001like to call meeting in order. Can we have roll call please? >> Director Cooper. >> Director Culliver >> here. >> Director Dona >> here. >> Directors >> here. >> Director Hunter Rue >> here. >> Director Meyers. Director Roberts >> here. >> Thank you. Can everyone please rise for the pledge of allegiance? 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. Please remain standing for a moment of silence. >> Thank you. >> Good evening everyone. Thank you all for coming to tonight's voting meeting. We appreciate you all. Um, before we begin, shout out to our flag football team on the field right now. Currently playing, currently winning. I'm in the fourth quarter with a minute
002left. Um, also shout out to Mrs. Janet Connors for the food we got back there. Leave it there because we're about to take it after this meeting. Okay, leave it Leave it there. Thank you. Them burgers smell good, too. Thank you. All right, but again, thank you all for coming tonight. We appreciate you all. Um now we'll go into public comment for the agenda items. Anything? None. We met before this meeting for executive session discuss personnel items, safety items for the presentations. Uh first Mark Turnley for audit report for 2425 school year. Mark Turnley's office. Last name, >> Mrs. Kim Turnley. Hello. >> Hi, ma'am. How you doing? >> Yes, I'm a but I'm not very nice to see you. I haven't been here for a couple years. >> Yes, ma'am. >> I actually did
003audit the district for several years and then we did change over. >> Oh, thank you. Oh, that's much better. I don't have to yell. Um, anyway, I haven't been here to present for for probably three or four years, maybe even five years. Um, but I'm happy to be here tonight. Um, um, I want to thank Scott first of all and his staff for all their help during the audit process because the business office really does do a lot of work for us when it comes to gathering information and answering questions and all that good stuff to, you know, get us through the audit process. And it it's a little bit lengthy process for a school district. We do a lot of school districts. We do several IUs and um, and CTC's. And the basically sometimes
004the audits start in September, October. We're trying to get your AFR done, your annual financial report for the state and then you have to have single audit testing which is for your federal programs. Then you have to have all your full acrruel numbers that are pulled together. So sometimes it takes a bit of time to do all that for for for everyone. So we do a lot of meetings um in uh January, February, March. Those are most of the most of the meetings that we have. Very few get done prior to that just because there's so much work to be done for the school district. So, just want to make you aware of that if you have not been on the board. Um, so I'm you have you do have the um the audit report
005in front of you. It's a very long report. Obviously, I'm not going to go over this entire report. I just want I'm here to give you the highlights of the report and let you know how you ended your year. Um, so I'll give you a few of the high points. Um, one of which is you have an unmodified opinion on your financial statements, which you're actually required to by PTE. Um, what that means is all your financial reporting, everything that's in here is in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles. We make sure that happens and your business office makes sure that happens. The other um point I want to make is um about your single audit testing. Um any um local government or even state government for that matter that gets federal dollars that are
006above $750,000 in any fiscal year are required to have compliance testing done on those dollars. We pick a program or two sometimes to do more um inter uh uh internal control testing and testing to make sure that you're in compliance with the program requirements and the program rules and regulations. Basically um in the last so many years it's been Ez which has been kind of a nightmare for a lot of our school districts. I would say of all the districts that we do and we do 50 um probably twothirds of them had findings with Ez and a lot of it was was about the procurement um there's a lot of misunderstanding about procurement and um a lot of confusion about procurement in those programs. So you you guys did have those issues um you've made
007some changes in your procurement procedures and um and all those good things. So there was no issues like that for 2425. Um mainly because those monies are gone. We tested title one and the national school lunch program and there were no internal control findings. All the documentation that I received from Scott was good and there was nothing that we found that you know was of any concern. So there's no findings in your single audit testing for this year. So hopefully that will continue for you in the next so many years. If you have a couple three years in a row where you have no findings and your reports are on time and on time to the state means the end of March, which we've already filed your this report with the state and the Bureau
008of Audit, so you're timely this year. Um once you have that happen for three years, then you're considered a low-risk audity going forward. So that's what our goal is all the time is for you to have no findings and for you to be on time uh nine months after the end of the fiscal year to have your report filed. So that's that's basically the highlights of that. I'm going to go over two funds. The two funds that are the most important to you, which would be the general fund and the cafeteria fund. Um, when I was auditing you guys and when I was doing the pres presenting several years ago, you were in the negative in your fund balance, you have significantly changed that over the last three to four years. Um, from back in
