[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6203778,"mediaKeyId","3781497-331cbafc6666b2879069080392c37f46","parentId",3781497,"title","Votes at a glance: Elkhart board actions June 10, 2025","audioSeconds",1123,"startMs",6945000,"endMs",8068000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3781497-331cbafc6666b2879069080392c37f46&start=6945&end=8068","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3781497-331cbafc6666b2879069080392c37f46/thumbnail_6945000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6203778/Indiana/Votes-at-a-glance-Elkhart-board-actions-June-10-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6203778-e470be2044694dadb2b4068e68e39d80/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137788&Signature=ONqWq~MNhQTxT~LAEVv2z-LsDM0TGtGso8Rwx9WGqw3DOgZBRoDsbCliuNyf12O5GcSccWn1ir4OTIhOP72jyyT2K9NGoZtYN~gfWFSe8mA6D6Y1HVOh2sZYLcId2huqW4cgP6edW8lWgpISWS9sclfwc7bye-XN93nljZHT-qQIuvWmoQ4PdusLYKd3me9dIYgTrdwdBKCMSLJGJ2M28nWr4dvdN~xx~nCo1hnJcsqYkw2PjC3Iry5Tc1fHMlfBbbad7YPCYcj9h4a6N7tJNwq7OOvwCy8ttMo4~MGeHaT73Itxv9g3lvuxsxFEhb2mZbdbiDd5jGUtS2vtqQZP-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-12T09:08:59.867Z","article","At its June 10 meeting the Elkhart Community Schools Board of Trustees recorded the following formal outcomes:

- Consent agenda: Approved (donations and routine items reported; donors included local businesses supporting athletics and national qualifiers). The board recorded the motion and the chair announced the motion passed.

- Food-service management contract: Approved — the board voted to award the contract to Chartwells. The administration outlined staff-transition protections, a 5% wage increase for employees who transition to Chartwells, no lapse in insurance during the move, and a district-level oversight position to monitor KPIs. The chair reported unanimous approval.

- Textbook and curriculum adoptions: Approved — the board approved a set of materials including Amplify for K–8 ELA and Reveal Math for middle-school math and continued CommonLit for high-school ELA. Administration said teacher committees vetted materials, parents had opportunity to review, PD will accompany the roll-out, and the district negotiated substantial cost reductions. The chair reported unanimous approval.

Motions were taken in open session; the transcript records the chair calling for votes and announcing each motion carried unanimously. The record does not show a roll-call with named yes/no votes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","ECS Board of School Trustees’ Meeting 6/10/25","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved routine consent items and two major actions: awarding a food-service contract to Chartwells and adopting a package of textbooks and curricular materials; all three motions passed unanimously in open session.","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},6203782,"Board adopts new ELA and math textbooks; district cites nearly $500,000 in negotiated savings",784,7026000,7810000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3781497-331cbafc6666b2879069080392c37f46&start=7026&end=7810","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3781497-331cbafc6666b2879069080392c37f46/thumbnail_7026000.jpg","/articles/6203782/Indiana/Board-adopts-new-ELA-and-math-textbooks-district-cites-nearly-500000-in-negotiated-savings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6203782-9cb932572813dfd17aeb037a6d436e1b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137788&Signature=lHjsw7SAXRz~OcyFkC~dsRrO8FI-dK9BJp0CSRfTSiuOKAnRMySpKWdndG9LOHSA7TocKYN9U4UKQe03RdXTYlWMmNSU9YIt4ZIs2fkqKdLcr~flaoI3XtodzD2-C7DW5kjzpZrnbrguJ~FVWpT-pHaMbjXZss3Rxv4LoloFdKqP554gXMKrjMrTONqz-Aue9y-48lLUgH2sxU3ynCFmI-3G1HJpgRohkFA7XYBspJzT8pVHHsQXjF33KlaqmmfpCFnl7wEQCh2KTdFuVH4uQcglO9sTQMt0gx9lL9DMc6gP8HPkUPzt9fvi5WH2U7ITHslJoxt6TexnNVelFBczdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Elkhart Community Schools' board voted Tuesday to adopt a package of curricular materials after a districtwide review and teacher feedback, including Amplify ELA for K–8 and Reveal Math for middle-school math; the high school will continue with CommonLit for ELA.

Dr. Rausch, who led the adoption process, told the board that the district had not recently completed a comprehensive textbook cycle and that teachers and content-area specialists reviewed samples in every building. The district used the Indiana Department of Education’s vetted list to narrow choices for reading and STEM materials and solicited vendor presentations for middle- and high-school courses.

