Sycamore Schools Board Meeting December 10, 2025

001And >> Mrs. Logan, please call the role. Mr. Ballot, >> here. >> Mr. Harris, >> here. >> Dr. James. >> Dr. Seager, >> here. >> Mrs. >> Here. >> We are going to begin immediately with a work session before we do our typical >> meeting that we would have um during our public session. We're just going to go straight into our work session on finances. Okay. Uh Mr. Long is going to go ahead and pull up the presentation. Also have a hard copy in front of you as well. Um, so tonight a lot of these slides are going to look familiar, but there's new information in here as well. So, um, we're just going to start with let's review what our financial status actually is. So, if you recall back in October, um, you approved

002the five-year forecast, you will update that again in February. Remember, those dates are are different this year. Um, with that five-year forecast, district is predicted to follow the cash balance minimum requirement goal of 25% in fiscal year 28. And then in fiscal year 30 um you fall off the chart um with the cash deficit >> which again just is normal in a in a levy cycle >> a levy cycle in with a district like Sycamore that this is normal and that's why we're talking about this and thank goodness we do have a five-year forecast that can look forward so we can plan now because that cannot happen and and those are the reasons why we're talking um and one of the reasons why you adopted the financial parameters resolution to reaffirm um to this community

003that the board is committed to um capping the growth of those expenditures. So that was done on the same night that you approved the 5-year forecast and that is 3 and 12% for all expenditures for this fiscal year through fiscal year 30. And then we've been talking about, okay, we know that we have this um financial situation happening in our future and so what do we need to do as far as levy planning and we've been talking about that and calendar year 2026 um is that date that we've been targeting in November of 2026. It's really where we've kind of um earmarked most of our focus on. Um just to recap, the last operating levy that Sycamore had and was approved was November of 2016. So if you go on the ballot in November of

00426, that'll be a decade that you've stayed off the ballot. I if this is time to celebrate to your point, Mr. ballot. Um we balance we've stayed off the ballot um double the time that you thought it would last. So that's that is something to celebrate. Um the other thing that is kind of different this time um is we're not only considering and looking at a a uh a levy that would produce revenue from real estate taxes but also an earning earned income tax and should that be something we consider. So this graph is that graph that you're used to seeing. Um it shows the bars. The revenue is the green bar. The yellow bar is the expenditures and the green line is your cash. The red line shows that 25% um of cash balance

005that would be necessary um of operating expenditure. So that's your board policy DA that um is shown on the graph as well. And you can see that in 2028 the green line your cash falls below the red line. Um and so that's why we're talking about um >> a levy ask a question um that we all know the answer to but I still feel asked. So, should the district, our community, our citizens here uh pass um a levy um in 2026, what would happen to that green line? So, um, some of the charts following are going to show exact pictures, but what happens is when you pass a levy, it so we're on a fiscal year, which is July to June, but levies and real estate taxes are paid on a calendar year. So, if

006you would pass a levy in November of 2026, when is the next tax bills? >> January of 27. So, January of 27 is the second half of your fiscal year 2027. So that first fiscal year after you pass always you only get half of the revenue in the preceding the next fiscal year. Um and then that following year, fiscal year 28, you would get 100%. And that's just because we're on a fiscal year. Real estate taxes are on a calendar year. So the year following election approval, you get half of the money and then that second year you'd get 100% and thereafter. >> But but your revenue would go up higher than your expenditure. So that would start the trend up of the green line. >> That is correct. >> You would see a bump

007and then another bump. >> Yes. And we're going to look at those exact numbers. Yes. Okay. So, uh, the financial parameters again, we've talked about that 3 and a half% um staying within that on an average over these five years. And you can see that the green bar shows total expenditure growth. This year, we're expecting an an actual negative growth. Um and then moving forward that averages out to a 2.9% total expenditures. So depending on what happens from year to year it is the financial parameters is based on the average the permanent improvement needs $4.1 million is what's being annually transferred to the PI fund and this is just a snapshot of one of the pages of that permanent improvement plan. um that was that was done last year. It's built through fiscal year 31,

008which is one year beyond the five-year forecast. Um the average need is $5.4 million annually. So the needs that we um have detailed in the capital projects plan um is more than what the transfer is. So that average need if you look at it and equate it to millillage it's right about 2 mills annually just for needs. >> This is not adding in any additional special projects or anything. This is just the needs of the district. This is just the needs. This is not phase two, phase three of the baseball, softball. This is not um >> additional playgrounds. Um no scene shops. So this is just the needs. >> So is the two mills the 4.1 or the 5.4? >> The 5.4 which equates to the two mills is just for needs. The other thing

009I wanted to point out here is when we look at um our permanent improvements in our facilities and um all of that the insurable value is over 300 million. 329 million is what we have insured for our property and contents. So now let's start talking about those options for additional revenue. In schools, we have two choices for revenues. We either have a real estate tax levy or an income tax. And you can um and with an income tax, you can ask for a traditional or an earned income tax. um and most districts have gone to that earned income tax. But if we're looking at um what we have here, which the only thing we have here is real estate taxes. We have we do not have an income tax. 6.5 mills is what was approved

010the last time you went to the voters. So that's what we've been assuming is 6.5 mills. if it's an a combo levy what it would look like and I am using 350,000 I do not have exactly what the average value of a home in Sycamore um is but when I did some Google searches it was right around 350 400,000 um I did reach out to Hamilton County Auditor's office this is not a value it's not something that they're tracking. So this is just >> Yeah. One thing that we looked at in the past was just how much per 100,000. >> So that's >> and your levy language will have that as well. >> Could start to do the math themselves. >> Yes. And what you should do too is have a levy calculator so that

011people can go out look at the value that's on the county auditor's website for their home because that's what you need, not what you um somebody comes in and appraises your home at, what you're paying taxes on, what's valued at the county auditor's website. So there's a link that you could put here um and people could go out and actually put their own value in. But just to show um an example, I'm using 350,000, which I think is a reasonable value to use in this district. Um to calculate how much a levy cost, the first thing you're going to do is you're going to come up with what's the taxable value, which is 35% of your value. and you're going to divide it by a th00and because one mill is $1 for every thousand dollar

012of value, taxable value. So you divide it by a,000, then you're going to multiply it by the number of mills, so 6 and a half mills. So for a $350,000 home, um the annual amount that the cost of a 6.5 mil levy would be would be just under $800. And so that's how you you come up with the cost. Now again, the language on the um a levy the ballot would actually be only looking at a h 100,000 per h 100,000. Um this would generate for the district a little under $19 million annually, 18.7 million. Again, we talked about you might want to look at a split between operating and PI so that you can have dedicated funds going into a PI levy. Um, we talked about whether that's two or two and a half

013mills for PI. It looks like it's going to be more like towards that 2 and a half mills if you want to do something beyond needs. Um and and then you're operating um the collections again like we talked about Mrs. Bidder you asked that question you know what would happen after it's approved that first year which would be fiscal year 27 you'd get half of the money then that following year you'd get the full amount. So, now we're going to look at what would it look like if um the option was an income tax, an earned income tax. So, just to be clear, an earned income tax excludes interest, dividends, capital gains, pensions, disabilities, etc. And I did put a link on this presentation and anybody can go there and it links directly to a

014very detailed report that explained in our income tax for anyone who's interested. But this is different than a municipal income tax. This is based on residents in income, earned income. Whereas a municipal income tax is based on where you work, where you're earning your money. So this would just be on our residents no matter where they work. >> Um the total annual revenue predicted is$19 million. Although I know Brody talked to the treasurer at Kings today and the information that you get from the Ohio Department of Taxation is not as timely as you would like. So the 19 million is what we've gotten from them right now. When you request that it's going to be a little different because it's based on I think it was based on like 2023 information. So, I'm only going

015to assume that that's going to be more. So, I believe this is on the conservative side. The delayed collections. This is another part that um we're still learning about, but based on um a collection sheet that I got from the Department of Taxation, we believe this is the way it would work. So, if you passed an income tax in calendar year 2026, you would start collecting in 2027. In fiscal year 2027, you would get about 20% of what that annual amount, that 19 million would be. So, that first year, you would get 4 million. The second year you would get 77%. So, you get further along. But it would take the third fiscal year before you would start receiving 100% of that money. Now the other >> residents paying the full amount and we're only

016getting 20%. >> Well, it it is the way that because you file your taxes, you know, you earn that money and then you file those taxes, you know, a year after that happens. But yes, I'm not sure on how all of this works. There's way more for us to understand, but districts that we have spoken to as well say the delayed collections on this happen a little bit. They're just later than what you see with a real estate. >> Look at that. We'll just have to take that into account. >> That's correct. >> Cash the category. >> You would. But I think what you're going to see here is even with that delayed collection, it's you're still going to be okay. It's going to be tighter, but you would still be okay. Um, just for

017comparison, about a third of Ohio school districts have either a traditional or an earned income tax. So, not everybody has one, but more and more school districts are thinking about it. uh local districts around us who have an income tax. We just put those districts there in case you would want to talk to any of them. Um like I mentioned, I know Brody's already talked to Kings and I I believe Chad has been talking to their superintendent as well and plans to do even more of that. So >> just it is important to note also that when talking to Kings today, that is a continuing earned income tax. It's not for a certain period of time. So there's and I would think that that's an option to explore as well as that continuing >> yes

018earned income tax and as I assume most school districts uh earned income taxes are a continuing period >> meaning it increases over time. >> It does and you would not have to renew it. Some school districts their income tax is for a specified period of time. So they would put it on for like five years, 10 years, and then you'd have to go back and renew it. And what Brody is mentioning is Kings, theirs is not something that they have to go back to the voters and renew on a continuous basis. It's a continuing levy. So they voted it in once, that's all they have to do. >> So for our residents that already live in McGomery, Julia, that claim some kind of city tax. H that through the same collection agency or is this

019going to have to be they're going to have to file another form and do a whole another filing and payments? >> I believe and we're learning more but I believe there is a different form that they would have to complete for the school district income tax. But as far as paying it, like with our payroll um department, like we withhold those taxes and pay the school districts. So if we have um residents of Kings, which we do, who work here in our school district, there's a payroll deduction. We deduct that for them and send it to Kings on their behalf. I do believe though when they file their taxes there there is some sort of an additional form. >> Yeah. So so it's going to work. Um so the employer is responsible for setting up

020that deduction and doing their due diligence, but it but it is also on the on the employees to say if they're aware that they have an income tax in the school district that they live in and it's on them to notify the um employer. But when you file your taxes, the Department of Taxation, if you're not pay if you if you don't show on your um tax return that you've paid uh that based on your W2 because it's going to be on your W2, then the Department of Taxation would then in essence collect that at that point in time. And that's when we would we would see that. And for uh self-employment, uh that's how that would work as well. But right now the school district uh income taxes all through the department of taxation