0092021 when your negative was about $5 million in fund balance for the general fund. um at the end of the 2425 year, you were sitting on a $17 million positive fund balance. So that's a swing of $22 million in the last five years. Um so that's that's a wonderful thing for the district. Um some of that has to do with uh funding that you received from Ezed every school district was helped by all the Ezar's various COVID monies. um in particular last year you received in every district um that we have received additional ready tolearn monies significant monies usually well over a million dollars most most uh districts received that wasn't even budgeted for because the the state budget was so late so there were there were several reasons for that and I'm sure a
010lot of that had to do with your um spending um practices as well to give you guys get you guys rather to the point where you have this um $17 million fund balance So, that's where you ended the year. Um, as far as um capital projects, you um you have a capital project and a uh a capital reserve fund. You actually transferred $2 million in the 2425 fiscal year to the capital reserve fund. Um, and I'm assuming that was because the year went so well and you did because it was unbudgeted, you didn't plan on doing that, but your budget called for you to be even. you you you planned for your revenues to equal expenses and um you ended up actually with a positive $4 million in the general fund, meaning your revenues were
011$4 million more than your expenses for the fiscal year, which is fabulous, obviously. Um and that and that included that $2 million of transfer into the capital reserve fund. So th that's where you ended with those those two funds. a little bit more about the general fund as far as budget to actual. Um, your revenues were significantly overbudget about se almost $8 million. A lot of that being in in state and some of that was that ready to learn grant. Um, and oftentimes when it comes to state monies, there's some sometimes estimates that you're making, especially when this when the state doesn't have their budget out and they don't know what they're doing. So, that could have been some of the reason. Um, you also were over in your local budget. A lot of that
012probably had to do with taxes. Um, taxes are very hard to budget for. Real estate is fairly easy, but but, um, EIT is difficult to budget for. Um, most people do an average over three to five years, and you just try to, you know, take a stab at what you think you're going to receive, but various things can happen. And in your case, it was a positive outcome. You had a million dollars over what you expected to have in your uh, your local revenues. Um, as far as your expenses go, you guys are about a $38 million school district. You were um overbudget by $1.6 million, which is not a lot for a a a district that has that much in in uh in expenditures. The reason that you you did so well was the
013revenue, though, because your revenue, as I said, was 8 million over budget. So, you ended up at, like I said, $4.1 million over um revenues over expenses for the general fund. Does anybody have any questions on the general fund at all? Okay, I'm just going to do a quick review then of your cafeteria fund. You guys are C, which means that everybody in the district is has free lunch. Um, most of my districts that h are C do quite well. they're able to really maintain their cafeteria fund expenditures without a lot of assistance from the general fund. Um because sometimes it's difficult. There's overhead. There's the the cost of uh either your your uh employee costs, benefits, salaries, or your third party costs like if you had Nutrition, Inc. I think you guys you have
014your own employees. So, you do pay um for your salaries and benefits. Um but you're sitting right now at the end at the end of the 2425 year with about $1.8 $8 million in net position. Um, and in the 2425 fiscal year, you had a positive outcome of about $147,000. Again, your revenues exceeded your expenses by that much money. Um, so that's a that's a positive as well. Um, and again, the biggest problem you have and and a lot of my schools that are C have this problem is using your money, your additional money, because the state is always looking and you guys may have already, you know, have a plan with the state. Um, I know a couple several years ago when I came to do a presentation, you had had a lot of
015money sitting around in your cafeteria fund account and you were looking to replace equipment and that's mostly what happens is you're looking to upgrade your equipment in the cafeteria fund either tables, your chairs, your ovens, your freezers, those sort of things. Um, it also enables you not to raise costs to the students um or or for not really students. you don't have to worry about students, but for even the adults for for for lunches and um even your catering, you know, those sort of things. So, that's that's where you landed on on most important funds. The rest of the report hasn't changed from the prior year. It's pretty much the same. Um the last thing that I'll mention is there is a new standard that's coming out, a government accounting board standard that's coming out
016for this fiscal year you're in. It's mandated by the state. You have to do it. And it's going to be a change a little bit in the reporting. And what that'll mean to you, mostly to Scott, but it'll incorporate the board and and and you know, other management personnel as well. Um, we will now be required to put your budget to actual in the back of the audit report, and it'll be what's called a required supplementary schedule. In putting it back there, they're going to add notes to that, which will require that you explain in your audit report any major variances in your original to final budget. and then your final budget to your actual numbers. We always get that information for you anyway because we're required, but it's never been required to be put
