001like the call making an order. Any public comment the agenda items unard items for information financial Mr. Reed. All right. Uh review of December monthly financial reports provided. Uh the first is the bills to be paid listing from December and up through this meeting. Um if you have any questions on a check or vendor, please let me know. The number one report is the balance sheet report. This reflects the district's asset liabilities and fund balance for all funds. Our main focus during the year is typically on the general fund and specifically the cash and investment balances to ensure sufficient cash flow to cover payroll and operations. Currently, the general fund cash is sufficient for the rest of this school year. The number two is your bank balance report. This report captures the monthly bank activity
002at a high level for all the district accounts. Number three is your revenue account summary. Provides the budget to actual for each general fund revenue account at a high level. the local and state revenues exceeded budget um in prior year's actuals um because of the state passing the budget um we got caught up from revenues that were behind and that weren't doing that. So uh the local revenue is uh an increase in the tax for the December. This is allowing us to still continue to be in a good place. And as I said, the state revenue at uh 6.5 million um it should say increase I apologize um is due to the state being passed late um with the budget pass state subies are caught up now allowing the district to stay continue in a
003good place with the cash flow. And then the fourth is the expense account report provides a good report at a higher level on where expenses stand by function and object code. for December are in line with prior years and a 3% increase over 24 and 25. The district's four highest expense categories are equipment, property, salaries and benefits and then tuition for charter, private schools, and voteex and transportation. This actually expenses meet expectations with the DC grant project occurring and activity leading up to the start of the school year. And the last is just the expenditure summary piraphph showing you that. And then other highlights. Um 26 27 budget update. We're in the early process there. Um I plan on a presentation the next board meeting um just to start the preliminary talks of the budget
004for next year. Again, as I said, our subsidies are caught up with the state budget passing. Um all of and because of the state budget passing all of our charter school payments have been caught up. We're working on an update the PD 363 which is the form we submit to the state for charter school tuition payment. And um it appears that with the new state guidelines that are charter school payments for cyber um we'll have a a decrease in that which will help with the budget moving forward to keep on that. Um on this month's agenda we have um the transfer of the 5.8 million to our fund 33 which is our capital reserve fund. um three-fold for this is that one uh a lot of the capital projects funds or um capital projects that
005were identified in the 2024 capital study. Two, um this moving this to fund it has a higher interest rate, so it'll allow us to um gain more interest on that. And then three, this also helps us work to the goal of having our an assigned general fund balance of 8% or lower. um the Steven Foster building, the 800 Russell Avenue. Uh we're waiting on the our um closing solicitor to [clears throat] excuse me to get us a closing date. Um we should be that should be happening within the next couple weeks to close on that building. Um we're currently working on applying again for this year's DC grant which um is for capital projects. Um we've been meeting with our facilities manager and administrating group to get a list of projects again using that 2024
006capital study. Um the AFR the annual financial report was submitted on December 5th. Um it was after the November 30 deadline but early of the December 31st extension deadline. Our audit 2425 audit is um complete and the presentation will be scheduled with the auditor Turnley, Mark Turnley for March board. And then we're working on some of our accounts going through the budget um that need to be reconciled with recommended budget transfer on a future board. Um some of our accounts due to either um not being put in the right account or stuff like that, some of them are negative and some are positive. So we're looking at aligning that to make sure that the budget is correct and will come with recommendation for the board for transfers for that. And then um currently our business
007office is working on end of the calendar year payroll closing which includes tax documents. So W2s 1099 getting all that done by the December 31st deadline. Any questions? >> Yep. [laughter] >> We're we're in process of completing on that. Yep. And they um all have to be out by the 31st of January. >> Okay. >> Oh, 31st of January. Thank you. >> Yeah. Did I say December? >> Oh, I'm sorry. I apologize. No, 31st of January. The end of the month. >> The end of this month. Yes. They'll be done. They'll be done for the deadline. >> And you said because we were not putting codes in the right spot. Is that correct? >> Correct. >> And that will be remedied in like this will be remedyed now or that will be remedied later. >>
008Both next budget's going to be remedied for us when we when we do it like we're going to have more detail within the budget, more transparency so things get coded and and money we know the money's in the correct budget. This one we're going to remedy it by going through each account. We have some accounts that are um that may have never been touched that were just ruled over last year and they put money in it. So, we'll take um that money, the funds in that one and move them in other accounts. They might have just been uh like I said, coded wrong or underbudgeted or I'm not 100% sure on some of the reasons, but we'll put all that together and then it'll it'll be done before next year's budget. It'll come on a
009future board. Um we're looking at again like we have the 5.8 million transfer, so we're looking at probably another one in April. So again, that's all going to be some it'll it'll come to the board for what our recommendations are for approval to to align everything correctly. >> Thank you, sir. Appreciate that. Now we'll go into course presentations. Before we do though, I want to say thank you for everyone for coming out tonight. We appreciate you all. Thank you all for showing up for being online. Um and now we'll go into our presentation. Starting off first with our superintendent, Mr. Sonia Coleman for a January report. >> I almost said good morning, but good evening. Um, so we don't have a truly beefy January report and so because we've only been back a couple of
