001Everyone, welcome to the Vermillion Local School District regular meeting May 11th, 2026, 6 p.m. in the VHS Commons. Uh, it's a regular meeting is the meeting of the Vermillion Board of Education and public for purpose of conducting the school district's business and is not to be considered a public community meeting. There is a time for public participation during the meeting as indicated on the agenda. Permillion board bylaw 0169.1. Call to order please. Mr. Benson >> here. >> Mrs. Stepp >> here. >> Mrs. Russell >> here. >> Mrs. Inennis >> here. >> Mrs. Trice >> here. >> All members present. All right. Thank you. Um, can the citizens of the month uh meet me over at the podium? They were uh identifi demonstrated that they had trustworthy individuals. Okay. So, kindergarten. Awesome. Okay. Thank you. [applause]
002>> You're kindergarten also. And what would you like to be? >> A swimmer. Awesome. Thank you. >> [applause] >> June. All right. What grade? >> First grade. >> Be an artist. Awesome. Thank you. [applause] [clears throat] >> So, thank you Evelyn. >> All right. And then awesome. >> Yes. Very good. >> Second. >> Great. All right. And what's >> I like to eat of my own restaurant. [applause] >> Charlotte. >> Third. >> A teacher. >> All right. A teacher. [applause] to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. Great job. >> Fourth item on the agenda is the legislative report. >> Oh, sorry. >> Um, [laughter] >> sorry. >> Uh, I do not have anything tonight. Um,
003they have been off this. They're just coming back in this week. The legislators are there's a lot of things that are going to be, you know, having different hearings and all of that this week, but nothing that has come up yet. Um, so next month I should hopefully have some updates. >> Okay. Thank you, Crystal. All right, the fifth item is the student liaison report. >> Uh, yes. Tonight we have a a Vermillion High School presentation by Principal Andrew Perry. You've got brought some students with you for this. I >> think we're back. >> Um, I'm going to introduce this is uh Miss Maji. She's our um teacher down in our drum. I can't speak. Yes. our egg teacher who's uh going to present about our future farmers of America organization and we have a
004special award that she's going to discuss uh regarding the recent um award recipient here for us. Let's turn it over to Miss B. >> Thank you. So this is Cameron Jenkins and she had the super cool privilege of receiving our first ever state degree at the Ohio Cafe State Convention um just recently last week on uh May 1st. So just a little bit about what the Ohio State degree is. Um it's the highest honor an FFA member can earn at the state level. So it's recognizing outstanding dedication, leadership, success, and ad education. Um so it's the most prestigious degree in the state. Um the farthest degree you can earn is the American degree and that's at the national level. Um so some things that go into that there's the FFA free circle model that includes
005the classroom instruction supervised agricultural experience and then active participation in the chapter and community activities. So approximately 4% of all Ohio FFA members actually successfully earn their state degree which is super cool. Um, to be eligible for your state degree, they need to meet rigorous requirements that include being at least a junior in high school, productively earning $2,500 through their a related job. She is currently employed at Hookprint Farms over on Cemetery Road, which is where she productively earned her $2,500. Um she demonstrates leadership by participating in at least eight FFA events and activities including two at the state level which include attending the Ohio FA state convention, national convention or leadership nights which are put on by our Ohio state uh uh officer team and completing at least two consecutive A education courses um
006here at the school and then demonstrating at least a six-minute speech on an A related topic demonstrating parliamentary procedure abilities which she's participated on our parliamentary procedure team and then have earned at least 25 community service hours and have a 3.5 GPA or higher. So, we really want to congratulate Cameron for achieving this incredible milestone and becoming our first Vermillion FFA uh member to earn that. Um, this is a testament to her hard work and dedication uh for our FFA chapter here. Um, and hopefully she has set a new standard of excellence for our chapter and we hope that this will inspire our future members to uh strive for that success. Um, she also applied for a proficiency which is a super strenuous application process also related to her job. Um, and hopefully next year
007we can make it to the top four. Um, and we'll also be recognized at the state level. So, super cool things happening and we hope that we can get some more kids involved. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Congratulations. [applause] And as a junior too, that's that's very accomplishment. That's great. Okay. Uh the next couple of students I want to recognize is Elizabeth Whitaker and Sio Ramos. Okay. They could come on up. and I want to talk about a topic related to them. We also had another student who I wanted to recognize. His name is Ezra uh Wagan. Unfortunately, he cannot be here. He's on the Washington DC trip. So, anyways, in the state of Ohio, uh as you probably know, attendance is often a challenge. Um, even truthfully, it's, you know, it's a challenge
