001have over 300 girls come from 18 different schools, grades 4 through 12, to empower them and to show them that they have a voice and that they could be their authentic selves in any space. It's very important that we have high school students here intermingling with middle school students and elementary students so that they have a goal and they see where they can be and they get excited about graduating. people to look up to like student athletes and stuff and they have a good future for themselves and that's something I want to have a good future. >> To me, this event is a good way for young girls and older girls like me to come together and see what we all can do as a whole group and team. What we want to do is
002break stereotypes for young girls and make sure that you know being loud and being joyful isn't seen as a negative but a positive of expression through art, through painting, through dance, through song, um through hair care classes so that they have great self-confidence, great self-esteem and they have a great self-direction in life. It is an opportunity for us to celebrate our young girls, to acknowledge them, to amplify their voices, to hear them. We want them to know that we appreciate them, we love them, we see them, and we are here to support them. And once we all come together at this event, it's all of the girls in region 2 to see each other, to have common conversation, to understand, you know what, I do have a voice. I am worthy. I am valued. The
003beauty of being at the art museum is to see the the art that takes place. >> I enjoyed the painting. Like I really enjoyed the painting like the self-portraits. I enjoyed that they gave us free stuff, you know, lip gloss and gifts and stuff when we came that the energy was good and that they welcomed us. >> It's good because you get to talk to new people and share like what you have in common. It was pretty fun outside. We learned karate and it was a pretty awesome day. What an awesome opportunity for our elementary girls to see that middle school and high school girls are able to share and have conversations with them. >> I like I could be a symbol towards them cuz you know they're still growing up. Well, I'm still grown
004up too, but you know they're still they look up to us and like we're role models for them. I think it's good to know for some young ladies to know that you're not alone and that it's not always about like the bad things and that we can all come together and make something positive all together being we can help each other and not make it envious or a competition and that we're all here and we're on the same boat. I think today with battling so many negative connotations on social media and how people use social media [Music] Greetings and welcome to this week's highlights from across the district. There's nothing like the first day of school in Columbus City Schools. On Monday, August 25th, we proudly welcome back more than 46,000 students for the start
005of the 2526 traditional school year. From the bus stop to the classroom door, the excitement was felt across the district. Our schools rolled out the red carpet with the help of special guests, state officials, and community partners who joined us in celebrating this important day. With new opportunities ahead, beautifully renovated spaces, and the support of our dedicated teachers and staff, this school year is already off to an inspiring start. Thank you to our entire CCS community for surrounding our students with encouragement and support. On Wednesday, August 27th, Columbus City Preparatory School for Boys held its annual tie tying ceremony, a cherished tradition that marks the beginning of the school year. During this special event, students received their ties, which symbolize a community of brotherhood and unity. With guidance from teachers, staff, community partners, and mentors,
006our young scholars proudly tied their ties, embracing the CCPS scholars creed core values of accountability, respect, integrity, servicemindedness, and excellence. We are excited to see these young leaders grow and achieve great things in the year ahead. Thank you to our community partners, mentors, and volunteers who joined us. Your presence made this event even more meaningful. And together in partnership, we are demonstrating what it means when we say leaders are grown here in Columbus City Schools. The wait is over and kindergarten is officially underway for our youngest scholars. On Thursday, August 28th, students entered their classrooms for the very first time, marking an unforgettable milestone in their educational journey. From finding their cubbies to meeting new teachers and making new friends, our kindergarteners embrace the day with curiosity and courage. Thanks to the guidance of CCS
007staff, our kindergarteners are already exploring, growing, and creating their very first school memories. Welcome to the CCS family, class of 2038. I am proud to announce that Columbus City Schools has been awarded nearly $900,000 through the comprehensive literacy state development grant to create two model literacy sites at Old Orchard Elementary and Cedarwood Elementary School. The four-year grant will provide teachers with highquality training, coaching, and resources aligned with the science of reading while offering students early reading assessments, targeted interventions, and expanded opportunities such as afterchool tutoring. At Old Orchard, where 61% of students have already met early literacy benchmarks, the grant builds on recent letters training for staff. While at Cedarwood, the funding will support new strategies to help students reach grade level literacy goals. This investment supports the board of education's goal of ensuring that