021those those um uh city of blue ash mgomery those are collected by us and we actually remit them directly to those entities the school district income tax we we send it uh through through the department of taxation and then they disperse it uh to the to the districts. So, so it does and and that could be for some delayed um collection reasons as well if the self-employment portion there's no employer that's making those deductions. So, it may take until they're, you know, they're actually supposed to file their returns whether it be quarterly or at the end of the year. Mhm. >> If once [clears throat] we would pass an earned income tax, the property tax goes away. >> Oh, >> you'd have a combination. So, you would still be collecting on the millage that you

022have currently and then you you basically would just be diversifying your revenue stream. So you would have income tax and real estate tax because right now in the state of Ohio, school districts have to collect at least 20 mills from real estate. So no matter what you do on the real estate side, if you if you don't put another tax on, that can only go down to 20 current law. Um and then you would have the income tax which is a side revenue stream. >> So when legislators talk about maybe you need to consider an earned income tax because they want to eliminate property tax. How is this really eliminating property tax? Well, I think that so let's talk about the elimination of property tax. So, we've got a few things going on. There's petitions

023that are being circulated throughout the state of Ohio, not by our legislators, but by some groups that do want to eliminate property taxes all together. um that that we believe has a really good chance of being on the ballot November of 2026, the same time you're considering being on the ballot. So, a statewide ballot initiative to eliminate property taxes could be on the ballot in November of 2026. If that happens, then there's going to have to be a whole other plan on how to replace those revenues. Um, which impacts not just school districts, but municipalities, counties, townships, everybody. Um, boards of health, parks, libraries, everybody. >> And that's be I just want to because we've had this conversation before in business advisory council. So, I just want to say this. That's because this wouldn't cover

024it. This would only cover like less than 20% of the money that we would need to fund this district. Yeah. Keep away the property taxes. It's a totally different scenario. This this version of what we're doing now wouldn't cover the cost even wouldn't even come close. >> It would not. It's just for the additional amount that we need to keep operating. It's just helping us get some additional money. Additional money. And in addition, it's police, it's fire, it's libraries, >> work collector, >> it's everyone that would be impacted, not just public schools. >> Yes. So, if we went on the ballot >> for a property tax, >> um, how we typically done that, and then at that same night, >> Uhhuh. >> we find out >> Uhhuh. that the elimination of property tax >> request

025has gone through. >> We will have we're back to the drawing board or >> it's a really crazy scenario, isn't it? Because if let's say you your voters approve a levy, a real estate tax, >> Yeah. But then the state says do away with property taxes. Wow. How how does that, you know, have you just now approved something that legally you can't collect on? Which is another reason why I think you should really consider the income tax option. But I also think it's not really clear because we've heard I've heard varying viewpoints of whether or not it is even legal and they will be tied up in court for numerous years of whether or not they can actually just vote and repeal everything that has been taxed and voted in. I don't know that it's

026legal to just wipe it all away and have no property tax. What I think what we heard from our one of our legislators was diversify your revenue stream >> and essentially I think his well his confidence was you'll have what you have but this will be going forward no property tax but that I I know that can change at a moment's notice but >> repeat that and elaborate on that so because I think it's important for the board to hear that too. So you're saying the re explain again why you think we should consider the income tax. Why how does that help us if they eliminate property tax? >> If they eliminate property taxes then you would have at least 1% earned income tax that could not be touched. That would be if it was

027approved that revenue stream comes into you and it's not affected by the whole property tax debacle if you will >> about the 20 I mean we would have >> the 20 the additional mills that you're collecting on which is almost 30 in total that would be the piece that you would have to worry about which some of this is attached to debt. So to Chad's point, I the whole the attorneys are going to be very busy if something like that happens because you have debt that's associated with >> a real estate tax. >> Hope is from the what you said from the legislators is that they would if that were to occur, they wouldn't touch what's already there. It would just be any new any new taxes that came. >> Don't know. We don't know.

028I I do think it's fair though to say that >> the direction we're getting is there going to be some kind of property tax report. >> Yes. Which we've seen four bills that are sitting on the governor's desk right now that >> something is going to happen. >> Yes. >> We should try to divers diversify. >> I think you should consider it. Absolutely. Um because I don't think this is away. Um so that's the reason why we're bringing it before you to take a look at. So when we take a look at what what are our operating needs and this is separating the PI but if we just look at operating and what are those needs when you take operating revenues versus operating expenditures how much more are we spending than we're bringing in over

029that forecasted period you can see that this year it's about $1.5 million but it grows to 14.5 5 million by that fifth year. So if we look at okay, is it a um a levy like we're used to or an earned income tax? I put someulations on here and Brody and I have a call into bond counsel, which is attorneys that help us with um levy language and making sure that we have all of that as correct as as we can. But one of the questions we have is we've talked about a combination levy that would say this many mills for operating and this many mills for PI. Can you do something similar with an earned income tax where you say a portion of this I'm making this up 25% will be dedicated to permanent

030improvement. we have that question to ask to find out. But for purposes of of this tonight, what we've done is we've just said, okay, if we said four mills, um, so if it's a 6.5 mil levy, four mills equates to about 62% of that levy ask for operations. Um, and 38% towards PI. So all I did is I took the 62% of the total revenue that would come in. I also looked at if we go back to when that because remember it's delayed when you receive it. So if I put that delayed collection percentage in there, what would it look like with a real estate tax levy versus an earned income tax levy? And where would where would you be? you would still even with delayed collections, you'd still be okay. And you can see

031that the the revenue piece of this is not that far off. So, we did have a great question the other night at sack regards to this when we were talking about it about why why why do we want to designate how much goes to PI and how much goes to operating like why not just go for operating and just continuing to do the transfer as we set up and it's and because it's kind of a the opinion that it's nice to designate those funds towards PI so that you know this is just strictly designated towards the PI um rather than it all into a or general fund and having to do that transfer every year >> and then it would be an annual decision by every board moving forward on what that amount is. It's

032just a different way of looking at it. >> Just go into a reserve for future permanent. >> Correct. >> So that could actually change each year. I'm going to >> if you didn't have a designation, let's say that um we find out from the attorneys that no, you can't designate a portion of the earned income tax to go into FI fund that it's all going to be 1%. It goes into your general fund and then you are going to transfer that money. Um if it's not designated, it's up to the board to do that transfer every year and whatever is decided. Yeah. I was talking about though if it's a real estate tax and and >> you have a designated PI then it has to stay. >> That is correct. >> Yes. >> And you

033can kind of hear the power of it all staying and operating is the board has the decision- making power. Where you lose is you do not have a dedicated fund for your bricks and mortar and the things that you have to upkeep. So >> yeah, >> you kind of have the flexibility and fluidity versus >> do you want to have a dedicated fund and that's >> that's a decision- making point, >> right? >> But we but we do have I mean we still budget for it every year and we currently we still it might not be done like that on a levy but we do it >> and we've been doing it. >> We say 4.1 million for PI every year we designate it. We require the treasur to do that. our we work with

034our operations team and make that happen. That's what the board has has done. >> But I think what the one one of the things that I see is different is if you don't spend that money, you can have money for projects as they come along that that's sitting in reserves for for phase two or for a senior because now if if we do that that comes strictly out of our operating total operating budget for the year. So, I agree. We're very fluid with it and you can vote that, but if you want to do something special above and beyond, >> no funds for that. >> I do think Mrs. Bidder makes a good point that this is another celebratory point. Um, there I've worked in districts where they don't dedicate the funds and districts fall

035apart. Mhm. >> This board, I've been here 14 years and all 14 years there have been dedicated funds to materials, supplies, um, you know, really upkeep of our facilities and that's why our facilities are in a sustainable model. Like we're not seeing our buildings falling apart after 25, 30 years. That really shouldn't be happening. And if you are, it means you're not upkeeping your assets. And I think I don't I think I'm thinking Mr. Buren may have said it at the sack meeting, but he [clears throat] threw out a number I think of our roofing like just total roof cost replacement and it was an unreal number. >> I mean just roof square square feet. We had to replace them all one time. It was >> through FY31 was like 6.6 or 6.8. >> That's

036what we have planned. That's probably yeah that's just to do what we have planned. I think the total value is like >> 30 plus million. I mean it's it's unreal. >> Mrs. Logan but looking at this so four years though he would be back on the ballot. There would be a need to be back on the ballot under this scenario. >> Well the cash itself though you are growing the cash each year but you would be able to sustain it through through at least that five years. So, I know that we had talked about we want to make at least a five-year commitment and that would do it. Yes. >> You don't have to make a commitment is what you're I thought I heard you say that you don't have to put a time limit

037on. So on on the income tax though or the real estate tax um you would want I believe you would want to do like you've done in the past where you would say we believe that this request would give us the additional revenue for operations before we'd have to come back for >> five years. I mean it's nothing legal but it's our >> it's our word that you know we're going to stretch this five. So you're saying, just so I understand, you're saying if we did the earned income tax, we would say we would give a time parameter. We would say five years. >> I Yeah, I think one >> I think with either one of these, I think we have to look at a scenario so that we can make a commitment to our

038community that we feel confident it'll be a 5year before we're back on the >> this last this fall. >> But either way, the operating one would I mean most Yeah, we would have to say we would do that because that's what we do. we scenarios would >> give you that. >> But if we wanted I guess my real question then is for the earn income tax you have to say it on the ballot that it's for 5 years or you >> you can say like Mr. Buren mentioned you can say it's a continuing period of time. >> Okay. >> Yeah. We wouldn't want we wouldn't want to put a limit. >> No. >> I would never suggest that. Um >> just like all of our all of the levies we've had are all continual election.