008that we talk about here at Vermillion on how we can get our students to show up on a consistent basis, um, as they get a little bit older at the high school level, that that's just a a truth that we try and improve upon. And so often times, whether it's in the media or sometimes in conferences that I've attended, it's often on the negative side of things about, you know, that, you know, our kids aren't going to school as often as we need them to go and what are we going to do about that. So, I wanted to flip the script a little bit tonight and mention some really exciting things. Um, so Ezra, Elizabeth, and Sora have uh perfect attendance this year. They have showed up every single day of the school year. They
009are only three students in our building that have done that and that's really remarkable. So, um, we talked when I had a chance to meet with them and talk about this. I said, I recognize, you know, it's there's a lot of sometimes there's things out of your control that can impact your attendance, right? I mean, something, you know, you can't help it if you get sick and can't help it if if there's an event or something that might pull you away from school or things of that nature. So, um, but what they can, what they've been able to control this year is being able to show up, come to school, and they've been doing a really good job. So, tonight, I just wanted to make sure that they got the recognition that they deserve for
010being here each day this school year. So, congrats. [applause] >> Thank you. >> Um, no student board member today, I don't think. Okay. Um seventh piece uh seventh part of the agenda is public participation on agenda items only. Has anybody signed up to speak? Um it's time allotted for community members to speak to the board regarding an item on this agenda. Please register your name, address, topic, and group affiliation applicable. Um I don't think we have anybody signed up for agenda topics. Okay. Uh the eighth item here we have the superintendent report and recommendations. Wes, >> thank you. Letter A. I recommend a resolution to the board to approve the one-year certified limited contract renewal for Jessica Benson level two step one. >> I move. I'll second. Uh call the RO, please. Mr. Benson. >>
011Mrs. Stepp. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Russell. Yes, >> Mrs. Inennis. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Trice. >> Yes. >> Motion approved. 40 and one abstension. >> I'd like to recommend a resolution to the board to approve the three-year administrator's contract to Britney Remaclas, who is the director of will be director of special education at level 8. >> I'll move. >> I'll second. >> Call the RO, please. Mr. Benson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Steppp, >> yes. >> Mrs. Russell, >> yes. >> Mrs. Inennis, >> yes. >> Mrs. Trice, >> yes. >> Motion approved. 5-0. >> I uh Mrs. Remachus is going to be taking the place of uh Karen Blackburn. Karen's been here for a long time as a director of people's services. Going to like make a little name change and transition in the role uh
012to director of special education. Britney comes to us uh from Lraine City Schools, having also been uh coordinator of student services uh in Perkins local school district and uh we're going to in um introduce uh Britney along with our new teachers when we have our new teacher orientation at the right before the August meeting. So bring her here in August to introduce her. >> Sounds great. >> Like to recommend a resolution for the board to approve the revisions of these district policies as recommended. This is the second reading and those are in attachment A. >> I'll move. >> I'll second. >> Call the roll, please. >> Mr. Benson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Steppp, >> yes. >> Mrs. Russell, >> yes. >> Mrs. Inennis, >> yes. >> Mrs. Trice, >> yes. >> Motion approved. 5-0. >>
013Okay. And I have uh uh John Parsons, our director of operations, come up to the microphone a minute. Uh this this recommendation will be for a resolution to approve the installation uh purchase and installation of the HVAC units. That's for VHS at a cost of $199,000 212, excuse me, $199,212. Mr. Parsons. >> Hi. Uh we're looking at replacing five uh train units that were originally on the roof. Um they weren't replaced in 2014 when we did the rest of the roof uh because they had already been replaced and were only like 6 or 7 years old and now they're about 20 years old. And u the cost of keeping them running is more than what it's worth to replace them. So, we're looking at having gardener come in, replace those hopefully before we start the
014roof so that we don't have any damage to the new roof. Um, so they'll come in and replace those and then they'll be set up to be carrier units, which is what we have on the roof now, um, throughout the district. So, we'll get rid of the train, which are the falls, and then go with these. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you, John. Um, I'll motion. >> I'll second. >> Call roll, please. >> Mr. Benson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Steppp, >> yes. >> Mrs. Russell, >> yes. >> Mrs. Inennis, >> yes. >> Mrs. Trice, >> yes. >> Motion approved. 5-0. Okay. Uh, >> ninth item on the agenda is the treasures report. Justin, >> thank you. make it through. >> I'd like to recommend a resolution to the
