001Is that all right? live. Ready? Ready. Uh, welcome everybody uh to the uh uh board of education. Uh just lost everything here. >> 16th. >> Yeah, lost it all. Oh, there it is. Now it popped back up. Nope. >> Okay, we'll try that again. Welcome to uh the Wednesday, July 16th, 2025 Townage Board of Education meeting agenda. Uh we have a big crowd here tonight. Thank you for all attending and both online also. Thank you so much. Uh, as always, we will start with the pledge of allegiance. If you could rise, remove your hats. Yes, I will. And, uh, for the pledge of allegiance, I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
002>> Thank you. Next up, we have roll call. Mr. Hostler >> Here >> I'm here. Still playing with my screen. Uh again, welcome visitors. We've already uh said that uh like to ask uh the board has recommended that uh the board of education approve the minutes of the June 17th, June 18th, and July 14th, 2025 meetings. Uh minutes of which are attached. And I would need a motion. >> I'll make a motion. >> I'll second. >> Uh any questions about anything? No discussion. Mr. Hostettler, >> Mrs. Ross, >> I uh recommendations of the board of education. Uh special evening here. Uh it is recommended that the board approve the attached resolution, namely the wait room at Town High School, the Illaoi Family Strength Center. Uh I would need a motion for this. >> A motion.
003I'll second. >> And uh what I would like to do, if it's uh okay with you, is read the resolution uh this evening. And uh Townage Board of Education resolution naming the wait room at Townage High School, the Lowry Family Strength Center. Whereas the Lowry family has made a financial contribution of over $50,000 to Townage City Schools in support of its athletes. hand. Whereas members of the Lowry family have made a substantial positive impact on the students of Townage City School District as coaches, volunteers, schoolboard members for many decades. Now there it be resolved that the Townage City School Board as provided by the board policy names the wait room at Townage High School the Lowry Family Strength Center for a duration of 15 years commencing on July 16th 2040 in honor of the Lowry
004family's unwavering support as well as generous financial contribution to the athletes of Townage High School. At the end of the term, the wait room will remain the Lowry Family Strength Center until renamed by the board. Uh this resolution is adopted uh the 16th day of July 2025. And on behalf of the board, I sure do want to extend our thanks, our gratitude to the family fam uh Lowry family and uh would actually ask if you have something you would like to say or know or We already gave this speech in the wait room. >> In the wait room. It's all been said in the wait room. >> So Pam and I love the district. We love athletics and we believe that you win or lose games in the offse and God gives us all certain
005size, certain speed, but each of us determine how strong we want to be. And so this weight room now eliminates all the excuses There's no reason to lift anywhere else other than in that strength center and to build build team, build family and build chemistry together in the offse. So we've been blessed and we're happy to be able to do this. >> Thank you. Thank you so much. Anything else? Any other comments? >> Super grateful. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, I would just and uh we did an open house just prior to the board meeting tonight and it is spectacular. So, we're just very very thankful to you Dennis and Pam for your support. Also want to thank the athletic boosters for their generous work uh and generous contribution to the project. Want to thank
006Billy, our coaching staff, coach Haye, everything was part who was part of making this spectacular space happen. Uh, thank you. I would ask for a vote. >> I I >> I have to abstain. >> I I don't have to abstain. I agree. I moving on. Uh, so thank you. Uh, moving on. Recommendations of the treasurer. It is recommended that the board approve the financial reports for the month of May 2025 as they have been presented. And I would ask for a motion. >> A motion. >> Second. >> Uh any questions about anything? Anything to highlight? Mr. Hosteller? >> Uh this May June uh which we're working on closing out ends another fiscal year. Fiscal year 25 is technically in the books and uh once those are done we'll take a a snapshot and talk a
007little bit about where we're at at the end of the fiscal year. But yeah, it's pretty much as we expected. >> Very good. Uh do we need a vote? >> Yes. >> Mr. Lowry. I >> Mr. Davis. >> Hi. >> Mrs. Ross. >> Hi. >> Mr. Fris. >> Hi. Uh, next up, it is recommended that the board authorize the treasur to make any year-end appropriation amendments necessary to balance the appropriations of the funds of fiscal year 2025. Need a motion? >> Second. >> Uh, any questions on anything? Anything to highlight? >> This is uh annual resolution. we do and the I mentioned fiscal year 25 is technically over. Uh it's a year end cleanup thing that we do to make any within the general fund and other adjustments just to balance things. Nothing doesn't affect
