001Are you refreshed? >> Pretty much. >> I mean, >> oh, yeah. I just turned it on. Yeah. Before I came here, so that's as close as you can get. >> Plus, I printed it, too. >> So, I wouldn't chat on that one. I'll be like, "No, thank you." Okay, it's 6 o'clock. Um, I call the to order the March 18th, 2026 Townage Board of Education meeting. First part of the agenda is the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay. Next order of business is roll call. >> Mrs. Battis >> Mrs. Ross >> here. Lowry >> here. >> Mr. Davis >> here. >> Next is uh welcome
002to visitors. We only have a few. Um if you want to speak uh we do that at the conclusion of the uh meeting. Uh and we're going to kind of hold it to five minutes. So uh we're not spending a lot of time. If you want to speak to us afterwards, we're more than uh welcome to wait and uh or make an appointment either way. Okay. Uh next item is 1.5 approval of prior meeting uh minutes. It is recommended that the board of education approve the minutes of the February 18, 2026 meeting. meetings are uh minutes for these meetings can be found online digitally. I entertain a motion. >> I'll make a motion. >> Second. >> Motion and a second. Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Ross, >> I. >> Mr. Davis, >> I. >> Mrs.
003Plattis, >> I >> Okay. Uh, next item is 2.0 No recommendation of the board of education. We have none on our agenda. So we'll move on to uh recommendation of the treasurer 3.1 monthly finance financials. Uh it is recommended that the board of adopts the monthly financials for the month of February 2026 as presented. >> Motion. >> I'll second. motion and a second. Roll call, please. >> Whoops. I'm sorry. >> Any discussion? >> Yeah. You gonna discuss that? Uh >> uh really nothing to point out. Everything's tracking as as expected. So, >> okay. Very good. Any questions for the finance director? Oops. Sorry, I just moved you to city finance director. >> All right. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Davis, >> I. >> Mr. Lowry, >> I. >> Mrs. Claus, >> I. >> Mrs. Ross,
004>> I. >> Mr. Pastor Elliot, >> I. >> Next item is 3.2, amounts and rates. It is recommended that the board accept the amounts and rates for uh fiscal year 27 as determined by the budget commission and authorizing authorize the necessity necessity tax levies to certify them to the county financial officer per attachment. >> A motion. I motion. >> I'll second. >> Okay. This is an annual uh resolution that originates from the county. They send to us uh so that they inform us of the total uh levies not not individually but total amounts in the general fund, PI fund and bond retirement fund total millages and then also estimate uh what those uh millages will generate. We then adopt this resolution, sign it, send it back, say we're in agreement and again it's a annual
005call it a formality but it is >> pretty much >> checks the box the requirement. >> Okay. Any more questions? Seeing none. Roll call. >> Mr. Davis. >> Hi. >> Mr. Lowry. >> Hi. >> Mrs. >> Hi. >> Mrs. Ross >> I, >> Mr. Pas. >> I All right. Uh, next item is 3.3 project completion. Um, OFCC is recommended that the board approve the OFCC certificate of project completion and authorize the president and treasurer to execute the certificate and for the treasur to transfer any remaining funds to the district's permanent improvement fund according to OC section 3318.12. motion. >> I'll make a motion. >> Second. >> Motion and a second. >> And you all thought the building project was already done even though we've been at it for a number of years. Yeah. The paperwork
006uh for the maintenance plan and the completion of the project is just now catching up. Actually, it was CO delayed uh for for us when you remember right when we were ready to move into the elementary co hit and uh it kind of set the OFCC back quite a bit on their on their paperwork and their project process. So, we are now coming to the point where we are closing it all out. >> What's LFCC stand for? >> Ohio Facilities Construction Commission. It started out the OSFC, Ohio School Facilities Commission, and I still end up calling it that. But that was uh one of the good things that came out of the DAL decision, even though they never really fixed school funding. Uh one of the pieces of the DAL decision was that the buildings
007in the school buildings in the state of Ohio were were in in serious need of repair or replacement. And so they formed the Ohio facilities commission and at the time there was about I think memory serves me three to four billion dollars of there was a cigarette uh settlement uh due to the state of Ohio and that was kind of the seed money that started the whole project. >> So they listed all the schools in order of need >> based on valuation and some other criteria and then started just working down through their their list. So it came our turn actually we started early under help program. This building was built before we were actually eligible but knowing we were going to be we went ahead >> and then the other two finished up the
008program. >> So it's the program is called classroom facilities assistance program. That's like the building of the building not I read that differently but it is the state No. Well, it classroom facilities from the stage perspective is a building. Okay. So, yeah, >> it's a C it's it's a CFAP program, CFAP program. >> They had help expedited local partnership program which this building was. >> Okay. >> A lot of history I won't bore you with, but yeah. No, it's uh the CFAB program is the uh building. >> Okay. Thank you. Okay. Roll call. >> Mrs. Ross. >> Hi. >> Mr. Davis. >> Hi. >> Mrs. Pal. >> Hi. >> Mr. Lowry. >> Hi. >> Mr. Pastor. >> Hi. >> All right. Move on to 3.4. Uh, approve approval of a resolution uh billing filing a
009complaint of real property. It is recommended that the board approve the attached resolution authorizing the filing of complaints against the valuation of real property pursuant of RC 5715.19 A1D challenging the determination of the total value of the assets of the property referenced based upon the recent ARM arms length sale slash uh transfer of property or other evidence that indicates the total valuation of the AS assessment is incorrect and that is a lot. >> Okay, motion. >> I'll motion. >> I'll second >> motion and a second. So, what's that all about? This is something uh schools have been doing for years always. Uh there was a new law passed uh I think two years ago that uh set the requirements for challenging uh valuation. The difference in valuation had to be 10% plus $500,000 or more.