010weeks, but there are some things I want to highlight. As always, I always ground us in our mission so that we don't forget our why. Then our core beliefs. So we have our why and our what. And so now we all put that all together and we say these are our core beliefs and what we believe students can and will achieve. And as you know at the beginning of the um not the year because we're in a new year the in July um we put forth two priorities to get us towards hitting our mission and vision. And our first goal or priority is absolutely around academics and improving achievement. And I'm not reading this because I I say this every single month. And then the second one is in order to do that, we have
011to make sure our staff is equipped with the things they need through professional development. And then lastly, I always have an executive summary stating what it is I'm going to be covering. and it's just a highle overview of highlights of things that are taking place in our district. The first thing I want to dive into is academics. So, um, at the beginning of the year, you may recall the school year us discussing MAP assessments. And what that is is a benchmark assessment for ELA and math. and it really gives us a guide in terms of where students are um at grade level comparative to their peers and where they should be. So, it's given three times a year in the fall, the winter, and the spring. So, we're currently in that testing window. One school
012has finished already. So, that's the school I'm going to highlight. The primary is wrapping up makeups as well as the high school. One of the things that happened last school year is there wasn't um a huge focus on getting kids to make up the test. And so the teams at each building have done a really wonderful job ensuring that students are not only taking the fall, but they're showing up and taking the the winter as well. Why that is important is we don't know what is needed to be done in terms of intervention or enrichment for a student. This allows us to know, okay, here's what we said we're going to teach students. Here are the interventions we're currently putting in place and are they working? So, this is our way of being accountable to
013the work that we're doing and saying here's the evidence to support it. And so, I'm going to highlight the upper elementary and the principal happens to be here. If you want to go to the next slide, you're going to see and everyone has a print out. The the way you want to look at this is you're going to see red and I like the colors. It's helpful. You're going to notice from fall to winter the growth that students have made in three months. And so I just want to spend a little time just giving you a moment to look at that. While you may see red, this is important to look at the number of students that have moved to yellow to green as well because that means kids are at grade level. Some are
014closer to grade level and we still have a group of students that we're intervening to help them get on grade level. And as you know, evidence and re research shows that students can grow one to two grade levels in a year if the proper interventions are in place. And so at the beginning of the year, we purchased Alex, which is a math intervention, and Lexia, which is a reading and language intervention for all students, whether you're on grade level or above grade level, because it's designed all the way up to the college level to provide the supports that students need um as they metriculate to the through the grade levels. And so this shows us how our students are doing. So this is this is the math first. If you want to go to the
015next slide and the oh gone and the next one was our reading. And as you can see I'm very transparent when it comes to data. We have a group of sixth graders that I know Mrs. Johnston is working through that we're really trying to push and intervene so that group grows at the same rate as the other grade levels. And so I think it's important that everyone understands that there are things that she's doing as a building principal. She's had um parent events to show parents this data. She did it at the beginning of the year to say here's where your students are. Here are the things you can do at home with them to help them grow as well. So, we're really making a concerted effort to really look at our math and ELA
016because we know if kids are not reading at above or on grade level, what happens to the other core contents as well? It it's greatly impacted. So, I just wanted to take a minute and highlight the upper because they they're done with their assessment. I'll share next month what the other buildings have done as well. So, thank you, Miss Johnston, for all your hard work. The next thing I want to highlight, I think you did you skip a slide or did I move a slide? Um, there we go. Is our enrollment and our attendance and our attendance has dropped since the last time I reported by one percentage point, but one percentage point is important. December, November, really December um, really hurt us. We had a lot of people, students, even staff out with illness.
017So, it caused our attendance rate to drop. We're always keeping an eye on that. Each building has attendance teams in place to start mitigating and working through um issues that may prevent students from coming to school. I want to do just some staff highlights. some things that you guys might not be aware of, but the high school moved out of CSI status. And so that means and it's they're in it for this year because you have to stay in it for three years, but the data that came out this summer allowed the high school to move out of that status. And really that is attributed to the work that was done with the algebra summer institute that was put in place. So this tells us that if we intervene with students and it was nine
018students that allowed us to move out of this status. Imagine what would happen if we take the same concepts that we piloted in the summer which we are and move it throughout the school year. What can happen for our junior senior high school as well. So, I wanted to say let everyone know that as well because it's so easy to say, you know, all the things that the school isn't doing, but we don't spend enough time highlighting the great things that are happening. And these things take time to move us out of that belief that can't that kids can't to that belief that kids can. Um, as most of you know, we had to do two flexible instruction days to um, work through some plumbing issues here at the high school. So, it meant that
019the junior and senior high school had to go on virtual learning and just so happened there were some power outages and so which impacts attendance because kids only get credit if they show up for class. and the things that our staff at the high school did to ensure one kids had what they needed during this time. They did check-ins with students outside of the the normal time they would have been that that they were allow allotted to really allow those two days to run seamlessly. I didn't get one email other than hey you guys power's out and we heard that it's affecting something like a hundred students. I got no complaints from anyone. no calls from parents saying that it wasn't what they wasn't what we expected it to be based on the information we
