# Transcript — Vigo County Oversight Board, 2026-08-12 Machine transcription of the recording of the Vigo County Oversight Board meeting on 2026-08-12, aligned to the video timeline. **This is not the official record** — the clerk's minutes are, and this is unreviewed automatic speech recognition that mis-hears names and numbers. Check anything that matters against the recording. Each line is stamped with its position in the recording, both as a clock time and as `[t=SECONDS]`. Those are the same seconds the archive's source links use: open [the recording](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMjykqEy8FA) and add `&t=` to jump to any line. Speakers were separated automatically and named from the meeting's speaker roster where the evidence supported it; an unnamed voice is shown as `Speaker `, which is a machine label and not a person's name. ## Transcript - **0:00:00** [t=0] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Special Lets Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. - **0:14:54** [t=894] **Speaker 2:** engine - **0:15:11** [t=911] **Speaker 10:** Good afternoon. Good afternoon. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. - **0:15:41** [t=941] **Speaker 12:** I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. - **0:16:01** [t=961] **Speaker 18 (chair):** Alright, welcome. It's nice to see you nearly room full here. just to to kick things off i think there's been a little maybe a little confusion over the two - **0:16:13** [t=973] **Speaker 19 (chair):** meetings today so this is officially the vigo county oversight board meeting we are going to hear a motion probably a motion in a vote and discussion on which plan option the oversight board is recommending to take to the commissioners that's coming up on our agenda then we're going to here we have Tim Barry here's our consultant from Crow he is going to present some Vigo County financial numbers to us there will be a second vote on what our funding recommendation will be that we are going to take to the Commissioners at 5 p.m. so I don't know how long this meeting will take probably - **0:16:57** [t=1017] **Speaker 19 (chair):** some public comment with a roomful but there may be a little gap between this meeting in the next one there are two separate presentations tim's given one in this meeting we are the oversight board is giving a separate presentation at five so worth it to stay for both but understand you can only listen to us talk for so long so thank you first up we do have minutes from the july 20th meeting where we heard the financial pledge from the casino foundation so those were emailed out to the board and entertain a motion to approve those. - **0:17:33** [t=1053] **Speaker 22:** Thank you, Heather. Second? I'll second. Thank you, Mark. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Opposed? All right. Mr. Matheny, you have asked for the floor. I appreciate it. - **0:17:45** [t=1065] **Mark Matheny (oversight board member):** It's great to see a room full. Been working eight months towards getting to this point, so excited to be here. We have spent the last eight months asking a lot of questions, doing a lot of research, talking to hundreds and hundreds of community members, trying to get a pulse on what is the right option. Here in a few minutes, I'm going to make a motion to officially adopt for the Oversight Board the facilities plan that we will ultimately take to the commissioners. Before we do that, I just want to recap how we got here. - **0:18:22** [t=1102] **Mark Matheny (oversight board member):** So several months ago, the Bewell County School Corporation presented us six possible facilities options, and their recommendation was option number six, which was a combined north and south on the east side of the river and a renovated high school on the west side. So we looked into those diligently as well as a handful of other options that we deemed as viable and worthy of consideration. We were in search of additional cost savings just as we continued to explore the options. And we challenged the school corporation to maybe go back to the drawing board a bit and try to get creative. - **0:19:07** [t=1147] **Mark Matheny (oversight board member):** and they were able to come back to us with kind of a revised option six that included a combined and modernized seven through 12 combined junior senior high school in West Vigo, resulting in a projected cost savings of about 30 to 40 million, something that we could not ignore. We began referring to this as option 6.2, and that's kind of what we'll refer to it, you know, as we've gone along. That's what we've referred to it as. But much of the data we gathered indicated that based on enrollment, we really only need one high school here in Vigo County. - **0:19:46** [t=1186] **Mark Matheny (oversight board member):** The amount of cost savings, that option produced the highest amount of cost savings. Obviously, we're a county where we have to be mindful of that, right? But based on community sentiment for a small school option, logistics with the river and bridges and transportation and other considerations, we felt unanimous that keeping, renovating, and modernizing West Vigo was something that we needed to make every conceivable effort to do. The motion I'm about to make may or may not be the option that you agree with. I know there will be a lot of people in my circle that are going to disagree. - **0:20:36** [t=1236] **Mark Matheny (oversight board member):** Just ask for respect and grace. It's an incredibly complicated decision. Didn't expect it as much coming in, but there was a lot to it. there's a lot of boxes that have to be checked and we can't skip any of those those boxes but i feel laying in bed last night i felt complete confidence and peace knowing that i believe fully that this is the best option for the student the taxpayer and the community so with that said i'd like to make a motion to adopt this revised option option 6.2 as the Vigo County Oversight Board's official facilities recommendation. - **0:21:18** [t=1278] **Mark Matheny (oversight board member):** This would include the construction of a new high school east of the river to become the new home of a combined north and south high school. In addition, this would also include a full renovation and modernization of a combined grade 7 through 12 junior-senior high school at West Vigo. So I will welcome further discussion from the Oversight Board or a second. - **0:21:44** [t=1304] **Speaker 18 (chair):** Yeah, thank you for the motion, Mark. I believe we do need a second before discussion can occur. - **0:21:51** [t=1311] **Speaker 30:** I'll make a second. - **0:21:52** [t=1312] **Speaker 18 (chair):** Thank you, Heather. At this point, open it up for board discussion. - **0:21:59** [t=1319] **Speaker 32:** So I do have a statement I wrote and I'd like to read that goes into my second motion. - **0:22:05** [t=1325] **Heather LaBella (oversight board member):** So as we consider the options for the Vigo County School Corporation's facility consolidation plans, it was important that we approach the process thoughtfully, objectively, and with the best interest of our students, our schools, and our community. And I believe that's exactly what we've done. As an accountant, I initially thought the answer would be relatively straightforward. Crunch the numbers, identify the most cost-effective solution, and let the data guide the decision. From purely a financial perspective, that would have directed us to a one county-wide high school. - **0:22:34** [t=1354] **Heather LaBella (oversight board member):** I came into this process thinking the numbers would make the answer clear, but this process quickly humbled me. This decision, the decision we make, impacts far beyond the balance sheet. Our responsibility is to look at the whole picture, which includes considering the financial realities alongside the community we serve. This simply isn't a business decision. It's a decision about our children, our schools, and the future of our community. So, we took the time to speak with subject matter experts, reviewed and analyzed the - **0:23:05** [t=1385] **Heather LaBella (oversight board member):** available data, considered the potential impacts of each option, and looked beyond any single factor or individual perspective. We considered what the information was telling us, where there were challenges and opportunities, and how each potential decision could impact students, families, staff, schools, and the broader community. Option 6.2 best meets the school's operational