015board to approve the financial report for April 2026. That is attachment C. >> I'll move. >> I'll second. >> All right. Starting with the general fund, um we'll go by revenue by month. Through the month of April, the district received $27.2 2 million in the general fund compared to 26.5 million last year and 24 million in fiscal year 24. The district is on pace to collect slightly more tax revenue than its historical average. Down below I have the breakdowns of all of our different revenue categories, whether it's property taxes, public utility property taxes, state restricted state money, state reimbursements, and all other operating revenue. As you can see, the one driver there is our property tax revenue is slightly higher than it was in previous years. Um, and everything else really for the most part,
016uh, seems to be right in line with where it was historically. Last year on other all other operating revenue, we sold a building and we also sold back some of our Apple products. And so that's why that one's a little elevated compared to um, fiscal year 24 and this fiscal year. Moving on to food service revenue through the month of April, we received $733,000 in food service revenue compared to 686,000 last year and 701,000 in fiscal year 24. Food service should continue to collect its historical average revenue. Moving on to athletics through April, the district received $126,000 in athletics uh compared to 102,000 at this time last year and 116,000 in fiscal year 24. The athletic fund should continue to collect its historical average revenue. And then looking at all funds in the month of
017April, we received 29.8 8 million compared to 29 million at this time last year and 26.8 million in fiscal year 24. On the expenditure side, looking at our general fund through the month of April, we've expended 22.5 million compared to 22.2 million at this time last year and 22.2 million in fiscal year 24. Uh the district can expect to spend slightly more this year than it did last year. And again, the breakdown whether it's salaries, insurance, purchase services, supplies, capital outlay is is is broken down there as well. All of those seem to be pretty much in line. Uh this year we're spending a little bit more on purchase services. Again, that's going to be your bus fuel, your cost of electricity, um cost of uh all your utilities basically is driving that. Looking at
018food service through the month of April, uh we the district's expended $935,000 compared to $892,000 last year and 757,000 in fiscal year 24. The district is on pace to spend more this year than its historical average. Uh looking at athletics through the month of April, uh the district's expended $143,000 compared to 148,000 last year and 152,000 in fiscal year 24. Um the district is on pace to spend slightly less than its historical average on the athletic side. And then looking at all funds through the month of April, we've expended 25.9 million compared to 24.9 million at this time last year and 25.9 million in fiscal year 24. Uh looking at cash, looking at the general fund through the month of April, we have a total of 17 I'm sorry, 13.7 million in cash compared to
01920.5 million at this time last year and 19.2 million in fiscal year 24. Uh if you remember last year, the district transferred 7.6 6 million from the general fund to a capital projects fund which is outside of the general fund uh for capital repairs and replacements. One of those being the HVAC system that Mr. Barson just spoke on. Uh food service through the month of April. We have a total of $22,000 in cash compared to 196,000 in fiscal year 25 and 360,000 in fiscal year 24. The price of food has gone up significantly. Um, I'm also coding more people uh more allowable expenditures to the food service fund. Again, we can't carry that much revenue and so we do have legitimate expenses that the general fund used to cover and so now we're putting them
020on the food service fund. Um, however, we are not able to continue operating without general fund transfers or increasing our meal price and our alle cart prices for next school year. Uh looking at athletic funds through the month of April, the district's expended a total of I'm sorry, the district's cash has a total of negative $17,000 in cash uh this year compared to -41,000 last year, negative 26,000 in fiscal year 24. And then looking at all cash uh through the month of April, we have a total of 23.5 million in cash compared to 23.6 million at this time last year and 22.6 fiscal year 24. Uh I gave you a breakdown there of all the different cash that we have in each one of our funds. Again, our two largest drivers there is our general
021fund, our capital projects fund, and our scholarship fund. And then on the investment side through the month of April, we've earned a total of $673,84956 in interest compared to last year, which was $599,796.32. Uh, it's a difference of $74,5324 or 12.3% more in interest this year than last year. >> All right. Uh, call the roll, please. >> Mr. Benson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Steppp, >> yes. >> Mrs. Russell, >> yes. >> Mrs. Inennis, >> yes. >> Mrs. Trice, >> yes. >> Motion to approve 50 B. recommend a resolution to the board to approve the following donations. $250 anonymous donation to the prom. $1,53541 cents from Christine Smith for the John A. Bubba Smith Memorial Scholarship. $438 from Donna Smith to sponsor an eighth grader to attend the eighth grade Washington DC trip. $1,000 from Donald
022and Betty Guide for the Guide Scholarship. and $2,000 from Don Babson to the Edward Babson Memorial Scholarship. >> I move second. >> Um before I call roll, I want to just mention how great it is for the generous donations from the community to the uh Vermillion School District. It's really it's much appreciated and we appreciate it. Thank you. Call roll, please. >> Mr. Benson. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stepp. Yes, >> Mrs. Russell. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Inennis. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Trice. >> Yes. >> Motion approved. 5-0 >> C. Recommend a resolution declaring it necessary to renew all of an existing tax to provide for the current expenses of the district. And that is attachment D. >> I'll move. I'll second. >> All right. I'll actually go up to the board here and give a
