001We stand for the 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. Resolution 279-25, approval of the agenda. >> I'll make a motion we approve the agenda. >> I'll second. Motion by Mr. Purdue, second by Mrs. Tommen. Roll call, please. Mr. Purdue. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Thomas. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Warnery. >> Yes. I want to welcome viewers and guests who are watching live or time more convenient for them. We're going to move into um seeing that there's no public participation or presentations, moving to board committee updates, buildings and grounds. Mrs. Menor is not here. However, meeting is December 17th at 4:30 p.m. Finance, Mr. Purdue. >> Uh yes, no update. We're going to
002be going over the budget and our next finance meeting will be November the 19th uh at 4:30 p.m. >> Okay. And then with policy, our meeting is actually tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. in the board office then great oaks. >> Uh yes, uh student highlights. Uh I laid up there at your chair and we do have a reading student. >> Meline Harris is at Scarlet Oaks Health Technology. Kimberly Harris and Christopher Harris are her parents and voting. She's a voting delegate elect of junior year. So, congratulations to Madden. Okay, moving on to board discussion items. Um before we get started here, just very quickly a board discussion item. I just want to recognize Saturday evening we had a wonderful e uh dinner. this um the historical society invited um reading um superintendent treasure board members to
003their settlement day dinner and Barb Hudzel was recognized >> um for her 33 years with VIO and 31 years as an aid here in Reading and it was it was just very nice and and welld deserved that she was recognized um at the settlement dinner and they they didn't even mention because she's been in multiple things she was also O in little league football for probably I'd say 20 years >> helping with that. So um congratulations to Bar Puzzle was recognition welld deserved. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Then we'll move on to financial forecast. >> Thank you Mrs. Warnery. Um I appreciate the opportunity to talk tonight about the um the the now the financial forecast. It's no longer called the five-year forecast. Um so tonight what I'll do is um I'll kind
004of highlight the revenue and the expenditure main changes from from since I've last presented in May. Um and then also about our our cash balances. So um when you're taking a look at our revenue um if you want to go to the Yep. Thank you Dr. Davis. um you're what what you're looking at here is where our um low I've got a a a pie chart here kind of showing the makeup of our of our revenue where we have um 50% now um made up of local tax revenue 44% in state sources and then six in all other and and what I'm trying to demonstrate here is is the um the growing dependency that the um our our revenue is shifting to where we used to be more of a 50/50 partnership between state and
005local um of taxes and now we're moving more dependent on our local tax revenue. Um that is due to primarily um less funding from the state and in this last bienium the um the state did not update the inputs um of the five of the fair school funding and so that that puts more burden on our local residents. um if um you know when you're also when you're when you're looking at this um overall um across the state of Ohio the revenue is is shifting that way for for most schools where we're seeing the state paying less and less of of a share of of public education. So, um, one other thing that I kind of the main highlights of of the revenue here is, um, our local taxes are about, um, $10.7 million. Our
006state sources are about 9.5 million, and our, um, our other revenue sources, which is primarily, um, interest and some some other um, like fees and things like that, which is about 1.2 million. Um we did see since our our last forecast um in the um last bianium budget the the state did continue the roll out of the fair school funding model. Um they did not update the inputs and as a result of not updating those inputs we lost about $2.8 million. Um so that's very important to to understand. And then also um this year our enrollment is down about 18 students um from last year. And as you're aware, the um our revenue with the fair school funding model is based on ADM, which is average daily membership. So, anytime our enrollment goes down, um
007our funding also got goes down, and that was about $1 million as well. Um, one other change from the um from the forecast from May is um we um we attended the um Jividon groundbreaking ceremony last week and um they will be um opening their facility expected in about 2027 and so then we would be able to start collecting on those um those revenues the following year in the tax collection year of 28. So I did go ahead and include that revenue where previously we we had we knew about this revenue but we were kind of uncertain of when that revenue would start to stream in and so I have that starting in 2028 just so the board's aware of that. Um as I as I just mentioned before kind of the the fallout of
008the house bill um 96 um I already mentioned that the fair school funding model the final two years were phased in which was very good for us. um the base um cost inputs were not, which was about a $2.8 million reduction in our funding. Um and the other thing that did not happen that we were hoping um as a school community would happen is our categorical funding things like um special education funding um uh gifted funding, uh student success and wellness funding, and um DPIA, which is for disadvantaged students. There's been several um very comprehensive studies that have been done to say how much does it educate um how much does it cost to educate a child if that child has special needs? How much does it cost to educate a child that um comes
009from an economically disadvantaged background? And um unfortunately those studies were not used in order to increase those categorical clings. And so like one one ex um one example of that is like our DPIA funding. The survey shows that the state is only providing 21% of the funding that is needed to educate a student that is um economically disadvantaged. So um that is very important to also note that that did not happen in this budget. Um and one one other thing that was um very high priority on on the district's um list that was being discussed in the House Bill 96 was how would the cash back um cash reserves be handled. There were was talk about capping those and adjusting rates. Um the governor did pull that out. Um and so um that did not
010ultimately end up happening, but the district did take steps in order to preserve those cash balances which we'll talk about here in a few minutes. um on on expenditures as as you're aware and I will always say this um schools are a a people business. So the majority of our expenses are surrounding in in our staff um in in salaries and benefits and we have quite a few staff that are also paid on purchase services. So um between those um those areas of our our budget, it's almost 95% of our budget of is how how we spend our our expenditure budget. So um there you know we've got our personnel costs we um our benefits we have um of the purchase services in that area we also have PTO um you know all the related
011services that are for students like psychologist and um educational aids speech pathology um we contract um uh with u an organization a company for our maintenance facility. So again all of those are people related but some of those costs are captured in our purchase service line rather than um in salaries. So um again like I said we have most of those cost around people. Some of the major changes um that um have happened since the the last budget is um we had a couple of new students move into the district and they had um special needs and we have had to um we we have additional nursing where we have requirements through IEPs of onetoone nurses. We have um some additional cost in um contract educational services that have increased our expenditures. Um, and then
