as much time debating this issue. West Lafayette allows city council members to make revisions to the minutes before the meeting. School board members should be allowed to do the same. There has been ongoing resistance to allowing board members to make revisions, even when errors are obvious (2024 November 1:12:31).
Austin proposed a new process for drafting and reviewing meeting minutes to streamline edits and reduce disagreements. Under this plan, Roberta Julian, administrative assistant to the superintendent, would create the initial draft of the minutes which would include video timestamps, links to relevant documents, and the exact wording of motions. She would then provide an editable version to Lyle, as secretary, for his revisions. After receiving the pdf version, if other board members identified small corrections, such as an incorrect timestamp, they would submit those changes to Lyle for verification and revision.
Wang said that the meeting minutes format the board has used the past two years is already effective and compliant with the Indiana Open Door Law. He emphasized that the January minutes were well-structured, provided a summary of discussions, and recorded decisions without unnecessary complexity. Wang said that he was open to adding links but did not see a need for major changes to the existing format. He also raised a procedural concern, asking how disagreements over meeting minutes should be handled, regardless of the format used. He suggested that the board should establish a clear process for addressing and resolving concerns about the accuracy of the minutes.
Austin said with links and timestamps that there should be no disagreement on the facts. Wang said that if there is unresolved disagreement, this needs to be discussed at the meeting. Austin proposed that if Lyle, as secretary, and another board member could not come to an agreement on a proposed change, she suggested that the three board officers should review the issue and make a final decision. Under this system, whatever version the officers agree upon would be the final version presented at the meeting for approval. Wang said that the minutes are the only official record of the meeting and argued that the board as a whole should determine the final version, not the board officers. Wang said there should be a clear process for revisions when there are disagreements about the minutes. Austin said that with this new approach of only including timestamps and documents, there should be no disagreements. The newly proposed approach appears to conflict with legal requirements. My view is that the most effective solution is to follow the process used by other boards, ensuring that all board members are able to make revisions without turning each request into a point of contention (e.g. 2023 February 6:31). I am opposed to any format for the minutes that does not also include the general substance of each discussion that occurs during the meeting.
Yin asked about incorporating the transcript into the official minutes. Austin responded that while using a full transcript for the meeting minutes is legally permissible, it is excessive, suggesting that a link to the transcript might be a more practical solution. Purpura voiced strong reservations about formally adopting YouTube transcriptions as part of the board's official records. He pointed out that the automated transcription process is flawed, often failing to accurately distinguish speakers and capture different voices. Furthermore, he noted that the sheer length of the transcript would make it impractical for board members to review and verify every word for accuracy. Purpura emphasized that if the board were to officially adopt the transcript, they would need to ensure every detail was correct, significantly increasing the time required for meeting minute preparation. Instead, Purpura proposed making the transcript available as a supplementary resource with a clear disclaimer stating that it is automated and not an official record.
Austin treated all seven board members with respect during the work session and the regular meeting. She ensured that each had an equal opportunity to participate without being ignored or shut down. This is the first school board meeting in over 4 years where the board president showed respect to all board members.
In most other districts, the process for creating meeting minutes and the use of Robert’s Rules during meetings are procedures that are functional and well established. This is not the case in our school district. While spending an hour on Robert’s Rules and the procedure to produce meeting minutes might seem like a waste of time, these are necessary to have a functioning board. My view is that holding this discussion is years overdue. Austin’s willingness to allow this discussion and to respectfully facilitate it is a positive move for the school board.
56:03 - The work session was adjourned.
0:05 Family Friendly Schools: Joe Tylenda, Equity and Engagement Specialist, outlined the six key standards in order to receive the Family Friendly School designation: welcoming families, effective communication, student support, advocacy, shared power, and community collaboration. Building-level committees have been providing self-ratings which will be compared in April with data collected through surveys of students, staff, and parents. He shared that during his first year, he has focused on completing the Family Friendly Schools designation process, supporting cultural events, and delivering culturally based classroom lessons across grades K–7. He described plans to improve district communication strategies and address McKinney-Vento compliance for students facing housing instability.
12:05 WLES Update: Principal Sara Delaney reported that preschool enrollment has reached capacity, and the new full-year student teaching partnership with Purdue has been highly successful. Delaney provided a brief review of IREAD-3 data, noting that the school is currently in the midst of administering the assessment and many of the third graders are taking the test this year either because they were new to Indiana, did not take it previously, or did not pass last year. This year 75% of second graders have already passed at a third-grade reading level. She explained that second graders identified as at risk for not passing third-grade reading standards will be invited to a nine-day summer school program after the school year ends. She added that third graders who either lack a good cause exemption (such as an ILP or IEP) or have not passed will also be evaluated for additional support, noting that students now have multiple opportunities to retake the assessment before retention is considered. She discussed efforts to improve writing scores by vertically aligning curriculum from kindergarten through third grade and implementing a new benchmark writing assessment. Additionally, she described outreach efforts to apartment complexes to boost kindergarten enrollment, which has already surpassed prior years. Witt asked about concerns with the volume of standardized testing and its impact on instructional time, which Delaney acknowledged, saying the school is working to balance assessment demands with instructional quality. I am so happy and impressed with Delaney’s outreach efforts. As a former Kindergarten teacher in our district, I know how important this type of outreach is to the success of our students.
