001order the what month is it? July the July meeting of the local school district board of education. You can all stand for the pledge. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America to the stand. Okay, Mr. Can you call roll please? >> Mr. West here. Mr. >> here. Mrs. Eyeball >> here. >> Mr. Or >> here. Mrs. Phil >> here. >> Okay. First up, we have communications. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, I just like to thank everybody who's here tonight and everybody came out. Um, and to the board. It's just been a true honor um to to be in the various administrative positions that I've had and leadership. I want to thank this board as well as the original board that gave me the first opportunity to be superintendent. And
002uh the administrative team, our staff, it's incredible. And uh I just want to again thank everybody in the Oak Hills community as a lifelong resident. Uh this has truly been a dream come true. It's been an honor to serve this community, serve the students and families and work alongside wonderful boards, wonderful administrative team and staff, uh including our classified staff who who uh who just do a tremendous job day in and day out. And I wish I wish this community I wish this board. I wish our ministry team and staff the very best moving forward into the future. And again, as a as a life on Westside, I'll be watching Highlanders uh continue to prosper as we move forward. And I wish Dan and Steve and leadership team nothing but the best as well as
003the board. So, thank you again for this opportunity. Thank you for the support over the years. And uh again, I wish you guys the very very best. And thank you again to our staff and our ministry team. You guys have been amazing. Thank you for the relationship and the friendships that we've had. And uh again, I'm I'm just I'm truly blessed to have been in this position in the various leadership positions I've had in the district. So again, thank you all for a wonderful wonderful ride and I wish you guys the very best. I actually am not as good as you at just saying things, so I wrote a big long page down. Um so I'm going to try and read this. If you were at graduation, you know, my daughter bet me that I
004couldn't get through graduation without a mistake, and she was right. So, I'm sure it'll happen again. So, I just want to take a minute to recognize and thank you, uh, Mr. Brandt, for your remarkable service and leadership. You guys might know that Jeff began his journey in public education in 95, but in 2000, he brought his passion and dedication home to Oak Hills, which is fitting since he's a lifelong Westireer. Over the past 25 years, he's worn many hats in our district. Assist assistant principal at Rapid, principal at Delh High, principal at Oak Hills High School, which he calls the big house. Um, human resources director, and for the past nine years, he's been superintendent for our district. If you know Jeff, you know he's never met a stranger. His gift for building relationships is
005legendary. Many of us in this room consider him not just a colleague, but a true friend. And if Jeff has given you a nickname or called you brother, you know your place in his circle is solid. I even allow him to use a nickname that I don't let just anyone use. Jeff's influence stretches far beyond the school walls. His involvement with countless organizations like the Oakills Alumni Education Foundation, PTAs, Athletic Band, Coral Boosters, Delhigh Business Association, and many more has deeply enriched the lives of our students. He's cultivated strong relationships with local partners like Beacon Orthopedics, Christ Hospital, Tri Health, Coca-Cola, and even Bridgetown Fire Meets, his trusted source for grilled chicken. Under Jeff's leadership, our district has seen tremendous growth, much of it without asking taxpayers for a dime. His efforts led to several
006privately funded facility projects, including new playgrounds at Oakdale, Spring Meer, and Dulles. upgrades at Oak Hills High School such as a new track scoreboard, wrestling center, storage facility, and second turf field. Most notably, in collaboration with Delhigh Township, he helped bring to life a new preschool learning center, and swimming pool at Delhigh Town Square, all accessible to our students. Throughout his tenure, Jeff has never wavered at his priorities. Fiscal stewardship, a commitment to student success, and unwavering support for our staff. His leadership was especially viable during the pandemic, guiding the district with steadiness and heart. He also led the change in creating a new strategic plan for our community and played a pivotal role in the 2025 building our future bond initiative, an ambitious plan to bring new schools to Oak Hills for the first
007time in nearly three decades. Jeff, there's no way this short speech captures the full scope of your impact. that as you turn the page to the next chapter in your professional journey, we want to celebrate the legacy you've left behind. We know we will still see you at Friday night games, student performances, and other community events. After all, the West Side will always be home. On behalf of the board and the entire Oak Hills community, thank you, Judy. You've made a lasting mark, and we're forever grateful. Thank you. Okay. >> All right. Next up, we have um The adoption of the agenda. I guess that usually says, can I have a motion for adoption of the agenda? >> Call a roll, please. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mot. >> Yes.