and financial needs while responding to the priorities and feedback expressed by the community. Option 6.2 represents the strongest balance of practicality, fiscal responsibility, and community expectations. - **0:23:42** [t=1422] **Heather LaBella (oversight board member):** I appreciate everyone who has respectfully shared their perspective throughout this process, whether it was during an oversight board, an email, social media, or in person. At the end of the day, we may not agree on the decision, but I hope we can agree on the standard on which it was made. Thoughtful consideration, careful analysis, and a genuine commitment to doing what is best for our students, our school, and our community. - **0:24:07** [t=1447] **Carrie Pickens (oversight board member):** Thank you. Before we vote today, I just want to say that I believe Plan 6.2 strikes the right balance between addressing the facility needs of our students, staff, and being fiscally responsible. This plan allows our corporation to make meaningful progress on the facility challenges we know we need to address, while also recognizing the very real limitations placed on public education funding by the state. We have to be thoughtful about both the needs in front of us today to bring our facilities up to standards of today's educational expectations and our responsibility to be good stewards - **0:24:43** [t=1483] **Carrie Pickens (oversight board member):** of taxpayer dollars. I also believe Plan 6.2 reflects much of what we have heard from our teachers, staff, students, families throughout the process their feedback has helped shape this conversation and i appreciate appreciate everyone who took the time to share their perspectives and expertise the school corporation is mindful that change is hard but changes the part is a part of moving forward we may not agree on the exact plan but we all need to do our best to understand why these changes are needed and i hope good conversations continue as we move forward - **0:25:17** [t=1517] **Carrie Pickens (oversight board member):** for those reasons i believe plant plan 6.2 is a thoughtful and responsible path forward - **0:25:27** [t=1527] **Speaker 44:** jim do you have anything to add - **0:25:31** [t=1531] **Speaker 47:** well when we started this process i'd heard all about how - **0:25:42** [t=1542] **Jim Bramble (oversight board member):** plant locations and business locations are - **0:25:47** [t=1547] **Jim Bramble (oversight board member):** terribly dependent upon the quality of the educational system in the community. And I can say that I was doubtful about that. I thought, you know, if I'm going to locate business, I'm going to look at the tax advantages and the economics of it. But I did do a lot of reading on the thought processes and analysis that goes into business locations. and in addition to the higher education facilities, colleges and trade schools and such that can supply well-trained workers for that business, - **0:26:44** [t=1604] **Jim Bramble (oversight board member):** It's also equally important to look at the K through 12 quality that I found was important to attract workers and to come from outside the community. and I changed my mind. It is one of the top priorities if you're going to build this community. You've got to have a good educational system. - **0:27:21** [t=1641] **Speaker 54:** And I think that's what we're working for. - **0:27:26** [t=1646] **Speaker 18 (chair):** Yeah, well said there, Jim. You'll hear plenty from me at 5 o'clock, so I'll save my comments for them. any further discussion or ready to take a vote we haven't historically done a - **0:27:38** [t=1658] **Speaker 22:** roll call vote maybe we do that mr. Matheny I miss LaBella Pickens I mr. Bramble I and I'm a yes motion passes 5-0 now the star of the - **0:27:55** [t=1675] **Speaker 18 (chair):** show here mr. Barry welcome welcome up looking forward to hearing what you've uh kind of uncovered for us and - **0:28:09** [t=1689] **Speaker 62:** wherever he's comfortable we can do it wherever we know tim barry's a man of the people so - **0:28:17** [t=1697] **Speaker 66:** they might want to you just don't want to put his back to the commissioners that's good yeah wow - **0:28:23** [t=1703] **Speaker 69:** Wow. I'm glad you said that and not I. - **0:28:26** [t=1706] **Speaker 65:** I got you covered. - **0:28:27** [t=1707] **Speaker 69:** Tim Berry with Crow. Thank you. - **0:28:32** [t=1712] **Tim Berry (financial consultant (Crowe)):** We were engaged to assist the oversight committee on the evaluation of the county's finances and potential ability to assist in financing and funding for the plan that you just adopted. As you'll recall, I was here several months ago, and at that point in time, I was here to talk really about your 2025 balances and the state of health at that point in time of Vigo County. And as you'll recall, then I noted that Vigo County's cash reserves were very strong. In fact, reserves amounting to an excess or approximately 100 percent of annual operating expenditures. - **0:29:25** [t=1765] **Tim Berry (financial consultant (Crowe)):** Since that point in time, the county and I commend the commissioners for looking at a long-term financing plan, looking at long-term revenue expectations as well as long-term expenditures by fund for the county, in fact, looking out into 2033. And with that, we have been able to, one, look at that long-term financing plan, agree with the assumptions from revenue. They made appropriate assumptions within that revenue, both on the property tax levy growth moving forward, levy growth that is based upon nonfarm incomes in the state of Indiana - **0:30:21** [t=1821] **Tim Berry (financial consultant (Crowe)):** over the last five years, levy growth that this year will be 6 percent, according to the state's Department of Local Government Finance, as well as moving forward in their assumptions of approximately 5 percent growth there in the levy moving forward, as well as local income tax growth that is appropriate. So within that, they didn't overstate, they didn't understate, they looked at appropriate it means to move forward for the county from a financing standpoint. Within that, they have projected year-end fund balances for the county by fund, and - **0:31:14** [t=1874] **Tim Berry (financial consultant (Crowe)):** we're looking at the income tax funds as well as the general operating funds of the county and moving into 2033 those strong cash balances are projected by the county as well as baker tilly who performed the analysis and the long-term budget proposal for the county You'll recall in 2022, the County Council adopted a proposal to put reserves on an annual basis into a reserve fund within those funds of the jail special purpose and the Correctional Rehab facilities fund to potentially give the county opportunities for the future - **0:32:13** [t=1933] **Tim Berry (financial consultant (Crowe)):** opportunities to determine whether it was appropriate to pay off the debt early opportunities to see how they may need those funds moving forward but to give the commissioners tools for the future and so when we take out those reserves i want everyone to know that those reserves that proposal that passed the council five to one in i believe september of 2022 still remains whole those dollars are not touched throughout this eight-year look forward into the future and even then when you remove those reserves from the operating balances cash reserves and - **0:32:58** [t=1978] **Tim Berry (financial consultant (Crowe)):** operating reserves for the county continue to remain strong. So with that, we have looked at opportunities and while I believe that after that 2029 year when the county would fully fund the ability to repay that debt and into the future they're still allowing for annual payment of debt from revenues coming in to that jail special purpose fund. With that, you might say that the county would have an ability to fund maybe $7 to $8 million dollars annually. But I think it's most prudent that the county, that you, look at maintaining - **0:33:57** [t=2037] **Tim Berry (financial consultant (Crowe)):** reserves adequate enough to meet future needs that we don't know about today. Maintain reserves adequate enough to deal with needs that will be assessed by the council, by the county commissioners by the county council moving forward that it might be appropriate for the council and the oversight committee to make a recommendation of six million dollar annual commitment with an upfront contribution of 10 million dollars when