001Allegiance. >> 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. And just for clarification, this is the organizational board of education meeting. Beth, roll call, please. >> Mr. Bur >> here. >> Mr. Manfred >> here. >> Mrs. Stone, >> here. >> Mr. Townza >> here. >> Mr. Wadsworth >> here. >> All right. We need an election of officers. We'll start with president. Uh, I need nominations. like to nominate John Manfred. >> A second. >> Um, anyone else? >> Motion by Linda. >> Mr. Burman. >> Yes. >> Mr. May. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stone. >> Yes. >> Mr. Townsen. >> Yes. >> Mr. Wodssworth. >> Yes. >> Thank you. I need a motion. In
002fact, I'm going to make this motion uh for vice president. I'd like to nominate Linda Stone. >> I'll second Dan and Jim. Any discussion? Beth roll call, please. >> Mr. Manfred. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stone. >> Yes. Can I go myself? >> Yes. >> You're allowed. You're allowed. Mr. Townza. >> Yes. >> Mr. Wadsworth. Yes. >> And Mr. Burman. >> Yes. >> Congratulations. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> Uh, we need a first and a second motion to approve the agenda. >> So move. >> Brian. >> I'll second. >> Linda. Any discussion? >> That's roll call, please. >> Mrs. Stone. Yes. >> Mr. Townsen. >> Yes. >> Mr. Wsworth. Yes, >> Mr. Burman. >> Yes, >> Mr. Manfred. >> Yes. >> Okay. Reorganization items. I need a motion to approve liaison for the committees
003before we I'll make a motion in a second. I'm just going to read the committees. And um and now we have Brandon that we want to add to um legislation liaison was Mrs. Stone. OSBA representative was Mr. Burman. Uh OSBA alternate was Linda. Record reviews commission was Brian and John. educational foundation was uh Linda, Jody, myself, Dan, and Brian. Um, so we're going to go from top. >> Um, Mrs. Stone, are you going to stay liaison? >> Sure. >> Okay. OSBA rep. Uh, Mr. Berman. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stone, are you the alternate? >> Sure. Brian, you and I for records review. Yes. >> Sure. Yes. >> Yes. Okay. Uh, educational foundation. I'm I'm willing to stay. >> I'm going to remove myself. I have a hard time getting there in the morning. >> Okay.
004Same with me. Okay. We don't have Mrs. Miller. Um, Brandon, do you want to be added to that? Sure. Okay. Okay. Um, Beth, those are the only committees that we need to approve. Correct. >> Correct. >> Okay. So, I need a first. I'll make that and a second. >> I'll second. >> Brian, any discussion? Roll call, please. >> Mr. Townsen, >> yes. >> Mr. Wiseworth, >> yes. >> Mr. Burman, >> yes. >> Mr. May, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stone. Yes. >> Okay. Meeting schedule as listed. >> So moved. >> Dan, >> I'll second it. >> Linda. >> Any discussion? >> Uh the November the November meeting is that during >> OSBA because we normally do it the third week. >> So it's >> we're not sure because they changed it this year. So, >> we
005had to change the board name. >> So, we'll leave it there and we'll change it later. Yeah. >> If we need to. Yes. >> Okay. Very good. Um, Beth will call, please. >> Mr. Wsworth, >> yes. >> Mr. Burman, >> yes. >> Mr. Mayor Freedy, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stone, >> yes. Mr. Towns, >> yes. >> Okay. Depositories are Star Bank and Huntington National Bank. I'll make the motion. I'll second. Dan. Any discussion? Beth. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Burman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Manfred. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stone. >> Yes. >> Mr. Townsen? >> Yes. >> Mr. Wiseworth? >> Yes. >> Uh, legal notices. We use the News Herald and Jaga Maple Leaf. >> I need a first and a second. >> I'll second it. >> I need a first. >> Dan was a
006first. >> Oh, Dan. I'm sorry. >> It's not a good start to your new term. Any discussion? Best roll call, please. >> Mr. May, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stone, >> yes. >> Mr. Townsen, >> yes. >> Mr. Wsworth, >> yes. >> And Mr. Burman, >> yes. >> Uh, tax budget. Motion to approve the fiscal 2027 alternate tax budget. I'll make the motion. >> I'll second. >> Brian, any discussion? Beth roll call, please. >> Mrs. Stone, >> yes. Mr. Townza, >> yes. >> Mr. Wadssworth. >> Yes. >> Mr. Burman. >> Yes. >> Mr. May. >> Yes. Oh man. >> Okay. Financial amendments. I have to read these. Uh motion to authorize the treasurer to amend the certificate of estimated resources appropriations with the county auditor with such amendments to be presented for approval by the board
007at the next regular special meeting to make payments of all bills and invoices due with a monthly listings certified by the treasur shall be presented to the board at the next regularly. scheduled meeting to make adjustments, transfers, and addition modifications to budget, revenue, and appropriations, accounts as necessary to update and close fiscal year end to forward resolution to request advances of first and second half collection from the Jaga County Auditor, Jaga County Treasurer requesting direct wire transfers with designated ated depositories. I will make the motion. I'll second Dan. Any discussion? Beth roll call, please. >> Mr. Townsen, >> yes. >> Mr. Wsworth, >> yes. >> Mr. Burman, >> yes. >> Mr. May, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stone, >> yes. >> Uh, legal council Western Herd, Bricker Grayson, Enis Brit. >> So move. >> Brian, Linda,
008I mean, I'll second it. I'll second it. And any discussion? Roll call, please. >> Mr. Wisworth? >> Yes. >> Mr. Burman? >> Yes. >> Mr. Mariti? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stone. >> Miss. Yes. Mr. Townson. >> Yes. >> Reorganizational items. Motion to wave the public reading of the board of education minutes for all meetings during each year. Each member of the board shall receive copies of the minutes from the previous meeting in advance of the next regular meeting. I will make that motion. I will second. Dan. Any discussion? >> Beth. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Burman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Manfred. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stone. >> Yes. Mr. Townsen. >> Yes. >> And Mr. Wisworth. >> Yes. >> Superintendent and Treasurer Travel. Motion to approve the attendance and expenditures of funds for the superintendent