039Yes. >> We don't Yeah. >> Yeah. I just wanted to make sure Never done one. That's just >> so >> the the buildings. >> Yes. The buildings are tied to debt and they expire when your debt Yeah. >> is finished. >> So levy considerations and timing if you're looking at a November um election. There's a 100 day deadline which depending on whether you're doing an income tax or a property tax ask. You're either going to file things with your county auditor or with the state tax commission commissioner. And then in n in 90 days before the ballot, so August 7th of 2026, you would have to file everything, all of the documents with the county board of elections to make sure that you're on the ballot. I believe and we we've done this in the

040past and I would be highly I would highly recommend that if we're going to go on the ballot prior to school being out the board adopts a resolution in May because once the community disappears for the summer >> yeah you know this it just doesn't interest they lose interest. So I think we need to >> well then it looks like >> because then you'll also have time to get the levy committee together and all that. So I think although we have until July, I I think we really need to make a decision probably February, March if we're going to do this >> and then make a resolution probably April, May. >> Yeah, that timeline seems reasonable because I agree you would not want to wait until that that last minute. The next slide I I

041thought it was important for you to have your election history. Um, and there's only, and I will say this is another celebration, there's only one defeat on this sheet, and that was over 20 years ago. So, the last operations levy in 2016 passed by 61%. um you have a a community um which loves its schools and so um I have no reason to believe that you would not be able to be successful. Um the story is a good story. You it's been it'll be 10 years. Um it's a reasonable ask. I think you have a good story to tell. The next sheet um is just showing you the tax rates. This is our total tax rates if you want to see what's been voted in um and our inside millage versus what we're collecting which

042is a little over 25 mills for operations. Then with the bond levies that takes us up to um a little under 29 mills. The chart to the right are those comparable school districts that we determined through the negotiations process actually what are those school districts that we mostly compare ourselves to in the region. So you can see that our millage rate is below the average and we are just above Indian Hill when you look at all of those school districts. And then the next page, I wanted to include the chart for all Hamilton County schools. You can see where we fall. Um, we're well below the average there. And um, not not even in the middle. We're on the low end when it comes to the millage rates for our residents. So, it's an affordable

043place to live when when it comes to the millage rates. legislative concerns. Um, we've talked about this, but as far as Sycamore goes, the things that are will impact us happening on a state level really is the limited increase in revenue that you can receive from inside millillage. So, if you go back to that chart before and you see that how many mills do we get for inside millillage? 4.63 63 mills. Those 4.63 mills currently if your um valuation goes up by 24% you collect the increase the full 24% on those mills. What will happen now if the governor signs the legislation? Those 4.63 mills will be limited to inflation. So, more like 3%, no matter what the valuation increases in our school district, we will be held to an inflationary rate, but still get

044some growth, but it'll be capped. The other part that impacts us um is the authority of the county budget commission. um they're expanding that authority um and we'll take away as school boards authority on what you can and can't say on how you want to spend your money. Um I will say that is only on millage rates. So again, if you're thinking about an income tax, your county budget commission has nothing to say on an income tax. So, they can't come to you and say, "You your u balances are excessive or you know your five-year forecast, we believe you're spending too much money, so we're going to cut your millage rate." They have no control over that income tax. And I'm not saying that Hamilton County would do that, but um it is more um

045ability. they are getting more ability um to do that and let's see and then next steps [laughter] community engagement and um chat I put facts here because that's that's all we can discuss what are the facts um we have a draft on the financial perspectus a draft on the quality profile which will complement each other which will help with that community engagement and telling that story. I put listening sessions and then just whenever wherever people gather, you just need to be ready to to share that story and then finalize your levy request. whenever you determine that's the best time to do that and continue the engagement questions and we're >> anyative the financial um perspective and the policy profiles. So the goal is for the um the financial prospectus um would be ready to be

046mailed out first part of January and I'm looking at Jessica I believe the quality profile is right around that same time. >> It's close. >> Okay. >> Jenny Roie Chad and I will have to collaborate on how I'm gonna put that out to make sure that it's cohesive. Yes, >> but I think the same graphic designers both probably naturally. But yes, it's almost done. >> It's just now out rest of the week. So wait a little bit. >> Any other questions? You're welcome. >> I just I would recommend probably on an organizational meeting in January. be set in dates um to to really make this uh you know to put the the financial retreat or workshops onto our board calendar in January and February so that we can start to have this conversation and make

047a decision on which route we're going and when we're going to do it. We just want to make sure we don't wait too long. >> I would suggest too that they feed work sessions or retreats, whatever. But um like today being able to start at 5:30 >> Yeah. >> is very helpful. You know, the later it gets in the evening. >> Yes. >> Not quite as sharp. >> But uh if we can get those on the calendar, that would be great. >> All right. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> You >> All right. Can I get a motion and a second to enter into executive session to consider the employment compensation dismissal or discipline of a public employee per Ohio revised code 121.22G1 and to prepare for conduct or review negotiations or bargaining

048sessions with the public employees concerning their compensation or other terms and conditions of their employment. Yeah. >> Um, that hold on. Sorry, everyone. >> That's what my sheet says, >> but I have to make sure I'm >> That's it. >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Balot, for your motion. Thank you, Mr. Harris, for your second. Mrs. Logan, please call the role. >> Mr. Balant, >> I. >> Mr. Harris, >> I. >> Dr. James, hi. >> Dr. Steager, >> hi. >> Mrs. Spitter, >> I. We will now enter into executive session and we will come back into public session at 7 pm. Please rise for the >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice

049for all. At the beginning of each meeting, we like to go over our district's mission and vision. Our mission is to create a culture of academic excellence through inclusive and innovative learning opportunities for the whole child. And our vision is to empower all learners to reach their full potential in a globally competitive world. Can I please get a motion and a second to amend the agenda to approve approval and appointment of Brody Buren as interim treasurer and corresponding employment contract for the approval of an extension of Brody Buren's assistant treasurer contract for two years starting August 1st 2026 and for the approval of an amendment to the superintendent's employment contract. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Thank you Dr. Steer for your motion. Thank you, Dr. James, for your second. Mrs. Logan, please call the

050role. >> Dr. Seager, >> I. >> Dr. James, >> hi. >> Mr. Balant, >> hi. >> Mr. Harris, >> hi. >> Mrs. Bidder, >> I. >> Can I please get a motion and a second for the approval of the agenda? >> So moved. Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Balot, for your motion. Thank you, Mr. Harris, for your second. Mrs. Logan, please call the role. >> Mr. Balant, >> hi. >> Mr. Harris, >> I. >> Dr. James, >> hi. >> Dr. Stagger. >> Hi, >> Mrs. [clears throat] Bidder. I Can I please get a motion and a second for the approval of the minutes? >> Second. >> Thank you, Dr. James, for your motion. Thank you, Dr. Steer, for your second. Before we do I have to Yeah, before we start, I just wanted to um

051say that there is a part of the meeting minutes where um we did not add your um statement, Mrs. Logan, that you gave. I would like that to be added >> to the meeting minutes. >> I think that was an important message that you shared. >> I would like to add that please. >> Yeah, I'll Mrs. Logan, please call the role. >> Dr. James, I >> Dr. Stagger, >> hi. >> Mr. Ballot, >> hi. >> Mr. Harris, >> hi. >> Mrs. Bitter, >> Mrs. >> Hi, [laughter] sorry. Sorry. Okay. Um, can I please get a motion and a second >> here? So I just do this one for the approval and appointment of Brody Buren as interim treasurer and cor and his corresponding employment contract. >> So moved second. >> Thank you Mr. Balant for

052your motion. Thank you Mr. Harris for your second. Mrs. Logan, please call the role. >> Mr. Balot, >> I. >> Mr. Harris, >> I. >> Dr. James, >> hi. >> Dr. Steager, >> hi. >> Mrs. Bidder, >> I. Can I please get a motion and a second for the approval of extension of the extension of Brody Buren's assistant treasurer contract for two years starting on August 1st, 2026. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Thank you, Dr. Steer, for your motion. Thank you, Mr. Valent. Mrs. Logan, please call the role. >> Dr. Stager, >> I. >> Mr. Balant, >> I. >> Mr. Harris, >> I. >> Dr. James, >> I. >> Mrs. Bidder, >> I. Can I please get a motion and a second for the approval of the amendment to the superintendent's employment contract? >>

053So moved. Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Harris, for your motion. And thank you, Mr. Ballot, for your second. Mrs. Logan, please call the role. >> Mr. Harris, >> I. >> Mr. Balant, >> hi. >> Dr. James, >> hi. >> Dr. Seager, >> hi. >> Mrs. Bidder, >> I. The next item on the agenda is why is a very important part of our evening. Um, we have a commendation for Michael Miller, our transportation director. >> We stand here >> Over here would be great. >> This is just there's a the camera is kind of in the middle. So, >> good evening, Sycamore School Board and all the members of Sycamore Sycamore School family. My name is Karen Brownley. I'm your state representative for the great 28 uh which includes Sycamore, Princeton. It includes Deer Park, much

054of Loveland, and Wintonwood school districts. I have a lot of love to go around to all of the schools, but I am a little bit biased because I'm a parent, a very proud parent of three Sycamore graduates. So to share a very quick snapshot about myself, my background is as a mental health therapist with kids and families mostly in schools and um I'm also a graduate of public schools and I love public schools. I think they're the cornerstone of democracy. I will always fight for public schools to do what's best for our community, for our parents, for our kids, and for the people who work in the schools. So, thank you guys for all of the work that you do. And enough about me. On to Mr. Miller. It's my great honor tonight to present

055this commendation to Mr. Michael Miller on being named, this is a bit of a mouthful, so I'm going to have to read this. The 2025 outstanding transportation director of the year by the Ohio Association of School Business Officials, Foundation for School Business Management. We're all very proud of your work and we appreciate your efforts to create such a wonderful transportation department that goes above and beyond to ensure the health, the safety, and the timeliness of our students. I have quite a bit of experience over the years with Sycamore Schools um and the transportation department. So, I want to personally thank you for your leadership in it. And this is where I'm going to go go a little bit off script if it's okay with you. Sycamore school transportation workers, they don't just get kids to

056and from. They care for the kids. They comfort parents when we put our little kindergarteners on that first bus going off to school. And they support them in so many ways, including as a role model on how to behave in a public setting, right? And how to act towards one another. And so your department really does go above and beyond to help our community. I have a few examples. One is of course innovating and making sure you guys communicate out to the parents. When our kids come home late, we worry. We don't know there's a traffic accident, but you guys do. So letting us know and making sure that our community is informed is really it's really incredible. Um the second the the last two are very personal examples. Um as the parent sometimes our

057kids you know forget stuff and through one of your workers spent many phone conversations and many searches on a bus when my child came home from a track meet extremely late at night. The phone slipped out of the pocket. It wedged between the seat wall of the bus and that worker took the time and the energy to make sure my kid got their phone back because it was a very expensive loss for my child to have to cover and they were really scared [laughter] because I wasn't going to pay for it. The the last example I have and I'm sure you guys I know you will remember this very well. It was recent where you worked with the administration to get a team to go to Chicago to pick up a bunch of kids who

058got rerouted on their planes from the Spanish trip. And that was an incredible testament not only to your work but to the work of the entire Sycamore community. Um I was absolutely blown away by that. So thank you so much there. I know there are so many more examples out there of sort of this this heroism big and small um by the transportation department at Sycamore. And with that, it's my great privilege to present this commendation to Mr. Miller for being such an important part of the Sycamore community, even though most of your work is unsung. So, go Waves. Yeah, this is this is amazing. This is uh my as everybody here should or knows this is my 37th year in public education and I have spent 12 of those 37 years at Sickum and

