001make me act ugly on it. Okay. >> All right. Uh like to call the meeting to order. Uh Mr. Buren, could you please call the role? >> Uh Mr. Balant >> here. >> Mrs. Bidder. >> Mr. Gosnell >> here. >> Dr. James >> here. >> Mr. Harris >> here. Could everyone please stand and face the flag? And we'll begin with the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. You may be seated. All right. Like to start off our meeting as we start off all of our meetings with the district's mission and vision. And our mission is to create a culture of academic excellence through inclusive
002and innovative learning opportunities for the whole child. and our vision is to empower all earners to reach their potential in a globally competitive world. Um, is there a motion for approval of the agenda? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Thank you, Mrs. Bidder, for your motion. Thank you, Dr. James, for your second. Mr. Buren, could you please call the role? >> Uh, Mrs. Bidder, >> I. >> Dr. James, >> I. >> Mr. Balance, >> I. >> Mr. Gosnell, >> I. >> Mr. Harris, >> I. All right. Is there a motion for the approval of the minutes from our last meeting? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Thank you, Mrs. Bidder, for your motion. Thank you, Mr. Gosnell, for your second. >> Um, there is one very minor correction, I think it's under, if you look
003at the donations, um, it reads that it was moved by Dr. James and Mrs. bidder to approve summer school tuition rates. So, if we could just get that changed. >> Yeah, we'll get that updated. >> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Balon. Any other questions, additions? Okay. Uh, Mr. Bing, could you please read the role? >> No. Mrs. Bidder, >> I. >> Mr. Ballot, >> I. >> Dr. Gos or Mr. Gosnel, >> I. >> Dr. James, >> I. >> Mr. Harris, >> I. All right. Do we have a motion for the approval of board special meeting from March 30th? So moved second. >> Thank you Mr. Ballot for your motion. Thank you Mrs. Bidder for your second person. Could you please read the role? >> Mr. Balant >> I. >> Mrs. Bidder >> I. >> Mr.
004Gosnell >> I. >> Dr. James >> I. >> Mr. Harris >> I. All right. And do we have a motion for the approval of minutes from our special board meeting on April 2nd? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Thank you Dr. James for your motion. Thank you Mr. Gosnell for your second. Mr. Bson, could you please read the role? >> Dr. James, >> hi. >> Mr. Gosnell, >> I. >> Mr. Balance, >> I. >> Mrs. Bidder, >> I. >> Mr. Harris, >> I. All right. Now that we have all those things out of the way, we have to approve our agenda. Nope, we've already approved the agenda, so we should be able to do our recognition right now. And a very special recognition, fashion for the cure, Mr. uh Lewis. Yeah, I'm not going to
005steal a lot of their thunder because um these are amazing young people uh that year after year continue to do amazing work and they leave a legacy of just excellence on our school district from the things that they do. So, um I did prepare their uh great advisors that we would want to hear from them. So, I'm not going to go over any of the information. Uh, one of the things I would ask of the students is number one, you're all here, so we definitely want to know who you are, what grade you're in, but obviously we'd love to hear from the spokespeople. Um, and then if our the adviserss have anything to add, we definitely would love to uh to hear from all of them. And then, you know, obviously we want to celebrate
006their achievement, but I'll let them share that achievement with you once again. So, why don't we have them come forward up here? >> Yeah, please. and eventually. Yeah, why don't you guys all come and then we're going to get a picture with all of you anyway. So, >> go ahead and turn the microphone on. Is it green? >> Okay, hit the button. >> You're going to talk first and then picture a second. >> Yeah, talk first. >> Cool. Okay. Hello, my name is Oilia Sidmore and I'm one of the co-chairs of Fashion for the Cure. Um, behind me I have my other two co-chairs, Suhani Posh and Maria Kolas and then behind them is the rest of our lovely 20 girl committee. So, for those of you who don't know, Fashion for the Cure is
007a committee here at the high school that raises money for the Dragonfly Foundation throughout the year. The Dragonfly Foundation is a local nonprofit that supports children and their families who have been afflicted by pediatric cancer. Um, and they just seek to provide strength, courage, and joy wherever they are able. This year we had a great a lot of achievements and it was our 20th anniversary which is super exciting. Our biggest achievement was raising over $124,000 for the Dragonfly Foundation which is the most we've ever raised. And then we had a lot of other small achievements that helped us reach that goal. We had over 40 fundra over 40 fundraisers. Yes. That helped us reach our goal which which our biggest were we had a picking painting our parking spots event where a bunch of seniors
008got to come and paint their parking spots with their families. And this was great for our community. And then we also had our hair cutting event where we had 10 students cut and shave their hair. And we had Mr. Karate who also cut his hair. And we had two teachers who volunteered to have their bald head bedazzled. And we just had we had a lot of fun events that helped us reach our goal. Um, and as Maria said, we had a lot of fundraisers throughout the year. And all of this money and all of this support could would not have been possible without the help of our generous community. So, we wanted to extend a big thank you to everyone in this room, everyone who's not in this room, and I wanted to give a
009quick shout out to our incredible adviserss. As I'm sure you guys can gather from 40 fundraisers, from 20 high school students, it can be a lot on our adviserss, hearing all of our thoughts, our ideas, helping us put our plans into motion. So, we want to give them a really big thank you for doing this every year with us. So, thanks so much. And then again, I want to thank our incredible committee for working hard every single day. We start in we started our first fundraiser for this year in April and we went all the way till February. So, it's a really big commitment. Every day, um, we work on it, every week we meet. And so I just want to thank all of you guys for helping us reach our goal. And we also
010want to extend a big thank you to all the local businesses that we work with. On day of the fashion show, we have basket, raffles, auction items. And all these items are donated by our generous community members and local businesses. So big thank you to them as well. And we also want to thank um the people who provide the clothing for the models, which is Fulties, Bridal and Formal, Benchmark, um >> Lemons and Limes, and Aveda, who does hair and makeup for all of our models. So thank you guys. so much. >> Su Hani, do you mind, you know, just for I know that we know who they are, but for our community that is listening. >> Yes. >> Who are these great adviserss that dedicate all this time? >> Yes, of course. >> Okay.
011So, um, right here in the blue is Miss Clemp. She is our most tenured adviser. She knows so much stuff. We couldn't have made this possible without her. Miss Katzer is sitting right next to her. She is a teacher in the sin lab. And then not present right now is Miss Blackmore who's a teacher at the high school for Spanish. >> Yeah. Let's give him a round of applause. >> And I know the board might have questions for you. I do have one cuz I happen to see you guys on a lot of TV news stations. Talk to me about that. Like how how did that happen? And then what was that like to be because I think you paired off and did different news stations. Correct. >> Yes. Um so uh we reached out
012to our community. First we reached out directly but then we had help from Miss Schmidt who used some of her connections to get us on low news which was really exciting. Again our community is really invested in what we do and I think it's really exciting the way we partner with our community. So they were very grateful to have us on the news stations and yeah so we took off in pairs of two to not overwhelm the station itself but then we just discussed a little bit about our mission how people watching at home could help and just to get garner a little bit support and excitement in anticipation of our show. So we're really grateful for all your help for that as well. >> Just real quick you guys have you have a bunch
013of people standing behind you. um some of some of whom I know and some of whom I recognize, but I don't think a lot of people in our community. So, why don't can each of you walk up real quick to the mic, introduce yourself, and say what year you are in school. >> Hi, I'm Avery Eckert and I'm a senior. >> I'm Llaya Berg. I'm a senior. >> Hi, I'm Gwen Mlan and I'm a junior. >> Hi, I'm Danielle Reeseman and I'm a junior. I'm Lexi Mendelson and I'm a junior. >> Hi, I'm Cameron Stutter and I'm a junior. I'm Lily Cole and I'm a junior. >> Hi, I'm Brook Roner and I'm a junior. >> Hi, I'm Lily and I'm a sophomore. Hi, I'm Hana and I'm a sophomore. I would just like to
014say that, you know, you're doing amazing work and that I know that that's a that is a lot of work to meet weekly to hold 40 fundraisers. That is just incredible. And you're all students and I'm sure you have many other things on your plates besides your academics. That is just incredible. So, thank you for for doing all that you do. You're helping a lot of families and a lot of kids who need help. So, thank you. Good job. >> And I also I've had the privilege both of my kids happen to be involved in Fashion the Cure at different times and just seeing the massive amount of time and work and the quality of what you guys do. I'm super impressed and you should be very proud of yourselves for what you've done both
015for the community, but just the effort and the time that you put into that. That's a lot of work and a lot of hard work and a lot of quality work. So, great job. really, >> you know, as a as a former model. >> I And I'm I'm not talking about my past life, just as part of the show. You know, I I think some board members would be good options for models, don't you? >> One of my great regrets is that I've never was asked to model Fast for the Cure. It hurts to this day. So, just saying. >> Throwing it out there. >> They are volunteers. >> You just volunteered yourself. as they come. >> I just wanted to add one thing. Um, adviser Miss Debbie Clemp and I'm a retired teacher. Some
016of you know me. Um, but over the 20 years, we have now raised close to $750,000 for Cincinnati based charities. So, >> I was going to say I have couple more questions. One, I heard a lot of seniors. So, I'm curious. One, who the capable hands? I did hear some juniors and sophomores, so that got me excited that because obviously it's a a labor of love, right? You have to leave it in people's hands that you can trust to continue to build it, grow it. Uh, I'm sure they have goals to beat your, you know, that's going to be really tough to beat that goal. Um, but then also there are people listening and you said your first fundraiser started in April. If people want to give, how can they accomplish that? How can they
017start giving right now? >> Yeah, I think the best way to give is we always have a like online fundraising platform. Um, and we'll try to get a QR code out as soon as we can. Um, and I think this is actually a great opportunity to introduce the co-chairs next year because technically the three of us are retired. So, our next co-chairs will be um Lexi Mendelson, Gwen Mlan, and Brooke Roner, which is super exciting. So, we are of course so sad to exit, but we know that Fashion for the Cure will be left in the most capable of hands. Um, and then if you guys want to go to a physical fundraiser, the first one that we have is Cars and Coffee, which we also had last year, which was so much fun and
018so successful, and it's just a great community event. I don't know the exact date, but I do know it's in April. >> April 19th. >> It'll be April 19th. So, make sure you guys are all there. >> So, Mrs. Schmidt, where's the best place to get a great picture of all these wonderful young people and their adviserss? Would the board like to join them for the photo? Sounds good. All right. >> Do that. >> Okay. Well, good. You can you can test their modeling skills right now. great work everybody. Um am bored if you'll humor me for like 30 seconds to maybe two minutes tops. Brooke Roner, since she's in the room, uh, she brought back the science fair with a group of high school students. So, I just wanted her to briefly describe to
019you what that was like because I stopped by this past it was it feels like it was like a week ago, but it was Saturday. And just can you describe number one, why were you passionate about bringing that back and two, how it went? >> Yeah. So, I really wanted to bring science back to the science fair back to Sycamore because Sycamore is such a scienceoriented district. I'd say growing up, I went to Sims and we had the aviation station which is just a school bus made with a bunch of like sciency toys. And in my mind, I was honestly very confused about how we didn't have a science fair here at Sycamore. So, I thought that kind of as my passion project, as my legacy to Sycamore, that we needed to have this back.
