Transcript
Vigo County Oversight BoardJul 20, 2026
About this transcript
Automatic transcription, not the official record. This is what speech recognition heard at the meeting; it mis-hears names and numbers, and no editor has checked it. The clerk's minutes are the official record. Every line links to the moment in the recording — check anything that matters.
Voices were separated automatically and named from the meeting's speaker roster where the evidence supported it. An unnamed voice shows as Speaker 12 — a machine label, not a person's name.
- Meeting
- Vigo County Oversight Board · Jul 20, 2026
- Length
- 0:35:15
- Lines
- 104
- Transcribed by
- mlx-community/whisper-large-v3-turbo
0:00:00 — open the recording at 0 secondsSpeaker 3 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.
0:00:17 — open the recording at 17 secondsSpeaker 7 (chair) Thank you. Good morning. Before we get started here, I have a little bit of statement to read from the Oversight Board. When the Oversight Board was formed, we made a promise to our community that we would do this right. Over the past several months, our board has dug deep into the finances of the school corporation in Vigo County. We've consulted with some of the most respected financial and legal experts in the state, independent professionals who have no agenda other than finding the truth that we've asked them to find.
0:00:49 — open the recording at 49 secondsSpeaker 7 (chair) we've reviewed enrollment trends maintenance costs funding mechanisms in the long-term financial health of our community we've asked hard questions and demanded honest answers this is not a group that takes its responsibility lightly between us our board members bring decades of expertise and finance law accounting community leadership and every decision we've made has been transparent because that's exactly what the people of Vigo County deserve so today we'll hear details of a significant investment in this project and based on the size of the audience today hopefully some lively public
0:01:30 — open the recording at 1 minute 30 secondsSpeaker 7 (chair) comment as well on August 12th we'll deliver our final recommendation we're confident that it's good it has been worth the wait so thank you for entrusting us with us with this important responsibility and for pushing group of mostly accountants out of our comfort zone when it comes to public engagement with what with that said let's kick this meeting off first off we have minutes from June 25th public meeting and then a July 7th executive session entertain a motion
0:02:04 — open the recording at 2 minutes 4 secondsSpeaker 13 (chair) thank you Jim second Carrie thank you all those in favor say aye all right
0:02:12 — open the recording at 2 minutes 12 secondsSpeaker 7 (chair) next up we had an invoice come in this morning from Barnes and Thornburg for $2,269.50 for some legal work it's here if anybody needs to review it
0:02:25 — open the recording at 2 minutes 25 secondsSpeaker 13 (chair) some of you did prior to the meeting take a motion to approve I'll make a
0:02:29 — open the recording at 2 minutes 29 secondsSpeaker 17 motion to approve our attorneys fees Thank You mark Thank You Heather all
0:02:37 — open the recording at 2 minutes 37 secondsSpeaker 13 (chair) those in favor say aye great Heather you want to give a real
0:02:41 — open the recording at 2 minutes 41 secondsHeather LaBella (oversight board member (gave the treasurer's report)) quick treasurer's report yep so after taking into consideration this most recent Barnes and Thornburg invoice through for services through June we currently have a balance around eighty seven thousand one hundred thirty five dollars that is to note we haven't received anything for Crow yet that'll
0:03:01 — open the recording at 3 minutes 1 secondSpeaker 25 be coming more towards the end of engagement awesome thank you Heather
0:03:07 — open the recording at 3 minutes 7 secondsSpeaker 13 (chair) the board business before we jump in miss Hankowitz thank you for joining us
0:03:17 — open the recording at 3 minutes 17 secondsKelsey Hankowitz (guest presenter — Terre Haute Casino Foundation board of directors) the floor is yours thank you so much good morning my name is Kelsey Hankowitz and I'm here today on behalf of the Terre Haute casino foundation board of directors thank you for the time and care this board has invested in evaluating the future of Vigo County's school facilities we recognize the complexity of the plans before you and appreciate the responsibility you have to assess the options and make a recommendation to the Vigo County Council the foundation believes one new high school east of the river is one of the most important investments Vigo County can make to in its students and its
0:03:48 — open the recording at 3 minutes 48 secondsKelsey Hankowitz (guest presenter — Terre Haute Casino Foundation board of directors) future today I am here to ensure this board has a clear understanding of the substantial long-term resources the foundation is prepared to commit as you evaluate the options before you the Terre Haute casino foundation board has approved the commitment of all current foundation funding net of administrative expenses towards one new high school east of the river based on current projections this initial can cash contribution will be approximately 10 million the foundation is also prepared to commit the future funding it receives