008every CCS student is reading on or above grade level by the third grade, laying the foundation for lifelong learning. Congratulations to the students and staff at Old Orchard and Cedarwood. All aboard. Pathway Express is ready to begin its 2025 2026 journey. And the first stop is Lynn Fruit Farm on Saturday, September 13th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Join CCS families for a fun field day with fall fun including apple picking, corn mazes, hay rides, pumpkin patches, and hands-on learning activities designed for the whole family. Students can even try out entrepreneurial challenges and explore the orchard while enjoying seasonal treats. Free transportation will be available from Walnut Ridge South, West, and Northland High Schools. Buses depart at 9:30 a.m. and return by 12:30 p.m. RSVP today to reserve your spot. These have been your highlights
009from around the district for September 2nd. Thank you so much for joining us. >> Good evening everyone and welcome to today's Tuesday, September 2nd regular board business meeting. Um, can we call the role, Mr. Treasur? >> Yes sir. Vice President Adair >> present. >> President Cole >> here. >> Miss Engles >> here. >> Dr. Pierce >> present. Miss Reyes >> here. >> Mr. Simmons >> present. >> Miss Vera >> here. >> You have a quorum. >> All right. Thank you. I'm so glad for you all to be here and I'm really excited about our new reopening of school and everybody back in the classroom. What I'm troubled by though, Madam Superintendent, is 2038. >> Tell me about it. >> 2038, >> I will be 65% of the way to the Century Club. Wow, that is
010crazy. Uh anyway, um as we are reviewing the agenda, before we do that, I'd love the opportunity, uh colleagues, if we can amend the agenda and for an addition in uh board matters for a section 4.1 and a section 4.2 that will firstly include the acknowledgement of our OSBA awardees. I love the opportunity to do that. And then also a realignment Q&A. So the second 4.1 will be the acknowledgement of our OSBA awardees. The second will be uh the a a open opportunity to discuss Q&A around realignment. Uh if there's no objection, I love the opportunity. >> I object to the 4.2 as I this is the first time that we're hearing of this. Um, and I have no idea what this even means. >> Um, President Cole, before we begin discussing an amendment, there
011actually needs to be a main motion made. So, a motion to adopt the agenda needs to be made and then amendments can be offered and then we are able to discuss the amendments. But, we're kind of getting a step ahead of ourselves. >> My new parlletarian. Thank you. All right. So, with that, uh, the first is is the opportunity again to uh uh adopt the agenda. Is there a motion to >> motion to adopt the agenda? >> Can we do the pledge of allegiance first? Is is it just me or I know >> it is just you, but we'll do it. We'll do the pledge of allegiance first. Thank you. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the standy. All right, >> we did that. Okay. >> So,
012did we have a motion to adopt the agenda? I'm sorry. >> So, >> as as written on board docs, I think. Yes. >> Motion to adopt the agenda as written on board docs. >> Second. >> There's a motion in a second. Call the role. >> No. >> Hold on. >> Discussion and um that way we can make an amendment if someone would like to offer an amendment. if you call the role now, which you can't because I would like to discuss it anyways. So, you can't call the role now, but if you did, then that would prohibit anyone from making an amendment. >> I thought we had the opportunity to make the amendment. >> You this would be the time to make your amendment. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, Mr. Treasurer. >> Yes. >> Motion
013to call. Let's let's go back because that's been motioned and seconded. So, how do I take this off the table? So now would be the time to make >> So now you've you've offered an amendment 4.14.2. >> Got you. >> You need a second to your amendment. >> Correct. >> Thank you. Okay. So what I would like the opportunity to do is add to board matters a 4.1 section that acknowledges our awardees. Got it. >> And a 4.2 section that allows for a realignment question and answers. >> Got it. I want to take them 4.1. >> Yes, I want to take them. Is Is that what you would like to do? I I think it would be advisable to take a motion 4.1 then since 4 being >> so >> in question >> motion to
014amend the agenda to incorporate section 4.1 which is the acknowledgement of our OSBA awardees for 2025. >> Second >> motion and second call the roll. >> Miss Engles. >> Yes. >> Dr. Pierce. >> Yes. >> Miss Reyes. >> Yes. >> Mr. Simmons. Yes, >> Miss Vera. >> Yes, >> Vice President Adair. >> Yes, >> President Cole. >> Yes. >> Motion carried on 4.1. >> All right. Uh, now motion to amend the agenda to incorporate a section 4.2 that opens the floor for realignment question and answers on behalf of the board. >> Second. >> This motion is seconded. Now we call the role. >> Discussion. Well, go right ahead. >> Um, I would like to, um, respectfully ask my colleagues for the opportunity to do the realignment discussion. Um, you know, we haven't had a realignment
