001Good evening and welcome to Coho City School District Board of Education meeting tonight, May 6th. I'd like to call the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Could you please stand for the pledge of allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> In case of emergency, please note there's two exits on the side here and the one that you came in meet out in front. Um, can we please have a roll call? >> Mr. Jackson, >> here. >> Mrs. Snider, >> here. >> Mrs. Gender here. >> Mrs. Paradise >> excused. >> Mr. Dro >> here. >> Mrs. Burwell >> here. >> And Mrs. Geller, >> I'm here. Before we get started tonight,
002I just wanted to recognize a few things. Um, a lot of, you know, what we hear sometimes are the negatives. So, I just wanted to focus a little bit on the positive with it being National Nurses Week and Teacher Appreciation Week. Um, today's actually National School Nurses Day. So, I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you to all of our staff for their dedication and commitment to our students and the things that they do every day is what makes us who we are. So, just wanted to take a moment on behalf of the board um to thank our staff during this appreciation week. Um at this time, I will turn it over to Superintendent O'Shea for our district reports. Good evening everyone. Uh as you know a couple years ago we implemented
003the seal of civic readiness and as part of that proposal um student presentation to the board happens each spring. So tonight we are pleased to have Kylie McMahon and Vaughn here uh to present. Welcome. Come on right up to the podium and your slides are next. There you go. All right. Um hello everyone. This is our proposal for our gardening boxes on the west end of the football field. Um this has been an ongoing um with the senior classes and it was due to us um noticing the issue with our community and some people not having access to having um fresh food and like fresh vegetables. Um but this year we have come up with a set design and a set location for these boxes. Um and then so this is our design. Um we
004made this by incorporating um all of our um classmates ideas and we wanted to be easy and simple to replicate due to um there probably being more than one guard boxes. Um, so we kept it simple so future classes can add on to it like such as like painting, adding more designs and like just adding to >> as a class we conducted deep research and aim to find good quality materials at cheaper prices. So far, the estimated amount of materials we need are nine 1x8 boards, sideboards, three 2x4 frame boards, and one box of exterior screws. As for the miscellaneous cost, we have a lower estimate due to a large bulk that will be purchased. That bulk could last several years and multiple projects. Okay, so um as said already, the location of the garden
005box will be on a grassy hill beyond the far end of the football field. The estimated cost will be $150 per box and the pant side will be 254 by 8. This will help the community by providing food to locals and inviting students in art, science, and photography classes to engage in a project that makes high school a better place. So, thank you. Is there anything you would like to say or is the shows there? I'm just really proud of them. I love to see every year a new layer added on to the project and excited to see the production next three or four years where they take it. I'm hoping that we are going to actually construct it next. So, >> we're also very excited to see movement in this area. I know that
006we as a board probably threw a little bit of a you know rent in the works with us uh approving a capital project which was pretty significant in the area that we were talking about building when we initially talked about it. Um I love the idea. I think the um planter boxes are great to have everything in one location and easy to take care of. I I happen to know a gardener. >> Yeah. >> Do you know a gardener? >> Yeah, I think I do. >> Yeah. Yeah. If you need some help with that, just let us know. But we're very excited to see this. I think it would be a great addition to our school community. Um, and hope that the future uh, you know, classes are able to actually get into construction. So,
007thank you guys very much for coming. >> Oh, thank you for your time. >> Yes, we appreciate it. Did you have guys have any questions? >> No, it's great. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Appreciate it. Thank you so much. So, uh, Stacy Mackey has not able to join us this evening and we have known about this for some time. So, she made sure I'm prepared. So, we have been discussing the budget for for a number of meetings. Um, but our proposed budget for the 2627 school year is 57,62,442. It's a 4% increase over the previous year. Um, so I wanted to go through some revenue summaries. So the the key things that um are are driving this in terms of revenue, one is state aid. We're highly dependent as you know on state aid.
