[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6275947,"mediaKeyId","2767676-143c1b0c716f1af83ea9e1843016010c","parentId",2767676,"title","Votes at a glance: Elkhart board approves calendar revisions, residential-services agreement and a Common School Fund loan","audioSeconds",462,"startMs",9881000,"endMs",10343000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2767676-143c1b0c716f1af83ea9e1843016010c&start=9881&end=10343","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2767676-143c1b0c716f1af83ea9e1843016010c/thumbnail_9881000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6275947/Indiana/Votes-at-a-glance-Elkhart-board-approves-calendar-revisions-residential-services-agreement-and-a-Common-School-Fund-loan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6275947-33fcf9fefa2a8b0684b4b209adce20c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770994483&Signature=lhBRx0JvMDW75bQhMw3gxSN5sS0LHla4g0oX9J4R44ENZDMj-qzuOA8UMMGqmDb-iyFVrdjSuo8neMg4vzeRA~-EIIePRoE9K7M3Hezc33INy~zfQaYqZVSgfdX6xQwY2Gn8bgCDGQmAZTezepX5o5ThKY8dfdb3~LcnSHok9o5f~9HkPHSvp~u0Mok2pissyPkATOLrhzAmUCBWa3DF9ilGp3w6evWrI~kyb5Mc7D6zrPSZ3WeHqoeq3AUQ6f1wRgyWV-0fbYDF-jT1QRQt2wTYRqJGipF0rRhr9biTDK3Yu5KNecpF56EBDXAZRc~juSivbSQoYVr8YFm~t1Cwbw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-03-26T01:03:14.057Z","article","The Elkhart Community Schools board took a series of routine and administrative votes at its March 25 regular meeting. All listed motions passed by unanimous voice vote, according to the meeting record.

Key outcomes

- Consent agenda (approved unanimously): The board approved routine consent items including donations and one retirement. Donations listed in the meeting packet included a Toyota forklift ($6,200), a man lift ($4,150) and a road compressor ($2,200) donated to the diesel technology program; a $4,000 donation of supplies for surgical services; a donated 2010 Dodge Caravan to the automobile technology program; a $5,637 donation to Elkhart High School football (alumni fund/community foundation); and a $1,000 donation to the National Honor Society.

- Board policy 8210, School Calendar (approved unanimously): The board approved proposed revisions to Policy 8210 to reflect a flexibility waiver granted under state authority that exempts the district from strict compliance with Indiana Code provisions on minimum instructional days. Administration said the change formalizes a board resolution approved Dec. 19, 2023 and allows more professional development opportunities and scheduling flexibility under state waiver authority.

- Agreement for alternative residential services (approved unanimously): The board approved an executed agreement for residential services under an excess-cost reimbursement process with the Indiana Department of Education for a student requiring services the district cannot provide in-district. Administration said the state will reimburse eligible costs under the excess-cost application.

- Common School Fund loan petition (approved unanimously): The board authorized a Common School Fund loan in the amount of $1,043,020 to finance technology purchases. Administration said the loan carries a 1% interest rate over a four-year term and is available based on current enrollment levels; the funds will be used for technology items that cannot be purchased from other revenue sources.

Notes on the record

Most motions were moved and seconded; the minutes record voice votes and unanimous approval but do not list individual vote tallies in the public transcript. Several items were presented with brief staff explanations but drew no extended board debate.

Ending

District staff said it will implement the approved agreements and loan application per the timelines in the board packet and will present additional financial details in upcoming finance updates.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","ECS Board of School Trustees’ Meeting 3/25/25","oneSentenceSummary","At the March 25 regular meeting the board approved consent items, a revised school-calendar policy reflecting a state flexibility waiver, an alternative residential-services agreement, and a Common School Fund loan petition to buy technology.","taxTitle","Elkhart Community Schools, School Boards, Indiana","taxId",13078,"location","Indiana","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6275951,"Elkhart elementary coaches report iRead gains after statewide literacy-cadre rollout",1008,6132000,7140000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2767676-143c1b0c716f1af83ea9e1843016010c&start=6132&end=7140","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2767676-143c1b0c716f1af83ea9e1843016010c/thumbnail_6132000.jpg","/articles/6275951/Indiana/Elkhart-elementary-coaches-report-iRead-gains-after-statewide-literacy-cadre-rollout","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6275951-d9ac75a09fe4f32a615122795ae2f249/orig.mp4?Expires=1770994483&Signature=JUuQvmutj9rBEghldRuHjyhGl4vl2CZQ4K4xEpFqqhhWnfF1196z26QKYNmvkoeqdxBq~qZQqB1LeQGEWGPlxqZMYx~VCH1iGpYdtFbj5Uej5hMuC5Pr9xcUO3uFBsYcuAp5Rr3cAnuE35n7TNzIj~cP0upMLW7RKnOb32xMuwmAUPtkrHthHW9N4twG1LoBv9BrJ-Gif~nGp2rrR0~ZuewfWVrhJTkdU4iOy6vdjgyc6BgUXpRj3zWn-cJ9PUVN-8mGu2hpZoCNCPje-BYGjFyFkLqfpAyelx3t7cPLY39QJzFerwcVo3SeinoDwmuPBlaxb4b~Y-VCvI-XXdVGaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Elkhart Community Schools officials told the board on March 25 that expanded coaching through the Indiana Literacy Cadre and targeted classroom coaching cycles produced measurable midyear gains and left the district optimistic about the upcoming state iRead summative test.