023presentation. >> All right. Everybody's favorite topic, property tax reform. So, new legislation became law on March 20th, 2026. And one of those new laws is House Bill 129. Um, House Bill 129 and restores fixed sum levies and includes them in the calculation of the 20 mil floor. So, what does this mean for property taxes? Number one, and number two, why is fixed sum levies included in the 20 mil floor matter? So, one of the biggest mysteries behind property taxes in millillage is what does the math look like to calculate this stuff? It's actually very simple. Um, how the is the how is the value of one mill calculated? What we do is we take all the class one property, that's your residential and agriculture. We take a look at what we have in Erie County
024and we take a look at what we have in Lraine counties and we add those two numbers together. When we add those two together, we get $544,753,000. That is all residential class one property. What we need to do to figure out a mill is we take that $544 million, we divide it by a,000. That equals $544,000. That is how much one mill generates for class one property. And so to give you an example of how this works, inside millillage form local schools is 3.9 mills. Somebody were to ask how do we know how much 3.9 mills? How much does your inside millillage generate on your class one properties? Well, we take 544 million, divide it by a,000, multiply it times 3.9. We do that math. It shows $2.1 million in revenue. And that right there
025is just how we calculate from 1 mill and we're able to extrapolate that 1 mil to to uh the different types of levies that we have. Speaking of levies, um these are all of our operating levies and all of these count toward the 20 mil floor and this all counted in the 20 mil floor prior to March 20th, 2026. So what we have is we have a 1976 current expense levy. We passed that levy in 1976. Right now it collects 5.9 mills effective rate. So again if we take 544,000 multiply that times 5.9 we equal our $3.2 million it generates. Um the one thing to mention here though as home values increase what happens is as your home price goes up your effective millage rate goes down. Uh to give you an example of this
026in 1976 that 5.9 mil levy in 1976 that was a 35 mil levy. It's been reduced from 35 ms to 5.9 mills. And the reason it got reduced that way is because uh these type of levies can only collect the same amount of revenue that they did when they were passed. So our 1976 levy collected $3.2 million in 1976 and it's collecting $3.2 $.2 million in 2026. And the way they're able to do that is again by reducing the effective millage from 35 ms all the way down to 5.9 ms. that was passed at 5.9 ms. It's now 1.9. 1992 it was 6 ms and now it's reduced down to 2.2. And then again the last one in 1993 that was 7.1 ms and that 7.1 ms have been reduced to 2.6. six. When you
027add up our inside millage and all of our effective tax rates, you get 16.565586 mills. And if you were to do the math, it breaks out to $6.2 million. Now, Ohio, it has a minimum funding for Ohio schools. That minimum funding is 20 mills. Right now, we're sitting at 6.5 mills. So, what happens if we're at 16.5 mills and we're required to be at 20 mills? What happens is the state tells the county auditor to add back in millillage to each one of those levies to bring us back up to 20 mills. So that 1976 current expense levy of 5.9 the state said add 2.41 mills back in uh to get you there. Add.33 ms add 31 ms and add three uh.37 ms in total. What they did was they took our 16.56 ms, they
028added 3.4 mills, and that brought us up to our 20 mil floor. By bringing us up to the 20 mil floor, and by adding $3.4 additional mills, that added $1.8 million class one residential and agriculture had to pay in additional taxes. In this original calculation, it is one, it is missing one key levy and that is our fixed sum levy. That fixed sum levy, it renews every 5 years and it was originally passed in 2008. And the reason it's not in this calculation is because prior to House Bill 129, emergency levies are or I'll go back and forth. Emergency levy is the same thing as fixed sum levy now. Uh they're not counted toward the 2014, but they are now. So what's going to happen is our original calculation of that 16.53 ms or 56
029ms. Um let me let me backtrack. The old effective millage rate was 26.10 at the bottom there. And what they're going to do and how they calculate that is that's the 16.56 mills. They add the additional 3.43 mills that the state had added in there. And then in there you can see our our effective rate for our fixed sum levy at 6.107 mills. 16.5 + 4.3 I'm sorry 3.4 + 6.1 equals your 26.1 bills. And that is what everybody was taxed at that owned a home under House Bill 129. The new effective rate and the new calculation is going to be that 16.56 ms plus just the emergency levy of 6.1. That puts us at 22 ms. That means every homeowner is going to have a reduction of 3.4 mills on their tax. What that