Yin asked about students and community members who would like to volunteer at the elementary school. Delaney shared that WLES benefits from strong volunteer support, including through a partnership with the Read to Succeed program and individual parent volunteers in classrooms as organized by teachers. She noted that WLES currently has more volunteers than available classrooms, though she emphasized that WLES is always open to more help and would gladly try to accommodate additional volunteers, including interested high school students.
28:51 Communication from the Audience (those who had signed up before the meeting began)
Don Collar, community member, referenced a prior board discussion about the need for training on Robert’s Rules of Order and responded by gifting each board member a book on Robert’s Rules. He urged members to work collaboratively and effectively. I thought this was a kind and respectful way to highlight the importance of the board president following Robert’s Rules, while also encouraging all board members to learn and apply them so the process can be more collaborative.
32:30 Consent Agenda:
Agenda for the March 10, 2025 Regular Meeting of the Board of School Trustees
Field Trips: WL Swim/Dive IHSAA State Swim Meet and Fifth Grade Camp to Camp Tecumseh
Voted 7 out of 7
33:27 Strategic Plan Update: Adam Jones of Skybound Education presented an overview of the school district strategic planning process and next steps in the development of the district’s strategic plan. Nearly 2,000 survey responses were collected from students, staff, parents, and community members. Additional input came from multiple in-person and virtual focus groups. The results indicate overall satisfaction from staff and families, though he noticed lower satisfaction scores from high school students. Five main themes emerged: the need for a more inclusive definition of academic excellence, greater focus on serving everyone in the community, greater support for mental health, improved communication and trust, and staff support.
Jones praised the district’s academic performance and college preparation outcomes but emphasized that this success sometimes results in overwhelming pressure on students. He noted stakeholder calls for more inclusive support for diverse learners, especially multilingual students and those with IEPs, and for broader definitions of success beyond test scores. He also highlighted mental health as a major concern in our school district, particularly at the secondary level, and stressed the need for better systems to support student well-being, including more balanced testing and homework schedules.
Jones went on to address communication challenges, especially inconsistent platforms used across schools and classrooms, suggesting that a unified communication tool could improve family engagement. He encouraged the district to offer low-commitment volunteer opportunities and ensure outreach reaches families of all socioeconomic backgrounds. On staff support, Jones emphasized the need for more planning time, personalized professional development, and inclusive goal-setting. Also he noted that staff expressed a desire for increased collaboration across buildings to better align practices and provide support continuity for students as they progress through the district.
He concluded by outlining how the feedback collected has been used to inform ongoing planning work and previewed the next steps in the strategic plan draft process, including the April 10 collaborative sessions with teachers and community members which will be followed by public feedback and a final plan to be presented to the board in June. Following the board meeting, Greiner sent an email to families inviting all interested individuals to participate in the upcoming strategic planning draft session, which will be facilitated by Jones on April 10, 4:30 – 5:30 pm. Those wishing to participate are asked to sign up by 9:00 am on April 2 using the following link: https://forms.gle/8w6Qc6e2uRhwdWQD6.
Witt questioned if the survey results showing low satisfaction from high school students should be believed and suggested that high school students may have reported dissatisfaction because they could have had a test the same day the survey was administered. Purpura asked if the data could be broken down by subgroups or by demographic groups, to which Jones said he would review the demographic info and follow up. Purpura suggested having a work session after community input is collected for the board to share input and Austin said this work session could be held on April 14th before the board meeting. Yin requested access to the raw data and asked for a summary of response rates by school and stakeholder groups. Greiner said he would share the raw data with board members.
56:24 Minutes of the February 10, 2025 Work Session of the Board of School Trustees and Recommended Revision to Work Session Minutes: Mumford made a motion to approve the revised version of the February 10 work session minutes that included a summary of discussions. She explained that this revision was in response to guidance from the Public Access Counselor, who recommended including a brief summary to comply with Indiana’s Open Door Law. Witt argued that because no actions are taken during work sessions, it is appropriate for the minutes to simply list the agenda and provide a link to the video. She said the discussion “should not be summarized because then they cease being neutral.” Witt noted that the previous Public Access Counselor has stepped down and said she is interested in hearing how the new Public Access Counselor might interpret the requirements for work session minutes. Lyle noted that the Public Access Counselor's opinion is advisory and not legally binding. Purpura motioned to postpone approval of the minutes until April. There are many clear examples from other government organizations showing that concise summaries that meet Indiana Code requirements can be neutral while also providing useful context for the public. My view is that elected board members should prioritize transparency, working on behalf of the community to share meaningful and helpful information.
Voted 7 out of 7
1:08:22 Minutes of the February 10, 2025 Regular: Purpura motioned to postpone approval of the minutes until the next meeting, so they could be revised to align with the format discussed in the work session. Yin expressed concern about discarding the detailed transcript-style minutes that had already been written. She acknowledged that these minutes included substantial work by Julian. They are great minutes aside from a few needed modifications. She is open to format changes, but prefers that the current, already-completed version be shared with the public after making any necessary corrections. Lyle said that during the work session it was discussed to have future board meeting minutes include only items, motions, and votes. He added that board documents will be linked to each item, timestamps of discussions will be included, and the unedited AI-generated transcript from the meeting video will be made available separately and unedited.