020sent out. So I really just wanted to take a m moment to highlight the junior senior high school team for that at the primary school. Just take a moment. They are working on of course their PBIS um incentives and really focusing on care um capability and being in control through PBIS lessons. they've rolled out additional lessons. Um, and I'm going to send this I look at our our discipline data all the time, our referral data all the time. And I also want to take a moment that we've made and you heard Miss Liten Bigler talk about the adjustments that were made and special education and learning support, the addition of the classroom. As a result of those supports, just in the short period of time, referrals for that cohort is down 20%. Incidences are down
02120%. That means we have wrapped services that students need to help them learn behavior modification, understand what is expected of them, and when those two things are in place, academics go up as well. So, I just want to want to highlight that for our primary school. And the last staff highlight, and I just thought this was a hoot and a holler, and y'all know I'm kind of s southern. So, I heard about this snowball fight at the upper. I'm like, first of all, how are they going to have a snowball fight? Well, they use paper. you know, I'm thinking they're going to all go outside and have this have a snowball fight and just it was a PBIS incentive and kids really had a great time. Staff got involved. I couldn't put all the pictures
022on here, but um we'll get Miss Johnston to get some posted online for everyone to see how that event went out and just how excited and happy our staff and students were. Again, I I say this because when I'm out and about and and folks want to say things about sto rocks and I say, "Well, where did that come from? Why are you why are you saying these things?" These are the things that changes mindsets about what is going on in our district and we're the ones that are absolutely incar. All right, I'm gonna get off my soap box for a second and do some student highlights. Um, the board is already aware, but I want everyone else to be aware. Citizen Bank donated what a little over $10,000 worth of brand new instruments to
023our band program at the Upper Elementary. We did post the pictures online and the excitement from the I was there and just to see our students light up with having these brand new instruments. It's going to do nothing but grow our music program. Also want to highlight our um K to3 steam program and some of the designs that they're doing and connecting it to engineering as well. So kudos to what's taking place at K to 6 for our students. Um, you know, next month, um, Mr. Reid is actually going to do a full financial update, but I just want to put out there so everyone is aware of the new grant applications that we'll be going after. One is around safety, school security, and mental health. And then, of course, our public facilities improvement grants
024um that we're in the process of applying for. So, there'll be more information to come in the near future because those are due on the one is due on the 31st and the other one is due within the next few weeks. Operation updates. Um, I pause here because the fence, we had a long conversation about the fence here at the high school and and we already have bids. It's under contract, but we keep getting pushed down the list. So, um, we're going to reach out and have some conversations about, and I and I'll be honest, I'm trying to be nice about it to ensure that this gets done because we have spring sports that'll be coming in into play and we want to ensure that one that we have a top facility and that it's
025safe for everyone. So, that is in the process. the high school plumbing repairs. It's really in two phases. I talked about this in December. The first phase, and not to bore everyone, is the women's restroom stack. That's the easiest way to explain it. And so that the repairs have been completed, but we have to put in the drop ceiling. So that should be finished by Monday, this coming Monday. The second phase of that, and I just call the male's restroom side of things. um where they butt up there's a crack but we cannot shut everything down again. So we're tenatively we're going to start that work in April so that we can clean up the majority of our plumbing repairs for this building. There have been several things and I said publicly that um we've
026known in the past that needed to be repaired and I think it was that fear of pulling the trigger to get it done because they are costly but that's why we have a capital improvement budget. It's earmarked just for capital improvements and it's time that we put some time and attention here at the high school um much the same way we've done for our other two buildings. That said, you all are going to see here real soon some requests for proposals for the following items. Lighting, that's all lighting here. And the focus is on the junior senior high school. And when we write for the facilities grant, the focus is going to be on the junior senior high school. Um, there's going to be RFPs going out for lighting, interior and exterior doors, the auditorium,
027windows, HVAC, and I laugh because it's just the H and the V because we're focusing on the plumbing and univvents, um, the roofing repairs, and the final piece of the plumbing to ensure that, you know, while those are things that you may not see. And so a lot of times people say painting and things of that nature. These are things that are needed to ensure that one, our facilities are up and running properly. Um, two, that it's warm. We all like to be warm in the winter and no longer putting band-aids on things, but fixing it the absolute correct way. Um, that said, did I skip one? >> Is it upcoming events? That's not it. >> Okay. Community um engagement events. We have two coming up. Um, one on this Monday where we'll be passing
028out hats and gloves. And then the second one is tentatively scheduled for um the 21st. It may be pushed because I think everyone understands I like when events take place that it's best and final and with some of the weather that we've had they've not we've not been able to finalize a lot of pieces of it. Um Mr. Pierce is working on those things and what the parent appreciation piece is really thanking our parents. one parents specifically. They have students in our district and so there'll be massages, there'll be treats for our parents, things of that nature really to say thank you for all that they do and entrusting their children with us. I did skip. All right. And then looking ahead, um, we have several committee meetings coming up. If I can have people