0:04:19 — open the recording at 4 minutes 19 secondsKelsey Hankowitz (guest presenter — Terre Haute Casino Foundation board of directors) for the duration of the project's bond which is currently anticipated to be approximately 20 years the future funding is estimated at approximately 4.2 million to 4.3 million annually the actual amount will depend on the ongoing performance of the Terre Haute Casino Resort. This commitment is contingent upon Vigo County also making a significant financial commitment toward the same project through a vote of the Vigo County Council by December 31st of 2026. We are sharing this commitment now because of the availability of
0:04:51 — open the recording at 4 minutes 51 secondsKelsey Hankowitz (guest presenter — Terre Haute Casino Foundation board of directors) these resources should be part of the Oversights Board's evaluation of the plans before it. As you complete your review and prepare your recommendation, we want there to be no uncertainty about where their foundation stands we believe one new high school east of the river is the right investment for Vigo County and the foundation is committed to helping make it possible the foundation is prepared to work with the oversight board and the county's other public partners to structure these resources in a way that provides the
0:05:17 — open the recording at 5 minutes 17 secondsKelsey Hankowitz (guest presenter — Terre Haute Casino Foundation board of directors) greatest benefit to the project future funding could support payments towards the capital project or related bonding as well as additional facilities improvements and opportunities associated with the new high school we providing the members of the oversight board with a letter today outlining the full details of the foundation's commitment a project of this scale will Kyle will require a thoughtful planning strong public leadership and close collaboration among the oversight board Vigo County Council County Commissioners
0:05:44 — open the recording at 5 minutes 44 secondsKelsey Hankowitz (guest presenter — Terre Haute Casino Foundation board of directors) Vigo County School Corporation and the broader community the foundation is ready to be an active partner in that work we are bringing substantial resources to the table because we believe one new high school east of the River is the right investment for Vigo County our community has discussed the future of its schools for many years this is an opportunity to move from discussion to action and make a lasting investment in students teachers families and the future of our county a new high school is about more than constructing a
0:06:13 — open the recording at 6 minutes 13 secondsKelsey Hankowitz (guest presenter — Terre Haute Casino Foundation board of directors) building it is an investment in education workforce readiness economic development and the Vigo counties and Vigo counties ability to attract and retain residents businesses and jobs modern schools show students that their community believes in them they show families and employers that Vigo County is serious about its future the Terre Haute Casino Foundation is strongly committed to this project the financial commitment being offered is substantial long-term and intended to help make one new high school east of the river
0:06:42 — open the recording at 6 minutes 42 secondsKelsey Hankowitz (guest presenter — Terre Haute Casino Foundation board of directors) possible we appreciate the work of this board and ask that you consider the full value of this commitment as you complete your review and prepare your recommendation thank you for your service and for the work you are doing
0:06:52 — open the recording at 6 minutes 52 secondsSpeaker 36 behalf of Vigo County and I have these letters if I can present those to you all
0:06:58 — open the recording at 6 minutes 58 secondsSpeaker 37 Are there any questions before I'm done?
0:07:20 — open the recording at 7 minutes 20 secondsSpeaker 7 (chair) any questions so just to recap the financial side here look and estimated
0:07:34 — open the recording at 7 minutes 34 secondsSpeaker 42 (unclear — contaminated cluster (fragments match both the chair and Mark Matheny)) 10 million up front I believe most of which you already have in your account and the rest will come in prior to the project starting that's yes okay and then 4.2 to 4.3 million annually for the life of the bonds that's what where our
0:07:49 — open the recording at 7 minutes 49 secondsSpeaker 44 current projections are at it kind of depends on on the casino sure on on their
0:07:54 — open the recording at 7 minutes 54 secondsSpeaker 7 (chair) revenue and then the deadline kind of of 1231 of this year for the county to make
0:08:05 — open the recording at 8 minutes 5 secondsSpeaker 42 (unclear — contaminated cluster (fragments match both the chair and Mark Matheny)) a significant financial commitment yes sir okay
0:08:11 — open the recording at 8 minutes 11 secondsSpeaker 47 Wonderful. Thank you.
