001Director Hunter Rue >> here. >> Director Meyers >> here. >> Director Roberts. >> Thank you. Everyone, please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Please remain standing for a moment of silence. >> Thank you. Good evening everyone. Thank you all for attending tonight's legislative voting meeting. We appreciate you all. Items for information. We did meet after last meeting and before the meeting in executive session um to discuss personnel matters. Are there any public comment related to the agenda items? Board members, none heard. Reports and presentations. We'll open it up first with Jaya Ellerby. School board student representative report. >> Come on, girl. [Music] Good evening,
002ladies and gentlemen. I don't have an update for you tonight till next month. >> Hold on one second. Come back up. >> Hello. >> So, how's it going in in the school? How's it How's it feel? What are you hearing? What's going on? >> You know, nothing. Homecoming just passed. >> How was it? It was okay. >> No other no other comments from anybody at all. No comments. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. Up next, re recommended new hires. First, we have Shireen Davis. How you doing, ma'am? >> Okay. Good evening, everybody. I'm a little nervous, so y'all have to forgive me. This is my >> That's okay. Take your time. Take your time. Um, just want to tell us who you are, where you're from, why store rocks. >> Okay. My name is Shireen Davis.
003I used to live on North Side. I've been over here now for 13 years. Um, grandmother, son, my son, I'm mother of two. My son used to play football for y'all. I chose Stro because I look for a new challenge in my life and I found it. >> That's it. >> Hey, I love that. Welcome. >> Thank you. >> Family. >> Up next, we'll have Kristen Sitler. >> Good evening. >> Same thing for you, right? Just tell us who you are, where you're from, why the ruts. Well, Kristen Sitler is my name. Um, from Coriopouloolis and I chose here something different. Um, I just moved here a couple years ago. >> Okay. >> And seemed like a good opportunity. >> Thank you. We appreciate you. Welcome. >> And then up next, we'll have Chris Vote.
004Did I say that right? >> All right. That's what I'm talking about. >> Good evening. My name is Chris Vote. Um, I'm from Berggetstown, so not too far away. Um, I chose Sto Rocks. I had the pleasure of working in the upper elementary, um, or I'm sorry, the primary center for the past three years, um, as a mental health and behavioral health therapist. I felt more part of the district than I did the agency I worked for and was heartbroken when those were no longer available. Um, so I jumped on this position as soon as I could and I just adore these kids and these families and I'm excited to get to work with them again. Yeah, I was going to say I I definitely you look familiar. I'm like, wait, I know you already.
005So, >> yeah. >> Great. I love to hear it. Let me see it. >> Thank you. >> Thanks for staying in our family. >> And then I'll pass it over to our superintendent really fast for scholarship information. Some some good news and scholarships. Some kids be recognized. So last week um the senior class had the opportunity to attend the infinite scholarship college fair and three of our high school students receive scholarships, early scholarships. One of them are here tonight. So Jayla, if you could please stand and be recognized. She received $18,000. um $18,000 per academic year. >> So, let's do the math on that. I was a science teacher, so my mathematician, I don't know if Rain was able to make it online. Let's see if she pops in. Rain. And I believe Eric is
006here. Eric Richardson, if you could stand. He received $20,000 in merit scholarships. That's $20,000 per academic year. That's $80,000. So our students, despite what people may think and believe, are doing and putting in the work to achieve what is necessary um to hit the dreams and goals that they desire. So, we just wanted to take a minute and recognize all you guys for your hard work and your efforts um that you're putting forth this early in the school year as seniors. So many seniors when they hit 12th grade sometimes think the work is done and you guys are proving that the work isn't done and you have more to come. So, keep going after those dollars and we thank you for really putting in the work and our name is on this. So, we celebrate
007you. Thank you. >> And Rain is on the call. >> Is Rain is on? >> She's on the call. >> She's what? >> She's on. >> All right. >> Okay. Rain, we can't see you, but Rain Boxley is on. She also received $20,000 um per academic year in scholarships as well, >> I think. Yeah, there there she is. Congratulations, Thank you guys again. >> Congratulations. >> And thank you parents also. I'd be remiss if if I didn't thank the parents who raised such wonderful students. >> Congratulations. [Applause] >> All right. Now we're going to go into uh the school board member interview. Is uh Mrs. Hoffman available in person online. Paige Hoffman. >> All right. None heard. We'll move on. Now we go on to the inaugur like to take items A1 through B1. A1
008through B1. >> Excuse me. Sorry to interrupt. I did not hear the call for public on then? >> Yes, sir. Um, you have to sign up for public comment as a as a process to sign up and uh send it over to our secretary. A process for that. >> Would it be acceptable though to just there's a very important vote here coming up that I thought I think a lot of us in the community were unaware of. Would it be possible to just address the the board as a lifelong community reser? Um, what we'll go ahead and do is, uh, as a group, we will allow you all to do it. There's going to be three minutes. All right? So, you have three minutes to go ahead and address it. Just so you know, there