\"We believe we had a 15% increase in our iRead scores this year,\" the district's elementary lead said during the meeting, noting that state reporting remains subject to the Department of Education's embargo and final calculations.

What the district described

District leaders described a statewide-supported literacy-cadre rollout that placed cadre coaches and principals in 10 elementary schools. The program emphasizes the science of reading and sustained coaching cycles:
- Formal coaching cycles last about six weeks: pre-cycle goal setting and pretests, four to five weeks of co-planning and co-teaching, then a post-test and reflection.
- Coaches aim to be in classrooms at least twice weekly and use student data to set learning targets and shape instruction.
- Training is extensive and ongoing: coaches attend weekly and monthly meetings, twice-monthly statewide sessions, book studies and state-sponsored modules on the science of reading; coaches are supported by a state training specialist, Becky Richard, the district said.

Time spent and early results

One coach presented a combined district time dashboard showing substantial investment in the work: roughly 800 hours analyzing data, 800 hours of co-teaching, 250 hours co-planning, 122 hours setting goals and about 600 hours delivering or participating in professional development across the cadre group.

District staff also reviewed progress monitoring results from the MAP/DIBELS-like mCLASS and iRead practice assessments. Presenters said kindergarten through second-grade M-class progress data show strong within-year gains (for example, a kindergarten cohort moving from roughly 18% proficiency at the start of the year to more than 50% at midyear). Staff said approximately five elementary schools saw double-digit iRead gains and 13 perfect scores at school level on specific items.

Testing opportunities and next steps

Officials noted that the state piloted the new iLearn checkpoint model this year and that the district expects additional growth by the summative iRead window in May because schools can reteach and, in many cases, give students a second opportunity. The district plans targeted summer school for students still below the passing bar and additional practice assessments in the spring.

Why it matters

District leaders framed the literacy work as foundational: early reading success is a predictor of later academic outcomes and is a core part of the district’s strategy to preserve educational quality as funding tightens. The coach-led model emphasizes frequent, data-driven classroom support rather than occasional professional development alone.

Ending

Leaders asked the community to view the results as preliminary but promising and said coaching and progress monitoring will continue as the district prepares students for the spring iRead summative window.

","District elementary leaders described an expanded Indiana Literacy Cadre coaching program across 10 schools and reported preliminary midyear gains on early reading assessments, including a district-reported midyear jump in iRead performance.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6275958,"Elkhart Community Schools lays out plan to sustain excellence amid enrollment decline and budget pressures",2090,790000,2880000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2767676-143c1b0c716f1af83ea9e1843016010c&start=790&end=2880","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2767676-143c1b0c716f1af83ea9e1843016010c/thumbnail_790000.jpg","/articles/6275958/Indiana/Elkhart-Community-Schools-lays-out-plan-to-sustain-excellence-amid-enrollment-decline-and-budget-pressures","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6275958-d254e7049aa4b7c6335ca6967543fdb8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770994484&Signature=UokxZbk-qA5MbsWepKYBnh0mSRMFgJEUDZ1qIzZRgCtRg3yIICBB8uPOvTvFUQ8s9Rh1LrP6cKSyI~IrhP94C4Udn-DQCNq7USvP7X2PAz6wljF3x7-myHnjw2UKo0Yn8Hnnwu9STSll4x2VDhhYpQYIL-w~lyxNJTsLwG6-npNSgadN1IReHnMrilJJSu079HNnuHhl0oDgvq4cIGJ5d1JhooPONl~YQdL64PDYGOhIqcsnd9QWi6DYFSuseg1htweN6lPVj~U8RKh4zj020qDkNA6y8SbuBr-pWDU2pkqBMrreVpRrsDi-98e6s9EqMySL~sJWcS22bW-BcFDIMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Elkhart Community Schools officials told the school board on March 25 that declining enrollment and changing state and federal funding require strategic, staged reductions and reallocations to preserve educational quality.