020So yeah, decided to bring it back. >> And talk about the judges really quickly that you had because it was super impressive the people that you had judging the science fair. >> Yeah, so we had six judges total. All we had for our upper, we had an upper division and a younger division. For our older division, our older division, we had three from a local company. And for our lower division, we had a NASA scientist and two PNG employees, which was pretty insane. And the NASA scientists actually knew um the woman on Artemis right now. So >> it's very cool. >> So this is not for a class. This is not for, you know, she's not getting a grade for it. Um and you heard Brooke mention uh leaving a legacy of excellence on Sycamore.
021And it's something we talk about a lot in our leadership team of taking on projects that leave a legacy on Sycamore. And what do you want to be remembered for? Um, so I can tell you Brook's still got another year. So I'm thankful for that because I get to get a little more leadership out of her. But you can hear just from some simple things. And I give the leaders of Fashion for the Cure a lot of credit because they were able to do something that we had never done before, which was we were painting parking spots because they convinced us it was the right thing to do behind the Y along with their great principal, Mr. for potabomb that you know I just needed to hear a good rational reason why we would do
022it and they were the winners. They convinced us to do it and you can hear it was a great fundraiser. So uh kudos to the leadership team of FFTC and Brooke. Uh I am very thankful that you lead uh the way you do at the high school. So um I thought while she was here it'd be a good time to just slide it in there. So appreciate you indulging us. So, uh, we know that you want to stay for this meeting and experience all of Sycamore, but we will understand if you depart. So, thank you everybody. >> Thank you for your time, guys. >> Thank you. >> All right, that's pretty awesome. Thank you guys very much. All right, our next thing is um the introduction of pinning board approval of our new district treasurer.
023Um, this is uh Mr. Patrick Swan. All right. And uh Pat uh Mr. Swan currently serves as the treasur and CFO at Graham Local Schools where he oversees all financial operations including budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and business services. During his tenure, he has led successful contract negotiations, implemented financial system improvements, and supported long-term planning initiatives that align fiscal resources with district priorities. He has over two days two decades of experience in the classroom. He brings a unique perspective to the role, combining his teaching background with district level financial leadership. This experience allows him to approach school finance with a deep understanding of how budgetary decisions directly affect student learning and operations. And that was one of the things we were really impressed with during the interview. Um, Mr. Swan's appointment follows a comprehensive search progress
024pro process, excuse me, led by the board in partnership with finding leaders to identify a candidate with experience and leadership needed to support the district's financial future. So without further ado, um is this the time to introduce Mr. Swan? >> We should vote first. >> All right, we should vote first. All right, so let's do this. That's Thank Thank you, Mr. Ballots. Just kidding. Till we vote. All right. Is there a motion to uh vote on the approval of three-year uh employment contract for Mr. Swan? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Mr. Gosno, for your motion. Thank you, Mrs. Bidder, for your second. You're on the board. >> All right. Mr. Burson, could you please read the role? >> Mr. Gno, >> I. >> Mrs. Bidder, >> I. >> Mr. Balance, I. >> Dr. James,
025I. >> Mr. Harris I All right. And with that, Mr. Swan, congratulations and welcome, so I'll be brief. Um, I just want to thank the board for the confidence uh you've shown in hiring me. Um, Sycamore has a a reputation for strong schools and a supportive community and that reputation is what interested me in the job. Uh, but the people, the board, the administrators um when I met them and went through the process, that's what really um sealed the deal. Um, I um think that your community should be proud and the work that they put in, the process that they uh went through. Um, they truly left no stone unturned. Um, and so I'm just excited to work with what seems like a really great team and uh to do great things for the students
026of Sycamore. >> Thank you. >> Welcome. >> Thank you. >> All right. So, Mr. Swan's appointment will be effective on August 1st for people who are listening and unfamiliar with how that works. So, all right. But thank you very much. Congratulations. We're very excited to have you on board. All right. Okay. Okay. So, our first uh consideration today is uh district finances. We want to talk a little bit about levy considerations. Um so, Mr. Buren, I think you have some stuff to show us here. >> It's it's actually me. Um >> Oh, okay. >> Mr. Buren is a great partner in all of these things. Um and so are the rest of our team members. So, any of them will be able to chime in at any time. But um I will ask for some
027indulgence because what I really want from you today is a couple of things. Uh number one, I want you to kind of put your community member hat on. Yes. Uh board members obviously have a lot more depth of understanding of some of the things that we'll talk about and there are going to be some things that I kind of skim over because I'm aware that you know this information. But I want you to really look at it from a standpoint of if you were a community member with very little understanding of school finances, does this resonate with you? U for a couple of pieces. Number one, we need to provide our community financial facts about where we are as a community. There's a there's a lot of misinformation floating around the community. Things like I
028someone sent me a post that said we're in fiscal emergency. We are not in fiscal emergency. We're not close to fiscal emergency. What we're doing is prudent. The board is taking an opportunity to look and continually look at our finances to make sure that we're planning for the future of our school district. So, when we start to see a deficit through Mr. Buren's um forecasts, then we have to have a plan to address it. And that's why we're discussing a levy. So, I really want to make sure that number one, we're presenting the appropriate facts so that everyone in our community has the right information. We want them to all be saying the same thing and speaking the language that we're speaking. I recognize that not everybody's coming to board meetings, watching board meetings, but
029we are ready and willing to get out there and have conversations with anybody that's available. So, I want you to look through that lens of, okay, does this resonate? Does this make sense? Also, we have tough decisions ahead of us. We have to make some decisions about running a levy because it's been since 2016 since we've asked for new money. And if you recall, that 2016 levy was only supposed to last 5 years and we've now been able to stretch it to 10 with lots of good things that have happened. um lots of hard decisions that we've had to make uh and really being fiscally managing our budget uh to the best of our abilities and but now it's come time because that's the way levy cycles work. It does not our expenditures don't keep
030up with our revenues and that's the typical levy cycle. So I want you to look from that lens. The other one is we've got to make what kind of decision what type of levy are we going to run? Um, I'm happy to share everything with you, uh, with the assistance of any of the other team members, and I'll be happy to share with you if if it were me sitting in your shoes, what recommendation would I make based on what type of levy to run. Um, I feel very comfortable based on all the information I've collected over the last few weeks. So, we'll get started and I'm going to try to move through this quickly um so that we can get to kind of the I'll call it the real meat of the presentation. The
031first slide, you've seen this before. Um I'm going to draw your eyes as community members to a couple of things. Yellow bars. The yellow bars are our expenditures. And you can see later on in the years um of projecting our our expenditures, they're going to outpace our revenues. Again, we I mentioned it. That's the typical cycle of a levy. That happens. Um and we'll talk about why millage and property taxes don't keep up with inflationary costs, but um for people that are not knowledgeable, that's a real simple thing to look at. Our yellow bar is outpacing our green bar. that that's not good for us long term. The red line is an important line for us as a team. We dedicate ourselves to making sure that we're in in alignment with our board policy that
032says we keep 25% um in our our cash balance uh and make sure that we stay above that 25% line. And you can see I'll say estimated in 27 that we're going to fall below that line. Is there a penalty for falling below that line? No. It's your own policy, but I think it's sound fiscal management to make sure that you have 25% of your budget in the bank. So, we know we're going to fall below that. So, we have to address it. And that's why we've been talking about a levy. The other thing I draw your eyes to is the bright green bars. And you'll notice it starts to fall not only below that red line, but out in fiscal year 30. The state would never allow us to have that happen. That's basically
033you're overspending what you don't have. We are not allowed to deficit spend. Um so one of two things would happen if that situation happened. Then they would put us in fiscal emergency and they would come in and tell us what cuts you're going to make. Um I only say that because that's the process. We're not going to let that happen, right? That's our team's job is to make sure that we're addressing this way in advance. And one of the ways you have to do that is by looking at how are we funding our schools and asking for new funding to be able to do that to keep the things that we hold near and dear to our heart and keep Sycamore great. So, uh, next slide, please. You'll see just a a picture of the
034February forecast. I think you all are aware of this, but what would draw to your eyes immediately when you look at this slide? Um, I think anybody that looks at finances knows that red numbers are bad. So when you see red numbers, obviously on the last slide, the the expenditures are outpacing the revenues. That's the reason for the red numbers. But the red number that concerns my pal Mr. Buren over here is that fiscal year 30, that really negative number that's not allowed to happen. So just another picture with the real numbers uh of what that forecast looked like when we went over it in February. Next slide, please. So, our levy considerations, um, just to set the tone with obviously we know what the finances tell us. So, we're looking at, uh, either property
035tax or an earned income tax. We'll start with property tax. Some simple definitions for our community, one mill. What does that mean? It's $1 for every,000 of assessed value. Simple terms. If your home's assessed value is a h 100,000, one mill will cost you $100. Pretty simple math so far, right? We know about house bill 920. Uh Mr. Buren educated us uh through the retreat about House Bill 920, but uh there is a misunderstanding often about school funding that if home values are increasing, the school district must be getting more money. That is not correct. uh when we vote for an effective rate of a levy, it stays at that rate. It does not grow with inflation, it does not go grow with the housing market. So, and I'm just going to use round numbers.
036Let's say that we vote in a levy and it gets us 20 million every year. That's all we're allowed to collect every year is 20 million. We're not allowed to collect any more or any less. Right. >> Correct. >> So, 20 million. Next slide, please. property tax calculations. Pretty simple. Uh so when we were looking at the assessed value and um you can go on the auditor's website and you can see the difference between what they call market value and assessed value. The market value is not what you can sell your house for. You know, when you go on the auditor site, you might get some whoa, I thought my house was worth more than that. It most likely is. the what's there is what the auditor says your house is worth and that's what
037you're taxed on, not what you can sell it for. So, I'll give an example. I'll use my home as an example. I when I purchased my home, it was listed on the auditor's website and it still is listed for 345,000. That's not what I can currently sell it for. For me, it was only 5 years ago. That's what I bought it for and that's what's listed there. I know houses in my neighborhood are going for way more than that, so I'd be able to sell it. But what I'm actually taxed on is that value that's on the site. So we just I gave a quick pretty easy mathematical equation up there. $35 times if we ran a 7 mil levy, you would it would cost you an extra $245 per year for every $100,000 of
038the auditor site market value. So you go to the auditor site, you look at how much your home is valued at. So I know that mine is 3.45. So, I know I'm in between the three and 400,000 on the screen. I know that this levey is going to cost me between $735 and $980. Uh, in a moment, we'll show people how to calculate the full amount so that they know exactly what it would cost them. Earned income tax. Um, what is taxed? Wages and salaries and self-employment income. So, it's what people are making. Um, so if it's if you have two active earners in your household, it's both active earners that are taxed. Uh, what is not taxed and why this might be something that some of our community would be interested in retirement income.
