At @NWAllenSchoolFW tonight, where the seating has been adjusted for the new board. Darren Vogt gets a seat on the end, where Kristi Schlatter has sat, and Kent Somers’ nameplate is in Ron Felger’s previous spot. Here for @JGfortwayne

From left, seating is Steve Bartkus, Schlatter, @NACS_Supt, Somers, Liz Hathaway and Vogt.

Meeting starts at 6 p.m., same as @FWCommSchools. The FWCS meeting is strictly organizational, so @NWAllenSchoolFW wins my night with its meaty agenda.

Discussions about managing enrollment growth are expected to continue with financing options presented by Baker Tilley Municipal Advisors.

Kent Somers calls the reorg meeting to order.

Superintendent Wayne Barker is leading the oath of office for Hathaway, Schlatter and Vogt.

Kent Somers elected president. Passes 4-0, with Schlatter abstaining.

Hathaway elected vice president; Schlatter elected secretary.

For those curious minds, Bartkus nominated Somers; Schlatter nominated Hathaway; and Hathaway nominated Schlatter. I believe Vogt seconded each nomination.

We have some more routine annual items to get through before we move into the business meeting.

Now, the board salary will be set — $1,900/member/year with $56 for extra mtgs/exec sessions. Members can also get employee health and life insurance packages same as offered to administrators.

Somers runs down the committee assignments. They include Vogt to strategic planning initiative; Somers to textbook adoption committee; and Hathaway to redistricting school boundaries.

Re: redistricting, Somers says he’s not trying to scare anyone but previous presentations have shown elementary enrollments are out of balance.

Regular meeting has begun. We are in public comment. First speaker just ended.

Speakers so far offered commentary on board/elections and cafeteria policies at two schools.

Next speaker said she wasn’t going to attend tonight but something she heard this morning about how silence is consent prompted her to come.

She ran out of time before addressing a specific topic other than how it is unavoidable to bring politics into the board room, if my paraphrasing is correct.

Another woman — all speakers so far have spoken at previous meetings— is questioning the law firm hired.

That was done during reorganization meeting.

The last speaker is a 9yo boy in third grade.

His focus was having to be quiet during lunch.

Somers shares info about each board member having a NACS email address. The general board email address will soon be shut down. He says this gives stakeholders an additional way to communicate with members.

Personnel items are approved. Now onto approval for professional learning and training activities.

Bill Toler, assistant superintendent, gives an overview on the Indiana Graduates Prepared to Succeed dashboard. Launched in the fall and know. As GPS dashboard for short.

Onto the enrollment management discussions. Let’s buckle in for a long presentation.

Refresher: Moake Park last year presented 4 options to solve MS overcrowding: reno both MS, build 1 large intermediate school; build 2 intermediate; build MS

For this scenario tonight from Baker Tilly, the firm is using the new MS to run the numbers. Barker says he knows this hasn’t been decided but it makes sense for this exercise bc it is the average of hard construction costs for each option.

And this has been only option Barker has heard from patrons that makes most sense for NACS to do.

Baker Tilly rep says NACS has flexibility.

The scenarios show the debt service tax rates wouldn’t increase, even if a total $135m were spent.