\"We're going to make sure that we hear community input, but most importantly, we're going to make sure that we take and make decisions based on our current economic reality,\" Superintendent Doctor Huff said during a public work session outlining a \"sustaining excellence\" strategy.

The presentation said enrollment has fallen about 12.7% since before the pandemic and the district is currently serving about 10,400 students in facilities built for roughly 17,000. District finance staff described a three-to-five year planning window to align spending with the smaller student base, flagging a recent trend in which total expenditures grew 18.3% from 2022 to 2024 while revenues rose only 5.2%.

Finance director Mr. Quiet told the board that enrollment is the district's largest revenue driver and walked trustees through modeling that shows revenues and expenditures are projected to diverge unless savings are found. \"That's our largest driver of revenue as a school district,\" Quiet said about enrollment while reviewing the district's financial forecast.

Why this matters: state proposals and federal uncertainty

The presentation highlighted several state bills the district is tracking: Senate Bill 1 (described as reducing local taxing authority and revenue available to the district), Senate Bill 518 (described as reallocating portions of operational funding when entities enroll significant numbers of students), and House Bill 101 (described as producing a reduction in funds over coming years). Superintendent Huff and staff also warned of possible reductions in federal grant funding, noting the district receives more than $10 million annually in federal streams used for Title I–IV, professional development and nutrition programs.

Strategies proposed

District leaders framed a multi-pronged approach that they said is student-centered, phased and designed to minimize disruption:
- Standard-based budgeting: align dollars to measurable outcomes and stop funding programs that do not demonstrably benefit students.
- Data-driven decisions and coaching: increase use of data to measure program impact and to inform pivots.
- Fiscal-footprint right-sizing: evaluate building usage, routes and staffing to match the smaller enrollment.

Staff stressed that changes will be staged and will include teacher and union engagement and community input.

Steps already taken

Officials listed concrete measures the district has implemented since last year to reduce costs and improve internal controls:
- Internal controls and timekeeping: restructured payroll processes, tightened internal controls and begun implementing time-clocks through the district's payroll/vendor systems.
- Project charters and procurement review: introduced project charters to justify larger purchases (software, curriculum) and improved contract scrutiny.
- Transportation savings: the district brought some homeless-student transportation in-house and retrained drivers, reducing that particular cost by about $900,000 versus previous contracted spending; route optimization work with Transfinder increased bus capacity usage without adding routes, raising ridership by roughly 12%.
- Software and licensing: a district-wide review of software licenses and contracts produced an estimated $1.2 million in recurring savings.
- Career center and program revenue: the career center generated an increase in revenue of about $1.2 million year-over-year by expanding student opportunities.

Officials said the district currently used cash reserves to smooth recent shortfalls (last school year the education operations fund spent about $125 million and received about $119 million in revenue), but warned that continued deficit trends would require priority-setting and structural changes.

Board reaction and next steps

Trustees pressed staff for examples of already realized savings and were briefed on additional internal controls, cooperative purchasing participation and routing efficiencies. Superintendent Huff said staff will continue community outreach and collaboration with the teachers' union as the district phases changes.

The presentation repeatedly framed the work as aimed at keeping students at the center while making the district financially sustainable. \"We're not just managing scarcity, we're leveraging this moment to clarify our priorities and also to invest in what truly matters,\" Huff said.

The district plans more detailed budget projections and additional public briefings in coming months as staff and outside advisers refine three- to five-year scenarios.

Ending

District leaders asked the board and community for patience and input as they carry out staged changes intended to preserve educational programming while rebalancing the fiscal picture.

","Superintendent Dr. Huff and district finance staff warned the board that enrollment decline and shifting state and federal funding mean the district must reallocate resources, contain costs and consider structural changes to its facility footprint while preserving student services.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Elkhart board approves calendar revisions, residential-services agreement and a Common School Fund loan

Elkhart elementary coaches report iRead gains after statewide literacy-cadre rollout

Elkhart Community Schools lays out plan to sustain excellence amid enrollment decline and budget pressures