Cody Stipes presented

Timeline of conversations with IPS: 

May 27 was the last in person meeting with CSS, Heather Harris, and IPS admins. At that meeting is where it was stated there would be a change in the plan that we'd established in February 2024.

June 17 Stipes, K. Jackson, Harris, and IPS admin and attorneys, and CFOs met with for about an hour with the final statement that the IPS Board of Commissioners would provide alternatives to CSS. (IPS Commissioner President Moore stated this was new to her and that she would like to have more board to board discussions and less admin to board discussions. At no point in any of our contracts since becoming an IPS Innovation school have we had conversations with the IPS Board. All previous contract conversations have been made with the IPS Administration Teams.)

June 18 Harris received a phone call from IPS Legal representatives and there was no way to amend the current arrangement, which is opposite of the statements made the day before.

June 23 noticed that the IPS Board of Commissioners met and stated there would be no change to our current contract. We asked, "if not now, when?" We had provided a draft contract and it received no feedback from IPS.

June 25 families and staff were informed and a Q&A session was held that evening.

June 26 parents and students spoke in favor at the IPS Board Meeting. The IPS Board of Commissioners read a prepared statement to all stating that they are not in favor of an amendment change. 

As of today the IPS Board of Commissioners have not replied to any follow-up emails. 

Questions:

D. Cash asked what happens if we do not proceed with the charter agreement. Stipes stated that we remain an Innovation Network school and no changes happen from the the 2024-2025 to the 2025-2026 school year.  Our charter does not begin until we activate it. As of now the State of Indiana has us noted as not operating as a charter for the 2025-2026 school year. One problem is that we are being asked to do more with less as our per pupil funding decreased last year.

D. Cash asked if there are other steps we can take to pursue the charter. Stipes stated that we don't want to do anything that jeopardizes our contract or our long term and good standing, we want to continue to be a good partner and advocating what's best for our students and families. We plan to continue to share our Cold Spring story, its strength, and what we've done since 2016. C. Scott shared that CSS should look into assistance for sharing our story. Stipes will reach out to Heather Harris for some recommendations to bring to the board. 

Stipes shared a letter from a recently promoted 8th grade student that was home-bound for the last five years due to illness. The letter shared many of his memories and that it will always be his favorite school. 

AJ Barcome presented:

IREAD Retention Update

• 2022-2023, 23 students would have been retained
• 2023-2024, 10 students would have been retained
• 2024-2025, 5 students will be retained due to Senate Enrolled Act 217

These retentions are after students who qualify for a Good Cause Exemption due to SPED or if they passed Math ILEARN.

For those in summer school, all retook IREAD and 92% saw a growth from their last assessment. 

ILEARN

"We are happy, and we are not done." Results are embargoed until August and cannot be shared. 

• ELA
  • Overall our average annual growth for the building is 136%.
• Math
  • Overall our average annual growth for the building is 98%.

D. Cash asked if we can see comparisons on a national and local level in August.