015update in several months and I think it's important for, you know, we do have limited time together as a board, so I think it's important when we are all able to get together, we do take the time to have these conversations. Um, and so I think it would be worthwhile. And I do I hear board member Ingles, I hear your concern about, you know, this isn't something we talked about in advance before, but there have also been times where contracts get added to the agenda very short notice or language is changed and legislation just before the meeting starts. >> Let's keep it to what you want have the discussion. >> We approve that also. And so I think it's okay for us to extend the same similar latitude to um to this motion. >> There
016further discussion. >> Yes. I would just add that in a realignment discussion that involves a lot of participation from the superintendent and the treasurer who were not told until an email at 1:00 stating that a a vague agenda item was going to be added. I don't think that's fair to put our direct reports into and our treasurer didn't even get the email. Um I don't think it's fair to put them on the spot in a public forum and and try to drill them on where we're going with realignment. I think if we want to have this discussion, and we should absolutely, we should at least give our direct reports the opportunity to come prepared so that they can engage in the discussion. They shouldn't find out 20 minutes before a board meeting what the board
017wants to discuss with them. I think that's ridiculous. >> President Cole, >> uh, could I just add, uh, I think with the feedback that we're giving, let's first assume positive intent. >> Thank you. I don't think this would be an opportunity for an I got you moment. >> Thank you. >> But acknowledging that it is best for all parties to be prepared, the question is, are all parties thoroughly prepared? And I think the response would be no, we're not. So is there a way that we can postpone this discussion to a later date at which not only will we as a board are direct reports but also our community will be able to engage with the conversation. >> Um so what I'd like to do uh before we call the role is establish what this
018Q&A is designed to actually do. Q&A is first and foremost focused on the work that we've already established moving forward. Work to close buildings, work to demolish buildings, planning in to in terms of what schools that we're looking to to to do growth and work in. Ideally the careermies if there's any questions that board members had that they wanted to ask from the floor or even ask to be prepared for further committee work this was the opportunity to be able to do that. Now, if our two direct reports specifically feel like you're not equipped at this point in time to have that discussion, please feel free and I will make sure that moving forward. We'll be good and we'll we'll be prepared to discuss this moving forward in the future. Dr. Chapman, are you How
019are you with that? >> That's not >> Can I just say point of order, we have three direct reports. You're only allowing two of them to speak to it. So, can we please be inclusive and include them all? I'd like to uh call the question. >> Yeah. >> Call the question. >> Dr. Pierce. >> No. >> Miss Reyes. >> No. >> Mr. Simmons. >> Um I'm sorry. I have a point of order. If we consult Robert's rules of order as well as the OSBA sheet. One moment, please. It actually specifically says that the question cannot be called on the demand of a single member. Debate can only be ended with a motion. Um either once all members have exhausted their speaking rights or when a motion has been made to end debate. >> I recommend
020we consult with our parliamentarian. He might be a bit more articulate than I am. >> Move the previous question. >> Point taken. Correct. I call the question as well. You have two call the questions. >> It needs a a super majority vote. >> We're getting there. I support calling the question. >> I call the question. I called it. >> This would be where you do a roll call for moving the call the question is colloquial for >> exactly >> move the previous question. So >> correct >> if you >> So it's been motioned and seconded. >> Motion and seconded. Let's take the vote to call the question please. >> I have Dr. Pierce. >> Yes. To in discussion. >> Miss Ryz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Simmons. Yes, >> President Cole. >> Yes, >> Miss Engles
021to ending. Yes, >> Miss Vera. >> Yes, >> Vice President Adair. >> Yes, >> discussions ended. >> Okay, now >> let's complete let's now let's call the role. >> Dr. Pierce on this is on 4.2. >> 4.2. >> This is on 4.2. >> 4.2. The amendment for realignment Q&A. >> No, but I would like to propose a later date. >> Miss Reyes. No >> Mr. Simmons. >> Yes. >> Miss Engles. >> No. >> Miss Vera. >> No. >> Vice President Hader. >> No. >> President Cole. >> Yes. >> Motion fail. >> All right. Motion does not carry. Motion does not pass. All right. So, what we'll do moving forward is uh we will incorporate section 4.1 into board matters. Uh then we'll move on to uh after we have adopted the agenda. So, is there