030means for the district is that the district will end up losing $1.87 uh million in tax revenue because of House Bill 129. Okay. So in summary, House Bill 129 will change what type of levies are included in the 20 mil floor calculation. Before it used to just be your current expense levies and your inside millage. Now it's going to be your inside millage, your current expense levies, and your fixed sum levies. Renewing the fixed sum levy will take remain local schools off the 20 mil floor. No longer will we be adding 3.4 mills back in to get us to the 20. We'll already be there's no need for the state to add any extra millage to it. And then by renewing the fixed sum levy that's in front of you today, it'll reduce 3.4 four
031mills from our operating and it'll reduce $1.8 million in operating left. Fixed sum levy generates $4.25 million and that $4.25 million is for operating and program expenses and it'll be for the next 5 years. Uh a fixed sum levies have a a shelf life. They can't be longer than 10 years and they can't be shorter than 5 years. So it'll be 5 years now. Actually, House Bill 129 changed that law. You can no longer go 10 years. You have to go 5 years. Okay. So again, this levy can only be for 5 years. It's going to reduce our revenue by $1.8 million because the state no longer needs to add 3.4 mills back in to bring us up to the floor because our current expense, our inside millage, and our fixed on levy millage all
032count in that calculation now. And when you add those three up, we're above the 20 mil floor. Okay. This is not the the levy that we were trying to pass 6 months ago. This is this is for keeping the lights on, keeping the the level of education and all of those things the to the same standard as we have today. >> Yeah. This is not for bond. This is for operating the school district. And this has been on the our books since 2008. Every 5 years it gets renewed. Um it combined with another levy in 2011. And so 2011, 2016, 2021, and now we're up in 2026. Um, this keeps us at a level of revenue um, this keeps us above where we were in 2005. If this were to not be renewed, our our
033overall operating revenue would be less than it was up in 2005. And so again, this is for the operation of the school district. This is for the lights. This is for buying buses. Justin, you you've said there in the second bullet, third bullet point that renewing the fixed sum levy will reduce our funding from property taxes by $1.8 million. Does that literally mean that local property taxpayers will pay $1.8 million less across the district? >> Across the district that own a home? Yes. >> Okay. >> So, if our levy passes, our residents have lower taxes. >> Correct. >> So, it's a win-win. Correct. >> But if it doesn't pass, then that means the state's going to have to come in and make up some difference or or we're operating on that much lower. >> We'll
034be operating that much lower. There's been some other changes at the state level that they would no longer bring us up to the 20 mil floor if they would bring us up to the rate of inflation. >> Got it. >> Which is significantly less than that. >> Right. So the state will not come in and help us is what we're saying. I think two for me I think two important things for um the community to know is again they because of house bill 129 changed the name used to be renewal renewals you know didn't change property tax so those were uh relatively easy to pass compared to new money um now we have to call it fixed sum so we have to make sure that the population understands renewal is now called fixed sum and
035the fact that you know if and when this passes property taxes of homeowners will go down. >> All correct. >> Okay. Thank you. That's >> Yeah. Thank you, Joseph. >> Call the roll, please. >> Mr. Benson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Steppp, >> yes. >> Mrs. Russell, >> yes. >> Mrs. Inennis, >> yes. >> Mrs. Trice, >> yes. >> Motion approved. 5-0. D. recommend a resolution to the board to approve the renewal of property and casualty insurance proposal from Fitz Gibbons and Arnold Company effective July 1, 2026 to July 1, 2027 at a cost of $164,279. That's attachment E. >> I'll second call roll, please. >> Mr. Benson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stepp, >> yes. >> Mrs. Russell, >> yes. >> Mrs. Zenus. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Trice, >> yes. >> Motion approved. 5-0 and E.
036Recommend a resolution to the board to approve the Apple lease and buyback invoice of $263,869.96. And that is attachment F. >> I'll move a second. >> Call the RO, please. >> Hang on. Do you mind explaining a little bit of that so so the public understands that figure, please? >> Absolutely. So this is for grades 2, three, four, five, um, elementary school children and in middle school. Um, what we do is this is a section of our lease. We used to have um well, we are renewing this portion of it. Um, and we're renewing this at roughly $68,000 a year compared to $105,000 a year. Uh, Mr. Bergman, our IT director, did a phenomenal job of negotiating pricing down uh, and getting the same type of device. A little bit different. um but uh a
037savings of roughly $30,000 a year. And then the buyback portion of it uh because they're Apple and because of the great relationships that Shawn again has with Apple, um we have a buyback program and some of these third party vendors come out and bid on those expiring um leases that we have. And basically what they do is we we basically get a year for free. Um, usually what happens is I think we're right around $80,000 for this buyback. Our first year payment is $77,000 for this lease. And so we get the first year free with the buyback program. >> That's great. >> Yes. >> Uh, call roll, please. >> Mr. Benson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Steppp, >> yes. >> Mrs. Russell, >> yes. >> Mrs. Inennis, >> yes. >> Mrs. Trice, >> yes. >> Motion