010What happens when a a commercial property gets sold uh and the sale price is much higher than what the county has on its records? Then the school district will file a complaint wanting the valuation to be increased to the sale price and then that goes before the board of revision. Uh oftent times the commercial property owner will file a counter complaint. They want to keep it where it is. the board of vision uh will hear the case. Often times, most times uh the two parties get together and come to a resolution uh of you know a middle of the ground sort of settlement of what the property value will be. But the new law requires now that the board has to adopt the official resolutions in order to file complaint. Prior to that law, you
011did not have to as a board act. We just went ahead and and filed them on our own informing the district and the board of what we were doing, but didn't require official action. Now it does. Anything else? >> Just couple for my edification. Um, is this like retroactive? You know, like we're always paying our taxes. Okay. So, this could be money that would flow in soon. And then what's usually the time period? How long does this usually take? >> Uh, it depends if the if the owner wants to settle. Uh, could be a few months. uh it could go to the board of revision and then if the uh commercial property owner is still not happy it could go to the board of tax appeals at the state level. So it could drag but
012usually these things are resolved in say three to six month window. >> So do we incur any additional costs expense if it goes ones attorney fees? >> Yeah, they don't work for free. No, >> I've talked to them about that and >> and they declined. >> Yeah, they passed. >> But that's our only uh that's our only cost. >> Okay. >> I'm curious under what circumstances they could get the price to be less than what they paid for it because you said that they can come to a resolution between the two prices. How would they argue that it's worth less than what they paid for it? Uh yeah, sometimes there's extenduating circumstances of which I can't think of any that come to mind because of uh the operation of their business and the location. I
013don't know. But they'll come up with something often times. Uh which is why when we do settle, it's not a we'll split the baby sort of thing. It's normally on the high side or closer to the sale price. Uh but we we often settle in order to save the attorney's fees and the time and all the rest. But yes, that's a very good question. A sale price is a sale price. Sometimes there's reasons, but most times >> and how involved are you in that final discussion with the with the price? If we're going to settle a price that's less than the sale price, >> anything that that is proposed, the attorney touches base with me and then we and confer uh come up with a plan. Thank you. >> Okay. All right. Roll call, please.
014>> Mr. Davis, >> I. >> Mrs. Ross, >> I. >> Mrs. Pottis, >> I. >> Mr. Lowry, >> I. >> Mr. Paso, >> I. Well, next up is recommendations of the Superintendent of Schools. And the first item is 4.1 electrical program agreement. It is recommended that the board of education approve the electric program agreement between the Ohio school council and the townage city schools. Motion >> a motion. >> Second. >> Motion and a second. So, so what this is um for our primary energy cost is natural gas and electricity of course and in both cases we use the Ohio schools council which is a purchasing consortium with over 200 schools in it. So essentially what we do for natural gas and electricity both is leverage the power of that consortium. was pretty significant use user
015base if you think about 200 school districts uh to get the best pricing possible. So this is um you know renewing that effort with OSC to to update the um contract pricing for our electric supply. I didn't see like dollars and cents in here, but is it like comparable to where it's been or is this I mean I know everything's gone up. So >> yeah. So this Miss Pilates is giving permission to participate in the upcoming bid. So we don't know the number yet. So Okay. So, and then and then we wouldn't, you know, once we know what the bid is, we we have the ability to approve or not participate, which usually it's a very good price, as you can imagine. >> Okay. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Lowry, >> I. >> Mr. Davis,
016>> I. >> Mrs. Pottis, >> I. >> Mrs. Ross, >> I. >> Mr. Pastor, >> I. Next item is 4.2 two, first reading of policies GBCA and JB. It is recommended that the board of education accept the first reading of the updated board policies GB, CA, and JB. >> I'll make a motion. >> Second. >> That's the That's the coding in our policy manual. So these are both existing policies that are being updated. The first one uh GBCA is our conflict of interest policy. Already um the board has in place the conflict of interest that somebody can't have evaluation authority over somebody that's related to them. So principal can't be can't do the evaluation of his daughter, his or her daughter for example. Um what we're adding to the policy is there can't be a
017personal relationship between in an evaluation situation just it's kind of an obvious conflict of interest but it wasn't explicit in the policy before and now it is. That's the first one. The second one JB is we talked I believe last month about the kindergarten age has changed in the state of Ohio. So this is updating our policy to reflect that that the kindergarten age now will be the student needs to turn five by the first day of instruction which is for us is the first day of school that uh the board sets each year. So it will it will float a little bit but it's right around the middle of August every year. Those are the updates. >> All right. We'll read and re review them and see them next month. You have to approve
018the first reading. So you still have to approve the first reading. >> Oh, okay. >> Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Ross. >> I. >> Mr. Davis. >> Hi. >> Mrs. Palis. >> Hi. >> Mr. Lowry. >> Hi. >> Mr. Paselli. >> Hi. >> All right. Next item is uh adoption of policy BF. It is recommended that the board adopt policy BF motion. >> A motion. >> Motion. >> So this >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> Then a second, >> Mr. Press. >> Uh, so this this pol you uh approved the first reading of this uh in January and then I I screwed up. It should have been on February's agenda, but we haven't done any other policy updates that would have would have uh conflicted with this. So this is uh the second reading that we'll
019put this into place. Um it's it's really streamlining the policy approval process. So for example, minor edits won't need two readings, those sorts of things if you remember that conversation. But what this is really teeing up for the board is we are um changing the platform that the board policies will be on. We've used board docs for a long time. The public of course has um full access and it's served us well. Uh there's a the OSBA who's the provider of our policy manual is moving to a different platform that's a little bit more user friendly be more user friendly for both our community the board and for keeping our policies up to date. So this um your approval of of this policy change facilitates all that. Okay. Okay. >> All right. Roll call. Mr.