009of pre and treasurer and their staff at their approval to attend inservice meetings, conferences, clinics, workshops within the state of Ohio during 2026. >> So move >> Dan second. >> Brian, any discussion? Roll call, please. >> Mr. MFY. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stone, >> yes. Mr. Towns, >> yes. >> Mr. Wsworth, >> yes. >> Mr. Burman, >> yes. >> Uh motion to approve the following groups to be retained at district liability policy eligible school groups at appropriate rate determined by the insurance company if any. The Athletic Boosters American Field Service Berkshire PTO Tomb Backers Berkshire Operation Post Prom. I will make the motion. >> I'll second it. >> Linda, any discussion? Beth, roll call, please. >> Mrs. Stone, >> yes. Mr. Townsen, >> yes. >> Mr. Wadssworth, >> yes. >> Mr. Burman, >> yes. >>
010Mr. Manfried, >> yes. Substitute list. Uh motion to approve substitute list submitted by the Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Brian. Any discussion? Beth will call please. >> Mr. Townsen. >> Yes. >> Mr. Wadsworth. >> Yes. >> Mr. Burman. >> Yes. >> Mr. May. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stone. >> Yes. >> Okay. Superintendent offers of employment to authorize the superintendent to during peri during periods when the board is not in session to make offers of employment directly to the candidates for either teaching or non-eing positions on behalf of the board and to acknowledge acceptance of those offers on behalf of the board. subject to subsequent votes of ratification by the board. Provided, however, that upon ratification by the board, the employee shall be deemed effective as of the date
011and the time of employees acceptance of the superintendent's offer. Nothing in the resolution shall require the board of education to employ or continue to employ the individual who has not provided a criminal record satisfactory to the board and who has not satisfied any other prerequisite of employment created by law or board policy. The authorization provided by this resolution shall commence January 1 of and remain in effect till January 15, 2027. I make the motion. >> I didn't catch that. Can you repeat that? >> I think that's a second by name. >> Why? >> Um, Beth, roll call, please. >> Mr. Wadsworth, yes. >> Mr. Burman, >> yes. >> Mr. Midi. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stone. >> Yes. And Mr. Townsy. >> Yes. Oh boy. >> Always do as stated. >> This is the last long
012one. >> Uh to motion to approve the following resolution to authorize the superintendent on behalf of the board to accept all resignations which have been submitted by employees during times when the board is not in session. Subject to ratification by the board. Provided however that the ratification by the board such as resignations shall be deemed effective as of the date and time of the superintendent's acceptance. The authorization provided by the resolution shall commence January 1, and remain in effect through January 15, 2027. Some move. >> I'll second it. Linda, any discussion? Uh, Beth roll call, please. >> Mr. Burman, >> yes. >> Mr. Manfred, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stone, >> yes. >> Mr. Townsen, >> yes. >> And Mr. Wadssworth, >> yes. >> Okay. Uh, I make the motion to adjourn the meeting. >> I'll
013second. >> Brian will second. Any discussion? Uh, Beth will call, please. >> Mr. Manfried? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stone? Yes. >> Mr. Townsen? >> Yes. >> Mr. Wodssworth? Yes. >> Mr. permit. >> Yes. Um, time is 6:13 p.m. Okay. Organizational meeting has been completed. I don't have to do pledge of allegiance again. Do we need to do roll call, Beth? >> I don't think so. >> Okay, good. All right. Um, we are now at the regular board meeting of board of education meeting. I need an approval of the agenda. >> So move. >> Dan, >> I'll second. >> All right. Any discussion? Beth, roll call, please. >> Mr. Burman? >> Yes. >> Mr. Manfried? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stone? >> Yes. >> Mr. Townsen? >> Yes. >> And Mr. Weisman? >> Yes. >> Um, I'll
014make a motion to approve the minutes. I'll second it. >> Linda, any discussion? >> Roll call, please. Best >> Mr. Miy. >> Uh, yes. >> Mrs. Stone. >> Yes. >> Mr. Townsen. >> Yes. >> Mr. Wadssworth. Yes. >> And Mr. Burman. >> Yes. >> John, student and staff presentation. >> Okay. At this time, I would like to introduce Mr. Franks, high school principal, to introduce our presentation from Berkshire High School. Mr. President, Board of Education, thank you for hosting Berkshire High School tonight. We are excited uh to tell you a little bit more about our um advanced placement as well as college credit plus psychology program. I'm going to introduce to you Mrs. Stephanie Franks, our teacher, and then our star pupils over here who will also be telling you about some of the authentic
015learning uh projects within that classroom. We have Campbell on the far end, Law Holland in the middle, and Miss Stella Morgan there. Last but not least, >> thank you uh for giving us a few minutes to talk about what we do every day. Um Dr. Solder, do you happen to have the presentation or >> I do you just tell me when you want the next? >> Yes, go for it. You can go ahead and start. Um I don't want to bore you because I know you'd rather hear from the students, but I just really quickly wanted to touch on some of the things that we talk about in CCP and AP psychology. Um since 2017, high school, college, and IP have the same standards. they're at just different levels basically. Um, so our CCP and
016AP um, curriculum is very much aligned. Um, a lot of times I think when you think of psychology, you only think of mental health, but it's a really robust field. Um, and so they're here to share some of the projects that they've done and some of the learning that we do in class. Um, with it being a college level class as well as an AP class, everything we do, um, is at the top levels of Bloom Taxonomy. Um, and a lot of the projects that we're going to show have to do with the biological basis of behavior because that's the unit we finished before the break. You can go ahead and move on. Um, a few reasons why I love the fact that we're able to offer psychology to our students is I really do