Elementary ELA teachers and coaches recommended Amplify — an IDOE-approved curriculum — for K–8 reading instruction; the administration said that Amplify ranked highly on independent reviews and would provide consistent curriculum across buildings. Middle-school math teachers recommended Reveal Math to align pacing and provide remediation tools (district staff cited Reveal’s ALEKS-style supports). High-school ELA teachers recommended continuing CommonLit, and high-school social studies teachers selected materials appropriate to Indiana standards.

The district said professional development will accompany the adoptions and that administrators negotiated pricing reductions across adoptions, saving the district nearly $500,000 compared with initial vendor pricing. Parents were given an opportunity to review materials on May 22, the administration said.

Board members thanked curriculum staff for a yearlong process and noted the importance of fidelity and PD for successful implementation. The motion to approve the recommended adoptions passed unanimously in open session.","The board approved a multi-year set of textbook adoptions including Amplify for K–8 ELA and Reveal Math for middle-school math, plus continued CommonLit use at the high school; the administration said teachers participated in selection and that the district negotiated substantial savings and built PD into implementation plans.",{"_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},6203787,"Principals report progress at Pride Academy, Elkhart Academy and School Without Walls",2762,928000,3690000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3781497-331cbafc6666b2879069080392c37f46&start=928&end=3690","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3781497-331cbafc6666b2879069080392c37f46/thumbnail_928000.jpg","/articles/6203787/Indiana/Principals-report-progress-at-Pride-Academy-Elkhart-Academy-and-School-Without-Walls","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6203787-78d44cf1b8d5f8f07ef2e573bb56f7f6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137788&Signature=VzvCxlpPBJtBxT~JnMrzKY7NuRoyrQucGeQJHx3G5x-~4zryN4NxHWRNKcFs~pkKncLSMdeTfgsVa9YTzxi5LQxXjGYvFhbZt60DkGdAulXE6hOUmYNbdj5spuYx0Vf9rAgqAG6ouStCb1FHBgD-oQSTtWDOHymHo44Sp5-7xnr-j7Rjg5aPK5BlybZyfeFKoZim~RnRXDG0Mi5o2j2vId9pcBsMZj2kYPGhTC7J-OG8fiedsKS4~VQQz5cZ3ga5Bds93qhT~ZCVhlqxI~RBqStmL3fe~fU52ysXsbzwOAzCo7Wqlnqd1m087CU6OeQMsyP11KcgpUL6BQefjheLMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Elkhart Community Schools principals briefed the board Tuesday on three district alternative programs — Pride Academy (elementary), Elkhart Academy (high school alternative) and School Without Walls — highlighting individualized supports, attendance gains and credit-recovery outcomes.

Eric Chandler, principal of Pride Academy, described the K–5 program that serves students with emotional disabilities or extreme behavioral needs referred from district elementary schools. Pride uses small class sizes (target about 10 students per classroom), trauma-informed practices, crisis prevention training for staff, and a behavior-tracking/MTSS referral process (a “Pride Alert” form) to determine placements and interventions. Chandler said classroom attendance rose over the program's years, citing a K–2 classroom that reached about 90% attendance and that Pride ended the year with roughly 37 students after peaking near 44. He emphasized social-emotional learning tools such as zones of regulation, a dedicated regulation room, and family outreach as part of returning students to traditional classrooms when appropriate.

Brian Hamentry, principal of Elkhart Academy, said the high-school alternative program served about 150–167 students this year and recorded 23 graduates counted toward the district graduation total as of Sept. 30. Hamentry said the program showed a pass rate of roughly 70% for in-person classes during the 2024–25 school year and cited a projected 81% graduation rate for the cohort; he also described a schedule change to six-week accelerated terms that staff credit with improved student success and earlier ‘wins’ for credit-deficient juniors and seniors. Hamentry highlighted service-learning projects that connect students to local employers and public agencies, the use of Mastery Connect to track standards, and a reduction in serious physical incidents (two fights reported and a year-total of 30 incidents across categories), while noting an increase in suspensions and ongoing work to reduce verbal aggression.

Krista Henning, principal of School Without Walls, described the school's role as a credit-recovery and flexible learning site that uses Apex and Courseware platforms. Henning outlined internal controls for tracking credit completion — a district spreadsheet that counselors and School Without Walls staff use before counselors upload grades to PowerSchool — and said staff work to locate and re-enroll students over the summer; the presenter gave a specific success story of a former teen parent who graduated early and later enlisted in the military with support from the school’s TAP program and social worker.