059could not even imagine doing it anywhere else. I sincerely thank uh Superintendent Lewis, members of the board of education, Mr. Level um for the I for once in my life as Chad will probably tell you that never happens very much. Thank you. >> Like I'd like to add real briefly. Um I have a lot of experience riding Sycamore buses. Uh, in my 30 plus years in the district, I was probably on a school bus twice a week at least, taking kids to different events and everything. And I don't know if people appreciate the professionalism of our bus drivers. The they appreciate the effort that our bus drivers put into it. Um, you know, there have been times where we didn't have enough bus drivers and, you know, and we've got a field trip coming to

060make sure that we got there. Uh, Mike drove one of our buses one day. um you know uh all the boys in maintenance were out driving buses one day and picking kids up and everything like that and making sure kids got to where they needed to be and you just don't see that and I think that's a testament to your work and that's a testament to their work ethic that they're that committed to making sure our district and our people get to where they need to go. So congratulations. A welldeserved honor there. >> Thank you. Can I add one thing? When you talk, we [clears throat] talk about our mechanics are out and my office staff is out. We are under a nationwide school bus driver shortage >> and that's no secret. Um and desperate

061times. I don't want to say call for desperate measures, but I and I appreciate this so much, but this goes to this includes education. um one particular member who um is a he's a retired teacher, but he also claims to volunteer to coach. He is also a band certified driver. So, there were a few times last school year where I called on Mr. Harris because the student that I needed picked up happened to be in the vicinity of where he is currently employed. So he would go get that student form, take that student to school, he would end his school day, he would go back, pick up that student, and bring the van back. That is a true testament of the team that goes on in single. and Representative Brownley, thank you for being here

062and taking time out of your important schedule to come to a schoolboard meeting and recognize really one of our unsung heroes that I you're right, his efforts don't get recognized all the all the time, every day except for by people that are interacting with him every single day. So for you to take time out of your schedule with all the things that we know are going on at the state level, we appreciate you and we appreciate you as a community member and as a parent, but also for you fighting for public schools. So thank you for that. >> Right, we're going to have some more recognition this evening to our to our fellow board member Dr. Lynn Seager and to our treasur and CFO Jenny Logan. Yeah, I just uh I think anytime that we

063have a team member departing us and departing us over here as well um you know we we like to make sure that we show our gratitude um to both of you and you both have made an impact on all of us as leaders but also on this district and you know that that legacy will be felt and um we appreciate Dr. Steer, your service, because I think people do not realize the sacrifices that people make to join a school board. Um, and the amount of community pressure and input and feedback that you get regardless if you ask for it or not. So, um, I always appreciate your humility, your cander, um, your ability to sometimes just make us laugh when things feel heavy. Um, and and we need that sometimes. So, I I I know

064that we will u remember that. Um, Mrs. Logan, you've you've really come in and helped us um be more efficient, more effective, better at our jobs. You've taught us all a lot. You've taught us all about professionalism. And um certainly Brody would not Mr. Buren, sorry, Mr. Buren wouldn't be ready for the position that he's stepping into without your guidance. and I'm sure he's very thankful every day that he came here to learn um from someone that is a state renowned treasurer. So um I'm glad to know that you won't be leaving the profession that you'll still be connecting with other treasures and potentially stepping in and training new treasures because Mr. Miller just like a nationwide bus short transportation shortage we have a treasure shortage that people are not stepping up to do that

065role. So, I can't think of anybody better to train those people um than you. So, >> I'll certainly let any board members speak and then we may or may not have a nice gift for both of >> I would just I I would like to say that um both of you have been um very um important colleagues and I will not be saying goodbye to you. I will be reaching out and talking with you and asking you questions because sitting here in this board um I've needed both of you um as a colleague, as a friend and um you will be missed by me for sure. There will be a void. So, thank you for everything. Thank you for your hard work, your professionalism, your grace. Thank you. Sorry. Just throw in one of them.

066>> I don't know why they're >> Oh boy. I don't know why. >> I thought you give them a ring. My goodness. >> Yeah, they wanted a ring. Gosh. >> You know those rings. >> Oh my goodness. Holy schmolley. I can't even pick it up. It's so big. Are we >> Oh, do you want to read it to you then? >> Says Sycamore Community Schools logo. It says, "Presented to Dr. Lynn Steer in appreciation of your dedicated service and leadership on the Sycamore Community Schools Board of Education 2021 through 2025." Thank >> very I might have I might have some maybe some wine glass. >> There is >> beverage. There is >> beverage. >> See? >> Oh, isn't that nice? >> That's so Oh, that's nice. >> Sycamore. >> A water decanter. >> Water. >>

067Only for water. >> You could have sparkling water. Still water. >> Sparkling water. >> Really? >> Any kind of water you like. >> Yeah. >> Very nice. >> I just don't want to break anytime. >> Oh, and has my initial >> so nobody's allowed to steal the >> That's right. >> know whose it is. >> That's very nice. >> Mr. Logan, keep your hands off. So, I have a quick question. I actually wrote something. Can I read it now? >> Sure. >> Okay, cool. >> Right. So, I still write on paper and pencil, you know, so those of you who don't know me, I also type it up after I write it on, you know, in my notebook. So, that's just kind of how I like to operate. So, I'll read it off the paper

068because that's more my speed right now. Okay. Tonight marks my last official meeting as a as a member of the Sik Morb School board. I want to take a moment to say thank you as evidenced by my mercy me to the community for trusting me in this role. Over the past several years, I have gotten to know many people in our community and in the district. It has been an honor. I am fortunate to have started this journey with you, Sarah Bidder, someone who I did not know prior to my time on the board and someone who I now consider a friend. I have great respect for her and the district is lucky to have her. So, thank you Sarah. To Jenny Logan, thank you for coming out of retirement to join our district. As

069we depart at the same time, I'm grateful that our paths have crossed and I wish you much happiness on your next adventure. Recently, I have been reflecting on my own education. And for those of you who don't know, it's a lot of time since I have spent decades as a student, an educator, and a researcher. I would like to touch on the idea that education is made up in the moments between state requirements and tests. teacher who is has the class complete a special project like my own second grade teacher who has learned how to bake bread. The friends who give you hugs when they cheer you on or lift you up when they when you need support. The administrators who fully embrace spirit days and welcome you with us a warm smile. I know

070some of you love those pajama days out there. Um and these are the memories that we as students carry with us for a lifetime. Keep focusing on the in between moments and know that you have made a difference and have had an impact on those around you. Embrace the arts and humanities. Embrace our visual and performing arts. Embrace our foreign language programs. Embrace our libraries and reading nooks. Igniting the spark of enthusiasm for learning is priceless. So, thank you all, Sycamore community. >> Thank you. >> Great. Mrs. Logan, do we have any public participation this evening? >> No one signed up for public participation um this evening. Okay, >> we will move into our discussion of policy. >> Yay. >> First read. >> It's very exciting as usual. Thank you. >> It is exciting. Don't

071ever downplay it. >> Seeing how exciting it is. >> Yes. Um so we're going to start off. I have a couple things on here. The first one um is a first read of three NEOLA policies. Um there's actually five total policies in this collection that I'm going to speak about. Um it's the employment contract language in Niola. So 51 or 1520 is employment of administrators. 4120 it's the employment of classified staff. 4124 is employment contract. There's also some 3000s professional staff contract as well. The reason those aren't listed right there is because the 3000s have already come for a first read and a second read. Um, the reason that I'm putting these up here for a first read and subsequently will come for a second read for the board is because in reflection as we

072start to head into the spring, um, and I was thinking about the hiring season and knowing that our transition with these policies would come in June, it actually made much more sense to me that we would bring these policies forward and have them actually set in place um, prior to the hiring season and issuing of contracts. That way we're not issuing contracts this year under or old board policy. Um they would be issued under the new policy. And so um similar to some of the other Nola policies that we've brought forward sooner than the mass adoption, I'm bringing these forward for a first read um for the board and the community tonight and I'll bring those back at the next meeting in January for a second read. Any questions about that? >> So one of

073the things I said to Mr. level during the meeting was um these policies get rid of my annoying questions that I've asked over time about some of the questions I had about employment of people and certification etc etc. All the annoying questions you guys know I've asked about things they're answered in these policies so I was very happy with them >> and I let Dr. Seager, know there's no annoying questions. They're actually all really good questions. And um you're absolutely right. And one of the things that if you were to pull up the OSBA policies, the nola policies, there's nothing in the Neola policies that is unique. It just really defines Ohio Revised Code and what we can and can't do. The other thing that's really important to understand and remember is that our collective

074bargaining agreements actually drive our contract status, meaning how we issue contracts. So the policies themselves are just really formatted in Ohio revised code, but we do lean on our collective bargaining agreements to actually look at how we're issuing our contracts. So I guess my you kind of answered the question that I was going to ask um you know making sure that um like what was the major difference between these and OSBA I can see that they they they're very explicit in what they say you need to >> Y >> um but so when you have these types of policies are you saying that they have to be Neiola looks at our collective bargaining agreement and then says okay they're okay or they do that. >> Yeah, great great question. Good clarification. So, you'll notice on

075a lot of Neola policies that um they the Neola policy at the very bottom of it might delineate and say that you basically defer to the collective bargain agreement for anything that would change. The collective bargain agreement language supersedes board policy. Um and so it obviously should follow higher vice code and it does, but how that operates and how that happens might be different. Uh, for instance, um, our collective bargaining agreement for our classified staff says that we do not issue contracts. And so that would supersede our ability to actually give a formal contract to them. A paper pencil like here's a contract. Um, so that's just an operational procedure how we do, but we issue contracts to our exempt administrative and certified teachers. >> And don't ask me why. I don't know. I mean,

076does are there I guess in general though, are there any areas of this policy that really are not relevant because the collective bargaining agreement would undo it? >> No. >> I mean, is there anything? >> There is not. [clears throat] >> So, it's pretty >> it is >> pretty accurate. >> Yep. >> And then also >> where it says, I'm sorry, Mr. Lewis, I'm just going to pull this one out where it says the superintendent shall prepare administrative guidelines. >> Just know that Neil is on it with the um policy committee. >> Yeah, >> do that. It's not You don't have to create the administrative guidelines. >> We'll do that on his behalf. >> Thank you. >> Yes. Yes. [laughter] >> You're going to do that over the winter break, right? >> Um that is