017in your audit report before. Now, it's going to be required. Um, so if you do a lot of budgetary transfers um from your original to your uh your final budget, you'll need to explain those. Why are you making those budgetary transfers? That sort of thing. Um, if you have a big variances between your budget to your actual, you'll need to explain why. um whether that's hiring new staff or a a roof project that you know came you know unexpectedly whatever those things are that are material and we'll let Scott know what those things are what the dollar number will be that you have you won't have to explain every little penny it will just be the the the things that are more material in addition to that at the beginning of the report you have
018a a a document that's called the management's discussion and analysis it's been out here and in your report for about 20 years they're changing the format out of that and they're making you again explain more of the numbers. You can't just put the numbers in here that here's this year, here's last year. You have to explain why they're different. Um, we do we do that on our MDNAs anyway, but I think they're going to make us expand that a little bit more. So, that'll just be a little bit more work for the the business office to give us more information on var variances in in um in cash accounts, you know, re receivables, payables, those sort of things. So, I just wanted to make everybody um aware of that. I've been letting people know that
019at every meeting I've been to, just just kind of a precursor to what you have to come and we'll we'll be reaching out to to Scott with templates and things that he'll have to do to to help us. You got some time for that. So, though so no rush on that, anybody anybody have any questions for me? Well, thank you. Thank you for letting me come tonight. I was supposed to come last week. I do apologize. I had a family issue with my mom and I wasn't able to be here. So, I do apologize that we had to make that change. Um, but I do thank you for allowing me to come tonight and talk to you. If anybody has any questions or thoughts or anything after you look at this report a little bit
020more, Scott has my contact information. We'd be glad to answer any questions for you. >> Can you can you please rub it in Mr. Tony's face that uh that was the fastest report we ever had. That was quick. That was quick to the point. >> Thank you. because he thinks he's really the one that does this really. >> That was that was quick to the point. Thank you. >> Fighting you on that. Thank you all. Have a great day. >> You as well. >> All right. Up next, we're going to have Miss Janet Connor's Nutrition Inc. update. >> Hello, ma'am. Um, and I do have to say I've spent a lot of that money this year already and I have to tell you how much it's appreciated. Um, part of my job is to get
021the employees what they need to do their job. So, you know, stress mats for their legs, uniforms, small wares. Um, it's really appreciated when I can get them what they want. You can get them what they want. Um, and my dream next year is replacing two combi ovens here and a flat top grill. We can do a lot with that. Okay. Just throwing that out there. Um, okay. So, I'm a little late with the midyear report, but this is my midyear report. Um, I can go back in the summer and recap the second half of the school year. Um, the first slide, uh, it goes the whole way back to last summer. We're already gearing up for this summer. Uh we're working with the Pittsburgh Food Bank uh with a grant to get a popup
022tent and some things for outside in the grass to draw more kids in. Um I'm picturing Super Soers, stuff like that. Um but the Pittsburgh Food Bank has really stepped up and they're giving us I think it's 1,800. So the next slide, Nutrition for Life, that's for the youngest students. We walk them through the serving line to show them what makes a meal. Um, we always finish with a giveaway and a sweet treat for them. Uh, it's really exciting to see the little ones and their eyes light up whenever they can see what they can take for lunch. Um, in the fall we do a lot of local produce. Uh, Yarnic Farms, we had yellow, red, and orange watermelon, which all tasted like watermelon. Um it was uh the high school kids really like that
023one too. Uh the apple cider was from Sorals. Uh Bream Farms was apples. Uh but throughout the school year we use as much pro local produce as absolutely possible. Uh wellness Wednesday, that's at least monthly. The goal is to get the youngest students to try something new. Um, we also make extra and have it either as samples here on the line or on our fruit and veggie bar. Some things go over better than others. Uh, new pizza this year, the hot honey chicken and the chicken bacon ranch. Those are now on every week if the kids really like those. The jalapeno and the steak, those are just specialties. They didn't go quite as well. Um, new items. We had the waffle topping bar, which was set up out here for the the students to top
024their own breakfast items. Um, the one in the middle is Mississippi pot roast, which they actually asked for us to put back on, so it'll be on the April menu. Monte Crisco, not so much. Um, and then the yogurt was uh served with boba pearls, which I think is what sold it. Um, fall specials, holiday dinners, um anything fun we can do with the kids to get them excited to come and eat in the cafeteria. The 2025 Silver Child Hunger Hero Award that was uh presented to the district from the Pittsburgh Food Bank. Um I didn't even know we were in the running for this because I was new here, but we're going for the gold for next year. We will get it. Uh the community events we do the high school at the Thanksgiving