039Uh, people on social security benefits, they would not be taxed for an income tax calculation. So, just good for us to set a baseline of what is and what is not taxed. And you can see what the income tax calculation based on a household income would be. So 1% of those combined household incomes and you can see the the amount. So I brought back I want you to really focus on this slide for a minute and I think it's pretty easy math, right? So 1,000 to anywhere to 10,000 based on the home values and obviously it could be more or household income and it could be more based on if people are earning more than that in a home. So, I brought back the property tax slot. The highest one on there is $24.50. The
040highest one, if you go back one, is $10,000. And again, those are just trying to throw out some some of the large numbers. There may be people that are more than that in those in this community. But I thought I think from a conversational standpoint, people can generally understand and they can do their math uh for themselves. But you can see from a total cost standpoint of either a 1% earned income tax or a property tax levy, the significant difference in cost for some of our residents. Um, and the reason I say some, um, certainly if you are not actively earning an earned income tax would not impact you, but if you are a property owner, it would impact all of those property owners. The other thing that I think I think one of the
041important things to mention to the community is you know why the big difference between the two. Um you know right now we have a lot of businesses in our community that pay a lot of our tax basis when you know if we were to go to an earned income tax there would be no tax on the businesses. So now we would shift the current tax burden of the businesses completely to the pro uh to the residents. Not even necessarily the property owners. This would be people in apartments. It would be anybody who lives within our district and it would be away from the from the businesses. >> Great. I >> think that number right now, Mr. Burson, is around 30% we think. >> Yep. You know, it usually floats a little bit um from the
042auditor's website on the assessed valuations. Um but yeah, for us it's around 30% give or take a percent or two every year. >> So right now the businesses that that that are within all of our dis all of our communities are paying 30% of the tax basis that is uh supporting our schools. And if we were to go to an earned income, um, that would ship to 100% to the residents. >> And thank you for throwing that in because that's exactly where I was going to go. So, you just saved me some words and I got to get a drink. So, that's great. Um, one of the things, this is one of my favorite charts. We are going to update this chart. Got some great feedback uh from several people. There's a couple of things
043that are currently need to be updated on the chart, but one of the things I love about this chart, and Adrian, you probably remember seeing this chart uh from your time as superintendent, but it shows how great of a value Sycamore is from a property tax standpoint. When you look at the other districts in our Hamilton County area, and we always cons we always add on Mason and Kings as neighboring districts. you know, when you look at where we fall, we are 20th out of 25. Um, and that means we're one of the lowest um in Hamilton County, and it traditionally have been that way for a long time. Some of the I would say discrepancies on the chart that I want to highlight, Southwest Local is has an earned income tax on top of
044their property tax. So that wouldn't that necessarily even though they're second to the lowest having an earned income tax means they're being taxed at a much higher rate than our residents. Um Wyoming also has an earned income tax and Kings just passed an earning income tax and those are the ones that I'm fairly certain of on you know that component. I knew um Southwest and Wyoming but Kings just obviously added that. So we're going to add that to our chart. We're also going to add like the actual millage number at the top of each bar so that people can see uh the difference between but important information. You can see on the left side of the screen the amount, excuse me, that an earned income tax would raise for our district and also how much
045a millage uh how much one mill is estimated to raise and why we would need seven mills uh because of and we'll show you in a couple of slides here of what does it do for our financial forecast. uh looking over uh the course of that time period. So um pros and cons, you saw some of these before. Uh voters are very familiar with what a property tax levy would look like. Um Mr. Buren has beat this into us. The collection would occur in a much more timely manner than the earned income tax. earned income tax could take anywhere between I think he said 18 to even 24 months and even longer to get the full collection. Um it's our current operational strategy and it certainly balances those taxes between our residents and businesses. Um
046the cons you can see you know a lot of property tax reform discussion. I will tell you Mrs. bitter and I met with Senator Wilson uh this week. From the last time I met with him to now, he seemed to really be calmed down on what's actually going to happen. He did not give me a sense and didn't give us a sense that there was going to be much property tax reform as drastic as they've been talking about it. He doesn't feel that that referendum is going to make the ballot at all. Um and he was pretty confident that uh even though one of the uh people trying to be elected as governor mentioned like getting rid of all taxes, I think um what we understood from Senator Wilson is the running mate said, you
047know, if you don't have any money, it's tough to govern. So if you it's fundamental part of government is to have money. So, I'm simplifying maybe the conversation more than um all of it. But I thought that was a pretty important interesting last 6 months because the last time we met he was pretty much pushing earned income, earned income, earned income. This time I did not get that sense. Um so that did make me feel a little better about the conversation. So >> yeah, he did he did um seem to kind of it was a different um experience than what what the report was the last time, but I mean he did talk about diversifying, but um yeah, it was not it was not as urgent and also there is definitely an indication that clearly
048we need police and fire and schools. So eliminating property taxes would devastate everyone. So there seems to be some course correction, but I think it's not going away, but it's something that we should maybe keep on the horizon for maybe future years to think about diversifying, but that was sort of his suggestion and we kind of brought that up as well. >> I think we've been thinking about that, so I don't know that he hit us with anything new, but it was a it was good to see the the temperature come down on on that topic. So, um, and you can see the other cons up there. you know, we we certainly realize and I think every school district in Ohio and I obviously I haven't done a poll or a you know, any kind
049of survey of all the school district, but I doubt there's a superintendent, treasur, or board in Ohio that doesn't believe that there should be some property tax reform, especially for our seniors that own homes that are seeing uh the it's a difficult ability to stay in their homes. I think we all fully support that. And I know uh Mrs. Logan went to a Hamilton County auditor's meeting and shared that perspective of yes, we agree. Set some parameters for that to happen. Let's do that. But that doesn't mean we should throw out the whole system. Um I think there are ways to make that work. And then the other I would say the other component up there is we we talked about this property tax does not stay um moving with inflation. So, you know, when
050we run a property tax levy, we know there's going to be a need at some point for another property tax levy. >> I would like to just say one thing on the on the property tax reform legislation. I think the key that uh Mrs. Logan was trying to inform our auditors and legislators was to say you can do that and not take money from the schools. >> You can give money to property owners that need relief and not take it from schools. and that and from police and from fire. There has to be another way and there are other ways. It just we have to prioritize that. So, you know, pitting homeowners and schools and fire and police, that's never helpful. Clearly, that's a that's a no-win situation. So, we want property owners to get
051relief. Uh we also want schools and fire and and the county boards of mental health and developmental disabilities and libraries and and firefighters. >> Yeah, great point. I don't know where the cons went. They disappeared. There are no cons. That's all right. We'll we I will just tell you what they are. So, I don't know how >> we must have been in process of re-updating it. We'll just stick with the one that's up here. So, um questions about property tax reform. Some of the pros here. Um it's kind of the opposite of the other one, right? we're still seeing some of the issues. Um, and it's coming up. So, it is a pro for earned income tax, but as we've heard, it's that's kind of come down. So, I don't know it's as as much
052of a pro. Um, it definitely grows with inflation. That's a good thing. Um, and it doesn't apply to our residents on fixed income or retirement income. So, uh, the cons are our communities not familiar with this type of collection. Um certainly the delayed collection is concerning uh very concerning from people that have to pay the bills. Um >> can I just add one thing that we learned um is sometimes people don't know that they have to pay those taxes. So if on the earned income tax so then you have to go down and get them to pay it. And I don't think schools should have to be in the business of being a tax collector. Um so just that's another con. Brody Buren, treasurer tax collector. Um, significant voter education would have to occur. No
053doubt about it. Because, um, you know, just talking to some friends that live in neighboring communities that now have pro, uh, earned income tax. I think they feel like they did not know completely what they were voting for. And definitely were not happy about it now. And I'm like, well, you got to stay educated. You got to come to meetings. You got to get informed. Um, but I understand why they feel that way. It's these are hard conversations, but and then we also have income taxes that we already have local income taxes that we're all paying. So, it does compound uh the impact to our taxpayers. So, I think that's an important uh con that we have to think about as a school district. So, you can see the impact. Um, and you guys have
054seen these before, so I'm not going to spend a whole lot of time with it. our community when we go out we will want to really hit uh the important po uh I'll say highlights here which is number one this this extends the positive balance out for a number of years and that's a big thing to our board when I present to the community we may cut some of this down because you know we we want to show the impact immediate I don't know if our community um I don't know how responsible it is for me to say like what what it's going to be like in 2036 because It's just a projection. We're making a lot of assumptions and a lot of things can change before 2036. So, we may cut some of this
055down, but for your sake, you've seen this before. I wanted to bring it back and I would love your input on whether or not we think we should cut some of this off because we can. Um, but I think one of the most important points that you all have made is we don't want to put anything on the ballot that we don't predict will last at least 5 years. And so, this would get us at least seven years. we predict off the ballot from 2026 to 2033 and we do think we can at least uh be a board above that board uh parameter of 25% until that time frame but you can see we still have a positive cash balance out to 2036. Um I know we talked about this at the retreat. I'm very
056concerned about the total expenditure line. Um and we we balance this all the time. How do we remain remain competitive and aggressive in making sure that our great staff members are paid well, but also controlling our expenditures? It's a really tough dynamic. So, um I I heard Brad say this the other day to a group of our administrators. We would love to pay everyone $300,000. We just can't. We value our people that much. We would love to, but we can't. So, we have to figure out how do we continue to take care of them while also taking care of them and making sure they have a job to go to. Those are, believe me, it keeps me up at night thinking about it. And certainly, um, seeing these numbers, it it, you know, causes a
057lot of sleepless nights just thinking about how do we continue to take care of our people? And I know that's important to you all as well cuz you've you've done a great job um really showing our our staff members that you care and you want them to stay. And I know that's been important to all of us. The earned income tax a little less impactful, still impactful, still gets a good positive trend, but it's only six years off the ballot potentially. And then you can see that cash balance number went way down in those later years. So I would say uh neither one is good or bad. They just are what they are. So um there are options that we're considering, right? So let's look at the impact of those options cuz um you guys
058know the levy considerations and the timing, but our community will need to know those things. So I'm glad it's just in here as part of the presentation. You know, all the facts that are up there, but we're coming down to crunch time. I think we want to make a decision sooner rather than later um so that we can ensure that we give our community members time um to help you know board members and others form a committee and really get out there and talk to our community about the needs and you know what we what we need them to do to support us. Um so we gave you some examples. We put some examples in here. And obviously earned income tax, I I don't have any examples because people can pretty much do that pretty
059quickly with 1%. Um they can take their full income and multiply by 1% and you know what your uh taxable income would be for a 1% earned income tax. But we did provide you some property tax examples. So Montgomery home number one, um you can see the market value. Again, I remind you that's just what the auditor says the market value is right now. It's not what you can sell the house for. I know the neighborhood that this house is in, it would sell for way more than 427740. I would it might sell for double that if it's in a hot bidding market. Um, so you can see that you would multi or divide by 100,000 to get that factor. um multiply by 245 and you would come out with $1,47.96 per year. Next slide.