012we had some some staffing that that moved around from from last year. We have been receiving less in IDAB special education funding and we no longer have enough dollars there to pay for our school psychologist. So that school psychologist was moved over to the general fund. So that was an increase of of dollars that were moved over to the general fund. Not an increase of a staff member, but just an increase of where those dollars were um were being used. Um last year we did reduce several FTE. We um um when we um filled the assistant principal position um that position was filled with um that um the elementary dean of students and then that position was not replaced. Um as well as we reduced one section of kindergarten and those um so that was
013reflective of kind of what we're seeing in our enrollment numbers and right sizing those those areas. Um, additionally, um, what you'll see here, just if you're kind of looking at trend lines when you're looking at salaries for this particular year, you'll see that the salaries go down a little bit. And that is obviously for some of the FTE loss that I just talked about, but also we have two current um, positions that we had to to go outside for and they're being filled by an outside agency because we were unable to fill those um, you know, with with a staff member here. So those um those salaries are now in the purchase service line versus being in a salary line. And so you'll see those salaries roll back in in FY27. Um and then what
014I mentioned before at the end of the fiscal year um we came to the board we actually had um a public meeting that we reached out well we first talked about it in the May meeting during the forecast presentation. Then we had a separate public meeting that we invited um community input and then we talked about it again in the in the June meeting and that is that what would we do with our our cash reserves in order to protect those um from the pending legislation. And so we identified areas of the um of our expenditures that were not new expenditures. there were expenditures that we were already doing that were allowable costs that we could um move over to um special purpose funds um permanent improvement funds. And so that's what we did. Um
015so we we went ahead and moved expenses out of our general fund forecast for athletic supplementals, um six severance pay, we were paying for a debt service um tops loan which was up on the hilltop property um and then doing things like textbooks and Chromebook adoptions. All of those dollars for the next five years have been removed from the five-year forecast and they are now in secured special purpose funds. So what you'll see again, you know, when you're just looking at the trend line of expenditures, you're seeing some reduced expenditures in those areas because those expenses will be paid elsewhere. And then after third um FY30, those expenses will move back in because those dollars will have been exhausted. Um, and then, um, the next page, I kind of jumped ahead of myself and but
016these were the very specific things in in the amounts of those dollars that we moved that I just spoke about. And again, I just want to um mention that that we did talk about these these particular topics at three different public meetings and to offer um community input on on these prior to moving these to protect the cash reserves. Um, so overall, you know, we've talked about the revenue, we've talked about the expenditures, and this is just a a more of a a graphic kind of depicting that um that, you know, starting in um FY26 and FY27, our um our revenues exceed our expenditures. So, our cash is growing at at that point, which is very typical in a levy cycle. Um and then as we go further out into the um the forecast from
017years 28 through um um 30, you can see where our expenses are slowly exceeding our revenues that are coming in. Um so this is I like to look at this and and be able to point out the importance to having um stability in school funding and and knowing what is what is our funding going to bring us over the next couple of years. Because when we look at this and if we have reliable funding that we know that we can depend on that we can predict what we're going to have, we can look at this and say, well, in in years 3, four, and five, our expenditures exceed our revenue, and we need to start coming up with a plan so that we can, you know, have a plan in place to to either reduce
018that that growing expense or and somehow, you know, you see what I'm saying? like you you have to be able to have an accurate forecast. You have to have accurate predictable funding so that you can long-term plan. And so, um, that's what we try to do, but it makes it a little bit harder the last year or so when, you know, we had this fair school funding model that was very reliable and very predictable for for four of the six years to phase out and then it was kind of changed in these last two years. So, um, but overall, I I feel like our district is is doing very well. Um like I said, we are in a balanced budget in the next two years um in years um 3, four, and five. We have
019some time to take a look at those and examine those expenditures and and try to get as close to a balanced budget as as we can in that that next couple of years. Um the district continues to um try to identify cost savings. So those would be the conversations that we'll have as a leadership team and with the board of education on years 3, four, and five of, you know, how how can we create some cost savings so that we aren't in a deficit? How can we um continue to apply for additional competitive grants that offset um dollars that that we would normally um be spending out of our general fund? um and just continuing to to do some of the things that we're doing with our investments and and earning additional dollars and investments
020and and partnerships and consortiums to save on the expenses that we do have. Um so if we want to jump to the next page, um kind of um looking at where we are with um and I I'm just going to give a a high overview here because I know Dr. Davis is going to also talk about some legislative things. the things that, you know, really kind of could could be um be occurring with property tax reform over the the next couple of months. I've highlighted on on this um this slide here. We had um three items that the governor had um had vetoed from the House Bill 96. One of which has already been overrode and is is now active law, which is the elimination of the um of the replacement levies. So you it
021it eliminated the ability to do a replacement levy, a fixed sum, or a substitute. So just so that everybody understands what that means is when they eliminate that that where they're currently out there and they exist, they qualify for homesteading roll back. So what what districts will be required to do is since they're they will eliminate them, they'll have to put them back on the ballot and then if if those levies pass, they no longer qualify for homestead enroll because they would be after that date. So that that's essentially a tax increase to your community member because they were getting credits back on their tax bill for um homestead and roll back on these these levies that were currently out there. And now this this veto has eliminated that. Um, and then the other thing
022that that that does is it it also prohibits a school from putting any kind of new money current expense levy on if they have a cash balance over 100%. There may be a reason why a district would have over a 100% at the given time that they need to put the the the um the levy on the ballot because of the timing of when your dollars come, you know, you pass your levy and then when the actual dollars will start coming into your district. So that is very important to consider as well, you know, when you're looking at your forecast and when you might have to go for a levy. Um the House Bill 129, it was also vetoed from the from the um the budget bill, which is a modification to the 20 mil
023floor. Um what it it does is it it basically says that now your emergency and your substitute levies will count towards the 20 mil floor. Um that's very important to a lot of districts across the state of Ohio. We are not on the 20 mil floor, so it does not affect us as much as it will other districts. But again, this is this is very important to be be watching because how that could change things for us going down the line. Um and then I um House Bill 309, it just recently passed the House and this one is very concerning to me. This is um the expansion of the county budget commissioner authority. And what this does is this allows your um your local county budget commissioner to adjust levy rates. So you when you