008Uh there is a about a 4% change this year in state aid. Um that's attributed to foundation aid and then also our expense driven aid such as our groceries aid, our transportation and our private excess cost aid. Uh the the other area uh is property taxes. As we'll be talking later, there is a 0% change this year. um just that does not mean that the tax bills won't go up um just because there are two factors. One is the estimated assessment role and the other is is star um and we'll be talking about the tax levy in a minute. As you can also notice that there is an increase uh in pilot that is from some that is from some new lean from some pilots. So on the next slide you see the tax levy
009information. Um as mentioned our proposed tax levy is 0%. Um this is based off the estimated assessment rule. Uh I think the key thing on this slide is that the estimated impact to the average homeowner is $10 per month uh before the star exemption. And then I do want to highlight as you can see over the past several years we're at 1% 1% 2% this current year 0% next year that is an average of 1% that is a very good value for our taxpayers over over the years and show some a proven spending plan I know there was a request to talk about some of the tax terms and definitions on the next slide. slide. So, um, and just and I'm not going to go through these all, but the tax levy is the the
010money that we raise as a district through local property taxes. Um, the assessment role is the the city assessor keeps that on properties. And then the tax rate, that's what we use to calculate using both the tax levy and the tax rate. So you can see our estimated tax rate on that slide. Um 4107 that's per 1,000 per $1,000. And then the equalization rate uh is set by the city and that's decreasing. So in terms of our expenses, uh the majority, you know, we're a people we're a people business. The majority of our expenses are through uh staff and uh benefits. So instruction and employee benefits which makes up about 80% of the the budget. As you can see the transportation we have been steadily uh increasing in that area. Um I know Stacy and
011I have talked in the past about increasing numbers in terms of uh homeless students out of district placements. Um, our debt service on this slide is lower than usual. That's just temporary as we set up our long-term borrowing for the for the future. And you'll see that moving back up in the following year. So, the next slide, the three-part budget. This is a requirement of the budget hearing. So, this is a a slide you've seen every year, but this is newly added this year. Um as you can see the majority of our budget is through program with uh 81%. Um our administrative costs have remained flat and our capital costs which are our facilities and uh debt service that has lowered a bit but that will that will increase you know as as we work
012through the borrowing. So, our budget highlights in previous uh meetings, we talked about um our needs assessment process, working with buildings, going before the budget committee. Thank you again uh Mr. Jackson and Mrs. Snder. Uh we showed what was requested, what we were um able to uh support through the budget. So, tonight we're just going to go over the highlights. So at the elementary um you've heard the need for math atis at Abram Lancing that uh is a new uh position in the budget for next year behavioral support at Abram Lancing. This was funded in the past through our school improvement grant. Um the good news is that uh Abram Lancing is no longer a target school. Um but with that that means we don't get school improvement grant funding. So that is in uh
013recommended in the local budget. Um and ESL with ESL teachers going to the their home school um vans with ESL sorry students vans Skype is in need of a.5 ESL teacher. So through efficiencies because the class sizes are lower next year at Harmony Hill due to ENL students going to home schools. Um there is room for a math AIS teacher uh after the budget workable canvas existing staff to see because it is an elementary certification to see if anyone is interested in moving internally and after that it would be posted externally and then ESL teacher one of the two teachers at Harmony Hill will move to April Lancing. So the secondary recommendations um uh so new services uh this is this might be a little different. This is through Bosei. So if you saw the
014proposal a request for in-house instructional coaching that's something that we're going to take the next year to really look at and examine. We currently do that through uh engaging back for that. there's a wide network of support. So there's an increase by one day uh in the in the budget for instructional coaching through BOS's um for the middle school and throughout the next year working with D Dr. Tarlow and with Principal Bra will talk about the instructional coaching model and and and start uh start working towards that. Um you know you approved a tutoring center in the past for the high school which is uh really budget neutral. Uh same model um for the middle school in terms of students being able to be tutored during the school day if they're out on a suspension
015long-term suspension medical and again that is budget neutral. And then our alternative program. So, uh, we had discussions last year. We were hoping to find an offsite location. Last year, it has been in the middle school. This year, uh, staff has done a phenomenal job. It is not an ideal location. Uh, so we are working with a community center. Um, I uh reached out to the community center since our last uh meeting and also got a call back from uh from county representative and and the plan is for the community center to definitely be moving forward. Um there was an originally a oneweek closure um that did extend to two weeks. They're using that time to finish a lot of the um construction that needs to be to be done. It's easier to do that
016when it's closed. Um but they assured us that that that would be um you know open and so we are working through with both the CS Arch and the county um a few things that need to to be done and then through some efficiencies uh budget neutral as you know um many years ago we had to reduce clerical and secretarial support um we brought all the buildings back to where they were originally except for the high school. Um, and the high school's reduction is still a.5 in counseling, a.5 in in athletics and um, this can be done through efficiencies. So on the next slide, uh special programs uh we've talked in the past about the needs of our students in uh increasing especially in the K1 uh grade levels. Um so uh the need for