022a motion to adopt the agenda? >> Motion to adopt the agenda as amended. >> I had board member Les and a dare. So, we just need a roll call. >> Okay. Call the role, sir. >> Yep. Miss Engles? >> Yes. >> Dr. Pierce? >> Yes. >> Miss Reyes? >> Yes. >> Mr. Simmons? >> Yes. >> Miss Vera? >> Yes. >> Vice President Adair? >> Yes. >> President Cole? >> Yes. >> Motion carried. >> All right. Now, we'll go into uh following this, we'll have uh public comment. We have three speakers. We'll go into board matters where we'll acknowledge our OSB awardees. We'll then open the floor up from sections 4 point excuse me 5.1 to 7.1 for executive reports. It seems as if we have none but floor is always open. Uh then we'll go
023into section 8.1 uh which is public hearing to for reemployment of a retired employee of Arthur A. Stoville. Then we'll go into uh accepting the consent agenda. We'll vote on the consent agenda which is sections 9.1 to 24.1. There is no new legislation. We'll then go into executive session. Post executive session. We will then uh adjourn and not return to this room. Uh is there uh we've already done it. >> We've already done it. >> All right. Um so why don't we get to it uh and move right into section 3.1 which is uh the public participation piece. So with that we have Mr. James Hill. Uh Mr. James is with us in person. Mr. Hill are you here? Okay. Mr. James Hill is not here. Uh Mr. Steven Darnell. Mr. Darnell are you present?
024>> All right. Welcome. Please approach the podium. You have three minutes to address us. After three minutes, uh we'll thank you for your time. Thank you for your time. Good evening, President Cole, Vice President Adair, Treasurer Cook, Superintendent Dr. Chapman, and members of the board. My name is Steven Donell. I'm an assistant football coach at East High School, better known as Coach D to our football team. I sometimes also go as Harry. The safety, health, and well-being of our student athletes is just as paramount to our coaches and parents on the practice field and the game field as it is in the classroom. This is why I'm here to ask why some of our schools are required to share an athletic trainer with another school. Some schools have a dedicated trainer, but we at East
025share our trainer with Lynden McKinley. There are other schools that must share trainers with each other as well, and it is my understanding that this is being done as geographically as possible. Football is a contact sport. Sprains, breaks, contusions, and other types of injuries happen sometimes. But with no athletic trainer available at most practices and potentially no trainer at a game being a possibility, we feel our athletes are being shortchanged. We had one of our players break his collar bone in practice one day last week and another dislocated finger. We as coaches can handle a dislocation, cut, sprain without any trouble. But a broken collar bone would take a little more expertise than we have dealing with more a more serious type of injury. We coaches also take care of taping ankles, fingers, or whatever
026in the course of practice and getting ready for games. I know your short answer is the district needs to make budget cuts wherever possible, but we feel you can't put a monetary value on the safety of our athletes, whether it is on the practice field, game field, or wherever. I would hope you would feel the same way and work to provide funds to provide athletic trainers for every school. I've spoken with most of our coaches, some parents, and some close friends of mine that all feel the same way that I do. OSU provides Columbus City Schools with athletic trainers. I've been told OSU is willing to provide more to us and all they need is the go-ahad from you, our board. In addition, since our practice facility and game field are a few blocks away
027from the high school, this is unique to East. We feel we should have an AED available at our stadium full-time and not have to transport one back and forth from school to stadium and back to school. As coaches, we want what is best for our athletes at all of our schools and for them to be always as safe as injury-free as possible. But we could use some help from you, our Columbus City School Board. All of our students future is in all of our hands. And one thing I'd like to say real quick, we at East with the football coaches, we have a standard. Our standard is we want our football team to perform in the classroom. 3.0 0 gradepoint average or higher. In the last two years, we have had a little more than
028half of our team at that point. Six or seven between 2.5 and 3.0. So, what we're trying to do also and more importantly is make these young men better people and prepare them for life going forward. >> I thank you, Coach Donnell. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you, >> board president. Quick question. Um, is it possible that the speaker could clarify um what he meant by the acronym a AED? >> Mr. Coach Dell, >> can you come up to the stage and say that? >> Yes, please. And then we'll then we'll conclude. >> Well, >> yes, ma'am. Thank you. Can you please clarify what you mean by that? >> It is an automated external defibrillator. If someone would go into cardiac arrest or anything like that, um we're trained to do CPR, trained
029with, you know, sudden cardiac arrest preliminaries and everything. And the big thing is first thing we do is assess the person, have someone call 911, have somebody grab an AED. that point we start, you know, chest compressions and if we have to put an AED on them and shock them. >> Thank you so much for clarifying and board president, thank you for allowing that. I just think if we could have discussion around amending an agenda to include discussion around realignment and we have one of our coaches standing here talking about something that could affect not just our players but people who are attending the game and we don't have equipment out there that we should be willing to pause and have the conversation around whether or not our facilities have the medical equipment that they
