001Everybody guys ready? >> All right. I'd like to call the uh May meeting of the Northwest Board of Education to order. We can please rise. Say the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge algiance 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. All right. Roll call. >> Mr. Gindlesburgger >> here. >> Mr. Chville >> here. >> Mrs. Gearhart >> here. Mr. Wyatt >> here. >> Mr. Schilling >> here. Do I have any additions or deletions to the agenda? We do not. Okay. Then would like a recognition of retirees. >> Okay. Uh So I just take a moment to look at this this list and just to think, you know, how are we ever going to replace
002these people, right? All the time and the energy and the effort they put in for years and years. It's a great list of people. So I want to publicly thank them for their service and I'll uh I'll list them all now. Vera, Marissa Gins, Charles Swagger, Brian Garrett, Terresa Lewis, Rebecca Shamp, Tanya Gatewood, Donald Leonardos, Leslie Thompson, and Donald Walter. Thank Thank them all for their service. We appreciate it. >> Yeah, that's awesome. >> I always look at this group like, how are we ever going to replace these people? Somehow we do. We've been doing it. So I appreciate all the hard work our principal put in as well. So thank you guys. >> All right. We have a presentation from the lights. There she is. >> Sure. You know what? Thanks for having me
003this evening. My name is White. I'm the scholarship committee chairman of the point club. And once again, it's my pleasure to be here to announce that our senior character award recipient is Annie Guest. Our graduating seniors are a very busy bunch. So Annie's parents are actually here this evening to accept the $100 award that we have for her. And her counterpart Cameron Palmer is also unable to be present. So I always stop by his house to drop him off his award as well. We give ed of the year character awards to the second fifth and eighth graders and it's very busy time of the year but it is very rewarding as well. So regarding Annie she is a remarkable young woman. Her active involvement in so many areas is amazing. You all know the club
004is all about community service. Well her grades and school activities are exceptional. But when you look at how she found time to volunteer uh at church and complete 30 hours of community service per year with the National Honor Society just joining Northwest during her sophomore year. Her dedication to giving up her time to others is evident Annie plans to attend Walsh College with a major business and marketing. And my last comment about Annie is something I'd like to share that she described about making connections in our community. So in her words, the connection that comes from interacting with members of the community who are seeking help creates a mindset of empathy for all those serving. This city feels more friendly when everyone is sharing their triumphs and struggles with each other. I love that. So
005on behalf, it's my pleasure to present her award this evening to her parents Jeremy and Alexis. Yes. Thank you very much. Congratulations. >> Congratulations. Let her let her know we sit. >> Thanks. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you, ma'am. Thank you folks. >> Rita, you have a update? >> I do. >> I went to the board leadership institute in May. And it was Friday and Saturday May 8th and 9th. The keynote speaker there was David Ka and his topic was making joy your superpower. Good attitude required cape optional and the whole speech was amazing. I mean just it was a great way to not to start the program. And he says if you have joy you'll do the following. You'll show up with passion and presence. You'll step up because kindness is a legacy. You'll
006lift up because gratitude changes perception. And lighten up because humor connects. It was great. I I think um thank you guys for letting me attend. I went to six sessions, four on Friday and two on Saturday. The first one was called Reading Reimagine through Student AI. There was a group of seven six of them were there seniors at uh Ridgewood High School in Kashakton and they took a year-long computer class where they designed and built an artificial intelligence supported literacy platform to address reading engagement and comprehension. These kids did it by themselves. The teacher just let them go. Their parents were somehow involved in education so they helped them out. But it was really cool what they could do and the program could be used for grades 1 through 10 and schools actually used them.
007A parochial school used them and they needed to make some changes and those kids were able to do that with with no problem. So it was pretty amazing and the kids did the presentation. The teacher went and said they're pretty good. I just see I didn't think I was going to get any kids in the class and ended up with these seven girls and they were amazing. The next one I took was about policy. Uh it dealt how dealt with how policies are developed and where our authority begins and where it ends. Um we learned about the roles and responsibilities of the school board and the administration. And there were some questions that we need to consider and many of which we already do. When was the last time your entire policy manual was reviewed?