038approved. 5-0. Okay. The 10th item on the agenda is superintendent and the treasury recommend that the board of education approve the consent agenda items. Action by the board of education and adoption of the consent agenda means that all items are adopted by one vote unless a member of the board, the treasurer or the superintendent requests that any such item be removed from the consent agenda and voted on separately. A. Approve the minutes of the regular meeting of April 13, 2026. Attachment G. B. approved theou between Januzi Counseling Group and Vermillion Local Schools for Counseling, consulting services, and behavioral assessment for students in the district for the 2026 2027 school year. Attachment F or attachment H. Wes, you were going to mention something about that. >> Yeah, I'll I'll speak about that before you go on
039if I could. Theou between us and the and the counseling group um is something that takes is no cost to the district. We've been uh concerned the the board saw fit to employ two mental health therapists four years ago and one of them is retiring this year and with our obvious you know financial difficulties with every retirement that's something that we're looking at as something we you know do we absolutely have to have and despite the fact that we thought and we recommended that we reduce by one mental health therapist go from two down to one we didn't keep trying to find uh solutions for our students that are currently on one of the two full case loads that our mental health therapists have. Uh so reached out to Januzi Counseling Group. This is a
040a local uh a local group. uh Joe Januzi that heads it up is a is a local guy and uh just kind of put together thisou to make it possible as easy as possible for them to come in see some of our kids that were on our mental health uh therapist case load if it's if it's at all possible and work with him to work out the logistics to make that possible and try to support those kids again at no cost to the district. >> Thank you. Thank you. Yeah. Uh C, approve the preschool agreement with Murray Ridge Center LC board of DD for the 2026 2027 school year for admin admission of preschool age students with disabilities at 8,000 per student. Attachment 8 attachment I sorry uh D approve the following employment actions. We
041have retirements of Carlen Hollers, uh, Holly Gersinski and Jonathan Bros. Um, approved the 2025 2026, uh, summer worker contracts for Malai Technology and Isaac Looks Technology at the rate of $17 an hour, $15 an hour. Uh, contract n renewals for 2026, 2027. Frank Bowers bus monitor and Mckendi Hernandez long-term substitute. Approve the one-year certified limited contract renewals for the 2026 2027 school year as listed. Approve the 2-year certified limited contract renewals for the 2026 2027 school year as listed. approve the continuing contracts beginning with the 2026 2027 school year. Mariah Reenees of the Spanish VHS uh level three step 16 and Kelly Collins intervention specialist bees level 4 step 17. uh approve the extended service contract hours at the PDM rate of at the PDM rate for Claire VI veagi for FFA 16 hours for
042June fiscal year 2026 and 56 hours for July August and June of fiscal year 227. Um is there are there any items to be removed from the consent agenda? >> Okay, with that said, I will move. Can I get a second? I'll second. Um, call roll, please. >> Mr. Benson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Steppp, >> yes. >> Mrs. Russell, >> yes. >> Mrs. Inennis, >> yes. >> Mrs. Trice, >> yes. >> Motion approved. 5-0. Okay. The um 11th item here is dates on the agenda. Dates and locations of upcoming board meetings. Meetings will be held in the VHS Commons, 1250 Sanford Street, Vermillion at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Uh, regular meetings Monday, June 8th, 2026. Regular meetings Monday, July 13th, 2026. And regular meeting Monday, August 10th, 2026. Um, now we have the 12th
043item on the agenda is for public participation. Public participation section of the board of education's agenda is specifically designed for the public to address the board with their compliments, concerns, ideas, and or questions. The board welcomes your comments. If you wish to address the board regarding an issue, the board will remind you of two things. Address the board. Uh first, your comments should be factual and respectful of the rights of others. And second, before coming to the board with an issue, you should have first addressed it with the appropriate teacher, staff member, or administrator. This meeting of the board of education and public is for the purpose of conducting a school district's business. Uh time allotted is 30 minutes total. Are there is there anybody here that wants to kitty? Okay. Thank you. >> All
044right. Perfect. I didn't want to have to use my hearing voice. Anyways, all right. I do want to thank you for the opportunity to uh be able to address the board. Um I've come before you uh just to speak on a few things today. Um one, I really want to say thank you uh uh to [clears throat] the the high school staff. Um they uh quickly came into response after my daughter was attacked here at school. Um they uh properly handled everything and uh did a really really thorough job. It's a very traumatic issue for her. Um but she's doing really really good and um I'm just the the entire spont has been really really great. I appreciate that. Um I came here also to uh for one of the band members who's very shy.