025dinner here at the high school. The veterans was held at the primary. Um we themed everything here at the high school, red, white, and blue. We had a lot of fun with that. Molly the cow. Uh she visited the primary school and uh the three high school students um they did a wonderful job with the little kids. Um, but they walked around and shook hands and hugged the kids and we always give them a nice gift card, but it's to promote the importance of eating dairy. Uh, new programs this year, nutrition expedition is for primary and upper elementary. Pick nutrition global is high school, middle school, and that's we visit a different country every month um and feature foods from that country. uh YAK and pack meetings. These are required by PTE. Yak is required
026by nutrition and PTE. PAC meetings are required by the district to facilitate. Um we already had those this year and I have primary and upper uh meetings planned with the kids for next month. >> Uh youth advisory council and parent advisory council. Yeah, is we get input, sorry, we get input for um the menu, food service in general and then employee engagement. Um Mrs. Kathy up at the upper elementary, she does bulletin boards every season, every holiday for the kids. She does this on her own. Um I know most of you know Roger here who does an excellent job with our pizza. The kids love him. Um and Tammy is in the middle. She has 20 years with not only the nutrition group, but all 20 years has been here at So Rocks. She's the
027clerk. And I didn't put my picture on there, but my anniversary was yesterday was 41 years with the nutrition group. So, any questions? I just like to have fun. I've been doing this a long time, so I just like to have fun. Yes. >> Yes. Nice. Nice. We had um yesterday we did it was called snack attack up at the upper elementary and I lined up all different kinds of cereals, raisins, marshmallows, chocolate chips, and the kids made their own snack. Um and here we did the smash burgers again with the toppings that you had today. So yeah, I like to keep it fun. >> We appreciate it. Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you so much. Up next, we're going to have Mr. Scott Reed with the district budget presentation for next school year. Thank
028you. All right. Uh so for the 2026 uh budget update, next slide please. Talk about the uh 2026 budget development process. Again, as we spoke in the initial one, uh reviewing the demographics to project enrollment, solicit from all of our stakeholders, internal and external, assess the fiscal needs of the district, identify high pri priority capital improvements, and then to embed sufficient funding for ongoing prevent preventative maintenance. and then discussion with the finance, buildings and grounds committee uh for different scenarios before we're making our final recommendation. Then below you can see some key dates going through all the way through the end our June meeting where the board will vote to adopt the school year 2627 budget. Next slide please. some uh considerations for expenditure, the ongoing uh SER, which is the teacher unions contract negotiations,
029the cost increase for health insurance premiums, the cost increase for charter school tuition, and then the 8 million deferred maintenance to the junior senior high school, which is the from the capital improvement plan from 2024 and ongoing needed improvements. Some considerations for revenues. The real estate tax millage rate. A minimum increase of 0.5 mil is assumed but subject to change depending on the size of the anticipated budget gap. A history of declining student enrollment. Uncertainty in the federal revenue. And then with state revenue assuming historical level state aid and uncertainty of state legislation passing what the governor's proposed budget is and being um passed on time. Next slide, please. Fund balance implications. The district remains in financial recovery. to exit. To be eligible for exit, PTE requires financial recovery schools to have a positive fund
030balance for three consecutive years and then to project out five more years of positive fund balances. In the 2526 school year, the district did not require supplemental state empowerment funding for operations. Cyber charter expenditures are expected to be lower than budgeted in the school year 2526 due to change in state funding policy and barring any unforeseen issues were projecting a surplus at the end of 2526 school year. State and local policy explicitly limits the unrestricted fund balance. PD limits to the maximum of 8% or 3.4 4 million of Sto Rock School District's budget and then the board and the district strive to maintain at least 5% or approximately 2.1 million of the budget. District administration and the board to consider transfer of fund balance to capital funds to address the approximately 8 million in identified
031projects at the junior senior high school. Next slide, please. Some updated budget highlights. Expenses maintaining current expenditure levels with the expectation that costs will increase due to outside factors such as the teacher negotiations which are currently in process. Anticipated charter school tuition increases. Capacity charges for electrical consumption are also projected to increase. And then some updates since the presentation that was done in January. Salaries amounts for non-teers are estimated in the base on the C CBAs. And then the health care increases have been confirmed where we're increasing 8.3% for medical, 3% for dental with no change to vision. There's also no changes to co-pays, co insurance, and deductibles revenues at the local level. The board had voted in January and approved not to raise the millage greater than the act one index district still to