024submit your tax budget every year and for levies that you have already passed through your board of education passing a resolution saying they want to put this on in your community coming in and voting for that levy, your local um budget commissioner can now reduce those rates. they can reduce those rates be for many reasons and that's basically an override of what your local community has voted on but also you know it's an infringement upon the the authority that the board of education has. So it's it's very it's very important that the board understands that and and you know where we would advocate for that because that's that's concerning. So we want to make sure that we're aware of that one. And then just some other proposals that are currently out there. Um you know,
025House Bill 186 is um more like a a cap on property taxes. Um where you would cap the the growth on the 20 mil floor and it would um it would take the the GDP um inflator inflation and say now your taxes can't grow at more than what that three-year average was. Um, House Bill 335 originally started out as a complete elimination of inside millage and it has um been modified to um, you know, go along with the GDP deflator as well, but it would be specific on inside millillage. It's important to understand with inside millillage, inside millillage does not get rolled back like your other revenue does. So it's the in in our case it is the only area of property taxes where we can see any kind of increase in revenue is on
026our inside millillage which is 4.19 mills. Um all of our other um millage that we have approved gets rolled back. So when property values go up our rates roll back so we don't collect any additional dollars. So this is very important as well. And then there's some other um proposals out there as well, which is a piggyback off of the homestead and the roll backs that are currently out there. But the difference is is where um community members are receiving those credits now that schools are held harmless for that. And so if you receive those credits on your tax bill, we get reimbursed as a school from the state of Ohio. this would piggyback on that, but there would be no reimbursement from the state of Ohio, which means that schools would lose those revenues.
027So, you can see here on my forecast, we get about $775,000 um with the roll backs and homestead credits. So, that would be that would be almost four mil well, not quite four mills for us now, but it's substantial if that if that would happen. So, that's very important. Um then there's the you know the the two other bills which is um eliminating continuing levies and the um elimination of the inside millage. A new bill has come up. So um just lots of ongoing concerns regarding legislation that's currently being introduced to um you know so we just need to be very aware of those those bills and and be advocating on behalf of the district. So, if it's not going to affect us because we're not going for a bond for a while, right? >>
028But if a district is going for a bond and they that passes and they get that money >> so that it's more than 100% of what they're operating, so then they can't go for an operating levy or is it different? >> This um there is differences between bonds and >> and I know the difference between I just didn't know if they were considering the money the same. >> No. So, so but but for example, like let let's use us for example, um we we did not have a 100% cash balance, but let's just imagine that we did and but but maybe we had that 100% where we had saved for a particular project. Maybe we had to replace several boilers or we had to replace the roof or you know there could be many reasons
029why we might have a couple of million dollars extra um that that was but yet we knew that we were going to spend that in two years and in three years we needed an operating levy. What what some of these proposals would do is say because you have more than 100% in your cash balance you're not allowed to go for an operating levy until you have depleted those funds. And and so what what if your your levy doesn't pass and then now you're really in an awkward spot because you may may need to run it several times and >> so you're being punished for being good stewards of the communities. >> Exactly. So it's our responsibility to be fiscally responsible >> and so we do that and we get grants and we do all this
030stuff to do that and then on the flip side you're being punished, >> right, to do that. >> Yes. >> So that that is concerning. And then just um I've talked about this before is just the change in the five-year forecast and why this is so concerning to me. we we really use as our um administration team and our leadership team and and I know with with the board of education as well our forecast as a tool to be financially um responsible and you know so when we see that we're in a in a in a spot where we will be um in a in a deficit we start planning years in advance to try to not be in a deficit. And so with having um the for the dates and when the forecast is
031due being in August instead of in November, we haven't even run our first payroll for the year. You know what we people aren't even on our benefits yet to know if they're going to take family single, they're not going to take anything. And that's a swing of quite a bit of money. And so um we want our forecast to be as accurate as possible. And by changing those dates, it it really leaves room for error and in the accuracy. And so that's concerning to me. So, um, >> and we continually doing it with the five-year forecast. Yes. >> And doing it with our dates and then when their dates come up, you just give them what at that time. >> That's what we'll we'll probably do now. Now, there there was the one um one
032time um extension this year, which is why we're approving it tonight instead of on August 31st um for this year, but next year we'll be expected to file it on um August 31st. So, I can definitely see us filing as best as can be on August 31st to meet our our OD requirement and then maybe coming back in November when we would have normally done it and filing an amended forecast. And I mean, we can file as many forecasts as we wish. Um, you know, obviously it's a lot of work. >> Yeah. >> Um, so, you know, you want it to be but but we want it to be right. So >> yeah, >> it is that that when we may start seeing that happening >> and we have no control over what they're going
033to do next, you know, whatever the rules may change and we just have to be aware of what we need in our district. >> Yeah. >> Exactly. >> Yep. So my um my next slide is um is just showing the competitive grants and um this is just a reminder the to the board and the community that um the the district the the the teaching staff it's a it's a a very big effort on on all of their parts and it's a what I'm trying a collective effort that's the word I'm trying to come up with. Um where all all people are always looking at the competitive grants out there. They're doing the work to be able to file those. And as you can see, we've um since um FY23, we're up to $2.3 million in
034competitive grants. So, we're really proud of that and we we thank our our staff for that. On the next slide is um a slide showing the investment earnings. And so, um since um 2021, we've um we've done investments with our um available dollars that we have. We we take a look at um all opportunities where we can maximize our investment returns. We typically invest in things like commercial papers. Um we do have a money market. Um we do CDs, government agency bonds, and US treasuries. And since um 2021, we've earned $2.2 million in investment earnings. And that's just in in interest. So um we're really proud of that. We we have laded investments so that based on which is another reason why the forecast needs to be super accurate because we have laded investments based
035on when we know that we will need to pull money out so that we can maximize those returns. And then my last slide is just a um a call to everyone for their advocacy. Um Dr. Davis and myself, um, we continue to represent the district on a couple of different state committees just so that we're, you know, we're making sure that the state legislature is hearing our community's voice. Um, every community is different and we want them to make sure that they know about Reading and the needs of Reading's kids. So, um, we we ask that everyone do that, the board of education, the staff, the, you know, and our our families. So, um, here's some information on on our, um, local, um, rep and our local senator that that people can reach out to.