020>> Davis I. Mrs. Mr. Ross >> I >> Mrs. Plottus >> I >> Mr. Lowry >> I >> Mr. Perelli >> Hi. >> Next item is 4.4 overnight out of town field trip for FCCA. It is recommended that the board of education approve an overnight outof town field trip for FCCLA to attend the state competition in Columbus April 16 through the 17th using uh grant funds. A motion. >> A motion. >> I'll second >> and a second. So, this is an annual um annual event for our kids. They work all year towards this um competition and um so looking forward to them participating in this again this year. >> Okay. I don't know if this matters but that link doesn't work that's in the document. So, where if you look click on the document and
021then it takes you to a Google doc for the agenda. I keep getting like the it's >> this uh the FCCLA link. >> So if you click on the that document, there's a link there. >> Oh gosh. Okay. >> That link is not working. At least it's not for me. >> Oh wow. Okay. Thank you. >> Just Yep. >> We'll uh we'll get that fixed. Thank you, Miss Pilates. >> What were we gonna see? >> I was just saying. >> Yeah. >> Nice catch. All right. Uh, roll call, please. >> Mr. Lowry. >> Hi. >> Mrs. Claus. >> Hi. >> Mrs. Ross. >> Hi. >> Mr. Davis. >> Hi. >> Mr. Pastor. >> Hi. >> All. All right. We will move on to personnel items and there's a number of them. I would entertain a
022motion to group 5.1 to 5.21 21 for consideration and approval as as one vote. Anybody >> consensus? >> I'll motion. >> I'll second. >> Yeah, a lot a lot to talk about this month. Um there's a couple things I'll I'll pull out and my my colleagues can can add comments accordingly. The first one I want to start with is um as as the board knows um all of our administrators, which is essentially uh the staff that's not part of the union contract, they end up a union contract, they end up with an administrator contract. Their first one is for two years and then every contract after that is for three years. It's all based on Ohio Revised Code. So, um the the individuals that are um listed tonight for your approval uh are just finishing
023up a three-year contract with the district. They're all outstanding administrators, and it's an easy decision for me to recommend their renewal for uh another uh three-year contract. I know naturally there's going to be questions around what does that mean, three years? Does that mean if if the f our money continues to struggle that these people are guaranteed jobs? That is not the case. They are still could be rifted. Um this is really around performance parameters is what the the three-year contract is based on. So um I I'm going to uh they're a great team here. So I'm going to I'm going to name each individual. Nicole Koyan, who's just finishing up her fifth year at Townidge Elementary School, uh continues to do a great job as our elementary assistant principal, is really um you know,
024a budding instructional leader. Uh has has a bright career ahead of her. Trina P just finishing up her second year as the assistant principal at Townwich High School has has brought a a great amount of energy and experience to our building. Um she's definitely um brought a a different perspective on discipline which I think has been healthy for the building as as um so our you know our kids are I don't know it's going well. I'll just say that from a discipline standpoint. Billy Johnson um brings a lot of energy as our athletic director and has really led us. He's a big part of the reason that um we're we were invited and will be part of the Metro Athletic Conference next year um and has does continues to do a great job of bringing
025excellent coaches to the district. So thankful for Billy for all of his hard work. Adam Booth, our elementary principal, just finishing up five years, um does an outstanding job working with,200 kids each day. the leader of a building with,200 kids is quite a challenge and he always brings positive energy uh to the district and we're thankful for Adam and all his hard work. Kurt Gwyn, even if he wasn't in the room right now, I would tell you how uh what a great job he does um as our director of technology. And I think Kurt, how many years you've been with the district now? >> Uh just like 20 >> 20 years. So the tech, you know, he came from we had abacuses back then and now uh now the level of technology is um extraordinary
026and and and frankly accelerating and Kurt's helping the district keep up with that accelerating challenges of technology. Roy Zean, another one that's wearing a lot of hats. Roy, how long you've been in the district now? nine years and uh what sevens or eight eight as our director of student services and we added the data analytics a few years ago just does a great job of um serving not only all of our students with special needs but really all of our students districtwide um and and thankful for Roy for his leadership and all he does for the district. Tim Blau, who's not here tonight, but he pinched hit for um Kurt last night as or last month um to to help run the board meeting. Uh Tim's been with us a couple decades, too, I think.
