Monroe Board Meeting 01/12/2026

001You guys ready? >> So, >> yeah, let's do it. >> There you go. >> At this time, I'd like to call the 2026 organizational meeting to order. Mrs. Moore, call to order. >> Mr. Carpenter, >> present. >> Mr. Fulham, >> present. >> Mr. Grant >> here. >> Mrs. Hegedorn >> here. Mr. Leeds >> here. This time, would everybody stand and join me in the pledge of allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. like leaning. >> All right. At this time, the newly elected members of the board, please go out in front here to be sworn in. >> Thanks. Do you solemnly swear that you will support the Constitution of the

002United States and the Constitution of the State of Ohio and that you will faithfully and impartially discharge your duties as a member of the board of education of the Monroe local school district in Butler and Warren counties and the state of Ohio to the best of your ability. with the laws in effect and here is elected and qualified. If so, please >> congratulations. I feel official now. >> Okay. At this time, I'll entertain a motion to approve the agenda for tonight's meeting. >> So moved. Second. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Grant. Mr. Carpenter. >> Mrs. Moore, call the role, please. >> Mr. Grant, >> I. >> Mr. Carpenter, >> I. >> Mr. Fulham, >> I. >> Mrs. Hagedorn, >> I. >> Mr. Leited, >> I. Motion carried. Okay. At this time, we will move on.

003Move to the request for nominations for the office of president. Anybody have a nomination? >> Yeah, I would like to nominate Debbie Hagedorn as president. >> Do we have any other nominations? I move that nominations be closed and you want to do the oath. >> I will call ro >> or call the roll rather. I'm sorry. >> Sure. I will um please state who you vote for. Mr. Carpenter, >> Debbie, >> Mr. Fulham, >> Mrs. Hagedorn, >> Mr. Grant, >> Mrs. Hagedorn, >> myself, I don't know how you Mr. Leeds, >> Mrs. Hagenhorn. >> Thank you. >> Okay, we have elected Mrs. Hagenhorn president. This time I'll take nominations for vice president. >> I'd like to nominate Mr. Fulham. >> Have any other nominations? If not, I declare the nomination for vice president to be

004closed. Mrs. Moore, >> Mr. Carpenter, >> Mr. Mr. Fulham, >> Mr. Fulham, >> myself, >> Mr. Grant, >> Mr. Fulham, >> Mrs. Hegedorn, >> Mr. Fulham, >> and Mr. Leeds, >> Mr. Fen. >> All right, I will now swear you in. >> Face the camera. Okay. Do you solemnly swear that you will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Ohio and that you will faithfully and partially discharge your duties as president and vice president of the board of education of the local school district and counties and the state of Ohio to the best of your ability and in accordance with laws in effect and here to be enacted during your continuous leadership position and until your successor is elected and qualified. Congratulations, >> Madam President. I ask that

005you take this seat and proceed with the rest of the organizational meeting. Hit Dave in the face. >> Yeah, the mallet, Mr. Le. >> Yes, sir. >> Thank you. >> This is a good place to be. pass. >> When you got more cookies, you get them. >> That's true. >> Okay. So, we're going to move on to section 3.1. Um, I'm going to open discussion or take a motion to recommend approval of the board appointments. >> So, move. >> Second. All right, let's start with legislative liaison. Um, I'd like to recommend Mr. Carpenter and Mr. Leeds. >> Any discussion? Good. >> I'm good with that. Okay, >> let's move on to student achievement. >> I would like to nominate Mr. Carpenter for student achievement. >> Okay. Um, and let's talk go move on to Monroe

006Area CIC. >> I'd like to nominate Mr. Leeds. Okay. Um, Butler Tech lays on >> would like to have Brett Geo remain on as our Butler Tech representative. >> He still got he still has another year on his on his appointment, but that's okay. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> I'm assuming Brett's good with that. Um, okay. Okay, let's move on to finance committee. >> I nominate Mr. Fulham and >> what's my name? >> Mr. >> I guess we'll go with Dave, too. >> Okay. Um Oh, we're doing OSBA delegate as well. >> Yeah, let's have open discussion for that. Is um Mr. Leeds has done that in the past. >> Yeah. >> You want to do that again? >> Mr. Leeds, do you want to continue that? >> Yes. >> I have no problem with

007that. >> Oh, okay. >> And then have uh Tim be the the backup on that since they're both legislative. Probably makes sense. >> It makes sense. Yeah. Right. >> It's an all >> Okay. Backup for Tim. Alternate, >> right? >> Okay. and um facility committee. >> Um >> two for that. >> Nominate Mr. Grant. >> Yeah, I'd like to see Mr. Leads on it again. >> Okay. So, just to summarize, legislative will be um Mr. Carpenter, Mr. Leads. Student achievement, Mr. Carpenter. CIC will be Mr. Leads. Um Butler Tech, Mr. Gaido finance will be Mr. Fulham, Mr. Grant. Finance will be Mr. Grant and Mr. Leeds. OSBA delegate will be Mr. Leads and alternate will be Tim Carpenter or Mr. Carpenter. >> Right. >> Um, so Miss Mory, call a role. >> Mr. Leeds, >>

008I. >> Mr. Carpenter, >> I. >> Mr. Grant, >> I. >> Mr. Fulham, >> I. >> Mrs. Haggedorn, >> I. Motion carried. Oh, do you say that? you do. Oh, okay. All right. We'll move on to section 3.2. Um, we'll take a motion to recommend approval of the board meeting dates, times, and locations for 20 for 26. >> So, moved. >> Second. >> I do. >> Mr. Le. >> So, Mr. I got Mr. Grant. Motion. >> Mr. Leeds. >> Yep. Second. >> Second. Grant. Okay. Miss Moore, please call the RO. Mr. Leeds. >> Hi. >> Mr. Grant. >> I >> Mr. Carpenter. >> I. >> Mr. Fulham. >> I. >> Mrs. Hegedorn. >> I. >> Motion carried. All right. Section 3.3. I'm going take a motion for the board to wave the reading of the

009minutes from previous meetings in accordance with section 3313.26. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Okay, Miss Moore, please call the RO. >> Mr. Carpenter, >> I. >> Mr. Fulham, >> I. >> Mr. Grant, >> I. >> Mr. Leeds, >> I. >> Mrs. Hegedorn, >> I. Motion carried. Okay. Section 3.4, approve the 2026 membership. I recommend approval of the 2026 memberships for the Ohio School Board Association, OSBA, Legal Assistance Fund, and Education Policy Institute. So moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Okay. Miss Moore, please call the role. >> Mr. Carpenter, >> I. >> Mr. Grant, >> I. >> Mr. Leeds, >> I. >> Mr. Fulham. >> I. >> Mrs. Hegedorn. >> I. Motion carried. Okay. Section 3.5. We're going to establish the board service fund. I'm going to recom I need a motion

010to recommend establishment of a board service fund pursuant to OC 3315.15 in the amount of $20,000. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Disc any discussion. >> Okay. Miss Moore, please call the role. >> Mr. Grant. >> I. >> Mr. Leeds. >> Hi. >> Mr. Carpenter. >> I. >> Mr. Fulham. >> Hi. >> Mrs. Headorn >> I motion carried. Okay. Section 3.6. I recommend the designation of the 20 2026 newspaper on record um to be the journal news. >> So move second. >> Oh my. >> Oh, we're going to go Mr. Carpenter first. >> Let's give it to him. >> I said Mr. Carpenter. >> This is exciting meeting. This is exciting right here. >> Dave Grant second. Mr. any discussion >> if we have to. I guess we have to >> if there's any other

011options really. So most things we post on the website now and on potential social media or board docs >> and but I will say the one thing that is still required to be in the newspaper is my tax budget notice. >> That's it. >> Um and then any bidding that we would do. >> Okay. >> All right. Um, Miss Moore, please call the RO. >> Mr. Carpenter, >> I. >> Mr. Grant, >> I. >> Mr. Leeds, >> I. >> Mr. Fulham, >> I. >> Mrs. Hegedorn, >> I. Motion carried. On to section 3.7. Take a motion to recommend approval of the 2026 legal council for the Monroe Board of Education. Um, it's recommended that we have Enis Britain for the general counsel, Dinsmore and Schaw for bond council council, Rich and Gillis law firm for

012the board of revision council and Bricker and Grade in for construction and project council. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> No. >> All right. Miss Moore, please call the RO. >> Mr. Le. >> Mr. Fulham. I >> Mr. Carpenter >> I >> Mr. Grant >> I >> Mrs. Hegedorn >> I motion carried. >> All right. Section 3.8 approve superintendent standing authorizations. Um I recommend to enable the superintendent to carry out necessary district duties involving operations, finance and purchasing. It is recommended that the board adopt the following standing authorizations for the calendar learner year of 26. And I'm going to say it's items A through J. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? >> No. >> Okay. Miss Moore, please call the role. >> I'll only make one comment. Um

013item J is new this year. just giving express authority for the superintendent and or I to act as corporate officers on behalf of the district. We do have that ability through revised code, but it's one of the things that came up during an audit and they wanted to see something more in writing. >> In writing. Okay. >> What's more in writing than revised code? But >> Right. Okay. >> Thought we'd stick it in. >> We'll put it in our little policy. >> Yeah. Thank you for that clarification. >> Sure. >> All right. Right. Miss Moore, please call the role. >> Mr. Carpenter, >> I. >> Mr. Leeds, >> I. >> Mr. Grant, >> I. >> Mr. Fulham, >> I. >> Mrs. Hegedorn, >> I. Motion carried. Um, section 3.9, approve the treasurer standing authorizations um