0:08:15 — open the recording at 8 minutes 15 secondsSpeaker 37 Thank you so much.
0:08:24 — open the recording at 8 minutes 24 secondsSpeaker 7 (chair) I think all that's left on the agenda is public comment. Mr. Matheny, are you going to give them the size of the crowd, maybe give us a quick overview
0:08:34 — open the recording at 8 minutes 34 secondsSpeaker 50 of our public comment policy here?
0:08:36 — open the recording at 8 minutes 36 secondsMark Matheny (oversight board member) Yeah, I think as we dive into public comment, just some basic housekeeping. Again, it is public comment, not necessarily public question and answer. Obviously, that would extend the duration of this meeting significantly. So we encourage everybody to try to keep it to a three-minute, you know, get your comments in three minutes, again, just for the sake of keeping everything ongoing and on track. And the Oversight Board, we do adhere to the open-door policy, but that does also reserve reserve us the right to conclude comments if they begin to get they're
0:09:11 — open the recording at 9 minutes 11 secondsMark Matheny (oversight board member) disrespectful if they're off-topic anything like that we we do reserve the right to kind of pause comments if we get to that point but I'm confident looking around this room we will not have any issues so I think we just ask
0:09:27 — open the recording at 9 minutes 27 secondsSpeaker 42 (unclear — contaminated cluster (fragments match both the chair and Mark Matheny)) that when you come up you state your name as well for the record and for the minutes so
0:09:33 — open the recording at 9 minutes 33 seconds Commissioner?
0:09:34 — open the recording at 9 minutes 34 secondsSpeaker 60 (county commissioner) Well, I'll kick it off because I just want to get up here and, number one, thank you all. But thank you to the Casino Foundation and all their hard work and their dedication to this community. This is significant. It will help us get there. And I'm looking forward to the 12th when we get your formal recommendation. Thank you all.
0:09:53 — open the recording at 9 minutes 53 secondsSpeaker 62 Thank you.
0:09:54 — open the recording at 9 minutes 54 secondsSpeaker 63 Yeah, just pop up when you're ready.
0:09:59 — open the recording at 9 minutes 59 secondsSpeaker 50 is this okay you can bend the mic down a little bit there like that perfect okay
0:10:08 — open the recording at 10 minutes 8 secondsSpeaker 65 again thank you everybody so hello my name is Terry Potter and I'm a teacher at Terre Haute North
0:10:14 — open the recording at 10 minutes 14 secondsTerry Potter (resident — teacher, Terre Haute North) I'm a product of VCSE and so are my four children I have a degree from the Kelly School of Business at IU and worked as a litigator and then a mortgage loan officer before acquiring my teaching degree and my masters I've taught at seven schools K through 12 not because I was flighty but I was a traveling teacher and the last 15 years I've been at Terre Haute North I want to point out I have nothing to gain or lose professionally by speaking here today because I will more than likely be retiring in three years I'm not an elected official nor do I have any
0:10:46 — open the recording at 10 minutes 46 secondsTerry Potter (resident — teacher, Terre Haute North) plans for that and I'm not on any boards I'm here to speak in favor of improvements to our school and a hopeful consolidation I could list all the issues that we have in our schools but I would be here all day and everybody already knows the issues at hand so I want to talk about the things that nobody is really talking about many teachers support a consolidation as a best-case scenario and improvements is a worst-case scenario but you can't hear us through all the noise we basically have two sides here one I call the noise
0:11:15 — open the recording at 11 minutes 15 secondsTerry Potter (resident — teacher, Terre Haute North) and one I call the realists I don't think that people realize that almost 100% of teachers agree that something needs to be done to improve our schools and close to 70% support a consolidation. Recently I've reached out to countless teachers and one was not in support of consolidation. We can say that approximately 5 to 10% don't care one way or another because that's life with any issue. The rest of those are opposed. From a realist standpoint I'd like to address the ones who are against the consolidation both teachers and public
0:11:47 — open the recording at 11 minutes 47 secondsTerry Potter (resident — teacher, Terre Haute North) And as my assistant principal likes to ask, what is someone's why? Let's talk taxes. Everybody's afraid of a tax increase. It seems to be a fear factor. So let's work to ensure we have a plan that has a minimal impact on local taxes and no one can just go in and raise taxes. The referendum was voted down. However, we have to remember that if nothing is done to improve the schools, they will continue to deteriorate. Deteriorating schools means students will continue to leave our corporation, go to private schools or become homeschooled. I don't have an issue with private schools.