we look at that one of the reasons we make that recommendation is through years 20 or 2030 through 2033 largely that - **0:34:45** [t=2085] **Tim Berry (financial consultant (Crowe)):** growth in reserve balances prior to that commitment for the school project grows at about six million dollars a year so you maintain that reserve and a level reserve through that period of time and at At the end of 2033, by utilizing this commitment, you will still maintain a reserve balance of approximately 50% of annual expenditures of the county. Still a very healthy, a very sound reserve level necessary to meet additional challenges that the county may have. yet still making a commitment to the school corporation as well and to a vital economic - **0:35:35** [t=2135] **Tim Berry (financial consultant (Crowe)):** development opportunity for the county through the commitment to the school program. Now, I've looked at it from this perspective and look at a $10 million contribution in 2027 and six million in every year since that but because those balances remain steady throughout you may choose to look at a recommendation that might be higher cash balance up front and a lower annual contribution or vice versa something that is necessary to meet your goals and your objectives either way though through that process you will remain healthy this also gives the - **0:36:27** [t=2187] **Tim Berry (financial consultant (Crowe)):** county the ability the General Assembly in 2025 adopted legislation that will change the way we collect local income taxes and a rate that will be set in 20 27 or 2028 moving forward into 2029 and 2030 we believe there still may be some tweaks to that that the general assembly may make this also gives flexibility ability to meet those needs of the county's day-to-day operations as well as the commitment to to the school project as well moving forward within the limitations of the local income tax limits that may be in effect moving forward right now that six million dollar annual is - **0:37:23** [t=2243] **Tim Berry (financial consultant (Crowe)):** less than what is received into the economic development income tax today um today this year you would anticipate they anticipate receiving approximately seven million dollars into the the economic development income tax fund. As you've heard through your testimony, education, I think Jim, you made note of it in your remarks just a moment ago. Education is vital to the economic development, the growth, the prosperity of Vigo County. And so it is an appropriate use of those funds and that dedicated source of revenue that is there today - **0:38:07** [t=2287] **Tim Berry (financial consultant (Crowe)):** that may not be there in the future because of the reallocation of local income tax dollars. - **0:38:14** [t=2294] **Speaker 79:** And with that, I would take any questions that you may have. - **0:38:18** [t=2298] Okay. - **0:38:37** [t=2317] **Jim Bramble (oversight board member):** On a couple of our, on both Baker-Tilley and this one, I didn't see, I haven't seen any analysis of the riverboat fund. has that distribution changed here due to the casino being here? - **0:38:53** [t=2333] **Tim Berry (financial consultant (Crowe)):** We did not take that into account in any of the analysis. Baker Tilly did not take that into account. I would like to note that we did not do an audit of their comprehensive financial plan. We did do analysis and review. We did not do any additional implementation of financial review beyond what they did. - **0:39:21** [t=2361] **Speaker 88 (oversight board member):** I seem to remember from previous conversations that Riverboat is 700 to 900,000 a year. Does that sound about right? Just shy of a million? - **0:39:32** [t=2372] **Speaker 90:** Yeah, I mean, the first, you know, the casino's been open for two years now, so we're only working on two years' worth of data. - **0:39:38** [t=2378] **Speaker 92 (county commissioner):** But historically, I mean, I believe in the first year it was a little over a million. But as we have calculated the next several years, it will fall with somewhere between the $750 to $1 million range. Okay. - **0:39:51** [t=2391] **Speaker 88 (oversight board member):** Yeah, so I just want to state that's another balance that is not included here. - **0:39:56** [t=2396] **Speaker 95:** So it potentially increases the reserves here. - **0:40:00** [t=2400] **Speaker 97:** And the use of that is unrestricted, too, correct? - **0:40:06** [t=2406] **Speaker 90:** Yeah, I mean, when we didn't have a casino here, we received riverboat funding from other casinos across the state. - **0:40:13** [t=2413] **Speaker 92 (county commissioner):** historically we kind of just set on it based on what next big significant project was coming along this year in our budget we spent much of that on some things that have set dormant in county government such as a generator some replacement carpet in the courthouse and things that we have traditionally just not be able to look at because we've never had that revenue so we expect to spend in 2027 much of that money toward some of those projects sure yeah thank - **0:40:41** [t=2441] **Jim Bramble (oversight board member):** you just some of it are you still contributing to the school corporation out there for this safety officers yeah I believe we supplement some of the - **0:40:50** [t=2450] **Speaker 92 (county commissioner):** school resource officer funding on behalf of the county government can I - **0:40:58** [t=2458] **Speaker 109:** ask about other county like cash balances year-end like how does Vigo County health wise compare to other counties like we I think in the last time you - **0:41:08** [t=2468] **Speaker 107:** spoke to us it was healthy but like looking forward does this remain - **0:41:11** [t=2471] **Tim Berry (financial consultant (Crowe)):** healthy compared I will say most communities have not done as thorough a look forward as Vigo County has I will say with other clients that we have that we've done similar analysis these are strong reserves these are reserves that S&P would rate as very strong standard in poor's and these are the types of things that they are looking for when they look and evaluate for debt the financial health when the county issued bonds in 2019 for the jail that is one of the things that S&P looked at was the strong balances they had at that - **0:42:02** [t=2522] **Tim Berry (financial consultant (Crowe)):** time those balances have even grown since that point in time and the strength of Vigo County's finances have even grown and what we are showing is a continued strength within that moving forward not only within their operating funds and as opposed to their expenditures but just in the dollar amount of that. The value is, as I said when I was here the last time, these were very strong numbers. You know, typically the Government Finance Officers Association will suggest a reserve balance of about 18 to 20 percent. S&P might want a little bit higher than that as they evaluate the changing revenue - **0:42:58** [t=2578] **Tim Berry (financial consultant (Crowe)):** stream that we have within Indiana as a result of the changes we've seen as a result of Senate Bill 1 in 2025. These reserves are more than what they are looking for from that perspective and continue to be there in the look forward through 2033 even with the contribution that you would be making to the school - **0:43:25** [t=2605] **Mark Matheny (oversight board member):** corporation under this analysis so tim reserves you said 18 to 20 percent is what you consider that best practice or best that would consider government finance officers association recommends that for governments and our projections never fall below well 49.8 percent out in 2023 - **0:43:48** [t=2628] **Tim Berry (financial consultant (Crowe)):** correct and that is after those uh payments have been made At 2033, the other thing I might note is you're still paying those bonds under this assumption with annual revenues that are coming in. You also have that cash reserve based upon ordinance 20-2203 that is able to make that bond payment. and so the reserves are actually even greater at that point in time because we have not adjusted that reserve that you have from those bonds. I want to make sure I understand that and everybody - **0:44:37** [t=2677] **Speaker 19 (chair):** understands that in the room and online. So we're setting aside a reserve per an ordinance that the - **0:44:45** [t=2685] **Speaker 88 (oversight board member):** council had made to pay off these bonds in 2029 when they're