045Uh she asked me to come and just ask the school board uh to maybe reconsider. Um she really loves jazz and pep band and um she really would like to to make sure that that comes back. Um, I love watching these kids. Uh, at the end I go to practices. I help make sure that everybody has Gatorade and water because we hydrate. We don't hydrate. And, um, it's a way that they express themselves and see how much energy and love that they put into it. Um, and it, you know, for them not to have the full experience really breaks my heart. Um, lastly, I am here to just quickly express, uh, concerns as we come up on the summer. will have the paperwork in. And during that online process, um you have that optin, opt
046out for um third party. Um it's supposed to be for like Girl Scouts or whatever. Um but a lot of of parents came to me this year and were uh horrified that their information was given uh to the Lifewise program. Um well I understand that many of these programs have valuable support to the schools to students and everything like that. Uh likewise is a uh release time for religious instruction program. So it operates in a sort of bubble loophole and um I do believe that uh there should be an option or at least better disclosure in the form saying that this is what you're going to give your information to. So, just to give parents a little bit more information, um, just consider that I did see that the, uh, release time policy was updated
047for the the laws that have been passed, there's been four of them, uh, that just keep getting pushed through and onto your guys' table. Um uh so yeah, so I'm just asking you guys to reconsider uh the paperwork options and maybe reward that or just give a better disclosure or a separate opt out saying that you know this is for this kind of third party or this is this for this kind of third party and just kind of give parents a little bit more visibility so they know what they're giving your information to. All right, thank you everyone. >> Thank you. Do we have anybody else that we signed up >> here? >> Oh, I'd like to begin by say saying thank you to the school board for having this and letting this happen. Um,
048I'm here on behalf of the jazz band and pep band. Can you tell us your name first, sir? >> Oh, sorry. I'm Tamlin Thomas. I'm a student here at Verminian High School. I'm a junior. Um, I'm I'm I'm here on behalf of the band students for jazz band and pep band. Uh, I'm personally a jazz band, but I've been in pep band in the past and it has deeply affected how we were thinking about next year and what we want to do with between jazz band and pet band. Um, it's a nice way to not have to think about band in the academic sense because it's our ways to not do band academically. We're not graded to be a jazz band or pep band, but we are graded on all our performances for marching band,
049all our performances for concert band, and it's it's been deeply upsetting with a lot of us. I have a bunch of our students and parents are here to show support for it and it would be really amazing if you could reconsider your decision on the elimination of jazz band and pep. Uh thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Hello. Um, my name is Summer Sylvius. I am a mother of two students here at the VHS and I'm addressing the board here both as a parent and as a musician. Um, as we've heard the previous two speakers here, as we heard the word that these two ensembles, jazz band and pep band were being eliminated next year, it was um it was kind of like a gut punch as a musician. Um, these programs
050are not solitary pursuits. They're group based. They're relationship centered experiences that help the students really feel a sense of belonging and it crosses multiple grades. The pep band goes 8th grade to 12th grade, but they pull in the seventh graders as well. And jazz band is an experience where the kids are here at 6:45 in the morning willingly here this early to participate in this um activity. As a parent, I've watched my children grow through these programs. um they're growing as people, as musicians, and have I get to see them have their effort in these ensembles um realized and recognized by the community, but once these programs are gone, I know how hard it is to bring them back in a school situation. And one thing that I want to point out here specifically is
051jazz band. Um the jazz band here can serve up to 50 students. I've seen it grown over the past years here. Um, both my sons participate in this. And this is a performance style that is not taught anywhere else in the music program here. Um, it's jazz, it's rock, it's contemporary, and it's improv. I'm a musician. I can't do improv because my high school did not have a jazz band. I have to have music in front of me. My sons can do it. And that was taught here. Not only are they learning things here, they get to play instruments they can't play out in marching band. We don't haul a drum set out on the field. We don't haul the electric guitars out. We don't haul the keyboards out. This venue is the only way
052that they are learning and performing with those instruments. Additionally, the jazz band students regularly represent the school in community events. So, it's a form of outreach connecting the students here with the community around us. With the elimination of these two ensembles, the students are losing a lot. Um, so they're losing that u specific musical style that's not covered in the traditional curriculum. They're losing the enrichment and the engagement, the motivation to stay connected in school across multiple grades. Um, they're losing opportunities for community outreach and service. They're losing that bit to learn these skills that are not necessarily taught in other formats. And not only that, as a parent of an uprising upcoming senior, they're losing possible scholarship opportunities by not having a jazz band outlet here. Um, especially students that are looking to go
053on to further their musical careers at the collegiate levels. Cutting these two ensembles entirely sends a really meaningful message to our students. Our marching band will be over 150 students on the field next year. That's roughly one in five students that are musicians, flags or major adetses out there in the field. And we're cutting two large programs for that. That's possibly for this year. And it's kind of sending that message that commitment is optional. Your work is expendable. Your passion is not as important as other things. Music programs like Jasmine and Pepin are visible, joyful, community building expressions of what is right and vibrant about our school. When they disappear, something irreplaceable disappears with them. So, I respectfully urge you to pause, reconsider, reopen the conversation with families, the community, the teachers who care deeply
054about these programs. Don't allow a budget line erase experiences that shape our students lives now and in the future. Our children are watching us. They are listening. They are looking at us recognizing what they love and what they are pursuing. And I hope we choose to show them that their voices and their music really matter. Thank you. >> Thank you. [applause] Thank you. My name is Rusty Pierce. I live at 1214 State Street and my children and my grandchildren graduated from Permillion here and I worked here for fun for a while. I can't say anything more about pep band and jazz band than Somerset. I just know that my grandson participated in jazz band or that my grandchildren participated in band. My granddaughter was said major ed for two years. My daughter participated in band