008what we've done expenditure wise or anything. It's just a cleanup process. >> All right. Very good. I would ask for a vote. >> Mr. Lowry. >> I. >> Mr. Davis. >> I. >> Mrs. Ross. I >> Mr. Fra >> I >> uh temporary appropriations. It is recommended that the board approve the temporary appropriations for fiscal year 26 at the same level as fiscal year 25 appropriations effective July 1st, 2025. Permanent appropriations for fiscal year 26 will be adopted by September 30th, 2025, which is required by law. I would need a motion. >> I'll make a motion. Second. >> Any questions? Anything to highlight? >> Another standard uh resolution to uh be able to spend and appropriate money for fiscal year 26. Once we have everything more determined in place, we'll adopt permanent appropriations by September
00930. But this allows us to operate in the new fiscal year. I would ask for a vote. >> Mrs. Ross, >> I >> Mr. Davis, >> I. >> Mr. Lowry, >> I. >> Mr. F. >> I. >> Uh, resolution for necessity. It is a resolution declaring it necessary to renew an existing 7.5 mil tax levy for the purpose of current expenses and requesting the Summit County fiscal officer to make certain certifications pursuant to the sections 5705.03 and 5705.21 to one of the revised code and I there is an attachment to be reviewed. Uh do I have a motion? >> A motion second. >> Is there anything to add to this, Mr. Hostel or? >> Yeah, this uh this is a levy that has been around for a number of years. Uh the language of the
010renewal has to state the original voted millage which is 7.5. The effective because of House Bill 920 over the years is about 4.3. Uh again it's been around for I believe 20 years and as all renewals critical to the survival of the the district. So uh this is the first step. these both this one and the next resolution are the first step. The resolution goes to the county. They will certify uh collections and all of that will be put into a second resolution which will be adopted uh or presented hopefully adopted by the board and everything submitted to the board of elections by the first week of August. >> I would ask for a vote. >> Well, and just for clarification, this was 2015. This was last passed. Is that correct? >> Uh, yes. It
011was >> by the voters and this is another 10year. >> Yes. But we are putting it on for a continuing. >> Oh, >> I didn't think this could. >> Okay. As the attorney uh asked and I said, I thought that was the intent of the board to be a continuing. >> We'd love it to be a continuing. In the language, it says for for 10 years. >> Oh, it does. >> Yeah. I thought this was an emergency levy, Jeff, and they could not we could not make this a continuing. Okay. >> Is that the case? >> I then uh if if he wrote it up that way then I'm sure that is the case. >> Just below the black bold it says for 10 years. >> Okay. Yes. My mistake. >> But still 10 years
012is >> 10 years is a nice long time. So yes, >> I think it's the only levy we have that that needs renewed now. and and it's one that because it's an emergency levy, the nature of emergency levies can't be uh can't be continuing. It's my understanding. >> So, we have no other renewals, >> right? >> Correct. They've all been renewed on a continuing basis. >> So, it will be 10 years. >> It'll be 10 years. >> Okay. >> I bet. >> So, I would ask for a vote. >> Mr. Lowry, >> I. >> Mrs. Ross, I >> Mr. Davis. Hi. >> Mr. I >> next up resolution of necessity new operating levy resolution declaring it necessary to levy an additional 5.7 mil tax levy for the purpose of current expenses and requesting the Summit
013County fiscal officer to make certain certifications pursuant to the sections 5705.03 and 5705.21 to one of the revised code and I would need a motion. >> A motion. >> I'll second. >> Any questions? >> I don't have any questions. >> Any comments? >> We're good. >> Go ahead. >> Yeah, I would say that um first of all, I know the board has done a lot of work on this. There's been a number of uh work sessions over the last couple months. Hone in on this number. Um an example if as you saw the the previous levy that we were renewing uh was 7.5 which is kind of a typical millillage for levies when we asked the taxpayer for new money. Uh this time the board's going with a lower millage. um really just being responsible