027How long's he been with us, Kurt? >> I want to say 16. >> 16. So, um again, his you know, Tim and Kurt are an awesome team and and with with Ed Fernando and Anthony in uh thankful for all of them for all they do. So, I'm sorry to take up too much time with these folks, but uh just a special group and and happy to celebrate them and recommend wholeheartedly uh new three-year contracts for them. >> Miss Davis, if you could talk about um tenure, the continuing teaching contracts. >> So, we have um continuing contracts being recommended for Kurt, if you could click on that. >> If you could click on the continuing teaching contract. Um we have four teachers being recommended for continuing contracts. We will um likely have one additional um next
028month as well. Um but teachers can apply for a continuing contract. Uh they are required to apply um to myself and um Mr. Wood by September 15th of each school year. There are certain criteria by contract that they must meet. Um, part of that is, um, having a teaching license for a minimum of seven years in our district for at least five years. Um, have either their master's degree or bachelor's plus 30 semester hours. Um and then they apply and after that application the um building principal will complete two formal observations that include a pre-conference and a postconference as required by the Ohio teacher evaluation system and then I am the evaluator for anyone applying for tenure. I am the um secondary evaluator. So I go in and do the third formal observation with a
029pre and postconference and then based on those three formal observations um we do a recommendation for a continuing contract. So as you know um when individuals are hired they're given three one-year contracts and then they move into a two-year contract cycle and now this takes them from that two-year contract cycle to a continuing contract. They are still um based on the Ohio teacher evaluation system, they are still evaluated either every two or three years formally. Um but that just includes two formal observations and pre and postconferences on that cycle. So I highly recommend those four individuals. Um I really enjoyed being in their classroom. Um just outstanding teachers and they deserve to be given a continuing contract. And continuing is just another word for tenure. >> Yep. >> Exactly. >> Not subject to riffs. >>
030Yes. >> So that's the main benefit. >> Yes. >> Got it. >> Yes. Exactly. >> Um Mr. Manion, the next one I was going to talk about was Mr. Morrisy. So if you don't mind. >> Yeah. So um thinking about going to the middle school and not having Matt Moresy there is a is a strange thought. I think he's been here uh my entire career. He spent time here at the high school and and has been at the middle school for a long time. Um I cannot think of a person that deserves retirement more than Matt. Um but he's just got probably the biggest heart of any person I've ever met in my entire life. He truly cares about kids in a way that that we just aspire to hire. Like when we look for
031candidates, he's the kind of person we want working in our buildings with our kids. Um, and he will be sorely missed. Though I think he uh will come back and do some maintenance and and worked summers and all that sort of stuff because he just can't seem to get away from this place. But uh we'll be sorely missed, but we are excited for him to enjoy some time with his family and retirement and and you know that next chapter. >> Yeah. Thank you, Jeff. That was excellent tribute. I don't have anything to ask to add to that that um Matt Matt will be dearly missed. Um, we had some some kind of midyear uh resignations at the at the middle school. So, tribute to uh Mr. Manion for kind of stepping up and um taking
032care of um kind of reshuffling some staff. we're we're we're going to be able to kind of I say get by with some temporary measures around an intervention specialist and found an excellent replacement for uh for the the front office uh secretary position which is a key position for us uh at all of our buildings. So thankful to Jeff and the team at the middle school for scurrying to uh kind of fill in some some some mid-year resignations which happen once in a while. And then I I also just a couple more I wanted to point out and then if the board has any questions. Um one is uh Jamie Hoffman who's um presently one of our uh kindergarten teachers. Uh done a nice job for us. I think Jaime's been in the district maybe
033five years, four or five year, not quite that. So Jamie um is expecting her her second child. So with her expanding family, she decided has decided to stay home going forward. So, uh, we will miss Jamie and wish her and her family all the luck in the world. Um, and then, uh, I think I think those were the the main things I I wanted to to add. I I I Coach Gate is I I I do have Coach Gate on here. So, Tony uh, recently retired as the head coach of at Barbber. Um, the God family is, of course, Townage, our Townage residents. Tony was a longtime uh coach here at Townage before he went to the Barbardan job. So, he's going to come back as an assistant coach. So, be it be good to
034have some gray hair on the staff and uh and and his leadership and his experience. So, um excited to welcome Tony back to the district. Uh those are the highlights. I don't know if there's anything else the board had questions on or Yeah. So, um, first off, the continuing teacher contracts and some, uh, some things like that. Really good names on that list with the admin, the teachers, like really proud of, you know, a lot of those people. And in that same vein, uh, I know you guys already talked about Matt Moresy, but I think either his first or second year was my freshman year, and he coached freshman football and was was a science teacher. I forget what it was called back then, but nth grade science. um just an amazing teacher, an amazing
035person and um I don't know that I was one of his best students or athletes, but he was one of my best teachers. So just yeah, we'll sorely miss him as you already said, but just yeah, a lot of years uh to be in in our buildings and and caring for kids. So just really appreciate him. >> So with uh the FMLA extension for Mrs. Gaul, didn't we already approve that? Um, I think there was there's basically two extensions that happened. So, okay. Um, >> I I I think this is one we had to do because she extended it again. Um, I I'll double check that. >> Is she p It's still April 1st, right? >> Okay. I thought we had already approved that. I was just a little confused. >> When did you see
036it last month? I apologize. Um, I feel like it was January because I feel like it was my first meeting. >> I mean, it's not that big a deal. I just was >> Yeah, I think I think maybe the dates change, Miss Pilates. I think originally she was planning to come back earlier in March and extended it out to April. I I'll have to go back and check. Either way, it's, you know, redundant if if it's worst case it's redundant. >> Okay. >> Thank you. financially. Um, there's a lot of names in here, a lot of moving parts. How does that affect us as a district? Is this going to cost us more? >> Actually, it cost us less for the rest of the school year. Oh, sorry. Uh, it'll cost us less for the