017an additional functional skills classroom to be at Harmony Hill um is in the budget. Uh this this um um the the teacher of this You see below through efficiencies the teaching position is budget neutral because as the needs have increased of the students in K1 who have been receiving either consult teacher services or indirect consulting those numbers have decreased. So we can do this through shifting of resources. Um this does require uh three additional at least three additional teacher aids because the room requires a one to three uh student ratio along with 0.2 physical therapy. Um our new director of special programs Lissa Fremont um requested that stacking be done through Boseies. So um this is currently a clerical uh item that that she does. Um however there uh is a much better use of
018her time to really help us move um the program forward. Uh this we believe by using the service will will actually be either budget neutral or help us to find some additional additional funding. Um and then uh district-wide recommendations through efficiencies. uh we've been uh implementing senior cleaner model a new model this year it has been going very well uh so that uh will be moved through moved into um the budget uh there are some positions that we have not filled which is why that is budget neutral as well as an assistant director of facilities again budget neutral by looking at some different um items in uh our facilities budget and being able to um you know have that be at no no additional cost. As you might have seen through our presentations over the
019past uh year, we have we have many well you know we have many capital projects going on. You'll see us talk about me talk about a the proposition in a minute. we've really getting into a a really proactive secular planning cyclical planning cycle. Um and uh this will allow the the director of facilities to really continue continue that overall uh process to really make sure our buildings are where they need to be as you can evidence when you walk in this building. So the next slide, what happens if the budget is defeated? So if the budget is defeated, we would have to uh include uh $1.4 million in reduction. So that means any of the new proposals that are in the budget would not be able to be funded. Um and we'd also have to
020uh look at things and not be able to do things such as field trips, arts, and added enrichment. and uh look look throughout our budget for many more areas for 1.4 million. So I wanted to talk about the capital reserve uh proposition which is on the next slide. So I this is better than me saying click I think I'm not sure trying to decide which is better. Um so uh as you know there is a proposition no tax impact. I think that's what's uh really key. um looking for uh it is a a 20 million proposition uh but it's it's over a 10-year term. So this would be funded from operating surplus each year or lawful transfers of reserve funds. So for example um some of our taxi reserves which we no longer need will
021be able to be utilized for this. Um and ongoing uh we have an HVAC audit. This summer we have the building conditions survey and then uh you know continue means focused on health and safety uh just through our HVAC means. We know that that could literally you know take up this fund although we really want to prioritize health and safety at the at the same time. Um I uh I'll make sure that Mrs. scares this from uh from me I but today um Stacy and Bill attended a webinar on the green initiative um and then discussed it at OP today at our owner our architect Turner meeting and uh we'll be continuing additional discussions with um CS Barge there's a 10 million cap per building with a total of 15 million districtwide. So 15 million
022if you decided to that the need was in one building can only go up to 10 million per building but 15 million districtwide. There is a August 18th deadline um for these funds and there are going to be releasing an additional round um for for quarter for quarter one but we will be proceeding through for the August deadline >> and you can read in 2027 >> with their fourth round of this program which would take you which would bring us to a second building perhaps. So, >> so just wanted to let you know that uh you know we did we have heard Stacy and Bill right away set that up and we'll be continuing to present that. So, uh, the board of education election, uh, we have two seats, uh, three years each, and our
023candidates this year are, uh, David Gerose and Muel Dorsy. I know I said I was going to wait, but I just can't wait. Um I just uh we've been presenting to all the buildings um on the budget and uh everyone's wonderful. So I just Mrs. Gillard is not running again this year after over a dec after a decade on the board. And I just uh we're gonna say this again, but I just wanted to take this opportunity tonight to just recognize that and thank her for her her service because it was apparent that I wish her. Okay. So, our annual budget vote and board election is May 19th from noon to 9 with our three elementary schools. um uh at polling being the polling places. Uh we will different this year have a district employee
024uh assisting at all overseeing at all of the sites. We have made sure to touch base with the safety team leader and having uh safety at all at all of the buildings. Um because this is this is during the during the school day and um actually the training is tomorrow. >> The training is tomorrow for our our new the new signing process um with the tablets and all of that. So we're on our way looking forward to the 19th. Any questions? I know that we have gone through an extensive process uh of developing this budget and you know uh your remarks on on prudent budgeting. I think that our teams especially our budget committee have really exhausted every effort to make sure that um you know we are working to efficiency and so I appreciate
025all the work that they've done and that your team has done to develop this budget. Um, it's always nice to go out with with a 0% increase. Although that doesn't mean, you know, that prices don't change as far as, you know, what your your out of pocket is, but we do appreciate the efforts and trying to keep it as minimal an impact to our taxpayers as possible. Um, I think that, you know, many of the things that we're looking at doing are necessary and after many conversations at this table, the hearing just being, you know, something that is kind of official, this being the final document, um, you know, I'm satisfied with with what we have here. Um, if you guys don't if you guys don't have any questions, um, we can certainly move forward.