077good point to bring up. Um as we work through the transition with Neiola, we focus on all the policies first. get those in place, get those adopted, and then subsequently we're going to be working on those administrative guidelines as well. >> And can you remind the board and and again, I believe I know the answer to this question, but we don't have to approve the guidelines, right? >> That's correct. >> That's the board policy. >> That's correct. You're absolutely right. Yeah. >> But if I wanted to look at the board guid excuse me about the guidelines, I would just eventually just go online and I can anyone can find the guidelines and vote policy. So the way it will work is on the board doc site how the community or you all would go get

078board policy you would select the board policy from the upper lefthand corner there'll be a toggle that will say policy admin guidelines and you just select those so any community member would be able to see what is the guideline how does that actually operate within the system >> one quick question um with the student handbook is there going to be time for the adoption of the new policies to go into the student handbook or partially >> Miss Lawson do you want to speak >> I'm happy to speak it is a tricky timeline So I think um probably removing specific reference to specific old policy from our handbooks will be important while still noting to our families in the handbooks in general where they go to find policy on our website >> will probably be what's

079important in this interesting transition year >> because the timeline's tight and the public didn't realize that >> y >> it's very tight. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Good question. I do want to um as we're talking about this first read here and because we're moving these policies forward outside of the transition timeline, there was a um we recently created a web page, a landing page for policy. So if you were on our Sycamore web page um previously, you would click board policy and it would take you to board docs. One of the things that we were trying to navigate and figure out is we've adopted these niola policies. um how do we make that clear for families so that they can see those and then also delineate that um in the event that there

080is a competing um policy between OSBA and NEOLA that the NEOLA policies that have been adopted will take precedent. And so what we did was we created a new web page and when you go to that web page um it actually outlines um the intent of policy, what is policy and then also has a disclaimer to what I just said. Um, and then at the bottom, um, it's going to list one by one the adopted NEOLA policies that you all have adopted. And then I've created a folder and a link that you can click on and people can access those policies by PDF. Um, it also has a button there obviously to take you to the regular policies. Um, but the intent with that was to be as transparent as we can with our community

081about here are those policies that have been adopted that might not be in congruence with the policies that are actually in the policy manual. um we just have to get to June. That's what I keep saying. If we can get to June, um then everything will be transitioned over to that. Um if there and so the next piece of this obviously there's a first read of the 4,000s and a second read of the 6000s. Um the the the 4000s are our classified um policies. Um the 6000s are second read of our finance policies. Um, as you remember, we kind of um we accelerated those a bit to get those in before Miss Logan um left here um Sycamore, but being able to give her an opportunity to answer any questions. Um not that Mr. Buren

082couldn't do that, but I know Miss uh Miss Logan has sat through a lot of those meetings with us to transition those. Um but I I I just wanted to present those to you. I'm not going to go through them all, but I also just wanted to ask you as well. This is kind of a temperature check, amid policy transition. How's it going? Um, do you feel like you're getting the information that you need? Um, could I be doing something different? My team be doing something different um to present the policies. Um, open to feedback, open to changing how we're doing things. I just want to make sure that we're all feeling um confident and comfortable as we keep this work moving. I know that I tend to like a quick pace to try to

083keep this stuff going, but I also recognize that um policy work is the board's work and so I want to make sure that you're not feeling uncomfortable with how things are going. >> So, one thing about the quick pace that Mr. Level's not telling you is that he was in a policy meeting all day last week. Um it's not just a quick pace, it's a lot of work. >> That's not just He's reading stuff. There's somebody Norm's coming in. >> Norm Neil Norm's with us. >> Neil Nororm is with the district. So, just know that it's not just a quick pace like of Mr. Levelville going through like, oh, let's just do a group of people who sat there all day. >> Yeah. >> Um, doing the work and then Dr. James and I came

084in for the, you know, >> Policy meeting and they'd already been there all day and they were >> Yep. >> Yeah. We've we have spent significant number of hours. I appreciate that. I um I think it's more sometimes I feel like um I'm not feeding you what you need. So, I want to make sure I'm giving you the information that you need because ultimately, um, you're going to vote on these and you're going to approve these. So, you know, and you don't have to say anything now if you can't think of anything, but you know, you can reach out and contact me and if there's something different, >> just from a timing standpoint, this is a lot of reading. So, we can get a week or two week notice of this is what's going to

085be on the agenda in a separate email. Yep. A link to the actual policies that we can open up and read. Um it's just very difficult to get them on a Monday or a Friday before and try to get through all this before a board meeting with regular life. >> Okay. Um so help me uh so just make sure I'm so I what I can do >> I mean the way we h before >> sure like right now the way we have it is we all we have access um we all have an account >> and we have access to um the draft policies and the way you've been doing it I I I kind of do agree a little bit with Mr. about in the >> like we we knew the 6000s were coming.

086We kind of requested that as a board from Logan and you had brought that up. Y >> um that was you know based off of your advice. Sure. But >> um [clears throat] >> then we got the 4,000s and that was just the first read >> but it would I think you need to I agree with Mr. And like you need to kind of like really like hello like two weeks in advance. Tell us >> sure >> you need to get on this and you may have to send like a couple emails or >> develop a calendar that said January you know 8th or whatever we're going to 5000s. Yep. >> February do this whatever numbers and remind us of that >> reminding us like please read 5000s like you know. Yeah. >> That way

087you're at least giving us a reminder of what's coming up down the pike. But for me I'm just speaking for myself. I don't mind having them on um word docs the way they are. Sure. And clicking on them because I will tell you that I actually just print I like to read things on so I print every one of them out. Like it's a lot of printing but I do it >> and then I read them that way. Everyone has a different way. Are you saying you want to have like >> No, I'm okay with going into more docs to actually look at the access tool. >> Just need to know to go in >> know. So that's really good feedback. So, what I'll what I can do is I have a planning sheet that

088we're working off of that uh we don't know the pace of the policies that we're hitting. So, we're on 5,000s now, but we don't know how many meetings that's going to take. What I can do is I can actually inform you that at the next two policy transition meetings, we're working on the 5,000s these policies. So, then that will give you a heads up of what's going to be coming at the meeting. And then obviously during agenda planning, you'll know what's going there. Um 5,000s is like three or four of our meetings because it's all student policy. So it's been a lot but um no it's really good feedback all um >> it's more of a just yeah just have to >> it's a lot you have to read it's a lot >> and you

089know whoever's on the policy committee next time too member could maybe send out emails too to help you right but >> yeah we can figure it out. It's it's more of just remind it's it's time goes by so quickly and I think for all of us um the more reminders we have the better. >> Yep. >> Mrs. Bidder, if you if you do need them in print form, let us know. We can like we can print them out for you and then provide them to you. Like you stop by the office multiple times a week. So I wouldn't want you to waste your time printing them out. We can get that done. >> I could do that for anybody. >> Yeah. and anybody else that needs it, happy to do it. >> But then just

090in general, always >> just I if there's some like always let us know if there's something that's like >> clearly different. Yes. Clearly like it's a different it's than what we're used to. It's something that is a change. That would always be helpful that you just keep doing and I know you've been doing that where you're highlighting those for us and providing us the actual link to it so that we can just Oh, >> that's yeah, that's great feedback. We didn't have any in the 4,000s, but I will tell you with the 5,000s, we have a few of those coming. >> Um, and so we'll definitely highlight those for you so that you're aware of them. Um, but this is really good feedback for me. And again, I just want to make sure that you're

091getting the information that you need so I can tailor our workflow um to make sure that you're getting that. So that's that's great. I appreciate it. >> Yep. Thank you. >> Yeah, no problem. >> All right. So then we we have covered our discussions of um read any word. Am I okay to move on to um section D? All right. Um, can I get a motion and a second for the Gallup proposal? >> Moved. Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Balot, for your motion. Thank you, Mr. Harris, for your second, Mr. Lewis. >> Yeah, this is a U proposal and I brought out my old business operations skills. They brought forward some costs. And I said, "You know what would really be great is if we could have a one-year with an option for a two-year

092all locked at the same price because they they she's like, well, normally we escalate the price by 5%." I said, "Well, I don't want that 5%. I just want a locked price for three years." So, um, we've got that we've got a essentially a price for three years. And that cost is to um really change our culture and climate survey to a very researchbased um normed process. And Gallup is a renowned and recognized company that has been doing this and it's been um if you remember we decided to not do one uh this past year, but this is part of our strategic plan. Um, and this would allow us to get feedback from our staff, our community, and our students. Um, and I think that's they a lot of people only do staff or do

093one of those. I think it's valuable for us that we do care about all those stakeholders and we want to hear from them. Um, so this will be ready to go in January and that we will continue to do it annually in January. So, um, this would take the place of our past kind of processes to try to get to a culture and climate survey. And they knew exactly what I wanted. They knew exactly what uh the process would be. And it it'll give us tremendous data about our community and what they desire or think about our school district. himself and >> not only providing the data but also providing some suggestions, recommendations, some professional development that might >> help us to improve in the areas where uh >> improvement is needed. >> Continuous improvement

094mindset, right? >> That's what we want to be. >> Yeah. And I like the idea of using the same company for multiple years because we've changed in the past which kind of reset >> the baseline every time. So I do think there is value in a multipleyear look um because that does show as Dr. James was saying prudent >> and it it will [clears throat] be anonymous um it is not they do not collect that information and we don't control it. It goes straight to Gallup and we will get access to our dashboard which will have basically the inproduct data. it won't be the raw data, the raw uh information that is submitted as part of the process. So the only thing that will help us is I want to say identifiers and when I

095say that it's like if we want to know how did our transportation department feel from a staff standpoint, we will be able to segregate the data to break down just that department. So we can see if let's say that 75% of our staff feel really good about what's going on and we saw an outlier and there was some a department that was low, we would want to look at that and find out why. >> And you also tell um break it down in terms of the parents what grade levels their children are. >> I believe that will be a part of the parent be and it'll go all the way down to buildings be able to know what building they go to. So, my uh I'm going to sound like a broken record here because

096I've said this over and over again. The part of the problem I have with the proposal is there's no understanding on what kind of an institutional review board would be used for student data and accessing student information, permission slips, what they're looking for, those kinds of things they should have included in the proposal. It was a little disappointed in that. And the other one other um thing that was a little disappointing is the fact that they kept Stratford Academy in there and didn't even do a find and replace for Sycamore schools in their proposals. I found it to be slightly unprofessional. Um so I would worry about the data being useful if they can't even give you a proposal that's correct. Um, and maybe I was thinking maybe it could be done by a local

097firm perhaps in a better way at a less expensive because that's about the amount to educate five children per year um to do research. So I don't know that was were just some thought as I was going through it. So, I was just a little disappointed in the and I I'm very protective of student data and what I know what needs to be done from federal law to protect students. >> So, maybe we can maybe you can um I mean first of all, we haven't approved this yet, >> right? >> Um so, where do you can you can you share where you think it should have said what you would want to say? That way we can have that conversation. the whole student section. It doesn't tell you how they're how they're going to measure