eligible? - **0:44:51** [t=2691] **Tim Berry (financial consultant (Crowe)):** It was really not necessarily to pay those off as I read the ordinance. As I read the ordinance, it was to give the executive flexibility on what to do into the future. You would have enough money to pay those bonds off or to make that decision based upon interest rates at the time, based upon cash balances, based upon future needs as well. So it would give, it still gives greater flexibility if there are opportunities to address additional challenges at the jail or to make those payments. - **0:45:34** [t=2734] **Speaker 18 (chair):** Sure. And I recall from the last time you joined us here in Vigo County that I believe the bonds dropped at 3% at that time. - **0:45:42** [t=2742] **Speaker 19 (chair):** So certainly it's only 2026, but it doesn't seem like a great decision to be paying off 3% debt at this point in time. But you mentioned, so we'll have the funds, the county would have the funds to pay those off if they decided to do that. But then we're also continuing to show the bond payment. So we're essentially double counting. Okay. - **0:46:06** [t=2766] **Tim Berry (financial consultant (Crowe)):** And that's where I would say beyond 2029, you might have the capacity to commit more. But until that decision is made to allow the county to have the flexibility to address issues there and to make that appropriate decision at the time, I think it's prudent to go with the $6 million figure. - **0:46:27** [t=2787] **Speaker 18 (chair):** Sure. Yeah, I mean, we know that there's plenty of conversations about adding to the jail or community corrections. - **0:46:33** [t=2793] **Speaker 19 (chair):** And, you know, I just want to make it know we're leaving that jail lit alone. It's untouched. The reserve's there. The future funding is there. The flexibility is there. It seems like a fair statement. - **0:46:47** [t=2807] **Speaker 120:** And that reserve balance is not figured into that 49%. - **0:46:52** [t=2812] **Tim Berry (financial consultant (Crowe)):** That is just your operating reserves. So your actual reserves would be much higher if you took that into account. I want to make sure that that's noted. That is not within your operating reserves as noted on the slide in front of you. - **0:47:12** [t=2832] **Speaker 19 (chair):** Yeah, I guess I just found this is the first time we've seen this schedule from you. And I knew the numbers were strong. And, man, they are stronger than I anticipated. So this is great. - **0:47:23** [t=2843] **Speaker 135:** And can we just make it clear that this is not introducing any new tax or raising any taxes? This is current today tax rates. Like, we're not introducing anything new. - **0:47:36** [t=2856] **Tim Berry (financial consultant (Crowe)):** That is correct. There is no new tax at this point in time, and there is no new tax associated with this. I will say that in 2028, the General Assembly has will force local governments to make a new local income tax decision based upon current law. - **0:47:59** [t=2879] **Speaker 112:** That may change. Based upon current law today. - **0:48:04** [t=2884] **Speaker 140:** Yeah. - **0:48:06** [t=2886] **Speaker 19 (chair):** So this, I know you're relying on Baker-Tilley's numbers, and I think we'll have Jason at 5 o'clock, but the future rate assumption here on the lit, and I'm looking at the commissioners, maybe Chris knows, there's still flexibility for the council. So this isn't maximizing a lit. It's not. - **0:48:28** [t=2908] **Speaker 92 (county commissioner):** I mean, what we're trying to wrap our heads around is SB1 and understanding the law and what the state is suggesting counties do or how to move forward. One thing we're trying to understand is our special purpose tax, which is 0.25%. I, at this point, have been led to believe that that is outside of the 1.2% rate that we have the opportunity to adopt. If that's so, if the county commissioners decide to move forward with a community corrections project or a gel project, additional pod, that's great. That 0.25% will remain. Our reserve is extremely strong. - **0:49:11** [t=2951] **Speaker 92 (county commissioner):** It's most likely where we would take the money from to pay off our debt. But it doesn't make any sense to pay off debt right now with the interest rates of what we have. That .25 percent, according to the law that was put in place that gave us the opportunity to have that special purpose tax, is around as long as there is debt issued or until debt is paid off. So I believe that Vio County has the opportunity to walk and talk at the same time, walk and chew gum at the same time. The unfortunate reality of Vio County government is we are in charge of incarceration, which - **0:49:44** [t=2984] **Speaker 92 (county commissioner):** which is completely different from schools, but it's an unfortunate part of having this conversation, is our jail continues to be overcrowded. We're trying to invest, the VUO County Council is trying to invest in ways to reduce incarceration by adding additional funds to community corrections programs or even pushing money out to nonprofit organizations in the community to get people help. But the reality is something else will have to happen, whether that's this year, next year, whatever that might be. I'm confident that the commissioners will probably - **0:50:13** [t=3013] **Speaker 92 (county commissioner):** something to the table in addition to what our new jail was just a few short years ago sure so if that special purpose tax and what we're hearing from our councils our legal council remains we're in a great position to move forward with that project while simultaneously doing something - **0:50:29** [t=3029] **Speaker 19 (chair):** like this great yeah and i think we're building in that flexibility for for you all and that it's been our commitment from the beginning and i think everyone's fully aware of the jail overcrowding and something has to be done there. I did tell Councilwoman Wager months ago that I will not be signing up for a jail oversight board if one's ever created. - **0:50:49** [t=3049] **Speaker 150:** This one's been enough for me but I think she can maybe talk me into it. - **0:50:54** [t=3054] **Tim Berry (financial consultant (Crowe)):** I will concur based upon our analysis and discussions with the Department of - **0:51:01** [t=3061] **Speaker 153:** Local Government Finance that .25 would still be eligible to remain. I will add - **0:51:06** [t=3066] **Speaker 92 (county commissioner):** Mark, some things that we're incredibly proud of is working with consultants that have our back. I mean, we have hired some great people that we respect that confidently give us numbers on projects that we continue to come in under budget. I mean, we always have a contingency that's way higher just in case something were to happen. But we continue to plan these projects four to five years out and and budget appropriately to get them accomplished. Our county is in a great position, I'm saying as a county commissioner, but also as vice president of the Indiana County Commissioner's Association. - **0:51:44** [t=3104] **Speaker 92 (county commissioner):** Our cash reserves are, I would put in the top five in the state when it comes to balances, while also giving county employees the largest increase in pay in county history over the last couple of years. So we try to be the typical county commissioners that work on roads and sidewalks and do all the things. We're also trying to think outside the box on how we can help not only view the county and the city of Terre Haute, but our regional perspective as well. - **0:52:13** [t=3133] **Speaker 100:** That's great. - **0:52:20** [t=3140] **Speaker 155:** Everybody good? - **0:52:27** [t=3147] **Speaker 156:** Good, Jim? - **0:52:28** [t=3148] **Speaker 125:** Okay. Tim, thank you. - **0:52:32** [t=3152] **Speaker 156:** Thank you. - **0:52:32** [t=3152] **Speaker 87:** Well, based on that report from Tim, what do we think? - **0:52:44** [t=3164] **Speaker 159:** If Jim can get his mic on. There we go. - **0:52:49** [t=3169] **Jim Bramble (oversight board member):** What I would suggest is that based on what Tim's shown us and Baker Tilley's comprehensive financial plan that the from from edit the county could probably well not probably definitely make a contribution of up to 15 million dollars up front towards the plan and then at the point at which the bond or lease payments start becoming due they could contribute six million dollars a year to that payment - **0:53:32** [t=3212] **Jim