060You can see um that you would add that to what they currently pay, which is the blue part of the pie chart, and it's 195212. You add that together, and then the taxpayer at this home would be spending $3,000 versus 195212 on their taxes to the school district. Um, I think there's a misnomer in our community a lot of times. I don't know how many people go on to the auditor's website. You can go on to the auditor's website, type in your home, hit tax distribution, and this graph pops up. It tells you how your taxes are distributed across. You can see all the things that are we're paying property tax towards. Um, so we're only a, you know, I'm not going to say only because 51% that's a significant amount. Um, but I'll be
061honest with you, when I looked at this, if I'm a person that has kids in school, $3,000 a year to send my kids through Sycamore Community Schools, pretty good value. Now, community members that have sent their kids through school and have been community members for 30 and 40 years, they might feel differently because they've paid a lot of taxes over the years. But again, I still feel like our value to the community because you all know this. Our value in having great schools is the property value that all of our homeowners experience and we all see it. Um, we we know of shared streets in our district that are one side of the street is Sycamore, the other side of the street is another district, and the houses sell for 100 to 200,000 more in
062the Sycamore side of the district. It's not anything bad about that other district. It's just Sycamore has that uh premium value to it. So, uh, I think we feel like we provide, um, some of those extras that our community, uh, enjoys paying for because they're important to our community members. So, >> for for the board and for the discussion today, I think it's important to also just remind ourselves that with the earned income tax, you would also add whatever that 1% is to this as well. So, we're not doing this example with that, but >> if we think that, you know, that's a pretty big jump >> if you it could potentially be a very significant depending on your income level, it could really it could be what better or worse, right? But um and
063then or people who don't have kids in the district, if they are earning income, >> it could be significant. >> Barry. Yeah, that's a good point. So, the Sims home um we picked a home from every community. Sims home. Um you can see with the the value up there. Um you can see the math on the corner. So I'm not going to keep going over that. And then next slide you can see the breakdown um and how much that person would be paying uh additional per year. And and when I say additional the 821 to Mrs. Bidder's point is added on to what they're currently paying. It's not replacing it. It's not substituting. it's additional u to be able to again meet the needs of our budget. But I also found it interesting when you
064look at each of the communities how different the tax bases are. U Montgomery we were at like 20 and a half 21% of going to the local municipality. You can see SIMS up there the township it's 18 and a half%. Um and then next slide blue ash. Um you can see the again the math in the corner. I'm not going to insult your intelligence, but you can look at what the additional amount is. Look at the small sliver for the city village. >> But I think this goes back to my point earlier of the business. There's so many businesses in blue ashes that are contributing to the city taxes where the residents aren't taxed as much. >> That's right. So, good thing just to be aware of and pay attention to for um our community
065and our taxpayer. That's why and you look at the school district percentage being larger because of that. So um again not one not one thing or another is good or bad. It's just that's the information that's the data. Wanted to provide one more home in Montgomery just because again there are homes that have sign even more significant value than others. So just provided another mathematical example so people can see okay what would that do um from a taxbased standpoint. So um these are all the slides that we had. Um one of the things that I'll tell you is I did have a chance to share this uh with the business advisory council this morning because we saw an opportunity so we jumped in it and and took it. um they they had great feedback um
066regarding kind of some of the things that you saw um really gave us some insights, ask us to cut it down. So you saw the cut down version. So thank the business advisory council for um less slides and less information. Um but also we thought it was important when we do go out to put these, you know, we're going to test it with uh the Sycamore Advisory Commission on Monday. Um we're uh looking at possibly some PTO groups and then also publicizing some opportunities because what it would be great to come back with you with some feedback is number one uh the SL the if you do this QR code it's going to take you to a Google form that says u based on the information that was shared do you understand the difference between
067an earned income tax and a property tax levy? So it's a multiple choice. It's like yes, no, undecided, need more information. The second question is, you know, again, based on the information that was shared, what feedback would you offer to the school board of what type of levy would you want them to potentially pursue for the November ballot? Uh, again, earned income tax, property tax, undecided, need more information. And then the third question is just an open box of what else? What did we miss? What else do you need to know? So, >> I you may have put it on here and I'm not seeing it. Did you put the website for the auditor so people could check? >> Not yet, but uh we will. That was a actually um one of the suggestions of
068um the BAC and there supposedly now I don't know if we have to wait or not, but we can certainly link the website there. supposedly from my understanding once once we make a levy decision you can also get a link where they can actually calculate the exact amount >> but once we file for that there is a link on there for proposed I think it's proposed levies on their site on your exact property and it'll tell you what that impact is but we have to actually file that >> and it has to be official >> if you're going to send it out and like have them compare at least if they could know what the I mean people can look it up you can Google it but it's helpful just >> yeah Mr. Louis, some
069of the some of the things that I would like to see, and again, I just did some quick Google chat GPT searches today, so these numbers would have to be verified. Um, so, you know, if you look at the median income in our school district, it said it was $175,000. So, 1% is going to affect the the the average homeowner, $1,75. Again, I'm not I'm not saying these numbers are accurate. It's just what I found this afternoon. The median assessed value of homes in our district is $250,000. So that would affect at 7 mills $600 to our to our household to our houses. So you can see there's quite a different ask of 600 versus $1,750. Again, it's going to vary with income. Um so I think that's important to point out um to show
070that there is a difference. And again, that's because we're shifting it away from the seniors and away from the businesses. So, you know, I would like to see, you know, maybe a slide put in on median income, median assessed home value. >> You know, when we had our uh conversation with Senator Wilson, we one of the big points of our discussion is that every school district is different. Like every community is different. I mean, clearly we have to look at Sycamore. We have to look at this community, our history of funding the funding our schools, what you know the the just the demographics of our community and I think um you know just I know that there's a lot of discussion about the earned income tax and I think it's very valuable for many districts
071and in particular it's been very helpful for rural school districts um with large farms and there are a lot of people who are on fixed incomes and and they don't have the ability to pay more levies and there's a resistance to that. But in our community, we've had people moving specifically for the schools um and spending extra money to purchase a home at a higher value to live here. So, and the businesses are here and they like to be here. And so, I just think whatever we do, in addition to doing the math, we also have to as a board, we know our community as well. We need to weigh in on that, too. and just understanding, yes, you know, one school district even close by might need an earn income tax levy to pass
072to to uh excuse me, to fund the district, but that doesn't mean that we will. And we have to really kind of weigh, you know, the pros and the cons for ourselves. And I think all of us here will do that. And what that's what we're doing. And that's why I appreciate you putting this in slides because it is something to to really think about. There's a lot of pressure right now from the legislature. There's a lot of talk about reform and property tax, but property taxes are the stable have been the stable way at least for many years to fund Sycamore schools. So if we are going to make a change, we have to be excellent communicators. We have to do it for potentially for longer than this amount of this might not be
073a quick enough time. Maybe it could happen in another cycle, right? Like maybe now we talk about it and then we diversify the next time. But I just feel like it's good to have the conversation, but we also have to do a reality check for our own community. >> Let's think about a timeline. >> We uh you shared this information with the business advisory council this morning and you'll share it with the Sycamore Advisory Commission on Monday. Are we planning to share this information? I'm sure we are um with the community. When will that occur? How will it occur? And when should this board make a decision? And and let me slide one question in there to support that is I just want to make sure that this runs through legal. Um and any of
074you chime in if you remember differently. In the back of my brain, I felt like there was something about we are not supposed to ask the community which which they would choose. >> We we can't we can't ask them >> can't support it. But >> I can't ask them vote yes or no on when we make a decision. I think we can ask their opinion on what type of levy they feel comfortable because we're not ask >> Notice the question didn't say do you support correct >> voting yes on one of these it was >> which one would you rather see the board pursue because we know you have to pursue one of those so but it's a great clarifying question because we don't want to and I don't want to get in trouble but
075we're not asking for any yes or nos or approvals it's more of which option do you prefer and it's really they can select unsure or >> you know need more information so they don't have to share it but um I will just say walking away from BAC um there I don't know that I heard one person say earned income tax they were pretty adamant and the you know again you got we got varied business owners in there we've got and they know that that means they're going to pay we've got they some of them live in the community as well but we also had um people that work for retirement communities. Not one person was and I haven't checked their feedback yet because I wanted to have this discussion before I even peaked, but I'm
076I'm going to guess based on and I mean for me I'm looking at the math up there. It's a pretty easy math equation for me that I feel like one overburdens and overt taxes our community. The other one does not. And I know that's not going to be the same to Mrs. Bidder's point for everybody in the community. Everybody's going to have different feelings about the type, but I think our job is to do the best for the most. And I think I I can quickly look at the information and figure out what that might be. >> And before we answer Dr. James question, you know, I I would still would like to see another slide. I know we want to make this even shorter, but I'd like to see a slide on what we
077currently are collecting, what was voted in, and what we're collecting. Because historically, even though we've asked for something like seven mills, as the property values go up, which we know they do in the community, we're actually collecting less. So, if we could have a, you know, just a simple bar graph of that, um, you know, what's the number 29 point something mills were collecting, you know, when was it voted, what was the voted millage, and what's the current collected millage. So, to answer Dr. James' question. Um, once we get and it's an awful time to be trying to have any kind of these meetings because we also to recall we're still having healthier start time conversations. That's h the first of which is likely well it's going to happen on April 28th. Um, so we're
078still continuing on with that work separately from this work. Um, Mrs. Schmidt and I met today to kind of map out some ideas of when we could host some of those conversations. Um, I would say over the next couple of weeks, uh, we can provide you like when those will be, but my goal would be that at least we get a sense by the end of April. Like I'd like to have some additional conversations completed and I think we're willing to talk anywhere and anytime. You know, we've talked about >> So, so do you feel that by the 29th of April, which is our next board meeting, that we'll be able to make a decision one way or the other. >> I mean, I feel fairly confident that yes, we could we open up our