009will be no there'll be no response back to you. Okay? We're just listening to you. If you don't mind just saying your name, your address, please. Absolutely. Thank you, Mr. President. My name is Terrace Verk. I reside at 231 Singer Avenue here in McKes Rocks. I'm also executive director of the McKe Rocks Community Development Corporation. So, thank you again uh to the board for for this time. And I I just want to say uh as a Stir Rocks graduate and proud alumnist, I have such great faith in the people of this district that that work here, those of you who serve on the board. Um, you're all incredible and your passion, your dedication for our children is unparalleled anywhere. That being said, the proposed recovery plan presented last week is not a good proposal. And
010the reason I say this is that looking at um frankly there's not enough justification of what is being proposed to justify the level of tax increase to be imposed on this community for the next 5 years. The numbers in terms of proficiency are abysmal. 3% in math. We were promised three years ago that a three-year plan would change that. It has not. While there were a couple small improvements in the past year, overall the numbers are way down over the last 5 years. Um the possibility for sustaining this seems impossible, especially with an $ 8.6 million renovation need across the district. I am proposing that we work together, that you forestall this approval and levying this tax on the community, that we work together as community partners to find other solutions. We can expand this
011tax base. The Roxyan Theater alone has added 800,000 to the community's tax base in the last five years. We can do more of that. Let's find another way. I have presented uh to you, Mr. Uh, President Culliver, there's interest in foundations and others to help us study alternatives such as a merger with an adjoining district. There is money out there. There are solutions out there. Let's work together to find them as a community. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] So this time let's take items A1 through B1. >> Yes sir. We we had call for a group to come up and speak on it. We take items A1 through B1. [Music] So, there's a there's a um be transparent with everyone. There's a process to sign up and speak to the
012board. And while you know, we never ever, especially since I've taken over, we never want to um tell someone, you know, your voice isn't it can't be heard and everything. However, there's a process, you know, to to sign up and everything. Understood, man. But again, there is a process legally. >> Go ahead. >> One one second. One second. >> This is my first time here. There was no welcome. There was no, "Hey, this is how this works." so that your voice can be heard. >> I'm just saying before said that there you guys did not hear the call for public comment. >> I did the air conditioners on. I unplug the fan. I'm sorry to be I'm not trying to be >> unruly. I understand the process, but if you don't know the process, how
013am I as a resident business owner community advocate here know how to do this? I just found out caught up on all of this. I've been starting a new job and everything else. I really need to speak as as many of these other people I think are here to do and I'm so sorry. I appreciate that. If anything, I want to applaud all of you because I have been absent and all of the work that you do that I have no idea about. I thank you for >> Thank you. >> But if we're going to do this in partnership and as a community, then you we need to be brought to the table. Had I heard from other people that the the notification for this plan to be out public comment or whatever the meeting
014was last week wasn't given enough time. I don't know if that's >> by law. It was it had to be posted. >> No, I understand. I did not tell the notification for the posting. >> Um it's on the district website. It's also on our Facebook page with a lot of you all, >> which I I'm sorry if I'm coming off as passionate, but I did take a slight to us working together when there are Facebook posts that bash us. So, it's hard to come together when you guys don't care for us. >> Absolutely. >> When you don't know, >> you know, I care for you. Well, personally, but as a board, this is hard work and hard work as it is with what all of you guys do, but there is constant bashing, constant misinformation,
015but this is a very crowded meeting tonight. >> So, I there are pathways to figure out how to do things properly. So, instead of voicing opinions with misinformation, how about we do research? Because I'm sure a lot of us, we know how to do research. It's a simple website. >> You guys visit our district website. >> I'm asking that somebody was ignorant. Not willfully. I promise you. >> I'm not saying that the ignorant part >> was just in response to as a collective it seemed as though tonight's meeting no one heard when it was announced for public comment and make your comments then. And I I am for you guys making your comments by all means. I would like to hear them. Can there be a vote by the board to allow public comment? Now,
016I couldn't hear. I'm sorry. I should have sat closer. I like sitting in the back and taking it in, but I couldn't not say something. >> So, we have a we have Unfortunately, we have policy procedures in place for a reason. We have to we have to abide by that. >> Told me there was an agenda over there on the table. I had no idea. >> So, I I I just I just And you know, I know you I I just But I just asked if anyone had comment as a group to come up and speak to us. I missed that. I did say that these mics I'm sorry the technology I've tried to listen to these boards online. It's almost impossible >> like that because if there is a problem with community hearing online,
