Northwest Indiana Lighthouse Charter Schools

Minutes

March 2025 Northwest Indiana Lighthouse Charter Schools Board Meeting

Date and Time

Monday March 17, 2025 at 5:30 PM

Location

CPC, 725 Clark Rd Gary, IN 46406

Directors Present

A. Briggs, A. Brown Thirston, A. Nicholson, J. GEORGE, J. Parks, S. Caruthers

Directors Absent

E. Little

Ex Officio Members Present

G. Adell (remote)

Non Voting Members Present

G. Adell (remote)

Guests Present

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

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

S. Caruthers called a meeting of the board of directors of Northwest Indiana Lighthouse Charter Schools to order on Monday Mar 17, 2025 at 5:32 PM.

C.

Approve Minutes

A. Briggs made a motion to approve the minutes from January 2025 Northwest Indiana Lighthouse Charter Schools Board Meeting on 01-27-25.
J. GEORGE seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
J. Parks
Absent
A. Briggs
Aye
S. Caruthers
Aye
A. Brown Thirston
Aye
J. GEORGE
Aye
A. Nicholson
Absent
E. Little
Absent

II. Building Level Reports

A.

Principals Reports

Please see the reports attached. 

No highlights were brought forward. 

 

III. Finance

A.

East Chicago and Gary Financials

Financial reports reviewed by David Sevier

Please see full reports which includes bills that have been paid.

 

 

Question: Are we done paying for office space?  Yes

                   

 

J. GEORGE made a motion to to accept the report as presented.
A. Briggs seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
E. Little
Absent
S. Caruthers
Aye
A. Briggs
Aye
A. Nicholson
Aye
J. Parks
Absent
J. GEORGE
Aye

B.

25-26SY Budget Approval


David Sevier presented the FY'26 budget for approval. 

Highlighted in the budget: the school's strategic plan to increase scholar enrollments.

 

Discussion:

 Federal and state changes in funding and its impact on the budget

Contingency to address enrollment shortfalls

 

 

S. Caruthers made a motion to approve the proposed FY'26 budget.
J. GEORGE seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
J. GEORGE
Aye
S. Caruthers
Aye
E. Little
Absent
J. Parks
Aye
A. Briggs
Aye
A. Brown Thirston
Aye
A. Nicholson
Aye

C.

Bond Updates

Mrs. Beasley reported that the previously adopted bond resolution had to updated to reflect an incorrect address and 

 

 

S. Caruthers made a motion to adopted the updated bond resolution presented by the district.
A. Briggs seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
J. GEORGE
Aye
S. Caruthers
Aye
A. Brown Thirston
Aye
A. Nicholson
Aye
A. Briggs
Aye
E. Little
Absent
J. Parks
Aye

IV. Committee Reports

A.

Governance

Mrs. Beasley reported out and accepted questions regarding the proposed FY26 calendar. 

 

A. Briggs made a motion to approve the FY'26 school calendar as presented.
S. Caruthers seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
A. Briggs
Aye
J. Parks
Aye
J. GEORGE
Aye
A. Nicholson
Aye
A. Brown Thirston
Aye
E. Little
Absent
S. Caruthers
Aye

B.

Academic Excellence Report

Mrs. McGuire- presented the new Pre-K program for the FY'27 school year. Gary and EC will be the campus that house the program. 

 

 

 

Question:  Did we discuss this as a possibility to the renewal agency? Yes

                   What is the cap of students accepted? 15

                   Funding of Pre-K program? On My Way voucher program, others

                   Educators needed: one per campus..

A. Brown Thirston made a motion to adopt the resolution for the addition of Pre-K at the Gary and East Chicago Campus.
J. Parks seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
J. Parks
Aye
A. Nicholson
Aye
S. Caruthers
Aye
J. GEORGE
Aye
A. Brown Thirston
Aye
A. Briggs
Aye
E. Little
Absent

C.

Development

See full report

 

Sponsorship project is underway.

Fundraiser possibility: AppleBees pancake breakfast

Adoption of Brunswick Park to offer the girls flag football team a place to practice. 

V. NWILCS District Reports

A.

District Level Reports

Mrs. McGuire presented, please see the attached report.

 

Will be offering IRead summer program offered to students that did not pass the test. 

Preparing for ILearn which will start after Spring Break

Continue to monitor exit ticket data to provide needed supports

Professional Development for FY'26 is under way. 

 

 

B.

Operations Updates

Mrs. Beasley reported, please see the attached report. 

 

Strategic Planning: Reviewing the plans for staff development and ensuring that they meet the benchmarks identified. Ensuring the measurable markers are met in a goal-oriented manner and not just "box checking".

 

Discussion ensued around how to move the plan forward in FY'26.

 

 

Plans are under way to adopt Brunswick Park and be presented officially at the Parks Department meeting on March 25. This will afford the newly created girls flag football team to have a place to practice. The school is asked to provide for the initial clean-up and then the monthly maintenance. 

 

 

Mrs. Franklin reported, please see full report. 

 

Staff hiring is underway through a media blitz.

Enrollment: student goals for the school year have been met. The current push is to maintain enrollment numbers as well as to increase the enrollment by 100 students.

 

Facility update:

Improvements considered immediate vs looking to future work. The RFP for the Primary campus is underway. Applications are to be reviewed by the team and the board. 

Continue to work with the city to assist with sewer needs that continue to plague the school

The admin building is moving along. 

Safety and security needs are being reviewed. 

A review of Student, Parent and Staff handbooks is underway.

The HRIS data platform is underway.

 

The board is needed to approve..I move that we accept the 3year Corteva proposal pending the add-on.

 

VI. Closing Items

A.

Public Comments

B.

Executive Session

Shana moved that we move into the executive session

Jason second

All voted yes

C.

Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 7:36 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
J. GEORGE
S. Caruthers made a motion to moved to adjourn.
J. Parks seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
A. Brown Thirston
Aye
S. Caruthers
Aye
J. GEORGE
Aye
J. Parks
Aye
A. Briggs
Aye
A. Nicholson
Aye
E. Little
Absent