008It suggested that it be reviewed five to seven years and I remember reviewing it a long time ago. Jim, do you remember that? It was policy book was like this thick and it took forever. It was really not a lot of fun but we need to do that. Um we voting open meetings and regulars sorry another thing was how are policies communicated to stakeholders? Does your district have a polic committee. Um, is there a process to ensure that district level procedures are in line with board policies, handbooks, building regulations, and that kind of thing? We do most of those. The next one was public records. Um, I learned that you can't ask why a person is making a request. Discipline is a public record. Background checks are not public records, but personnel files are. And
009I learned that the treasur I didn't know Steph that you are responsible for keeping the records. >> She knows >> you know. Um the next session was um effective board relations and um circle bills schools um represented this one and they had a lengthy um set of operating protocol that every board member had so they knew what they had to do when they came to the meetings. And here are a few of them. Students are our highest priority. Always follow the chain of command. Use collective decision making process. Do an annual board of education self assessment or evaluation. Utilize input from the superintendent and treasurer. The board always acts as one body. Avoid marathon board meetings and speak only to agenda issues. The next one was rules, risks, and realities of law. Um the session
010just went over how we conduct a board meeting and we talked about Robert's rules of orders, consent agendas, motions, voting, open meetings, and regular special emergency meetings. The last one was my favorite. It was called bridging the divide, building relationships between party lines. Talked about what happens when we argue with one another. And this quote was given. Empathizing with someone you profoundly disagree with does not compromise your own deeply held beliefs and endorse theirs. It just means acknowledging the humanity of someone who was raised very differently than you. And when you bridge the divide, these are things to consider. We're not here to argue, but to understand. Assume good intent and good intentions. Be curious, not furious. Listen to understand, not to win. Use eye statements, not you, accusations. Find common values. Stay grounded when
011things get tense. Know when to exit gracefully and build relationships even if you can't resolve the situation. Then we got into groups and we got these cards and we had to play the person that this card describes. So someone could have been very liberal, someone very conservative in between. They had different different kinds of values and we had to as each group come up with three um we role played. We had to come up with three of the five amendments that we all agreed on. And it was really funny because this one guy, his role was totally different than he believed, but he played it to the hill. It was very good. And we ended up with our three and everybody talked about it. And the the kind of neat thing about it, every group
012came up with the same three. So they were all about the kids. And then we had a lunchon and um You guys who are on the board probably heard the name Mark Bobo. He spoke um and he spoke with a a board of education too. And I learned that he was the son of a teacher I worked with in African schools. So that was kind of neat to meet him. And the main takeaways and these I thought were extremely important. Always put children above politics and we're a board of education not a board of egos. It was a great great workshop. Thank you. >> Thanks. >> All right, Sean. >> Okay. Uh, very quickly, just want to point out a couple things. Um, >> okay. The first thing I just want to say congratulations to
013the class of 2026. We had 163 graduates and it's been a very special class this year. So, I want to congratulate all those all those kids. I also want to Congratulations and thank you to Mr. Cochland and his team. It was a very smooth graduation and we appreciate all your effort. You and your team, you guys did an outstanding job. So, thank you for that. >> Uh, next thing, facilities update. Very quickly, I just want to remind you our school board on June 16th 1:30. We'd like to do a board tour if you're available. I know you guys are all very busy people, but if you're free, uh, we are making pretty good progress and you guys can see it just by driving by. all the growth that's happening, especially with the addition right here.
014But, uh, there's growth in most spots and, uh, we're pretty excited about that. So, on the 16th, 1:30, we'll just meet at top the hill by the by the trailers if you are free, but I'll reach out before then to see if you're available or not. Okay. Uh, turf is making great progress. I sent you some of the pictures. I appreciate you guys and your input as well. Um, if you haven't had a chance, go look at it. I I got very mo It was like Field of Dreams. I got very emotional when I went out and looked at it. It was so awesome and I'm excited for our kids uh soccer, football, band to be out on the field and uh we look forward to that. So, it's they're they're making great progress. It's
015just mind-blowing. So, take a look if you have a chance. Um the most important thing tonight is this. Uh we have a financial outlook we'd like to share with you tonight. Uh Steph's going to go into that. We'll both kind of chip in on that. We have Are we gonna get that on the screen or No, I'm sorry. Can we get that on the screen? >> Sure. What kind of What's it on? Is it >> or No, we don't have to. You guys have this. So, what we're Okay, we're not going to have it on the screen. That's okay. But we do have handouts for that. We'll go through that now. And then I'll take this this uh I'll take this plan and put it on our website. Get it out there by tomorrow. Just
016wanted to make sure you guys had an awareness of that. You want to ask questions, pops, whatever, we can we can do that tonight. Sorry. Did I wake you up? My goodness gracious. >> He's like, "What? What?" Sorry. All right. Sorry about that. But with that, uh, I'll hand it over to you, Steph. >> Thank you. >> So, we've been working over the past couple months to look at, um, staffing and where we're at and where we're headed. And when I started to think about it, um, the first slide kind of tells a story of where we're at. We are in the business to educate students. Um, looking at our enrollment numbers over the past since 2020, we're down 200 students. Um, and we're projecting based on historical uh data that will continue to go
017down. That might not happen, but that's where we're projecting. Um, so having said that, we're also looking um out of the 15 1,593 students that were educating, we also started to dig into um who are these students. A little over 1,400 of them are uh Northwest residents, but then we also have uh a good portion is open enrolled. And there's two types of open enrollment as we started to dig in. We have uh discretionary open enrollment and discretionary which are things like courtplaced uh types of situations where it's really not up to us. The reason I bring in open enrollment is we've talked about the fact that we're on the guarantee, which means the state of Ohio thinks um basically they think that uh um our portion of the funding should be higher, but at
018one point, I think it was 2021, they were never going to give us less. Well, what's happening is, and we'll get to that slide in a minute. I might be jumping ahead. We just keep getting further on this guarantee. And so, what's happening is open enrollment used to give us some additional funds. It now longer does that. And so, are we spending our dollars to educate students in another district? and you know, could we make some reductions um if we weren't doing that? Again, it's not going to impact the amount of funding we're getting. So, we're looking at that as well. >> Um >> can I interject something here too? I mean, this is obviously these are projections and the numbers that we have seen and so we're taking that push into 2030. Obviously, if
019we are grow, this community is growing. They are building new homes. You guys know that. just not this is a problem that's happening all over the state of Ohio that it's just shrinking in population anyway. Um ours is not as rapid as as other school districts surrounding us. But uh and there is building going on. We just haven't seen the kids coming in uh like we you know like you would expect with that much building. You know what you I mean you know that you know what's happening here. >> And and actually I was at u a training last week and they reported statewide and nationally public school enrollment is down everywhere partially just due to demographics but also due to charter schools there's more choice >> that was part of it >> you said
020there's no additional funding for uh open enrollment kids that we get >> correct >> so the money doesn't come with the >> that's a relatively new change too and that's why we're looking >> because we're on this guarantee Okay. >> And that's why we're looking at limiting, you know, really cutting back on open enrollment where we can uh we can't, you know, it's simply a we can't we can't afford a lot of school districts can't afford that. So we're we're really cutting back on that. Um so in addition to or in conjunction with I guess also what we're seeing is um projected decrease in enrollment uh coming up just through um the demographic data that we're looking at. And so what does that look like? And I know we've spoken about this before. um the
021enrollment numbers aren't going to support the current staffing patterns K through six. So, we're going to work on through retirements. Um reducing the amount of teachers in each grade down over the next three, maybe four years depending on those retirements. Um, and so we've worked on we've worked with that. Um, and so what we started to do was look at changes we made from last year into this year and how that's going to impact the bottom line this year and then also changes that we're making going into next year and the next year and the next year. and some are through um just not filling positions like I indicated, but also just replacing um retiring staff with, you know, uh step one teachers, it is it's a major impact. Um and when you start to
022project these things out for five years just because of how they compile, there's some major when you look out five years, the impact that last year is huge through salary. And then when you look at also considering benefits, which retirement is a big one. Um and then also we have some updated information around um our insurance costs for next year. They came in lower than we projected and they're also going to give us the one year um well they're indicating that we will. I know that they don't go to vote until June, but we we're kind of feel that they are going to give us the one premium holiday in July. And so when you look at all these things, the impact over time is big. So we start really started to dig into these
023things also because we're looking at our emergency levy which will be renamed fix some levy um is coming and when do we renew that or not uh in light of the myriad of changes in property tax laws. Um and so what we're looking at is we do feel like we need to just renew that levy and with doing that we should be we should be good financially until the end of 2030. um probably beyond that we're going to start working on the next fiveyear forecast here in the next month or two and we'll bring those um the 2030 year back u along with these other years in August. And so what I did was just show um what that looked like with a renewal and without the renewal. Um >> can I interject here too?