014for 26. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> No. Miss Moore, please call the RO. Mr. Leitz, >> I >> Mr. Grant, >> I >> Mr. Carpenter, >> I >> Mr. Fulham, >> I >> Mrs. Higgedorn, >> I. >> Motion carried. >> Section 4.1. So, we're going to recommend the approval of the 2027 tax budget. >> So move. >> Second. >> Any discussion? I have a short presentation for that one. Okay. And I'm sorry I just I was thinking so moved. Grant >> and then >> Grant um Mr. Carpenter. >> Carpenter. Thank you. >> Okay. So for the tax budget, I'm going to try to be very brief on this unless you have questions. So just a quick um breakdown of the tax budget itself. It is required by um 5705.28 28 29

015and.3 um of the revised code. It's basically a first look at your next fiscal year. So this is looking at fiscal 27 and the purpose is to show the financial needs of the district which ends up helping the county determine our rates, our tax rates for the year on property taxes. Um it is required to be approved by the board by January 15th and we have to file it with the county budget commission by January 20th. Um the county budget commission is made up of the county auditor, the county treasurer, and the county prosecutor. They have a meeting. Um they review these, and I'll mention some of their powers in a minute. Um this the difference aside from setting the rates, this actually is an all-inclusive document. So it includes all funds of the district.

016Our forecast only looks at the general fund. So, while the general fund is our main operating fund and the only unrestricted fund that we have um for this, it's an overall view because we also have levies that go into say permanent improvement or the debt retire retirement fund. Um and this looks at the district as a whole. And just another thing to point out um tax rates and property taxes, they're all based on a calendar year where we're on a fiscal year ending June 30th. So there's some tweaks in this documents to kind of split our years in half so that they can calculate a calendar year need um to align with the tax rates. So on the next slide, this is just a basic list um the tax budget document that was attached with

017the agenda. These are the exhibits that are included. So there's a pretty detailed general fund and debt fund um with all like beginning balances and revenues and expenditures and expected ending balances that they will look at. Um there's exhibit three which is all other funds. It's less detailed but that's all of our special revenue capital um and any other like enterprise or agency funds that we have. And then there is a new supplement that um some of the legislative changes that we had surrounding the tax budget and reporting um it as it requires now a history of balances and revenues and spending for those other funds which we've never had to provide before. we only would provide like fiscal 27 but now they want a history of two years of actuals and then the current

018year estim 26 estimate and then 27 and 28 estimates. Um there's exhibit four is the statement of permanent improvements. It is just um a list of maybe some planned improvements. So obviously our high school is on there but um some general numbers for typical maintenance and improvements are also in there. um statement of final judgments. We don't have any, so that is blank for us. And then a listing of our outstanding debt. So, a lot of the bills for the um recently signed bills for property tax reform impact this document as well as our forecast. This is kind of a brief summary of the ones that mostly impact us. um the top ones in yellow, those all have a direct impact on these calculations, whereas the other two are more um about the county and

019their their abilities to um calculate valuations as well as change our rates if they want to if they deem that we have too much money. Um, so House Bill 129, it adds the fixed sum levies um into our 20 mil floor calculation. And I have a slide that'll help illustrate that a little bit. Um, House Bill 186, it caps our revenue growth associated with the 20 mil floor inflation. And this is where those inflation cap credits are going to come in. we will see credits um our taxpayers will see credits for fiscal uh or sorry tax year 23 and tax year 24. Um and then 335 caps the revenue growth from inside millillage um to inflation and that's that one's a pretty big deal as well because inside millillage has never been touched before and

020now it potentially is going to go down. Um on to the next slide. So, our current levies, this is a list of our current levies. And so, it has the description of the levy type and what year it was put into place. Um, you can see the original voted mills like our inside millillage. We have 5.16 mills of inside millillage um in 24 and estimated for 25. That's 3.13 because 2.03 03 of that was moved into permanent improvement back originally in 2011. Um so that's where we still have 5.16. It's just it's split into two at this point. Um our original millillage was 18.27 and that because of the 20 mil floor gets dropped down to 16.87. So that's where there's a box there. The 3.13 and the 16.87 adds up to our 20 mil

021floor. We can't drop below that until fiscal 27. We can um and then our substitute levies, those are fixed sum levies and up until this point um growth has been allowed on those levies. So we established them when they were voted in there was a specific dollar amount that those levies had to bring in and we were allowed to gain on the growth such as like new construction for those. So they would go up a little bit every year. Well, that's going to be capped >> um here shortly, but we also as our valuations would go up, it would take less mills to reach that amount. So, typically as valuations go up, those go down. So, as you can see, like it took 11.74 mills to get to our um fixed sum amount back in

0222009, um which was at 7.64 last year. And then the rate is expected to be 7.724 for tax year 25, which gets collected in 26. Bills will be coming out soon, I'm sure. Um, and then the same logic for the 2016 substitute levy, which is expected to be 4.74. Um, our PI that was moved out of our inside millillage back in 2011 at 2.03. And then we have two bond levies, but we are only currently collecting on the one. Um, once the 2001 levy is paid off, the debt associated with it, we will then begin collecting on our 2024 levy. So then the next slide, this kind of shows some of the impact of the property tax reform bills. Um this is only looking at class one property which is your residential and agricultural. Um

023the rate is slightly different for commercial and industrial but you can see actually in texture 26 is when we can start seeing decreases in our inside millillage our outside um mills that were at 16.87. So that the 3.13 those first two lines there they were our 20 mil floor. Well you can see that it is no longer a 20 mil floor. Um so you see that the 20 it drops down to 18.41 then 18.38 then 18.35. So it slowly is going to decrease over time. Um and then our fixed sum levies essentially will eventually phase out. I mean it'll take a little while but they will while they decline as values increase they will decline faster now because they won't experience the growth and they'll be capped. So as they get lumped into that 20

024mil floor as well just everything goes down for as far as millage goes >> and question. >> Yes. when they our substitute levies get down to a certain point, will it stop at 20? Like will they go away? Will we get to the 20th floor again? >> So, those will essentially go away. >> I don't know that I can answer that right now because what I'm hearing from all of our trainings and webinars is that the 20 mil floor doesn't really exist anymore, >> right? >> It just doesn't it it's a new floor and it's whatever the calculations are. And on top of that, even though we have these estimates here, the B the county budget commission has the authority to look at the tax budget or our forecast and say, "Wow, you have a

025really nice cash balance. We don't think you need these rates." And they can just cut them. So, I mean, and they could even just eliminate an entire like the 4 the well, it's on the other sheet, but like the 4.69 69 or whatever our smaller substitute. I mean, they could say you don't need to collect that if you know I I don't think that our budget commission is prepared to do that, but I know up north that has already happened to several districts. Um, so we'll see how this all plays out. there there are there's a lot of uncertainty still with all of it and even these calculations their calculations we use um it's not called forecast five anymore but financial planning analytics and you know they have an approach to it you know the

026legislative services commission they have an approach to it but I don't think anyone has nailed down truly what the actual calculations are going to be and I'm not even sure with some of this if the county auditors will have differences in opinions as well. Um, so there's a lot of uncertainty right now and right now our as our estimates go. So the taxpayer credits um we expect 23 tax year 23 about a million um $78,000 in taxpayer credits. Those will go back to the taxpayers. it'll come off of our property tax settlement, but we are supposed to be reimbursed by the state for that um through a sales tax holiday. Um I think they're going to shorten that by a day or two to cover all of these reimbursements um in tax year 24. There's

027a a little bit and that's because we have both um Butler County and Warren County and they appraise in different years. So, when we had our update in 23 for Butler, we had it in 24 for Warren. We do expect to get that money back. No one knows how we're going to get it back. We doubt they're going to send us a check. It might come through foundation. Um, again, there's a lot of unknowns at this time. And as far as the estimated loss of revenue because of the reductions in millillage, right now, the estimate is about $1.8 million for us. any way we could hide that money from the county? >> Well, not because the tax budget has all the funds. >> So, we we did a lot of moves at the end of

028>> Can we put that in the foundation of the new school? >> Well, I mean, we can we've got a few years to to siphon that off. But, um I made some custom customizations to the tax budget document. um on the historical page for the other funds that is a new requirement. I put in a description on every single fund and what it's for and um and at the top of that it says restricted funds just so they don't just look at those balances like right now, you know, we've got about 30 plus million sitting in our construction funds. Well, that's because those are for construction. We just issued $36.75 million in debt. Of course, we're going to have proceeds because we haven't really spent a lot yet. >> Um, so I just, you know,

029I don't know how heavily they're going to look at it, how much they're going to analyze it. I hope if they have questions, they'll ask rather than make assumptions. Um, I don't really know, but I I do plan to go to the meeting where they approve it >> just in case they have some questions. Um, I've not been to a Butler County one before. I have been to a Warren County and there was not a lot of discussion at that one. So, we'll see. But that's where we are. And I don't know if you remember House Bill 96, the budget bill changed all the dates for the forecast. So, we'll be talking again in February because that's my mandatory update on the forecast. So, a lot of these numbers will flow into it. I I've

030done a lot of work on this, so I hope I won't have any changes in February, but um you know, there's changes every day. So, >> one thing that I was wondering about, what what does the governor mean that the schools are going to be made whole? >> My understanding, well, I only understand that we're going to be made whole just on these credits. I don't think they've addressed any of the other changes. And quite honestly, a lot of these calculations, they're, if you'll notice these House bills, the way that they're worded, it's revenue caps. They're capping our revenue that we get from the property taxes. They're not capping the valuations. And what that does, it's a double whammy because our state foundation based on the school funding plan is based on our local capacity.