008>> Mr. West. >> Yes. >> Okay. On to the treasures report. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Uh this evening, I have four items to share of board in the community. uh you find in your packet behind the teal sheet the actually two financial reports I'll go with the most recent which is June which is on the bottom left is page 35 I'm sorry page 32 of 81 so June financial report total receipts uh 2.7 million total expenditures 5.4 4 million. If you turn to the side of the graph, our ending cash balance 33.5 million in the general fund. And as board is aware, this is the end of our fiscal year. So, uh, the 34, excuse me, 33.5 projection um or actual 33.5 actual is a bit lower than the projection of 33.9. Uh, expenditures
009came in a little bit higher at the end of June. and we did pay all of our bills and some of that was uh strategic in nature and that there was a lot going on with the general assembly as far as carrying over cash balances as we're aware. So, we paid as much as possible at the end of the fiscal year to try to deplete our cash balance just in case um the general assembly had anything included in House Bill 96 which we will talk about here momentarily. Uh so, moving on from the general fund to the permanent improvement fund, uh no revenue to report in the permanent improvement fund. Total expenditures 612,000 and our ending cash balance in the PI funds uh 2.9 million. Uh 2.9 million is slightly higher than the 2.5 million
010that we projected. Uh so that's certainly good news. Uh but obviously we have everything planned uh per prior meetings at least 5 years out from now. So uh if there are no uh questions regarding the financial report uh move on to the next item I have. Next item that I have this evening to share is some good news on behalf of the food service department. Uh so the the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, the Child Nutrition Department is proud to announce the successful completion of the administrative review for Oakill School District for 2425. This administrative review by the state is a comprehensive review conducted every 5 years and it assesses all aspects of food service operation including procedures, resource management and procurement practices. Kelly Welley food service director is pleased to report that her
011department has met all of the require all the requirements of this audit and there are no fiscal findings. This is an outstanding an outstanding outcome that reflects the hard work and dedication and commitment of our staff and students as well as the board and administrative team. So on behalf of Oak Hills through the service department, Kelly is pleased and very appreciative to uh communicate this information this evening. So that's certainly great news. That's once every 5 years. It's a very extensuous process. Um, quite honestly, they talk with not only my department, the treasures department. They go out to different buildings to make sure that the food service staff is operating correctly. They work with board of health. There are a number of things that go into this. It's no small endeavor. And so, hats off
012Kelly and her team, the food service for um, and unblenmished audit report from the state. So, uh, certainly good news uh, for the food service department. Uh the third item I have on the agenda this evening uh that I would like to share is the state budget. So we have talked extensively about the state budget. Uh and for the community the state budget represents about 40% of our overall funding. Uh so it's a significant artery to our funding at 40%. The budget started back in February, but even before that process began, uh we have talked extensively about property tax reform and with high property values and uh you know the inflation and everything else that's going on that has gone on really for the last two or three years. Um this was a very critical
013state budget and a state budget like I've never seen in nearly 25 years of doing this. And I think based on everybody that's ever picked up the Inquire or looked anywhere out there, this was this was a little bit of a wild west. Quite frankly, it was it was changing by the day. The dust has settled kind of. Uh so the state budget was approved by the House with a vote of 59 to 38. State budget was approved by the Senate with a vote of 23-10. Uh and the governor signed the budget uh nearly before the strike at midnight on June 30th, which is the required deadline. When the governor signed the budget, uh there were a number of things in there that were very concerning for public education. Uh the house and the senate
014both approved a cap on what you can reserve and carry over. So what's in your bank account? Both the the general assembly both the house and the senate said 40% of the prior year's budget is as much as you can carry over. What does that mean for oakills? Typically, we're hovering in the range of 35 to 45% that we carry over each year. Fortunately for this year, we're parenting fortunately because we wouldn't have been impacted. We're carrying over about 34%. We were fortunate that the governor vetoed that provision which was critical for public education because there are some districts that are carrying over carrying more than 40% over. So, if you were carrying more than 40% over, uh it would have meant a number of different options. Uh it could have been infrastructure needs. It