030need and whether or not our student athletes, our coaches and our guests, our community members, families and friends who are attending these games can be able to do it safely. >> I thank you so much and you've made that very clear to our superintendent and she and her staff will work diligently to that effect. Thank you. All right. All right. Our next speaker and we'll go back to uh Mr. James Hill who now is apparently remote. Mr. Hill. Yes, thank you for the opportunity. >> All right. Thank you. Three minutes. >> Um, what if I told you that I had the pleasure of watching 400 plus students from Columbus City Schools Southside who chose to spend their Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in a positive educational activities or Tuesdays and Thursdays after school
031playing basketball, soccer, and flag football. That's the power of the real sports league. CCS region 3 schools feeding into Marian Franklin East High School, South High School face significant challenges. They're facing poor attendance, learning loss, and limited positive opportunities for our students. The Real League changed that. My wife, Dr. Amber Hill, Principal Rodney Johnson, and Paul Jackson created a transformative program offering an extracurricular extended learning league. But it's so much more than sports. Every activity integrates academic support, social emotional learning, and character development. Their vision is to teach, develop, organize, manage, and offer the youth the opportunity to learn fundamental sports while instilling life lessons, character, teamwork, emotional regulation, discipline, respect, and the biggest thing, sportsmanship. The real league has shown a proven impact through their program where students participate in the program. They have
032increased their academics and attendance and they lowered their behaviors. The real league brought families together in a positive way and changed the narrative about the Southside schools. They have an impact report YouTube video which I'll be sharing it with y'all guys later on. They're just now running a sports league. They're transforming lives and communities. Um, your your investment in the real directly funds coaches, uniforms, equipment, and educational materials that make this a successful program. This year, the real league will be extended to all CCS schools. Four years ago, this was just a vision for the Real League founders. Today, it's a thriving program with proven results. Tomorrow, with your partnership and support, we can expand this success to even more students who deserve every opportunity to succeed. CCS students, families, and schools just don't deserve
033this opportunity. They've proven they'll make the most of it. Please help us in supporting this program. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Hill. Thank you for joining us this evening. All right, we will move forward to another remote call from Mr. Timothy Dimatus. Yes. >> Welcome. You have three minutes. Can you hear us? >> Yeah. >> All right. We can hear you. >> Are you ready? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Prayers and greetings for the president, vice president, secretary, board members, and superintendent Dr. Chapman. Today is September 2nd, and I still haven't received a written determination yet on my daughter's eligibility for transportation. She started Tree of Life Middle School on the August 13th and I've been told that they're per statute. She was supposed to be evaluated, not supposed to get the written notice
03430 days prior to school starting. So, it's nearly 50 days overdue. I have a question that you all can answer now or please get somebody to get back with me before I start mediation. Who makes the final decisions on whether or not CCS will transport uh our children to the charter schools? My encouragement to whoever that is would be to please tow the line and do the right thing by following the law to transport our children and to and from school. It's common sense to cooperate with the state and stop fighting this thing. It makes sense from a financial aspect because I can only imagine the cost of late fees, penalties for not complying with the rules, reimbursements to parents, court costs, time spent mediation, lawyers fees, and everything else. It would have been far
035less time consuming and far more productive to just transport our children to school. The hardships y'all are not only causing yourselves, but also parents, teachers, school leaders, and our children is not acceptable and downright cruel. When parents are stressed out, children are stressed out. I mean, just driving the 11 or 12 miles to get there during rush hour traffic in Columbus is enough to cause most people anxiety, increased heart rate, and emotional distress. Then there's the time factor. Missing work. I'm a single dad who is now semi-retired. But the past six years have been tough. Only one year have I remembered that I can I got transportation that was somewhat on time and 80% reliable. All the other years, not so much. Let's do the right thing and fix this thing. I saw a CCS
