Griffith board approves construction financing, technology upgrade and program changes; superintendent outlines e-learning stance and emergency meal deliveries

The Griffith Public Schools Board of Trustees on Feb. 13 approved multiple measures to move a planned building project forward, accepted a federally supported technology upgrade and adopted changes to district programs and procedures, while the superintendent explained the district's approach to e-learning during recent weather-related closures.

The most consequential votes authorized the district to proceed from planning to construction under a progressive design-build delivery and to use lease financing through a building corporation, a funding approach the board said has been used by other Indiana school corporations. The board also approved a Step 1 design report and a notice to proceed on Step 2 progressive design-build services with Performance Services Incorporated.

Why it matters: the financing and design approvals authorize the district to borrow for the renovation and construction work and start contract work that will produce the project plans and move the project into construction. Board discussion described lease financings as a common local-government financing tool and said the building corporation will purchase part of the building at closing and lease it back to the school corporation until the financing is satisfied.

The board unanimously approved a technology project backed by E-Rate funding to update servers and other infrastructure. District staff said the project is expensive but that the E-Rate program provides significant discounts, making the upgrade financially feasible.

Superintendent's update and school closures: the superintendent described two recent weather-related closure days for which the district received a waiver so students will not have to make the days up. She explained the district's preference not to rely on asynchronous e-learning for kindergarten through eighth-grade students, saying, "we do not believe that the asynchronous learning and the back and forth with the eLearn was a really great way to educate you," and that the district is pursuing a flex-waiver with the state to allow structured, project-based remote learning options for younger students without sending district iPads home.

Meals and emergency response: district transportation and food-service staff described quickly organized home meal deliveries during the pipe-break closures. Staff said the first day they delivered 24 meals and the second day about 40, and that the deliveries were paid for by an anonymous donation because food-service funds cannot be used for that purpose.

Programs and policy changes: the board approved the district's first High Ability handbook, with changes that include raising one qualification pathway to the 93rd percentile in reading or math (NWEA language scores will no longer be used for that pathway) and new cluster-grouping and self-contained classroom arrangements for elementary grades. Presenters said the program has expanded since it began and that the district will continue outreach and training for staff.

Other routine approvals included authorizing an agreement with outside counsel relating to a PowerSchool data-breach response, adopting a Section 504 eligibility checklist for use by district committees, approving a parent-acknowledgment form for a suicide intervention program, approving a new student club (Natural Helpers), approving the 2025-26 kindergarten roundup and approving a district resolution formalizing long-term substitute pay practices. The board also approved an annual policies first reading and an Easter egg hunt event for residents.

Personnel: the board accepted the retirement of longtime Director of Technology Robbie Dragomir and approved the appointment of Nikki Sarver as director of curriculum and technology effective July 1. Sarver told the board she is "homegrown" and said she looks forward to the role: "I went to kindergarten through twelfth grade here. ... I'm never leaving. So, you guys are stuck with me." The board discussed consolidating administrative roles as part of annual cost-management work.

Votes at a glance (motion text shortened; motions and seconds recorded in the meeting packet): - 3.0 Consent agenda (motion passed) - 4.1 First reading of policies (motion passed) - 4.2 Approval of 2025 Easter egg hunt (motion passed) - 4.3 Approval of technology project with E-Rate savings and vendor (motion passed) - 4.4 Approval of new student club, Natural Helpers (motion passed) - 4.5 Approval of 2025-26 kindergarten roundup (motion passed) - 4.6 Approval of High Ability handbook (motion passed) - 4.7 Approval of suicide intervention parent acknowledgment form (motion passed) - 4.8 Approval of eligibility checklist for Section 504 (motion passed) - 4.9 Approval of agreement with outside counsel related to PowerSchool breach (motion passed) - 4.10 Approval of Step 1 report for design-build project (motion passed) - 4.11 Notice to proceed with Step 2 progressive design-build services / proceed with construction (motion passed) - 4.12 Approval of resolution and form of lease agreement for financing (motion passed) - 4.13 Resolution reapproving building corporation for tax-exempt bonds (motion passed) - 4.14 Resolution on long-term substitute pay (motion passed)

What board members asked and the record shows: trustees and staff pressed for clarity on program details and operational impacts. On the High Ability handbook, trustees asked whether students who qualify in both math and reading could opt for partial (pull-out) rather than full-day self-contained placement; staff said scheduling and family conversations will guide placement and that a family may decline full-day placement if scheduling allows. On Section 504 changes, a trustee asked whether the committee checklist becomes part of a student's file; staff replied the checklist is an internal committee tool and that parents receive required parental-rights documents and the actual 504 plan if one is created.

Background and next steps: presenters from Performance Services Incorporated (Tony Kikendal and Martin Sams) were on hand to represent the design-build team. The board indicated it will proceed with bond/lease financing paperwork and continue planning and communication with the community as the project advances. District staff said they will seek the Department of Education's approval of the proposed flex-waiver for younger students' remote learning model and will continue outreach about meal and transportation operations during emergency closures.

The board scheduled its next regular meeting for 2025-03-13 at 6 p.m. in the LGI Room.