026>> Any comments? Okay. The only question I have is there any concerns regarding the community center being ready for September? Do we need a plan B or is it you feel pretty comfortable with that for all? >> I will be able to at the May 20th give you you know much more information. I know that Greg uh was working very closely with them in terms of of the areas and again the areas were um they were working on ADA compliant bathrooms to begin with but it was uh some doors two doors that you could be able to see in um some ventilation which could be met through potential air conditioning and was there anything else about egress? I think that was it at this point. major points. Uh second fire inspection for certificate of satisfy
027come through us maybe a couple of other things but that's all small the last 24 hours a lot of correspondence between community center and the architect uh so as recently as yesterday >> so we will give you an update on that. >> Awesome. That's good news. Thank you. Okay. Um, so then just one other brief update. I, you know, uh, we had, uh, discussions regarding the track at the last meeting and I'm sure we'll have discussions regarding the track at some future meetings. I just wanted to to let you know that, uh, I met with um, athletic director Jeffo again and Laura Tarlo and safety team leader Mumb. So um as mentioned until June 1st um you know the track is open from 6:00 to 7:00. We have school and and practices starting in June
028until school is out. The track will be open from until school ends for the year. Um from 6:00 to 7:00 a.m. and then from 5 to 8:00 p.m. in the in the evening. Um in the summer school starts a little later. Um so the track will be open from 6:00 to 8 in the morning and then summer school starts. Um we are still discussing um evening evening hours and I'll have some more information on that. We're really trying to um you know we we understand that the community supported um the capital project propositions. I know that there, you know, some concern. It's not really about the track, it's about the church field. Um, and we're trying to balance and make sure that, you know, our our field is preserved for student use while also understanding
029um community. So, uh, but we have uh increased since the last discussion and we'll be we'll be continuing to talk about ways. We understand uh we understand sometimes people can't get there until so um and uh there was a question about the the gate and access um there was a a piece missing a metal piece missing which has since been uh put there so there is no longer any question about access >> no just reach around and open the gate can't do that anymore Okay, >> Mr. Darcy tried >> with that. It's a total plate. I'm trying to reach over the plate and I thought I was going to have to pull the fire. >> Okay. But we take our concerns seriously and we have districts to try things out. So, it has been that
030has been >> great. Um, can you tell me what as far as communication has the website been updated as as far as how to get access and what the the times are? >> We'll be updating it tomorrow. Tomorrow we have the meeting today. The original went out with the uh times I did have that added that additional times are under consideration. So, we'll update it with these times and then say please look back prior this summer. >> Great. Thank you. Any questions on that? That's it for me. >> Okay. So, we will move on to the agenda portion of our evening. Uh, does the board of education have any discussions on the agenda that they would like to um any items on the agenda that they would like to discuss? Does the community have any
031items on the agenda that they would like to discuss? Okay. So, uh, just for old business, just a reminder, we have some upcoming presentations. One of those being conversation about transportation. Um, I think it's important that we have these discussions now before we get into the summer and it's too late for us to make any many any decision making. So, uh, we'll plan on having a discussion about uh, transportation. One of the things that you had mentioned are the increases in costs. Um, and I was just curious if you could provide the board with um, some information on, you know, how many students maybe that we are transporting under, you know, the McKini Bento Act, under foster care, under out of district and and, you know, what what some of those locations might be just