0:12:21 — open the recording at 12 minutes 21 secondsTerry Potter (resident — teacher, Terre Haute North) My siblings all went to Schulte. I have nothing against homeschooling, but it doesn't work for most families. These options are not the reality for our community. I don't think many people in the community understand that the average cost of tuition for a private school in Terre Haute is $8,000 per year per student. The majority of Terre Haute can't afford that. I know I couldn't. There are only so many private donors. Yes, there are vouchers, but no, that's going to affect state taxes. Let's address the loss of jobs. First, if we don't do any first, if we don't do anything,
0:12:56 — open the recording at 12 minutes 56 secondsTerry Potter (resident — teacher, Terre Haute North) it also means that those opposed closing schools will see that these schools close regardless, because with dwindling numbers, we cannot sustain the number of schools we currently have. With the consolidation, we can control the situation instead of closing schools schools that are integral to our neighborhoods because they cannot be filled or in too much disrepair. The loss of jobs is already happening. Due to our loss of numbers, many classes don't have the numbers and are being cut. That is a loss of employment and educational opportunities. Due to attrition, teachers
0:13:28 — open the recording at 13 minutes 28 secondsTerry Potter (resident — teacher, Terre Haute North) are not being replaced. If nothing is done to improve our schools, we will continue to lose students, not attract people to move here, and the teaching force will continue to be reduced. Consolidating will in fact grow the teacher workforce not reduce it. Now the elephant in the room. A number of people who are against this don't like Dr. Hemsle. They have a grievance. They have a vendetta. They will do everything to speak out against anything he recommends. If he got up and said let's keep things the same they'd be pushing for change.
0:13:59 — open the recording at 13 minutes 59 secondsTerry Potter (resident — teacher, Terre Haute North) This is not about Dr. Hemsle. This is about the future of our community and our children. And if you're against something because of your own personal agenda, then shame on you. People like to talk the misappropriation of funds to the current administration, saying that the corporation cannot be trusted, saying it's their fault that the buildings had not been maintained. Last I knew, neither Dr. Hemsall nor Dr. Hayworth were here when my doorknob wasn't working 14 years ago and they stopped making the replacement parts decades ago. You can't
0:14:29 — open the recording at 14 minutes 29 secondsTerry Potter (resident — teacher, Terre Haute North) use a different knob because it won't fit the door. You can't get the new door because they're custom and it just goes on. This is not the fault of our current admin. What dumbfounds me is that the misappropriation of funds that the noise refers to would have been from the past and no one ever points that out. As far as Hayworth and Hemsler concerned they both came here to try to help us leave the past in the past and move forward. If anyone is against this just because they don't like someone they shouldn't be a teacher because they
0:14:58 — open the recording at 14 minutes 58 secondsTerry Potter (resident — teacher, Terre Haute North) obviously have too much animosity to do anything about what's best for the children and isn't that what teaching is all about? So I have to ask what in the world can possibly be anyone's why? It can't be the reduction of jobs that's already happening. It can't be the deterioration and closing of schools because really? So what is it? Are you living in the past? Are you wanting to privatize schools? You have a personal agenda? Is it political? Because none of it makes sense to me. I know for a fact that our past generations were
0:15:28 — open the recording at 15 minutes 28 secondsTerry Potter (resident — teacher, Terre Haute North) heartbroken when Garfield Wiley State High and Glen closed. Even if they didn't like it, they still was they did what was best for the betterment of education. Wouldn't that be a nice concept? Last note, I was standing in line at a store on Saturday waiting to check out. The ladies behind me happened to be from a neighboring community, a current teacher and her mother a retired teacher of 36 years. They actually told me that they were embarrassed for our community and the lack of support behind the improvements and the changes for the good. That's how we are
0:16:00 — open the recording at 16 minutesTerry Potter (resident — teacher, Terre Haute North) perceived at this point and that is very sad and yes it's embarrassing. So if I've upset some by speaking reality I'm not going to apologize. It's time to move forward, do what's best for our community and the future generations of Terre Haute and that's my why.