079>> Yeah, I would like to do it sooner rather than later. So, if we can schedule those conversations with the community with, you know, that's three weeks basically in the next two weeks and then bring it back to the board um in one of our official meetings for the board to make a decision on which way we're going to vote. you know, that gives us, you know, the beginning of May to start to form that committee and and start to get what that information out. I'm just concerned pushing it back any further. Agreed. >> We're just getting so close to something. >> And we have lots of meetings that we're also going to work with this on. We I have PTO presidents coming up. I have Sycamore Advisory Commission. We just did business advisory. So,
080I think from a at least a touch point standpoint, a lot of our informed advocates will be in having conversations with us already. So, I'm talking about in addition to those already regularly scheduled meetings, opening up opportunities for anyone from the community to come in and meet with us. We'll host some during the day, we can do some at night. We'll do a virtual session as well. >> Okay. So, I just want to so for logistics, how does it work? I how does this work? I have not, you know, I I have not been on the board when we've done this process. So on the meeting, let's say we are able to do this on the April 29th meeting and where we're making a decision. So how does that look? Does that do we say
081okay, do we have these slides again and then everyone says and we put it on the agenda that we're going to make a decision on what we choose. Is that what it looks like or how does it how does it look? Can you like explain that process? So, I would reach out to Tom Wilson with Dinsore who is our adviser and and and I can do this. I've already worked with Tom, you know, when those deadlines have to be met. And if the board is seeking you want to put something on the agenda for approval and I believe we would need that resolution um from from him to vote on and then we would end up filing with the county and and and such. >> Okay. So you the super you would make a recommendation
082have a res a resolution for the board at that point. >> This is not a superintendent recommendation. This is this is a board. Yeah. >> Okay. That's fine. So then that means the 29th we're making we're talking and having a discussion and then but we're not voting on it or we have two resolutions. One resolution for one and one resolution for the other and then we say and then depending on our discussion we choose the resolution. Like I I want to know just logistically how the >> I think it's all good questions and I could see it going either way, Mrs. Bidder. I could see us having two resolutions or I could see us making a decision that night and saying, "Okay, at our next board meeting, we're going to make the official the official
083resolution as long as we've made a decision. It could go either way." >> Yeah. I just wanted I'm just asking for logistics. >> So, I think it's whatever the board decides. >> What do What do boards typically do? >> Does anyone know? >> I have Okay. Uh, no, I can I can answer because I've been around a long time. So, um, I would say just from a standpoint of, you know, I I know the way you all operate and the way that you want our community to um, feel like they've been heard. I I would have to ask you, do you feel like the community is aware that we're discussing putting a levy on the ballot? And if the answer to that is yes, because you I would ask, well, what percentage of the community
084do you think is aware of it? If you don't think it's a very large percentage, you're taking a risk putting it on the ballot or on the the agenda to vote April 29th if people are unaware and they didn't like if you just put it on for discussion. No. And we get our normal attendance, no offense, but they're not going to feel heard necessarily. So either we need to put it out as a statement from Mrs. Schmidt letting the community know that this will be discussed at the April 29th meeting and we are considering two options and we're putting these up for consideration. There'll be a significant board conversation because and I think also putting out the history. It's not like we just started discussing this. We've been discussing it since February and Mr. Buren
085gave a great presentation overview, finances, forecast. We've done all the steps. >> We've been talking about this for multiple years, as long as I've been on this board. >> I agree with you, Mr. We're We're >> This is not >> The other thing, Mr. We could do is once we finalize this presentation, I mean, we could send this out to, you know, on social media. We could send this out to, you know, through our s'mores or whatever is the best way to reach, you know, not just parents, but community members, too. Um, no. I would agree. There's probably a small percentage of the community that knows, but it's not because we haven't been talking about. >> I agree. And we can do when we do our virtual session, we can record it that can go
086out and people can feel informed leading up to the 29th. So, I think what I would say is I mean, you think the only reason I brought it up is because you have taken a great deal of time to discuss it. I think you've done the steps because if you think about how many meetings we discussed just a school calendar and allow people to offer input. You've done that. You've given a lot of time for input. What I would say is be very clear about April 29th so that people are aware if they want to come and offer their input at that point. Then we have that open forum. We have that open dialogue. You do your discussion. We open it up for their comment and then you take your vote. And it is I
087I think we can have Densore provide both resolutions depending on what you're hearing, what you're feeling. Um I I you know, I'll just say from a standpoint of what do I get the sense of again having both resolutions is fine. I think some of you probably are are pretty decisive based on the information. Where do we need to go? But doesn't preclude you from hearing our community and changing your mind. You don't have to take a vote that night if you hear something that needs to be further discussed or dug into. But uh if you don't hear that, then I don't think you should feel guilty about taking a vote that night. And basically once you approve the resolution, then kind of the next steps go, which is, you know, working with Dinsmore, they make
088contact with the Hamilton County Auditor's Office and off we go. So, >> so I think between now and the 29th, we need to make sure through various social media, through various uh communication that we are considering voting, making some sort of levy decision on the 29th, >> okay? Okay. And also, we're already discussing it >> and it it'll be a discussion, but again, voting on it will be considering that discussion and also letting people know that they'll have opportunities between now and then at this place and this place and this place to talk about this, >> you know, so it won't so they will have a chance before that meeting to voice their opinions about what they think needs to happen. Do we have an idea of h how many how many meetings that's going
089to look like in addition to the 29th? Like is there a for you or for me? >> It's an open question. I don't >> for for you it shouldn't be any additional unless you just want to be present and you're obviously always welcome. Uh I think for me it ga we'll gauge it on what what attendance do we get? um you know, if we put it out there and let people know we're having these discussions and no one shows up, they either trust us to make the decision or it's too nice outside and they're enjoying the weather doing other things. We'll do our best to get as many people to come or to log on as possible. But um if we hold three or four sessions and nobody shows up, I think it'd probably be
090easier to say, well then you must not have any other feedback to offer us cuz um and there may be people that watch our meeting tonight or pick up the information from um I don't know if we're starting it with this meeting, but one of the things I learned at my conference was like sending out a summary of our meeting after a meeting. I talked with Mrs. Schmidt that I thought that would be a good idea to just you remember cliff notes from school? Yeah. Mr. Harris definitely remembers those. >> Old enough to remember cliff notes. Yeah. >> So give them the cliffnotes version of what happened in our meeting so that they get a sense of what was discussed. So I think being able to again we're we're I think we're trying to even
091overcommunicate so that people feel like they're engaged and connected to the work that we're doing. So um I would say we'll see. I mean, if we get a lot of turnout and we need to cuz you know, like one of the things we discussed today with the healthier start times, if we get a lot of interest, >> um, we're going to cap our sessions at like 30 people, >> but cuz we want to have real engagement, but if we get 90 people that want to come, then I'll have three sessions, not just one. >> So, you know, we'll see what we get. Those other these sessions are a lot easier than really trying to dig deep into healthier start times. So, >> yeah. Okay. and and are we pushing on making sure this communication is
092getting into the the newsletter that is supposed to be reaching the community that's not associated with the school district. Do you guys know >> that one's a lot? That one's a hard Those are hard hard ones to uh get through because the cities have not shown a real interest in putting our information in because then if we put our information in, then they got to put all the other schools that are in the district in >> so it is tougher to get out there. But I think what we know there are people in our community that can get that information to uh the people. And I would say long term we need to be thinking about and I've heard this strategy before from a sack project is how can we identify those community captains that
093are in each of the communities that can just we can get it to them and they spread the information in their actual neighborhood >> you know because and that you know I you can see it I see signs up in people's neighborhoods about a community gathering I know it exists like people have Facebook pages they have information. They have ways to disseminate. So, we'll do our best to get it in as many places as possible. And Mrs. Schmidt has done a side plug. Mrs. Schmidt's done an amazing job uh since being on our team really taking our communication to another level. So, really appreciate that about her. >> So, I just want to ask the board. So, I I think that that sounds like what Mr. Lewis just said as a as an approach and
094what what Mr. Harris has said as an approach and I think we're all on the same we all agree. I just want to make sure does the having the discussion on the 29th um and then potentially hopefully a vote on the 29th sound like what everyone wants to do? Mr. Balon, when you said you want to see it done sooner rather than later, does that satisfy your >> timeline, >> everyone? >> I think so. especially because the next meeting after that is May 13th >> and uh >> that's when you know >> Yeah. >> Okay. Well, I think that sounds good too. >> So, tomorrow I will reach out to Tom with Dinsmore >> two resolutions >> and get some guidance from him. Y and then if you have any meetings that you want us
095to join or if you want to if you want us to help spread if you want us to be community captains and share things. I don't know if that's we're allowed to do that, right? Um >> we're just sharing factual information. >> Yep. >> I mean all of us could do that. Um we all know people in our community also I would think like the business advisory council would like members of our of our other committees would be helpful in doing that as well. Yeah, I think our our sack membership is is great. They'll I think they'll be ready to jump all over this and they're going to give us a lot of feedback on Monday. So, I'm excited to share it with them. >> Thank you for a great discussion and just highlights. If
096you go walk away from this and think about, oh, you know what, I really would like to see this or you know what, Mr. Balance's pretty good about this, maybe take out these three slides. Um, I see some others here. if you have feedback that are sitting here watching it live, like send me an email. Um, it won't hurt my feelings. We we sat Mrs. Schmidt cut out all kinds of things today. Um, she did a great job chopping away at more. So, I'm not going to get my feelings hurt. So, >> all right. Thank you, uh, board. Thank you, Mr. Lewis. Thank you, Mr. Pson, for your presentation. All right. Our next item of discussion is the vouchers heard Ohio. Before we start, um we did have a community member to ask to speak
097on this. Um she's um wanted to speak again on this um because the superintendent was not in town for this. So we are going to give her this time to speak. When you approach the podium, please again remember to state your name, your address. You will be limited to three minutes. Dr. James will keep the time. Um, and that's okay. And again, this is this is one of those things because it is an agenda item that we're talking about, which is why we're having Mrs. Owens speak again. So, Ellen Owens 7330 Thumbelene Lane, may I ask a clar clarif for clarification, the QR code, Superintendent Lewis, that was put up, uh, is that available to the community? give you feedback. >> It will be once um obviously I if somebody scanned it right now it's