014um trying to like ask for the least amount that really gets us through the next four to five years given um a lot that's going on in not only the community and and with um with the school district but really around the state. A lot of what's happening here is being driven by the reduction in state funding that's coming to schools. And there was a article in the Cleveland plane dealer that we shared with the community that talked about how um this the reduction in state funding is impacting local school district and that's definitely the case here. So this 5.7 mil levy is really to maintain the great programs we have. Um and we we need it in order to keep and maintain the great programs we have. This is not an ask to the
015community to to to make things uh you know or build new buildings, do anything extra. This is really about keeping up with inflation and uh making sure our curricul curriculum remains strong. Um so very thankful to the board for being responsible, asking for a little less than than they typically would ask for. Uh but I think it's the right amount gets us through um you know the next few years should make us it get us into the next decade uh like this pre previous one did. The board hasn't asked for new money since uh 2019 and um we're certainly uh looking forward over the next few months of communicating this to the community, making them aware of what's happening in the district. >> Thank you. Any comments? We're good. Yeah, I I I would be
016remiss if I didn't at least take a shot at the state uh the legislators for what they didn't do. >> Uh I mean, if if you've been paying attention to school funding at all, the uh school funding formula four years ago was supposed to to solve school funding and it was a it was a good formula. But what has happened is that the legislators refused to update cost factors and fund it properly. So if you've been paying attention uh at all, you'll like Steve said, we're we're getting actually a reduction in school funding. Even though there's there's two more years to phase in the funding formula, which would build in an automatic increase each year because of the phase in, we're still losing uh money uh in fiscal year 27. So, uh it's it's a
017result of of the the state failing to fund public schools again. And this one is a continuing >> Yeah, you mentioned the cost factors. I think it's important to mention that it was 2022 numbers, >> right? Yeah. The the idea of the funding formula was to stay up to date with the most recent cost factors to plug into the calculations to determine school funding. But the cost factors that are going into this formula for the next two years are fiscical year 22 cost factors. So basically the legislators are saying we're going to fund your schools in fiscal year 26 and 27 on fiscal year 22 data. >> It just doesn't work. So um they have they have u not done us any favors. >> Enough said. I would I would ask for a vote. >>
018Mr. Lowry >> I >> Mr. Davis >> I >> Mrs. Ross >> I >> Mr. Fair. >> I Okay, putting levies away. Uh move on to an agreement for shelter care. It is recommended that the board of education accept the agreement between shelter care of townage and townage city schools for the uh 2025 uh and 26 school year. And uh there is an attachment here that shows the agreement. Uh I would ask for a motion. >> A motion. >> I'll second. Any comments? This is what we have done. >> Ongoing part. Yeah. Ongoing partnership for a long time. Shelter Cares. We're uh temporary housing for um youth and um you know it's it's important that with what many of those students are going through to continue to provide them educational resources. So we're very very
019thankful to this partnership with shelter care as well as um the teachers that are willing to tutor and go to shelter care on a routine basis. >> All right. I should clarify that the all the the partnership the funding for it is comes through federal uh title 1D dollars. So it's all part of our federal grant money. >> Very good. I would ask for a vote. >> Mr. Lowry >> I excuse me. Mrs. Ross >> I. >> Mr. Davis >> I. >> Mr. Fairers >> I. Uh, another agreement uh with the Education Service Center of Northeast Ohio Visually Impaired Student Services. It is recommended that the board of education approve the following agreement with the Town City Schools and the ESCO uh for the 202526 school year uh to have the EFC provide services to
020visually impaired students when needed. and please see the attached agreement uh for the contract. I would need a motion. >> I'll make a motion. >> Second. >> And uh any questions, comments? I assume this is prototypical. >> Yeah, this is um we work annually with the ESC of Northeast Ohio. Uh this is one service. Uh these are services teacher of the visually impaired services and orientation and mobility services. Um these are services that uh Summit County ESC who we have a partnership with does not provide. So we partner with the ESC NEO for these services. >> All right. Very good. >> It's basically a renewal. Any cost increases? >> Uh no not this year. >> Good. >> I would ask for a vote. >> Mrs. Ross. >> Hi. >> Mr. Davis. >> I. >> Mr.