0:16:16 — open the recording at 16 minutes 16 secondsSpeaker 7 (chair) no I think we're good on the timer I think what's well keep it to roughly three minutes there I think you may be towed the line there of our public
0:16:37 — open the recording at 16 minutes 37 secondsSpeaker 76 comment policy but we're feeling a little lenient this morning okay hi
0:16:43 — open the recording at 16 minutes 43 secondsKatie Goldner (resident — teacher and parent) everyone my name is Katie Goldner I want to spend most of my time honestly commending you guys for the work that you're doing I am deeply appreciative the goal has been transparency so I thank you very much for working so hard to provide that to the community I like many wear two hats I am a teacher within the corporation but I'm also a young mom to a four and a six-year-old who have officially entered the corporation so I spend all of my time investing in other people's kids and then I go home to my own and both of these roles have deeply
0:17:13 — open the recording at 17 minutes 13 secondsKatie Goldner (resident — teacher and parent) impacted the way I feel about our schools and are also why I am in full support of new schools I know this topic has created a lot of strong feelings I get that right people care deeply about the way their tax dollars are spent they want and they expect accountability and transparency from school leaders all of these things are incredibly valid deserves to be heard and respected but I think it is incredibly important that these conversations are rooted in accurate information so again thank you for providing that one of the things I
0:17:45 — open the recording at 17 minutes 45 secondsKatie Goldner (resident — teacher and parent) love most about the school corporation is that I feel like we have a unique opportunity to help kids learn to care about other people I have had the privilege of helping to lead our schools dance marathon for Riley Children's Hospital over the last few years if you're unfamiliar with that program it is a student-led organization where kids not only raise awareness for all the awesome things that Riley does but they also fundraise for the cause last year nor students were able to raise over ninety three thousand dollars in a
0:18:15 — open the recording at 18 minutes 15 secondsKatie Goldner (resident — teacher and parent) single year when paired with South stance marathon VCSE students were able to raise over a hundred and twenty four thousand dollars again in a single year watching these kids give so much of their time and their energy and their hearts to kids and families that they've never met before reminds me that school is not just where kids are coming to learn reading and math right this is where they're coming to learn service and compassion and leadership and teamwork these kids my kids they're not asking
0:18:42 — open the recording at 18 minutes 42 secondsKatie Goldner (resident — teacher and parent) what's in it for me they're asking how can i help they understand that when a community comes together to support kids lives are changed and honestly every day i'm just trying to be a little bit more like them as adults we have the opportunity to model this same exact mindset to look past ourselves and to think years from now about the kids that are going to walk through our doors I know you guys have but please continue to consider what classrooms can look like when we start encouraging creating presentations and working together to solve real-world problems and to build prototypes and when
0:19:19 — open the recording at 19 minutes 19 secondsKatie Goldner (resident — teacher and parent) we create these environments that allow these types of things to happen right now the those opportunities are not possible in our school buildings they simply are not but modern schools they can offer these opportunities to our kids that to me is what this is all about this is the conversation is really about taking things and leaving it a little bit better than you found it so again I just really want to thank you for doing that for being here for investing so much time and for trying to leave our schools a little bit better thank you thank you
0:19:58 — open the recording at 19 minutes 58 secondsSpeaker 83 Who's next?
0:20:05 — open the recording at 20 minutes 5 secondsSpeaker 55 Surely everyone didn't come here to listen.
0:20:07 — open the recording at 20 minutes 7 secondsSummer Liggett (resident — SPED teacher and parent) I got it. All right. Good morning.
0:20:11 — open the recording at 20 minutes 11 secondsSummer Liggett (resident — SPED teacher at Terre Haute North, parent) Good morning. I'm Summer Liggett. I've spent nearly 39 years in this community, sadly. I'm old. I wear many hats, though. I've been a student of all three West Vico schools. The elementary when it had the cat garden and Mr. Lauder before it closed. The middle school when we would share the cafeteria with the high school. And then the high school before they tore up the floor and I got part of that as a Christmas gift one year in the gym, which was really cool. Now I have kids in the community. I have a second grader at Sugar Grove and I have a sophomore at South.