Board members praised the principals and noted observed reductions in reportable incidents at some receiving schools. The principals said they are preparing more students to transition back to mainstream schools, increasing career-center placements, and expanding programming at the middle-school level next year.

No formal board action was required on these presentations, but the updates provided context for the district’s summer-school expansions and curriculum planning.","Three district principals updated the board on alternative education programs, citing improved attendance and credit recovery, individualized behavior supports, service-learning partnerships, and higher graduation rates among program participants.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":46,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6203792,"Board awards food service contract to Chartwells, outlines staff protections and performance checks",3681,4387000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3781497-331cbafc6666b2879069080392c37f46&start=4387&end=8068","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3781497-331cbafc6666b2879069080392c37f46/thumbnail_4387000.jpg","/articles/6203792/Indiana/Board-awards-food-service-contract-to-Chartwells-outlines-staff-protections-and-performance-checks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6203792-56c3f3e4cd5dde6d5fddacb2f966800e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137788&Signature=VLEFlHJ3PSemln1~f2PbBjf3792eoLFbrqY~v6NccaGbc8XY1ZVPKnwPEbvd51NPRfRkhotipwTy~2B2OdoSDwW22YACfhraMmvsl7lHdH7aixpv07vKFigHhHZ7rG-eL~rM7-UgP8AOdaJ6HCIDT8BhMYgIh8Ra2Wi5jBTJ8vkx9qM8k-mcEo5mXo2quyl~uhw3tHC0I2UA0lQ246-Xl1frzzk87l-zsnyNSFfAKmc3m7rKuFAFuaijrQpcjzODJNSKpickOA8YRGvwI~nZGbIXSeqIiRJmnsukSOg9dqYkHBHEMDigD9Tov3Tx-ERRc00v6b-~CXfd21UUNuZb0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Elkhart Community Schools' board on Tuesday approved a contract with Chartwells to manage the district's school meal operations, a move the administration said is intended to stop persistent food-service operating deficits while maintaining continuity for current staff.

District officials said the decision follows a year of efforts — including joining a purchasing cooperative and moving to districtwide Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) — that nevertheless left the food-service fund in a negative position. The administration said the Chartwells contract is designed to produce a cash-flow–positive operation and to bring operational expertise the district lacks internally.

During a work session presentation, a district staff member who led the procurement process described the eight evaluation criteria used in the RFP, including cost-per-meal estimates, company financial stability, experience in Indiana, personnel and training plans, local sourcing, and commitments to student and family engagement. The administration recommended Chartwells after six vendors responded and Chartwells’ pro forma and referenced practices were judged most realistic.

The district outlined a hybrid transition model to minimize disruption for existing employees: staff who transition to Chartwells will receive a 5% pay increase; the district will seek to “grandfather” employees who are within two years of vesting in the Indiana PERF state retirement plan so they can reach vesting; accrued benefits language will be negotiated; and district-paid insurance will continue through the transition so there is no lapse in coverage. The district will also hire a district-employed food-service specialist whose role will be to oversee the contractor, review monthly and quarterly reports, and act as a liaison between Chartwells and the business office.

Chartwells representatives said the company offers structured professional-development pathways for hourly staff and managers, including internal programs that have elevated many hourly employees into supervisory and regional positions in other districts. Chartwells also described programs to promote school meals to students and families and to source produce locally when possible.

Board members pressed the administration on accountability and transition details. The district said it will monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) including cash flow, inventory and procurement efficiencies, participation rates, labor surveys and staff engagement, and customer satisfaction surveys. The administration set an implementation timeline: June 12 staff meeting with Chartwells, July transition activities and benefits/pay processing, staff training in August, and an operational launch expected August 14.

The board voted in open session to award the contract. There was no roll-call tally recorded in the discussion; the chair called for the vote and reported the motion carried unanimously.

District officials emphasized the decision was difficult and intended to preserve the faces students see every day in kitchens and cafeterias while correcting the department's long-term financial trajectory.

If problems arise, the administration said the contract includes review points and the district retains the ability to require corrective action or to “pivot” if Chartwells does not meet agreed metrics.","The Elkhart Community Schools board voted unanimously to award a food-service management contract to Chartwells after a yearlong review; the district described a transition plan that preserves staff benefits, guarantees a 5% wage increase for employees who transfer, and sets financial and operational KPIs for Chartwells.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Elkhart board actions June 10, 2025

Board adopts new ELA and math textbooks; district cites nearly $500,000 in negotiated savings

Principals report progress at Pride Academy, Elkhart Academy and School Without Walls

Board awards food service contract to Chartwells, outlines staff protections and performance checks