036And then anyone that, um, has any questions at all, um, regarding the district finances, um, they can reach out to me. And my information is listed here, my telephone number and my email, and then our treasures um, web page, which has quite a bit of information um, um, as far as previous forecast and and um, different things that they could reach out to as well. Anybody else have questions? >> Thank you so much. Appreciate it. >> We are having a little technical difficulty. So, we just took we needed to stop that Zoom meeting and start a new one. So, that's why there's a little bit of delay between the two sections. We're going to move on to um continue with board discussion items with um the graduation update. >> No, thank you, Mrs. Warner. Um
037yeah, I just wanted to talk to the board. Uh we have we have been working hard to secure a graduation venue and date for um for the class of 2026. So originally last year was the first year we were in the larger space at the Sharonville Convention Center to accommodate more guests and um that space unfortunately what I got to do um unfortunately that space is not available the last week of school of of the school year. um which would be the week of May 25th, May 25th. Um that there's a convention that week and my fear is that moving forward in the future there that that we could run into that issue in that space because it's it is a convention hall, not just a ballroom. So it's used for their larger conventions. So
038that week of May 25th which is the last week of school um that space is being is is is being is not available. Um we looked at the week then the week of May 19th um and proposed having graduation on May 21st which is a Wednesday and because that space is available on the 21st. However, um my concern is there's a great deal of uncertainty at this point and we have to make a decision now because uh we can't we will lose all options if we don't book a space. The uncertainty is that week um according to our athletic director is potentially um district and regional um softball, baseball, and track that week. Again, she is unsure what day that would fall during the week. We could have zero kids involved in it. We could
039have rain or we could have 15 to 20 kids involved. It just we don't know. Um so my I wanted to just share that background information. Um we do have the smaller space um option reserved just to so that we could secure that. >> We we had that reserved for um for May 28th which is a Thursday. Um, the nice thing about a Thursday, which is better than a Wednesday, is that that's the students last day of school on Thursday. And so, so our faculty that attend the graduation event, families, those sorts of things. Uh, we do have work the next day, but we don't have students the next day. Um, so it makes that a little bit a little bit easier for staff. Traditionally, we as you know, we've had it on Thursdays. Um,
040last year it was on a Wednesday because of the availability of the room, but we would be in this smaller space and and part of the reason we explored that larger space is because we've outgrown it. Um, now this graduating class right now has 115 students in the graduating class. Um, there are,65 seats available in that in that room. And that does not include the graduates or the staff member seats. So um so what we what we could do then is each family would be could be allotted 10 to 11 tickets um for graduation. Um if you weren't using all your tickets um those could be distributed to other families uh who need additional tickets. Um, the reason we've talked about ticketing system is that I'm concerned about being over the fire code of capacity
041in that room and having potentially a couple hundred people standing. Um, we, you know, elderly people, people with that need to need seats, need chairs. Um, so that's where we would propose doing a ticketing system for the for the graduates. I think 10 or 11 tickets is is a a a good amount. That's that's the most we could do um because of the capacity in there. But again, if you're if a family were not to use that many tickets, um the office would be working the the district or excuse me, the um junior senior high office be working with families so that they could um they could distribute tickets to other familys as well. So, um, so I I just wanted to get any thoughts on this. Um, you know, I I mean, we've we've
042talked about other options. We talked about possibly, you know, going into the first week of June. Um, one of the, you know, an obstacle would that be the seniors get out the week before graduation, that would be two weeks after graduation. Um I I would be concerned we might be people might be out of town or working or you know there could be some conflicts that the weekend doing it on the weekend the cost is more expensive that's why we've done it u on a weekday um as well. Uh last year we we had talked like even I think we brainstormed a little bit about like cents center it was it was quite a bit more money to do that down there. So, um, this is this is kind of with the date that we're
043looking at and and the option, there's not a lot a lot of other choices right now. I think, you know, we've done this for years in this space. We've only been in the big room one year, but I would um I would propose that we um we have some sort of control over how many people come to the event because that had been the concern with having hundreds of people standing and and um you know at at the graduation in that space. So any any comments or thoughts? Be happy to talk. >> Just a quick question. Um the large space on a better Saturday, what is the additional cost? >> I'm not sure what that is. My understanding though is that um it's not available the Saturday before or that Saturday after, but I can
044double check that. Um, but that's my understanding because of the convention going on. So, >> is the larger room available the Thursday before that? Like the week before, >> but on Thursday, >> it was not available. It was due. It was available that Wednesday. >> Okay. That's what I was going to say. The tournament games for I mean, this is a new thing, but it's always on Mondays and Wednesdays. Um, >> and that's typically the third or fourth round of tournament play. So, >> a lot of whatifs that it would involve any of our students. >> Yeah. And even like the 2022 year when um we won districts, they did play on a Thursday, but it was because there were multiple rain outs and it just when that happens, it just gets pushed to the
045next day, which if in that situation, we would never have any control over those kids missing graduation. And I can say that there wasn't a child on the baseball team that was worried about missing graduation. They wanted to play baseball. >> Sure. >> We don't want to put them in that position. and their parents. >> No, no, no. >> Graduation is for parents more than it is for the kids. >> But if you're in the district finals, I'm just saying like a lot of the kids would prefer to play baseball instead of >> I'd rather not put them in that position and go back to the room where we've always been and give each family 10 tickets, which is a lot more than a lot of districts give their kids. Yeah. A lot more than