015could have been property tax relief. But I think the concern for school districts was that these were voted on by the people of your community. These were local dollars that your local community supported and the state was unilaterally going to make the decision to say your local community's decision. We're going to override that. We're all in support of property tax relief. Fortunately, the governor vetoed that provision of the 40% carryover. So, that was great news. Uh, there were a number of other things that the governor vetoed as well. 67 vetos to be exact. Um, of those 67 vetos, it's interesting right now, a week from today, the House is going to reconvene. And the House is going to reconvene to potentially override some of those vetos. There are specifically three vetos that are looking to
016be um overridden by the General Assembly. How does the general assembly override a veto? They have to have 60% of their chamber support. So, if you heard me say the 59 votes, uh, that's not going to get. So, 59 in the House would not pass an override. They would need to have 60. Those provisions that they're talking about overriding, there's three of them, as I mentioned. One would be it would restrict the district's ability to place certain types of levies on the ballot. So for example, a continuous levy, a substitute levy, which Opels has used before as well as a number of other districts. It would eliminate that. We do not have the opportunity to do that. Um, another option that would be removed, um, overridden would be the county, saying county is referred to
017as the budget commission, but the county could make the decision to arbitrarily uh, reduce your tax rates. So if they feel like you're assessing too high of a tax rate, which Hill is in the bottom third of Hamilton County, but if you're assessing too high of a tax rate, you as a board would not have the authority. That authority would be given to the county to make the decision to reduce tax rates on behalf of your local school district. That's another option that they're discussing right now um as far as a potential veto. Um, and then the third item, uh, that they have, uh, bear with me here. Um, oh, the 20 mil floor. So, without going into too great of detail, um, the 20 mil floor calculation is is the lowest threshold of taxes
018that you can assess. Uh, the state wants to tinker with that uh to make sure that districts aren't receiving property value increases. Um, as far as the same amount of increase in property taxes, the same amount of revenue that you would collect, there's a lot to that. I know as a general taxpayer and a community member that may be very confusing. Just know from a school district's perspective, all those things would be an adverse effect on not only Oak Hills, but all the school districts around the state. Um, we've talked as a community and board before. Um the formula has been in place for you know five decades and so we've played by the rules for five decades and that would just uh I reached out to uh representative Odoso as well as Senator Blessing
019to express on behalf of the board you know our concerns with an override um and you know we can uh continue to advocate accordingly and I'll keep you posted. So the next part of the chapter of this book is since an override has been scheduled next Monday for the house, the governor now has appointed former state representatives Bill Sites obviously local not only Bill Sites u but Pat uh Tivery I'm not sure what part of the state but the house is going to meet next week to potentially override the as there are two former representative sites in theory that are now have been now been appointed by Governor DeWine to go back to the formation of the property tax reform group which you may remember that property tax reform group started about two and a
020half years ago. So I say representatives it'll always be representative sites for me but Bill Sites and Paty Tippery have to give a report to Governor DeWine by September 30th on recommendations on potential suggestions on how we can solve the school funding issue that has been an issue quite honestly for the last 50 years. Um, I know I sound like a broken record and I know there's not a lot of answers, but as you can see, this is very complex and I've never seen anything like it where uh very grateful for the governor for his his um his courage to veto 67 actions. Um, but we'll continue to advocate. We understand these are times like never before. So, there's another Are there any questions? I know >> I I do have a question about the
02120 mil floor the changes the potential changes in the 20 mil floor that BJ's ever written. So was that take will that take money away from us immediately or is that if we pass because what it's doing is saying these other levies count above the 20 mill so will that change how much our funding is a year from now or is that just if levy in the future? >> My understanding is is that we are now at the 20 mil floor. We have call it three mills that are excluded from that calculation. So once you're at the 20 mil floor as property values go up by say 8 to 10% our revenue will go up 8 to 10%. Okay. Now they're going to roll these three mills from the substitute levy to count toward the