037rest of the school year because of some of the, you know, early early exits and um, and the way we're covering those. Uh, but no, no additional cost as a result of these. >> Good news. >> Okay. And then are we expecting more retirements? like what is what is the official so to speak date of folks letting us know if they're retiring? >> Well, technically they don't have to let us retire till August or let us know that they're okay leaving until the school year starts next year. Um but we we're we're getting rumblings of some others. >> It's a you know we I respect it's a big decision for people. It's a big decision. >> Um there's there's a a couple that have told me in addition to what we've already announced that they
038will be submitting their letter. they go part of that process is they go down to Columbus or have a teleconference with Columbus to talk about STRS and what their pension looks like and what their health benefits look like. >> Um so it's it's a it's a big decision and and we respect that. Um but I I do expect some more. Um likewise kind of leading the rest of your question there is it would be nice to know earlier. So, um, that's something we will be talking about when we go into contract negotiations to see if we can do something to maybe incent folks to give us notification earlier, um, going forward because there would be benefits for the district from a planning standpoint. >> Um, but but at this point for this year, you know,
039we're um, you know, we're just kind of patiently waiting for folks. >> Yeah. And I mean, just to recognize it's a lot of pressure. It's not only a big decision. and there's a lot of pressure on people. So, just want to recognize that we acknowledge that and >> you know, we're not trying to push people out, but it I know it's it's it's a hard time to make making that decision. So, >> no doubt. >> Anything else? Roll call on that then. >> Mr. Lowry. >> Hi, >> Mrs. Ross. >> Hi, >> Mrs. Battis. >> Hi, >> Mr. Davis. >> Hi, >> Mr. really. >> Hi. Next item is central office report. Uh Mr. Wood, >> thank you. Uh if Kirk could bring up my slides, I think we we'll start though. I was just
040going to start and have each one of the department reports. So I'll start with Miss Davis and curriculum updates. >> Um since our last meeting together, I had shared um the update around our professional staff professional development day. Um since then our math content committee actually met today. Um had great afternoon together talking through our instructional framework of the state of Ohio had issued um a plan for mathematics instruction. So we had some alignment that we needed to do with our own instructional framework. Um additionally our social studies content committee meets tomorrow. So trying to cram it all in right before spring break. Um so looking forward to that afternoon together with our social studies content committee. Uh we met have already met once um since returning from break and um had great conversation around
041our social studies and instructional framework and again you've heard me say before but we're not in a position to adopt any new resources. So, it's more about um doing some vertical alignment and and getting creative around how we can um fill any gaps that we might have with our current resources. Um, additionally, our district lead teachers uh met last week actually and we are on track to pilot our learner profiles and um so from now between now and our next meeting in April, they will have piloted in their classroom their learner profiles. Then we're coming back to the table to talk through is it doing what we intended for it to do? And then we're going to talk through our plan to roll those out uh K12 for the fall of next school year. And
042um we're kind of fine-tuning what that looks like in terms of because the goal would be that um not only are the students um reflecting on their own learner profiles and how they change um in terms of how they like to learn, what they're passionate about um but also it will help the teachers kind of inform their instruction as well. So, we're fine-tuning the plan on how that year-over-year information will be shared in the most efficient way possible with the the subsequent year's teacher. So, those are things we're going to work through next month during our time together. But, we are set to pilot and really excited about it. So, that's all the updates for me. Thank you. >> Thank you, M Davis. Mr. Zean, >> uh good evening. >> Uh since we spoke last
043month, thanks, Jeff. Uh since we spoke last month, uh I know we talked last month a little bit about threshold cost, which is a way that we can uh submit to potentially recoup some of the cost of uh of what we put into student need based on if they exceed a certain threshold. Uh we're in the middle of that process right now. Really working hard on that. We should have that submitted by midappril and then uh we'll hear not too long after about um you know uh the funds that'll be come back to the district for that. But uh heavily involved in that right now. Um we're also in the middle of a Medicaid audit. Uh we do that annually. This is just the time of year um that we do that. Again, we've talked
044with uh I've talked to you guys about that in the past. We do uh we are part of the school um the school funding um uh process for Medicaid so that we can potentially recoup some cost based on uh supports and services that we provide to students OT PT speech um some psych services there's been some changes to the law for health services um students with health plans or health services on their IEPs students with the nursing services or personal um nurses, things like that, we can recoup some of the costs. So, we're working through that audit right now. That should be done by the end of April. Um we're in the process of a one plan revision. Um so, uh again, this is something we've talked to the board about in the past. The
045district essentially um we are required to do a needs assessment every three years. Um it's kind of like we kind of like districts have their own IEPs, right? So we do a needs assessment. Uh we deep dive into what um where we see areas of need. Um look for root causes and then based on that we create goals. So we create a plan um how to work through those needs. Uh we did that uh two years ago. So we're in the middle of that. But we've uh had some things come up um around special ed that we want to we can always do revisions to things that we see as current needs. So, we're going to add um some goals around special education and then um we're actually in a full cycle of revision next
