The Hamilton Southeastern School Board heard a lengthy report from administrators on the final stages of finishing the College and Career Centers (CCAs) at the two high schools. The biggest issue discussed was tied to technology in presentation rooms.  The board was told the wireless connections are not working due to Apple’s constant upgrades and failure to support older systems.  School staff is testing a wired system that will allow the presentations in these rooms.

Superintendent Allen Bourff told the board when the buildings opened in August of 2015, the “punch list” of unfinished building items filled a large binder, and now the lists are down to two pages for each high school. The punch list for Fishers High School can be accessed at this link.  The HSE High School list can be found at this link.

The board approved changes in the custodial services contract with Executive Management Services (EMS) after the school administration notified the firm that, in the view of the school administration, it was in breach of contract.  A new contract will allow EMS until January 5th of 2017 to show it can perform up to the standards in the contract. The contract amendment is available at this link.

In other news from the July 13th board meeting:

–Lucas Oil Stadium will be the site of the next high school graduation ceremony.  The event will then go back to the Fairgrounds Coliseum after 2017.

–The school staff will now undergo criminal background checks every 5 years, with 20% of the school system employees undergoing the checks each year.  Board President Karen Harmer suggested that school board members also undergo periodic criminal background checks.

–Dr. Bourff told board members he has received the ISTEP results for the school corporation.  He would like to share how local students performed, but he indicated he does not know yet.  He did say the scores were not as high as last year in several grade levels, but he has no idea what that means, since no state averages are available and there are appeal processes yet to be determined.  Bourff said he has asked the state for more information, but so far the Indiana Department of Education is unable to provide any.  Bourff expects more specific information should be ready by September, but with the issues surrounding this testing cycle, Dr. Bourff said he wouldn’t count on any date provided.