046they give their families. When we were over at Rockdale, they only got four tickets, I believe. And um when writing graduated over there because there just wasn't enough room um I I love the bigger room. >> Mhm. >> But I also we've been in the other room for so many years and it was a matter of because we had people in the hallway. We had elderly people not able to sit down like you said the control thing. I just what ifs, what if, what ifs, but yeah, but what if, you know, we've got some strong sports teams and and I just I would hate to put any child and their parents in that position >> for this year and and moving forward, maybe there's other options, but this time we need to if we don't
047say yes to this room, we're going to end up with nothing. And we've already reserved it, right? We have it we have it reserved for right now. Um I mean we we'd have >> we could possibly have flexibility um at Sharonville, but but we had to get something signed on paper to be able to have a space >> other venues that maybe have our counselors start looking July 1 for next year and and maybe seeing what other options they may have. Um I know a lot of schools go to NKU now and >> that's a long way for some of our people to go. >> Another suggestion was the um Assembly of God Church in Springdale. >> In Springdale. >> Um I know Goan has had their graduations there. >> We hit it once there
048numerous here. >> Great Oaks. And that's the other thing. Thank you for saying that, Mr. Purdue. Um, we also were working around Great Oaks graduations too, which um will be after theirs, but they also have their graduations um like the week before that, too, which is was another um it's, you know, I I think I think being in that larger space um can accommodate us better. I think it's just always going to be a little tricky with scheduling that space because that's really how they generate money or conference or conventions, you know. Um they can open up those walls and make it go all the way down and have the large shows in there. So >> I'm just concerned about the ticketing to be honest. I mean just being a small family. >> Bless you.
049if I needed a ticket, uh, we we would have just enough tickets. And that's, >> um, without uninviting grandparents or people that want to be there. Um, >> but I'm looking at half of families uh, have stepparents, they have step siblings, they have um, possibly adult siblings with a wife or a husband that they would like to bring. 10 is not a lot of tickets um for most families. Uh I mean honestly just for most families with two or three kids there there's over half of your tickets and then are you deciding which grandparents you invite if the grandparents are still together or if they're with other people? You know what I'm saying? It's just it gets really tricky when you're thinking of 10 tickets and it that includes children too. So, we also have
050and historically um kids have come to support their friends when they're graduating, but that wouldn't be an option for them either with the ticket system. I just don't see that there's going to be a lot of tickets left over. Um and community members have come, you know, but they would need a ticket. >> So, I I mean there's a lot of downsides to that. I personally I remember in 2024 looking at the room the small room and thinking there is absolutely no way we can fit in this room again >> because that remember there were hundreds of people just lined on the wall. So, I just I understand the ticket thing would help control that, but I I feel like if we to me the most important thing is that the kid gets to graduate
051with everybody that they want there and have that experience with. Um, and I just feel like that we might take away from that experience for kids if we limit the tickets. I understand that's a circumstances that we're in, but I just wouldn't want somebody's grandparents to miss out or their aunt and uncle that they've been close to to not be able to come if that's somebody that's really important to them. >> It also puts parents in a really tricky predicament because who gets the tickets, you know? >> I just think I I probably have a different perspective having a senior, but I'm just thinking of this logistically in my own family. seniors, too. >> No, I know. I'm just saying like I'm looking at at our tickets and we only have just enough if anybody
052else has to come. >> Yeah. >> Like, no, you can't. So, I'm just saying like 10 tickets seems like a lot, but it's just really not. >> Mhm. >> And I get that. I mean, I I totally I I I totally understand what you're saying. I have lived the other side of it. What do you mean? where when I went where I went to school, they did limit us to I believe it was six. >> Oh wow. >> And so it was literally your parents, your grandparents, and that's that's who went and that's >> two favorite grandparents >> and but it it I mean so everyone was able to have family there and then there were and then there's kids that they have two parents and that's it. So they gave their tickets to other
053people and I don't I I give you there's no there's no good answer to this. It just but I just go back to last year was the first year we used the big room. >> We have made it work before and I think the control of at least some type of control. Having a ticket thing of some kind is better than nothing when you've got grandparents that are still sitting in their car because they can't get inside. every everybody should have somebody in there. >> Yeah. >> So, I mean, I agree with that. >> Yeah. And I And like you said, you know, there's a lot of what ifs. Well, well, what if what if, you know, what if the teams don't even get to the district, you know, what if they don't ever what
054if nobody >> and but what if they did, >> right? I mean, we have to >> This isn't a new problem either, you know, like every year they could get there and we've always had it the same week. I understand we would have it a week earlier. >> Yeah. But most of the time they're not playing. Then >> there's slight chance, but most of the time they're not. >> My understanding from athletics is that um we wouldn't run into any athletic conflicts that the week of the 25th. So we would not have any so there there would be no chance then. But >> um the uncertainty is what really would concern me if it could impact a a a group of students. I mean, I'm not I'm not anticipating 15 students that it would necessarily