036van last week, but it only had one child in it. Also, think of the message it is sending to our children that it's okay to break the rules and they are not the top priority. Let's try new things like getting more vans and like making the state pay for them or something and get her done for our children's sake. Please just let's just stop fighting over this thing and you guys go ahead and do the right thing. Please, I'm begging you. Uh, does that conclude your statement? >> Yes, we did. I thank you so very much for your time. >> Someone will follow up with you. We'll work to ensure that you have someone that follows up with you from Columbus City Schools. I thank you for your time. All right, that concludes uh public
037comment. We'll move on to uh board matters section 4.1 which is the acknowledgement of our OSBA awardees for exemplary school employee and also for friend of public education award. They're on the call with us now but we just want to give them an acknowledgement. They're the first two uh at one time awardees that we've ever recommended for acknowledgement that actually won the award. So it's actually good to see you both on the call. I first want to recognize Miss Anna Baker of Ben's Elementary School who has been named the recipient of OSBA's exemplary school employee award. Uh for 45 years, Miss Baker has been a source of inspiration, uh care, and leadership, uplifting generations of students and colleagues. As her principal shared, she is truly the glue that holds Benz together. Earlier this year, she
038was honored with uh in the Baker Day at Bins Elementary. And now the entire state joins in celebrating an extraordinarily 45 year legacy. Um on behalf of the board of education, we extend our deepest congratulations and gratitude to Miss Baker for this remarkable achievement. I'm so glad that you joined us this evening. I just want to again make sure I gave you the opportunity to be acknowledged. Um, moving forward, we also want to acknowledge the men of Omega Sci-Fi Fraternity Incorporated, Ada New Chapter, uh, for their outstanding work. They are the recipients of the Friend of Public Education Award. True to the to the Omega, the men of Omega's motto, friendship is essential to the soul. The chapter has shown friendship in action through generous book donations, life-changing scholarships, and community partnerships that strengthen schools
039and families. Uh, their service reflects and advances the mission of Columbus City Schools to prepare each student to be highly educated, prepared for leadership and service, and empower for success as citizens of a global community. We thank you for a welldeserved honor and designation as a friend of public education by the Ohio School Boards Association. I thank you all and just God bless you for all the work that you're doing. [Applause] So, um I'm I'm I'm going to make a quick adjustment and uh starting with Miss Baker, if you just had a few words that you wanted to share, we're more than uh happy to hear from you. >> I think we need to >> Are you unmuted? our team might have to unmute her. >> Yeah, >> I just wanted >> so much >>
040and I really you >> I thank you so much, Miss Baker. I thank you. All right. Um the to the men of Omega Sci-Fi Fraternity Incorporated, please any one of you who has the opportunity to speak, you're more than welcome. >> To the esteemed members of the Columbus City School Board, be updated. Thank you for this recognition. We have labored hard that we call home and that's where your schools are and we will continue to do so with the resiliency with the dedication and commitment um to continue these programs to be able to shape the lives of those kids in those community and particularly those kids in the London community. So, we appreciate this recognition for our hard work and let you know that we're not intoxicated um by our successes. You know, we're as
041good as our last um you know, good as our the last works that we actually do. So, we're looking forward of fitting this school year um to provide even more support than we did in the previous school year. So, thank you. >> Thank you all. We look forward to more work and and collaboration to come. And again, thank you all for your service. Have a good evening. All right, we will move forward on to our superintendent CEO executive report uh committee, excuse me, reports. Um we'll move on to uh 5.1, which will be Dr. Chapman. Thank you, Dr. Chapman. Good evening, President Cole, Vice President Adair, board members, staff members, and community members. Tonight, I'm excited to share just a few updates with you. Um, first, I'd like to start by extending tremendous amount of
042gratitude um to our entire Columbus City Schools community for a successful first week of school. um to all of our teachers, our principles, our staff members, our families, our community partners who helped ensure a smooth start to the new school year. Um we certainly were supported by community partners who came out to participate in our clap-ins to welcome back our students on the first day of school um for our um students in grades 1 through 12. And then we had the first day of school a few days later for our kindergarten students. As you saw, we welcome back the class of 2038. And uh we certainly want to continue to extend a sincere amount of gratitude to everyone who made that possible. Also, I certainly would like to provide just a few updates on transportation.