031So our valuations if they're higher, we get less state money. Yeah. >> So everything that they're doing >> benefits them. >> Well, they want to put back on they want to put back on the property owners. >> Yeah. >> But yet they want to save the property owners. So >> it's like >> it's the state government that they do what's best for them. >> Yeah. So >> driving toward local >> tax like levies, right? Because Yes. >> as those values go up and our funding decreases. >> We're going to I mean inflation continues to inflate. >> Yes. >> So then our our cost of business continues to increase. Okay. So now we have to go to the taxpayer, the local taxpayer to >> to pay for things. >> Yeah. If this continues the way it

032continues, everyone will be in a a levy cycle that will be very short. >> Um we've been lucky here. We haven't had a levy since 2016, I believe. And even at that, I think it was a reduction. >> Correct. Um, so we've been fortunate even though we've we've had some revenue, extra revenue come in, you know, to help us get here, but we've been wise about the spending to make it last. And we've done good, but we get penalized for that. >> Yeah. And so now I have to explain any fund balances that we still have. And it's it we're in kind of a tough spot because we're not, you know, like, oh my gosh, these changes are going to put us on the ballot tomorrow. We're not there and I'm glad we're not there,

033but it it's hard to make an argument when we have money and they're like, oh, you're fine, >> but we're not we can't be fine forever. >> Right. Right. >> Unless something changes, which I'm sure it will. They just kick the can for now. >> Yeah. >> This will be brought up again and then you'll have to relearn a whole new way. >> Yeah. Yeah. It's just getting penalized for being good stewards with the >> the funds that we do have. >> Exactly. >> So, we can talk more about that at our February update because we'll be looking at the forecast then. >> Yeah. Okay. >> All right. >> Thanks, Amy. >> Thank you. Lots of good information there. >> Crazy information. All right. >> Miss Moore, please call the role. >> Mr. Grant. >>

034I. >> Mr. Carpenter. >> I. >> Mr. Leeds. >> I. >> Mr. Fulham. >> I. Mrs. Hegedorn >> I motion carried. >> I'd like to take a motion to do I do a motion or just adjourn. >> You no motion. You're just >> So I'm going to um adjourn the organizational meeting by acclamation and transition to our regular normal meeting. >> I apologize for being late by three minutes. >> That was my fault. wrong. >> Blame this blame the state. Yes. >> Yeah. No doubt. >> All right. So, we're going to welcome everybody to the Monroe local school district board of education meeting on Monday, January 12th. Um like to start off with section 1.1 approval of agenda. I'd like to make a mo have a motion to approve the agenda. >> So moved. >>

035Second. >> Discussion. All right, Miss Moore, please call the role. >> Mr. Fulham, >> I. >> Mr. Grant, >> I. >> Mr. Carpenter, >> I. >> Mr. Leeds, >> I. >> Mrs. Hegedorn, >> I. Motion carried. We'll move on to section 2.1 legislative. >> Well, as always, the legislator legislative group is on recess until February. And uh gig >> when they come back, they're supposed to take up the tax issue. And there's other things that that they're going to they're looking to do, but it's they haven't been assigned anything else according to uh Mr. Hall. So, uh being it's a lame duck session for the governor, probably nothing will get done to be honest with you, but might as well face it. I think they're in session through April and then they'll be off to

036after the election. supposedly. >> How do you get a job like that? >> We adopt that count. >> Yeah. >> All right. >> Couple weeks here, couple weeks there, >> weeks. >> I want to have that schedule. >> That's all I have. >> All right. All right. We'll move on to section 2.2. Butler Tech. Mr. Gyno. >> Getting there. They stole my seats. They >> thank you. >> He usually sits as close as possible to the podium. >> Yes. Thank you, Madame President. >> Mr. Vice President and members of the board. Thank you. >> Um so I my printer kind of blew up today. >> So I have emailed you my reports. >> I saw >> uh in your email um I have some data for you. Uh our partnership brief was released. So, it

037gives all the data about a 5-year history of our programming um and where we are currently today. Currently today, as we sit, we have 131 students in our Butler Tech programs. So, very good percentage there. It is uh 69.28% of our population here at Monroe. So, a good number of students in Butler Tech programs um here from Monroe. Glad very glad to see that. Um, as you're aware, we have satellite programming. We have three teachers embedded in the school system here. We have an engineering program and two high school programs. Uh, one is the culinary program and another is the career and college readiness program. Career and college readiness and culinary have the most students in it. 155 for career readiness and culinary has currently 142. Um, so good numbers here. satellite. One of my

038goals uh while I was serving on the board at Monroe as and and still today is to continue to identify opportunities for growth of students that may not number one have got into the some of the programs at the uh s the at the campus programs, but also maybe they don't want to go, but are there opportunities for them to get career uh education here at Monroe? And Mr. Buzzkerk has been very open to exploring those opportunities. Um, in fact, we're in the middle of exploring a a health program that we're going to hopefully introduce next year. Right. So, um, really excited about that addition to uh, our satellite program here at Monroe. Um, you guys have heard me speak a lot about the uh, construction programs. You just drive anywhere in Butler County and

039you can see some Butler Techch building going up. So, um they are taking shape and ready to go. Actually, the Advanced Manufacturing in Hamilton has students. They started um the Monday after New Year's. So, they've been in there u just over a full week. Um I'm happy to report out of those numbers, there are three students that currently elected to go into the advanced manufacturing program. uh the aviation building. If you've been by that recently, it looks like it's done, but it's the punch out work that they're doing inside the building. Um we have nine students that are in the a aviation program for Monroe. Um and then um the bioscience building off of I75. >> Uh that's been fun to watch that go up every single day. That's my drive to work. There are

04018 students in that program. So very good. Um outside of that, D Russell Lee has 59 Monroe students. Natural Science Center uh has 17. Uh we have OTC, there's six students in the OTC program. Project Life, Project Search has four and the School of the Arts building has 15 students. So really good representation. We're not just everybody going into one program. I to me that shows that uh we have some diversity of interest here at Monroe. So I was excited to see that all the data is in there. Demographics um pretty much breaks down more information than I want to cover tonight, but it is in your email as well. So let me know if you have any questions on that. As I said, the students have started attending the advanced manufacturing program. There's been

041a couple articles here recently. I don't know if you've seen in the journal or Cincinnatu program has millions of dollars of donation of of technical equipment that those kids are really getting um access to, which is exciting. Um ribbon cutting for that is February 2nd. So, look for your uh invitation in the mail for that. I'll make sure you get that. I don't recall what time they scheduled that for, but I'll get back with you and let you know that for sure. The aviation um groundbreaking is March 16th and then the um natural science center or bioscience center is uh April 13th. So, a lot of ribbon cutting coming. So, there's some dignitaries that have been invited and It may be exciting if you could attend some of them. So, keep your calendar open >>

042states in your next Friday. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Um, some other things that we're doing here at Monroe, there is a uh initiative that is in place currently to put 35 to 45 students in internships directly with industry. So, that's a really good >> that's great thing that I'm that I'm excited to hear about. I don't know if you want to share anything on that or >> Mr. is going to talk a little bit about that when he talks about the perfect course guide here. >> Yeah. So, um a lot of lot of really really exciting things um coming out of uh the partnership and I look forward to what happens in 26 and the and several years to follow. That is my full report. >> Yes. Awesome. Thank you very much. >> So,

043check your emails. So, I intended to print them out, but I apologize. >> Save a tree. >> Thanks, Brett. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Okay, we're going to move on to section 2.3, student achievement, and I'd like to in invite the environmental club for their presentation. Good evening. Thank you for allowing us to speak tonight. My name is Chloe. I'm the president of the environmental club. And this is Addison, the vice president, and Sydney, one of our club members. We also have a few who are club members sitting in the audience. Maybe we don't. >> It happens to us, too. Don't worry. >> Last year, our club wanted to find a way to support people affected by hurricanes. So, we organized a studentled talent show to raise money for the American

044Red Cross. The event was very successful and it showed us how powerful our students and peers can be throughout creativity, leadership, and how it can be used for a greater purpose. Because of that success, we wanted to continue the tradition this year, not just as a fun event, but as a way for students to give back to our local community. And now Addison's going to tell us a little bit more about the cause. Hi, my name is Addison and I'm the vice president for our environmental club. Giving back has always been a very important part of our club's mission. In previous years, our club supported the community through a food share program where we collected food twice a week and donated it to God's Bounty Table. But since then, it's been discontinued. Over time, our

045club worked with our adviser to thoughtfully evaluate how we could continue supporting the community in a way that was sustainable and manageable for our students. Rather than seeing this as an ending, we viewed it as an opportunity to problem solve and find another meaningful way to contribute. The talent show became that opportunity for us. It allowed us to continue supporting God's bounty while also engaging more students and showcasing their talents. Now, Sydney's going to further explain how we made this possible. Hi, I'm Sydney and I'm a member of the environmental club. This year's talent show was open to high school students only, and the entire event was organized and promoted by students. We worked hard creating posters, making announcements, encouraging participation, and helping the event run smoothly. The turnout was strong and the atmosphere was