Bramble (oversight board member):** which would be a few years down the line sure depending on how fast the school corporation progresses with the plan okay yeah I assume I'll look at maybe - **0:53:48** [t=3228] **Speaker 19 (chair):** be Tim or Donna the bonds being due and paid that's going to be beyond 2028 most likely seems like we've pulled it forward it's we got a couple year construction period if this thing goes forward so we're probably accelerating the schedule on this but realistically it's probably gonna push out a little bit when that contribution would happen that's fair I'm looking at Tim sorry yes okay - **0:54:27** [t=3267] **Speaker 88 (oversight board member):** okay so Jim I was a was that a motion from you and if it is you know yeah we'll call out a motion okay so just to clarify your motion is to recommend that we'll take to the commissioners 15 million dollars in cash up front correct and - **0:54:49** [t=3289] **Speaker 159:** then six million per year when the bond okay 15 and 6 - **0:54:59** [t=3299] **Speaker 133:** I'd like to second that motion thank you Carrie let me ask one question of Jim - **0:55:06** [t=3306] **Mark Matheny (oversight board member):** real quick Jim you you've seen a lot of these projections over the years the consultants that we've had, whether it's Baker Tilly, whether it's Crow, whoever it is, in your experience, are these projections generally pretty, have they been pretty accurate from what's presented versus what's seen? - **0:55:29** [t=3329] **Jim Bramble (oversight board member):** Well, I've found them to be conservative, but that's been policy around this county since I've been around it, - **0:55:41** [t=3341] **Jim Bramble (oversight board member):** is that we basically plan for the worst and hope for the best. So we tend to try to stay on that conservative side in any of our projections. - **0:56:01** [t=3361] **Speaker 185:** Ready for a vote? - **0:56:03** [t=3363] Yep. - **0:56:04** [t=3364] **Speaker 187:** Can I add something before we vote? - **0:56:06** [t=3366] **Speaker 185:** Yeah. - **0:56:06** [t=3366] **Carrie Pickens (oversight board member):** Okay. Before this vote, I just wanted to be clear of what we're asking our county partners. This is not a vote to raise property taxes. You saw me ask him that. The school corporations are only allowed to utilize property taxes to raise money when facility improvements are needed. This is a new and very unique opportunity. We were asking the county commissioners and county council to partner with the school corporation by committing existing county tax revenues towards the construction of a new Eastside high school, or 6.2.0. - **0:56:36** [t=3396] **Carrie Pickens (oversight board member):** This is an opportunity to put existing taxpayer dollars to work on a project that will directly benefit our students, families, and community. It also allows us to take advantage of legislation that has given us the opportunity to pursue additional funding through donations from the Casino Foundation. We will be the first county in Indiana to successfully utilize this opportunity given to us by the state. We can be an example of how the leadership entities in our county can come together to work for our community. - **0:57:04** [t=3424] **Carrie Pickens (oversight board member):** I believe that this is exactly the kind of partnership we should be pursuing, bringing together existing public resources and potential private funding to help address a significant community need while also being mindful of the financial limitations facing public education. - **0:57:20** [t=3440] **Speaker 45:** And I hope that my fellow oversight board members will support our request here and give our county partners the opportunity to be part of this important investment in the future of Vigo County. - **0:57:31** [t=3451] **Speaker 193:** Thanks, Carrie. - **0:57:32** [t=3452] **Speaker 18 (chair):** I guess I'd say significant issue in our community to me probably the number one so maybe a little conservative there too ready to vote yep mr. Matheny hi - **0:57:46** [t=3466] **Speaker 22:** miss labella hi miss pickens mr. Bramble I am in favor as well motion passes 5-0 - **0:57:54** [t=3474] **Speaker 19 (chair):** all right the most exciting time public comment I know we've already voted so maybe there is none I don't know if there's a point but the mic is open we do have a soft three minute rule but we've been pretty generous in the past go for it we do ask that you state your name when you approach the podium so we can get it properly documented in the minutes - **0:58:22** [t=3502] **Speaker 201:** Give us needs roll attacks? - **0:58:49** [t=3529] **Kathy Heaton (VCTA president / educator):** Kathy Heaton. I've been to some previous meetings and did my best to tiptoe around the fact that I am an educator and also currently the VCTA president. I worked very hard to keep my opinions and my statements as my own perspective but now that we are into the school year and I've had the opportunity to create a survey and put that out to our membership currently our corporation has a little over a thousand teachers certified staff and our membership is a little over 600 to give you an idea three days into the school year which were very busy three days we collected 135 responses and that is - **0:59:41** [t=3581] **Kathy Heaton (VCTA president / educator):** teacher work day the first day and until about two o'clock today I would like to thank dr. himsle of inviting me on the school corporation visits to the schools I did learn that it is Hobart and not Hobart but I enjoyed that opportunity outside of that however I'm not sure where the teacher voice has been included in your decision-making thus far I know social media aspects I know we all have our circle of influence and I think many times myself included we talked to the people were comfortable talking to in this survey there were 12 - **1:00:21** [t=3621] **Kathy Heaton (VCTA president / educator):** questions I did pull just a few that related to today's meeting and middle school elementary school breakdown the participants the key priorities for facility changes when asked a single factor should be considered most important during a facility is restructuring educators prioritized student safety and security which was not surprising quality of instructional space and then the availability of student programs and opportunities position number five question number five I think maybe I have my notes position and consolidation and restructuring a little surprisingly - **1:01:05** [t=3665] **Kathy Heaton (VCTA president / educator):** actually looking at social media comments 57.8 percent of that 135 people who were able to respond by 2 o'clock today it is still open until Friday mind you support consolidation or reconfiguration if it results in a substantially improved facilities and educational opportunities 24.4 percent are open to it if it is necessary to create financially sustainable and high quality schools moving on factors to help gain educator support which is why I'm here today three of those factors involve transparency and being maybe even brought to the table a little bit new or substantially improved - **1:01:51** [t=3711] **Kathy Heaton (VCTA president / educator):** facilities obviously better instructional spaces obviously meaningful educator involvement and implementation I'm not sure we've had that just yet a clear and transparent transition plan and then protection of teacher employer employment and contractual rights so I just have a summary of what you have in raw data in front of you and the pie charts are in color and then I made copies of the questions that are specifically tied to that raw data that you have in front of you so all in one packet I would ask it's a big ask I guess it may be even including your your association president as an ex - **1:02:39** [t=3759] **Kathy Heaton (VCTA president / educator):** officio member of your advisory board something to think about possibly not - **1:02:44** [t=3764] **Speaker 216:** sure how that could be done or would be done but I'd be willing to serve in that - **1:02:50** [t=3770] **Speaker 218:** capacity thank you yeah thank you yes I would be happy to it's through the end - **1:03:01** [t=3781] **Speaker 221:** of the day Friday so it looks like just based off of this and you can I'll just - **1:03:08** [t=3788] **Speaker 88 (oversight board member):** make some assumptions here the way I'm interpreting the data 75% of the responses should be considered most important student safety quality of instructional spaces and student programs and opportunities they were looking to address all of those with this facilities plan here thank you for the head none and then what I'm probably most surprised by because you hear people were afraid to speak out against us but 82% of the teachers who have responded support or open to supporting this plan out of the respondents I understood yeah - **1:03:44** [t=3824] **Speaker 19 (chair):** I mean this we haven't seen any teacher pulling data I know we tried to get it - **1:03:48** [t=3828] **Speaker 227:** And it was a Google Form survey that I sent out to building reps that they were supposed to send out to their membership. And we're still cross-listing, moving from last year to this year. As far as membership numbers, we have a lot of new teachers. We have some retirees. So just going on preliminary first few days of school. - **1:04:09** [t=3849] **Speaker 88 (oversight board member):** Understood. 