032finalize millage rate for the school year 2627. At the state level, there's still uncertainty between the governor's proposed budget and the final adopted budget. And at federal level, uncertainty remains around potential changes to the title funding block grants. Next slide. the updated expenditures estimate. Some key takeaways. Anticipated revenues are insufficient and estimated to generate a shortfall of $992,650. This shortfall does not yet include any change to salaries for teachers and the benefits cost. Charter tuition and transportation cost have been refined since January. The other expenditures includes items such as contracted services which is the AIU security and operational substitute services, supplies, technology and equipment and utilities and property services. Balancing the budget with the use of unassigned fund balance is in contrast with what financial recovery exit criteria. Meaning that if we use part of
033our undesated or unassigned fund balance to balance to use for the next year's budget, the the budget following the next year, which would be we would be in the hold of that as well to be able to move forward with. Next slide, please. Some updated revenue estimates. Some key takeaways here is the revenue for real estate at tax assumes a 0.5 mil increase and other tax revenues are based on the 2526 collections. State revenues estimate maintains the 2526 level with no empowerment grant and the other revenue includes sources such as local and state grants as well as interest earnings. Slide The real estate tax overview. The board will vote in June on a filing final millage rate for 2627 where it weigh the following factors in its decision. The local tax burden, anticipated revenue and
034expenditure pre pressures with the anticipated shortfall of just under a million dollars if a minimum of.5 mil increase is selected. short-term budget gaps and long-term financial stability. On June 22nd of this year, the board approved not to increase local tax real estate taxes above the AX one index, which would be a maximum of 33.5318 mills. Based on current projections, 2627 expenditures will exceed 2627 revenues. The district expects to consider the following tax increase options. The following three scenarios are reference points. The 0.5 mil or 1.5757 increase 1 mil or 3.5% increase or the maximum at 5.5% 1.6581 mil. Next slide please. And then this just goes over that scenario that we talked about. Um, shows what the millage rate was for 24 and 25, what it currently is in 2526 and then the scenarios of
0350.5 mil, 1 mil or the act one index. I'd like to point out this um in the middle shows the impact to taxpayers where uh the assessed household value of 50,000 100,000 or 150,000 it shows you your annual household levy and then the impact right to the right of that of an increase for the year and then the estimated collections at the bottom. So, and currently the 26 27 budget estimates are shortfall based on the 0.5 mil increase option. Next slide, please. All right. Our next steps, uh, engaging in ongoing CBA negotiations with teachers, updating our capital improvement projected estimates, update stat state and federal funding scenarios as information is received, and again, the key dates. Next one being our um in April our finance, building and grounds committee meeting and a next round of
036updates to the board in April. Questions? >> Thank you. And once again, appreciate this presentation like this the way you do it. Thank you. Up next, we're going to have our recommended new hires. Up first, can we have Mr. William McCullum? Come on up, please. Don't be nervous, sir. Math teacher at the junior senior high school. Phil Masters, tell us who you are, where you're from, why the rocks, etc. Sorry. Good evening. How's everybody doing? >> Good. Good. >> Um, my name is Wayne McCollum. I like to be called BJ for Bill Jr. Um, but I understand Mr. McCullum will be quite fine. >> Hey, we'll call you BJ. >> Welcome up BJ, please. Hey, buddy. >> Um, uh, I'm originally I'm born and raised here in Pittsburgh. Um, I actually grew up, uh, in
037Wilersburg. Um, born and raised things. I didn't go to Wilsburg High School. I went to Perry. That's my Commodores, you know what I mean? So, uh, a huge PIT fan. Um, this is my 20th year teaching mathematics and various school districts, uh, within, um, the Pittsburgh area and things of that nature and stuff like that. Uh, as of WTO Rocks, um, it's where I'm needed. Um, it's where, you know, the good Lord says, "I need you to go there." You know what I mean? And, and help out and things that nature. Third week here. Um, still trying to get acclimated with everything and stuff like that, you know what I mean? Um, just like any new new place that you work at, it's a learning experience, you know, I mean, trying to staff and students
038and, you know, what pushes their buttons and, you know, them you trying to get to know how, you know, you are as a teacher and how you like to do things and things that nature and stuff like that. So, trying to keep that balance of, you know, um, who they are and stuff like that. But I actually do I like it here. I they like it here and stuff like that. Um staff is really really helpful. Students, you know, students are going to be students. They're going to be, you know, kids and things of that nature. You know, they're so going to be challenging. They're going to be easy. Every day is a different day. You know what I mean? Something new, something different. But that's just the that's just teaching, you know, you got