017feel like it builds a lot of those soft skills that kids need for life that is very much aligned with our district's missions. Um, it really helps students develop and improve upon their study skills. That's appropriate for high school, but really appropriate for college on um, basically how memory uh, works. Um, it teaches kids how to be effective leaders, how to be a good employee, a good friend, a good partner, um, etc., etc. Really just a good human. Um, they also learn how the mind works and what theories explain our behavior. And I probably should have said this, but really what psychology is, it's the study of why do we think the way that we do and and why do we behave the way that we do, right? Um this does allow them to get
018college credit or obviously um advanced placement. Um it allows them to be critical consumers and objective thinkers. Um there isn't another science that a student will take um that that stretches their ability to be um literate basically with with data. Um, and then the last thing I wanted to mention is although psychology is in the history department, um, it's 20% of an MCAT. For any student that's going into uh, medical school, it's a huge advantage to take a psychology class. Um, so I've talked plenty. I'd love to turn it over to some of my fantastic students. If you want to go ahead and advance, I think um, Stephan is up first. >> Uh, good evening. I appreciate the opportunity to speak tonight about uh psychology offered at Bergkshire High School. Uh my name is Stella
019Morgan and I'm currently enrolled in the AP psych class. So one project that I really enjoyed and helped me understand biological concepts was the superhero project. So for this assignment, we chose a neurotransmitter and created a superhero whose powers were based on what the neurotransmitter did in our body. So, I chose endorphins, which are the body's natural painkillers. So, Mrs. Franks taught us that having too little endorphins can cause someone to uh feel more pain than is necessary, but then having too many endorphins can be dangerous because people don't feel pain at all. So uh my superhero was called Captain Endorphenino and he has a secret serum that when people take it uh they feel reduced physical pain, their mood is boosted and they stay calm under pressure. So typically they would take this serum
020after say going for a run when you get your runner's high or after lifting weights. Um, so I really enjoyed designing and coloring my superhero and applying what I learned in class to my character strengths, weaknesses, and just creating the storyline. Uh, so this helped me understand how endorphins affect people in real life situations like stress, exercise, and performance. So overall, projects like this uh show us why APsych is such a valuable class to have offered at Berkshire High School. Um, it encourages students to think creatively, apply what we learn, and connect what we learned inside the classroom to our experiences outside the classroom. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Um, so my name is Law Holland. Um, and I'm going to talk to you about a project we did called the zombie brain menus.
021Um, so the idea behind this was to pick like a couple of parts of the brain um and their functions and kind of make a menu explaining their functions and like how they can physically um help you. So this um project was a PBL that was group based. Um so mine is the one I believe on the left. Um so within this project we used AI to create these um those little pictures of our foods. Um and so we used um AI in a beneficial academic setting um to where it was ethical to use. So we didn't use it to answer our questions but helped us understand the the functions and where exactly the functions come from in within the brain. Um this was a fun enticing and creative way to understand the functions of
022the brain um and come up with little captions about our little foods that we created. So yeah. >> Nice. >> Thank you. >> Clever. Very clever. We haven't gotten to this yet, so I'll quickly talk about it. Um, the biological basis is a huge part of the AP psychology exam. So, one way that we practice is I always say that like the if you understand where something is, you understand the brain part better. So, we do dissect brains. Um, we'll do that right before spring break. So, that's just a picture of that. >> Hi, my name is Campbell I took the APCCP psychology course last year, so I'm sort of covering things that uh this year's class hasn't gotten to. So, one of our major projects that we did last year was look at different
023study methods. And we made posters and slideshows and presented them to the freshman class to teach them not to cram their homework and to spread it out over multiple days just so they can develop good study habits and like what we learned. So really good way to help encourage them through their high school career on the best ways to study. >> Yeah. >> And then um towards like the last month of our time in class together, we all went to the Center for History Psychology in the National Museum of Psychology in Akran. So, in the pictures you can see where we're sitting down. We're actually looking at uh records from mental hospitals like from the 1800s. So, we got to go through and look at them. Like one of the main things that they had
024some people admitted for was like vomiting, just very odd things that you would not typically think of admitting to a psych psychiatric hospital today. You also got to look at some really cool experiments like the Bobo doll. So, we got to see that in person and a bunch of us got fun Bobo doll t-shirts. And then we also got to sit on um Freud's Jay's lounge together. So, it was just a really fun experience being able to actually go out and see what like apply what we learned in class and to the real world and see see the objects come to life. Thank you. >> And that's it. Thank you so much for giving us a few minutes to talk about psych. >> Thank you. Thank you guys. >> Great job, Kenya. >> Yeah. Excellent.