055impact, but that's 10% of your graduating class, you know, that that you would have a little uncertainty of who it might potentially impact. And it and you're right, Mrs. Tom, and it could impact nobody. I >> mean, well, and what time are we looking at? Because I mean, we're starting at 4:30, but graduations at 7:30 might not impact anybody. >> 7 o'clock. >> Okay. at some seven >> and yeah and I I don't know where where those games are held. They might be held at Princeton. I don't I don't know where you know some of those >> Yeah. once you get towards the end it's further away but >> I know the kids played in Dayton one year a few years ago. >> Yeah. That's like when you get to the districts. >> Yeah. So,
056what about shifting the time back instead of 7:00, 8:00? Could that possibly help? >> I don't think we can get the room though, right? Like, I mean, the the week that we wanted it >> the Yeah, we can't get it that we can't get the room that we want the the on the 28th, >> right? >> Yeah. We can we can only get the original room that we've had uh on the 28th. So the time um because we're not looking at any conflicts, we won't have any um we we would be able to keep it at 7 o'clock then on the 28th. >> But if we did the week before on that Wednesday, you're saying if we did 8:00 instead of seven, >> would that But I don't know if if the facility do we
057have certain times that we're allowed in there? I mean, I don't >> I don't know. I mean, I'm not the one talking to these vendors. Uh, this is the high school talking to them, but, you know, they have been very patient with me because we they've had to go back and forth with the with the vendor. Um, I I would just say 8:00's very late for having our students there to perform in the band, having our staff there. They would have students the next day. Uh, I just don't think that would go over very well um with that. >> Yeah. Just not a good idea. So, Um, I can find out um the cost difference on a Saturday. Um, I was just told that it was more expensive, but I can find that out um
058for the board. And um and my understanding is that because it's not available. So, it's not available through that weekend and that weekend. >> Yeah. Yeah. And then you run into, I believe, maybe I'm wrong, I haven't looked at the calendar. Is that um do you do you run into Memorial Day weekend? That following weekend? >> We usually have it what the Thursday before Memorial Day. >> Yeah. And that's what this is, the 28th. Okay. Yes. That's that Thursday. So it's our last day of the school year with students. >> Okay. Yeah. Well, Memorial Day is the 25th. >> Okay. Yeah. So that would >> Oh, so it's the weekend before. >> It is the weekend before. So that the 21st is what I have on the calendar is, but it's the tw 28th now.
059Yes. Thursday the 28th. >> Okay. Um, is there any way of looking at how we organize the graduation because the teachers take a whole bunch of chairs in the middle there in that middle section. And I was able to go to several graduations last year >> and they they had teachers in different locations that I mean I don't know how many seats did that they take >> maybe 30 something like that. >> Okay. So it's not like it's not like to make the >> It doesn't seem like there's open chairs around them or between them though that I noticed. Did Did you notice any? >> No. Well, they they I think they organize um they get the name of staff members who are coming and then they set the the the proper number of chairs
060so there's not a wasted space >> for for visitors. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> I'm trying to picture the smaller room. >> The ambiance of the smaller room is nicer as far as just the >> That's true. We could, >> you know, just the the aesthetics and the layout of the small room is nicer. It's just because it's a ballroom, right? It's not a It's not a convention room, but um but from a you know capacity standpoint, the the larger room is is is better for us. and and maybe we, you know, for 2027, we're we're looking at a at a, you know, Assembly of God or, you know, some other alternative spaces that could be accommodate a couple thousand people with seating and >> some classes get bigger too, right? After Don't
061we have like a as you go down the high school, don't they get a little bit bigger? >> A big one girl graduate. We could have like Yeah, we could have like 125 or so. >> Okay, I thought it' be bigger than that. I guess maybe >> I'd have to look those. I know um like our seventh grade is is close to 130 maybe right now. >> Oh wow. >> Yeah. So, um but I can I can find out um a couple of those questions and let you know this week. Um, again, I, you know, I'm not loving loving to have to do loving the suggestion of the tickets. I just don't know how better to keep things safe and under control because to Mrs. Tomman's point in 2024, I looked around too and I
062just thought >> this feels and and and people were distracting. >> Yeah. Um, and it it I felt like it kind of took away from the the student experience because people were loud and talking in the back and >> you know it's a real it's a celebration for >> sure >> for students. >> Well, there is a little bit more formality when everybody's seated too. It's it did seem kind of like there were two things going on. There was the back and then there was the ceremony. >> My wife was there. She was >> something was going on out that hallway. >> My wife was there. She was in the back and they were like, "What is going on back here?" >> Was a lot going on. >> There was a lot going on. >>
063Yes. >> Yeah. >> Not sure what the right answer is. I don't know. Um I mean I I just don't I mean really we can't offer more tickets though. I mean because of the size of the room. I just don't know what the right answer is because I I just don't thinking of other families in the class. I don't know that that's enough. >> Well, we we keep on saying what if what if what if but you know technically if the fire department comes in there and they don't like what they see, they can close it down. >> Well, the other the other thing, Mr. Purdue that you bring up that has been a concern is we are we are overtaking the parking lots beyond capacity too which has been another concern people with disabilities
064um just because we're we're bringing in more people you know than than what what it's designed for. So that's you're right they could shut it down. Um you know now again we've done it for years. It's just I'm just I think in you know the last couple times we were in there we were like we've really outgrown this space you know the sound system's good the you know it's a the space is good it's just a little tight. The other thing that the high school um suggested were to make um the tickets would be like keepsakes like laminated tickets that um that students and their families when they would get they'd be maybe like a larger ticket and that they um you know with a student's name or some you know in class of 2026.