098open um but when I present it will definitely be open to anybody that is watching online or uh participating live. So, if I didn't scan it and I wanted to scan it, how would a community member? >> Well, when we play this back or um it is posted in the um agenda, you can click on it, go to that slide and you can scan it. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> But it is going to be distributed outward. >> Yeah. >> So that it will get out there. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, I beg the pardon of the board for giving this presentation again, but I didn't want uh to go without uh Superintendent Lewis hearing my presentation. Um, I'd like to thank uh SAC for your comprehensive and thorough response to the board of
099elections uh uh requests for recommendations on joining vouchers hurt Ohio lawsuit um because of almost $3 billion superintendent in uncapped ed choice voucher funding in this bian bianial budget. The state of Ohio has abandoned the bipartisan fair school funding act law and devalued our public school students by giving uh thousands more dollars in per pupil funding to private school vouchers. 96% of these ed choice vouch uh are going to high income families, most of whom have never attended Sycamore public schools. Sycamore has seen a huge voucher increase of 17 and a700% since the ed choice voucher income uh cap was lifted in 2023. Sycamore has lost $2.7 million in fair school funding in this state budget. I am here this evening urging our five board of education members to follow the recommendation of SAC by
100voting to join the vouchers hurt Ohio lawsuit. All publicly elected board of education members take an oath to follow the Ohio Constitution, which states clearly in article 6, section two, that our public school tax dollars are for public schools only. The Ed Choice voucher program has been uh ruled unconstitutional in Ohio's court on June 25th, 2025. There is an update. On the on May the 12th, the 10th District Court of Appeals will hear this lawsuit at 9:30 p uh a.m. Uh by following the Ohio Constitution, Board of Election members are also acting as fiduciary stewards of our vital property tax dollars. $2 per student to join the lawsuit is a drop in the bucket compared to $2.7 million Sycamore has lost in this state budget with the abandonment of the Fair School Funding Act. Thank
101you for your time. >> I know we don't typically public respond to public participation, but Mr. Buren, I I do want to ask you a clarification. Um, you know, Miss Owens, you you use the number of with that we've lost $2.7 million. Um, that's not the case. M Mr. Buren, could you let us know what we received last year versus this year with the state uh bianual u budget? >> Uh yeah. Um so for last year we received from the state state aid uh 8.9 million and then this year we're anticipate to receive um 11.2. So that's an increase of what 2.3 million. Um so that's what that's what we are going to realize this year with the with state aid. So and that's >> been an increase over the last three or four years
102as the as they've changed the fair state funding program uh to fully fund it. So you know I don't I don't know where the numbers coming from but just to make the public aware we are not losing the money for state the money for the vouchers is not coming from Sycamore. It's coming from a different budget within a bucket within the state. Um, so we as Sycamore are not losing $2.7 million in in state funding. I ask today that you make a decision. Thank you. >> Thank you. Right. >> Anyone like to open up our discussion here? >> I would I would like to open up the discussion. Um, when the vouchers hurt Ohio uh first came to the board for some kind of response as to whether or not we would join in on
103the lawsuit. We asked uh the Sycamore Advisory Commission to take a look at that, research it, come to back to the board and give us some information as well as a recommendation. And so the Sycamore Advisory Commission did that. Uh presented the information. Um, we took the time to ask questions, but we really didn't take the time to discuss it in terms of how we felt about the information that we were hearing. Um, and so we can't, in my opinion, come up with a decision without us talking about what we believe to we should do. So what I would like to do is start out by just giving my opinion so that it can start the conversation, people can respond to it, whatever. Okay. Um, so I understand that the focus of the vouchers hurts
104Ohio lawsuit is to stop the unconstitutional s systemic funding of private education. I can support that endeavor, but I think the board should step back and determine the best way to support this cause if the board is willing to support this cause. Litigation is a long and it's expensive process which can over time significantly impact our budget. We will never recoup the dollars we commit to this lawsuit, which for us would roughly cost $12,000 per year. Some people, I'm sure, will argue that entering into this lawsuit is worth that amount of money or that $12,000 a year is simply a drop in the bucket for us. But as board members, however, we have a civic duty to maintain high standards for fiscal responsiveness. As we contemplate this expenditure, I ask whether we think this lawsuit
105directly aligns with the district's mission, vision, and strategic plan initiatives, and will it help us to reach our goals for our students? So I'm looking at from that from those lens and should our focus remain on expenditures that support programs, facilities, student services, operations and the like to ensure the success of reaching our commitments to this community? Or if there is to be some flexibility in how we are spending our money, what should those parameters be? All considered, I prefer that we determine ways to go on record with the Ohio General Assembly to express our support of the unconstitutional objectives outlined in vouchers hurt Ohio lawsuit and to also articulate other factors that are negatively impacting public schools. We can do this without it being a financial cost to the district. For example, we should
106continue to engage in conversations about these topics with our state representatives and should continue to testify regarding the unconstitutionality of the expanded voucher system. We should also demand that there be fairer funding for public schools and that any institution that is receiving tax dollars should be required to meet the high standards established for public schools. So, I throw that out there for us to start some discussion about this before we can come to a conclusion as to what we want this district to do. >> I'll let I feel like I've spoken a lot on the subject, so I'll let someone else go first. anything. >> Okay, then I'll say something. Okay, Dr. James, thank you. That was very um that was very thoughtful and I think that that I like your um approach to looking
107at what what would this lawsuit do? I will say that I I think I've said this before in more than one board meeting that number one I want to make sure that everyone knows that we are a team. Like there are things that we can disagree on or one of us can say I prefer this or I want this and as a board we are a team and we are aligned with one another. And I think I can tell for sure that all of us care about public education and we do not want our funds taken out of public education and we want our children to get the best education possible and we want to make sure our mission and vision are are cared for and we uphold those um principles for ourselves and for
108our community. Um I think that our community is saying to us at least the people who have come to us so far have said to us that they really want us to join right and I do believe it was it was my suggestion that we ask our board committee to do the research and I again I I would accept that recommendation. I do think that, you know, there are pros and cons to both sides to joining and not joining, but I reiterate that I believe that Sycamore is a leader. I believe that we should stand up to what is occurring um in the state of Ohio um on behalf of our taxpayers. I believe the analogy is something like it would be as if saying I myself don't want to go to the public pool
109so I want the taxpayers to help pay for the private pool in my backyard. And that is what was happening right now with taxpayer money for private schools. And I'm not against private schools and I'm not against private pools. Um I think they're great but I think you should have to pay for your own pool in your own backyard. So I feel like as a board member who's been elected in this community with this vocal community that I would join it. On the other hand, I ask the same questions you ask. How may we advocate so that we actually make impact? Will this lawsuit make impact? I do think it will in the sense that we are a leader. Others will join if we join. I believe that. I believe we we we will help
110like move things forward. But I also think standing for something matters. If we say we care about these issues, we should stand up and say it loud and clear and it's worth it um for that. So, I mean, I could go on and on, but I still I stand with what I said before. I believe that we have to try whatever we can to protect public funds for public schools. Not because we we love private schools. We want private schools to exist. We just need to protect private or public money for our students. And I will say we just had a meeting with our state senator who represents this district and I want to know as a taxpayer where is our money going when it goes to a voucher when it goes to a school.
111Can I do a public records request and find out where that money is going? Do I get any data to find out how the students are doing? What tests they're taking? Can I do that? Because I know for sure that if Mr. person gets a records request, he's going to have to produce just about everything about this district. All finances, all data, all information. But public money is going, our taxpayer money is going to schools that have zero accountability and they do not have to accept all students like public schools. So, I feel like this is our opportunity to take a stand. You are correct. It might not it might not make a major impact in that it wouldn't give us our money back perhaps, but it might. And so I'm willing to take that
112risk. So that's great. >> But thank you. I appreciate what you're saying. And maybe there is a middle ground where we could >> come together and say what we believe as a board, but I believe you're on the right track. >> Yeah. And for clarity, I do believe that there are ways to get that message across. >> Um I'm not saying let's not >> Yeah, >> let's keep quiet. I definitely not saying that. >> Yeah. And that's why I mean you come up with some good suggestions that would get the message out. And I think that's what our community is asking us. Our community is saying say something. Speak up on our behalf. And the way they're saying it is speak up by joining this lawsuit. Now, I would say yeah, we should speak up
113by joining this lawsuit and we should also talk about it a lot more. Others might say, let's speak up by not joining the lawsuit and speaking up about it more. And I'm not I don't think there's a right or wrong necessarily. I'm just saying that's we all have our own positions and that's I think what we have to talk about. >> I think um just to interject one well a couple of points that just stick out to me. Uh, number one, I don't think it's it's not appropriate for us to say that we haven't been speaking up. When I look at this board and the people that are on this team, we have been fighting for equity and funding for a long time. And when I say that, Mrs. Logan's been a part of a
114fight for over 20 years to try to get equity of school funding because the fair school funding plan was at least heading in the right direction. But I think what our community needs to remember, we are a minimum funded state school district. We do not get the equity and funding of some of our counterparts. Even if we spend $12,000 a year, they are not going to change the funding formula. Senator Wilson looked at us and said vouchers are not going anywhere. And he can't predict lawsuits, but he said we're not going to stop funding them. So, our in my mind, our effort still needs to be about equity and funding because I still cannot understand how just because we're a wealthy district, a student that goes to our school district is only worth a little
115over $800, but they can go to >> According to the state, yes, thank you. We're only talking about funding numbers right now. Our students are worth millions and millions of dollars, Dr. James, as you saw tonight. Um, but the amount that they can go down to Mhler and get who can already afford to go to school there over $8,000, it doesn't make any sense. And one of the things that I reminded Senator Wilson, and I know he was not happy with me reminding him, and Mrs. Bidder knows what I'm going to say. I guess they forgot about that they just were defrauded over the last 20 plus years by a program called ECOT. I don't know if they for I don't and he's like well we haven't forgotten it because you always bring it up.