135 responses. It's great. Data is data. That's a decent sample size there. So kind of surprising to me in a good way. - **1:04:26** [t=3866] **Speaker 92 (county commissioner):** Hey, Mark, if I could add one thing. If you're going to continue to have conversation, bring people back to the podium. Sure. - **1:04:32** [t=3872] **Speaker 102:** As a matter of transparency and public record, it's hard to hear people from the crowd on YouTube. - **1:04:37** [t=3877] **Speaker 232:** Thank you. - **1:04:45** [t=3885] **Speaker 234:** Only one? - **1:04:48** [t=3888] **Speaker 87:** oh. That's what I get for asking for it. Can we get your name, sir? So I'm trying to focus - **1:05:01** [t=3901] **Speaker 236:** only on any questions to relate to the county finances upon which you made a decision today. And the one item that hadn't come up yet is where did the county, how did they get all this money to begin with to have these incredible cash balances. - **1:05:24** [t=3924] **Speaker 239:** Thank you. - **1:05:26** [t=3926] **Speaker 88 (oversight board member):** Thank you. Just for the record, that was Earl Elliott, my father. It is not public Q&A, sir. It's public comment. Thank you. - **1:05:37** [t=3937] **Speaker 242 (county commissioner (self-described past county council member)):** I can make one comment on that. Mr. Berry was in on the bonding and the tax rate consulting at the time when we passed this tax rate to fund the different entities. And we had a discussion at that time. And I was on council at the time, and I thought we could get by with around 4% to 5%. and Mr. Berry recommended as past treasurer of the state of Indiana that we pass 0.75 and several other entities wanted to pass the tax rate at 0.15 and so the council at that time, all seven members, agreed with Mr. Berry's recommendation and we passed that rate at .75. - **1:06:38** [t=3998] **Speaker 242 (county commissioner (self-described past county council member)):** That's the total of the jail bonding and what have you. And that was a recommendation. That was what we did. And we didn't max the tax out at the time, although a lot of public officials wanted us to. And so what it turned out, we've been prudent with our money. - **1:07:02** [t=4022] **Speaker 33:** Thank you, Commissioner. - **1:07:04** [t=4024] **Speaker 245:** Rick Stevens. Rick Stevens private citizen retired educator. - **1:07:17** [t=4037] **Rick Stevens (private citizen, retired educator):** Really a pretty simple question. I mean I've heard the county council didn't have much money, but based on the things I'm hearing today, it sounds like they have quite a bit of money, so I'm a little shocked why we couldn't figure that out a little easier along the way. I heard you'd like for them to give a 15 million dollar upfront amount and six million per year what I didn't hear is that for 10 years 20 years 30 years how - **1:07:42** [t=4062] **Speaker 252:** long would that period be generally bond issues go for about 20 years 20 years - **1:07:53** [t=4073] **Jim Bramble (oversight board member):** what I would anticipate yeah usually goes by the average yes that six million and could be adjusted depending on how long they are going to go. - **1:08:04** [t=4084] **Rick Stevens (private citizen, retired educator):** Okay. So if your numbers are accurate, which I assume they are, you've had several different organizations look at them, I would hope the county council would go along and support the project for the new schools and we can all just move forward for the kids. End of story. Thank you. - **1:08:19** [t=4099] **Speaker 62:** Thank you. Appreciate you being here. I know we've had some conversation on social media. It's nice to see you in person. - **1:08:28** [t=4108] **Speaker 125:** Good evening, Mayor. Good afternoon, Mayor. - **1:08:32** [t=4112] **Brandon Sackman (Mayor of Terre Haute):** Normally I say good evening County Council members of the County Council, but obviously we have the oversight committee here today. I'm gonna ask you just a series of questions. What I have found is, you know, folks not just in government or in the military in life, when they agree or disagree with something, it's cuz they're unwilling to look at information, unaware of certain information or unable to access that information. So to help folks who might be unwilling to accept the fact that we're having a conversation around school consolidation, I'm gonna help some folks who are at home - **1:09:05** [t=4145] **Brandon Sackman (Mayor of Terre Haute):** or who are not here become aware of some of the thoughts that you all have analyzed and looked at. So I understood that you looked at a series of six options. You landed on option 6.2, which is a seven through 12 combination at West Vigo and West Middle, as well as an East Side High School. Did any of the options one through five include keeping north and south - **1:09:30** [t=4170] **Speaker 109:** yes I believe option three kept all of the buildings and it was the most expensive option three I think was the number on that - **1:09:37** [t=4177] **Speaker 265:** and thank you you answered my next question so keeping the three schools - **1:09:41** [t=4181] **Brandon Sackman (Mayor of Terre Haute):** was identified as the most expensive option the follow-up question I have is if that were the most expensive option is it safe to say that that option and that dollar amount is not financially able to be covered under the school's current bonding capacity and the amount they receive through property taxes. - **1:10:01** [t=4201] **Speaker 268:** I believe that answer is not even close to being able to be covered. - **1:10:05** [t=4205] **Brandon Sackman (Mayor of Terre Haute):** Perfect. Thank you. So it would be safe to say if we wanted to keep Terre Haute North Terre Haute South and Terre Haute West Vigo, we could either purchase a time machine and go back in time and vote for the operating or the facility referendum years ago or accept that to do those three high schools, a new referendum would be needed. Correct. - **1:10:24** [t=4224] **Speaker 124 (chair):** yeah maybe mayors operate with time machines but accountants don't if I did have one I would not - **1:10:30** [t=4230] **Speaker 271:** be using it for this let me tell you we're going to keep going because I really enjoy you know what - **1:10:37** [t=4237] **Brandon Sackman (Mayor of Terre Haute):** what you guys have looked at and I've heard several comments from the public and because I'm younger I'm chronically online so I see these comments and really want to put some of this to rest when you guys looked at the facility plan when you looked at locations when you looked at construction and when you met with the casino foundation had conversations with the county with financial advisors did you keep in mind the changes to the property tax law under Senate Enrollment Act 1 2025 yes perfect so you would say then that this financial plan takes into account the changes that the state - **1:11:12** [t=4272] **Brandon Sackman (Mayor of Terre Haute):** legislator has chosen to make that's funny the state loves to get involved in - **1:11:16** [t=4276] **Speaker 265:** local government which is the opposite of small government if you ask me but - **1:11:20** [t=4280] **Brandon Sackman (Mayor of Terre Haute):** you've taken all that into mind correct yes okay the last question that I do have is is it true that the Vigo County School Corporation is built for 24,000 - **1:11:33** [t=4293] **Speaker 275:** plus students and because mixture of the birth rate and population declined we - **1:11:38** [t=4298] **Speaker 276:** currently