024I I I want you guys to know I mean I appreciate Steph's work with this that >> you know I've been through other in other school districts where you hang on to too much staffing. You hang on to too much staffing and suddenly, you know, you're you're in in the red and and you can't get out of it or you end up having reduction in force which kills morale, kills community. It it impacts in so many ways that is just downright negative. And I think by doing this we're being very responsive to our numbers. So suddenly we got an influx of of a thousand students then we'd be having a different conversation obviously but we're we're the three of us and and with the help of our uh principles we are been looking at our
025numbers very carefully and making sure that we're being responsive that when the opportunity is there. So I appreciate that Steph has been leading that and it is going to help us. I was hoping it was more like 2040 but she can't say that. So, but 2030 I'll take it. Sounds like it's a million years from now, but it's only four years from now. It'll be here before you know it. So, I I just I think kudos to her for her work on this. I appreciate that. >> Steph, you had said the enrollment like in K through six doesn't support the staffing. >> Yes. >> What does that do in middle school and high school then? Because I know in high school you're looking at college credit plus you're looking at >> So, those forces get
026reduced as well. >> I think and then I'll let Sean and Deborah jump in because it really has been the three of us. Sean's being extremely kind. Um my first question every time I hear retirement is are we going to fill that position? Um and again, you know, but that's that's me. Sean and Deborah are really the ones looking at does it make sense? Can we or can we not? And so I know we've talked about just just K through six right now and we we have said you know going we have to keep doing this because if those student class sizes are small and this does play out then what happens like I believe and you guys jump in middle school is the biggest classes by far. Yeah. But what but to your point,
027what happens to that then? So go ahead. >> Yeah. So and Deon, you jump in on this too. I I I appreciate I've been leaning a lot. We have been leaning a lot on on Mr. Hirshman and Miss Mariani. So I appreciate those guys with just really taking a strong look at the numbers and and what that means. So we don't know what what that means. I guess to answer your question, in some ways uh the high school has already started to absorb where where they feel like Mrs. Stacy here several years ago. She retired. The numbers weren't there. absorb that position. So, we're being very careful with that. There's a different thing with high school because you have kids going CCP, you have kids going uh to RD drag. So, there there are other
028things at play here that really um you know that we have to lean on our guidance office and uh and our administrators to find out where the numbers are. But if if this were to continue, I guess to answer your question, we're definitely going to have to take a look at that when the time comes. So, I think the more we absorb now. Uh it's it just makes good business sense. I mean, we do that now, it's going to help us down the road. We won't have to ask for additional levy money. So, the community I'm hoping the community realizes that they should be thankful for that and uh you know, we won't have to lay people off and uh there's just a lot of good things that that can happen when you absorb when
029you can. It's just by paying attention. There are a lot of school districts who don't do that. They hang on because they don't want to go through that. They don't those tough conversations and you end up paying a big big price later on and we're trying to avoid that. We're trying to do this so we're thoughtful, we're careful and we can we can remain in pretty good shape financially for a long time. >> I'd imagine it'd be much more difficult to reduce staffing at the high school level because in a take a third grade class you're going to have five, four, whatever it is teachers teaching the exact same. So if the numbers shrink, you can retract that. When you get to the high school level, if you retract a position or don't fill a
030position, that might eliminate a program, >> right? >> Because that's the only teacher that does that. >> So I can see where this works fantastically at the lower levels, but has to be way more careful. >> You're you're right. I mean, you do end up right, Deborah. I mean, you end up we end up losing programming. We've been through that before at other places where it it costs and it just it kills. You hate to say it this way and I don't want to look at Andy when I say it. Um the core content at the high school that's where you easy like you discussed could because teachers like it when I only have you know biology all day long or I only have but there are places where that's not the case if numbers
031go down. So those core subjects first are the ones you look at and then you start looking do people have multiple licenses that they can >> and it's just it's a lot more difficult >> potentially do one grade of biology and next a different grade of general science and combine those two. >> I mean there's just a bunch of scenarios that would have to be played out and we'd have to look at it like right now for next year. It's hard for me to even comprehend this but the biggest class we have is next year in fourth grade and it'll be 138 kids. And you know, we've talked about it the last two years. We've graduated 150s, 160s. We have 99,900 kids coming in in the kindergarten level. So, we're already seeing that it's going
032to impact. So, it's it's not fun. But even when we look at the K5 classes right now going down to five teachers that we've done in a couple grade levels, they're still sitting at 21, 22, 23 kids. It's not like back when we couldn't pass the levy before and we were sitting at 30 kids and 31 kids, 32 in classes. So it's just it's a weird concept for me because decades ago >> we had eight teachers at every grade level. We had Canon when we came to together at the primary, there were eight teachers at every grade level except kindergarten because they were half day. >> So, there were four or five of them, but they still had 10 groups. So, I think it's very smart to remain flexible and I think that's it's smart
033looking ahead at this and yes, it might go back up, but also then have the flexibility >> to flow back in the other direction. >> Yeah, we get move in because birth rates are steadily. You know, >> it's interesting. Gone are the days, not completely gone, but used to be most families were four or five kids. Now it's one or two, >> maybe a third occasionally. We have some families that are bigger, but sometimes it's a blended situation, too. >> It's the exception. >> Yeah. >> Did you have something? Go ahead. First of all, I have five kids. No wonder I got made fun of. Um, so reading this, Steph, want me to paraphrase for a second. >> I see the word cash balance. Is that can that be substituted with the word surplus? >>