029pay close attention, there is some time and date changes on some of our committees that are coming up. Committee meetings that will start again here this month and into February. And then just a reminder that there is no school tomorrow. It's a clerical day. And then there's no school on Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. And then I want to just give an update on where we are with the comprehensive strategic plan. We had had a meeting SK tentatively scheduled for January 7th. I canceled it because we've been meeting and one thing we had not done is we need to go back and refine the things that we've been doing all these meetings taking notes but not going back and refining things removing things and we the team needs time to do that. So,
030I did not want to have another meeting and we we had not refined or adjusted the things we said we were going to adjust. And so, um we'll get that scheduled sometime out in February. Um and we have three more meetings left to schedule so that really we can be in a good place for our finalization and summer work. As everyone knows, this isn't even due till next year, but I don't like to wait till the last minute to do things. I want to ensure that there's a lot of thought put into this because once we move from community input, it'll go internal to our staff input as well and to leader input. So there's phases to this. And then the last thing I want to leave everyone with is that I really like to
031always give people a little nugget of reading and learning so that we all are truly lifelong learners. So, I put a little article in there on how reading instruction has evolved really from when all of us were in school to where it is now and why there has to be a huge focus on literacy. So, there's just a a small article in there for everyone to read in their leisure. And then if I if I might add one more thing, it's not in the presentation and the article came out today. Um that talked about um a historical decline in violence here in Stocks. And so I had the opportunity to do an interview with the Post Gazette on Friday. Was it Friday? I'm looking at um Lydia because all my dates run together. And they
032asked me what I thought and I said, "One, we have to thank all the individuals that are involved in helping this happen." And I named several organizations such as Cure, such as PAX and the work that they're doing and what it does for the school. It helps change the narrative. Because when I got here, people talked about how unsafe the school was. And I'm thinking to myself, I'm here at 9:00 at night. you know, nothing nothing has happened to me as of yet, but that is a perception. And without data to combat that, what can you say? So now data is out to show that one, families that live in this community care about this community, right? And the better we do as a community, the better we do as as a school, we have
033to realize everything improves from property values to um the revenue that is generated in our community. So I did spend a little time talking about the importance of that and changing mindsets about beliefs about any one area because we know if one bad thing is said people assume that it's pervasive through a school through a community or even to a whole group of of people. So I just wanted to share that information. The article is out. The data has been released for people to really take a look at it. Any questions for me? truency. So you you are required to have a plan for any student that is truent. And so every student's plan varies and we have homeschool visitors that actually will go out to the home that they do a lot of this
034leg work and getting parents in to find out the why. what is preventing you from sending your child to school and putting things in place because a lot of times, you know, we don't want people to assume that kids don't want to be here. They there may be mitigating factors that are preventing them from being here. So, we're we're one required and and it's important to do because if you have 15% of your students not coming to school, that's 15% of your students that are not engaging in learning. It impacts your overall data. So yes, there's plans in place, but the plans vary based on what a student needs. >> I curious how much >> Yeah, and I can get you that. We run those reports all the time. And the beautiful thing is when
035we completely migrate over to power schools, I can just click a button and show you that percentage. But I actually have to do math as a science teacher and do division. But I'll get Mr. Msina involved because he can do it just like that to give you that information. Okay. And it varies at each school. So we'll break it down by school for you. Any other questions? >> All right. Thank you, ma'am. I appreciate that. And I also want to make a note to everyone to let it be known that this is our superintendent's first meeting as the official superintendent of our district. So, congratulations to her. [applause] >> Oh, thank you. [laughter] say you forgot about. >> Next, we'll go into recommended new hires. Uh, up first, we'll have Mr. Eric Alexen, foreign language
036teacher. [applause] >> How are you all? >> Good. How are you? >> First of all, I want to thank you for giving me this uh opportunity to speak to you. Um and uh I come to you um from a very vast uh background and uh I started my teaching career way back in and I lived in Virginia for seven years and my um my experience with the Spanish language. Uh I taught levels one through five and uh it took me back to uh Pennsylvania after my son was born and uh so I've been teaching in Pennsylvania since then. And um when I came here um the one thing that uh really impressed me was that um when I did my lesson with the students uh in the Spanish one class, they were just looking at
037me like they really just wanted to learn and their hands were going up. They were so eager to learn and I knew that I'd made a connection with them. So, I decided, you know what, these kids really need me and they need someone with a lot of experience and they are really, if you come into the classroom and you would like to come in anytime, you're welcome to. Uh, they are really speaking a lot of Spanish right from the get-go. So, I want them to see that that's what this is about. You know, someone authentic's coming in and they're you're going to speak this language. So, um, I think they're very pleased and I'm very pleased as well. Yeah. Do you have any questions? you took him away from for the most part. I mean,
038>> I can appreciate that. You sound very motivating, sound welcoming. Love that. Thank you. You're welcome. >> I guess I do want to reiterate one more time just why store rocks all places. >> Why so rocks? Because when I came here, I I these kids needed a teacher. They needed someone to take them in. And uh you know, I wanted to I want to give them the as much of this language as they can take before they graduate so that they won't forget it. So that if they leave and if perhaps they go to college and they have to take a language in college, they have a strong background so they don't have the fear of it. Absolutely. That's why I chose it because I want them to and they, you know, like I said,
