Mounds View Public Schools — Transcript
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Middle School Model Concerns
Employee Contract Ratification
Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget Amendments
District Operational Plan: Onboarding and Staff Support
Legislative Update (AMSD)
Community and School Activities & Volunteerism
Votes (6)
Ratification of 2025-2027 Paraeducator Labor Agreement
Moved by Chair [00:05:55] · Seconded by Unknown [00:06:00]
Julie Coffee, Executive Director of Human Resources, presented a two-year settlement for paraeducators, including a 2.5% increase in year one and 2.75% in year two, along with adjustments to longevity, 403b, removal of off-schedule payments, creation of a labor-management safety group, and an additional 30 minutes per week for student collaboration time for paras in setting 3 and 4 programs.
Ratification of 2025-2027 Clerical Labor Agreement
Moved by Unknown [00:07:30] · Seconded by Unknown [00:07:35]
Julie Coffee presented the two-year labor agreement for clerical staff, also represented by SEIU Local 284. This settlement includes a 2.85% increase in year one and 3.1% in year two, with similar adjustments for off-schedule payments, longevity, and 403b benefits, noting that financial considerations were the primary changes.
Approval of Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Quarterly Budget Amendments
Moved by Unknown [00:14:40] · Seconded by Unknown [00:14:45]
Paula Steel, Director of Finance, presented the district's financial standing at the end of the third quarter, reporting 64% of budget revenues received and 68% of expenditures spent. Proposed amendments included increasing general fund revenues by $5.26 million for an energy savings program (LED lights) and $5.38 million for state aids/federal programs, alongside various other fund revenue and expenditure increases, stemming from higher-than-anticipated state receipts and conservative initial budgeting.
Presentation on District Operational Plan: Onboarding and Staff Support
Julie Coffee, Executive Director of Human Resources, presented an operational plan to improve employee recruitment, hiring, retention, and job satisfaction. Key initiatives include a new employee feedback survey, a teacher mentoring program (piloted at Pike Lake Kindergarten Center with district-wide expansion planned), an exit interview process to understand reasons for departure, and the development of an online onboarding platform (evaluating Neo, Cipher Works, Frontline) to provide consistent resources and streamline processes.
Update on AMSD Legislative Day and State Legislature Activities
Jim provided an update on recent legislative activities, including meetings with state representatives and discussions on a Senate omnibus bill. He highlighted potential benefits such as an extension of compensatory hold harmless revenue, a $44 per pupil allowance for school safety, and the allowance of utility service costs under operating capital revenue. He also noted a generally flat revenue forecast but an anticipated automatic bump in state revenue due to previous law.
School Board Member Reports on Community and School Events
Several board members shared updates on upcoming school events, including carnivals at Bell Air, Island Lake, and Pinewood; high school plays/musicals at Irondale and Mounds View; and fundraisers like Edgewood's EPAT event and Valentine Hills' Chalkboard Capers for student scholarships. Members also highlighted successful culture nights at Island Lake and Pinewood, praised the dynamism and activism of PTAs across the district, and acknowledged the importance of school volunteers and an upcoming staff appreciation week.
Notable Quotes (12)
what we're approving is a 2.5% increase in year one, a 2.75% increase in year two...We've also added some student collaboration time, an additional 30 minutes per week for paras that work in our setting three and setting four programs.
appreciate all your efforts and appreciate the efforts on behalf of our paras and clerical folks, too. Uh we do value them.
this settlement looks at a 2.8 2.85% increase in year one, a 3.1% increase in year two. Again, that off-schedule payment was removed, added to the um added onto the schedule, and the increases applied to that.
We recognize all the work in working with all of our labor groups and so appreciate it. So appreciate um the conversations that you've had with them around not only their compensation, but around um them retaining our staff and continuing to make sure that they feel safe and valued as well.
As of March 31st, the district has received 149 million in total revenues across all funds, which is approximately 64% of the budget. The district expenditures across all funds stands at 167 million or 68% of the revised budget.
it sounds to me like the other big changes that we continually just are conservative in our budgeting and so without knowing what kind of a increase we'd get from the state legislature, we always budget on the low end and so that's why we're coming out with a better than expected updated at this point in time. Correct?
Our goal is simple, to enhance onboarding and provide stronger, more consistent support so employees feel confident, supported, and able to do their best work.
We hear all the time from our community members, our parents, and our students that teachers and you know, the staff that they see in the buildings are what continues to keep them in Muncie schools... So, making that a process that works to retain those staff members just benefits all of us.
we're excited that there may be an extension of the comp and sir compensatory hold harmless revenue... In the bill also is a $44 per pupil allowance for public schools for school safety... Makes utility service costs allowable under operating capital revenue.
We appreciate your work and and Chris, you advocating as well at the legislature. And and thank all our colleagues across the metro area as well for their participation in AMSD day at the capital.
our PTAs are dynamic. Our parent involvement in in all of our schools is just is top-notch and I think is you know, people are dealing with decisions that we make or sometimes decisions we don't make. It really is the the those parent voices in that parent activism in those PTAs that really add the grease to the to the gears of what we do here at the at the school board.
just thank all the parents in the community members that help us out and make things possible. I'm so pleased people are invested in our public schools with their time because it means a lot to the community.
Ordinances & Resolutions (7)
Two-year settlement with SEIU Local 284 for paraeducators (2025-2027).
Two-year settlement with SEIU Local 284 for clerical staff (2025-2027).
Financial update as of March 31st, 2026, and proposed budget adjustments for the district.
Plan to enhance recruitment, retention, and job satisfaction for employees.
Large legislative bill from the state Senate with multiple provisions impacting schools.
Legislation related to phasing out fluorescent bulbs, impacting district lighting upgrades.
Online onboarding platform options being evaluated by the technology department.