034Pressure getting to you. >> I jumped in. I'm sorry. Cash balance. Um I I don't know if I would not serve well >> over time. Yes. >> Cash on hand that isn't allocated to anything. Correct. >> Correct. >> Thank you. So the worst case scenario is in 2030 if we didn't pass new levy. We're still $6.75 million ahead. I think we need to be prepared to address that to the community that can see that even if the levy isn't passed, we're still in pretty good shape. So, we need to make our case for why we need to stay at the level we're at, but it's nice to know that we're not in a Titanic situation that doesn't. So, I think we have our work cut out for us. >> And she'll go over that in
035a minute and talk about that the need. >> Tell you what though, you look at the line. >> Yeah. >> Look at look at the line here. With it, it stays almost static. >> Without it, you're going to be looking at at that rate probably by 35 >> 2032. >> Oh yeah. >> Five more years. >> So >> because we'll be deficit spending in 2030 without that at about doing three three and a half million dollars and it's just going to increase every year. So you're right in two years that cash balance would be gone. Um >> that's the way we need to present them because on here it doesn't look as bad as the way you just make it sound. So >> you're right. a real good job of preparing and presenting to the
036>> Yeah. The other the other part too is what happens with the property tax, >> you know, we have to >> Yeah. I know. >> Um so, yep. Just a couple views there on on with it and without it. Again, I think we are thinking um and obviously we'll come back to the board for approval on that that we would go after the option renew that levy >> as a fixed sum. Um, now the law is >> Can I say can that be called >> a renewal then? >> Yes, I checked with legal. It is called a renewal even though the terminology changes on what type of levy it is >> because they changed the name of them. It's not emergency anymore. It's not fixed sum. >> It's called fixed sum. So it used to
037be eies and substitutes. They're both now called fixed sums. But yes, we can say renewal. And you can only do that one time. >> Nope. You can do forever. Okay. >> But only for five years. So I think currently it's seven. Thank you. >> So what constitute putting an emergency on it? Do you have to meet certain criteria? >> I don't call it. >> They got rid of the name. >> There's not an emergency anymore. That's now called So >> they actually have a new emergency. I think it's only for when you're Yeah, >> like really in fiscal emergency >> and it's not called emergency. It's >> correct. >> Yes, exactly. >> But the key word the key word for us will be renewal. We're going to ask your for your approval to pursue this
038in May of 27. >> Um so just some the next couple slides are justformational purposes. First is just a breakdown of our revenues. currently um which shows that we're 55% uh dependent on the local community. And so when we're talking about these levies and what do we do and and expenses around staffing patterns um you know the state is not going to give us any more money. So, we'd like that to stay the same um and not have to increase it um which would be if we passed additional levies. Um >> do you know what the federal emergency levy brings in now? >> 1.5. >> Yep. Steph, what's the difference um between the state funding that's unrestricted and restricted? >> Um they have some carveouts that they started a couple years back where they specify
039exactly what it has to be spent on. >> So like one pot is student wellness. There's one around uh disadvantaged um Okay. >> They're small and there's just a handful of them. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yep. >> Uh the next page again, just some information is a breakdown of our current expenses. Again, salaries and benefits are 75% of our budget. So when we're talking about everything we're talking about really, you know, the way to reduce expenses is typically through salaries and benefits. Um the next slide is just kind offormational showing in the future our cost per student will increase um if our costs continue to increase and our enrollment um continues to decline. But again, we're going to keep monitoring that and Just if you're saying cost per student is going to go up
040only based on the enrollment decline or that >> it'll just be based on projected increases in salaries and benefit. >> Yeah. >> So here's the slide about the the guarantee. And so right now we get around $9 million in funding from the state. And through their formula, which is complicated at best, you know, a couple years ago, they they said, "Okay, well, this is the amount we think the school district should throw in, and this is the amount that we should give you." And at that point, and I only ran back a couple years, they said, "Oh, but we gave you this am 21. So we won't give you any less. So basically what they say is, you know, a million dollars of this really you guys should be funding. But since we guaranteed that
041we wouldn't reduce what we gave you lower than what we gave you in 2021, you're now on a guarantee for a million dollars. Well, as you can see, this continues to increase every year. And at this point we are $3.5 million on the guarantee. And basically the kind of the couple factors that that's driven by is they look at the economics of your community. Um so they look at income take tax data. Um they look at property valuations. There's another one and now it's slipping in my mind, but I want to focus on property tax valuations for a moment because as they're um capping the amount of revenue that we can collect on property taxes if they exceed certain inflation factors, they're not reducing the valuation. And so the valuation goes down to the state
042of Ohio and the state says, "Wait a minute, you your property values are this high. You should be able to pay more." But at the same time, we're not allowed to collect that. So you kind of get hit in both places. So as this continues, we're just projecting we're going to be further and further on this guarantee and more and more school districts are as well. And a lot of it is um based on these property tax laws um which is one of my areas of concern. So I'll skip to the last item is the guarantee. Um this is something that's up for I don't know if debate is the right word but this is something that is looked at each bianium budget. Now, I I think I was a little more worried about this
043before everyone was on the guarantee. Not everyone, but a lot more folks were. But it is still something out there that we should be concerned about because at some point they could say, you know what, there's no more guarantees, so we're just going to reduce your funding $3.5 million. That could be a major I mean, that would be huge. Um other areas of concern right now in effect uh I went to a meeting last week the county budget commissions have they have increased their authority um based on some legislation from last year. What I'm hearing is you need to have your budgets very well documented because you may need to go give presentations start county have not done this historically. Other counties are doing it. I think more and more counties are starting to ask