098for student success. It says that they're going to survey the students to build engagement and foster enthusiasm, but I don't know how they're doing this research and I don't know how they're getting the parents involved. It just talks about the completions of their surveys and what types of questions they're going to ask, but not how they're going to get to the point of being allowed to be asking those questions of the students, which is where I was a pain on the policy stuff, too. I know um over the past couple of years it just tells you what they're looking for, not the process of >> I will I will say um that it's a very valid point that you bring up often because we care very much about student privacy. Um but I I mean

099I in general when you look at the actual contract the language of the contract itself um I did generally feel comfortable with the confidentiality agreement that they have in the contract itself which is on the second uh attachment. Yeah. Um, and I do also feel, you know, it talks about section 18, um, client data protection clause they have in there. Um, so although the proposal itself doesn't go into that great detail, that isn't necessarily where it would be. The protections wouldn't necessarily be there. Um, so I just want to say that. >> No, I was say, but from a research perspective, it should be in the proposal. So, >> okay. Sorry. >> And then I will say I'm speaking just on behalf of myself here. Uh I do feel I do like the idea that

100it's Gallup. I think it's a reputable company that has a good name recognition and I think people will tr hopefully trust it because hopefully they will trust that that the information that they provide will be anonymous. And it's not that when we did it in the past it wasn't confidential. It was confidential when we did it in the past too. But we always want to make sure that people feel comfortable filling out the surveys, right? >> And if and if the board feels uncomfortable um I mean we don't have to do a student survey. We can it would be high. I would likely go 7 through 12 um only. But if the board feels uncomfortable and concerned about that, we can eliminate the student survey and not do it. And that would be one way

101to be comfortable with the contract. >> Yeah. I mean I And I'm not saying that standpoint of I know we value student >> response. >> Um but if you feel uncomfortable >> is it possible for us to I I mean I am not the lawyer for this board but I feel comfortable with what I read but is it possible for us to pass a contingent on the the lawyer our board council just reviews those terms and makes feels comfortable that it protects student privacy. Yeah. >> Well, also it needs to follow some sort of institutional review board process to make sure that parents are being informed, etc. There has to be a process in place so that the students are not being unless they're over the age of 18 contacted by an outside firm. >>

102But I think if our lawyer reads that, she would they whoever whatever lawyer would use would would know all those things, Dr. Ster. So, I would I'm fine with a lawyer reviewing it. I they're a national firm. I I don't see an issue with contract to be honest. >> But if we want to have a if we want to have our lawyer review it, I'm completely fine with that. >> Who made the move? >> I mean I again I feel comfortable with it as it is. But I also but I do think though it's not a I mean it's not a bad idea just for the sake we're having this conversation in public. That way we can >> So Mr. Ballot and Mr. Harris made the motion in the second. So they would have to

103be >> we have to amend it. >> They would have to >> we someone could amend the motion to add contingent upon >> I will amend >> full council's >> contingency legal review of the contract >> and I'll second that motion. >> There you go. >> Great discussion. Thank you. >> Okay. >> All right. Uh I'm sorry. Mrs. Logan, please call the role. Okay. So, I'm calling the role on the amendment and then we'll approve the amended motion. So, >> Mr. Ballot, >> hi. >> Mr. Harris, >> hi. >> Dr. James, >> hi. >> Dr. Steager, >> no. >> Mrs. Spitter, >> I Okay. And now I'm going to call the role on the amended motion. Mr. Ballot, >> hi. >> Mr. Harris, >> hi. >> Dr. James, >> hi. >> Dr. Stagger, >> Mrs.

104consider I >> right >> one of the things that again I wouldn't know this my team back there is they they just sent it to me so Mr. Long just said Gallup does have a student data privacy agreement that we do have we have acquired as a district. So they do have a student d student data privacy agreement. So that's always good when we're >> that's a good thing. But I want to make sure parents are acknowledging and signing off on their students being [clears throat] involved in something as part of the process. Right. >> No, this is I mean this is good information um for us to consider and to talk about. It's a really important subject. Okay. Um can I please get a motion and a second for the approval of an agreement

105with Jessica Brandon, school psychologist? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Thank you Dr. Steager for your motion. Thank you Dr. James for your second. Mrs. Logan, please call the role. >> Dr. Steager. >> Dr. James. >> Hi, >> Mr. Balant. Hi, >> Mr. Harris. >> Hi, >> Mrs. Bidder. >> I can I please get a motion and a second for the approval of an agreement with comprehensive concepts in speech and hearing incorporated. >> So, moved. >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Balot, for your motion. Thank you, Dr. James, for your second. Mrs. Logan, please call the RO. >> Mr. Ballot, >> I. >> Dr. James, >> hi. >> Mr. Harris, >> hi. >> Dr. Stager, >> hi. >> Mrs. spitter. Hi, Mr. Lewis. >> Yeah, just a couple of things. Um, number one, we are

106so lucky to have so many talented students in our school district. Uh, but I would be remiss not to point out something that uh we were notified about, I think it was last week. Um, Jaden Pritchette is a winner with distinction for the National Youth Arts Association for Theater. Um, he was selected out of 13,000 students nationwide and I believe he's only one of 18. I'm checking I'm looking at Mrs. Schmidt to see if I'm right. >> That's what you said. It's >> I think it's one of 18. Like there are only so many kids that are selected for this, these high school students that are selected for this nationwide. and he will spend the first week um in January in Miami, Florida receiving coaching from like nationally renowned um acting coaching. So um some

107of the former actors and actresses that went through this program, Biola Davis, Timothy Shalamé, it's pretty impressive the names that were on this list that he is now included in. Um, so, uh, just amazing and funny story that we learned at Sack that I wasn't aware of. The choir just came back from a trip to Disney. He serenated Glenda at the park and that's typical Jaden that he would do something like that. So, someone caught it on video, which was hilarious that he was serenating a character at the park. So, that's typical Jake. Um, senior night for swimming and diving was last night. Uh, great event. Thank you to all the parents of the swimming and diving community that made that a successful event. Our athletic department did a great job. Um, OGB holiday store

108is this Monday. Um, they just had an open house yesterday. Um, if you haven't had a chance to see how generous our community is, you just need to take a step inside of Operation Give Back. It was amazing how many um I'll just say truckloads of toys and balls and bikes and things to take care of our community, but I was also impressed with the amount of food that they have available. So, I know Mr. Levelvel stopped over. I'm sure other people on our staff were able to stop over. It was amazing. serve uh >> over a little over 900 students >> y >> will be served >> and in case the community didn't know we learned on Monday at the sack meeting also that if you wanted to um bake like a batch of

109cookies that can be given out to a family as they're going shopping you can sign up click on a link and do that and drop them off for them also so then they get holiday cookies as well >> the uh Sycamore Advisory Committ group is in action, the healthier school start time group. Um we held our first in-person session to just educate the community about the research they had done. Um Dr. BB from Cincinnati Children's Hospital joined us for that uh session and uh it was well done and uh kudos to the SAC members that presented. Um Isa Simpson who is a junior at our high school presented. Um it I I think it really did tell the story of why are we pursuing this? We have a virtual session tomorrow and then um one

110of the things that was evident is we'll need to have some ability to have some listening sessions, some thought sessions, some thought exchange uh opportunities just because there were so many people that wanted to comment, wanted to have questions and we just didn't plan for that in the session because um everyone wants to always jump right into options and that's a good thing. That means our community is engaged. What I did pick up from the pulse from the room is there wasn't anybody in the room that you didn't feel like understood. Um I think they walked away understanding the why. Now it's the how. >> Um un Mr. Miller um is going to be left with a lot of the how. Um how do we make this work with some of the parameters that we

111believe in? So more to come on that. We will be putting some things in front of you in the near future um to do to address some some of those things and potential options before we go back out in the community. Just a reminder um that we sack had recommended and I think we also would recommend just based on all the work that goes into it that that's slotted for a 2728 potential start. Um, so I think to help keep the community calm, there's going to be lots of time for engagement and input um, in that process. Um, the altitude awards, I know it's awfully early to be mentioning it, but May 7th, mark your calendars. We did identify the hosts today. So, there will be student hosts once again. That award-winning individual may or

112may not be one of the hosts. show up to find out >> what day did you say it was >> May 7th >> 7th May 7th >> May 7th and uh the last thing on my list I just want to say congratulations again to Mr. person. Looking forward to uh working with you and getting to work with you closer now cuz you know I I always appreciate your ability to respond and engage and uh take care of the needs of the office and you know we'll take care of you while you're transition transitioning into this new uh position for a time being. So whatever support you need I can speak on behalf of the team. We're all here for you. That's all I have tonight. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Can I get a motion

113and a second for the personnel consent agenda? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Harris, for your motion. Thank you, Mr. Balant, for your second. Mrs. Logan, please call the role. >> Mr. Harris, >> I. >> Mr. Balant, >> I. >> Dr. James, >> I. >> Dr. Stagger, >> I. >> Mrs. Bidder, >> I. Can I please get a motion and a second to adopt a resolution to request the filing of a modified tax budget for the 2026 27 fiscal year? >> A move. >> Second. >> Thank you, Dr. James, for your motion. Thank you, Mr. Balant, for your second. This is um in Hamilton County, they do allow us to submit a modified tax budget. It just means it's a little shorter version of the the um the other original tax budget.