116It's my job to bring it up. You're doing the same thing. you're giving money to a program that has no accountability. Cuz I asked him, "Well, tell me what is the accountability measure for a community school or a charter school?" And he's like, "Well, it's just parent satisfaction." Well, then get all the testing off my schedule then. I don't need to test kids if if it's just parent satisfaction. We get an A. We're five stars. Our parents are satisfied. But to look at me and say that and I said, "Do you ever foresee a time that that why don't you just call everybody the same thing? We're all state funded schools. Give us all the same requirements." I said, "Cut out all the other stuff. What do you guys really need to know? How are
117we being successful? How do you know?" And I I asked them point blank, "How do you know private schools are giving better education? Because they're more expensive. Because they can choose their students. That's not what makes schools better. My two kids will leave Sycamore more prepared than they would if they went to a school where they have very little diversity from a socioeconomic standpoint, from a diversity standpoint, from working with students with disabilities. My kids know more students with disabilities than they ever would have going to any of those schools. So, he didn't answer any of my questions because he knows he can't. Our job is to stand up for sycamore. And right now I I struggle like I believe in what everyone's saying. Public education deserves our fight, but I struggle spending our tax
118dollars of sycamore to support a fight that I know is not going to get us one more cent. And that's hard for me because as a as a superintendent and a chief executive officer of an organization, it's tough to say that I'm going to spend $12,000. That is not a drop in the bucket to me. $12,000 is a lot of money. I don't have $12,000 sitting in my house to contribute. I would, but I don't have it. But it's hard for me to say that as the chief executive officer and superintendent of the district that we should spend $12,000 knowing that it's not going to help our kids one more scent. They're not going to get anything additional. We're not losing money. We actually gained money over this last couple of budgets. That is really
119hard for me. So I am fully supportive. I know one I think last meeting you said what would your recommendation be. I think we should send that statement from this board and this team and I'll sign it with you that says we are against what you are doing. I do not think we should contribute money to something we know is not going to get us anything. That's just Chad Lewis superintendent giving you his opinion. So, it's certainly your decision and I'll support you. Mrs. Bidder, you said it right. We're a team. I will support the team decision. I just struggle with those components. >> I I I agree miss with what what everybody has said. Um, you know, and and obviously I support public education. I support uh fair and equitable school funding uh which
120we have fought for, you know, since I've been on the board. And we've made major strides. Um, you know, going back to when Beth Weber was the treasurer, she was at the state level for the first probably 10 years that I was on, eight years that I was on the board. Um, and we finally got, you know, additional funding for the school district. Um, you know, I would challenge that this is really a hot topic in our community. So, you know, we had feedback from five SAC members. We didn't get feedback from the whole SAC organization. It was five members that presented to us. I'm estimating maybe we've had 20 people come to board meetings. So out of our 33,000 residents, we've heard from somewhere between 25 and 30 people. Um, one of the things
121that's that was mentioned in the sack presentation was this is 100% political. That was in the sack presentation. We know that unfortunately in today's world politics divide our community. Sycamore board has traditionally stayed out of politics and focused what is best for Sycamore, our students, our staff, and our residents. So, I mean, I agree with what everyone has said with what Dr. James said is how do we advocate for our community, not across political lines? How do we not divide our community? We just talked about going out and asking our community for support and now we want to vote on a very political topic which at the state level is Democrat and Republican. It is not what's best for Sycamore. It is very politically divided. Do we really want to do this and join a
122voucher program at the same time where we're focused on getting people together and and supporting our school district? So, I am for something of how do we meet in the middle? How do we continue to fight for fair school funding? You know, how do we let our um thoughts be known on what we think about the voucher program, you know, without spending taxpayer money, without officially joining a voucher uh hurts Ohio program that I will tell you will divide this community. >> I I I appreciate what you said, but I would I just want to say I disagree that it's necessarily political. Of course, anything can be political, but many school districts have joined this from very very rural red school, you know, very politically leaning one direction. I mean, every political um subdivision style
123in the state of Ohio has joined this and it was it's across the board. It's multiple political affiliations. So, I don't agree with that. It's political. You could potent I agree with what you're saying. It could become political and I'm I don't fact presented >> but but in Ohio though there's there's a very big cross-section of schools that have joined and it's typically schools that are per you know deeply impacted by vouchers right oftentimes rural school districts um and urban school districts but um just know that of course anyone thing can be political but when it comes to school funding that's not political and public education shouldn't be political and the people joining this are from every political affiliation that there is. So, but there is no that is and that is statistically I I
124don't disagree with you. But I also would say that there's no guarantee that if the voucher program goes away that that money goes back to funding the schools. There's there's nobody that has said that that is not even the go the goal of the lawsuit is is not to redirect the money back to the schools. It's just to prove that it's unconstitutional and that the state can't spend the money on it. But there's nothing saying that if the state gets whatever that number is, $1.6 billion dollars, that they're going to say, "Okay, we're going to divide that equally among the school districts or we're going to put any of it into the school districts." >> All right, I'll jump in. Um, for those of you who did not hear my opinion last time, please uh
125please watch it back and boost our views. Um, I talked a lot about it. Uh, and I still hold to all that that I said. Um, I I agree with everything you guys are saying. I have obviously a little bit different perspective. Uh Senate Bill one um going after higher education and the voucher expansion program is something that I have spent too much time with going back in my in my days of education. Um so it so it is something that obviously you guys can see I've I've talked about it. I've I've thought a lot about it. Um I did want to pair off of what Mr. Lewis said about um we should at least find more ways of making it equitable between private and public. There is some legislation out there. There it's uh
126House Bill 15 which has already been turned down but it has come back trying to bring more um uh public disclosures of enrollment and data from private schools. I I can't I can't tell you that it's going to go anywhere, but but I can't like that those conversations are happening just like property tax reform conversations are happening. So that stuff is out there and ultimately I do think Mr. Balon is right like we're we're discussing potentially political topics because we're asking politicians to to do their job. I feel like I can say that. Um th this is a a discussion that this is not private schools versus public schools. My neighbors are are private school kids and they're good friends of mine and I very much appreciate their choice. Um I think this is just
127going to our state house and say please support our schools. Pay what you said you were going to pay. I've already said a whole bunch of stuff. Um I agree with what Mr. Valent was saying that we we are going to the community and asking for money. Why do we need that money? Because our expenses outweigh our revenues. Why do our expenses keep going up? Because we have really, really good teachers and staff and we want to keep them and we want them to earn a wage where they're happy and healthy and thriving and want to stay here. Right? The why is really really important. Um, I don't know that it's a conversation about finances. In my brain, it it clearly wasn't. Uh, and I and I do think that the SAC presenters did also
128mention that there are ways of asking the community to basically crowdfund this. There are some districts that they aren't paying the fees. They are they are going out to the community uh and asking to help just donor fund those fees. So, it's it's an idea. Um, the the only other thing that I I I wanted to bring up is I I feel like this is a just a conversation of what do we want Sycamore to be on the on the big stage, right? I went to niche.com. All of you have been there at some point, I'm sure. Right. Especially when your first kids getting ready to go into kindergarten and you're looking at what school districts top 20 best school districts in Ohio, right? And they do a good job of ranking data. I'm sure
129there's bias built in. it's fine. But they they do at least try to make it data based. Um Sycamore is in the top 20. They're number 10. We can argue that's that's a different conversation. Um but but I did want to point out that Wyoming is number seven. They they are in the lawsuit. Hudson is number 11. Beexley's number 14. Upper Arlington's number 19. Centerville is number 20. And and they have decided to join. And I want Dcamore to be that beacon on the hill, that shining example of community. We're going to come and ask you for money to support our staff and our teachers. Our job is to fight for everything that we can. That's why I think that we should join. I want to be sure that we're not making a decision based
130on um being the district that will then others will follow or that we have to be a leader in this because we don't need to be a leader in this. We need to fight for what we believe to be uh true and good for Sycamore and the students and community of Sycamore, but we don't, in my opinion, need to be a a leader just so that we could say others would jump on the bandwagon with us if we were to do this. I just wanted to throw that out there. I'm sorry you were getting ready to say that. And that and that's you know that's a common that is a common subject that comes up because there are you what over six a little over 600 school district public school districts in the state of
131Ohio and if we all join together we're like a it's like a lobbying group right it we some of us we all belong many of us belong to the Ohio schoolboard association um or we have the alliance it is a way for us to collectively come together to try to insert through a a legal mechanism to try to change what's happening to public schools. Although the money not might not come out right now. Um it might next year or the year after because there's no more money because the money went to vouchers, right? And that's probably what will happen, right? It it it I mean we can foreshadow and say that that's where this where this is going, right? So this is trying to get ahead of it. This is trying to this isn't you're
132right. like we the reason that comes up is simply because we're trying to be a team. We're trying to say public schools, here's your chance to actively everyone chip in a relatively small portion of your budget, which is in in some cases, like you said, there's crowdsourcing. Like people just pay the $12,000. Like we could probably get a donor to pay $12,000 or a bunch of people to join in and pay for that. But it's more about joining in and being part of this collective public school effort together to say no, enough is enough. Stop taking public money um and giving it to schools that are not held accountable. And then the kids are coming back to the public schools. Um and h many times the school doesn't get the funding for that kid because
133the private school or the charter school just got the money for that school for that child. So and then they're at the deficit, right? So, the school actually is paying. We actually are losing money and school districts are losing money all the time. So, that's where that comes from. Um, as far as like being a leader comes from. >> And I do I do just want to add one thing. $12,000 is this year. This is going to go on for many years. So, this is not ask people to crowdfund. This is not 12,000 today out of Sycamore. We know that this is going to be tied up in court for many years. So, it's going to be 12 and 12 and 12 and 12. um you know there's still it's going to go on for
134a long time. So that's you know it's let's just not think of this as just $12,000. >> Yeah. And if it's time value of money then 12,000 will become less over time. But yes, you're right. Potentially that's correct. >> All right. I'm a history teacher by nature. Um, time after time after time, Ohio's education funding has been ruled unconstitutional. We waited for years for them to step up and fund schools the way they should be properly funded. Okay? And we're at that kind of that crossroads in public education everywhere where public education is being attacked and teachers are being attacked and educators are being attacked and different things like that. Okay. Um, for years and the reason why I ran for the school board was because I thought I had the I was expressing the
135in the best interest of my students and the people in my community in regards to the schools. Okay. Now, if I'm not mistaken, this is a classaction lawsuit, correct? Class action lawsuit. I'm a little fuzzy on this legal stuff. A class action lawsuit means all the people in a particularly a class that feel they were affected by the particular lawsuit. Okay. So we have potentially in Ohio would you say Mrs. Bidder 600 or so school districts 611 school districts who who as a class are eligible to join this lawsuit. Okay. Um, at this point in time, how many schools have joined that lawsuit? >> Many districts. >> 200 24. >> No, three. >> 340. So about 340 school districts have joined that lawsuit. Okay. Um, and I know that makes an impact, but I think
136we're missing a a big part and and all of you have hinted on it this evening. I think the major part of this is the vouchers are a part of it, but the larger part of this is funding all of our schools equitably. All public schools should be funded equitably. That is what's not what's happening. And I think the vouchers are a little small part of that. As you say, the vouchers primarily affecting financially large or excuse me, urban school districts and rural school districts is where the biggest impact in those vouchers are. Okay. From a monetary, if we just looked at a strictly monetary standpoint, the effect on Sycamore is less than obviously these other school districts. I think our statement should be that we want fair funding for every school in the state
137of Ohio. That's where we can be the leader. I think the vouchers play a part of that, but I think that could be a potentially divisive issue coming up at a levy and coming up when a lot of things that really to me are common sense have become politically divisive with people. and stepping into that right now at this point in time could be something that could hurt our school district. So, I think we need to come out with a statement of some kind saying we want full funding for all of our schools. It's been ruled unconstitutional. They need to quit dillydallying around and coming up with ways to step around that and say that and delay that and delay that and delay that. Okay, that's the statement we need to make. We need to
138sit down and say we want our schools funded fairly and the vouchers are a part of that. And I think we can do that. I think we can resolve. We can make a resolution to do something like that and stay away from something that could be politically divisive that could divide up our community at a time when we need our community to be together. That's what I have to say about that. I could definitely get behind something like that. I agree. My only thought is not joining is going to divide us potentially to a lesser degree, especially if we come out with a public statement. But I I think there is a cost. I think anything any decision you make about anything is a cost. >> Yes. Yes. >> Made a mistake. Drove my daughter