044for this information. So, what they're saying is have the documentation for why you need your budgets to be set where they're at and your levies to be collected at the amounts they are. Um, another thing that we're going to talk about is having a capital plan, which we've started to put together, uh, showing the need to put money into, you know, not just operations. Also, effect is the timing is so there's this new legislations around um property taxes and went to went to a seminar last week. The timing of levies now comes into play which never a new levy never used to come into play. Didn't matter when you passed a new levy. Now it does based on this legislation. If you put on a new levy in a reappraisal year, basically the mechanics of
045all this legislation completely wipes it away. But here's where I'm more concerned and why this isn't yelling struck out because two days later I got an email and said, "Oh, wait a minute. We need to update one of the slides. We had it completely backwards." It's not if you pass in a reappraisal year. It's you in a nonreappraisal year. And so that has me concerned about the information that we're getting around all this. >> That's the only thing >> I'm concerned about a lot. But that's like and it was from someone who is very knowledgeable about these items again. So if we do come to a point when we need to pass an additional levy, we're going to have to look at the timing of it. Um, and I know I'm going long here. I'm
046sorry. U, being considered, uh, again, House Bill 420 is a group of things basically that would eliminate all continuing levies. So, most of ours are continuing except our fixed sum. They would just eliminate those. And there's also the constitutional amendment that what I'm understanding is we'll know by July 1st if they have the um signatures to go on the ballot because that's one of the deadlines for something. But what I've also heard is if they don't, and I think it's 450 they need, if they don't have it, say they have 400, they can keep those 400 and just keep building on it. So they don't have to completely redo the signatures on the petitions. So if they don't have it for the November election, they could keep going if they chose to and just continue
047to get the additional So yeah. So I guess good news and bad news is from what we know now if we go and do our renewal we're good for about five years. If things change then we're going to have to figure that out. >> That's the weird thing is you just don't know right. I mean that's the bad news of this. There's still a lot of questions out there, but I do feel like we are moving in the right direction. I don't want to get too happy and click my heels, but we're I feel like we're moving in the right direction. >> We'll keep you informed as we go, for sure. >> I I think also that the I think the outcome of the spring election was not good for school districts around the state.
048Um, and so what I'm hearing over and over from folks, is if you can if you can get your renewal passed and and and utilize that money the best you can for as long as you can right now, that's the best thing you can be doing because to try to go get new money, it's >> correct. Thank you. So May of 27, correct? When do we need to approve that? >> Let me check the legal. >> I think it's January because when we used to do March, it had to be November, December, and there's not a March one any longer. So follow that up. >> Thank you, Steph, for all that information. Appreciate it. >> All right. Like to recognize any visitors would like to speak to an agenda related item. Anyone. >> All right.
049Treasures report. >> Okay. >> U all I have is approval of recommendation to approve the minutes from the uh April 27th committee. >> Need a motion. >> So move. >> Second. Any discussion? Roll call. >> Mr. Gindlesber. >> Yes. >> Mr. Tohill. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Gearberg. Yes. >> Mr. Wyant. Yes. >> Mr. Schilling. >> Yes. >> Thanks for Sean. It's on you. >> Thank you. Uh for appointments and assignments. Recommendation to approve the hiring of Vincent Ashudo bus driver on bus 15 4.25 Effective August 17, 2026. Recommendation approve on Bayhouse speech and language pathologist for uh the extended ES >> extended school year. Thank you. So that's effective June, July, and August. Uh 26 at $65 an hour. Recommendation to approve hiring Maggie Downard, intervention specialist with Stinson with zero years of experience on
050step one, effective August 17, 2026. Recommendation to approve the hiring of Blind Guinness, bus driver for the skip route, two hours effective August 17, 26. recommendation to approve the hiring of April John summer and bus steaming cleaning effective June 8th uh June 8th ending July 17 26 recommendation to approve Rhonda Ozer teacher for ESY effective July August at $26 an hour recommendation to approve the hiring of Tiffany Reed summer cleaning effective June 8th ending July I need a motion for A1 through seven. So move >> second. >> Any questions? What is the skip? >> Special needs. >> Okay. A couple other things too I want to point out. >> It's preschool midday. >> Okay. And also for Molly being hot $65 an hour. That's a ESC cost as opposed to $26 an hour. That's our
051cost. But we have to have that for speech and language for the others we're using for under our time in case you're wondering why so much more. Big kudos to April and Tiffany. I can't imagine steam cleaning. >> All right. I got a motion to second. Discussion. >> Mr. Ginsburgger. >> Yes. >> Mr. Toill. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Gearhart. >> Yes. >> Mr. Wy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Shilling. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Number eight. Recommendation the following person be employed on one-year limited contracts beginning with the 26 27th school year. You can see all those fine people. Very good list. Need a motion? >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Yeah. Question. Are these all teaching? Are there different various positions here that were because I see a lot of different names and I'm looking
052at based on years one year contracts or >> Yeah, they're all they're all teaching. Do we have any tutors here, guys? I think it's just >> there's teachers and counselors. >> Oh, okay. >> There's instructional coach in there, too. So there's various any discussion. >> Mr. Gindlesburgger. >> Yes. >> Mr. Tohill. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Gearhart. Yes. Mr. Wy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Schilling. >> Yes. >> Recommendation. The following person be employed on a one-year limited contract beginning of 26 27 school year. >> I could say that one. D. Gendlesberger. I need a motion >> second. >> Thank you for putting separate easier. You guys know why? Because >> Mr. Gber call >> Mr. Gber. >> Mr. Chel, >> yes. >> Mrs. Gearhart, >> yes. >> Mr. Wy, >> yes. >> Mr. Schilling. >> Yes.