0:20:49 — open the recording at 20 minutes 49 secondsSummer Liggett (resident — SPED teacher at Terre Haute North, parent) And I work at North as a SPED teacher. It's not so much about community ties or even what school did I graduate from, where do I want my kids to graduate from. I couldn't care less. It could be a blessing or a curse that I have the ability to take emotion out of it. It's all logic to me. I want my kids to have the opportunities I didn't. That's what any parent would want for their kids. We want them to have better than we had. At West Vigo, I didn't have a lot of opportunity for a diverse student population. At North, we do. And at South, we do.
0:21:27 — open the recording at 21 minutes 27 secondsSummer Liggett (resident — SPED teacher at Terre Haute North, parent) So why not combine those two schools and make it even better, even more diverse? Not just ethnicity, but ability. We currently have several, several, several students at North needing IEP services. I don't know if you're familiar, they're not cheap. teachers make the same as any other teacher i'm not saying that if we combine we can do more for our teacher salary but we can do more for our students and if there's anything anyone in this community should want it's for those who can't help themselves to have someone help them and that's what i want to see so i give you an analogy
0:22:11 — open the recording at 22 minutes 11 secondsSummer Liggett (resident — SPED teacher at Terre Haute North, parent) sorry i'm shaking i'm getting antsy consider if you will that our school corporation is a house okay if you own a home you know how insane it is and how stupid you are for doing it when you could just rent and not have to fix anything but let's say hypothetically you have an AC unit in a five-bedroom house your kids have graduated they've moved on they live in the sunny beaches of San Diego your AC unit has had to have repairs of a thousand dollars every summer for the past five years, maybe 10. This year you face the same thing. Only now you're
0:22:53 — open the recording at 22 minutes 53 secondsSummer Liggett (resident — SPED teacher at Terre Haute North, parent) smart. Your kids have talked to you and they've said, mom, dad, that's so stupid. Why are you going to continue to do that? You've been doing it forever and it's not working. So you now know you have to do something different. So do you buy a new AC unit? Maybe if you can afford it, You might have to go to your bank or aka the county to fund your AC unit. Or you could look at where you're at. Instead of a five bedroom house for a man and a woman, why not downsize? Maybe a two bedroom house. Then you can get a smaller AC unit and save on your utilities every month.
0:23:30 — open the recording at 23 minutes 30 secondsSummer Liggett (resident — SPED teacher at Terre Haute North, parent) So as a mom, a teacher, and a former student, just put them together. put them together just make a choice and do what's right for our students rather than ourselves thank you thank you summer thank you
0:24:00 — open the recording at 24 minutesSpeaker 99 anyone else
0:24:03 — open the recording at 24 minutes 3 secondsSpeaker 23 (chair) Commissioner Switzer I don't know if you passed up a public comment opportunity yet
0:24:09 — open the recording at 24 minutes 9 secondsChris Switzer (county commissioner) well there's a couple things I'm glad to see some West Vigo teachers here West Serahoe is an important role in all of this and I know that if something doesn't happen the future of West Serahoe could be in jeopardy when it comes to our schools on the west side of River so I'm extremely thankful to see you guys here so thank you for that based on the math with my West Eagle education I think we got about 80 million dollars on the table plus 10 million so roughly 90 million dollars on the table so this is exactly what we were looking for at the beginning of
0:24:50 — open the recording at 24 minutes 50 secondsChris Switzer (county commissioner) this conversation was to find a way to do something in partnership with a private entity I don't think the balls around things would stop there I think there's going to be more individuals that come forward, possibly with funding, to get this over the finish line. So I'm also thankful. I think I see Brad Anderson here on the county council and Brenda Wilson. Thank you guys for coming as well. Your votes are going to be important in all of this. This is true action with what we're doing today. And I can't wait to see your guys' recommendation from Crow and Baker Tilly coming together.
0:25:24 — open the recording at 25 minutes 24 secondsChris Switzer (county commissioner) And I just look forward to it. So thank you.