039that connection they made, they were the hands were going up during the lesson. I think I think you saw that >> uh on the day that I did the lesson, they were very uh receptive. So it's that instant connection you have with someone that you know it's going to be a good thing. >> Yeah. >> Oh, thank you very definitely uh want to acknowledge uh senior Alexson, but I'll say that I participated in his initial interview and then his demo lesson and it was very consistent. And so for me, a big thing is the enthusiasm for what you teach. And sometimes we do it for so long that we lose sight of the enthusiasm and the love of teaching and learning. And so to experience him and then just the questionnaire interview and the demo
040lesson, it was very consistent and it was lively and it was invigorating. And so I knew that I wanted him in this space because I need our students to know that like learning that you can love it and it can be exciting. And so that was the seal the deal for me. And I'm so happy that he accepted and that he's here. And I'll be honest, I haven't seen him too much, but he's rolling and he's doing it and he's he's meshing in and he still feels great about it and so I'm happy to have you on board. Um, but yeah. Yep. We have a Spanish teacher and he knows Spanish. [laughter] >> Thank you again. I would stay for this meeting, but I actually drive 45 minutes. I live south of here. So, uh,
041anybody know what the roads are like out there? >> Well, thank you. We appreciate you coming. Really >> Thank you. Appreciate this. still rocks. [laughter] >> There you go. >> Agreed. >> Yeah. Thank you again. >> That's what I'm talking about. Up next, we'll have our interview for our region two school board position from Miss Tyra Grant. [laughter] >> Hello. That was like my intro because I actually am for the first time standing in front of you guys kind of nervous. So, hi, I'm Tyra. Um, I am interviewing for uh the region 2 board um member spot position. So, you want me to just talk about myself? >> Who are you? Who are you? Where you from? And then we'll go into Well, we know who you are, but [laughter] just break it down for
042other work other folks who don't know you and and then we'll we'll continue to go into things. >> Okay. So, I'm again Tyra Grant. I'm originally from Youngsttown, Youngsttown, Ohio. Um I got here five years ago. What brought me here um is a nonprofit organization called Steel City Impact that is actually within this school, Junior Senior High School. We um take care of our seventh through 10th grade students uh during the school year and also during the summer for our six week summer program. That's the very short of it. >> But why do you want to be a school board member? [snorts] >> Um two of you guys on this board actually heard this story already, but um to be honest, before I came here, I was in a very very dark place. um I
043didn't know if I was going to even be here um anymore as far as physically. And so as I'm bald up on my couch, I get a phone call from our board president who is Simon Aries. And he's like, "Hey, I know you've been wanting to, you know, be back with kids and do all these things. So, I have a position for you. Um it's executive director with Steel City Impact. You want to do it?" And I was like, "Yeah, okay." Um, so that was the the first sign where it says like, you know, God's not done with me yet. So then when I got here and I really got immersed in here, it really turned, you know, everything over, it restored my purpose. So to be honest, this school saved me. So I think
044it's more important for me to do the same. Um, people say that I've lived multiple lives. Um, I've been a WNBA player. Uh, I've been a civilian in the military. I've been a police officer. Uh, and now I'm this. I don't know if I missed anything. Um, and I had little small lives uh in the midst of it. But once I stopped playing basketball, I was all over the place trying to find my purpose. And one of the things they say when you're trying to find yourself, lose yourself in the service of others. Um, so that's what I've been doing my entire life. um I knew um from college being at Penn State when they told you told me to make a life quote and I said if you can just change the life or
045impact the life of just one child you lived a successful life. Um so my purpose is always and as I've navigated from playing basketball was always to find this and to be here and so now I'm here and I know exactly what I'm supposed to be and it's just been cemented for the past five years that I've been here. So that is why because it is important for me that was poured into me to not important to them. >> So being someone who works in the building around the kids and community for the most part. Um why be a board member now and what have you seen to make you say you know what now it's time for me to go on the board and and help out? >> Well you know I had to
046listen >> and be transparent. Oh, well, first it was because I didn't know I had to live here, live in McKe Rocks to do that. So, I made a conscious decision um a year ago um to move here um in the in the city. Um but as I've been here over the course of five years and being in there, I've I've seen a a big need um a big need for change in education uh in the policy. um things that I brought uh and I've been brought to my attention when I asked I said why is it such a struggle um when kids get here what what what's the problem and so as I did a deep dive and I and I tried to look into um what could be a cause not the ultimate
047cause but what could be and I learned that um there was a ratification in 2013 that K through 8th and I've been you know I've talked to the guidance counselors that you only have to pass two out of your five core classes um to continue on. And I felt like that was something that for me needed to be changed because I see now that when our kids get to nth grade and all the other grades now you're telling them that they have no choice. Like they have to know everything. Um but I knew that that was a place with Still City Impact. I could at least try to fill in the gap and teach them cursive writing, teach them math, teach them reading, have the tutors come in um and you know help our kids
048in the areas that that they could during the after school time. Also, I'm a sports person at the end of the day. How do we restore um our pride? I've been working with uh Mr. Phelps um the AD um to now we are going to start working with our fourth through sixth graders, fourth through eighth graders um to teach them uh the fundamentals of sports so that when they get here um it is a pipeline um like they have in different other city I mean excuse me suburban places and things like that. How can we teach them at a young age to, you know, move over? So, I've been trying to as a over these past five years to navigate and figure out how I can fit in and and fill in. And I feel