043Um, we know that our team has been working diligently over the summer to refine our plans, our operations, and coordination with a number of different partners as well as our CMP schools, our charter nonpublic schools. And we've expanded our fleet of eight passenger vans by 30 to a total of 60. So we now have 60 passenger vans helping to serve smaller stops more quickly and using less fuel and resources. We are operating a total of 494 routes this year. There are 374 CCS routes and 120 contracted vendor routes. We're also better coordinating the timing of drop offs with private and charter schools to reduce the potential for non-compliance violations. This year, we're improving timely access to the bus routing information and adjustments via a daily update in the parent portal of Infinite Campus. So, as
044new students are enrolling in CCS, we're adding new students to routes. We're making timely adjustments to the routing information, encouraging families to continue to check um the parent portal to make sure they have the most up-to-date information regarding their routes for this year. We're continuing to hire bus drivers. Uh we are starting the year off with a strong team in place, but continuing this work um throughout the year. And we've also expanded our call center team to ensure parents receive timely support and answers to their transportation questions. And this work is ongoing and will continue to um really reinforce the messaging and provide the supports needed to ensure that our families have all the information that they need so that their students can get to school and from school um safely. Also, uh, last week
045was not only the first week back to school, but it also marked the launch of themies in Columbus City Schools and our effort to redesign the high school experience at four of our high schools, Beachcraftoft East, Walnut Ridge, and West. The class of 2029, our freshmen began their journey as the inaugural cohort to participate in freshmanies. So that means our ninth graders at four of our high schools are participating in freshmanies designed to provide a transformative approach to teaching and learning. Our ninth grade students will be engaged in small learning communities where they will participate in the freshman seminar. This is a new course at four of our high schools that will equip them with the foundational skills necessary to meet the demands of high school while introducing them to college and career connected learning
046structures through team-based activities and intentional guidance. Students will develop personal skills, explore their talents, and begin to identify their areas of interest. The goal is to help each student develop a stronger sense of self and direction. ensuring they leave their freshman year with a clear picture of who they are and what a successful future can look like for them. And in October next month, we will be scheduling visits to visit our freshmanies at a few of our high schools and we'll be inviting the board to join us on those visits so you can see firsthand the what the freshman academy experience looks like. And later this week on Thursday, September 4th, I will join over 100 students at Fort Hayes Career Center to explore career pathways in media production, music production, radio and television, and
047photography. And as a part of the visit, students will also tour the WCBE radio station and production facility, giving them a firstirhand look at how classroom learning connects directly to real world coners careers. At Fort Hayes, our CTE programs are helping students grow their skills and prepare for college and career pathways. The current event participation includes video production with um 17 students, art portfolio with 20 students, graphic design with 22 students, photography with 22 students, and audio production with another 16 students. and across the district. Um, participation in CTE has grown significantly from about 5,000 students in 2023 to over 11,500 students in the 2024 2025 school year. So, we're continuing to build on this ex interest and the engagement and our CTE programming. Um, our families and our students have been responding to programs
048that provide those hands-on learning experiences and real world applications leading to both college opportunities and direct employment after graduation. And in 2024 2025, last school year, CCS students earned more than 15,000 industry recognized credentials from respected sources such as Adobe, OSHA, Certified Nursing Assistant, Phabbotomy, Lean Six Sigma, and Red Cross's CPR first aid. So we look forward to again visiting with our students, learning more from them about how these um programming, these the programming and these experiences are really connecting and resonating with them in ways that excite them and engage them in meaningful opportunities. And later this month, um we're actually next starting next week, um we want to invite our families from the Broadley and Mhler community to join us at community meetings to ask questions, share their thoughts, and get all of the