0:25:26 — open the recording at 25 minutes 26 secondsSpeaker 106 thanks Commissioner anyone else before we wrap things up come on up I'm gonna ask
0:25:39 — open the recording at 25 minutes 39 secondsSpeaker 108 at least two more times peer pressure my name is Kathy Heaton and I'm here just as
0:25:46 — open the recording at 25 minutes 46 secondsKathy Heaton (resident — teacher, Otter Creek Middle School) a regular teacher at Tisha Otter Creek middle school I spent my entire career there 28 years and have raised two children and two stepchildren that have gone through Vigo County School Corporation and my school Otter Creek is one of the schools that have received an improvement we got a new auxiliary gym it was a renovation it was multi-million dollar project however and I love my school and it's a great building however there were things that the teachers and students were told were going to happen that still never came to fruition the wallpaper that is in my classroom is the same wallpaper
0:26:31 — open the recording at 26 minutes 31 secondsKathy Heaton (resident — teacher, Otter Creek Middle School) that I started working there in 1998 yes we have some new pieces and some bright shining spaces and more room for sports teams and our students to participate in and and those things are good but we also have a leaky roof as as well currently still we also still have the same sixth grade area lockers that are not large enough for binders to fit in and so even though i know it's very kind of still fresh and new in a lot of people's minds oh you you teach at the school that just got renovated well i do however there are still some things that are lacking not that they're not appreciated
- Highlight drawn from this moment: Terre Haute Casino Foundation pledges $10 million upfront and up to $4.3 million a year for a new high schoolHighlight drawn from this moment: West Vigo teachers push back on a plan detail that would move sixth graders into an "elementary" building
0:27:13 — open the recording at 27 minutes 13 secondsKathy Heaton (resident — teacher, Otter Creek Middle School) but there are still some things that are lacking and I think our students deserve a fully funded well thought out plan that would support all of them and that's where I live I also live in a house that was renovated before I bought it and the addition I think we've fixed the roof like three times in the last eight years that I've been there just because you know new additions don't always function the way that we think that they will long term so those are my thoughts and feelings sitting here on a Monday morning before I've had my coffee so
0:27:52 — open the recording at 27 minutes 52 secondsSpeaker 116 thank you get your espresso yes sir
0:27:56 — open the recording at 27 minutes 56 secondsSpeaker 23 (chair) anyone else brave enough you don't have to raise your hand you just walk on up
0:28:15 — open the recording at 28 minutes 15 secondsClaire Bennett (resident — co-founder, student advocacy group) hello good morning I'm Claire Bennett I'm the co-founder of our little student group BCSC students for change I'm really not here to harp you about the state of our schools I think all of you are very well aware of that at this point and the struggles that our students and staff endure each day I just want to thank all of you for your efforts everything that you've done it's starting to make everything that we've done feel worth it and so yeah I really just want to thank you for that and thank you to the casino foundation it's it means a lot so thank you awesome thank you thank you
0:29:04 — open the recording at 29 minutes 4 secondsApril Childress (resident — teacher, West Vigo Middle School) hey I wasn't planning on speaking today I'm April Childress I work at West Vigo Middle School I've been there for about 21 years I know this is kind of more about the high school situation and building out on the east side but I also want to bring some attention to the west side i love being connected to the high school i love that ability to see everyone and looking at some of the new plans that were suggested suggested from the school board it has us the sixth graders moving to consolidated i do not agree with that
0:29:41 — open the recording at 29 minutes 41 secondsApril Childress (resident — teacher, West Vigo Middle School) at all i feel like we should stay with where we're at right now because consolidated does not offer anything for our sixth graders it lacks classroom ability especially because i teach science it doesn't have labs it doesn't have sporting facilities it doesn't have gyms there's so many things that that school lacks so i would like to see another plan where the sixth graders stay where we're at maybe build up or build out i don't care but i think that's something that we need to start looking into there's so many other concerns that go along with us moving we'll lose 45 minutes
0:30:21 — open the recording at 30 minutes 21 secondsApril Childress (resident — teacher, West Vigo Middle School) of school time every day because now we're considered elementary students you know do we lose teachers there's just so many things that i think also need to be considered when you guys making these plans so thank you