02220. So we're not going to see the 8 to 10% increase. I'm just using a using a number of 8 to 10% increase on property values going up by that much. Instead, property taxes will roll back until we get back to the 2004. >> So, will they roll back though immediately? >> That's not my understanding. No, particularly because it's not a year reappraisal. >> Yeah. So, you're saying it only applies to the reappraisal in your understanding because it doesn't really state everything else. >> You usually because usually in non-reappraisal year, you're looking at a at an increase of usually less than a half%. >> Well, what I'm saying is what if they say that there's three mills come off now? >> Yeah. That would be that would be problematic. >> We don't know for sure
023that that's not what they're doing. >> That's not that's that's not my understanding. Some changes I'll certainly >> cuz they don't seem to care, you know. Well, there's there's a number of provisions that have been discussed inside >> and and from my stand what I say is, you know, we're not necessarily against property tax reform, but you know, there should be, you know, there were other calculations about limiting it and and giving money back to people who the taxes are too high cons compared to income or seniors and all that kind of stuff. This isn't any of those things. This they just pulled out of nowhere. Well, I think you make a good point particularly, uh, we're we're obviously sensitive to our community. Um, but when folks know the facts and understand that we spend
024less than nearly everyone else and we assess nearly lower taxes than nearly everyone else, uh, you can only squeeze that turn up so much. Um, and so when a community supports something, you have the state come in potentially change that. and and Bill Sykes has been been very vocal to say through this process saying, you know, there are a number of things that concern him about these these um legislative proposals that have gone through in the last couple months. And so hopefully his voice will resonate with the general assembly and we can get this thing taken care of. But it's a very complex issue that's been a complex issue for a number of years. and pardon my French, but it really hit the fan when you saw the appraisals, right? Get to where they get
025to where they or where they came in um two or three years ago with the housing boom. So, >> right. >> Yeah. And my problem is is this this affects districts that spend less per pupil than the state average exactly like it does to those districts that spend 50% more per student. So, it's like, you know, they can probably make some cuts. we don't have any ability to cut something. And to me, it's not these changes are not about the students, the dollars for the students. It's 100% about, you know, them changing the formula for everybody the same exact way. And and that just I mean, it just doesn't make sense. So, I don't know if it's a word if it's correct to say something's more unconstitutional than the funding system now, which is unconstitutional.
026declared for many many many years to be unconstitutional but this is making that much worse. So >> the only other item on state budget to share is uh that there was language there there are also items included with education which we can go through at a future meeting that are non-financial related but one item is the five-year forecast is moving to a three-year forecast on the projection instead of a fiveyear forecast on the projection. So, we'll discuss that more at upcoming meetings. Uh, but just to kind of give you a heads up, that's a change as well. Um, and then the only other thing just just to piggy back off of Michelle, uh, just just really hats off thanks to Jeff for this partnership. Um, you know, uh, working in the public, um, is truly
027a service to our community and, uh, there there's, you know, we know what we sign up for and there's some nights that's tough to sleep for all of us. Um, but at the same time, you know, you look back and you say, you know, here's a guy that's given given everything to the West Side. And, you know, I'm a black and white guy. I document things. I document things and put them out there publicly. We've had 65 actions in the last 10 years that have saved our taxpayers $20 million. Uh, and that's not by accident. That's by a lot of people, but it takes a leader. And, um, so, you know, ju just to work and I don't call you a call you a great colleague, but more importantly, a friend. just appreciate everything you've