025It's great to see along with all of the workforce pathways that we study, we still have many kids that are also still on the college um pathway and um they're taking AP and CCP courses and advanced psychology courses. So, we're proud of all of the um opportunities we offer for all of our students. >> I know it's early and it's okay not to know the answer, but are are we using this in our future? Do we know yet? Are we undecided? Any thoughts? >> Cool. >> Yeah, >> absolutely. >> Yeah, >> good for you. >> And what's your first name? >> Campbell. Thanks, Awesome. >> Thank you guys. >> Thank you. >> Oh yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. >> You guys are free to go. You don't have to say. >> Yeah. You don't have
026to. We're not grading you on stage. >> But if you did, it would be an A or outstanding. Did you did you guys know that Campbell also helped us develop our aggra business pathway? Campbell went on school visits with us to help uh to set that program up as well. >> Campbell, are you Joel's daughter? >> Okay. >> Ah, got it. >> It would have been a good guess. >> Okay. We are at the point of the meeting for public participation. We ask you to come forward and speak into the microphone and please be respectful. Okay, we move on to the treasur's report. Let the record reflect the treasurer submitted a statement to the board and to the superintendent showing the revenues and receipts of sources derived, the various appropriations made by the board, the
027expenditures and dispersements, the purposes and balances remaining in each fund, the financial statements for the period ending December 2025 has been submitted subject to audit and includes the financial summary, appropriation and revenue summary, check register recap and reconciliation. Thank you. Can I have a motion to approve the following donations? You have Christopher and Sarah Cervanka. They donated $1,100 to the elementary PBIS. Uh we had two mini grants from the retired teachers association for $250 each. Marie Lovevice to the Educational Foundation for 1,000. Linda and Daniel Stone donated $200 to each building for a total of $600. and Greg and Kelly Reinhardt um donated $250 to the Get Out with GE program. >> So moved. >> Brian, I'll second. >> Any discussion? >> We always want to thank >> everybody >> people that support the school
028in whatever way possible um to to >> to do what's best for our kids. And so we want to thank them all. Okay. Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Stone, >> yes. >> Mr. Townsen, >> yes. >> Mr. Wadssworth, >> yes. >> Mr. Burman, >> yes. >> Mr. Manfried, >> yes. >> Thank you. Can I have a motion to approve the following financial amendments? We had a then and now invoice to Preston and then four appropriation changes. Title one, $87,152. Title 2A, $1,25.3. Title 4A 95.87 and $100,000 to the educational foundation. >> So moved. I'll second. Dan, any discussion? >> Beth will call, please. >> Mr. Townson, >> yes. >> Mr. Worth, >> yes. >> Mr. Burman, >> yes. >> Mr. Manfred, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stone, >> yes. Thank you. >> Thank you, Beth. John,
029superintendent report. I would like to request a motion to approve the following um certified and classified personnel as listed. Some move >> second. >> Brian, any discussion? >> Meth roll call, please. >> Mr. Watsworth, >> yes. >> Mr. Burman, >> yes. >> Mr. Manfried? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stone? >> Yes. >> Mr. Townsen? >> Yes. I would like to request a motion to approve the equipment and use grant for equipment from Auburn Career Center under the Super Rapids grant program through the Ohio Department of Higher Education, which will be used mainly for our workforce education pathways, but uh as well as for some uh adult learning options and for some uh student summer options. >> Some of Dan, I'll second. Any discussion? >> John, can you explain a little bit what that entails? >> Sure.
030There's some uh there's some snap-on tool equipment that uh our our students can earn certain certifications, I believe, hydraulic and pneumatics and um uh circuits and electricity and what uh Vanessa, what other ones do we Good deal. >> And then we also have some basic welding uh equipment that'll come with that as well. >> Awesome. >> Okay. Um, we do roll call, please. >> Mr. Burman, >> yes. >> Mr. Ridi, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stone, >> yes. >> Mr. Townsen, >> yes. >> And Mr. Wisner, >> yes. >> Like to request a motion to approve an overnight trip of 40 Bergkshire High School students to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Storytown, Pennsylvania. It'll be an overnight stay in Pittsburgh October 7th and 8th of 2026. >> I'll make the motion. >> Second, >> Brian.
031Um, John Franks, um, how do you choose 40 high school students? >> I'm working with my department chair, Mr. Eric, to come up with an application process. We don't want to dissuade anybody, but we'll put a process in place. So, this is an all expenses found by Mrs. Barbara Titus who lives in I'm not with her but she's on the she covering all costel everything >> that's greatass >> are we allowed as board members can apply medication. >> There we go. >> Awesome. >> Just checking how we can >> Thank you. Uh, any further questions? >> Beth will call, please. >> Mr. Manfred, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stone, >> yes. Mr. Town, >> yes. >> Mr. Wiseworth, yes. >> Mr. Furman. >> Yes. >> I would like to request a motion to appoint Roger Miller
032as the Berkshire Local School District representative to Auburn Career Center for a three-year term beginning January 1st, 2026 through December 31st, 2029. >> So moved. >> Second, >> Brian. Any discussion? >> Roll call. >> Mrs. Stone. Yes. Mr. Townsen. >> Yes. >> Mr. Wsworth? >> Yes. >> Mr. Burman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Manfred. >> Yes. Thank you, John. Okay. Um I guess this is kind of old business since he was just sworn in tonight, but I want to welcome Brandon Townson to our board. >> Um we thank you for um putting your name in and wanting to help out the school. I I'm grateful um that you're here and we look forward to having you. >> Thank you. >> Um >> I guess that goes the same for John for another term. >> Oh yeah.