039to do business for and stuff like that. So, but thank you very much for having me. >> DJ. >> Yeah. >> Three weeks in. >> Yes. Oh, yeah. How are you doing? What's been the best part of being here so far? >> Honestly, honestly, can I can I be honest? >> The fact of the matter, the schedule was kind of nice. >> Yeah. I This is the first place that I think I've been at that um what 155 high school get out. You know what I mean? That's that's kind of like >> that's like that's like that's like that's like clutch, you know? I mean, I get I I mean I can't ask me an honest question. I give you an honest answer. You know what I mean? But um but no, the schedule will
040be honest. Yeah. Like I said, I you know 155 is like I had to make sure that was correct. Like a misprint, you know what I mean? But but it is what it is. I still stay here till about 2:30 2:45 anyway getting stuff done. So >> So I I'm I I I'm too thorough. I'm too organized. You know what I just to be like, you know, out, you know, I got to get everything ready for the next day, figure out what I did wrong, what I didn't do right or something like that. You know what I mean? So, but >> any other questions, >> I'm sorry. Seven, eight, seven, eight, n. >> Honestly, it's I honestly I as crazy as it sounds, I'm not a big math joke person. >> Absolutely. I I know
041that. Absolutely. Well, it's funny because I first of all, I can't stand that sex. I can't stand it. Number two, I had a couple Oh, them students earlier today was getting on my nerves with that. You know, we were going over um we were going over review uh something in the class today and they you they just kept saying it. I don't want to be like oh like shut up. You know what I'm saying? >> Please don't do that. >> I'm No, no, no, no. I was I was to myself, you know, I wasn't like, >> you know, I was just like But kids gonna be kids, you know? I mean, I didn't mean to do that, y'all. away. But kids is kids, I mean, you know, you just you just let them, you know,
042just let them be them. You know what I mean? So, but yeah, I'm not a big math joke person. >> I'm sorry. >> Right now, it's uh algebra. >> Ninth grade. Yes. Mainly ninth graders. Yes. So, yeah. >> And and just a another question. Um, you said you felt like you were led here. Can I ask you and you said the Lord brought you here as well, but what do you feel like pulled you to Stros? Like, you know what I mean? What was it about Stox where you said, "Okay, I have to go there." You know what I mean? >> Like I said, I have I mean, for I've taught in urban school districts throughout, you know, I mean, the course of my, you know, 20, you know, this is the end of my
04320th year teaching and things of that nature. Um, I don't know. I can't leave these kids, you know what I mean? I don't I don't I don't I think that's what I think. As someone like myself who has grown up, you know, in Wilkensburg has seen some things and stuff like that. Some good, a lot of bad. Um, and not so much knowing much about the community of Sto Rocks, but it kind of reminds me of Wilersburg school district, you know, I mean, things that nature with um, everything that's kind of going, you know, with, you know, that's around it and stuff like that. I think if they see someone who's who's made it, a young black male, you know, I mean, who's who's grown up, you know, in that situation. Luckily, I've had both
044of my parents, you know, growing up. Some kids do do have both their parents, some kids don't. Some kids don't have many parents. Some kids have grandma, aunts, uncles, you know what I'm saying? You know, um, in the household and things of that nature, but the fact of the matter that they can see a young black male like myself who has, you know, you know, made it, you know, out of that tough situation, you know what I mean? Um, to become, you know, successful. Do they become a teacher? Obviously, no. They don't have to become a teacher and stuff like that. they can do a trade, you know, I mean, they want to go to college, things of that nature and stuff like that. But someone, you know, hoping that I can light a spark,
045you know, I mean, into them just to be like, you know, hey, Mr. McCullum can can do it. I know that I can do it, too. You know, male male or female doesn't make a difference. So, hope that answers your question. >> Thank you, sir. >> Any other questions? >> Thank you for having me. Welcome. Thank you. Up next, can we have Miss Natalie Pierce come on up? Head softball coach. Hi. >> Hi. >> Hello. Hello. >> Cam, come on. I know you're gonna ask a lot of questions. >> Hello. Hello. Same questions. Who are you? Where you from? Etc. Why rock? Some people over here don't know you, you know. So, >> I'm Natalie Pierce. I was born and raised in McKe Rocks. Went to Star Rocks my whole life and I still live
046in McKe's Rocks. >> What else you want to know? >> What What made you want to do softball this year? I've always loved softball. We are athletic family. Um, with my husband and my kids, we, you know, it just keeps going. Um, we haven't had softball in this community, like real softball in a long time. And I grew up with it like a lot of other generations. And it kind of faded away. And a lot of the girls didn't have a lot of different sports to do anymore. And now it's coming back. Flag football, basketball, softball. and I just want to be a part of it to help them understand how great it was. Um, we have a few girls on the team that they kind of have the idea because they're athletes, but we