046very positive and supportive. Throughout the ticket sales and donations, we raised over $2,000 and 100% of the proceeds were donated to Ga God's Bounty Table to support families in the community. It was really meaningful to see how well students working together can make a difference. Because of the impact of this event and the purpose behind it, WLWT came to our school and interviewed Addison and I. The interview focused on why this work matters to us and how student led efforts can support the community in positive ways. This experience showed us how even our peers are capable of planning, leading, and following through on projects that reflect reflect the values of our schools and our community. It was very important to us to make a difference and plan something that was really going to be a

047positive impact in the community. Thank you for supporting student leadership and giving us an opportunity to share our work with you tonight. >> Very good. Okay, we're going to do Yes, we're going to do a picture. >> Stop it. >> Come on, guys. >> Congratulations. Good job. Congratulations. Congratulations. Good >> job. Congratulations. >> Thanks you. Thank you for being flexible and cancelling from December. Okay. All right. As we're going to move on to section 3.1, comments from the public. Seeing as we don't have any, we're going to move on to section 3.2, 2 presentation of the MHS future ready playbook with Mr. Proascout. >> Good evening everyone. >> Good evening. >> Hello. >> Okay, Mr. Guo almost had it correct. >> Nice. >> Throughout some information that's changed a little bit. So, but um I'm

048going to segue into talking about some of the changes in the program of study. um just primarily talking about the courses that we're offering next year. You guys have that embedded in your um agenda. Um I also forwarded you a Google doc that just has the classes alone so you don't have to hunt for them because there's 50 pages. But um I'm going to start with Butler Tech since that's where he was. So he mentioned the immersion uh program. Uh we know that uh Joel and Turvy has a strong connection with the workforce program over at uh Butler Tech. Um she actually worked in that um organization over at Butler Tech. So she has a connection with those uh folks over there. So the internship and industry immersion course gives high school seniors the opportunity

049for to gain real world hands-on experience in a professional setting. Um, we're going to be very strategic in where we place them. It's not going to be a placement of need for the company, but it's a placement of need for what the student >> is engaged and wants to get engaged in. Um, we're going to start off pretty small. um you know, she's one person with, you know, uh um with about probably 25 kids that are going to be all over the, you know, the Butler County and potentially in other counties. So, um that's what we're starting with. So, that just kind of gives you an idea. It's going to be for seniors. Um we piggybacked off of a little bit of what Lebanon's doing. Um Kings High School is um really immersed in this

050as well. um they did give us the uh just the advice to kind of don't don't bite off too much that that then you could chew. So we'll kind of start off with this. Hopefully the program will go grow and we'll see where it takes us. So that's one of the new courses that we're offering. Um if you haven't had a chance to look at this, we're also going to be offering two medical uh uh healthcare related courses for next year. Um, I think it is important for you guys to realize you're not responsible for um the uh um what should I say the retirement of Butler Tech teachers, but there are a few of them that are retiring from our school district, which is opening up the window to make some changes. Um one

051is Rusty Hubard, and we're going to make some changes to what what he what his role was. I'll explain that here in a second. Uh we have um Jay Hopkins who's retiring and we're going to move um Matt Boltzer into the role of helping out with junior high and high school. So he's going to maximize engineering and kind of funnel them through the um junior high through the high school. So that leaves us with a couple vacancies. So we are we made the decision as as a team to move in the medical direction. Um, so the courses that we're going to offer is medical terminology and that is a uh one-year full credit course and then we're also going to offer health and science and technology um which is a semester course. We'll we'll offer

052to 9th and tth graders. We do not have the person um that's going to teach this course yet. Um I talked with my liaison over at Butler Tech. In the next month we're going to work on setting up interviews. there's a good chance we might actually get a Butler Tech teacher from one of our neighboring um schools to to take on this um these courses. We had a uh meeting today with the students. We had over 100 students attend during Hornet time to come in and show interest in taking these courses. So that's a huge plus. Um so why did I mention a little bit about Brett Gaido? since he mentioned culinary. That is one of the courses you'll see in red that we're actually suns setting. So, we're putting that off to the side

053so we could open this up for um our medical um courses. We're hoping this will be something that will increase where potentially we might need another Butler Tech teacher um to the point that, you know, we're working towards our nursing degree as well. um it kind of goes along with the master plan to um house this over at the new building. So there's a correlation and connection. There's long-term thinking beyond just the next two years, but how we could properly put this program into the new high school. So there's with the retirements with the new building coming on board eventually, it just seemed like the perfect time to make this change. So that's what's going on there. >> Can I interject real quick? >> Yes. Uh, since I got here, our Butler Tech programs, I'll

054be honest, have sort of just been plug and fill. Like there there's not been a a a purpose or a necessary path. We've kind of used them to plug electives and help things out. And so we did some uh Tom and Jody and I sat down when we found out about these retirements and we we wanted to look at uh building a pathway for interest of our students in Monroe and and uh Jody uh worked with the staff to get interest surveys out to kids and and what kids are going into following graduation. We have a high number of kids that are going into the medical field, whether it's nursing or physical therapy or athletic training. And so we wanted to uh start to get that path of some sort of uh some medical courses

055that they can take advantage of while they're in high school. And as mom said, okay, >> you know, our goal would be to build this up to um you know, hopefully maybe partnering with the university someday to get them on that pathway so when they enter college they have some of those courses taken care of. Uh some of the other larger schools have uh bigger programs where uh like that and even um I think uh >> Edgewood has a FFA program with agricultural and I think Talana has a uh is there's an agricultural so you know again we did we uh surveyed our kids and that was kind of uh the biggest >> want and uh need. So that's kind of the direction that we're going to steer. So >> when we've had our conversations

056with William Sprinkles, it's very important for him that we're talking about that pathway. So just to kind of piggyback off what he said, it's not about like, okay, we just we need some classes to just fill up our electives. Let's do something that's leading towards something >> beneficial for long term. >> Yes. through so through the data we could see that the medical route whatever that might be it's just such the healthcare industry is so huge that we thought we'd take advantage of that moving forward. >> So that's what that's about. >> Absolutely. Yeah, >> the other thing that I wanted to talk about with uh the internship uh program is that we currently right now our underassman are here most of the time, but by the time our kids hit junior and senior year,

057we have so many kids that are out with CCP. Um, and I want to move towards kids being here most of the day. I know high school is changing and there are, but I want them if they're not here, I want them in something meaningful. I don't want them just sitting at home in their bedroom doing an online course that really is just an elective to fill something. I want them here interacting with their peers. I think that is such a huge skill that they need. Um I think it also hurts the culture of our overall building because a lot of our top students go >> are never here during the day and we need those upper classmen as role models. So, you know, again, I think with the overcrowding, it's never it was something

058that we're like, it's okay if you're gone. We need the space. And then once COVID hit, I think it it really >> and with the changing in the CCP rules, it has gotten a little out of control. And we to be honest, we're not alone. A lot of the schools are are facing the same thing where uh kids are doing full-time CCP and not getting I in my opinion they're not getting as uh valuable as an experience as they need to in high school. So I want over the next few years and as when the new high school opens, I want our requirements that the kids are here during the day unless it's for a meaningful experience, not just I'm taking a CCP class so I can stay up till 3 in the morning and

059sleep till noon. So uh and take online courses. >> Well, it's also forcing kids to kind of grow up quicker. >> Yep. >> than they need to and taking away their high school experience because now they're part-time college students. So I agree. >> I agree. you know, >> well, we're trying to do a better job of getting them here. >> Awesome. >> Keeping them here. So, um, we'll see how this goes. We're looking forward to it. >> So, um, that kind of correlates. I think it's important for you to understand just in regards to staff personnel. Um, we still we still have Jessica on staff, Jessica Hartsaw. um she will be um working out of the um junior high and she will be doing career type co courses in the junior high. So, we know

060there's a difference between doing college and career readiness at the high school where she's working on like resumeumés, working on Yeah. the interviewing process. And there's a ton more learning out what your strengths are. But there needed to be another layer of okay, when they're in junior high, hey, starting to think about what direction you want to go, knowing that by the time you get into high school, you got to start putting together a plan or at least some form of plan, right? So, kind of goes along with what the state of Ohio definitely wants is that we're pushing the careers. Um, this school, I think, has done always a great job of, you know, we've done a great job of making sure we promote the college route, you know, the career route, whatever that

061might be, the the trades, um, the military. Um, we just I try to make sure that we give all the kids all the opportunities they they could get, you know, and make a good decision about what they want to do outside of high school. So, I think this will work out. I know I'm taking up too much time. A few other things on here. Um, financial literacy was something that the state uh replaced the old economics class with. That was something we had Butler Tech doing with Randy retiring. We're going to do that inhouse with one of our social studies teachers. So, there's not much of a change, but it it is um a slight change just with personnel. Uh, we're going to offer journalism, too. We have a lot of kids that really enjoyed

062working with Grace. She's the one that's taken the lead on journalism one. They've done the school paper. Um we've done a nice job of making sure that the junior high and elementary teachers get a a handle on that so they see what's going on. So um we got we got a lot of kids that want to keep going down that pathway. So we're going to continue with that. Um we're going a different route. Uh creative writing has been kind of with the numbers. Uh, so one of our English teachers came up with visual storytelling. So this one I like because I think we're at the point in society where we we see so many things, see it, and we read little captions and things like that, but you know, making sure we understand what's real,