033>> Him. Yeah. >> And he will miss Jody. >> Yes. >> Oh, it's just it's just a number. Um okay. Um, I don't know whether you consider this old or new, but Beth, I have some questions that I want to ask, um, in concerns with what's happening in Columbus and locally. Um, so, uh, I've written my so I won't forget Beth and John. Okay. What do you what do you believe the number is? And I I you know I I know everything is so preliminary right now um with being able to calculate the numbers, but what do you calculate at 2026 and 2027 and onward as far as um what we're going to have available to us? So, House Bill uh 183 is is definitely going to hurt us. Um, we're still working on the
034calculation. Nobody really knows how Department of Taxation is going to calculate this. They're still interpreting it. I was at some professional development on Friday and um it's kind of a big guessing game right now. So, the estimates have been as high as 1.6 million that we're going to lose. Um our my calculation is a little over a million dollars. I think there, you know, it's it's between$1 and $1.2 million. um we should have that nailed down in the next couple weeks, but we will not get the official um calculation until April because the law doesn't go into effect till March and then uh Department of Taxation has to go ahead and figure out how to calculate this this um credit. And essentially, you're you're not allowed to show growth if you're at the 20 mil
035floor over what the inflation factor is. And we're going to go through this at the February forecast. Um the problem is is for the May ballot um the deadlines are um so we would have to do a resolution of necessity uh prior to January 22nd and essentially that's asking for the dollar amount that whatever would create and then um to the resolution to proceed would have to be done by February 3rd because it has to be filed by February 4th. Our board meeting isn't until the 9th and and that's when I'll present the forecast to you. I will tell you based on if I figure it's going to be a million dollars that we're going to lose. Um, previously we're going to go into the negative and 28. It that's now bumping up to to
036>> Am I saying that right? Um, no, I'm sorry. In 28, we would go into the negative. Um, so we would be put on a 60-day plan. So, um, just I I think you guys need to be proactive in at least doing that resolution of necessity, whether you decide it be a property tax or an income tax. do keep in mind that um you know the potential for property taxes to be abolished in November is probably going to be on the ballot. So I am recommending I think Dr. Stoddard agrees that an income tax is the best bet. Um I will tell you I've gotten calls from several schools asking how income tax works because we're one of the only districts that really do it in this area. Um, I think I have five schools
037that I've talked to >> that um are are considering the income tax now. >> And you're specifically talking about earned income tax. >> Yeah, I would suggest keeping it the same. Um, I I think a a 0.5 an additional half percent would um make up for that. House Bill 183. Okay. Um, >> it's hard to recover a million dollars at the stroke of a pen that you know, >> um, question for you then. if we and by the way board um Beth has uh wrote up a resolution because I asked her to. But if we do go to the ballot in May and we move our way through to do that before uh February 3rd, whether you pass it in May or whether you pass it in November, collections don't start until 2027. Is that
038right? >> Right. 1127 it would go into effect. So it'll take us 18 months to realize that full amount. >> So fellow board members, if we uh approve the first resolution this evening, if we do that, um there's no guarantee we're going to put it on the ballot in May anyway. It's just that we're here and if we don't do it, you're going to have to have additional meetings in order to pass it resolution for it to be on the May ballot. Is it better that it's on the May ballot in November? Listen, I'm No, I I can't tell you. I All I can tell you is in 2018, we passed a bond issue in May. Uh that's what I can tell you. Yep. And that um just for the record is May better than
039November. May will be a primary. You are going to have uh in November you're going to have governor and some congressional and um that's what you're going to have on the ballot. So h how how much how people will come out and vote for it? I can't tell you. But I can tell you that if we do nothing May or November that you're looking at some serious financial problems. We said this a year ago. Nothing has changed in in the year that we talked about this. You know, especially me, I've said plenty. Um so, um that's my first discussion on the first resolution. Beth, I want to ask you on the collection of the millillage for the bond issue, where where are we at for millillage now? >> So, the budget commission set it at
0402.45. >> So, we've dropped again. >> Yes. >> Okay. If for those of you either on a >> on a call or that we originally started at 365 and we are now down to 245 on collection of that. That can't be changed unless we would vote for another bond issue which we have no need to do. But um that's the collection we have. Okay. There's one other thing I want to bring up and we'll circle back to the resolution and this has to do with Miss Vanessa uh since you're here and I'm going to ask you um I had asked you today um actually last week on what we've collected in grants and foundation um money that has come back to the school. The numbers you have given me are as follows. We have $447,9762
041that have come through grants uh or awards through foundations. Um we have $115,000 in corporate giving and project giving. Cocoing was one of those people and uh we had $63,835 given to us. Is that part of the engineering and design of the sidewalk project? Is that what I'm reading? >> Receive $25,000. no cost to us as a community project through Columbus that we secured to help us um determine and all of our schools plan so we can move forward with more grand applications. >> Right. Okay. So the total on those are 626,811 and two sets. >> And I'll just clarify your figure 63,000 835. You said >> 63835 is a compilation of dollars as well as services and grants that we receive through nonprofit organizations and nonprofit partnership giving. For example, we received an example