047do have a handful of girls that's never done it before. And it's like a great feeling at the end of the day when they can come to you and say, "I caught the ball." I'm over there on my phone and the one girl is texting me telling me like, "Hey, Coach Nat, I got my glove. I'm breaking it in. I'm playing outside." Like that's a great feeling. >> Yeah. as these kids, they, you know, they don't know how to be kids anymore. So, that's why. >> Appreciate that. Anybody any questions? >> Too easy for you. Thank you. >> Thanks. >> You got off. Got off easy. BJ's upset right now. Like, what do you mean? >> Up next, we're gonna have Britney Thornton, assistant softball coach, come on up. I am nervous. I'm the loudest
048person in school. Everyone knew who I was. And here I'm getting in front of you guys and I'm literally shaking. I don't know why. >> That's all right. Be yourself. >> But I'm Britney. I went to Stir Rocks. I currently live a little outside of Ster Rocks right now. Um in Esplain. Um I played softball my whole life. I'm still 34. I still play ball. I play every Tuesday or every Sunday and every Thursday night. Um, uh, Coach Ed and Coach Nat, uh, got in contact with me and asked me if it was something I would be interested in, and I said, "Of course. I love it. Um, I want to be able to give what I have to the to the girls. I want them to take the skills and be able to learn
049from them and do better in life with them. That's all. That's all I got. >> Like that. >> That's all I got. >> Any questions? >> Stay in there. >> No. >> Done. >> Appreciate you. Thank you. Welcome. >> All right. Now we'll go into our nonsen agenda. Um, are there any questions? Um, I'll go from, um, A1 all the way through, as you know. What? Wait a second. Before we go over that, we're going to skip real fast to new business under under section I. New business section I, and I'll pass it over to Mr. three when ready. >> Uh number one is just um approve and ratify payments from the general fund March payable. It was just some stuff that was added pre since last uh board meeting. And then number two is
050approve the agreement to enable the district locations to continue participating in the energ electricity consortium for the succeeding 36-month term after the current agreement expires in January of 2027. This just allows us to lock in our energy prices. >> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Next in operations. Approve the following ABC transition employees for ST school district. Any questions? Number two, accept donor's choose projects awarded for Julie Wood classroom project literacy and the arts. Number three, approve the pro soft quotes for support items related to the trans the transition to power school student information systems. Any questions? Four, accept the donation of 330 books, Piper Chen Sings from the FO for all K through3 students at the primary center. Any questions, comments, approve, ratify the filter matrix as presented. Any questions? Special assignments. Approve the
0512026 2027 school year calendar for Star School District. And number two, approved new start and end times. Sorry BJ >> for the 26 27th school year one hour. >> Educational leadership approve ratify the professional measure development matrix as presented. Any questions? Approve the maximum healthc care service agreement for nursing services for Star School District starting in April 2026 for the remainder of the school year. Bless you. Okay. >> Oh, and then we'll go and go back to the beginning of our agenda. Like I say items A1 for voting portion items A1 through F A1 through F5. And can I have a motion when ready? Can >> I have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. >> Director Culver, >> yes. >> Director Dona, >> yes. >> Director Zowski, >> yes. >> Director Hunter, >> yes.
052>> Director Roberts, >> yes. >> Five yeses. Motion passes. >> Thank you. Let's do items G1 G1 by itself, please. Motion ready. >> G1 have a motion ready. Have a second. >> Director Zowski, >> yes. >> Director Hunter Ru, >> yes. >> Director Roberts, >> yes. >> Director Culver, >> yes. >> Director Dona, >> yes. >> Five yeses. Motion passes. >> Congratulations, y'all. Let's take item two. Approve the contract extension with Dr. Vidle as needed for admin substitute for March 23rd 26 to the end of the school year. I have a motion. >> Have a second. Director Zowski. >> Yes. >> Director Hunter. >> Yes. >> Director Roberts. >> Yes. >> Director Culliver. >> Yes. >> Director Dona. >> Yes. >> Five yeses. Motion passes. >> Thank you. Approve granting tenure to Alex Zongetti for
053completing the AIOU induction course. Six has factory observations and three successful years of service to St. School District. Have a motion. Have a second. >> Director Roberts. >> Yes. >> Director Culliver. >> Yes. >> Director Dona. >> Yes. >> Director Zowski. >> Yes. >> Director Hunter. >> Yes. >> Five yeses. Motion passes. >> Thank you. Now, can we have items IB1 through ID1? IB1 through ID1. Okay. Have a motion ready. Have a second. Second. Director Culver, >> yes. >> Director Dona, >> yes. >> Director Zowski, >> yes. >> Director Hunter, >> yes. >> Director Roberts, >> yes. >> Five yeses. Motion passes. >> Thank you. Now, can we take items? Sorry. Take items EIE1 by itself. Have a motion ready. I'm sorry. Approve the 2026 2027 school year calendar for Stir School District. Have a
054motion ready. Have a second. >> Director Roberts. >> Yes. >> Director Culliver. >> Yes. >> Director Dona. >> Yes. Director Zowski, >> yes. >> Director Hunter Rue, >> yes. >> Five yeses. Motion passes. >> Thank you. And then can we take number two? Approve new start and town for 2026 27 school year primary elementary state primary 810 to 240. Upper 8 to 2:30 JC High School 820 to 250. Have a motion when ready. Motion. >> Have a second. >> Director is >> Director Hunter R. >> Yes. >> Director Roberts. >> Yes. >> Director Culliver. >> Yes. >> Director Dona. Five yeses. Motion passes. >> Thank you. Great work that everyone put together. Thank you. Thank you. Next, we take items. F1 through IG1. I'm sorry. Yes. F1 IG1. Second motion ready. >> Have a second.