049like this right here is just another spot where I can now try to make um some major changes that I feel like only I can do with being with you. >> Any any questions for the board? So as a board member like none of us make changes as a group I think that's important to know and understand >> I was asking you Michael >> um yeah I just I think that's really important. I know people have come in here before and said, "I'm going to come and and be a part of this and I don't like how this looks and I'm going to change." Like, we have to work together. >> Um my concern is being able to separate the work from the board, if you understand what I'm saying. like work tire. Yeah, sometimes
050they do compliment each other. But um yeah, that's my biggest concern I think or yeah, six, seven, whatever. Um [laughter] my hands did not where it came from. But yeah, I think it's important to remember like we work as a team. And I think like I said before, a lot of people have come and stood there and like I'm just going to make Yeah. I don't like how that looks. I'm going to come in and change it. We have to do it together. >> To if you don't mind, can I before you even answer, can I piggy back off of off of that really quick? >> I do honestly believe in make a decision next week, not tonight anyways. Um, but I do believe with what she's saying, um, trying to find that distinction of
051you had the connections in the buildings with teachers and everybody else, staff, everybody now to where now you become a board member, you're going to end up separating. [snorts] Even if you try not to, you're going to no matter what because you're going to get the question of as a board member, why this? Well, I can't tell you. You know what I mean? So, that might happen. You know what I mean? So, but but I want to say that real quick before you respond. Absolutely. Um and I take all of that um into consideration and and and as I'm processing the great thing um when we talk about a team as I've been on a lot of them. Um, and I've definitely understood that as I've been here and been a part of this team,
052um, at Sto Rocks, the biggest thing that I've always tried to do, even with my program and with myself, is try to fit in where I could get in, um, in order to make the best impact um, not just for myself, not just for the program, not just for the school, but the community as a whole. So that is something that I take very seriously is playing the role and being a part of a team and doing what it takes as a team to be successful, not just be a one-dimensional person and not feel like I'm just, oh well, I'm I'm the I'm a star. No. Um the only way we shine is together. Um the only way that things are changed in in a major way and actually stay changed is when you do
053it together. Um so that is where I've always been. Um, and when it comes to having to differentiate between two different things, I feel like I do that every day. Um, trying to understand, you know, the difference of, hey, in order to be a, uh, executive director and order to be a friend, in order to be this, in order to be that, in order to be different things to the children, um, I have to be a I have to be the the the mom and the leader and the this and the that. Um, but most importantly sometimes is to know I can't be your friend. Um, but I'm going to love you and I'm going do all of those things. So, in order to wear many hats, you know, sometimes that's what is uh needed
054um in order to make, you know, things uh go the way that they're supposed to. And and and at the end of the day, if that's something that, you know, one person can accept. Um I think that through communication and navigating that appropriately, um I think you we should be able to keep the relationships that Steel City has. Um because those are two different things. If you're asking me about Still City, that's something. And if you're asking me about Tyro, that's something. But then you're asking me about board decisions. Um most of the adults and staff in here know Jesus that that is not something, you know, that we have to discuss, you know, or that's needed to be discussed at certain times. >> Anybody else? Any questions? >> Um I'm just as you mentioned
055like you have like an example of a time where you guys sort of navigate Absolutely. So in my current role I have you know when you are employing people who that are your friends um and people that you are close to and you have to understand that there's a difference between Tyra outside of work and Tyra as [snorts] a professional Tyra as the executive director and knowing that there's certain decisions um that need to be made but I think you make them with patience you make them with care and and understanding um of the situation and you have to have communication a lot of communication in order to make that situation mesh um with the kids. I mean, that's something that I have to do all the time, but I think it's just maintaining the
056boundaries in everything that I do is is maintaining who I am, my integrity, and also the integrity of what it is that I want to have outside of that with that particular person or with that child or even with the parent that um is a part that I might know that has a kid a part of the program. Knowing that there's no special treatment, there's no this, there's that. we're all going to be treated equally uh and all that. But I think uh being very patient, having a lot of communication with that person or within that situation in order to navigate. >> Any other questions? >> I want you to know it's what we do to every every person interested in in coming on the board, right? Just so you know, right? So it's not
057just you. Um we ask questions to we ask questions. But before next question, I actually ask you if you have any questions. >> I do. And so we've kind of talked about this the importance of and you've alluded to it the boundaries. Um because you're you're going to be in the building. Um, how are you? And you you talked about boundaries, but I'm going to say say more. Especially since my office is right down here. And while I have an open door policy, there's policies and procedures for everything. And if you know nothing else about me, you know I believe in following policies and procedures. How will you navigate people's wants from their needs and from what is required by law >> when you are you referring to like just people in the >> right
058because now as a board member you're as a board member you're standing in the gap representing the entire school body parents and community right and so you could be and Cameron and and I had this conversation. People will stop you and want X, Y, and Z. >> So, how do you navigate their wants, needs from what the law says we can and can't do? >> And what is required? How will you navigate that? For me, again, it's communication. If someone is coming up to me asking information that I'm not privy to give, that's I mean I was a police officer as well. There's certain things that people would come to me and try to ask me the law. I that's not something that I can talk about. I can't talk about open investigations. I can't