053Thank you. Number 10, recommendation the following person be persons be employed on a continuing contract for the 26 27th school year. I'm sorry about the typa and Jacqueline Vile second. >> Do we need to go into explanation? Bob asked one year contract and now you have contract. Do we need to give an explanation? I can >> Yes, please. >> Um, teachers the first four years are one year limited. A couple years ago, we changed back to only one. Like Pat was still here when we did it because if somebody has a two or threeear contract and become eligible for continuing, they get a little nervous because they have to resign their contract before you all and that makes them nervous. So having just one, they don't get necessarily observed every year. Depends on the rating.
054continuing. There's two different protocols, but if they're hired, most of our teachers are now, not all, but after 2011, they have to have a professional license. They have to have seven years on that professional license. They have to in the same group and they have to have taught here three to five years, three of the last five years. The third component is they need a master's or 30 hours and then they need an evaluation that's either skilled or accomplished. If they were hired before 2011, then they have a different type of license and they have different number of years that they need to do. The other thing that happens too is if you have continuing contract in another district, the law says you can get a new continuing contract in your next district in two
055years. But multiple years ago, we kind of dealt with this with OEA and at the time legal counsel because we have a four-year probationary period. They can't get the continuing reinstated until the end of their fourth year. And if we keep them at the end of their fourth year, they automatically get that continuing back because they had it somewhere else. So, you just kind of have to look at them, look at when their license was issued. And the weird thing is Now we're down to a two-year resident educator license. The state will not count that as part of the seven years on the you have to be on the professional license. So before when it was four years, it was frustrating to them because it take almost 11 years to get all the things that
056you needed. So >> yes, thanks for breaking that down. >> Could you interpret that, please? >> Here's here's an easier way. on through our OD website. You can look that up and and it actually tells you which right which channel to go through and it's I know it is a lot and Deborah of course she knows every bit of it but uh it would just it just sounds like it's so much more complicated. >> Yeah. >> Like it's it's an excuse for somebody to justify their job. >> Well, and all the steps that um we just explained, he's right. It's on OD but it's on our in our board policy too. We have it in board policy that matches the state. So it's two places but >> with that explanation >> Mr. Gindlesburg >> Mr.
057Toill Mrs. Gearhart. >> Yes. >> Mr. Wy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Schilling. >> Yes. >> Number 11. Recommendation the following persons be employed as tutors on one year limited contracts being with the 26 27th school year. Kelly Lemon. Good loner. Need a motion. >> Second >> questions. None. Roll call. >> Mr. Glesber. >> Yes. >> Mr. Tville. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Gearart. >> Yes. >> Mr. Wy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Schilling. >> Yes. Number 12. Recommendations upon persons not be remployed. And we put this phrase due to federal funing for the 26 27th school year. to clarify that for you. Every year we get asked this. We're we're not remploying them. We will bring them back once uh we receive federal funding which is usually June July. And those people are as follows. Mackenzie Thompson,
058Carol Mock, Abigail Miller, Katrina. Need a motion. Second discussion. Yes, sir. Roll call. Mr. Gindlesburgger. Yes. >> Mr. Toill. >> Yes. Mrs. Gearhart. Yes. Mr. Wy. Yes. >> Mr. Shilling. >> Yes. >> Recommendation. The following classified persons be employed on one-year limited contracts for the 27 uh 26 27 school year. Bele, Ashley Best, Stacy Bot, Eron, Dwayne F, Julie, Kaitlin Hudson, Cassinger, James Lab, Dale Mclofflin, John Radar, Stephanie Sver, one need a motion. >> Second, >> any discussion? >> Mr. Gber, yes. Mr. Tohill, Mrs. Gearhart, yes. Mr. Wy, >> yes. >> Mr. Shilling, >> yes. Thank you. Number 14, recommendation the following nonrepresentative person be employed on one year limited contracts for the 26 27th school year. Was there any any of our people outside of the unions or administration? That would be Jul Mclofflin,
059Rene Stimple, James Walsh. Motion >> second. >> Any questions? >> Mr. Handlesburgger. Yes. >> Mr. Chville. Yes. Mrs. Gearhart. >> Yes. >> Mr. Wy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Shilling. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Number 15. Recommendation. The following classified persons be employed on continuing contracts uh for the 26 27th school year. Angela Hill, Amy Johnson, Michael Ritter. >> Motion. Second. >> Question. Did you hear that? So, not not I'm sorry. Non-represented would be anybody outside of the uh outside the union. Typically, an employee at the board office or James would be the person that's operating a home for classified. That would be part of that. Michael is not represented. We have him in the wrong. Oh, oops. So, pull him off. >> He would go with Ashley. >> Yeah. We have to do a separate
060for it. >> So he goes down. >> Yeah. >> So he goes he would go down to the nonrepresented folks down below. >> 16. >> So we haven't yet. >> Correct. >> So we need to make that a motion. >> There needs to be a motion to move Michael down to 16. Vote on it and then on the other one. >> So, >> you need a motion. I'll make the motion to to move Michael down to 16. Second. >> Okay. And roll call. Roll call for the new motion for the motion to move. Move them down. Yep. >> Mr. Glesburgger. >> Yes. >> Mr. Toill. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Gear. >> Yes. >> Mr. Wyatt. >> Yes. >> Mr. Shilling. >> Yes. Now, >> now we need to vote on 15. >> Yeah. Now we