114Um but we still will that will be coming forward at the organizational meeting as traditionally as we've done. So this is just an annual thing that we ask for. [clears throat] >> Thank you. And you can see the resolution here on the actual agenda itself. Mrs. Logan, please call the role. >> Dr. James. >> Hi, >> Mr. Balant. >> Hi, >> Mr. Harris. >> Hi, >> Dr. Stagger. >> Hi, >> Mrs. Bidder. >> Hi. >> Can I please get a motion and a second to approve the monthly or monthly financial report for month ended November 30 30th, 2025? >> So move. >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Harris, for your motion. Thank you, Dr. Ster, for your second. >> Mr. Buren is gonna this. Um so before I get started I would like to thank

115the board of education for your vote of confidence um and you know proving my interim stent uh for Sycamore schools the last year and a half uh whether I go to a webinar a conference I've been proud to say that I'm Sycamore's assistant treasurer and been proud to say that I'm working underneath Mrs. Jenny Logan. Um because no matter where you go uh throughout the state of Ohio if you mention Mrs. Logan um that comes with uh knowing that she's been a voice for public education for so long and and to fund uh our students appropriately. Um she's not going away. So I still have her until December 31st at 11:59 utilizing every second for that. And and then also I I would like to say that I've um gotten to know Mrs. Logan into

116the great friend now as well. So, thank you for your confidence in me, for coaching me up, and for always giving me advice on how to approach certain situations and even this situation now. So, thank you. >> All right, you go ahead and jump right into the the PowerPoint. >> So, like Mrs. Mrs. Logan alluded to earlier, the October 25 uh forecast is still on there. That was approved on October on October 8th. and getting ready to approve. You know, we're working on that February forecast that's going to come to the board for approval. Um, starting in FY27, we'll switch to the August and the February timeline um for those forecast approvals. This year, there was a little bit of grace um extended to October 15th for that approval since it was something new and

117and legislation. was talking about our revenues. Um, so November uh represents the 41.6% of the fiscal year and we're already getting close to being halfway through the fiscal year, which has been a blur and it it always amazes me how fast the fiscal year moves along and that we're already halfway through it. Um, but we are pretty much, you know, on projections. We've already called out before with with that October second payment. um a little, you know, we got a little bit more revenue from state foundation than what we were anticipating. That was um a conservative estimate to begin with, but now you know that that update will be in the February forecast update. I will make sure we get that in there and see where it see where we land after that. The other

118item on here I'd like to kind of call out is you'll see the the 95 and you know 8% decrease in the advances in other sources. So work and working with Mrs. Logan and understanding what this is and what this was was we received a payment from Hamilton County. Um and it is in relation to that six-year reval. So we had to revow in 2023 and coming along with that reval and and in general um the auditor's office does know charge a fee for collections um from all the entities that they that they disperse those um you know millage the tax collections to and they do if there's a portion that they haven't utilized then they will give a certain percentage of that back um and it's once every six years. >> That's that alsigns

119with what we've talked about. Yes. >> Not something totally new to new to me, but that is what that is. And we actually code that as a refund of prior year expenditures because it's something that we had previously expensed when we brought on the tax payments. We have to expense the fees with that. Any questions about the revenues there? expenditures. I know we're we're been a close eye on our wages. Uh we've been on repeat about our wages, you know, being the, you know, the biggest part of our budget. Um and I did pull out the uh September through November. Um the increase is at 2.56%. You know, the the fiscal year year-over-year is that 3.92. We've talked about it. It kind of muddies the water a little bit having the July and August payments

120from that stretch paper from the teachers wrapping up from last year. Um, but we still do believe that we're on trend for that 1.9% that's in, you know, overall wage increase from last year and it's what we've forecasted with. We need we'll we're in the process of looking at that for February to make sure we're still in tune with that. Um, we're still projecting 8% increase for purchase services, although we're at 11.86 86 right now. That's something that we're continuing, you know, to monitor. And, you know, with with the board adopting, you know, the resolution for the 3 and a half% expenditure growth cap, we're always paying attention to that bottom right um percentage growth to make sure we're in line with what the board has desired and, you know, expressed to the community with

121that resolution. So, right now it's at 3.28%. falls under and you know we're hoping that aligns with a graph that Mrs. Logan shared earlier in the you know even during the financial workshop of overall expenditure growth being closer to a negative growth. >> Any questions on the expenditure? [clears throat] >> Uh the cash balance um we just kind of let you know where we are at the end of November. Uh 37% um so 130 days of cash. You know, the board does have knowing policy should be 25% of operating expenditures. It's where we like to, you know, keep our cash balance above that and as the end at the end of November on pace with that the cash position is strong. Questions? >> I have a question actually. It's Thank you. That was an excellent

122job and thank you for doing that. Uh my question is actually going to be for Mrs. Logan and maybe for you too, Mr. person, but I'd like to go back um to the expenditures and um talk about our um desire to keep ourselves within certain parameters and I just want to hear your opinion um at your last board meeting with us. Um, so it has been discussed and proposed that um, and I don't know where this is going or if it's coming back again, but it has been discussed that we may um, have a public a permanent improvement um, wish to uh, with a donor who may give you know certain amount of cash um, 75% and the board would potentially match its are or 70% and then we do 30 or however we but

123we maybe advance all of it. Um that would that any expense even if we get it back comes out it it it impacts that right. So that would be my first general question. >> Yes. >> And then I want to know what you have to what you have to say about our cash reserve and what we need to do with that cash reserve and why. >> Okay. So first question um regarding a gift agreement. So if a gift agreement um is over a period of time and it's not all upfront um then your general fund you would need to advance money which shows up as an expenditure. So that would increase your expenditures. If by chance you have a gift agreement that is um we're going to donate 70% of this project and we're going

124to give you the 70% at the signing of the gift agreement. Then you wouldn't have to advance anything. You would just be transferring the 30%. Where it gets tricky is with the gift agreements. if it's over a period of time and you have to advance that money and then get the money back, that's the tricky part. Um, but if the money comes in like all at once and you don't have to use the district's cash to front the project, then that's a better situation for the district. Um, as far as the cash position, so um, I believe that your cash balance policy is a sound policy. The 25% of expenditures is a sound policy. What I would encourage you to do is um we we heard a lot of um we heard a lot from

125our state legislators on how much cash you should be um keeping in your reserves. I would encourage you to look at your board policy, Brad, and look at a policy that not only speaks to the minimum, but also to a maximum, which would trigger conversations, which would say if it reaches this percentage, let's say it's I don't know 75% or 100%, then that would trigger conversations to say that Maybe possibly the superintendent would then bring forward recommendations the board on how you would um plan to spend down that reserve. I think that would show the legislature that you are not only talking and thinking about what is that minimum cash but how much cash should you keep on hand um for the taxpayers's benefit. Um because right now what they're looking at and your county

126budget commissions are looking at that excessive hash. So I would encourage you to look at not only a minimum but a maximum that would trigger conversations and actions. >> And there the policy is Neola 6220 which is on the board agenda tonight as a second read. It does have the 25% in there. We can pull I'll pull that policy though um and we'll trigger that go back to the policy committee which is fine because again we weren't looking at that till right >> June unless you felt like it needed to happen sooner um in regard to all the conversation we're having around finances that's fine um but just to let the board know that is 6220. >> Um thank you for that. I mean I I also just ask because you have mentioned in the

127past just to be careful of the cash reserve not because the legislature might say it's excessive but more to protect it. So that should there should there be a need and we don't have enough what we're paying for, we might not we might want to really consider the permanent improvement as a second option because we need that money to pay our educators, our teachers, our bus driver. >> Right. Right. >> That's kind in in the event that we're in a shortfall. >> I think the other recommendation that I would have for you is we went through all that work Mr. level last year with four seasons and with Bradley Payne >> developed that very detailed capital projects plan. >> I believe that that needs to come forward to the board for approval as well. >>

128Okay. >> To say here is the plan, the board approves it and then if the legislature or your county budget commission has questions, you're not only just saying no, we have a plan on how to spend that. the board has approved the plan. So, >> and we typically I don't Mr. Lewis might remember too, but we typically once a year will present the capital improvement plan and proposed bud budget for the year, right? Like what's the expenditure? So, um we could line that up for that meeting whenever that might be. >> February. >> Yeah. >> I like that. >> Yeah. Good stuff. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Okay. Mrs. Please call the role. >> Mr. Harris, >> I. >> Dr. Seager, >> I. >> Mr. Balant. >> Hi. >> Dr. James. >> Hi. >>

129Mrs. Bidder. >> I. Can I please get a motion and a second um to approve donations? >> Second. >> Thank you, Dr. James, for your motion. Thank you, Mr. Balant, for your second. Thank you. Neighborhood bridges and Ohio educational outreach fund donations to Sycamore Community Schools. Mrs. Logan, please call the role. >> Dr. James, hi. >> Mr. Balant, >> hi. >> Mr. Harris, >> hi. >> Dr. Stagger, >> hi. >> Mrs. Bidder, >> hi. Can I please get a motion and a second to set the 2026 organizational meeting for January 7th, 2026 at 6 p.m. to be held at the Professional Learning Commons, 11120 Kenwood Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 452 42. >> Move. >> Second. >> Thank you, Dr. James, for your motion. Thank you, Mr. Harris, for your second. Mrs. Logan, please call the role.

130Dr. James, >> hi. >> Mr. Harris, hi. >> Mr. Balant, >> hi. >> Dr. Steager. >> Can I vote on this if I'm not going to be here? Okay. I >> this bitter I I please get a motion a second to appoint current president as prom president pro Tim for the organizational meeting. >> So moved. Second. >> Thank you Mr. Harris for your motion. Thank you Mr. Balant for your second. Mrs. Logan please call the role. >> Mr. Harris. >> Hi. >> Mr. Balant. >> Dr. James. Hi. >> Dr. Stagger. >> Hi. >> Mrs. Bidder. >> Hi. Next item is to review the draft board meeting calendar for 2026. >> We're not voting. >> I don't think we have >> vote on it until actually um January. >> So just look at it. I I

131mean I I I know that um our administration has put this calendar together um and um looked for holidays, looked for any conflicts, looked for, you know, what what would be the best schedule. The only um holiday that I can see would be November 11th is Veterans Day. Our meeting would be in the evening. Um we do have an event that morning but it's not you know it's later usually we as a board and administration we go there but perhaps we could do something that evening to honor some veterans here who work here and just appropriate for that evening but that was the only holiday that I saw. Does anybody have any um things that worry them or there's one on a Thursday I think too. We we did our best to avoid and really

132um look at our cultural calendar and just avoid um holidays um you know across our community. And so one of the meetings did have to fall on a Thursday and I you know I think with advanced notice I just figured it wouldn't be a major issue for everybody if we had advanced notice. So >> and it's an important month that we need to have two meetings. So that's why um I I mean I thought that we should do it on a Thursday because we can't in order to not conflict with two major holiday or major holidays we put that >> the only thing I would add is we don't you know we do have the academic retreat on here but we don't have the financial retreat. I I think it'll be important at our organizational

133meeting to actually set a date for the financial retreat as well. um probably like we talked about um for this meeting, you know, early February so that we can, you know, really discuss levy options and decide what which path we're going to go and if we're going to go. >> I'd also like to see the um board professional development uh retreat on here early in the year. >> I would agree with it. Do we look at dates now? Is that a better thing for us to do or >> we have to decide, you know, we have talk to if we're going to use Mr. Clea, you know, see what see when he's available before we do that. So we can do that at the January meeting >> and involve our new board members in that

134too. >> Correct. >> Yeah. Okay. So we're thinking a meeting in early February. That would be the board retreat for financial. So Mr. person, you need to kind of look at that um uh what would work for you and then coordinate. The only other thing I would mention to the board is just something that I think we have gotten away from and we benefited from today is just maybe designating one of our meetings to be more of a work session type meeting and less of two like we can still have approvals on that meeting but uh we really need I think more time for like dialogue and discussion as a team like that would be a great place to talk about policy and I think those meetings should start earlier than 700 p.m. if we're