0:30:46 — open the recording at 30 minutes 46 secondsJason Childress (resident — teacher/coach, West Vigo) Jason Childress her better half no my concern now as I mentioned to Chris earlier you guys are doing transparency and that's fine I just feel that I'm not getting complete transparency from our school corporation I've asked our school board and there's you know they say it's oh it's cheaper to do this and I said well then show me show me how it's cheaper to build this than it is to do this don't just tell me because right now I don't believe a word they say and I said if you expect me to believe them then I've got a bridge to sell you
0:31:20 — open the recording at 31 minutes 20 secondsJason Childress (resident — teacher/coach, West Vigo) because that's that's how I feel you know show me the money show me if it's gonna cost X amount of million dollars to do this and it's gonna cost X amount million dollars to do this then show me be clear with the public because I'm not necessarily against any consolidation but don't just tell me it's cheaper that that's what they want to do obviously I'm with with April on the whole fact that I want to stay in the middle school not not an elementary as a sixth grade teacher you know my wife and I both live on the south end
0:31:52 — open the recording at 31 minutes 52 secondsJason Childress (resident — teacher/coach, West Vigo) of Terre Haute we've had opportunities to go to other schools to teach we we stairwell we are we bring our kids over to West Vigo because we love the community we love the the school there I'm a coach I hate for the sixth graders to go to an elementary situation and lose what the other other middle school kids would would have I feel like they're not gonna have the same opportunity as what the rest of the the county would have so that that's my that's my big concern is just making sure I want that clear transparency with
0:32:25 — open the recording at 32 minutes 25 secondsJason Childress (resident — teacher/coach, West Vigo) money and again reiterate what she said to stay where we are if that's possible
0:32:29 — open the recording at 32 minutes 29 secondsSpeaker 23 (chair) so thank you sure thank you Carrie I don't know the proper way to address his
0:32:35 — open the recording at 32 minutes 35 secondsSpeaker 140 (chair) concerns on the money but maybe we can reach out and handle that we also have many presentations and documents available on our website that you can always go back and review but I guess I would need more details on to what what more they want shown so but yeah reach out yeah mr. Childress reach out
0:33:06 — open the recording at 33 minutes 6 secondsSpeaker 23 (chair) to somebody after the meeting we've heard a number of cost comparison
0:33:10 — open the recording at 33 minutes 10 secondsSpeaker 42 (unclear — contaminated cluster (fragments match both the chair and Mark Matheny)) presentations over the last seven months so we likely have something that we can easily forward just haven't heard that concern yet so
0:33:24 — open the recording at 33 minutes 24 secondsSpeaker 145 there we go peer pressure is working I like it yes I do love peer pressure my
0:33:32 — open the recording at 33 minutes 32 secondsOlivia Cordray (resident — student, Terre Haute North) name is Olivia Cordray I'm a student at Terre Haute North I'm going to be a senior this coming year I didn't come here with the intention of speaking but I just want to say thank you to all of you guys I was part of the initial like stuff that happened in November to like form the committee and seeing all this kind of fruition is just truly wonderful and very inspiring to see the things that I can do as a 17 year old can actually have a change and impact in my community I also want to say thank you to the casino board for your the money
0:34:11 — open the recording at 34 minutes 11 secondsOlivia Cordray (resident — student, Terre Haute North) that you guys are willing to give to us and a little bit of pressure to make a
0:34:17 — open the recording at 34 minutes 17 secondsSpeaker 152 decision by the end of the year because I'm sure everybody's tired of playing games with what what's going to happen I also want to say thank you to all the
0:34:26 — open the recording at 34 minutes 26 secondsOlivia Cordray (resident — student, Terre Haute North) County Council people that are here today having your support here is wonderful so
0:34:32 — open the recording at 34 minutes 32 secondsSpeaker 157 just again thank you yeah thank you thanks for being involved can anyone
0:34:43 — open the recording at 34 minutes 43 secondsSpeaker 163 else be pressured in the speaking I'm a big fan of awkward silence we can sit
0:34:50 — open the recording at 34 minutes 50 secondsSpeaker 42 (unclear — contaminated cluster (fragments match both the chair and Mark Matheny)) here for a minute or we can entertain a motion to adjourn peer pressure got
0:34:59 — open the recording at 34 minutes 59 secondsSpeaker 165 another four or five up there, so nice job, Mr. Elliott. That's good.
0:35:07 — open the recording at 35 minutes 7 secondsSpeaker 167 I will make a motion to adjourn. Thank you, Mark. Second.
0:35:11 — open the recording at 35 minutes 11 secondsSpeaker 23 (chair) Thank you, Kerry. All those in favor, say aye. Have a great week.
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