061need the roll call 415 with the two people that are left on that. >> Mr. Gimlesburgger, >> Mr. Chill. Yes. >> Mrs. Gearberg. Yes. Mr. Wy. Mr. Shilling. >> Yes. >> Now with with >> I need a motion. So move. >> Second. Any other discussion? >> Mr. Ginsburg. Yes. >> Mr. Tohill. Yes. >> Mrs. Gearhart. >> Yes. >> Mr. W. >> Yes. >> Mr. Shel. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Apologies for that. >> We are on 17. my old sheet. See how much has changed. There it is. Okay. Recommendation to employ the following person for third grade summer intervention tutoring effective June 2nd through July 2nd. The tutor rate would be $26 per hour. It would be the following. Christa Kefir, Carol Mob, Mary Beth Mans, Rhonda Ozer, substitute as needed, and Jennifer Ricker. Motion
062>> moved. >> Second. And those are as needed. Tutors. Correct. It would be substitute, but the others are >> should be we're still getting numbers in. So, >> yeah, we anticipate that. >> We anticipate it. Mrs. Mrs. Willis stole Rhonda from me to do some ESY, but she's got the licensing to do it. So, >> so need a motion for 17. No good for 17. Thanks, >> Mr. Glesber. >> Yes, >> Mr. Tohill. >> Yes, Mrs. Gear. >> Yes. Mr. Wy, >> yes. >> Mr. Shilling. >> Yes. Thank you. Uh B for salary positions adjustments. We have Christa Amst, bus driver route 4 to bus driver route 18 for 4.25 hours effective August 17, 26. Morgan Dalton from math teacher at Northwest High School to instructional coach at Northwest Middle School and High School effective
063August 17th. Samantha Jansen from bus driver route 18 to bus driver route number seven 4.25 hours effective August 17th. Kyle Luring from seventh grade science teacher at Northwest Middle School to eighth grade general science teacher at Northwest Middle effective August 17th. Alexis Robchock from uh a bachelor's degree plus 150 to a master's degree with six years experience step seven effective seven uh August 17 2026 need a motion >> second >> question >> why is there salary adjustment for the math or science teacher Northwest you can go from seven to eight >> it's a positionary a salary position. I'm sorry. >> Thank you. >> So, for the math teacher, is that >> why going from math teacher to instructional coach? >> We had a late retirement last year. >> Okay. >> So, Andy had her she
064was willing to cover she was an instructional coach before to teach that math class this year so that they would have time to properly interview and get who they which they did and now she's back to her original position. So, >> okay, >> congratulations to Alexis, right? >> Mr. Gindlesburgger. >> Yes. >> Mr. Tohill. Yes. >> Mrs. Deerheart. Yes. Mr. Wy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Schul. >> Yes. Thank you. Uh, next. Resations. Recommendation to accept the resignation of Belinda Gennness, building aid at Northwest Primary School effective May 30th. Contingent upon being hired as the bus driver. Skip round number one. Recommend number two, recommendation to accept the resignation of Mark Kaline, building aid at Northwest Middle School effective May 30th. Recommend uh three, recommendation to accept the resignation of Rebecca Shamp, special education secretary of
065the central office due to retirement effective January 1st, 2027. Number four, recommendation to accept the resation of Mary Miller Cook at Northwest Primary effective May 30th, 2026. >> Okay. Need a motion for C 1 through 4. >> So move. >> Second. >> Becky will be >> She will be. I told her until tonight it was too late to back out. She's >> roll call. >> Mr. Mr. Gindlesburgger. Yes. >> Mr. Tohill. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Gearhard. >> Yes. Mr. Wyatt. >> Yes. >> Mr. Shilling. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Letter D. Now renew the following persons for the 26 27th school year. Dave Roland, fifth grade teacher at Stinson. Reo, the title tutor at Northwest Middle School. >> Motion. So move. >> Second. >> Thank you. >> Any discussion? Roll call. >> Mr. Gandlesburgger. >>
066Yes. >> Mr. Hill. Yes. >> Mrs. Gearart. >> Yes. >> Mr. Wy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Schilling. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Letter E. Certified sub recommendation to approve Tina Gilbert as a speech and language pathology substitute for the extended school year services as needed during June, July, August of 2026 $65 an hour. You can see at that price it's the SC prices. >> A motion move. Any discussion? >> Trying to keep saying it's the ESC prices. Are we hiring this person? Are we hiring them from the ESC? Why does ESC? >> We are I mean this is hiring them. We are hiring them through through the ESC working partnership with them simply because it's very difficult to find these people. We only need them for a limited time. There's flexibility needed as >> this
067is not a fulltime position. >> Correct. Correct. They might be sharing multiple districts. >> Could be. Yes. Right. I mean, Lauren, is that true? >> Yes. She has six sessions for her. >> We use them. That's a very good question. Thank you for that. We use them primarily when it's just tough to find them on our own. When we can't find people with that narrow of of specialy. to go through them and they can they help us lucky to have them. It just costs a little bit more sometimes. So I like old guy rant like I remember 40 years ago right when I was a student. I don't remember this being a thing. I remember somebody had like they needed some kind of help like this like it was more of a parents would pay
068them after school. So this the state is mandating that or has been probably for a long time that the state mandates that we provide that service. >> Yeah. I I mean you want to add more to that. My my feeling is I'm I think I'm more than you. I feel the same way sometimes but that that is a service that more and more we are being leaned on to provide. Right. >> Yeah. And so you have sheet about school year during their meetings and for this student specifically he attends fragile services that are provided over the summer to maintain that level of communication throughout the school. There are students that get those outside services, but this is decided on 15 case that are getting services. So, it's very minimal. It's very data driven >> and