059talk about these things. These are things that I cannot talk about. And if there's any animosity, you know, after that answer, then that's where you're, you know, your how you communicate. Do you know properly how to communicate deescalation um those tactics? Do you know how to properly talk to somebody to make sure that they understand that this isn't a a me and you thing? Um it it has nothing to do with that. It's just the fact that this is something that I can't do. So it's just that's something I had to do a lot, you know, through policing is that maintain that this is just something I can't talk about. I'm sorry if that doesn't, you know, I'm not trying to offend you or or or you know, or evade the the question. um is
060just at this time this isn't something that I can talk about. >> Thank you for that. I you and I have talked but I think it's important that everyone here understands your understanding of that. >> Yes. >> No other questions? >> Go ahead. That's what we're here for. >> That's what we're here for. have any like I'm not a child in the district. So sometimes it's hard for me to like connect but since you're in the building I I feel like it's important to bring people and I'm wondering if you have any I get the vibe that you might [laughter] but like if you could share. >> So a part of our program we do a lot of community service. [laughter] So, one of the things that we do um outside of our family events
061and granted it is families that are associated with the school, but it doesn't just, you know, like take away anybody if you want to bring a guest or anything like that, but we do a part of our program actually go out into the community um in different parts um of the community and feed, you know, anybody who's hungry, whatever. Um so, we do bring them in in that capacity. Um, outside of employment, um, I have employed people that are not in the district, not from the school, um, to bring them in and see a different perspective, um, outside of the stigma that maybe um, of Sto rocks to say, look, you know, sometimes if you just take a little bit of patience, a little bit of time, um, to to see the kids and feel,
062you know, um, the things that they go through, you know, you might come out, I don't think you might, but, you will come out with a different perspective. So I think outside of employing them and actually bringing our program to people to see our kids to be a part of our kids um in different um in different capacities whether that's taking them to um Alageney General Hospital and having them go see open heart surgery you know that's exposing our kids to other people so that they can see you know the dynamic of who they are. Any other questions? >> All right. Thank you. We appreciate you. We're going to um vote next week on this. >> Light on. Real light. Light on. >> Hey, listen. Been in a hot seat. Not in a bad way,
063but I'm I can take it. >> We're going to vote next week on the position and after that you get the yes and you'll be on our board. All right. Thank you. Appreciate you. >> Have a good night, guys. >> Thank you. >> All right. Now, we'll get into our long consent agenda. Up first, wave and approve this reading of the director, I'm sorry, the December 4th M of the Sur School District board of the director's recognization meeting. And then B, approve ratify the bills for the following in funds. Over to Mr. Reed. Thank you. Um, that would just be the board payable list that you guys all had. So, I don't know if anybody had any questions on anything specific. All right. Um, and then next, you want me to go through the next
064one, >> please? >> Yep. Okay. Uh next uh approve a resolution 2601 tax payer relief act one limiting any tax increase [snorts] published by the PD adjusted index for the 2627 fiscal year of 5.53. Number three uh approve the resolution to transfer the $5.8 8 million from the general fund to the fund 33 PALAF to take advantage of the higher interest rate and ensure position sufficient funding is available to help fund capital projects needed including but not limited to those priority projects identified in the district's May 2025 capital study along with newly identified and emergency emerging capital project needs for approve the business manager to transfer the funds, capital reserve funds from the First National Bank fund 39 to the PALF fund 33 in order again to access a better interest rate and consolidate restricted
065capital project funds. Number five, um declare the district-owned 2012 Chevy 1500 work truck obsolete and authorize its disposal via sale through a sealed bid process. vehicle will be sold as is and the buyer will be responsible for the transfer documentation and related costs. And then six is approve the Parkway West general operating and jointer budget for the 2627 as follows. The Parkway West general operation budget is 10,147,639. The Parkway West budget would be 1,628,684. And then below that, it would be the Stro Rock District estimated share of the budget for the general operating budget 319,126.77. And then the Parkway joint budget, $24,2931. Questions? >> Thank you, sir. Can you please explain you or or the CRO or superintendent explain what number two means for everybody to hear it please all out loud? >> Do you
066want to? Yep. Thank you. >> So with the act one the gambling proceeds districts have um the option to raise to the index or to seek uh an exception to go beyond that. So what you are doing similar to what you did last year is you are saying for the record we are not going to ask to exceed that because that window is closing. So that doesn't mean you're automatically going to raise taxes but you've limited your opportunity to raise taxes. So you've kept it. You're saying to the community, we will not even exceed that at this point. As he puts the budget together, shares it with you. You do the Q&A back and forth in May, then you'll have a defined amount, whether it's no increase, and if that's the case, I have to
067endorse that. Or is it a partial increase, a portion of the index or to the index? So last year we did to the index. You you approved that recommendation. Um there's so much uncertainty with federal programs, different things that um it has benefited the district. Will that level be recommended this year? Don't know. Too soon to tell, but you're just capping it and you're saying to the community, we're not going to seek that that exception that would allow us to go to the highest level possible. >> Thank you, ma'am. Appreciate that. >> Okay. >> Now, we'll move on to operations. Approve the following ABC transport edition employees for a school district. Accept donor's choose projects awarded for Rebecca Ray Catherine projects headphones for Chromebooks. Amy Rosenoff classroom projects game for color and number matching. Katherine