065It would be something they could keep um permanently. So, it was just like something you could uh that would be given to you as a as a momento of the event, which I thought was a nice touch, too. >> Willy Wonka. >> I was just thinking the old tickets. >> Yeah. >> So, just to confirm the week before, it's not it's only available on a Wednesday night. um that. Yes. Okay. Yes. >> And then not Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and then the whole next week. >> It's not available. >> And I'll I'll double confirm um with Mrs. Maggley. She's been the kind of the point person with that, but that's what I've been told. Yeah. >> Because I mean, if this is a yearly convention, we probably do need to start looking. Yeah. Because this is
066going to come up every year. >> It is a tattoo convention. So, if you want to go to graduation, >> you just combine >> and then you could >> get a red, >> get a get an R, get a blue devil. >> 26, >> get a try again. >> There's a moment. There you go. >> Get your diploma and get it then. >> There you go. Walk right over. Yeah, that's okay. Well, let me uh let me follow up with you and find out those things. Like you said, there's really no >> no good answer. There's not >> um which is also isn't that a good problem that we have so many people wanting to come to a graduation. >> Yeah. >> You know, it's so um district report. >> Okay. Well, thank you. I'm
067I'm gonna kind of go quickly here. Um Mrs. perk was able to cover several of the items in here. So, I'll just um talk about a few things and I'm you have these slides. Uh I apologize I'm not able to to share my screen. Um you have these slides though in your um packet there uh direct to your left, Mrs. Tolman. Yes, that that one right there. Yeah. Um so last week I attended the BASA superintendent conference and um with that conference there were there were a lot of legislative updates. So as Mrs. Burke shared um the work unfortunately is not over. Um we need uh districts um boards of education, community members, teachers to um to continue to advocate uh for education and a lot of the vetos. There were over 65 line item
068vetos by the governor. Those were the direct results of communities reaching out to his office and advocating that those be removed from the from the budget bill. And uh you know, I do want to thank Governor DeWine for listening um to communities and um being willing to uh make some tough decisions that his party is not happy with. And as Mrs. Burke shared uh there are several items that they're trying to put back into the budget. And so it's going to be hard to follow along since I can't I can't share. So I apologize. But I I will I will say this that there um there was a property tax work group that was formed as a result of the budget and that group began to meet in July. um and they had to have
069their recommendations to to the governor by um by the end of September. And so they did get those recommendations. This group was tasked with really identifying what are um what are some reforms that can happen to lower property taxes in Ohio. And um on this on this group um Bill Sites, he's a former state senator, state representative. he was the co-chair of the of the group. Um there were some auditors, some county commissioners, a super uh two superintendent and one treasurer on the on the group. So the representation for school districts was very small uh on the on the um property tax reform group, but um they did have several recommendations. I'll talk about a few of those, but you've also probably heard that Ohio's property tax reform bill um to get rid of property
070tax. And so people have been coming around knocking on doors asking uh would you are you in fa do you do you like to pay property taxes? Well, the answer no one no one likes to pay property taxes, but they serve a purpose that we're a society for one. Somebody I I believe somebody paid that for me when I was a child. Um and I I think that's part of being in a society. The other thing is with property taxes is that also funds um you know our emergency services with police and fire and um and provides a lot of of revenue that if property taxes were abolished where where would that come from? 61% right now favor abolishing property taxes in Ohio. Um, some of the suggestions on how would that be funded would
071be increase and expand income tax, increase and expand sales tax. Um, and 27% said they're unsure how how you would um continue to pay for those things. So, the work group uh was has formed as I said um and Mrs. Burke talked about one of the items, one of the recommendations was to eliminate few the use of substitute levies and rename all current substitute and emergency levies so that it's not confusing with voters. Name them fixed sum levies and um fixed sum levies uh when those are renewed those levies would count towards those districts on the 20 mil floor. in Ohio of 611 school districts, 477 are on the on the 20 mil floor. So, um that means that about 78% of school districts in Ohio are on the 20 mil floor. We are not
072one of those districts, but there are many districts around us that that are um on the floor. And um the advantage of the floor is that uh they receive the extra revenue benefit as property home values uh are reassessed and they go up in value and that's what we've seen in Ohio. So the burden of taxpayers in Ohio about 70% of homeowners and farmers in Ohio are the they're funding schools um with their property taxes. So that burden has significantly shifted. As Mrs. Burke shared, in 1991, um, homeowners and farmers were responsible for about 47% of funding of schools. Today, as I said, it's almost 70%. Another piece of information, Ohio now is the eighth highest property tax state nationally. So you're the the property taxes we are all paying in our communities, we are
073eighth overall in the country and we are 46th nationally in state taxes. So we're your state tax for Ohio is at the bottom and our property taxes are at almost the top in in the country nationally. So that's why something has to be done um with property taxes. Uh I believe there's a lot of legislation and a lot of leg legislative decisions that have happened since 2005 and beyond that we're in today's problems and it's not because school districts continue to spend more and continue to ask for more and more and more. Many of these were legislative decisions and schools want tax reform too, but it needs to be balanced. How do we do that? Um, one of the things you may remember uh in 2005 legislation was passed um around something called tangible personal
074property tax, TPP. So taxes on um equipment and inventory. um those were phased out over 20 years and that lost over a billion dollars of revenue. Much of that revenue was supporting school districts and so that has has been um as a result of tax policy changes throughout Ohio um the shift and the burden continues to go on to the local property tax payer and owner. That's why we're now eighth nationally. Um, meanwhile, business taxes in Ohio have businesses their the their taxes have been cut in half. Um, and so, um, homeowners and farmers, as I said, now carry almost 70% of school property taxes and business shares have been nearly cut in half. And um the cuts of state taxes have reduced state support, forcing schools and local communities to raise property taxes, leaving
075Ohio where we are today. So um this is just something that we need to continue to uh pay attention to because although we are not a 20 mil floor district as Mrs. Burke shared. Um I am concerned that there will be more legislation to come. House Bill 186 um that right now they're proposing that if a district on the floor collects more property tax revenue than the than than inflation, then there would be a credit on a um there would be a credit on the taxpayers uh back to the property owner. and um and so many of these districts that are on the floor are going to have to probably go out and have levies and then those levies will be accounted against them and they will no longer be on the floor. So you'll