063what's not, what's a credible source. Um, so I'll let you guys read up on that, but I think that's a interesting course. And then we're getting into bringing back some technology courses. We kind of got away from that for a while. Um, you know, the days of Tom Burkelo and remember we had Andrea Carbolano working in the junior high at one point. So, we're going to get a coding and game design um uh semester course up and running and we're doing a halfyear uh semester cyber security course as well. >> Nice. >> So, awesome. >> Starting to dive into that. What's that? Can we test the game? >> I guess so. We'll see how that goes. But it'll actually what's what I love about the gaming design is that it's the coding piece. Yep. >>

064If you could start to enjoy how you're building some of that, that might kind of leap you into a tech field. For sure. >> Absolutely. >> And then once again, those courses could tie into what we're doing in the new building. the the way out of the buildings out, but still some of the the pieces of what goes where and how we're going to use those um spaces. Um I I could see this uh starting to take off at the high school, too. >> Got a question. >> Yes. >> Um it's not really talked about, but it comes to mind when we when we think about coding. I mean, everything is is through AI today. I mean, I I you build everything through AI. What what are we doing to leverage AI within those types

065of courses? Is it is it welcomed in our district? Is it because I know there's a lot of thoughts on what AI does for the learning environment? And truth be told, I use AI all day long, all the time in my professional career for multiple reasons. Are we encapsulating that within these types of environments or are we not sure of them yet? I think we're at the point where we're talking about the use of AI with our staff, but not so much with the with the with the students just yet. Um, I know our staff uses it to check for the validity of what the kids are writing. Um, I know, shoot, I've had some conversations with kids about how you could use it the right way, but we haven't really, what's the word I'm

066looking for? >> Are these state standards? Are the are these are these because I understand plagiarism. I understand >> validity of content >> but I'm telling you right now these kids are already I mean they they could teach you guys I mean the reality is that so like I think that that needs to be a big I know it's a topic. I know you guys are talking about it but I think that that's a hum I mean that bubble's very big right now and it's going to pop. >> Sure. >> Um I want to make sure that we're leveraging it in a way that's fits into developing a fullbodied student because when I'm hiring somebody in two or three years, AI knowledge is going to be a humongous part of that for for my industry

067and what I do in marketing. How are you using AI to leverage creative graphics? How are you doing it to come up with marketing plans? How are you doing it to uh check emails and make sure that they're professionally written? That that's going to be a requirement for for new hires for me today like now. So, I just want to make sure that we're yeah >> attacking that and and at different levels. I've I've used AI with my 10-year-old to develop games through Google to let her see how that can work, my six-year-old. So, like they're going to be blasting through this and if we're not prepared for it, I'm concerned. So, I just I >> we're still at the infancy of talking about it. I still think we have a lot of teachers that

068are nervous about it and how that how we really truly incorporate that and immerse that into the classroom. >> Well, there's to be honest I mean there's a lot of people in general that are nervous about AI. So I get it. So >> in regards to the teachers being a little um but you know I mean these kids are ahead of us already. Yeah. I mean, >> yeah, they are >> someone I know personally was able to >> take his thoughts and put it into with AI and chat GBT, but then wanted to make sure it didn't sound too much. So, he was able to go through another filter and another filter and by the time that this gets to the teacher has gone through like three or four filters. It's crazy. But hopefully that

069the kids are still keeping the mind of the creativeness of what they're what they're putting down and that they're using it to help them and not just okay, it's doing it for me. So yeah, there's a lot there's a lot that needs to be done in this area. I mean, I think Miami of Ohio is one of the first schools to offer maybe a a major in AI. I know there's something >> Well, Ohio is a hotbed. I mean, they're not building 39 data centers in Ohio in the next five years for nothing. I mean, so Ohio is a hot bed. But then I mean I read a report today. I was telling Tim I it's in the infancy stages. They're using AI to work on the construction of homes and using AI to build

070a home can save the homeowner up to 40% savings on building the home because it's going to be that much more efficient. There's still going to be people building the home, but AI is being used for everything on >> is perfect. The plans are perfect. There's there's no miscalculation on that footer, etc. >> Exactly. So, it's going to save the world. >> We're kind of at the part where we're going to see some jobs go away and new jobs being created based off of what what happens here. >> Yep. >> I look at I look at it more as a as a adaptation of before the calculator and having a calculator before the internet having the internet. So, it's I >> it's definitely going to replace the journey of a lot of jobs, but I

071think that it's it's a a tool >> that we need to make sure our kids are learning a responsible way. And to be quite frank, this goes beyond education. I mean, this this is like real life stuff. I mean, I I I quiz my kids on I'll show them a picture of something. I'll just be going through my social media. Do you think that this is real? And I I ask them, "Oh, absolutely." And it'll be like Godzilla. Like, you know, I'm like, "You think that's real?" Like, I mean, like, but getting them to understand what what's possible. >> Yeah. >> Um is a safety factor as well. I mean, there's there's a lot that goes into it. So, I hope that we're thinking about that as a district and and getting ahead of it.

072I'd like to be in the forefront of that as much as we can and it's going to change rapidly. So, >> yeah, >> appreciate that. Thanks, Tom. >> Yeah, great. The playbook, the immersion program. I'm I'm super excited about heading in the right direction. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. Uh, Metadam President, I need your signature at the end of this. Um, >> of course, >> for for for diplomas, so I'll I'll catch up with you later. >> I'll catch up with you. All right. Thank you very much. All right. Um, moving on to section 3.3, the superintendent update. >> All right. Well, thank you. Uh, uh, welcome back. Second semester. We're well underway and, uh, it was like the longest week ever last week, but I think we all made it. Uh, we're hitting the

073groove now, so we're really in the swing of things. I want to do a quick facility update. If you could put that up there, send that. If you hit uh slideshow there that'll So I want to start with uh I'll have you switch here in a second the second drive that we've been working on forever and uh uh like I I shared I don't know if it was the last board of me I definitely shared in our update that we uh had a very positive meeting with the Butler County Engineers Office finally Um and uh we are working through that. We think that ODOT is going to get uh some grants to make a lot of the improvements to the intersection at Yankee 63 which makes you know uh us moving forward with that possible.

074Uh the thing is we need a construction entrance uh because we are starting uh early site package this spring breaking ground all that kind of stuff. So our you know uh this this is my very technical sorry and didn't use AI for this at all. >> The uh this is my drawing of the second drive. It's really hard to see on this but there is a little access drive right there to the field that actually splits. There's two uh plots split like this. I believe one of them is Garver Farms, one of them is Michael Garver. I don't remember which is which. same owner, but they're two separate plots. So, um their thought was that if it ever one of them gets sold off and there's an access road, it would come along the line

075there. So, they would like ours to line up there, which actually is the perfect spot because uh if we do any expansion of as we do a turn lane for that, >> we won't have it's just long enough that we don't have to knock on this guy's door and say, "Hey, we're just stealing part of your property." So, it it it's only going to widen on our property, which is great. Uh with that, we knew that the uh improvements to Yankee and 63 are not going to be done to start school next year. So our thought was that we were going to do the second drive as the construction entrance. Uh we worked through that with the engineers office a little bit. And then when we got to, this is kind of the beauty of

076collaboration. We got to sit down with the architects and uh Robertson they talked about uh so what they would do is this would be a construction drive but then they would have to put in a temporary construction drive that would take it back here to keep it all the way from because this is the elementary playground. >> The problem is that this then becomes construction entrance to the new high school over here. >> Well, you guys know how this is in the fall >> with athletics, even during the day with PE. Um, kids are crossing here constantly and that's to be honest, it's a safety issue and nobody was really comfortable with that. We we could have made it work. It would have been fencing, whatever. But um, I don't remember who came up with

077this idea. It actually might have been me, >> it was a good idea, so it probably was not mine, but >> take the credit. Take the credit. So we thought this will be the instead of creating so you know we even looked at how do could we come off 63 somewhere can we come out of this neighborhood somewhere for construction entrance uh until this one's complete uh but uh with the grading and with getting access from these neighborhoods it just wasn't going to work. So uh what our plan is as of now the other part of this is it's all on our property. We don't have to ask anybody to do anything. So um this will be the main entrance to the school and it will be a temporary drive here and then we will

078build a drive which eventually will connect to here and be the second access drive. Um and then they will gate this and then this will be the construction drive uh most of the time. Uh they said they would be able to open it up on Fridays or hightra, you know, graduations, whatever, where we can have people leaving here and here, position a police officer there, whatever. So then once this is completely uh or the 63 improvements which is are scheduled hopefully to be the summer of 27th then we could uh open this up as the regular main entrance and leave this again just as construction until it's done. And then when the building is completely done we will have two access drives. Uh there will be some modifications to this. Again, that's the traffic engineers

079that will do that. >> But again, we will have two full access drives, which is a great great thing. >> Uh the temporary drive, again, growing pains. It's, you know, everybody's like, we want two drives right now, but it's to get through the construction. We're still going to have one main access, but it will be uh going up here. then um that can go away and then we will have the two two drives there. So, there are growing pains during construction. There are going to be things that aren't perfect, but I I do think that's a really good solution. It removes it keeps construction all over on this side. Removes any of our concerns and and hazards and student safety behind the building there. So, >> what happened to the temporary drive we talked about