028done for me and uh wish you well along the journey. So all good. >> That's all I have. Thank you. >> Thank you, sweetie, for explaining those complex issues in a way that I understand in part through your questions. They always seem to help me understand more. Okay, next up, uh the superintendence report. >> Okay, no report this evening. >> Okay, we're going to move on to district reports. Uh yes, even we have SHP with us uh to just share a brief update uh on the building our future bond issue. Uh Charlie Janigan with SHP. Uh Charlie mic here. >> Uh sure. Charlie's just going to share a little bit. Uh we met uh last week. Um you know, hats off to uh Chris Graham uh with public relations and communications. uh obviously communication and
029communicating the bond the bond issue is going to be critical and uh we're appreciative of SHP for all their efforts and they're going to lead this endeavor and so Charlie if you don't mind just give me a brief update. >> Yep. So we are our plan uh over the summer to work with Mr. Grant and the administration to help provide factual information so the community can be informed uh when they really return back to school. that's really when the interest is going to start to be generated uh here in a few weeks in August. So, um we're working to update the help the district update the website with FAQs and just the again factual information uh pertaining to the bond issue, providing uh some assistance with social media. uh we're all in inundated with information
030and and just providing some bite-sized nuggets of some of the pain points that the district has uh that can be used uh throughout the campaign. Um talking with the district about again road shows and being present where there are gatherings if it's football games or um other other activity events uh where we can can share uh for those who are interested. We we did help provide this one pager which is u just kind of the facts of the bond issue, why, when, how, how much will it cost and reinforce that it's a non- tax increase. And then the final two graphics are uh just something that we call a site plan test fit of showing, okay, if we're going to build a new middle school, how will you do that with current one operating? Um
031and what would the new concept uh where would it fit? So you can see the last two images is is a Delhigh middle school test fit spring by excuse me. So um this is uh this information needs to be uh uh you know informative and help answer a lot of questions and to make sure that that when the rumor mill or the Facebook uh chain starts growing that the information's out there so it can kind of people can rely on on the facts of of what the district wants to do. So with that, any any questions? >> Appreciate it. Charlie, just to share with the board of the community, you know, obviously it's summer now, a lot of folks out on vacation, so on and so forth, but just know, you know, Jeff, Charlie, Dan,
032myself, Chris, our entire team, you know, we we are working um tirelessly on on different ways to get this message out to the community. And so we invite anyone uh that may have questions to certainly reach out. groups uh that anybody would like us to speak to, I would be happy to do that. Um but yeah, this is an opportunity that we want everyone to be educated so when they go to the ballot box, they can make an educated decision. >> Thank you. >> Do we have anyone signed up this morning? >> Okay. Anything under old business? No business to report. >> Okay, moving on to new business. First up are the treasur's recommendations. >> Mr. President, it want to recommend the board of education approve the minutes of June 2nd and special meeting of
033June 4th as attached. >> Second. >> Call the RO, please. >> Mrs. I >> Mr. Phil, >> yes. >> Mr. West, >> Yes. Number two, I recommend the board of education approve the monthly financial statement for May 2025 and June 2025 as submitted. >> So move second call, please. >> Mr. Mr. >> Yes. Mr. West, >> Yes. Number three, I recommend the board of education approve the following donations from the JFFL PTA as well as the Johnson charitable gift fund as submitted. >> Call roll please. >> Mr. Scot, >> yes. >> Mr. West, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> And number four, I recommend the board of education the race comp compensation for substitutes as attached. So move >> second call roll please. >> Just brief discussion um on that. I talked to Dan
034about this because it's a little confusing on some of the sub rates with um people that are here for extended period of time and short period of time. And so, um, Dan has agreed, I believe, correct, to let the board know on the ones that are a little bit confusing as to which level they would be paid at. So, like a long-term um sub 8 versus a sub a that works a month or weeks at a time. >> So, we approve those specific people, what you're saying. >> We can do it that way. >> Yeah, it's very rare that we only get five separate employees that use >> I was just a little I was just a little concerned because it can be it's confusing. It's not a black and white >> Yeah. >> issue
035like all the other subs are. >> Okay. >> Any questions? Call please. >> Mr. West. >> Yes. >> Mr. Yes. >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Shall Mrs. >> Yes. >> Number five. I recommend education improve the rates of compensation for event workers as attached. >> So moved >> second please. >> Yes. Mr. West. >> Yes. >> And number six I recommend the board of education read the rates of compensation for curriculum services as attached. So move >> call please. >> Mrs. >> Yes. Mrs. >> Yes. Mr. >> West. >> Yes. And number seven. I recommend the board of education approve the records retention schedule as attached. >> Second. >> Are there any questions for Steve on this? >> It's all per state law. I guess correct. We have uh policy states um certain items are