139to college on on Sunday. Gas was 3:45. Should have stopped and got that gas. I said, "No, it was late. I want to go home today. 3.99. It hurt. It's a cost. Everything's a cost." Okay? There is no there frequently decisions aren't good or bad. It's cost. It's what the cost is going to be of making that decision. Okay? So, I agree with you to some extent that that it it it is divisive. It is going to be a cost, but I think it's going to be a greater cost if we potentially go into something that's really going to divide our community at a time when we're asking our community for money. And I hate to make it I hate to make it about that. I really do hate to make it about that, but
140that's where we are at this point in time. That's where public schools are is the whim of the legislature and the whim of our community for their funding. I'm done. >> So, just I just wanted to add in that I think this >> is how this is supposed to go, right? >> Yes. >> This is having disagreements in public and talking about it and being respectful and I don't know. I just thank you guys for all your >> great discussion. Very great. So would I I guess just to maybe help would it I don't know and maybe you still have more discussion but would it help um for our team to draft something for you um for you to look at to see if it carries the message that I'm hearing which is I hear
141that you know we we are not in support of the voucher program but and we are also not in support of the way you're currently funding schools and we are calling for equity and and funding for all students including Sycamore students. I know that's summarizing very succinctly, but I just want to capture it because if we're going to do this work and then get it back to you for consideration and I'm assuming you want it to be kind of in a letter format to do you want it to be the legislators from our area, multiple legislators, all legis like I we just need a little guidance from you. Does >> can we say something about >> accountability and you know meaning >> yes >> what what we said to our elected senator which was how
142do I know how you're spending the money I'm a taxpayer I want to know how do I find out there's nowhere for me to ask and the answer was you'll know if the parent is happy with their school that was the answer we got literally so if we could say something like >> if you're going to give public t my public taxpayer money. I'm just going to speak for myself right here. If you're going to give my taxpayer money to a a private entity, a company, um, how do I check on it? How do I check on my outcome? Like, how are the kids doing? Um, like how's it going? What's the date? Where's the data? I want to know. It's my money. So, how do how do we do that on behalf of our
143taxpayers here and say we want accountability for the money that you are taking away from the public system from taxpayers? We want accountability. It's great if you're going to educate kids and do wonderful things. We're all for it, but we need to see the results and we want to we want to know how we can do that >> that we can address accountability. >> It feels like there should be a class action suit from every single citizen in the state of Ohio and not the schools. It does seem weird that the schools have to be the one to do the lawsuit. It feels like we should be able to do the lawsuit ourselves. Um, but to me as a taxpayer, I'm outraged and I can understand why our community members, okay, 20 members I still
144think is a lot for a school district and I think five members of a SAC committee is a lot in my opinion, but no wonder people are upset about it. I mean, they have every right. I'm upset about it. >> So, we'll we'll include the accountability measure and in there as well. And I will say one other step that I'll take um is I do think sometimes that when um superintendents and treasurers sign letters uh with all the individuals from the county um there are and I know we've authored letters before. So I'll talk to our county superintendent to see if there's an interest in also again and I think we've done it before but reinforcing that message uh because we do have a legislative breakfast coming up. So, I'm sure this will be a
145hot topic um of discussion cuz it always is. Um but I think we can embed that as well and try to um see if we can get some additional support for that letter. So, do you have enough information to be able to draft something? Okay. >> And I really want to thank the board of education for having a positive discourse about something that could be very divisive for a lot of people. And again, this is the way the world should work is able to disagree, respect other people's opinions and move on. So, thank you very much for doing that. >> And also, we came up with a middle ground. We actually just compromised. Imagine that, right? >> And our message may be even stronger. >> Yeah. >> Because of it. So, >> all right. Thank
146you very much for that. All right. We're going to move on to the superintendent agenda. Um policy first read. Mr. Levelvel, anything? >> Yeah, I've got um four, what is that? Four different policies there for you this evening. Just wanted to give you a heads up that these are still coming out of the winter update. And so I've worked with Mr. Long. Um there's a couple in here. You'll see the artificial intelligence, but also the electronic equipment. That policy was actually deferred based on board comment a while ago. Um, we had an opportunity, Mr. Long, to get out and kind of get into, I call it the wilderness and kind of get an understanding at the high school a little bit better about how devices are used. Um, so we kind of maintain the language
147in that policy around allowing students um, to bring devices if needed. I know that Mr. Long has committed to kind of monitoring that over time just to make sure that it still works within the system. Obviously, there's risks with device being on the network, but we believe that the academic um impact is greater to allow it um rather than limiting it at this point in time. These will come up for a second read at the next meeting. Um we will approve these and then these need to actually be implemented as policy. So, these will not be a part of the um complete manual approval in June. Um second here, we have the first reads of the 8,000. So, we completed that package. So, you've got those. you also have the update that I've sent to
148you um to kind of review those if you'd like to do that and then those will come back as well. I've also started to include in the update to you all kind of a foreshadow of what's happening at the upcoming meeting so you can kind of try to track where we're headed. I thought that might be helpful for you all. I also want to say just while I have the microphone is that we um we're at a very exciting time with policy transition work. We've put in um right at 60 hours since the list or the end of August towards this work getting these policies um set and ready to go to you in June and July whenever that might be for approval. Um that's a lot of hours committed by our team um to
149really being set down and having a lot of voices around the table and wrestling with these policies. A lot of tracking of the policies to ensure that um the ones that need to come to policy are coming to policy. the ones that are being unheld or rejected and there's a systematic approach to that. So, I just wanted to say that um it's been a heavy lift. It's been rewarding for our team. I know sometimes some of the folks sitting around the table, it's like, "Oh my goodness, we have another transition meeting coming up." Um but the reality is I think we've all learned a lot in this process and we're really looking forward to moving to the administrative guideline side of it. Um, we have the next and only section left with with outside of
150just a few remaining kind of odds and ends policies within some of the sections. Our big one is the next is the board bylaws section. And so I'll be working with Dr. James and Mr. Gznell um to come in. That should take probably two or three sessions. Um hopefully two, it might take three. Um but those are all board specific policies and how you operate. Um and so we look forward to having those conversations and once those are finished we'll have been um we can finalize all of this transition work. So just wanted to kind of give you an update on where we are with that and what that looks like. Our next full day session will be on April 24th. >> I uh I just want to call two two points um on the
151artificial intelligence policy the 7540.09. Um the the first one is just um kind of a kind of a community touch point. Uh UC has started this AI enablement community of practice where they go through and they're working on teaching, researching and daily work in in AI. Um I just wanted to make sure that that was in your wheelhouse or we can if if you want to see what they're into and about. I I thought that I I know they're really trying to to push on how do we go about training and teaching in this space effectively. The uh the other thing that I wanted to point out is in the the last section of that policy. It gets into the NCI um considerations. It does say in there that the center of democracy and technology
152has created a model policy and districts may want to consider incorporating that. >> I think maybe we need to dig into that one a little bit more because it certainly gets into handling and reporting and accountability and external resources and support like potentially something we want to >> Sure. >> Yeah. And what what the great thing about it is is that um and I don't want to speak like um an expert on this. I know Mr. Long has really dug a lot into this. So the state provided us the model policy and so his job was to really go with his team and he's got a group of individuals that are coming together around AI to look at that make the selections but I think it's a great opportunity to bring we can keep this
153moving because we need to adopt the policy but we can also pivot back to the policy committee to then bring Mr. along and have a conversation around what are some other components in here that we want him to be thoughtful around or are there partnerships and things like that. So I think that's a fantastic approach and that's what this work is all about >> regarding the AI policies. I feel like we need more information before we I mean I if when we're going to do the second read if you could give us more information do some type of presentation give us more um than just the the policy itself. I'm getting a lot of questions from the community about AI. I think people are very interested in the subject very concerned about the subject. I
154mean it is as you already know the subject that matters right now. I hope you know that. I hope you or >> Yeah, I think that those are all the exact emotions I think everybody feels around it when we talk about embedding it. So I can work with Mr. Long with that >> soon. >> Okay, >> perfect. >> Yeah, we've been talking about setting up a time for >> him to provide you an update not only on AI but just what the committee has been working on, the people involved. And you know, it isn't Mr. Long and a few other tech people. It's a good cross-section of members of our district that obviously have an interest and also concerns. So, uh they've been working hard to um you know think about what's the appropriate uh
155implementation and application of AI in education. >> And then for the administrative guidelines for this one is and I haven't looked so I will say is that one going to I mean is that done like are the administrative they're not done. They're not weak. >> Well, that that would seemingly be an important guideline because that one's where people are going to say, "Okay, I read this policy, but what does that mean?" >> The policy is really meaty. Um, and just to be clear, this is a policy that we have to adopt. Um, the model policy from the state. We just were given the administrative guidelines and I have a process I'm going to start working with our team to review those. to be very transparent, I have not looked at any of the polic uh
156guidelines around that yet. Um, but I'm confident there's something in there that we can work from. >> I mean, even just I think I think it's good if you know doing at the board meeting. I mean, it's just it's you know, I think it's scary for a lot of us. I'll speak for myself. It's kind of a scary topic, but it's an exciting topic. So, just talk about it. We just have to start. >> I think we should be talking about it a lot, including at the science fair that's going to happen. So, It's going to continue to happen. Sorry. It did already happen, but you know, you know what I'm saying? It needs to clearly keep talking about it. Great. Thank you. >> All right. And thank you to the policy policy committee giving
157public thank you for all the hard work that they've done this year. So, great thing. And you good job, Mr. Lovela. >> Absolutely. Thank you. >> All right. Uh we have uh do we have a motion to approve a contract to Garland DBS uh for a Blue Ash for Blue Ash Elementary roofing project? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Thank you, Dr. James for your motion. Thank you, Mrs. Bidder, for your second. >> Any questions concerned about that? >> That's a pretty big big one, but that's been something that we know we we going to do, but can you just >> Yeah, this is actually Yeah, this is year two of a three-year project at Blue Ash. We finished up the first phase, moving into second phase, and then we'll have another phase that will
158be probably about the same amount heading into next year. It's a big project. as a complete roof replacement, which we haven't done on many of our schools. As you know, the high school were kind of doing sections at a time over the course of 10 years. Um, this had to be done over the course of three. We would have liked to expedite that. Um, but the problem is is it's just a lot of work, a lot of material. Um, and we have to do it when the kids aren't necessarily around. We've been able to manage it, but yep, you'll we'll be coming back again next year to finish that up. >> Hard to believe those buildings are that old already. >> Yes. Is this the same company that did last summer? >> It is. >>
159Okay, that's great. >> Yeah, they did a fantastic job. A lot of it was coordinating material. Where are you placing it? Um where the scaffolding, you know, all the logistics of it and they did a great job and Garland's been very helpful in helping us coordinate all that. >> Y All right, M. Person, could you please call the role? >> Dr. James, >> hi. >> Mrs. Bidder, >> I. >> Mr. Balot, >> hi. >> Mr. Mr. Gosnell. >> Hi, >> Mr. Harris. >> I All right. Do we have a a motion to approve of out of town field trips? >> So, move. >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Gosell for your motion. Thank you, Mrs. Peter, for your second. >> And this is approved. Just like to say, I'm always available for chaperone duty, especially
160overseas. >> Switzerland. >> Mr. Burson, please call the role. >> Mr. Gos, >> hi. >> Mrs. Bidder. >> Hi, >> Mr. Bal. >> Hi, >> Dr. James. >> Hi, >> Mr. Mr. Harris. >> I uh do I have a motion to approve the uh uh personnel consent agenda? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Spitter, for your motion. Thank you, Mr. Balant, for your second. >> I do have a question. Um not about the personnel, but about the job descriptions. >> Um just want to confirm that these are not additional FTEEs. Um >> is that correct? >> That is correct. Yes. So, these um the job descriptions that are on here are part of a bigger project we've been working on over the last couple months in regards to re um reworking our
161exempt job titles, jobs descriptions, and pay, which we will be bringing forward in the first May meeting to you all. The reason we are moving this up is because we want to get ahead of the hiring season and ensure that we're able to get out there. But I do want to affirm that um you may notice different job titles within those job descriptions. Um we are not increasing FTE but we are reallocating FTE that we haven't filled for different position. So no increase in FTE but they are different position titles. >> Mhm. >> Thank you Mr. Levelville. All right. Mr. Buren, could you please call the role? >> Mrs. Bther. >> I. >> Mr. Ballet. >> Hi. >> Mr. Gnel. >> Hi. >> Dr. James. >> Hi. >> Mr. Harris. I All right. Um, last
162thing is there's a motion on there for executive session. We do not have any executive session topics on there. So, we're going to move to adjourn the meeting. Thank you for everybody. Have a great day.