080paralleling the the existing drive? So that we would spend just about as much money making a temporary construction drive that we would to do this. And this is uh not going to be >> it's flat. >> Yeah, it's flat. It's not going to be too bad. So to be honest, this is a safety wise we think this is the best option and costwise we think this is the best. >> Is there any benefit to making that temporary >> a permanent fixture? We possibly uh again that is something when we meet with clients here but as of right now we're just doing it as per temporary but I don't know if >> I don't know what the benefit would be but >> another gated out so you can force people back down but yeah we'll I'll

081let you guys know >> making that a temporary out then you got >> and you got two outs coming and one of them coming the same place as it is today. >> Yeah. Yeah. I have a quick question regarding the second drive. I'm assuming it's not I mean it's going to be finished, but obviously we will go back and refinish it once all the construction is done. We'll finish both. >> Yes, it'll be a >> I I can speak to this because I actually worked asphalt construction. >> So, what we'll do is they will do the all the >> they'll do the tree removal and I think I shared with you we're going to try to do that as soon as possible because of the bats bats. And then uh they will do the drive

082all the way to about 10 feet from the road. That's where as far closest as you can get. And then so they'll do the base and then they will do a uh base asphalt as well. And then they will come you know that once everything is done then they'll come back and we'll do a finish coat on top. >> Okay. That's what I figured. I just thought I'd ask. >> Just just throwing this out there for consideration if there's any benefit at the top of the second drive of having that be a roundabout for any reason. just something to consider as as people are coming in and out. Um that >> I actually when we met with Kleiner I haven't heard that but I have heard poss. >> Yeah. But if you in the day

083if it's open, >> it won't be open. It'll be gated so nobody can get through except >> No, what I'm saying is on the construction where you got construction there in the old driveway right there. >> Mhm. >> Yep. >> They're going to come off a Yankee and you got people that are going up there all day long for construction, right? >> It'll uh they're going to do some sort of gating where it's not open where people can't get through except for construction. >> They'll probably have a passport like a key card. open up a gate or they might even just put a they manual. >> I've I've seen a lot of construction sites where they actually have a guy sitting there and and he's that's his job all day is let people through a

084gate. >> So >> yeah. >> Does this affect Butler Tech's Yes. >> kids a lot of how they are going to get in and out of their property. Right. >> I don't we had the discussion but I don't remember if they're I believe they're just going to have to probably go around >> all the way around. >> We're going to have a little bit of heartburn. Yep. But in the long run, it's going to be a bene benefit to the entire district. >> Yeah. It's a it's a shortterm >> Yes. >> Well, both driveways at the end of the at the end of the day have got to be redone, don't they? >> Yes. >> Both roads. >> Yep. >> We have like when we paved the front here, we held off on this just

085because we knew this was coming. >> Yep. >> Because it needs it. We patched some it refinish. >> Well, that's exciting news. I mean, it's been long talked about, long thought about, and it's I'm glad to see we finally see a little light at the end of the tunnel, and it's coming to fruition. >> And I did meet with Greg Wilkins uh this morning, the Butler County Engineer. Uh not that I necessarily need his blessing because it's all honored, but I just wanted to keep him in the loop and he was appreciative and he he approves of this. I know at one time you had mentioned like when we do get the second drive and it's all done >> that one would be incoming and one would be exiting. >> Are you still thinking that

086way or are we going to make Kleiners uh when they did it they said it would be better to have two-way traffic on both >> on both sides. If that's the case I kind of agree with AJ in having roundabouts at both ends just to help with that traffic. >> Yeah. Um it's just just a thought and a suggestion to think about and see what the >> I don't know new drivers in a roundabout >> they need to learn. >> It's it's very >> they're everywhere. High school over the weekend. They've got roundabouts up within their >> closer to the school, you know. So I mean it's more common. Edgewood's got about three of them around their school. >> I just Yeah. Just something to consider. Obviously there's professionals that know if that makes >>

087Yeah. And there's costs are expensive. >> Sure. >> Yeah. >> If you go to the next slide, Cinda, >> I want to talk about the new gym. Uh we had our uh work session and we looked at again just kind of the bones of things and talked about it and I remember talking about the original entrance was right here. Um, and then a possible one up here. Well, uh, we made those adjustments that we talked about, uh, and looked at things and then this is why collaboration is so important. So, I sat down after we looked at all of this and sat down with Tom and Eric and we talked about the entrances and how it would be kind of cool for teams to come in here and it would help with traffic flow. Well,

088if you go to the next Well, before you go to the next slide, so if I'm sitting right here, this is what we didn't really think of. >> On the edge of each bleachers, say you can't just have those open where kids can fall off the bleachers. They have to have the gates. So, if I'm sitting here and the game is going on down here, go to the next slide. >> This is what I'm looking through. Not just one, but three sets of those or four sets of those. So logistically jail gym back. >> Yeah, that's right. That's that's not going to work. But you can go go back one soon enough. So I sat down after Eric and and Tom and I went through that and they pointed that out. Uh we are looking

089at how do we fix that? So again, uh these are things that we'll probably tweak and adjust as as we move through things. you know, the obviously the the bones are there, but we we can still move these kind of things and getting rid of that also increases our capacity somewhat. So, we'll we'll look at those things and as we we go through those, I'll I'll I'll keep you guys up to date. But, um again, we talked about with the uh alternate being uh some sort of activity, wrestling room, something up this way. if we they think the that's going to fall into the price package which would enable us to have the bleachers open up here for an entrance and then we just have to figure out about traffic down in this corner. So

090that those are the things we'll >> well and the mechanics of those are going to be on three different >> Yep. >> So if if one goes out >> as we sit there with our current ones broken they're stuck out. So >> yeah three separate motors would you know to get those in and out would just it would be a maintenance. Can you just move move those bleachers together and just have the entrances on either side? >> That that's probably where we'll end up. Our concern with that was you got parents and and spectators coming in here and teams coming in here, but I think from a management standpoint, Eric doesn't feel like that's too big of a concern that they could figure that. I mean, if you have to stand there and just >>

091not allow visitors in and out for the two minutes that people are running and we'll figure something out. >> Yeah. make it the guest side or well, you know, or something that maybe is a little bit less active. >> So again, as we move through that, I'll I'll keep you guys updated. >> Um, we had talked about having our community meeting and we still want to plan that. We are thinking sometime in February to do an open community meeting to give everybody like the update. You know, I've gone to a lot of places to share uh I went to a lot of the booster meetings. I went to Mount Pleasant. I, you know, I've shared a lot of that stuff, but we still want to give our community an opportunity to come in and look

092at some things as well. >> Sure. >> Um, and then I just wanted to talk, uh, real briefly. I know Amy talked about the funding uh, challenges that we are facing as a district, not just us, but this is um, a huge shift across the state of Ohio. And as Amy said, you know, we're okay for now, but it's going to be just a matter of time. And so, we talked about uh coming up with some community forums uh as early as next fall to start talking about we need to prepare. We need to continue to educate our public that, you know, we promised them when we opened this new building that we were not going to have to go to them for operating funds. And with them changing the rules, we need them to

093understand it's not that all of a sudden we just don't know how to m manage our money. It's that they have changed the rules on us. So, um there are at my last superintendent meetings, there are a number of districts in Warren and Butler County that these changes have put them in huge financial crisis now >> and they're going to have to go to the ballot as early as this May. And if they don't pass them, it is we're talking 10 10 to 15 million dollars in cuts, hundreds of jobs, programming. Um there are a lot of districts that are in a serious serious need again because of this districts and this board's uh fiscal responsibility. We are okay now. But we also have to look at our finances to stop the bleeding to you

094know we don't want to not give our kids opportunities but we also have to really look at uh our programming and when someone leaves what can we do to consolidate things and and stop the bleeding so to speak to to stretch it. So >> well I know Thomas Hall told us that he's a supporter of performance-based reward systems for for funding and damn it if we're not the best the top school >> top in this county and and >> probably the state one of the best doing the most for Lee state. I agree. >> Well, here's what I'll share about that. When he does say that um we did get a performance-based incentive, but it was what >> 150,000. >> No, we Yeah, we need to we need to make sure that these people are

095held accountable for educating our kids the way they said they're penny that that we're going to get, but it it's nothing meaningful. >> Right. Right. And uh I know Tim talked this last time uh at the last board to meeting me a lot about this and I appreciate all your guys' support. And I do think we need to continue to meet with legislators and as Tim he contacted everybody and their brother to try to get them in here so we can tell our story. And we are having, you know, our visitor uh Dr. Actton who's running for governor is coming by Wednesday. >> But I'll be honest with all the politicians, they're going to use us for a photo op. um and they're going to tell us what we want. The biggest thing to make

096change with our legislators is to continue to educate our public because when we sent out that letter, >> it they didn't like it because they knew that our communities re read those letters and thought, what are they doing? And so, at our last superintendent meeting, we talked again about, you know, what's our next step? Because we got to we have to continue. This is a 12 rounds fight. We need to continue to educate our public. We need to continue to educate our parents because they're not going to make changes until they start hearing from our communities and our parents. >> Yeah. And they need to start with the school districts that aren't educating their children, that aren't putting them in 99.9% graduation rate, that aren't enriching their lives, that aren't giving them opportunities. Those are