055>> Director Zowski. >> Director Hunter Rue. >> Yes. >> Director Roberts. >> Yes. >> Director Culliver. >> Yes. Director Donia. >> Yes. >> Five yeses. Motion passes. >> Thank you. Next. Can we take uh IG2 approve FMLA leave request for employee number 1869 from March 4th until June 2nd, 2026. Motion ready. >> Motion. >> Have a second. >> Directors. Yes. >> Director Hunter R. >> Yes. >> Director Roberts. >> Yes. >> Director Culliver. >> Yes. >> Director Dona. >> Yes. >> Five yeses. Motion passes. >> Thank you. And number three, approve Dr. Thomas Aquenta to move to acting principal at the junior senior high school at a monthly stipen as noted effective March 23rd, 2026. Have a motion. Have a second. Director Culver. >> Yes. >> Director Dona. >> Yes. >> Director Zowski. >> Yes.
056>> Director Hunter Roo. >> Director Roberts. >> Yes. >> Five yeses. Motion passes. >> Thank you very much. Are there any committee reports for tonight? Any committee reports for tonight? Committee any reports? Any comments? >> Thank you. Uh public comment, can we have Mr. Luigi McFerson, the marching band program. Come on up, please. >> Good evening. Um, first off that I have just one question. Am I still marching band director? >> Uh, we can't discuss personnel items um like that, sir. I would ask you to talk to uh the principal or the a principal. If not, if it's the superintendent, >> that's it. >> If it's the athletics director, he he he fired me. >> Okay. So, I'm gonna discuss personnel matters in a public meeting. I will say that just as a point of
057information for everyone in the room that the only individuals who have the authority to make hiring and firing decisions are this board. Uh and as you can see, there has not been any motion uh on this agenda or last on this agenda um to uh review you of your >> Thank you. That that's all I need. And in that case, I would like to I have only a couple of minutes. I have a couple of things that are on the board that I'd like to see kind of happen with the kids. Um we are if we're moving forward with next year um we have a marching band show prepared for the kids at that the level that of of their abilities at this particular time. Um hopefully by the time we get into the end
058of school I'll have their skills higher than that and can add to it. Um, we're looking forward to, if that's the case, once again, um, having students go to pit band day where they can play with the University of Pittsburgh. I am currently helping several students put together an essay for Bands of America for their summer symposium. They'll spend a week at Ball State University getting intense marching band um instruction from some of the best instructors in the in the country. Um if they if they get these scholarship that they'll be offered, it'll be a $1,000 scholarship where everything will be paid for for that whole week. Um room, board, and instruction. um that's the case. I'm looking forward to what's coming up this year. We have also a couple of students who are in
059independent groups who are performing amazingly above um anything that I could have hope for them to do here. Um they're in a group called Onyx Phoenix or Onyx Fusion. It is an independent color guard. Um they are currently in chapter eight. Um Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia ranked number two. Um with championships coming up within within three weeks. Um hopefully we can win that one. Um next year, this is this is moving forward. Next year, I would like to talk to the board about bringing a marching band show and an indoor color guard show to Stow Rocks, using the field for a full band competition, using the gym for an indoor competition. Um, beside a some prestige to the school, this will be a giant fundraiser for the marching band in both in both cases.
060So, I look forward to working with you for for both of those. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, sir. We appreciate it. I will say, um, if there's ever any band festival here that happens in the future, last time we had one here, it was amazing. Um, I fell asleep. I supposed to play that night, but I worked three hours before that and was passed out, but it was still amazing. It was a it was a great program, you know, here in the in the district. So looking forward to something like that that wouldn't happen and I want to make a general comment as well. Um just for anybody there's ever any question about any personnel items or whatnot just I would ask that everyone please talk to their supervisor and if not the
061supervisor supervisor first come to the board um because you know because we can't discuss those things in public like that. If you're uncomfortable um before you get to our level, please stop the superintendent level first before it comes to our level, please. That's all we want to just put out there. Um that that's all, but appreciate it. You want to know you asked, you know, so appreciate it. Um thank you. Any questions, concerns, comments. All right. Our next schedule meeting will be um at the Focus on Renewal Center on Thursday, April 16th. Hey, I said folks want to know center. I know what it is. You got you got 10 names down there actually. So at the father round north center at at the focus at the library. You know our next meeting will be
062at the uh FO focus on renewal. Focus on renewal April 16th at 7 p.m. Look forward to seeing you all. Hopefully we get more people come, you know, kind of come out and about. Um until then, thank you. Questions, comments, concerns? Motion to adjourn this meeting. Have a second.