055and even went on to participate in alumni band. These music programs are irreplace replaceable. They can't they can't be lost like this. Um I'm also concerned about the uh performance programs that that are being lost. We sent two two young men to Broadway and they started here doing plays every year. This is where these kids learn. This is where they learn their their their love for for what they do and how they become professionals. I really don't know how we can take this away from them and then try to bring it back. I agree with Summer. Once it's gone, I'm so so so frightened that it won't ever come back. These kids really need this. We are proud of what these kids do and the talent that has come out of this school. My question
056to the board is, are these cuts across the board? Can can we look at this again? Can we reconsider what's being done? I'm a a retired person on a fixed income and you think I don't know about property taxes. Oh, yes I do. Have I ever not voted for a levy? That'll never happen. This community somehow has to learn to understand that they are not educating their children, that someone is educating their children. And then it goes on. They don't understand the system and they are not willing to to look at the educational system and how we're suffering. The tax system in this state is ridiculous and we need to do something to change that and only we as parents can change that when we vote. And you better consider who's thinking about education and
057how we can't continue to do this to our children. This is a beautiful school system and we don't need to lose what we have here because of of the kinds of of cuts that are being made in schools all over because of the taxes here. I can't say any more about it than Summer did. She did a wonderful job. But I'm asking you to look at this and see if somehow we can consider bringing back pep band in jazz band. These kids that are in jazz band have an opportunity for scholarships that they may not be able to get anywhere else and there's over 40 of them. And I just know that my kids got a good education here and I was proud and I still am proud to be um a Vermilion resident. But
058I think we need to reconsider what's happening here and the cuts that are being made and how important this is to these children. And I thank you for that. >> Thank you. [applause] >> Explain that it is across the board. I mean >> Sure. Miss Pierce, I just want to address one thing you said. I want to make sure that what you said was what I kind of interpreted it. You were asking about are the cuts across the board. >> Yes. >> What uh what did you mean by that exactly? >> I just mean are we on an equal level here or was the were those programs in particular cut when others could have been looked at in an equal way. I'm not I am not against any programs that these children are they they
059should get them all. And and I also understand where where you are in this. I'm just asking to reconsider these these particular areas and I I just wondered if it was done across the board when you're looking at it. >> Uh great question. Yes. Um the it when I say when we say across the board, it was across the board. across the board. Uh uh personnel positions everywhere from administration to custodial um budgets from athletic to technology to curriculum. >> It's really sad. >> Oh, it is absolutely none of it >> none of it is good. We don't want to do any of it. The particular positions that are related to uh musical uh performance uh there were there were a total of nine of those. one choir, two musical like u musical production and
060and six band 16. There were 16 sports positions cut in sports. There were 12 clubs uh that there were there were cuts made. So most of those were kind of assistant or middle school level things where we still be able to have a club. It would just have to look different as a result. And then uh 23 of the supplemental positions that we cut were kind of teacher academic focused things uh like teachers who were uh technology coordinators and team leaders and things like that. So it it was kind of across the board in in terms of where those cuts came. come from a teaching family. Both my parents, my sister, I decided very quickly that wasn't what I could do because I I saw the struggles. Um it's a sad situation in the state
061of Ohio. We all need to do something, but we all have to be responsible for this and the board needs to get that message out to the community. I understand all of this about taxes and water and sewage and electric and you name it. But our kids are our future that they're in and they need to be addressed first. And I don't know in this community that that's being done and we're seriously in trouble in that regard. >> Thank you. >> [applause] >> I'm g I did not sign up but I decided I speak. My name is Casey Hart. Some name I know you recently. Um, I am the treasurer of the civilian band boosters program and I can't help but not point out that this is proportionally impacting band in a very negative way
062where it is removing most of the extracurricular portion of band. We retain marching, we retain concert to a degree, but the specialty talent, the after school activity band is gone, right? Um, the only other point I really want to make that has not been made by my friends today is Ohio law may preclude us from paying these teacher salaries as a booster organization, but Ohio law definitely permits us as a school board and a boosters organization to get pretty creative about it. So, the only thing I would ask is in the future if possible we could discuss these. Um, it's certainly not my favorite option for the booster club to make any of these supplemental payments for teachers, but as you can tell, the community is pretty passionate and I bet you guys raise that
063money to pay those supplements. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. [applause] >> Is there anyone else that uh wished to speak or were had signed up? Okay. 13th item on the agenda is adjournment to executive session pursuant to Ohio revised code section 121.22 uh G I or L. I hereby moved that the board adjourned to executive session to consider the appointment employment dismissal discipline promotion motion or compensation of a public employee. >> I'll second. >> Okay. Shelley seconded. I motioned uh call the role please. >> Mr. Benson. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stepp. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Russell. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Inennis. Yes, >> Mrs. Trice. >> Yes. >> Motion approved. 50-0 and the time is 7:03 p.m. >> Okay. The final thing here on the agenda is recommend a resolution for the
064board to adjourn the regular meeting. >> Oh, 10:15. Time back. Okay. Can I get a motion to resolution for the board to adjourn? >> A second. >> Okay. Call >> please. >> Yes. >> M. Yes.