076see right now the prediction the estimate is about 50% of the districts on the floor will be off the floor as if they're if they're capping the revenue growth. Um the other concern as Mrs. Burke mentioned was inside millillage cap. um that would be very very challenging for any district because it is the only millillage that we have that continues to show growth. Um whereas with House Bill 920, our millillage is capped and it will roll back that um because that's that's a set amount of money, set amount of dollars. So um so we we need to continue to pay close attention to this. It's important that uh although it may not directly affect reading schools today with some of this legislation, um I do believe that there will be other legislation. Um the other
077the other piece too is just to just paying attention to state teacher retirement systems um specifically uh retirement benefits to administrators as well that that they are looking at um proposing that that be eliminated as a benefit for administrators to um to pick up their their retirement contribution. Um, unfortunately what I think that would end up doing for school districts is end up costing them more money because you would have to look at how do you how do you compensate that benefit in a different different way that so um we didn't get here because suddenly one day schools were but we're in a situation where homeowners feel this and and unfortunately it because the burden has shifted so heavily to local communities. That's why and the the the growth of the the growth of homes
078and the value of homes continues to accelerate which makes people's taxes continue to go up. So, um so we I just want to stay engaged. I want us to continue to pay close attention. Um and I'll provide the board with uh new updates as information comes out. But um I do appreciate BASSA and um you do have that uh handout with you. I apologize that I can't go through it on the screen with you, but um if you do have any questions and you can take that with you, uh I'm happy to answer anything. Thank you so much and appreciate you guys going to BASA and this past week and I was appreciate when the leadership goes to these different conference with you guys you you're able to share bring back and share a lot
079and network >> with other superintendent and leaders. >> Thank you. >> Okay, moving on to treasures recommendations for wave the reading of the minutes for the following meetings. Resolution 280-25, proof of minutes for the September 17th, 2025 work in regular sessions. >> I'll make a motion. >> I'll second motion by Mr. Purdue. Second by Mrs. Tommen. Roll call file, please. >> Mr. Purdue. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Tommen. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Warner. >> Yes. Resolution 281-25 approve financial reports bank reconciliation investments September of 2025. I'll make the motion. >> I'll second. >> Motion Mrs. Tomman. Second by Mr. Purdue. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Purdue, >> yes. >> Mrs. Tolman, >> yes. >> Mrs. Warner, >> yes. Resolution 282-25, approve of financial forecast and assumption notes fiscal year 20 26 through 230. >> I'll make
080a motion. >> I'll second. Motion Mr. Purdue, second by Mrs. Tommen for calllets. >> Mr. Purdue. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Tomman. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Warner. >> Yes. >> Moving on. New business resolution 283-25. Oh, sorry, Mrs. Burke. Thank you again for your presentation on that. Thank you. Um, resolution 283-25 recommend the approval of JR Cox at competent of concerts at the Reading Community Schools up to four hours concert at a rate of $40 per hour. >> Make the motion. I'll >> second. >> Motion, Mrs. Tommen, second by Mr. Purdue. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Purdue. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Tomman. >> Yes. Mrs. War. And it sounded like an amazing performance down there. Sorry that we weren't able to get down there. >> Yeah. >> Resolution 284-25 recommend to resend the following staff supplementals.
081>> I'll make the motion. >> Second. Motion by Mr. Purdue. Second by Mrs. Tommen. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Purdue. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Tomman. >> Yes. Mrs. Boring. >> Yes. Resolution 285-25. Recommend the approval of the following staff supplementals. I'll make a motion. >> I'll second motion by Mr. Purdue, second by Mrs. Tommen. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Ferdo, >> yes. >> Mrs. Tolman, >> yes. >> Mrs. Warner, >> yes. >> Resolution 286-25, recommend the approval of the following non-staff supplementals. And before we move, I would like to pull out Jeff Tommen from this. Okay. >> To be voted on at a different our next meeting. >> All right, that sounds good. Thank you. With that change, I need a motion, please. >> I'll make the motion with change. >> One second. >> Motion
082by Mr. Purdue, second by Mrs. Tommen. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Purdue. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Tolman. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Warner. >> Yes. Resolution 287. >> Can I ask a quick question? >> Yes. >> Um I think um like the way they just motioned and second is really to amend the agenda. Yes. If we could do that and then we vote on the resolution. >> Absolutely. >> Is that okay? >> Absolutely. Absolutely. >> So then I'm gonna have it as Mr. Purdue motion. Mrs. Tolman seconded to change the agenda >> to amend the the move Mr. Tolman and then Okay. >> Because we wouldn't have enough people to vote because Mrs. Tolman typically sustains. >> She would have to abstain. >> Abstain. Yes. I'm tired. I'm sorry. N >> now. Can we do this?
083Yes. Okay. >> I need a motion to motion. I'll second >> motion by Mrs. Tomman, second by Mr. Purdue to approve 286-25 with the ch with the amended change. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Um, Mr. Purdue. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Tommen. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Warner. >> Yes. >> Resolution 287-25 recommend the approval of the following volunte volunteer. >> I make a second motion by Mr. Purdue. Second by Mrs. Tommen. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Purdue. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Tommen. Yes. >> Mrs. Mory. >> Yes. What a change that will be, huh? for him to volunteer. >> Resolution 288 D-25 recommend the approval of the following contracts. >> I'll make the motion. >> I'll second motion by Mr. Purdue, second by Mrs. Tommen. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Purdue. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Tommen.
084>> Yes. >> Mrs. Warner. >> Yes. And I believe >> I'll remember. >> You'll do the E and that because it's D E. >> That should have been F, I believe. And then G, resolution 289-25, recommend the approval of the revised hours for the following staff for 25 2026 school year. Make the motion. >> I'll second Mrs. Tommen. Second by Mr. Purdue. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Purdue. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Tomman. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Warner. >> Yes. >> In resolution 290-25, I need a motion to adjurnn. >> I'll make a motion. I'll >> second. Motion by Mr. Purdue, second by Mrs. Fman. All in favor? I >> I and I have 744. Well, thank you very much. Thank you guys. Great. Black's always got or did they just do that? >> That in
085real. So those