021Lowry. >> I. >> Mr. P. >> I. Uh recommendations from the superintendent. Uh it is recommended that the board of education accept the updated Townage High School handbook for the 202526 school year uh per the attachments uh which is uh for the handbook. There are I believe there were 16 items uh and I would ask for a motion. >> A motion. >> I'll second. >> And any questions on anything? uh comments. I I know there were like 16 minor changes. >> Yeah, it um is Mr. Her. So, Mr. Horner really in his second year as our um high school principal, him and Miss P. Um you know, more and more are able to um kind of impact the culture and it's done through through the handbook. I think two things that jump out to me
022here. Number one, something that we did not have at this time last year, but we have now in this building are vape detectors. So, uh that's a new addition to the student handbook, and that's really helped us as a deterrent for students uh to vaping at school. Unfortunately, vaping remains a serious problem for for our for our students and families. And um you know, we do a lot more than just have vape detectors in the bathrooms. We we do a number of um you know number of counseling services and uh other programs to hopefully steer kids away from this bad habit. But vape detectors is a big part of the new um the new handbook this year. In addition, you'll see and I know it's something Chief Pasarelli is not here tonight, but Chief Pastor
023is very very passionate about just security and safety throughout the district. So, one thing that uh we've implemented for next year is uh is an ID uh requirement for kids in the building when they're here that an ID needs to be on them. So, that's included now in in the handbook that includes students and staff. So, whenever you're in the building, you need to have a an ID visible. I think the rest of it uh pretty straightforward. Nothing else to bring to the board's attention. >> So, the school districts providing IDs to everybody? Yes. In it at the high school. We've already done that. Yeah. >> K12. Okay. >> Good. >> I would ask for a vote. >> Mr. Lowry. >> I. >> Mrs. Ross. >> I. >> Mr. Davis. >> I. >> Mr. Ferris.
024>> I. Uh. Next up, personnel items. Uh, there seems to be I would ask for a consensus that we approve all of them. 5.1 through I believe it's 5.12 uh as one motion and uh would ask for a motion. >> I motion to adopt 5.1 to 5.12 together second >> and uh >> yeah we'll pull out a couple pull out here. >> Yeah, we'll pull out a few of these here. First of all, I'll just let I mean you see resident educator mentors. Miss Davis, if you could kind of explain to all of us what resident educators do. I think it's an important program and important for the board and the community to understand what that is. >> Sure. So, um, the state has what's called a resident educator program. It was previously a four-year
025mentorship. Now, it is a two-year mentorship. So, we have, um, school staff members who are trained to be mentors to brand new to education, um, mentees. And um so this would be anyone in obviously year 1 or year two. Um once leaving their um university program, they enter into a two-year resident educator license prior to transitioning to a 5-year professional license. So um we have mentors trained throughout the district in every building who are assigned as mentors to our new staff members. Um, in addition to that, they're also a part of the new teacher cohort, which the board has heard me uh talk about before. Um, and in addition, any staff member who is hired who is not on a resident educator uh license, but is in year three or or um any subsequent year
026in their career, they are also a part of the new teacher cohort um as new to Talmage employees as well. So >> great. Thank you, Miss Davis. >> Um, and then we have a visitor tonight. So, we'll put Miss Walters on the spot. She's a familiar face to the district. She's been uh has worked for the district before, but she now will be um full-time par profofessor professional. So, at Townage Middle School. So, Eileen Walters, thanks for coming tonight. So, welcome. >> Welcome. >> Yeah. And then uh a couple uh I just want to basically a shout out to a significant group of our teachers and administrators that went through the interview process. This is to replace some of the folks that left us in in the fall retirements and otherwise. Uh so we've hired