032so that we can have an idea of the scope. I know the transportation conversation is going to be about, you know, kind of our internal uh buildings, but I think it would be a good time for also us to have an idea. We we're hearing the numbers are increasing, but just to have an idea of what those numbers actually are. Um, and then other old business, as we're talking about approving uh new ENL teachers and and supports there for each of the buildings, we have received a timeline for uh professional development. And I just think it would be a good idea for us to have, you know, um maybe an update as far as what has been completed so far, you know, if we've had attendance and and just so that we can settle our
033minds that we are prepared to um make this transition. So that you know at a future meeting, we'll we'll definitely um let you guys know when when that'll be. Okay. So, can I get a motion that the board of education adopt the following resolutions of the May 6 agenda 7 A through C and 8 A through F? >> I'll make a motion. >> I'll second. >> Mr. Jackson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Snider, >> yes. >> Mrs. Gendra, >> yes. >> Mr. Dro, >> yes. >> Mrs. Furwell, >> yes. >> And Mrs. Geller, >> yes. >> Any comments from the board on anything not related to the agenda? I just wanted to take a moment to congratulate the high school team for a fantastic prom. I have heard a lot of really good feedback. Um, you
034know, we got to actually see the kiddos at promade and it's always a special day and it was really nice to see so many kids participating and out and about and you know, always look forward to these end of the year events. we don't get to see a lot in person and so I think that's a really good um you know uh positive moment and just wanted to congratulate the team for that. Um also looking forward to some of the upcoming events for the the end of the school year. Um so that's really that's it. Um any comments from the audience on anything? Mrs. Plato. >> Hi. Um I just wanted to I have a couple things I wanted to say. Thank you and congratulations on your time with the board. Great. >> Thank you.
035You've been a tremendous support to all of the programs to things I've done with kids, things that our building in our district has done with kids. So, thank you for that. Um, and I also wanted to invite you all if you're around next Friday the 15th. It is our annual global youth service day for our seniors and our eighth graders. We have about 125 seniors and about 150 middle school middle schoolers participating. They are going to be cleaning up the community in the morning from 9:15ish to noonish. Um we have them going to about eight parks, several all of our elementary schools, pay um uh several local churches and businesses. The Junior Honor Society is going to be doing a flag placement at a couple of the churches uh cemeteries, sorry, up in um Waterford.
036And we have a group going to St. Agnes, some high schoolers going to St. cemetery to um place flags on the headstones of uh military again prior to Memorial Day. Um so I just want to thank you guys all for your support. We're also having a barbecue back at both buildings. If you're around um and you're please if you want to help out in grill or just hang out with us, we'd love to have you. Um but thank you again for all your support. This it's a big event and it's a very public event, you know, so like the kids are all very community outward facing. Um, and I just wanted to take a minute to thank our PTOs at both middle school and the high school student council. Um, our administration, our facility cleaning
037staff and our office staff because it really is a huge team in my heart. So again, but thank you all for your support and really please come and see them. They, you know, it's always nice to see them out in the community and for you guys to um, interact with them and for them to kind of get to know who you guys all are. Thank you for your hard work and putting that together. I think it is very important for the community to see our kids out there giving back. So, appreciate it. Any other comments from the audience? Okay. No policy review today. Uh dates for future meetings. Um we have our May 19th annual uh budget vote and uh board of education elections from noon to 900 p.m. So, encourage your folks to get
038out there and vote. our very prudent budget uh this year. May 20th, we have meeting uh right here at Coast Middle School at 6 PM and June 3rd at the middle school at 6 p.m. Can I get a motion to enter into executive session at 6:35 p.m. to discuss matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal, or removal of a particular person or corporation, and to discuss the student matter. >> I'll make a motion. >> I'll second. >> Mr. Mr. Jackson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Snder, yes. Mrs. Gender, yes. >> Mr. Deros, >> yes. >> Mrs. Burwell, yes. >> And Mrs. Geller, >> yes. Thank you very much for your attendance tonight. We do not plan on returning. What was