097the districts they need to worry about, not ours. I had a suggestion given to me today and the suggestion was that the county superintendence meeting asked for a Vic to come down and talk to him. >> Well, Tim reached out to >> Yeah, but he said they said that you would get uh more action coming to that group than you would to an individual district. >> Um Oh, I'd be more than open to that. I don't know if they'll if they'll entertain that or not. I know Tim had some communication back and forth with somebody there, but uh his message Amy and I were talking about it today. He he talked about he wants, you know, lower property taxes and and too much burden on the taxpayers. And then in the other end, he said

098teachers are way underpaid. >> Can't have a money come from somewhere. So, you know, I would love to have a conversation. >> That's a question to ask him. Where's that going to come from? So, >> well, what's what's funny to me is this whole thing is I I told Tim as Amy was giving her presentation. I can't believe our elected officials sat in a room and they came out of it thinking that this was a good idea. I I I don't understand it. >> Get some votes. >> Well, he put it perfectly. They did all of this and it's going to as a when you get your tax bill relief, it's going to be so minuscule that you're like, "Okay." But what it did to the public schools is catastrophic. >> Yeah. 1,000%. And it

099just makes me believe even more that majority of our elected officials in Columbus know nothing about education. >> I think it's time to send him another letter and say, "Hey, what's what's your answer?" >> They have zero understanding of finance, school finances. I agree with you. And that was our discussion, Tom, is what is our next letter? What are our ne next steps? So, >> they des you deserve an answer. >> I say we send them a letter for an answer. >> Well, yeah, but you got to go send a letter and say, "Hey, >> public is saying, "Where's your answer?" >> Yeah. >> We'll be happy to take 50. We're going to let you off the hook now for 50 million versus the 80 million that >> took took advantage of us on for

100over the years. >> Give them a 30 million discount. >> Yeah. Let me know who else you want me to email. >> All right. Hey, I'll call. Should >> take a little second term. AJ's ready to go. >> We We got Tim emailing and AJ calling. We're good. >> I'll knock on doors. >> Well, I can tell you right now that Columbus is afraid of Amy. >> Afraid of Amy? >> They're afraid of me. >> No. >> Yes. Yes. They're afraid of you. >> Yes. >> They don't know me, but >> they would be. They would be. >> I didn't want to put more on the end of that, but All right. And then lastly, I just wanted to end with it is January and it's board appreciation month. Um, I've said this many times,

101but Amy and I have had this conversation and and when we go to our county meetings, uh, we are so fortunate to have such a supportive board of not just the two of us, but uh, again, when your decisions are, um, what is best for our kids and what is best for our this district that, you know, there's no hidden agendas, there's no um, I hear horror stories and I just I can't be more appreciative of of the support of qualified and we are very fortunate. >> Thank you to support you guys. You do a great job. >> Thank you very much. >> They're excited out there too. >> They are they love a good superintendence update. >> You have room at the right time. >> School board appreciation month >> off the chain. >>

102Yes. All right. So, okay. We're going to move on to 4.1. Approval of the minutes. >> Is it the treasur's consent agenda? >> Treasure. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Okay. The treasur consent agenda. I recommend approval of the treasur's consent agenda as presented. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All right. Discussion. My only thing, we are on track with our September forecast. Um, as of today, um, as I said, we'll have a forecast update in February. So, we'll kind of see where all this lands, but I don't expect to make too many changes. Um, except for I think I mentioned this, and I can't remember if it was at the last board meeting or if it was in one of my updates to you. Um we will see a an adjustment on some residential incentive district

103parcels that um they over the last few years they haven't been adding them to the residential incentive district. So it's about 350 parcels. So we actually lost $40 million in property value. Um but they're moving into the incentive district and we'll get the pilot payments on the flip side of it. So, what it'll do, it should be revenue neutral, but it because we get the city payment, usually a month after we get the property tax payment, we might see a dip and then it'll come back up in the following month. So, that it could be like March, April. Um, just depends on how quickly they get everything to us. Um, so that kind of moves things in different buckets, but that actually also impacts our state funding because our valuations went down. So, we might

104be benefiting from that a little bit on the state side. Um, but until we get actual numbers, I'll have a better idea of that. Um, outside of that, nothing exciting in January or sorry, this is December. Um, and then we do have several donations on here and I thank everyone for those. Um, and I do want to say the bond fund report, we combined that with the treasures report grouping. So, there's a new report in there called the um Ohio cash position report. I think I showed you a couple of times. I'm going to put that one in every time. That is all funds. So, you'll see our debt funds, our construction funds, like that's all funds just in case you want to check that out. But the debt funds are included in there. So,

105the bond fund report is kind of incorporated into that now. Okay. >> Um but it does look a little bit different. So, if you have any questions, let me know. >> So, is all the money where it's supposed to be? >> Yes, it is. >> All right. Thank you. Okay. >> Thank you for the donations, everybody. >> Yes. >> Yep. >> Thank you for the donations. Okay. Um, Miss Moore. Um, >> please call the role. Thank you. Mr. Carpenter, >> I. >> Mr. Leeds, >> I. >> Mr. Grant, >> I. >> Mr. Fulham, >> I. >> Mrs. Hegedorn, >> I. Motion carried. All right. Superintendent's personal consent agenda. I recommend the approval of the superintendent HR personnel consent agenda. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Uh pretty straightforward. We got a we have one hire

106uh our team coordinator who will be uh transitioning here soon and some supplementals. >> Okay. All right. Um, Miss Moore, please make the roll call. >> Mr. Fulham, >> I. >> Mr. Grant, >> I. >> Mr. Carpenter, >> I. >> Mr. Leeds, >> I. >> Mrs. Hegedorn, >> I. Motion carried >> 6. >> Yeah. 6.1 >> 6.1 Superintendent Other Business Consent agenda. I recommend the approval of the superintendent other business consent agenda as present. >> So move >> second. >> Tom, >> let's say Tim first and Tom second. >> Uh we have a number of early graduates that finished up their coursework here in January. Again, they're always invited back for the commencement ceremony in the spring and then uh the uh high school curriculum guide that or not curriculum guide uh course guide that

107Mr. Perhask >> okay any other discussion? >> Congratulations. A lot of them. >> Yeah, there was quite a few of them. So, congratulations. >> Yeah, it's always good to see and I always want to have them come back for the actual graduation ceremony. once in a lifetime. So I hope they do consider and come back for that. >> We do it good here in Monroe, don't we? >> We do. >> I question. Do most kids do come back for graduation? I kind of figured. >> Okay. >> All right. All right. Any other discussion? >> No. >> All right. Miss Moore, please call the role. >> Mr. Carpenter, >> I. >> Mr. Leeds, >> I. >> Mr. Grant, >> I. >> Mr. Fulham, >> I. >> Mr. Mrs. Hegorn, >> I. Motion carried. And then we

108have 7.1. >> Uh, it's recommended the board approve the contract with the Montgomery County ESC for a student of the restoration ranch for an outside placement. >> So moved, >> Mr. Leeds >> second. >> And Mr. um Fum >> again, this is just a perdm. So if student doesn't stay, we just pay for the amount that they're there. So >> can I just ask a quick question? Mhm. >> All the way to Montgomery County. Is there like nothing in Butler County or Warren County? >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Yeah. There I mean there is as we've talked about the restoration range kids come in with so many needs and there's waiting lists on every that's a whole another topic but Nancy has to spend days just to find placement transportation and the amount of hours

109that she and Lindsay give to arranging this. But uh so if her get a get her in there that'll you know >> okay it's actually that cost >> that specifically was made that's closer to their home. Oh, okay. Their district of resanch. >> Okay. >> I was just curious. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> All right. Um, Miss Moore, please call the role. >> Mr. Leeds, >> I. >> Mr. Fulham, >> I. >> Mr. Carpenter, >> I. >> Mr. Grant, >> I. >> Mrs. Hegedorn, >> I. Motion carried. >> 7.2, approval of the contract for Conger mobile classroom relocation. >> Uh, it's recommended the board approve the contract with Conger to relocate the modular classroom. >> So moved. >> Second. >> You guys are ahead of >> Are these the um >> coming from Middletown? >>

110The ones that we purchased from >> scheduled to hopefully be brought over January the week of January 26th >> and those are going to the primary school. And the ones that are currently there are going away or we using them for storage or >> they're >> beat up and probably going to be used for storage >> until whatever. And then uh >> Kager already has uh some people that are interested in buying them from us when we're not. So hopefully we can recruit a chunk of that cost. >> Where are we putting the new ones? Do you know yet? >> It's right next to them. >> Next to them. It's actually one big one, but it has four classrooms in it and a hallway. >> And those are those four classrooms are used for what

111again? >> Do we know? >> Uh some specials, uh some PT counselor's office, possibly small group, EL, I don't remember exactly, but yeah, we're we just we there's no room over there. So >> yeah. >> Well, good job finding those. I know those were >> was a lot of work. So >> yeah, I'm glad to see that that's coming to fruition. >> Yep. >> Um once those are moved, how soon will we using them? >> They have to once they're moved, they have to get put in place and then there's electrical and all that kind of stuff. So >> Okay. >> Sooner than later, I hope. >> Do you know if they have a bathroom on them? >> They do not have a bathroom. Okay. So >> Okay. All right. Any other discussion? Nope. >>

112All right. Miss Moore, please call the role. >> Mr. Grant. >> I. >> Mr. Carpenter. >> I. >> Mr. Leeds. >> I. Mr. Fulham. >> I. >> Mrs. Hegodorn. >> I. Motion carried. We'll do 7.3. Approval of European student trip for summer of 27. >> Uh, it's recommended the board approve the European trip with EF tours for the summer of 2027. Spain, Switzerland, and >> I'm going. >> I want to go. >> So moved. Mr. Carpenter and Mr. Grant. >> What age groups is this? >> High school. We do this every other year. Is that right, Tom? >> European tour. Is it or European trip? Is it every other year? >> I can't remember if it's >> I don't think it's every year. >> It's every other year. >> Every other. >> Yeah, I think

113it's every other >> because you did you went the last one, right? >> Oh, okay. >> Are they looking for chaperons? >> Flight 13 hours. process of >> All right. >> Very cool. >> Pretty trip. >> Any other discussion? >> All right. Miss Moore, please call the role. >> Mr. Carpenter. >> I. >> Mr. Grant. >> I. >> Mr. Leeds. >> I. >> Mr. Fulham. >> I. >> Mrs. Heaggedorn. >> I. Motion carried. >> Who's this? >> We're going to go 7.1 Approval Extra of extracurricular contracts for the 2526 school year. >> Yeah. I don't know. >> 7.4. >> Oh man. >> 7.4. for >> this got to be a lot of discussion here. >> We might be here till 10:00. >> I was excited to see this. I was very happy for Mr. Carpenter.