027uh we're hiring three new elementary school teachers tonight. Um so we're excited to welcome Alyssa, Faith, and Jessica to the district. um bittersweet news. Uh Fran Bishop who um is an amazing has been an amazing resource to the district for a long time as as both a secretary at Town Elementary School also as very very active in in PTA and volunteering in the district. She she received an opportunity to to to work year round at another district. This this job was just a nine-month uh job at Townage Elementary School. So, we're excited for Fran. Um, but we will dearly miss her and we're uh often running to try to find it'll be impossible to replace her, but try to find another elementary school um secretary. And then also, um kind of a shout out to
028Karen Wheatley. So, Karen's been running our middle school kitchen for a while now, uh probably a decade, and uh has just does an amazing job for us. and um with uh June Smiths who uh rest in peace uh passed away last year as our high school um kitchen manager. We decided not to fill her position last year um and just kind of finish the year. Karen um will be moving up to Townage High School. It's a great opportunity for her. I think it's a great opportunity to do some great work at Townidge High School. So, she'll be uh leaving the middle school kitchen and uh and now will be leading the high school kitchen. And so, we're we're on the hunt for a middle school uh cafeteria manager. So, uh those those are kind of
029the key things I would point out tonight to the board. >> Very good. No questions. Any We're good. I'd ask for a vote. >> Mr. Davis. >> I Ross. Hi. >> Mr. Lowry. >> Hi. >> Mr. Fris. >> Hi. Uh, next up, good stuff. Uh, I'll just let you keep talking. >> Well, it's, you know, I didn't do it, uh, there's all all kinds of good stuff. I think we highlighted it with the very generous contribution of the athletic boosters and, uh, the Lowry family of the new weight room. Um, really, really, really proud of all the work that's happening in the district this um, this summer. Uh, the elementary school, I think I don't know, Mr. Bryan's here tonight. Uh there's a lot of work that's happened at Townage uh elementary school getting ready
030for the new school year with some new uh new classroom walls and carpeting and uh different modifications to classrooms. >> You saw all the steps are gone. Yep. So uh we're we're excited. Um and uh four weeks from today, we welcome students to the building. So, we're we're we're the board I just want the board to know we will be ready and looking forward to a great school year and but also want everyone to continue to enjoy and have an amazing last four weeks of of summer. That's all I have tonight. >> Very well. Uh any questions on anything? We're good. Uh last up, because we do have people in the audience tonight, I'll open it up to the floor if anybody has any comments to make. Going once, going twice. Oh, >> do I
031need to come up there or am I good here? >> No, you're good there. >> Reiterate what Mr. Wood said and just on behalf of athletics just say a heartfelt thank you um to the Lowry family and to athletic boosters. We're going to get so much use out of that weight room. It is state-of-the-art. Uh you won't find a better one around in a high school. So, uh thank you and not only to our athletes, but honestly, it's used every day in school from our students. So, um, thank you for for impacting our whole district, um, to the Lowry family and we couldn't be more thankful. >> Good. Thank you, Mr. Johnson. And a hand in the back. >> And, um, this is John Brian. I just want to add a note um, that 31
032years ago, I had a mentor that we did it way before the state. This the district of town has always done a mentorship program that was before the state mandated it and I I'm still best friends with my mentor that I have and no one is ever alone in college which is a strength. So that's something we're very proud of the mentoring program. >> Well said. Anything else? We're good. I would ask for then an adjournment of the meeting. Need a motion. >> A motion. >> Second. >> I need a vote. Mr. Host Steller. >> Mr. Lowry. >> Hi, >> Mr. Davis. >> Hi, >> Mrs. Ross. >> Hi, >> Mr. Fris. >> Hi. And that's it. Thank you so much.