069and the parents do assume a lot of that on their own. we are doing more which is a good thing which we're providing more and more help. So the more specialized we get that we can really offer much needed help for for kids with special needs. So I'm thankful for that but sometimes you know the cost is is kind of mindboggling but we're able to help kids who really really really need it. >> Any other discussion? Thank you for that. >> Mr. Gber Mr. Toill is Mr. Wy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Schilling. >> Yes. >> Thank you. F. Supplemental contracts. Recommendation the following person be awarded supplemental contracts for the 25.6 school year contingent upon criminal record check certification and number of student athletes. And there are two right there. That's what number. >> Oh,
070that's it. Okay. I'm sorry. I got split. So, uh, we have Samuel Pock, track assistant, varsity, Cody Tacket, seventh and eighth grade. You can see that date is correct. It's 25 26. We did have all of their fingerprints, their background checks. There was just a backlog with the state in getting that. So, we didn't put them on until we actually had all the paperwork in, but we did have the necessary fingerprinting the back background checks that that was done and we did have that in our possession. >> Roll call. >> Motion. So, move >> second. Glesburg. >> Yes. >> Mr. Tohill. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Gearart. >> Yes. >> Mr. Wy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Schilling. >> Yes. >> Thank you. For letter G, we have extended school year transportation. The recommendation to approve the
071following transportation staff for extended school year for the 26 27th school year effective July 20th through August 7th. You can see all these drivers that we would they won't all be used at once. Am I correct with that? But they would be available. >> You can see some like Judy has has been a constant and very reliable. Jans as well Stewart. I mean, but they're all available should we need them? >> Motion. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Is this just out of curiously what what are they taking? Are they taking a full size bus? They taking >> small buses. >> Yes. We have somebody that needs a special Thank you. Mr. Glesber. >> Yes. >> Mr. Toto. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Gearhart. >> Yes. >> Mr. Wy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Schilling. >> Yes.
072Thank you. Letter H. Lunch and breakfast prices for the 2627 school year. Number one. Recommendation to approve the following lunch and breakfast prices for the 26 27th school year. Breakfast 225 for all buildings. Lunch primary and stinson uh $3.50. middle school and high school to stay at 375. And I, if I'm not mistaken, breakfast is the only thing that was raised from $2 to two and a quarter. That still puts us in the middle of the pack with the rest of Star County. We are keeping the same prices that we've had previous and the for the rest of the district launches. >> Need a motion. >> Any other discussions? Mr. Gindlesburgger. >> Yes. >> Mr. Tohill. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Gearhart. >> Yes. Mr. Wy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Schilling. >> Yes. >> Thank you.
073Uh letter I. We have student fees for the 2627 school year. Recommendation to approve the following student fees for the 2627 school year. And you can see on the addendum number one. >> Let's do a motion first. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Thank you. >> Steph, thank you for putting explanations as to the ones that went up. That's very helpful. That was actually that was Deborah. >> Deborah, thanks for doing >> and actually it was Andy. >> Andy, thank you Andy. >> He provided the explanation. >> Thank you for the opposite of >> Jeff. Thank you. >> Happy to be here. >> All right. Roll call. >> Mr. Gandlesburgger. >> Yes. >> Mr. Till. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Gearhart. >> Yes. >> Mr. Wy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Schill. >> Yes. >> Thank you.
074And uh the handbooks for J recommendation to approve student handbooks for the high school, middle school, primaries, and Stinson handbooks for the 26 27th school year. >> In motion move. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Thank you for putting everything put into those and making them >> and making it so easy for us to the differences. >> That highlighting helps a lot. >> Thank you guys. >> You did that. >> And we like to give credit where credit is due >> and and the part where all the fees stuff translates from one school to the next. That's also really good too. So that we have that in there. Um we did pull out the athletic one just because there were a couple of changes that I had noticed. One of which has the phone conference
075listed in there. We'll have that in for you know folks but yes thank you for that >> Mr. Gindlesburg >> Mr. Cho >> yes >> Mrs. Gearhart >> yes Mr. Wy >> yes >> Mr. Schilling >> yes >> thank you and last we have uh K for donations one recommendation to approve the donation of $96 from the I hope I'm pronouncing this sorry >> Gingri Gingrich family to the middle school band number two the recommendation a donation of $1,000 from monitoring future survey conducted by the University of Michigan to the middle school. >> Roll call. >> How many motion? Sorry. >> Second. Just gonna give it to >> So what is that? >> We'll take Can we give Can we give credit to Mr. Rainbow Salt and Unice, you knew it from him. >> I'm
076sorry. >> Yeah. It's a survey that we've done. This is our second year. It's a national survey that's condas to business television. >> Thank you for call. >> Yes. >> Mr. Tohill. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Yes. >> Mr. Wy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Schilling. >> Yes. >> Anything? Nothing. You want to talk about July meeting? >> Is it possible to move the July meeting? I'll be out of town. Don't have to. But if everybody's available >> to July >> July currently the 27th >> correctly. You want to do it. Can we do the week earlier? Does that work? >> 20th. 20th should be fine. >> Did that work? >> Should be okay. >> Does that work for you guys? >> Yeah. Does that work for you? Okay. >> Thank you. >> I appreciate everybody at
0776, right? July 20th at 6 o' This is the first one after 20 years like oh changed weird. >> All right. We'd like to recognize any visitors would like to speak to any other areas. Don't all jump at once. >> All right. I need a motion to adjurnn. >> Second. Thanks folks. >> All in favor? >> I >> Thanks guys.