HCSD Board of Education Meeting 3-24-26

001appreciate it. Appreciate you, >> Mr. Price. Um, I don't know if we have formally met, but I'm Mrs. Blevens. I'm a superintendent of this district. And you are the type of character and the type of kid that we work every day uh to groom and to mold and to help support. And so, there's no one that I could be more proud of this honor. I'm sure it's awkward to hear a bunch of these adults sitting around talking about you, but I want you to look on that wall. If you look at our um kind of our our mission in this district is together, positively impacting learning and life. And you, my friend, are doing just that. And so continue. You're making an impact. You know, just some of the words I wrote down, character, your

002energy, your leadership. You're a culture builder. Do you know how hard that is to do as a freshman student to be noticed, to stand out by your peers and your teachers and your leaders. And so I say this every time we're able to honor kids uh here at the board meetings, but the future is bright with kids like you. So, thank you for representing Big Blue so well. Um, I like I I got a smile there a second ago. Um, and I can tell you have an amazing family here to support you. And so, continue paying that forward. Continue showing how it can be done because so many people don't see the amazing children that we work with every day. And you're a walking example of that. So, thank you for being big blue. >>

003Before we move on, we'd love to get a picture with uh the board and just Okay. Come on. Cincinnati. Come on. All right, here we go. Ready? I get one more >> ready. He knows she doesn't get up. I'm not going Yeah, you okay. >> All right. Well, um to our board tonight, the next piece that we have on here is just a partner spotlight. Uh we wanted to take a minute tonight to uh recognize Hamilton Community Foundation. Uh John Gadulli is here tonight. Um John, do you want to speak about the the generous gift or would you like me to speak to it? Okay. He he I had a feeling. Um and so as many of our board is aware uh in Hamilton Community Foundation supports our district in so many ways. Uh through

004different grants for our teachers, uh through different scholarships for our students. The lists go on and on. Um but a few weeks ago, uh Mr. Gdulli called me and said, uh, our board, in light of all of the changes that are happening in Hamilton City Schools, was trying to figure out how they can help. He said, I don't have a check for $10 million. He's still looking for it. Uh, but, uh, he said, you know, the the foundation wanted to do something to show up and to support our students and our staff through this change. And um as you know last year actually uh with Arrow she's not running around today we launched the positive connections program which is working to put therapy dogs in each of our schools. And when we started that program

005uh you know we knew it would take a number of years to scale because that's all done through community donations. No district dollars are spent on that program. And through collaboration with the board, Hamilton Community Foundation said, "We want to make an investment to go ahead and fund dogs for every single one of our schools." And so, uh, through that donation, we are able to move forward so that by the end of next school year, we will have a therapy dog in every single building in our district, supporting our students, our staff, and the community every day. And so I just wanted to I know at the summit we were able to celebrate this, but I thought it was really important, John, to ask you to come today to thank you on behalf of our

006district. You have a collector's item mug here. Very few get this coveted mug from Hamilton City Schools, but I just wanted to thank you uh and all of Hamilton Community Foundation for the support and for seeing us through this hard time. Uh for for seeing that we've had to make difficult decisions, but we're going to continue to provide an amazing product to our community, to our students, and for our staff. So, thank you so much for your partnership in that. We just have a little gift to thank you. >> Thank you. >> Can I say anything? >> Sure. >> Okay. >> Just briefly, very briefly. Um, so yeah, just on behalf of the community foundation, I want to say how pleased we are to support the Hamilton City Schools, certainly the students, staff, um, and

007the board and everyone involved with it. I remember um I wasn't at the meeting where you talked about all the changes that were coming up, but I I did watch it on on YouTube or whatever. And you know, I was so kind of disappointed to hear a lot of the stuff, but also so impressed with what you as a group and as an administration were doing to address that instead of saying, you know, woe is us, what are we going to do with all these problems, saying here's the problem and here's how we're going to address it. So, I think myself along with probably everybody else in the community, thank you for that and we're very impressed with that. And so it came to us like what can we do? And it was like we

008can't really give you $10 million and if we did it would only you know solve one year's problems but what could we do to address kind of maybe the the emotions that will go along with that the changes that people have to deal with and you know the the uh the dog thing came to mind. Sounded like a really good way to step up and do that. So we're really pleased to be able to do that. Uh, I know it's been a lot of hard work by the people who coordinate that to try to make it happen, especially with some changes in the training situation, but I do appreciate everything that you've done to accommodate that. We're really glad to step up and help. And again, mostly it's appreciation to you for what you do

009every single day and continue to do to make our community a better place. So, thank you very much. >> Can I just say real quick? >> Oh, go ahead. >> John, over the years, the chamber has been great to the district. you've been there to help us with different programs, but stepping up on on this project. It was needed and I we really thank you for that. We are going through a tough time. The kids are going through a tough time and there is so much research out that these dogs do help deescalate situations, help students, and it it was Andrea's dream to have this. We it was last year at this time we first talked about it and we had some push back on it and we worked through it and you know just

010personally and I know this board is just very grateful to everything that the chamber or the community foundation does for uh the district and especially for this program. Thank you. Why did you >> My sentiments were largely the same, but I just feel like for especially for our families and the public that watch these meetings, I I think it's important for them to know, if they don't already, that no matter what's happening in this community and what the needs are, the Hamilton Community Foundation is behind the solutions so often. And so this is just one of so many examples of ways that you have shown up for your community and put your community's dollars at work for for us for the people. So just we're indebted with gratitude for you. >> Mr. Godulli, I have

011one comment I'd like to make. I I want people to be aware that what you've done what your organ organization has done for our school district is still a significant financial contribution. So, I don't want to make light of that. Certainly appreciate it and echo what my fellow board members say. But yeah, there's there's no one in the room more of a dog lover than me. Maybe Miss Wise Bro is close, right? >> Um, but yes, thank you very much. That's truly very generous of you and your organization and just want you to know that it is definitely appreciated and and we recognize that's a significant contribution financially to us. So, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Next on our agenda, we like to consider a motion to adjourn into executive session to talk about

012the sale or of property at um competitive bidding as well as to confer with an attorney or update the board of education concerning disputes involving the board that are subject of pending or imminent court action. Do I have a motion to go into executive? A motion to adjourn to executive session. >> Have a second. >> A second. >> Mr. Further, if you call the role, please. >> Dr. Hopkins. >> