Northwest Indiana Lighthouse Charter Schools

Minutes

August Board Meeting 25-26SY

Date and Time

Monday August 25, 2025 at 5:30 PM

Location

NWILCS Administrative Building 

1775 W. 41st Ave

Gary, IN 46408

Directors Present

A. Brown Thirston (remote), A. Nicholson, E. Little, J. GEORGE, J. Parks, S. Caruthers

Directors Absent

A. Briggs

Ex Officio Members Present

G. Adell (remote)

Non Voting Members Present

G. Adell (remote)

Guests Present

A. Franz, A. Ross, A. Shaw, C. Jackson, D. Jones (remote), D. McGleese, D. Sevier, J. Beasley, K. McGuire, L. Franklin, R. Mayberry

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

A. Nicholson called a meeting of the board of directors of Northwest Indiana Lighthouse Charter Schools to order on Monday Aug 25, 2025 at 5:30 PM.

C.

Approve Minutes

S. Caruthers made a motion to approve the minutes from June 2025 Northwest Indiana Lighthouse Charter Schools Board Meeting on 06-23-25.
J. Parks seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
J. GEORGE
Aye
A. Briggs
Absent
A. Nicholson
Aye
A. Brown Thirston
Aye
S. Caruthers
Aye
J. Parks
Aye
E. Little
Aye

II. Building Level Reports

A.

Principals Reports

Principal highlights-

No major concerns were noted. School enrollment and acclimation to the new program year is going well. 

 

Please see full reports attached to the minutes

III. Finance

A.

East Chicago and Gary Financials

See attached reports for complete details. 

 

David Sevier reported on theJune and End of Year financial statements. He covered statements from the consolidated balance sheets and the consolidated income statements. He also covered the schools' financial statements individually. Mr. Sevier sees that we are in good standing to start the year. 

 

Questions taken from the board. 

 

Our next meeting is in October. At that time, we will receive reports for July, August, and September.  The report will be considered first quarter reporting. 

 

 

 

 

J. Parks made a motion to accept the year-to-date financial report as presented.
S. Caruthers seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

B.

Bond Refinance Update

Mrs. Beasley reported out-

Asked the board to adopt a resolution from the bond company 5/3rd Bank, including the deal structure and dates. 

Closing to occur on September 25th, pay out on September 29th. 

Operating accounts to move to 5/3 Bank, and all other accounts to move within the next several weeks. 

 

 

S. Caruthers made a motion to adopt the updated resolution for the bond refinance with 5/3rd Bank.
E. Little seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
E. Little
Aye
A. Brown Thirston
Aye
A. Nicholson
Aye
A. Briggs
Absent
J. Parks
Aye
S. Caruthers
Aye
J. GEORGE
Aye

IV. Committee Reports

A.

Governance

Board president Alyse provided the updated board meeting schedule for the 2025/2026 school year. 

 

No additional concerns noted

S. Caruthers made a motion to accept the updated board meeting schedule for the 25/26 school year.
E. Little seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
A. Brown Thirston
Aye
E. Little
Aye
A. Nicholson
Aye
J. Parks
Aye
S. Caruthers
Aye
A. Briggs
Absent
J. GEORGE
Aye

B.

Academic Excellence Report

C.

Development

V. NWILCS District Reports

A.

District Level Reports

Mrs. Franklin presented-

Hiring efforts have paid off. 

Enrollment efforts remain underway. Areas of opportunity remain. 

Schools planning quality events and improvements remain underway. 

The district is looking for new service providers in the area of HVAC, plumbing and painting.

 

Mrs. McGuire presented-

Data performance

IREAD 77% GARY, 68% EC

EC campus designated as a site to receive additional support.

 

Working closely with schools to provide greater support for special needs students. 

Academic team responding to the IDOE changes that occurred over the summer. 

Continuing with collaboration efforts to make the most of PD days. Math success will be the primary focus.

 

Professional and support development is intensified to ensure that all staff are on the same page in terms of their individual growth. Part of this plan is to identify future administrators and create a plan to develop them. 

 

Mr. Mayberry- continues to develop community partnerships. The newest one is COATS, the adoption of Brunswick Park

 

Mrs. Beasley presented-  We did not get the SIG(school improvement grant). 

                                              While the school is currently operating with a surplus, the district is 

                                               searching out large-scale partners to invest in the district

                                               Efforts continue to maintain a presence in the community via social

                                               media

                                               School retreat a success-theme-Radical Intentionality 2.0

                                               Find support staff to address the large number of differently able 

                                                 students.              

VI. Closing Items

A.

Public Comments

B.

Executive Session

J. Parks made a motion to move into executive session.
E. Little seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
J. GEORGE
Aye
J. Parks
Aye
A. Briggs
Absent
A. Nicholson
Aye
A. Brown Thirston
Aye
E. Little
Aye
S. Caruthers
Aye
S. Caruthers made a motion to return to full session.
J. Parks seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

C.

Employee Relations Vote

S. Caruthers made a motion to pay the maximum allowed on the performance bonus for Mrs. Beasley.
E. Little seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
S. Caruthers
Aye
A. Brown Thirston
Aye
J. GEORGE
Aye
A. Nicholson
Aye
J. Parks
Aye
E. Little
Aye
A. Briggs
Absent

D.

Adjourn Meeting

J. Parks made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
S. Caruthers seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 7:45 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
J. GEORGE
Documents used during the meeting
  • boardreports.zip
  • financialsfortonightsmeeting.zip
  • 3442875-NWILCS Second Amended Board Resolution(s) of NWILCS (Bank Financing) v2.pdf
  • 25-26 NWILCS Board Meeting Calendar (1).pdf
  • August Executive Director Report 25-26.pdf
  • August SY2526 Operations Board Report .docx.pdf