036permanent records, certain items you can dispose of after 5 years, seven years. And so we've done a nice job of moving things to an electronic median for storage, but there are still a number of things that the boxes and storage rooms. >> You can call please. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Okay, superintendent recommendations. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Item one, I recommend the board approve the K12 remote learning instructional model guidance as attached. Just so the board knows, we each year the state allows you to um submit a a remote learning in the event you run out of hours. Um it's the old blizzard bag, so to speak, where you give so many days in case you run short hours, you can go remote. But those uh those have to be turned into the state
037by first. So that's that's a whole plan in there. You've seen that in your packet. So it's very specific of what we do on those days. Uh in the event we would need those hours to be made up. >> We have a motion to approve. >> Call please. >> Mr. >> Yes. West. >> Yes. Mr. >> Yes. Mr. >> Item number two. I recommend the board approve the updates associated with the preschool student handbook as attached. Thank you. >> All please. >> Mr. West. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Item number three. I recommend the board approve the uh Oill's educa alumni educational foundation. MOU is attached. And this is just for the food. It's a one day alcohol exemption. >> So move. >> Second. >> Cole,
038please. >> Traffy. >> Yes. Yes. >> Sha. >> Yes. >> West. >> Yes. >> Item number four, I recommend the board approve the policy revisions to the Oak Hills local school district policy manuals attached. And this is just dealing with emergency situations and update uh where we have to do a tornado drill. And we're going to do that in the first 10 days of the school. That's the change you'll see highlighted in policy. >> So move please. >> Yes. on. >> Yes. >> Item five, recommend approve the following Oak Hills local school district student trip as attached. >> Second call, please. >> Mr. Ma, >> yes. >> West, >> yes. >> Number six, I recommend the board approve the authorization to advertise for his for school buses as attached. So move >> second call please.
039>> Mr. Phil. >> Yes. >> Mr. West. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ch. >> Yes. Mr. >> Yes. Item number seven. I recommend the board approve the resolution to proceed with a bond issue as attached. >> So move. >> Second. >> Call please. >> Mr. West. >> Yes. >> Mr. Chafy. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Ehold. >> Yes. Yes. >> Yes. >> Item number eight, I recommend the board approve the resolution authorizing the execution of the EL project agreement as attached. >> So move please. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Eiffel. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mrs. M. >> Yes. >> Item number nine, I recommend the board approve the resolution accepting the master facilities plan as attached. So move second. >> Call please. >> Mr. >> Yes. Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Phil. >>
040Yes. >> Mr. West. >> Yes. Mr. >> Yes. Item number 10. I recommend the board approve the resolution of the intent of the.5 mil requirement as attached. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Call please. >> Yes. Yes. >> Yes. >> And number 11, I recommend the board approve the following personnel actions A through WF as submitted. >> So move second call, please. >> Mr. Spa, >> yes. >> Mr. West, >> yes. >> Mr. Yes. Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mr. Item number 12. I recommend the board approve the following personnel actions A through C as submitted. >> So move >> second call the RO please. >> Mr. West >> yes >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Eel. >> Yes. >> Mr. Oran. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Phil. >> Yes. >> Item 13. I recommend the board
041approve following personnel actions A through A as submitted. >> So move. Second. Call please. >> Mr. abstain. >> Mrs. Eiffel. >> Yes. >> Shan. >> Yes. That's all I have this evening. Thank you. >> Thank you. Again, no one has signed up to address the board this evening. Um so we can move to board discussion. Is there are there any items for this evening? just like to communicate that that we have now the board has now approved the final steps to move forward with the bond issue in November. So I will submit this to the board of elections as well as the secretary of state. So at this point it is official that the district will be moving forward with bond issue um in November and we will communicate for you. Nothing else. If not,
042I have a motion to adjurnn. >> Second, please. >> Yes. >> Come and have a good rest of your summer.