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
C.
Approve Minutes
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
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
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
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
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.
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..
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
Roll Call | |
---|---|
A. Brown Thirston |
Aye
|
S. Caruthers |
Aye
|
J. GEORGE |
Aye
|
J. Parks |
Aye
|
A. Briggs |
Aye
|
A. Nicholson |
Aye
|
E. Little |
Absent
|
Please see the reports attached.
No highlights were brought forward.