049information that they need about the realignment process for Broadley and Mhler. So, beginning on Wednesday, September 10th at 6 PM, we'll have the first community meeting for Broadley and the second community. The first community meeting for the Mhler families and the respective communities will be on Wednesday, September 17th. Families will receive flyers translated in our top five languages that will outline that entire information, additional information, but we certainly want to just make sure that everyone is aware of these meetings and we'll be sharing more information about that. Again, we want to thank all of our families and welcome our incoming prek students that will be starting this Thursday, September 4th. and um President Cole, this will be the class of 2039 and beyond. So, we want to welcome our youngest learners that will be starting
050school for the first day this Thursday, our prek students, class of 2039. Welcome and we look forward to seeing you on Thursday of this week. >> Likewise. Likewise. Thank you, Dr. Chapman. Are there any questions for Dr. Chapman at this point? >> Awesome. All right. So, we'll move on to uh the internal auditor. Uh Mr. Auditor, do you have anything for us this evening? Welcome. >> Nothing this evening. >> Okay. Thank you so much. Uh we'll move on to Treasurer Cook. >> Good evening. No formal report, just a reminder at our next meeting. I'll have an in-depth look at our finances and our updated 5-year forecast. So, I look forward to the opportunity to present. >> All right. Thank you all three uh for all your great work. Okay. So we'll move into section 8
051which is 8.1 public hearing for reemployment of a retired employee Arthur A. Stoville. Madam vice president >> pursuant to Ohio vice code section 3309.345 the board of education gives notice that Arthur A. Stoville who retired from Columbus City schools effective May 30th 2025 is seeking employment of the Columbus City schools as a PE teacher effective September 17th 2025. >> All right. Thank you for that. We'll move on to the approval of the consent agenda. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> It's moved and seconded. >> Can we call the role, Mr. Treasur? >> Dr. Pierce, >> discussion. Can we have discussion for a second? >> Floor is open for discussion. It's been motioned and seconded. >> Um, so I just wanted to bring up a couple of points about um this evening's
052agenda as it relates to items being added last minute. Can we please make sure that we are adding items in a very timely manner that everyone is able to review them and thoroughly be prepared. Um, secondly, I would like to give a huge kudos to I know I can and Dr. Chapman and all of our students that are attending Columbus State through the Columbus Promise. It's also my understanding that today marked the first day of school for our Columbus State students. Um, we are hopefully at this meeting going to renew our contract with them. They do absolutely great, phenomenal work with our students and preparing them for Columbus State Universities, colleges across the world and um you know for after high school and beyond. So definitely want to acknowledge and thank I know I can
053thank our team for their due diligence on um that work with them. And uh then the last thing I'll I'll add probably and this is not on the actual agenda agenda, but you said it earlier with the awards, we actually did have an exemplary employee and friends of public education win in 2020. That was Dr. Alicia Gillison and ETSs. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. You feel good? All right. Okay. So, we'll move on to uh completing the >> the vote. Yes. Thank you, Dr. Pierce. Yes, >> Miss Reyes. >> Yes, >> Mr. Simmons. >> Yes, with the exception of 17.3, which I just would have liked which I abstain on, I would like to have more time to review the legislation. >> Miss Engles, >> yes. >> Miss Vera, >> yes. >>
054Vice President Adair, >> yes. >> President Cole, >> yes. >> Excuse me. Motion carried. >> Motion carries. All right. Uh we will now move into executive session. Uh, it is recommended that the board of education move immediately into executive session pursuant to Ohio Revised Code section 121.22 22 G1 to consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of a public employee or official or the investigation of charges or complaints against a public employee, official, licenses, or regulated individual unless the public employee, official, lency, or regulated individual requests a public hearing. and G4, preparing for conducting or reviewing negotiations or bargaining sessions with public employees concerning their compensation or other terms and conditions of their employment. Is there a motion? >> Second. >> Or second a motion. All right. This motion and second. Can
055we call the role? >> Miss Farah? >> Yes. >> Miss Engles? >> Yes. >> Dr. Pierce? >> Yes. >> Miss Reyes? >> Yes. >> Mr. Simmons? >> Yes. >> Vice President Adair? >> Yes. >> President Cole? >> Yes. >> For an executive session. >> All right. We will move into executive session. post executive session we will adjourn and not return to this room. Thank you all this evening for joining us.