046school year, but we're going to do some changes um uh just some additions to that so we can get moving um around special education. Uh part of the reason for that is also that um the state has kind of changed their uh special education desk review process. Um I haven't talked to the board about this. This is justformational at this point because we haven't had a chance to really sit down and go through our plan for this, but the state has kind of changed their process for reviewing districts and their special education supports and services. It's a rolling five-year cohort. Um, our cohort comes up in 2930. So technically we're not going to be for have a formal desk audit um for a few years but the process starts formally for all district for for
047the first cohort next school year. Uh we're not going to wait for that process to happen for us. We're going to start to parallel and initiate that process. There's a lot of good things that are coming out of those desk audits some of which we already have in place like we have an internal monitoring team. So we have a collection of uh staff support service and special education staff that we get together regularly review our policies, procedures, our ETRs, our IEPs um and make decisions on uh where we're uh finding success where we're not and then that helps us to make changes. Um there's also going to be some implementation of professional development across the district. So if the board remembers the changes with the dyslexia law and the need for everybody in the district
048including administration to to take some coursework, uh the state is now rolling out and there will be some things around math we think coming up but there is also going to be things around special education. So, uh, everybody in the district will need to be taking some level of special education training. Um, that's been outlined by the state at different levels depending on your involvement in that process. So, we're early in the process of reviewing how we're going to roll that out. But, that's justformational for the board. Um, last couple things is, um, we also just had our prekk transition meeting, so we're starting to prepare for that process. um uh kindergarten uh registration opened on May uh March 1st. So, we're moving along with that. Uh early entrance kindergarten um sign up, so to
049speak, has has also been opened uh for individuals who apply for that. There's a process um and those evaluations usually occur early in the summer. Um and then just last FYI is um just a reminder to the board um informational that the Nordonia Allstar Track and Field event will be Friday, May 8th. Um it's usually the first or second week of of May every year. That is kind of the name replacement for the Nordonia Special Olympics, what's now called the uh Nordonia All-Star Track and Field event because we've moved away from the actual requirements around Special Olympics. Um it's similar same event basically. Um would love to have the board involved or um come visit. Um I'll get more information to come if you want to see that. All right. Any questions? >> Awesome. >>
050Thanks. >> Just a couple things for me. So, um recently we've had a couple of repairs to some roof issues that we've had in particular David Bacon. There was a small issue here at the high school. Um and those seem to be remedied and and we're moving forward with those repairs. Uh on Friday we had an electricity outage in Tamage which almost everything worked perfectly in the district. So our backup generators picked up with the exception of the middle school. Um so that generator failed to come back on. Um, and so just kind of a shout out to Kurt and Tim uh who spent some extra time on Friday, kind of starting their weekend with a couple hours of making sure that we had people coming uh to make those repairs. So, they were out
051doing some work again today to make sure that those uh are operating properly. Um, also I think I make this shout out every single month, but just a shout out to our maintenance guys who are um in process of kind of making sure that our fields are ready and spring sports are are ready to go. Um, moving a lot of high jump and and you know pole vault or not pole vaulting but um mats that that that are super heavy. So they've been doing a lot of that work. Um we have had a lot of hiring. Um I should have shouted out Tracy McCoy. So Tracy is our new middle school secretary um and kind of doing that job alone, which normally has some support, but since she's not that support any longer, she's kind
052of picked up a lot of that work on her own uh and has done an amazing job getting us through the the last couple of weeks. Um in addition to that, I will be attending kind of a reunification drill in Canton on Friday. I know as a district we like to look at kind of our safety practices. So I'll be getting some feedback from that uh potential drone and bringing that home. And then also on March 31st, we will be hosting a safety summit uh which is mostly Summit County schools, some Portage County, uh lots of SRO's and administration coming to kind of uh just meet and you know get some get some collaboration but also hear some uh of the latest safety options that are out there in the in the world that we
053might potentially bring back to our district. So that is the 31st here at the high school that morning. you're certainly welcome to join us, but that'll be uh in the morning. >> Jeff, thank you. Um I want to thank mother nature because the wind was horrible on Friday and she waited until after the kids were home to to shut down power. And then I also wanted to add to to Jeff's shout out to Kurt and Tim are also our kitchen staff. So when school's out, the worst thing you can do is have your electric go out, all the food. So, the refrigerators and there's a lot of scurrying by our kitchen, some of our kitchen staff and custodians to move some food around to make sure it didn't spoil. Um, so, and we're also thankful
054the power came up after relatively short outage. So, all right. Thank you very much, Jeff. Mr. Mr. Gwyn, what do you got for us? >> Hang on one second. Sorry. >> While we were on the subject of generators, >> don't those generators do a monthly test automatically? >> Yeah. So, we So, there was a blip of energy that happened on Friday, kind of around noon or around that time frame. Um, and so Tracy noticed that there was some light indicators on in her panel in the middle school office. I made the mistake of thinking it was just kind of in need of a reset from that blip of energy. Um, so it's kind of a perfect storm that the electricity then went out like two hours after that. So I'm not sure that they were
055connected, but we do have a system of monitoring. Um, so my phones vibrated about 150 times today as they've tested that machinery. So we do we do have a notification process. Um, but I'm kind of thinking Friday was a perfect storm of it went down potentially right before we had that outage. Um, so I think we're kind of really unlucky in that situation. >> Okay. They do have uh monthly self tests that they run through and uh >> Okay. >> Mhm. Perfect. We are beginning in switches and wireless access points. So went out to bid through Thank you. We went out to bid through uh -ate which is a federal grant uh through the FCC uh started as a telecommunications grant and then it evolved to uh help schools offset the cost of internet connectivity