042of that is we received $30,000 from the writing revolution method um which is a nonprofit organization which supports teachers, but we received $30,000 in free support to train 17 of our staff, teachers and administrators. So that that compilation is a variety of different figures, but that is an example. Um, another example is the Ohio Arts Council in partnership with Fairmont Arts provides the music and arts therapies for our special education students and that is a nonprofit giving that we build a partnership. They apply for the grant but the grant benefits us or we collaborate in writing those grants together so that we obtain those services at no cost for disability. >> So, um, thank you by the way. Um, on top of that number that I just gave you, the 626, we also received a
043grant for $915,000 that we use for renovation uh of the new campus and that was secured through Senator O'Brien. And John, um, just a question on that. Um, what did we have to do in order to gain that funding, that grant? We apply we we worked through our lobbyists at Credo. We applied for the uh uh one-time uh community uh improvement funding through the state. >> Okay. So, when you look at um the campus that we're on um at uh across the street from Preston, that campus was basically done with grant money. Not to mention the purchase of that. Uh we had a donation from Preston, Pat Preston specifically, of $750,000, which is what paid for that property. Um and now that he is there, he pays rent to us. Um, so the reason I
044bring this up for those of you who are here and those of you who are watching, it's not like we're sitting waiting for the state to make decisions on how we get funding. We are we are aggressively going after any grants, foundations. If I don't um text or or email uh Vanessa at least once a month, it's more than that of anything that I might see. So, we're very aggressive and if somebody questions staff members and what they do, that's a pretty simple one to figure out regardless of um the what she has done since she has been here. She should be applauded for that. It's it's um and she's not done. And the sidewalk project specifically is something that's a pet of mine. You know, that's for the safety of our kids. That's what
045that's for. And it's not going to be easy for us to get the grant money for it. I never said it would be. It never is. But we are looking at it'll benefit the community. It isn't just about the school because putting sidewalks down clear and Troy while it's for the benefit of our kids is for the benefit of the community as well. So, >> we also have another $600 plus thousand grant in the works for our um our work study program that will renovate the garage between here and Kent State to create um some more workforce programs as well. for for nine years now since since I've been here, Beth and I sit be we talk every day about what we can do to so that we don't we don't have to go back
046to the ballot. And that's why aside from obviously we needed to go to the ballot to build this facility, but other than that it's been 30 years since we've gone to the ballot for new money. I mean, granted, um, a PI renewal had happened since 1989, but that wasn't new money. Um, but it's it's no coincidence that that that's what we do. We look for ways to supplant funding. And then when we hired Vanessa, that's exactly what we asked her to do. Like, we people are the most important things to us here. I mean, we could have the greatest math textbooks in the world, but they don't teach kids. People teach kids. So, we need to find ways to keep those people. So, we do the best we can to supplant. And we continue to
047do that. And so, what Beth and I could do on our own was one thing. And and we were finding things and finding ways, but when we were able to bring Vanessa on board who could focus on that, we were able to do even more. So, the reason we've been able to stay off the ballot for new money is because of the efforts we're putting in and we're pounding the pavement and we're looking for every little grant or um donation or opportunity that we can get. Um, and when you find a great partner like the Preston's who give um the way they do, that that's helpful. And and also the the Epics at Great Lakes Cheese who give the way they do. And then uh Kakosing with Greg Reinhardt was able to help us get
048that. Um but but but we're not stopping there either because we're building workforce programs for Great Lakes Cheese and for Duramax Marine and for Preston Superstore and for um Kunley Brothers Trucking who also donated $125,000 to uh to Berkshire who we didn't count in any of those figures. So, the fact that we're we are partnering and we are delivering a service that they need and and they're then supporting us on the backside to be able to to help with that and that's the way we're going to survive. We we fully understand the tax burden that our community has on them. We just want people to understand that that's their state legislators shifting that burden from the state to the local taxpayer. In 1997, when the state funding formula was declared unconstitutional, the state was funding
04947% of public school. Today, the state is funding between 32 and 35% of public school. So when people look at their tax bill and they say my taxes went up and most of that goes to schools, the reason theirs is going up is because the state's deciding to send a smaller share and there are and they're working off the assumption, which they know full well isn't true, that we're receiving more when we're not. So it it just it shifts that burden. So what people don't understand is we're bringing in roughly the same amount is just more coming from the local people than the state and that's what's causing this issue. If the state would bump and sh and share their 50% then we wouldn't be in this issue >> technically too John um I want
050to be clear I want to be correct on this so correct me if I'm wrong the way we've set up our busing we are on a single route bus schedule morning and afternoon technically that's at a state minimum the only difference is we pick up kids that may be above the age of a state minimum, but that's we're the routes that we're running. We're only running it once and that's what we would have to do to meet state minimum anyway. >> The state minimum is that you transport anyone who lives um outside of two miles as the crow flies from your campus. So, the majority of our stu of our students live outside of two miles. So there's >> but the buses going to a single tier system has definitely saved us um in in
051transportation because we're not running those buses. It's saving wear and tear on the buses as well because it's one trip instead of instead of multiple trips and it's saving on fuel. So, it's it's saving. Um, but that I mean that's not what puts us at state minimum, but essentially moving to a state minimum wouldn't really benefit us because the only thing we could eliminate would be high school transportation, but the buses are still going to those same areas to pick up the >> same routes. That's what my point was. Yeah. Even though we may pick up kids that are closer than two miles to the school, the buses have to run right past those routes to pick those kids up. And yes, they're stopping. So, there's some additional fuel and time, >> but we're technically
