Brian Anderson presented via phone

Cold Spring School remains in a positive financial position.

Statement of Financial Position:

• Interest from our CD will be recorded and reflected by the next meeting in March 2025.
• December 2024 we received a grant for $250,000.00. 

Budget vs Actual

• There are no concerns and we are on track with our spending predictions

Binh Tran asked about the difference in salary expenditures. Anderson stated that this is due to stipends and how they are paid and when we are reimbursed from IPS. Stipes also stated that there is a difference in what we budgeted for and salary differences (due to experience) in hiring.

Binh Tran asked for explanation on the grant we received. Stipe stated that it was originally for modular classrooms, but now IPS is willing to help with that expense. We will be able to reallocate the grant.

Cody Stipes presented

Five family outreach meetings were held that sparked conversations and feedback. A survey was also sent to families. Responses from families were overall favorable for CSS becoming a charter organization.

CSS will extend a letter of intent to the Indiana State Charter School Board for two charters: one for K-5 and another for 6-8. CSS will remain "one school" but will help divide funding and grant opportunities. 

CSS had conversations with the Indiana State Charter School Board and the Indianapolis Mayor's Office for authorizing our charter. We are better aligned with the Indiana State Charter School Board as we are an existing school; the Mayor's Office is better aligned for schools that are just starting. An approval from the ISCSB can happen quickly with an approval potentially coming in a few weeks over months. 

The vote by the CSS Board does not automatically make CSS a charter school, only approving the submission of the letter of intent. 

Bill Petranoff asked how current legislation (HB 1136) would affect us. Stipes stated that being proactive with the process we had already started would create stability for our students and staff.

Katie Castro asked if there was any negative feedback that needed addressed. Stipes stated that there was nothing that he could think of at this time. The five meetings allowed for lots of time for questions and answers. AJ Barcome stated that some feedback was from misconceptions about charter schools, Stipes had addressed this in the meetings as things that don't exist in the current charter school landscape. 

For the first time CSS has been able to draft two school years of calendars due to IPS creating their calendars. Our breaks align with IPS. We've kept the same format as the previous two years. 

Cody Stipes presented

REID stands for Riverside Education Innovation District.

The MOU is for five years. 

This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formalizes the collaboration between Marian and the Partner within the Riverside Education Innovation District (REID). Both parties aim to work together, in partnership, to enhance student achievement through services provided by the Klipsch Educators College and the Center for Vibrant Schools.

Bill Petranoff asked about clarification about NNW which stands for New Northwest (our area) and the mention of Vincennes University. Vincennes is mentioned because of their work with Marian and adult education. 

AJ Barcome presented

Enrollment 2025-2026

Round One of the lottery closes in one week.

174 applicants:

• 116 rank CSS as #1
• 158 rank CSS in their top three schools

Assessment & Data

We have completed ILEARN Checkpoints 1 & 2 and IREADY BOY and MOY. Coming up is ILEARN Checkpoint 3 (February), IREAD (March), ILEARN Summative (April) and IREADY EOY (May).

ILEARN Checkpoint Update

3-8 ELA Proficiency is 49%

5th grade math reduced below proficiency by 30% (an increase)

8th grade math increased above proficiency by 11%

We are 13% above IPS and 10% below the State in math. In ELA we are 17% above IPS and even with the State. Combined we are 15% above IPS and 5% below the State. 

We are seeing large gains in ELA with our new curriculum. 

We are figuring out the differences in Checkpoint testing and our curriculum and how they align, which can cause some data to look incorrect. For example, in 4th grade in Checkpoint 2 there were questions on decimals and fractions but that was not covered in the curriculum until later. Barcome and Robyn Moore are working with staff to realign the curriculum to the Checkpoints.

Many events are upcoming for CSS including Robotics, Black History Month, and family nights.