068Winger I think I messed up last time too. Sorry. Classroom project keeping out learners warm. Keeping our learners warm and read. I'm so sure it's ready to shine. Ready to shine. Supposed to be up. >> Okay. Keeping out learners [snorts] warm and read to shine. >> I I know. But yes, y'all just corrected me. I'm make sure I say it right. Amanda Shalin, classroom project teacher pay teacher gift card. Alexis Welsh, classroom project fitness trackers for 15 students. And Ale Alexis Zongetti, classroom projects clean room for a new year disinfecting whites. Number three, accept donation of 350 sets of pajamas focus on renewal for the primary center. Number four, accept donation of toys and supplies toys and supplies to the primary center from the Benjamin benefit foundation. Retractively approved the two 2D mechanical system plumbing
069proposal for the following prepares junior senior high school in accordance to cornsw with 12425 resolution that authorize immediate mercy repairs. Mr. Simpson, is you still here? >> You want to talk about this please sir? Yeah. Um the plumbing I get up [laughter] first. You can hear me. Sorry. Yeah. Um the plumbing repairs uh as Mrs. Coleman had referenced um was in the a female stack. We also were working in the faculty restroom right outside of the in the staff room there. Um we I appreciate you guys uh letting us do those fit days. We were able to get a large crews in here and get a lot of work done during that that time. We're finally we needed to stop putting band-aids on things. Um, and this is that first step. It was that first
070step in the right direction to really begin to rebuild the infrastructure here at the junior senior high school. So, I appreciate you guys supporting it. >> Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. >> What's up? [laughter] accepted donation of $75 to the upper elementary house system activity fund from Perogi Plus. Accept donation of 7.5 cubic feet frigid air refrigerator for the district admin office from Scott Reed. Thank you, sir. approved a quote from website management system and development from educational networks for four $4,10 retroactively approved the CDW quote for Chromebooks paid with title one funds retractively approved the invoices for frontline to add the recruiting hiring frontline central modules to the annual subscriptions approved the CDW government LLC invoice to renew Google Workspace for Education Plus for the 26 27th school year. Approved the facility request
071on January 19th for a hat and glove collection in the JSON High School to cafeteria in collaboration with the Wum I'm sorry WWTP and Ster School District from 2 to 4 p.m. Who is that? I thought so, but that's not that proper acronym. >> Yeah, >> WTTP, not WWTTP. That's why I want to clarify. I approve the facility request for January 21st for parent appreciation night in the junior high school cafeteria and gymnasium from 5:30 to 8:00 pm. Approve the facility request for Nan Martial Arts Center to use the upper elementary school gymnasium and cafeteria for a charity exhibition to raise money for veterans on April 18th, 2026. Approve the MOU with winds girls for programming for grades 3 through 12. Approved silly request at the upper elementary school gymnasium for st of the Vikings
072banquet on Sunday January 18th from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. Approved a little I'm sorry approved request the prime man center gymnasium for stars of the Vikings basketball program from 5:30 7:30 Monday through Thursday every week from January 15th to 26 into the second week of May. Any questions about operations? Any comments? Coc leadership approve ratify the filter matrix as presented. Any questions? Number two, accept the donation of $23 for the McDonald's High School Sports Digital Fundraiser Day. Accept donation of $6,000 from Rich Kong Memorial Golf Outing Football Field Maintenance. Tip the proceeds from the t-shirt fundraiser for the athletic department for $450.50 from All-American Publishing LLC. Accept the donations from the following people for trackuits for the middle school boys basketball team. The total donations is $910. Britney Lynenbigler, Janet Connors, Tony Paul, Rand Randy
073Trump, Annie Yakowski, Ed Pierce, Don Marshalls, Julie Wood, Ashley BKI, Charles Greer, Asia Davis, and Tony Strong Foundation. Thank you all. Approved the fundraiser at the upper upper elementary of snowball ticket sales to be used for snacks and decorations. Leftover funds will go to the store upper elementary activity fund for student activities. Any questions, comments, concerns? Special assignments. Approve the Stir Rock School Board Director Committee Plan. Approve the final reading and adaptation of the following board policies. Policy 610, purchases subject to bid quotation. Approve the first reading of the following board policies. FYI 100 comprehension 106 guides for plan instruction 112 guidance counseling 140.1 extracurricular participation by charter cyber charter students 146 student services is that right f charter cyber charter never mind okay Please approve the draft. I approve the job description for student
074services coordinator position. Approve ratify the following profession matrix as presented. Any questions about any of these comments? retroactively approved December 22nd through 23rd 125 to be registered as a flexible instruction flexible instruction day for the junior high school due to emergency plumbing repairs approved service agreement for children institute beginning January 26th Mrs. Lynen Biggler, are you here still? >> I jumped online. I'm so sorry. >> Oh, she's quick. She don't play no games. >> I'm sorry. My kids were asking for me and but I'm here. Um, so this is a a contract to provide 10 hours of educational services um per week while a student is at a partial hospitalization program um due to a mental health concern. Thank you, man. Appreciate you. Go ahead to your kids. >> Thank you. >> Number four, approve
075the MLOU with Alani Intermediate Unit history agency from January 1, 2026, December 31, 2026 to help coordinate communication and trans transitions transactions transitions between programs. I'm having problem tonight. Jeez, >> man. It might be approved the learn well agreement for student support in a medical facility for 10 weeks. Approved additional cost of $100 for Martha Hoover, Sandy L, and Scott Reed to attend the PABL conference in Pittsburgh that was previously approved on December 4th 25. Any questions about any of that? [snorts] like to skip personnel of course and go to our solicitor. You have anything ma'am? >> Thank you. Any committees have anything for tonight? Questions, comments, concerns? You have anything, ma'am? >> All right. Um, no public comment. No one signed up public comment. Um, [snorts] at this point in time, we will break
076for executive session. We'll go into the superintendent's office. You all can stay in here. Please eat some food. Please eat what you can. Um, we will not be coming back after our meeting. So again, thank you all very much. And again, I want to give a a shout out and congrats to our superintendent, officially superintendent as of January 1. So, thank you, man. Congratulations. Thank y'all. Have a good night.