135able to get here and schedule start at 5:30. And you know, if we don't have executive session topics, we don't need to go in. So, I know that's always a challenge, but if we start earlier, we may not need an executive session or we can tag it on the end um and be able to really get into that deep dialogue. Public still can come and be a part, but we don't have public participation and, you know, all those regular meeting items. It's just more uh really for us to get into the work. And I think with this next year of all the things that we're going to be tackling, I I think it might be a good thing to just give us more time to work together. But that's just something >> and I think

136it's something we can talk about at the organizational meeting. I I completely agree. I think in the past when we had an or when we had a work session focused meeting um it did give us an opportunity to have more dialogue, more discussion on on critical topics. So um >> maybe we can consider having you know just choosing months where we have three meetings a month because if we have executive session op options we've been coming in at 5 5:30 5 or 5:30 almost every meeting. So I don't know how I don't know if we can do it. I mean we may be able to we just don't know what comes about. Right. So >> um why don't we consider that like >> you guys are going to have an important process with the treasures

137search. >> Yes. So, we're gonna be gonna have I just don't want to overburden you with meetings. >> But there's all those are all things we should discuss in January for sure. >> If we want to do a work session, I think we really should consider doing like three meetings in a month like for some months, right? Like we're going to do a retreat or like we're going to do professional development. Um those are going to require months where we just have three meetings, which I think is fine. >> Okay. Well, so we'll talk about that in January. >> Yep. So, everyone kind of look at your schedules. Um, I know we've done some Saturday meetings in the past, right, where we sometimes feel fresh in the morning at 8 in the morning on a

138Saturday. That's been a time where we Well, too Jenny, >> but yeah, this is going to be a very busy busy uh January through November through the whole year. It's going to be very busy all of it. [laughter] >> Okay. All right. Um okay. So the next um item is the uh business advisory council meeting. Uh we had a meeting uh last week. Was it last week? Wow. Okay. Uh we gave Would you like to give the update or you Okay. All right. Sure. So we um we really spent a lot of time talking about um the finances of the district. So Mrs. Logan gave some really good updates. Uh Mr. Lewis gave grid updates just explaining to the group the impacts of legislation on the finances of the district and the types of things

139that we are constantly having to talk about at every meeting because we don't always know. It's hard to plan when you don't know what the legislation's going to be. So we plan with always having to have some kind of contingency plan as a backup. And so we explained that and I think most many of the members were not aware of that. So, we asked them, you know, looking forward for financing our district, we need them to help us be advocates for our community and for public education. And we just needed to inform them of that. And I think it was, they had a lot of good questions, a lot of good questions. Um, they wanted to know, you know, how will we fund the district if we do X, Y, and Z? And Mr. Lewis

140and um um Mrs. [clears throat] Logan were able to answer those questions. That was great. Uh and then um those were the main areas I think um getting more we would like to do something in the spring with students um getting them more exposure to the businesses that exist in our community. Um and then having stu getting some students some more experiences and by and basically vice versa. So that's the point of the business advisory council. So it was a good meeting. >> No, I think you got it. >> All right. Okay. Three. >> Okay. Um, oh yeah, it was a spring expo. That's what we said. Maybe there's going to be a spring expo either at the junior high or the high school. Um, everyone in the group pretty much said it doesn't really

141matter which it could be either one. It was more about um the message is what matters the most. That was what their their key takeaway. >> That's a partnership with the Montgomery Chamber of Commerce. >> That's right. Yep. Okay. Um and we do um we had a sack uh meeting so update for that. >> We we had a sack meeting on Monday this past Monday and uh acknowledged Miss Dr. Steer and uh thanked her I appreciate on and contributions to SAC and the highlight [clears throat] was uh Mr. Buren making a presentation on the finances of the district. It was wellreceived and we had really good questions. Um, >> I would second that. Yeah. >> Yeah. A great dialogue. >> Really good dialogue and um I think people are willing to help us with with

142the levy. Um they said give us some talking points. Wanted to know why we weren't just automatically saying that we would be doing um an income earn income tax levy. So, we told them we're still working on what type of levy we would uh be putting before the community, but thank you very much for your presentation. >> And I also think it was um helpful for everyone to understand that the nice to haves like that we would like to fund are a different thing than what we absolutely need to pay for. Um because while we would all love to have everything possible, we do have to stay within the budget. I think that was a little bit of a shock to people that some of these things were even being discussed because I think people

143just assumed with the baseball softball that it was just oh automatic and not actually discussions with board and donors and things like that. So thank you for clarifying that also at the meeting for people. Yeah, I think it's going to be really important um moving forward to continue to engage with um our those two board committees because they um have so many members who are so active in the community and they had a lot of really good questions. I'm sure it sounds like your group did this act did too. So getting them to really help us and um speaking to community members and to their circles is going to be important. So, I think um our administrators are going to need to connect with those members of those teams as well. Oh, all right. Legislative

144update. >> Um I think we've talked a lot about this before. This these are on the governor's desk. He may or may not sign them. We'll see what happens here. Um um again, some of the things they're looking at is the constitutional amendment to get rid of property taxes. Um kind of cutting off the nose to spite your face, but let me move on. Um there we definitely need some tax relief. I think people do agree with that doing uh tax relief. I don't think anybody's opposed to that. I think cutting property taxes may go a bit far in doing that. Um uh limiting the uh school option schools that for levies if there are 20 mills already. um expand the county budget commissions to look into districts that have excessive cash and avoid ex

145excessive collections and uh that and Miss Logan already mentioned about limiting the inside millage cap to 3% from the four I think 4.6 that we're getting right now. So those are all things and capping cash balances. So those are all things that are in the legislature at some uh point in the legislature could be signed may not be signed. We'll see what happens. So, it's Wednesday. It could change >> tomorrow, >> but I think the general assembly is out of session until I think the end of the month, maybe. >> I think so, too. I don't think they're coming back until after the holidays. >> After the holidays. Okay. So, that's it. >> Okay. Um, I feel like we had something for other under other board business and I feel like I wrote you and

146let you know what that was. Um, >> might have been the committees. >> That's what it is. >> So, sorry. >> Yes, we >> have to step in. [laughter] >> I I wrote I wrote um to say I didn't write this down on my piece of paper right here. Sorry, everybody. Um, here it is. Um, I know it is. Okay. So, yes, we need to get u Mrs. Logan is going to share with everyone the the committees description of all of our board committees and leaison positions. So, just everyone look at it. Um, I know you've been looking for it. >> I know it exists. >> It does. >> We received it. it exists. >> Through my emails, I couldn't find it either. I don't know if you printed it. I don't know. Maybe you

147sent it in a Google >> exist. I've seen it. >> It's somewhere Google document. Maybe >> find it. >> Realize maybe that's where it is. >> Um but I I did want to bring up this as well and I I know I let I let our administration know this. Um we have um an opportunity as a board to do Ohio school board association. Um, it's called Levy University webinar which is on January 9th. So I think if you go on Ohio School Board Association they they have it. It costs money. It's like $130 to take it and I think it's like all day. Um, but that's something that maybe we should consider having a couple board members do just so we do it. Right. And then the other thing I would like because I want

148to make sure that and and this is something to ask our administrators um I would like to get some kind of updated training from our board council on what we can and cannot do. Um being at the conference that was one of they said be very very clear and careful and get that guidance early on. So I don't know if that's out of how we do that if it's a board meeting like that's another one that we have to do >> can or cannot do with levy >> like dos and don'ts >> do and don'ts like they give you your legal guidance because we will need to absolutely only use facts I mean there's a b there's a lot of talk to >> very very careful about and they they suggested that you bring your

149board counsel in to train your whole team >> I know bricker had that's the one of the the sessions I went to bricker had a presentation on So they would already have this material. >> Yeah. >> I don't know about >> Yeah. >> Maybe we It's something that we can ask um Aaron. >> It's usually >> Yeah. Or Dave, we could find out what >> how to do that. But I I mean I think >> Yeah. younger very >> that would be something to organize. I agree. Could our um board also consider establishing when we're looking at the committees establishing a finance committee? >> I don't know how we go about that. Um we certainly need some guidelines etc. But >> we and we can talk about it later on >> for sure. But I

150would like to have some discussion on that. >> Yeah, >> I I'm happy to have a discussion on it. I mean, I think um they did talk a little bit about that at the OSBA. And is it possible that that's related to um the levy? >> I would I would say no. >> And does it is is that like like I guess >> that would be I'm thinking it would be an ongoing committee just like >> is it like overseeing the treasur? Is that why? No, not necessarily overseeing the treasure, but just being another group of people who are looking at our finances and giving us advice. >> Um, you've you've had financial committees and districts you've worked for in the past? Like, can you just give us a brief kind of what their role

151is? >> I have um and I I'll tell you when they were successful for me in my experience. Um in my experience when they were successful um we had a representative from both unions. So here it would be sea and oopsie they would appoint someone to sit on that committee. Um administrators two board members um we also ask our um townships or municipalities if they wanted to have a representative join that group. And then we had community members who were had a financial background um that were interested in being on that committee. A and it was an advisory committee and that this is where your legal counsel will have to help you with this whether it's a board committee or whether it would be an administrative advisory committee. Um I used it as an administrative

152advisory committee. Um, but it was it was a a great committee structure. Um, we all learned from each other. It was kind of one of those committees that was a sounding board um to look at the budget, to look at the financial parameters, to they would ask really good questions. They helped us figure out um how to communicate with the community like what financial pieces of information should you be talking about to the community. Um so I've had them work really well. Um it's just like any other committee. It's having the right structure, making sure they understand their purpose, um and you know, working with that group in the right way. But they can be successful and it can be a really good advisory committee um to the board and to administration. So the first

153question would be if it's advisory or if it's committee. >> Yeah. And then and then it sounds like if it's like if it's advisory then Mr. Buren would be leading it up, right? >> Yeah. >> All right. Okay. Meeting is adjourned. >> Nope. Oh, that's right. >> Gosh. Thank you. Uh, meeting is not Can I please get a motion, a second to enter into executive session to consider the employment, compensation, dismissal, or discipline of a public employee per Ohio Revised Code 121.22G1. >> Moved. Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Ballot, for your motion. Thank you, Mr. Harris, for your second. Mrs. Logan, please call the RO. >> Mr. Ballot, >> hi. >> Mr. Harris, >> hi. >> Dr. James, >> Dr. Steager >> and Mrs. Bidder. >> I we will enter into executive session and we

154do not we will not enter back into public session and we will not be taking a vote.