017how can we correct that if we don't know until you guys are here? >> How are you not how are you not reviewing that on your own as an internal organization who's trying to do right by the community? So, we're going to move forward to items A1 through B1 according to our policy procedures that are in place. A1 through B1. I have a motion. >> Motion. >> Can I have a second? >> Can you say your name on who is online when you give a motion, please, so that I can uh record it properly? That was Angel Meyers. >> Director Hunter Rue, >> vote for yes or no. >> Yes. >> Director Myers, >> yes. Director Cooper, >> yes. >> Director Culliver, >> yes. >> Director Hzowski, >> yes. >> Five yeses. Motion passes. >>
018Thank you. Next, we'll go to item B2. Before we do, I like to ask Dr. Hans Rabel to come on up, please, for a quick second. Yeah. >> And ma'am, if you wouldn't mind giving us a short synopsis of what we're about to vote on. >> So, you are looking at an amended recovery plan. That amended document is to represent accomplishments that the district has achieved since it was assigned moderate financial recovery in 2021 and also to address current challenges. Um it is viewed as a supplement to that original plan. I understand the re the mark about taxes and certainly that is is a hardship for any community particularly so rocks. I do appreciate that. That is not any language that is new or different from the original recovery plan. So I just want to
019be clear that is a carryover. I'm not introducing anything new or different in that regard. Um the opportunity exists for this district realistically to qualify for exit from recovery which would mean five years of monitoring which means a little bit looser s um supervision and puts you on the path to restoration of your full independence. So we have um put the document together so it's very prescriptive. If you look at appendix E, it actually represents an an exact to-do list, who's responsible for taking the lead on those actions, and when those actions will be monitored. So that again is to focus the district and to provide evidence that hopefully within three years within if implemented with fidelity that the district would qualify for consideration of exit. >> Thank you, ma'am. >> Thank you. >> Item
020B2 by itself. I have a motion. >> Motion. This is Alice Cooper. >> I have a second. >> Second. Angel Myers. >> Director Hunter Rue. >> No. >> Director Meyers. >> Yes. Director Cooper, >> yes. >> Director Culliver, >> no. >> Director Hazowski, >> yes. >> Three yeses, two nos. >> Thank you. >> Now I see items B3 through F8. I'm >> sorry. I have a motion. >> Motion. Angel Myers. >> I have a second. >> Second. Hunter Rue. Director Myers, >> yes. >> Director Cooper, >> yes. >> Director Culliver, >> yes. >> Directors, >> yes. >> Director Hunter Rue, >> yes. >> Five yeses. Motion passes. >> Thank you. Can I see item G1? All of D1. Have a second. I'm sorry. I'll second. >> Director Isowski. >> Director Hunter Rue. >> Yes. >>
021Director Meyers. >> Yes. >> Director Cooper. >> Yes. >> Director Colliver. >> Yes. >> Five yeses. Motion passes. >> Thank you. Now under new business like I say items IB1 through IE I'm sorry disregard IF4 IB1 through IF4 have a motion we have a question first. >> That's actually that's actually part of the requirement. We're going to put it on it's a Facebook post. We have to show that we advertised for that evening and that event. So, we'll definitely be doing that. >> And thank you for all the uh job descriptions and updates and everything. I know there's a lot of work been put in for that for a little while now. So, thank y'all for that. >> Have a motion. >> Have a second. >> Second. Angel Myers. >> Director Cooper. >> Yes. >>
022Director Culliver. >> Yes. >> Director Isowski. Yes. >> Director Hunter Rue. >> Yes. >> Director Meyers. >> Yes. >> Five yeses. Motion passes. >> Thank you. Like I say item IG one resignations. Have a motion. Have a second. >> Second. Hunter R. Director Meyers, >> yes. >> Director Cooper, >> yes. >> Director Culliver, >> yes. >> Director Zowski, >> Director Hunter, >> yes. >> Five yeses. Motion passes. >> Thank you. Items IG, two, and three together. I have a motion. A motion. Have a second. >> Second. Hunter R. >> Director Myers. >> Yes. >> Director Cooper. >> Yes. >> Director Culliver. >> Yes. >> Director Isowski. >> Director Hunter. >> Yes. Five yeses. Motion passes. >> Thank you. Now pass over to our solicitor. >> I need a motion to appoint Amanda Dona to fill
023the region 3 at large board vacancy and to hold the seat until the next general election. >> A motion. >> I'll second Alice Cooper. >> Director Culliver. >> Yes. >> Director Isowski. >> Yes. Director Hunter Rue, >> yes. >> Director Meyers, >> yes. >> Director Cooper, >> yes. >> Five yeses. Motion passes. >> Congratulations. Welcome. >> I need a motion to appoint Paige Hoffman to fill the region 2 Stow Township board vacancy and to hold the seat until the next general election. A >> motion. I'll second Alice Cooper. >> Director Culliver. >> No. >> Director Isowski. >> No. >> Director Hunter Rue. >> No. >> Director Meyers. >> No. >> Director Cooper. >> No. >> Five nos. Motion fails. >> Thank you. Any committee reports? like to um honestly say that it things things are
024looking good. You know what I mean? Um you know we we've had a lot of briefings, a lot of things that you know we've been talking about. Things are looking good. Things are looking up. You know the things that we have to also focus on and control for the future. But truth be told, it's a good time to be part of this district. It really is. Public comment signed up unheard. All right. Our next meeting will take place at the cafeteria here October 16th at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Um, anything you have to add? >> Thank you, ma'am. Have a motion to adjourn. Have a second. >> Motion second to journ. Thank you.