052as far as my mind is concerned on on the minimum pretty much anyway. Um, and when you count janitorial, mowing, plowing, busing, um, are all contract services, none of those employees are on our payroll. So, they do not receive any of our benefits. This is things that we've done in order to save money throughout the years. This hasn't just happened. This is something that we've done. And when you look at those savings of not having those people on your uh payroll because you're not paying those benefits, that's that also should be looked at. When somebody says you need to cut your staff, we have when you go to contract services, you did cut your staff and and it's a substantial amount of money. Not to mention for Beth and John, they can focus and concentrate
053on what this building is supposed to do, and that's educate our kids. The only other contract service we could ever look at would be food service. And actually, Beth, I'm going to make a statement with this, and you correct me if I'm wrong. We have to provide food service regardless if we were doing what you would call a state minimum. Now, we do provide food service for the older kids, but these people have to be here to provide the food service anyway. >> Plus, our service, our food service has been doing really well in this building. Um, the participation is way up. >> Yeah. >> So, they must like the food. >> Yep. Okay. >> And it's sustaining itself right now. >> So, I I wanted to bring those things up. I again, it's kind
054of under old business, but I want pe our board to know our public to know that it's not that we're sitting waiting for things to happen and commiserating because of what people do outside of our district and at the state level. We're going to find a way to educate our kids to the best of our ability. So, >> and here here's the problem with that those last 20 minutes needs to get heard by every resident of this district. And that is the only chance in in heck that we can pass anything on a ballot. And I know no matter how much effort we put forth, that's not going to happen to to land on everybody's lap. But um I think it's important that we make an effort to have periods outside of the board meetings
055where this information is available and discussed. I don't know what that looks like. I don't know uh the details of what I'm saying right now, but I think the only way we have a chance to pass anything on on a ballot is so people understand why we're asking for more money because it every reason that we give can be validated, is viable, is important. We know we're doing the right thing. We're not being lazy and not trying to save this district money, but nobody else that isn't paying attention knows that. And nobody else not paying attention is understanding any of the state legislature changes. I mean, if if I wasn't up here, I don't know if I'd be paying attention to it. So, I think no matter what we do, whether we try to get
056something on the ballot in May or November, we need to put uh considerable effort into trying to get this information out and disseminated, no matter what that looks like. >> And the other thing is those of you who are out there, please come and ask us questions. Don't assume that you know what's going on because school financing in general is difficult, but there's so many things that we are required to do and Beth is required to do um that have to make it work and it's getting more challenging by the minute. But don't assume things ask. We are all willing to answer your question, spend some time um explaining things to you as we try to figure it out. But this, like Dan says, this is very important right now. We love our school and
057we want to continue doing all the things we can, but we definitely are going to need your help. And so, please, like Dan says, take this very seriously. >> Yeah. And I I would I would bet that if we sat five people down in a room and explained all this, three out of those five would say, "Yeah, that makes sense. I'm I'm on board." There's going to be people that just say, "No, no matter what." And I I get that. But um it's those those on the line uh voters that if they understood full scope of what we're up against and what we're asking for, I would bet that we could lean them in the direction that would help uh float the school for some more years. So again, I I I think we need
058to put put boots on the ground or have additional meetings. I don't know. do something to to get this as as much out and in public as possible. >> And it's not just us. It's lots of schools like that. Correct. You think this is this last bill, this House Bill 183 will affect probably like 200 schools in the state of Ohio. >> Yeah. I mean everybody that was on the 20 mil floor and then you know there was additional legislation that that changed the calculation of the 20 mil floor you know where where uh fixed sum levies or emergency levies as they used to be called are now being counted towards the 20 mil floor. So essentially you know we took a standardized calculation and now there's a whole bunch of different floors for >>
059for different districts which is is uh frustrating. So again, those of you who are out there maybe watching, we will go anywhere to meet with anybody at any time and go through numbers, finance, whatever you want to hear. Uh we did it with the bond issue and when you go back to the bond issue, May of 2018, everything we said we would do, we did every and we have carried it through. This is 2026. So we're less than 10 years. You've already dropped 1.2 mills on your taxation for this building in less than 10 years. And we haven't been in this building 10 years. That's just since you approved the May uh May bond issue. With that being said, it it's it's not that we haven't followed through with what we said we would do.
060We watch our finances. We go after grants. We continue to pave the way and do what we're supposed to do. So, the five of us are committed to go and meet anyone anywhere because we are going to need additional money. It's the same thing I said a year ago and here we are again. And the numbers from a year ago till now, it's gotten more severe of what we're going to lose. >> Yep. >> Is there anybody else that >> has any comments? Okay, John, I guess we're to new business. Yeah, I for new business I would like to uh recognize that it is board members recognition month and as such I would like to present each of you with a certificate in sincere appreciation for your exempl exemplary leadership and service to our schools.