114>> I want to I want to see some >> get out there on the mat with the girls. >> Yeah. >> Wrestling. >> Let's not talk about that. >> That sounded terrible, but girls wrestling like >> it's fabulous. >> I'm stoked. >> I guess we can't talk about till we make a motion. >> I'm sorry. >> So move. So >> second. >> Oh, we got Mr. Leads and then Mr. Fulham second. Okay. >> Any any discussion now? >> It's really a pretty exciting uh Adam and I were talking about that today, weren't we? Was that you, Adam? Yeah. I mean, it grown from one one student a couple years ago. I think there's seven girls this year, and it just keeps continuing to grow. >> I'm trying to get out there to get some photographs.

115I haven't had a chance to yet, but they'll be at Northmont on Saturday. >> North. Yeah. >> Yeah. Just to see that program like go from all boys when my son graduated in 22 wrestling to see a a girls wrestling team. It's it's pretty awesome to see that. >> Very cool. >> They have a little uh they have a match this Wednesday out in Anderson, too. So, everybody wants to make a hourong drive to Anderson. >> Okay. >> Anderson on Wednesday. Yes. That is a great restaurant out there. Hold on. >> Yeah, very exciting. >> All right. Um, Mrs. Moore, please call the role. >> Mr. Leads, >> I. >> Mr. Fulham, >> I guess. >> Mr. Carpenter, >> abstain. >> Mr. Grant, >> volunteer is always free. >> I >> No, I think I

116got distracted. Okay, Mrs. Hegen, I think. >> I motion carried. >> All right. On to section 8.1. Comments from the board. >> Got a lot of comments. All right. Decide. >> I know. We're We're going to stick with the normal for now, Mr. Lee. >> Okay. Uh at this time, I want to congratulate Debbie and AJ as our board president and vice president respectively um for the coming year. This will be a very busy year as we have the groundbreaking for the new high school and uh as well as the new driveway for the current complex. And I want to thank Mr. Carpenter for his board leadership for the past two years. He did a great job. >> Average. >> He did a great job. I'll back him on that. And as always, thanks to

117Robert for his great leadership and to Amy for her awesome job as our treasure. And thanks to the principles, teachers, and the rest of the staff who continue to see see to it that our students get the best education possible. You guys have done a fantastic job, and we don't say it enough. That's all I have. >> All right. Thank you. >> Now, you're down here when you can start saying something. You >> I know. This is wild. >> I know. I was sitting here thinking I should had you go first this time, but go ahead, Mr. Carpenter. >> I don't mind always going last. That's always nice, too. Um I don't know. I haven't really thought about it too much. So, but um welcome back everybody. It's kind of crazy. Missy and I were

118talking about this last night. Um there's only 18 weeks of school left for this year. And of those, there's like nine 4 day weeks in those 18 or something crazy, right? So it's it's like you know we always talk about how fast the second semester goes, how quick we go from like Christmas break to like our all of our favorite which is graduation. Like we love graduation, right? >> But you know it's so it'll it might be January, but we'll be sweating out there on the football field together sooner rather than later watching Mr. Buskerk cry during graduation. So this will be a good time this year, everybody. Yep. But uh >> you know how hurt a guy get him going already. He's already too >> I know. >> Just take a drink. Come on.

119You'll be all right. >> But um but yeah, so thank you Mr. Leads for the kind words. Um Miss Hagadorn, you're going to do great. >> Thank you. >> And if you need any help, >> call. >> Just talk to Mr. Grant. >> But uh that's all I have. >> All right, Mr. Grant. Uh, congratulations to AJ, Debbie, and Tim for being sworn in for your new term. Congratulations to Debbie as being the president, AJ staying on board. I'll echo that. Uh, and especially um what Tom said about this, Robert, Amy, and the rest of the staff. You guys do a phenomenal job. And uh if we could put up a billboard, but I know Amy would probably not allow us to spend the money to put a billboard up to thank you guys for

120everything that you do. Um, I would do it in a heartbeat, but you guys are the best. So, that's it. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Fulham. >> I like that idea. I think we should get a billboard on 63. >> I like that. >> We Well, we do have the M down there. We could >> We could make our own. We could have the art department make our own. >> There you go. >> The engineering program. >> Yeah. >> The that create the creative class that Mr. Pas >> idea coming to fruition real quick. >> I want to congratulate Debbie as well. I know it's a long time coming. Um, served two years as vice president and was willing to take a step down and and I think you're going to do a fantastic

121job. It just goes to show how functional this board is and and and really making sure that everybody gets an opportunity and a voice and I'm looking forward to uh not having to sit next to Tim. So, >> it's true. >> I'm just kidding. Good job. >> That's a red hair, isn't it? >> I appreciate all your time, too, the last couple years. You did a good job. He really got better from that first one. So, couldn't get any worse. I promise you that. >> All right, with that said, I got a couple high fives for around the hive all sports edition. High fives to our girls basketball program who have opened up the opportunity to have K to second grade youth basketball for about 40 students this winter. The K2 program is ran by

122our coaches and players each Saturday morning, meaning our varsity student athletes. In many cases are starting the Saturday with two hours of volunteer work with the youth program before heading to a shootaround and game that afternoon. It's a privilege to have the level of commitment that I've seen from our students, coaches, and community. Thank you for providing this opportunity to our youngest Hornets, giving your time and care and developing their love for the game of basketball. And I said younger, they're all girls. So having about 40 girls play basketball here at uh at the primary school each each weekend is awesome. And then staying with that theme, I've got a high five here for our boys varsity basketball team who has begun the season with a historic 10-1 start. Currently undefeated at 5-0 in league

123play while scoring 653 points to their opponents 471. We have two scorers in the top four in the league. both sophomores and Colt Howard averaging 18 points per game while Ty Perkins is averaging just below at 17.6 points per game and Bryant Lee is averaging 3.9 steals per game which places him second currently in this WBL. Uh both programs are really fun to watch. I encourage uh somebody to get out to a game, wrestling match, bowling uh match, any any event that maybe you haven't been out to. Girls wrestling sounds really enticing. getting to watch Tim out there do his thing, >> yelling at everybody. >> Volunteer coach. >> Uh but yeah, I just want to congratulate the boys and hopefully uh we can keep it going. Everybody stays healthy. >> That's all I got.

124>> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Fulham. Um I'd like to start with uh you know, thank you for the opportunity to be president this year. I'm looking forward to it and um just want to do all good things for the staff, the teachers, Amy and Mr. Busker, and the students most importantly. So, thank you for that opportunity. Um, like to also thank Mr. Prohaskca for his presentation and all the work that went into behind the scenes for those new courses. They sound like fabulous. It's always we always want to find good things for the students to learn so that they can continue to grow and do and strive after graduation. So, that's what it's all about is helping the students to find their path, whatever that may be. So, I I really enjoy that we're

125having so many different options for the students. So, thank you for all that work for everybody that was involved with that. Um, I'm looking forward to Let's finish the second half of this year. Like Mr. Carpenter said, it's going to go fast. I don't know. He said 18 weeks and nine of them. Four. What? Who Who looks at that kind of thing? But go Tim. >> Teachers. I guess teachers do. I guess >> you want to be on the billboard, don't you? >> But but go for that. So, um, I'd also like like to thank Amy. I was texting her last night. and I had some questions and um just to take some time out on on a Sunday evening. I didn't even realize it was Sunday evening when I was like, "Hey, this question,

126this question." So, thank you very much for being available for that. I really appreciate that. So, on that note, I would like to um move to 9.1. Um take a motion to adjourn the meeting. >> So, moved. >> Mr. Grant and Mr. >> You didn't break the record. I did not break the record. Yeah, m Mr. Carpenter, I did not break the record. We're going to adjourn the meeting at 7:17. >> Congratulations. Good job, Daddy. >> Yep. >> Have a roll call. >> Yes. >> Miss Moore, please call the RO. >> Mr. Grant, >> I. >> Mr. Carpenter, >> I. >> Mr. Leeds, >> I. >> Mr. Fulham, >> I. >> Mrs. Haggedorn, >> I. >> Motion carries. >> Have a great night, everyone. Thank you. >> Thank you, everyone. Run, run.