Votes at a glance: School City of Mishawaka board actions, Feb. 5, 2025

The School City of Mishawaka Board of School Trustees recorded the following formal votes during its Feb. 5, 2025 meeting (voice votes unless noted). Where the transcript did not record a mover, seconder or roll-call tally, items were adopted by voice vote and described in the minutes as "motion carries." Items are listed in agenda order with key details.

Votes at a glance

- Adoption of agenda (Agenda item 2.03): Motion to adopt the Feb. 5 agenda as presented. Outcome: approved by voice vote.

- Battelle Elementary presentation (3.01): Information item; no formal board action recorded.

- Consent agenda and related items (5.01–5.05): Approval of minutes (01/08/2025), bill warrants and payroll, December financials and listed donations. Payroll/bill warrants total recorded in the motion: $12,341,442.15. Outcome: consent agenda approved by voice vote.

- Personnel report (7.01): Approval of recommended appointments: 5 classified, 2 certified, 7 extracurricular, and 1 volunteer appointment; plus acknowledgment of two retirements (James Bassier and Beth Ann Schwitz). Outcome: approved by voice vote.

- Therapy dog program at Liberty Elementary (9.01): Approval to add a therapy dog (Beau) at Liberty Elementary. Beau’s handler introduced him and said he completed therapy-dog training; board approved by voice vote.

- Out-of-district enrollment application procedures and available openings (9.02): Board approved the timeline and openings to post for 2025–26 out-of-district (nonresident) transfers. Key dates stated by staff: post numbers Feb. 6; applications accepted March 1–31; notifications goal April 30. Staff noted in-district transfers will receive placement priority. The transcript cites Indiana Code 20-26-11-32 as the guiding statute. Outcome: approved by voice vote.

- Purchase recommendations (9.03): Approval to purchase two dish machines and two water softeners for Liberty Elementary and John Young Middle School; staff reported Stafford Smith was the lowest and most responsive bidder. Outcome: approved by voice vote.

- Hums Elementary replacement financing (9.05 and 9.06): Approval of the 10-28 preliminary determination resolution and an amendment resolution approving the form of a lease addendum to permit issuance of lease-rental revenue bonds by the Mishawaka 2001 Building Corporation. The preliminary resolution includes a not-to-exceed bond cap cited at $45,000,000 and a maximum interest rate stated at 5% (both described by counsel as maxima). Outcome: both resolutions approved by voice vote; staff will publish notices and return for a March public hearing and final approvals.

- Investment report and cancellation of checks (09/2007 and 908): Investment report for 2024 presented as information (no vote required beyond acceptance). Approval given to void and reallocate two-year-old uncashed checks to proper accounts. Outcome: cancellation approved by voice vote.

Procedural notes: Many motions were recorded as "so moved" and "second" with voice votes. The transcript does not include roll-call tallies for these items; minutes note motions carried.

Why it matters: The board’s approvals include routine operational items (payroll, purchases, personnel), program-level approvals (therapy dog), and significant capital-finance steps (Hums Elementary replacement) that will proceed to additional public hearings and bond-market work.

For more details: Specific agenda item identifiers are noted above; the board will reconvene on March 5, 2025 at Liberty Elementary for scheduled follow-up hearings and routine business.