sit at 13,000 students or even less I believe we're 12 9 12 8 - **1:11:46** [t=4306] **Speaker 19 (chair):** around 12 to 12. Thank you and I believe you're I don't know about the 23 number I think for 24 I - **1:11:53** [t=4313] **Speaker 282:** think I thought it was 22,000. We actually do you want me to come to the please yeah come to the mic - **1:12:06** [t=4326] **Chris Himsel (Superintendent, Vigo County School Corporation):** the interesting thing about the enrollment is that until the state got involved with funding we were were never required to maintain enrollment records. So there's when last we go back through the yearbooks of 1971 or two, we can't come up exactly how much they had in 71 and 72. However, we found a report from the superintendent to the school board in 1964 that indicated that there were 24,000 students in 1964 in Vigo County. And that has been documented in a report from the superintendent of 1964 to the school board in - **1:12:37** [t=4357] **Chris Himsel (Superintendent, Vigo County School Corporation):** 1964 and for those kids at home no I did not write it I had not been born at - **1:12:43** [t=4363] **Speaker 62:** that time so I guess mayor the answer is true thank you so hey I what I want to - **1:12:50** [t=4370] **Speaker 265:** close with is I have seen a lot of commentary that you know it is true the - **1:12:55** [t=4375] **Brandon Sackman (Mayor of Terre Haute):** city and county are growing in population and I'm proud of the work that you three have done with the County Council with the City Council with our legislators to help address some of the factors that lead to population growth like housing, quality of life, and attempting to improve our infrastructure. Of course, as I say that, it's storming and my phone is blowing up about flooded roadways, but different problem. The reason why I say that is I frequently see online that our population is going up. Therefore, we need to keep the schools open for, say, 22,000 to 24,000 students. - **1:13:30** [t=4410] **Brandon Sackman (Mayor of Terre Haute):** The harsh reality that I continue to look at, not just with schools, but with the workforce in Terre Haute, the region, and the state is, from 1990 to now, the birth rate continues to absolutely decline. Families went from having four kids to three to 2.7, according to the Census Bureau, I don't know how we got that, to now about 2.2. And when you look at that data, the harsh reality is whether it's employment in jobs or kids in education, we cannot just produce high school students who are 14 years old like that. And we have to admit that facilities across the state - **1:14:10** [t=4450] **Brandon Sackman (Mayor of Terre Haute):** of Indiana, not just Vigo County, are having the same conversation. Noblesville, one of the wealthiest communities in the state of Indiana, has a referendum on the ballot. I believe there's 38 on the ballot around the state of Indiana. 38 corporations asking for more property tax dollars. And if I understood this presentation correct, the plan that we've been discussing tonight, oversight committee, commissioners, and hopefully one day soon, County Council, involves dollars that we have today and not additional property tax dollars. - **1:14:45** [t=4485] **Speaker 275:** I just wanted to make sure I understood that correctly, but I don't make three minute videos with music in the background. - **1:14:50** [t=4490] **Speaker 298:** Thank you so much oversight committee. - **1:14:53** [t=4493] **Speaker 299:** Thank you. - **1:14:58** [t=4498] **Speaker 303:** Hello? Hello. Am I good for three minutes? Can I go over four or five? Well, let's see how you do. Well, I'm coming up here to talk about it before. - **1:15:22** [t=4522] **Bob (surname unknown) (community member, retired educator):** I want to thank all the oversight board, the school corporation, the county commissioners, the city council and those are coming forward later and the foundation and you know basically the executive over the economic executive director which is probably going to be involved with this going forward as the schools grow going forward but I'd like to see as I talked about Brandon Sacramento mayor about this if it's possible if all the groups I just mentioned could have meetings at all the schools and all the whole community that way they can get an idea because a lot of people - **1:15:58** [t=4558] **Bob (surname unknown) (community member, retired educator):** can't be here one because you had two two different times all of them can't be here because like school had all of them couldn't be here because of being in school today work they couldn't be here so if there's any way possible you can set up meetings and all the schools in different in the areas of of the county where the schools are at, you know, like in the gymnasium, we have each ones who represent each group, even down to the economic director. That way, those in the community can ask certain questions that they cannot do here and not able to be here. Would that be possible? - **1:16:36** [t=4596] **Speaker 18 (chair):** I think we can discuss it. I would add that we've had morning meetings. We've had afternoon meetings. We've had evening meetings. - **1:16:45** [t=4605] **Speaker 19 (chair):** This is maybe more than any of them. I mean, I don't know how many more meetings the oversight board will have. - **1:16:52** [t=4612] **Bob (surname unknown) (community member, retired educator):** By the community, a lot of times the community cannot ask questions. But I know back in the past, the school corporation used to be had means at different schools. Yeah. Down the line. Sure. Basically, that way they make something. If they had a question, it made it better for them to ask questions where they're not able to do like in the setting. But they do it in these schools, they set up a calendar where they can do that. they did it in the past is it possible to do that again yeah well we can discuss yeah yeah we can - **1:17:21** [t=4641] **Mark Matheny (oversight board member):** certainly what what information do you would you hope it's like you're doing right now you know - **1:17:26** [t=4646] **Bob (surname unknown) (community member, retired educator):** for public doing their comments you know i know this the students would like to hear that because you know i know a lot of times they basically all the time they formed this group you know back 21 years i was a corporation in education 45 years 30 years years in the school corporation i used to do building check for five years. I know basically every piece of all these buildings and know going forward, I think it's the right direction going forward. And I know there's probably those who probably think that basically we gotta look at the total figure, - **1:17:55** [t=4675] **Bob (surname unknown) (community member, retired educator):** what it's gonna cost this community going forward as a whole, was there a total figure that you expect that's gonna cost the community as far as what's gonna be done as a new school and the re-novation, was there a certain top figure that you've- - **1:18:11** [t=4691] **Speaker 19 (chair):** It's been presented that the estimated cost of the East of the River High School is $222 million, which is phase one of option 6.2, which has been our focus. - **1:18:21** [t=4701] **Bob (surname unknown) (community member, retired educator):** What would be the renovation of the rest of the schools involved? It's been covered. - **1:18:26** [t=4706] **Speaker 88 (oversight board member):** I don't have that in front of me. It's been covered in multiple presentations available online, but we can get you that information. Okay. - **1:18:31** [t=4711] **Bob (surname unknown) (community member, retired educator):** And I know that by basically commuting it overall, and we had basic discussions, I know the skills and premium administration, you know, they had means. I just thought I'd bring it up about all of you coming together because you make it one united front. That makes the community feel like they're all involved, giving them information that maybe they can ask that they can't be here to ask. Sure. - **1:18:55** [t=4735] **Speaker 124 (chair):** I do know that the school corporation held public. Yeah, in the past they have. Well, this administration too. Yes. - **1:19:01** [t=4741] **Bob (surname unknown) (community member, retired educator):** Yes, and I mean if they can all come together in one setting, in each school, in a setting, in the different communities, like the north end, east end, west end, I mean