Voted 6 out of 7 (Yin opposed)
1:12:34 Football Field Replacement Lighting: Electric Plus Proposal, Hellas Proposal, Huston Proposal - Cronk presented a proposal to replace the football field lighting, a project included in the 2024 general obligation bond project list. The replacement would involve installing new lights on the existing steel poles. Cronk explained that three quotes had been secured, with Huston Electric submitting the lowest at $149,700 which was slightly above the initial estimate. She also noted that a rebate from Duke Energy is anticipated, which will help offset the final cost. The board was asked to approve the purchase so that the installation can take place later in the summer.
Purpura inquired about warranty details, observing that some of the quotes included specifics about the warranty while Huston’s did not. Cronk responded that she did not have that information but could follow up with them. Lyle asked whether the district would proceed with Option 1 or Option 2 from Huston’s proposal, and Cronk confirmed that they would move forward with Option 2.
Voted 7 out of 7
1:20:12 Superintendent Report: Greiner shared that the Possip pulse surveys, launched in February, will be distributed monthly. These short surveys are designed to collect both positive feedback and areas for improvement, which are then reviewed by the administration.
He also noted that the draft agreement to dissolve the Greater Lafayette Area Special Services (GLASS) is currently being reviewed by attorneys. The draft, developed by the CFOs of the three participating districts, outlines the termination of employment agreements, the transition of services to individual school corporations, and the division of assets such as cash balances and equipment. The agreement is expected to be finalized at the GLASS governing board meeting in April.
In response to concerns from community members about potential noise from the proposed pickleball courts, Greiner said the district will actively consider mitigation options. These include soundproof fencing, sound-absorbing landscaping, and the possibility of relocating the courts slightly farther from nearby homes.
1:29:44 CFO Report: Cash Flow January 2025, January Financial Report - Funds, February Financial Report - Funds, Credit Card Statement, Claims Docket Object Breakdown - Cronk reported that total claims from February 5 to March 5 totaled $4,057,991, with $2,637,143 allocated to wages, salaries, and benefits. She noted that the final fund report for January 2025 showed a total cash balance of $32,210,916 across all funds, with the education fund holding $7,704,003.
1:30:39 Board Reports
Redevelopment Commission: Austin shared that Cason Family Park is on schedule, with the pond soon to be filled with fish and paths expected to be paved in March. The city’s updated strategic plan, now online, focuses on housing and growth.
Board/Teacher Discussion: Austin said that the recent board/teacher discussion focused primarily on pending legislation and how to effectively advocate for schools.
Policy Committee: Austin asked Wang to be the schedule coordinator to get the policy committee restarted.
Legislative: Lyle warned about the governor’s push for property tax relief, which could significantly reduce school funding statewide. He urged board members and the public to contact legislators. He also discussed legislation to make school board elections partisan, which passed a Senate committee. Witt added that a version is now being considered that would remove the primary requirement. Lyle noted that a proposal to cap enrollment in the Healthy Indiana Plan at 500,000 could leave around 200,000 people without coverage. This could increase pressure on local governments and charities and potentially lead to more individuals without healthcare which can negatively impact educational outcomes.
Parks and Recreation: Purpura shared that summer camp registration filled in under two minutes, highlighting the high demand for local camps and after-school care. He also noted that solar panels are being installed at the Wellness Center, and sound-mitigating curtains are on order. The indoor pool will be resurfaced as usual in July, with the outdoor pool remaining open during that time. Lastly, he encouraged volunteers to help stuff 25,000 eggs for the upcoming Easter egg hunt, which is a major community event.
West Lafayette Schools Education Foundation: Witt reported that the Scarlet and Gray Dinner and Auction on March 1 was a success, with over 150 attendees and many more participating online. The event raised significant funds for the foundation’s teacher grant program, backpack program, and other initiatives. She also announced that the foundation is partnering with the JSHS student council on the RDP Gear Fund, with the Cash Dash fundraiser now underway and the Alexander Group matching student donations. Additional fundraisers include a dine-out night at Chipotle on March 25. The Wall of Pride events will take place on April 10 with an evening reception and school convocation on April 11.
Greater Lafayette Area Special Services (GLASS): Yin provided three key updates. First, GLASS is actively recruiting and job postings can be found on the LSC website. Second, since December 1, the number of students receiving GLASS services has increased by 21 across the three districts, with four of those additional students in WLCSC. Third, the dissolution of GLASS will take effect in June 2026, giving the districts time to coordinate financial, staffing, and equipment transitions. Yin noted that Greiner and the special education director are already working on a transition plan.
1:51:38 The meeting was adjourned
Upcoming Public Meetings in the Central Office Board Room, located at 3061 Benton Street:
Work Session: Monday, April 14, 2025 at 5pm
Regular Board Meeting: April 14, 2025 at 6pm
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.