061So, let me give each of you am I a buzz kill before we get our right >> this small token of our appreciation. >> Thank you. >> Your service. >> It's only my first day. >> You get one on your first day. First day. >> That's the way to do it. >> That's awesome. Don't worry. We're going to make you work for it. So, don't worry. Do you think like state schoolboard members voted to have a recognition month for themselves >> like on a state or national level or something? Yeah. >> How did that come about? >> So, we appreciate everything that you do and the meetings you attend and the decisions you make and and the trust that you put in us to lead the school district. And I will say we have met
062every goal that we set. We are using project-based learning like we said we were going to do. We do have a strong workforce development program like we said we were going to have. Our report card scores have increased like we said they would increase. When when I first started this job nine years ago, we were in the neighborhood of two and a half star. Well, we're now four, teetering on four and a half and I think maybe able to achieve the five star here very soon in that metric. And we're a leader in workforce development. We Beth and I and and Vanessa and John get called by not only other schools but businesses asking how they can set up course development pathways the way we do it. So, we're doing great things and we will
063find a way and um you know I there it's not a coincidence that legislators want to push school consolidation. Um if you read the story that came out, there are 605 school districts in Ohio, but certain legislators think there should be 88. What else are there 88 of in Ohio? >> They want countywide school systems. So, what I would ask the people in Giaga County is, do you want a countywide school district? Because that's what our state legislators are pushing us toward. And they don't want to be the ones that do it because they don't want people coming to their offices. They're going to strangle us until we don't have the funding left and we're forced to do it so that we take the beating for it. And then you're going to end up with
064a single school district in each county. That's what I said 14 years ago. Do you know that? That's how long that's been. And when you look at Bergkshire, I want to I know I'm driving the point home and I'm sorry, but we have been consolidating since I got here and it's not because of me. It was board members before me. You closed Claren and Troy schools. You merged them into one campus. Then uh Ledgemont came along and you merged them into this district long before anybody else was doing this. We were doing it and we didn't wait for things to happen. And I guarantee you we're not going to wait for this. We're going to keep moving and pushing so that we're not in um any type of receiverhip with the state. That is not
065what we want and we're not going to have it happen. But I'm also not going to cut education to our kids because that's our main focus and that's what we're supposed to do. So with that being said, I said I would circle back to a resolution. Beth, I'd like you to read what you put together, please. So it would be a motion to approve a resolution of necessity of estimated tax rates for an earned income tax of 50% under the Ohio Revised Code section 5748.02. >> Okay. I ask that I'm going to I'm going to make that motion. And that would be to clarify that would be for the May 5th, 2026 election. >> We have to, right? If we do it now, it would be >> Well, you could wait till November. This isn't
066And and and if we make this motion tonight, it's not to say >> for sure. >> It's not to say we're even going to have it on the May ballot. It's just that we're moving towards doing it. If we have other ideas and things change between now and we can always cancel. >> Yep. >> Meaning if we don't if we don't do this now, then we're not eligible to make >> Well, you have to have uh we have to have two resolutions by February 3rd. So, we can have two more meetings. That's okay, too. I'm I'm up for anything. There's five of us here. So, >> so I'll send >> everybody has an opinion. >> I would send this resolution to the Department of Taxation and then as soon as we um get the estimates,
067then we would prepare another resolution and you would decide whether you would go on the ballot or not. >> I'll second John's motion to sign this. Any further discussion? Bethl call please. >> Mr. Rani. >> Yes. >> Mr. Burman. >> I think we should wait till November. So I'm going to say no. >> Mrs. Stone. >> I just think we have to right now. So yeah. Yes. Mr. Wsworth. >> Yes. >> And Mr. Townsen. >> Yes. Okay. Okay, remember that we still have to >> we still have to get more information that Beth is going to get and uh once we do that there's no there's nothing that locks us into doing this just enables us. >> Okay. So, did you want to set a preliminary special meeting to get the results? >> Could we
068do two weeks from tonight if that works on everybody's schedule? >> Is that soon enough, Beth, or far enough out? >> Um, the 26th. >> Yeah, I mean, you you would have to you would have to do it by February 3rd. So, uh there's a meeting on the 9th of February. Say we have the 26. >> I don't think we would. Next week it would be too soon. >> 26th. I don't want >> I think he was asking for January 26th. >> Yeah, I think that would probably work. >> Yeah. >> Oh, I will be out of town the 26th. >> Does it have to be on a Monday? Uh the only reason I chose Monday was I thought, you know, it kind of fits everybody's schedule because we do Monday meetings. But you could
069pick any day of the we could pick any day of the week. >> You could also do if you wanted to stick with Monday, February 2nd, >> but that's down to the that we could do it then. That's >> what do I have? I won't be here February 2nd. >> No. >> So that would be a bad day. >> It's not that day. >> I'm out the 26th through 28th of January. You're out. >> I am out of town. Yeah. So, >> I'd like to make sure all of us are here because I think it's important. So, we >> 29th. >> We could pick another day. >> I could do the 29th. >> Thursday night. >> Which one? >> Thursday the 29th. >> Does that fit for everybody? >> Good for me. >> Yeah. January
07029th on a Thursday, same time. >> Same time. >> Okay. 6 pm. And Beth, but to to Dan's point, I'm I'm sure I'm kind of hitting everybody from left field because they're not prepared to really know all the numbers. if you could provide um more information um and maybe by then you'll have more information >> from the state because things change so rapidly. Um I can understand anybody's reluctance. >> So So I should be able to present forecast on the 29th. >> Okay. And John, you will assist her, correct? >> Yep. Thank you. Okay. On board, not board. We are at board discussion. Um, an executive session. Um, we need an executive session tonight about employment of a public employee. I'll make the motion. >> Second. >> Dan. Beth. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Townson.
071>> Yes. >> Mr. Mr. Wadssworth. >> Yes. >> Mr. Burman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mcreeny. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stone. >> Yes. >> Uh, there will be no action to follow. >> Are we going back to my office? >> Office. Okay. Stop. I don't normally sit that long every except when I'm driving. >> Holy moly. family members victim there anymore. So, it's going to be really Matt, we ready? >> Wake up. >> Okay, I need a motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. >> Brian, >> I'll second it. Linda, any discussion? >> Mr. Berman, >> yes. >> Mr. Manfred, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stone, >> yes. >> Mr. Townsen, >> yes. >> And Mr. Water, >> yes. >> Thank you all for coming. Don't rush the doors before you leave.