056and and data communications. Uh so uh after 30 days at bid, we can uh finalize a contract with a winning uh bidder and get started on replacing some of the uh well most of the network uh and data communications equipment in the district. So that is in the works and that's really all I had. Any questions? >> I'd just like to follow up on that. those purchases uh qualify for purchase under the permanent improvement fund. So, and they're obviously integral to the operation of the district. So, right, if anybody has any questions about >> the grant will pay for um probably close to 60% of the cost of the project. So, and uh if you don't do it, you know, this equipment comes, they reach what's called end of life or end of support and
057it will no longer be able to install security updates. And so, we want to make sure we have secure and reliable uh network. So, >> great. Thank you everybody uh for those updates. So, uh, Kurt, uh, before we go get to good stuff, I just want to give the board an update on the, um, financial planning that's going on in the district right now. So, Kurt, if you can go to the next slide, just a reminder of, you know, kind of our focus in terms of getting us through this this struggle and and as well as just so I think the board knows, it's issue number three is on the ballot on May 5th, 5.6 six mil levy uh to um to to help the district continue to to provide awesome opportunities for kids. Um
058the one thing that we did do this time around just to help families, I think it's always confusing, it's always confusing like how much it's going to cost me, right? That's a common and we we try to give the formula to folks, but they don't know if they use the assessed value in from the county or do they use the Zillow value or what do they use the the number that their neighbor sold their house for. Um, so we've taken that guesswork out of it for everyone this time. There is a levy calculator that's available right on our district finance page. you can go to any property in Townage and and it will tell you exactly what this 5.6 mil levy will cost you um per month. So thankful for for um everybody that helped
059put that together. So uh and then just some updates here. This is basically I I just repeated um duplicated I should say the the presentation from last month. I wanted to give an update on the teaching positions. Um right now just based on retirements and attrition uh we're we're presently at four um four less positions at Townwich High School and three less at at Townidge Elementary School. That will change up. It won't become less than that. And this week uh as promised to the team here, we are informing all people that will be affected or may be affected by uh reductions or transfers in the district for next year. So, everyone will know that before spring break. It gives our our teachers a chance if there are positions at risk. It gives them a chance
060to look at other districts that may be hiring. Um, so that's that's just trying to support our team during this difficult time. Um, if we can go to the next slide, Kurt. I know this is a dead horse, but I I'm going to say it over and over again just so people know we're very efficient spenders. Next one. Um, I think we can go right down to uh go right down to good stuff, Kurt. I think those are the key updates. All right. So, good stuff. Um there there's a lot of good stuff in in the district happening and there's a lot of things we need to celebrate. Um this is not up to date. Kurt, are you sure that's the most upto-date one? >> Yeah, there you go. I think that's No, that's that
061was it. That's better. Okay. So So first of all, just have some some photos here. Um Ian B uh placed fourth at the state tournament. So that's a picture of Ian in the yellow shirt on the podium uh down in Columbus. Um wrestling is a sport that's near and dear to my heart. So to see some town kids ex excelling in wrestling is is really cool. Um looking back at history, this is one of the best state performances in the history of our district by one of our wrestlers. We had a couple runner-ups back in the early 70s. We had a third place in uh in the early 80s. We've had some other state qualifiers in the past, but I think uh Ian I I may be wrong about this, but I think his fourth
062place finish is the fourth best performance by a Tomage wrestler in history. So, uh congratulations to Ian. Congratulations to Coach B, his dad is a very proud papa this week. Um, so so thrilled for for Keith and and the excellent job he's doing in and bringing new energy to our wrestling program. Uh, next up, you know, I I do feel like I'm saying this every year because we are. We we we are state champions once again for our wheelchair basketball team. What an awesome group of kids. Uh, a group of kids that are having an amazing experience. And it's so awesome um for me to see this group of kids experience that kind of joy and success in in a competitive field. And I'm just thankful to the board for your support of wheelchair basketball.
063Was not a, you know, inexpensive program to start up. Um we did get a lot of grants to help pay for wheelchairs, but it's uh but it's it's creating just an amazing opportunity for our kids, changing lives. And I also want to shout out to to Greg Mahalik who is the very very tall gentleman in the middle there of that picture. Greg has just brought passion to the program uh since since we founded it here at Townage and he was named the adaptive sports coach of the year in the state of Ohio. So congratulations to Greg for just just being an awesome um awesome part of our community. Uh, and then I Chase Jonkey who's a sophomore. I believe Chase is a sophomore. Uh, but a sophomore that finished uh 59th in the state in
064bowling this year. So, he's got a bright future ahead of us. So, hopefully he'll keep keep rolling. So, congratulations to Chase. Um, our marching band, again, shout out to Mr. Coleman for great creating great opportunities for kids. Our band boosters for helping to support this effort. They performed at the Cavs game uh this past month. Uh just buy your tickets. Not yet. Their tickets will go on sale March 31st for uh Spongebob. Um so please uh uh check that out. Uh you know, it's always a great performance. It's coming coming upon us fast. Um I I shared with the board last week in our board notes the career tech placements. So the four programs that we host here at at Townage High School kind of record numbers in terms of um bringing kids to the