the north and the south and the east and the west, things like that to get a better perspective. I know the students are probably like a lot of times they all can't get here, but if they're in a setting around, it makes it better for them. I know basically going forward, I'm glad you're doing this because when you're a student like they have and when I was in 71 74 back in when I first graduating class out of - **1:19:35** [t=4775] **Bob (surname unknown) (community member, retired educator):** north we didn't have cell phone we didn't have all these other things going on and now and our building was new but I didn't really agree with having swimming pools in there in the first place because I thought should have been all academic because in Illinois they don't have in Charleston they had their swimming pools outside their school and basically that was the right way to do it because I think when you have a nap the school it should be all academic so going forward is the students are they going to be in the process of being involved knowing when - **1:20:04** [t=4804] **Bob (surname unknown) (community member, retired educator):** you're going forward i know you probably talk in this manner i know the corporation has like uh - **1:20:10** [t=4810] **Speaker 109:** youth councils that the superintendent holds at the high schools to help get input so i mean those - **1:20:15** [t=4815] **Speaker 135:** are ongoing but i do i love your idea of a community conversation so thank you bob thank - **1:20:21** [t=4821] **Speaker 326:** you for your time and looking forward to the previous next meeting yeah you asked for four - **1:20:25** [t=4825] **Speaker 329:** to five and you got it sir thank you very much that's my maybe next time six or seven that would - **1:20:31** [t=4831] **Speaker 334:** be too greedy i didn't have to call you up this time rick berger taxpayer school board trustee - **1:20:44** [t=4844] **Rick Berger (school board trustee / taxpayer):** thank you to the oversight committee for your work a lot of people don't realize how much time you've given but thank you thank you commissioners appreciate it I'm proud to be your school board trustee along with the rest of the trustees and dr. himself's team Jim you're right communities are not communities but corporations and companies continue to still watch us they're waiting to see this next step because let me tell you there are businesses out there looking to come to this community but you're right that is part of the equation so - **1:21:20** [t=4880] **Rick Berger (school board trustee / taxpayer):** thank you having served on the County Council a few years ago I do understand the budget and after hearing from Crowe today thank you and my friend Earl Elliot we can do this we can do this I firmly believe that I'd like to thank the communities in here today because what I'm seeing is this movement it's really back on the track it's on the track and it's moving but we've got to do something now and not later and I believe in this community I'm gonna fight till the end and we're gonna get it done but thank you for everything thank you - **1:22:09** [t=4929] **Speaker 124 (chair):** Thank you Rick. I hope it's still on the tracks after my presentation in an hour. - **1:22:17** [t=4937] **Speaker 340:** We'll see. - **1:22:22** [t=4942] **Speaker 290:** Chris Imsel, Vigo County School Corporation. I just simply want to say thank you to all of you. - **1:22:35** [t=4955] **Chris Himsel (Superintendent, Vigo County School Corporation):** amount of time that you put into this, the amount of questions that you asked us, the number of documents you requested for us to share proves that you did not come in with a predetermined opinion. You vetted it. You asked us questions we didn't necessarily want to answer. We answered them. You had us go back and rethink some things. We rethought them. We brought that information to you, and we thank you for it. Thank you to Senator Greg Good for creating this opportunity. It's the first of its kind in the state. You had heard earlier that there are schools all across the state that are - **1:23:13** [t=4993] **Chris Himsel (Superintendent, Vigo County School Corporation):** struggling with this. Because they're struggling with this they're paying attention to find out if this solution will work for them as well. Thank you to all those who advocated at the Statehouse. There's many people in this room, there's many people who are watching at home, there's many people who have been paying attention and following along who helped us lobby to get the state legislature to agree to this. Thank you to our state legislature for giving our community the opportunity to figure out how to make this work. Thank you to - **1:23:44** [t=5024] **Chris Himsel (Superintendent, Vigo County School Corporation):** our commissioners, our mayor, our county council, and our chamber for supporting this process and nominating people to serve on this board. Their support of the process is the reason why we're here. Thank you to all of our community members. We started on this with a facility study and a demographic study in January of 2024. We included teacher surveys. We included talking to our maintenance people. We included all of them in the process to truly understand our buildings. And we did not study only our high schools. We studied all of our schools and identified all of the needs - **1:24:26** [t=5066] **Chris Himsel (Superintendent, Vigo County School Corporation):** that we had. We had community member meetings along the way. We had them on the north end, we had them on the south end, we had them on the west side. We tried to make it as easy and as accommodating as possible. We had listening posts with our teachers where they can come down and talk to us about anything in the process. We engaged the VCTA in the process to encourage them to get to solicit input. You saw a product of that here tonight. We believe that we came up with a plan that supports as many of these different things - **1:24:59** [t=5099] **Chris Himsel (Superintendent, Vigo County School Corporation):** as possible yet this oversight board made it better and we thank you for the process we thank you for your time we thank you for all who supported the - **1:25:06** [t=5106] **Speaker 346:** process along the way thank you - **1:25:22** [t=5122] **Speaker 348:** my name is Brandi Vandiver I live in Rockville but I'm running for the house - **1:25:26** [t=5126] **Brandi Vandiver (public commenter, candidate for Indiana House District 42):** district 42 spot this is my first meeting being here so it's good to meet everybody I don't envy you for what you've had to do I was on our school board when we consolidated the north central park school board it is a tough place to be I think you were right when you said you looked at all the things it is a very humbling experience what I would just like to address real shortly is the reason you guys are in this situation and a lot of other schools including noblesville is because of your state legislature they continuously underfund the schools they have since at least 2012 - **1:25:58** [t=5158] **Brandi Vandiver (public commenter, candidate for Indiana House District 42):** and so not only are you doing this now most likely you're going to be doing it in the future as well unless something turns around so it's really important to pay attention for people who to people who are going to support public schools and support teachers because they're the ones doing the work and to listen and you have to forgive me I don't remember what your name was but if you're able to incorporate your staff i think that is an exceptional idea because no disrespect to any administrators but once you've reached that level being in the classroom is very - **1:26:30** [t=5190] **Brandi Vandiver (public commenter, candidate for Indiana House District 42):** different and so having the people who are in those classrooms every day working with the kids working in the facilities is very very important and it's often a voice that's overlooked so i would i think that's a fantastic idea so thank you for your time thank you - **1:27:00** [t=5220] **Speaker 353:** seeing none motion to adjourn - **1:27:10** [t=5230] **Speaker 18 (chair):** that's it that is it probably a good call there Jim instead of a motion to adjourn I'll seek a motion to recess since we'll all be together at five o'clock - **1:27:28** [t=5248] **Speaker 360:** I'll make a motion to recess five o'clock thank you same second by carry all those in favor - **1:27:40** [t=5260] Thank you.