065district from other from other districts. If you think about it's more kids for us to support and help and uh and and you know this the fashion program this will be the first year of it and to almost fill that up in the first year is remarkable. And then I also want to shout out Kim Brendle who's our Academy of Finance Careers. It's really, this will really just be the third year of the program and she's got a waiting list. So, it's just nice to see new programs, new opportunities for kids and uh you know, quite frankly on the financial side, we need to fill those seats for these programs to make viable sense financially and and that's what's what's happening ahead of next year. So, we're excited about that. Um the track and field
066throws area. So, if you have a chance to wind around the back of the building here, you'll see kind of a brand new shed. Whole It was It was It's a much nicer throws area than we had at the old high school. I'll say that. It was already uh but what um Preston Shrock, one of our seniors this year, and his dad and a bunch of volunteers have done down at our shotput and and discus area is really amazing. And it really looks nice. It's really sharp. So, it's very be very welcoming for uh our track and field uh teams and and it's really a nice little arena to watch the shot and and uh and discus and and Preston's one of our best throwers we've ever had here at Townage. So, he's kind of
067self- serving a little bit and that you know he'll he'll be able to perform in that amazing amazing arena. But, we're very very thankful to Preston for his energy and and the kind donations to make that happen. and it didn't cost the district anything for those upgrades. Uh so very very thankful to them. Reminder to the board, just a couple things to keep on all's radar as the year winds down. These things sneak up fast. Make sure you block them out on your calendar. Distinguished scholars is April 10th. Um and then we'll roll right into uh graduation activities, senior breakfast, awards night, all that stuff will will happen pretty quick, folks. And it's an awesome time of year. excited exciting time of year and I'm hopeful that yesterday was the last time we see snowflakes
068but I'm not going to so that's that's my that's my report for tonight. Um that's it. Any questions? Okay. Thank you very much. Um the next item we have is old business which there is none and no new business. So this is where we open it up for comments. Um what we will do is watch the time to five minutes and if anybody wants to speak um up identify yourself and have at it. Anybody any takers? Okay. >> Okay. >> Anytime. And I would just say, Miss, thank you. And any anytime any community members watching tonight, uh, please, our email addresses are pretty pretty easy to find and, um, happy to answer any questions because I know there's a lot of questions out there. >> Yep. John. >> Okay. Where do you want me to
069sit here? >> Okay. My name is John Brian and I'm the vice president of our town teachers association and I get to give some great news too about what's going on with our teacher members. Um, and this is like um again I love to brag about our members because we have such hardworking devoted teachers that go above and beyond. And it's kind of funny that you know Matt Morrisy's retirement. Well, I don't know if many of you know that he received an award for lifetime achievement at the Summit County All-Star teaching team. So, I think that needs to be recognized. As along with Alyssa Wright, she received at the middle school the rookie of the year in regards to um that same award. Uh we had the teaching team of John Gurgley and Brian Nep.
070If you guys don't know them, they are hilarious together. Um, but boy, those kids just I mean, they just flourished with that teaching team. So, they were on some big awards this year that I was really proud of. Some other things you might not know is that um we have a counselor Lyanna Doberman. She received um an OEA, which is Ohio Education's Association whisper grant. We had a family desperately in need of clothing basic necessities after a houseire. So, she wrote this grant and was able to receive $500 to help that family to try to reestablish themselves. That was huge. Not only did she get that grant, but she also received a GPT grant in the amount of $4,000. And at at the elementary, um her and several of the teachers are planning to do
071cabinets where if kids need deodorant, clothing, toothbrush, toothpaste, um which is, you know, a huge need nowadays, believe it or not. So, shout out to Lyanna because I mean this just doesn't happen. She has to fill out the grant proposals. Um, in addition, we have another OEA grant, Ashley Graham. Um, they were going to do an international night this spring, but they want to make it bigger and better. So, she wrote a grant from OEA and received funding. So, mark on your calendars once we get the date in October, I believe, there's going to be a huge international fair. we've done it in the past. It is absolutely amazing. So again, um we are extremely proud of that particular member. Um finally, I want to challenge the board um to recognize teachers that go above
072and beyond. When I first started in the district, uh, I received national board certification and I was invited to the board where they handed me a certificate and yes, it's just a piece of paper, but to be acknowledged, you know, and you know, whether someone is getting their master's degree, someone wrote a grant, you know, but teachers need to hear that is too, especially with the morale um, with the current situation politically and that that I I challenge the board, you know, even next year um, to, you know, just call them here and if they wrote a grant and received it, you can ask them questions or do a quick little presentation. But those little things mean a lot. And, you know, sometimes I know we all get busy, but I think uh our staff
073would really benefit from being acknowledged by the board. And that's all I have. Good news. >> Thanks, John. >> Go ahead. >> Well, I was gonna um even before John spoke, uh today Mr. Nash brought the builder's club kids to uh the state of the city. Um the kids were very wellreceived and did a great job and they decided next year that they want to be the greeters at the state of the city. So I thought that was it was very um I was like absolutely you know so it was cool to see them there and then take the initiative to want to do more next year. And then uh on Monday I was able to spend a little bit of time in the second grade gym class and um just I had a blast
074uh and got to interact with the kids and just was very impressed with Mrs. G and how she handles I mean it's down to a science and and the sound system they have. I was like no coaches having horse voices because they don't have to yell. Um, but I would very much appreciated her invite and to be able to do that and just kind of be in the classroom for 45 minutes or whatever. Um, but just kudos to her for sending out the invite. Okay. Anybody else? Yes. No. All right. I would entertain a motion to adjourn. >> A motion. >> Second. Motion in a second. >> I'm sorry. >> Mr. Lowry. >> Hi, >> Mr. Davis. >> Hi, >> Mrs. >> Hi, Mr. >> Hi, >> Mr. Pastor Elli. >> Hi,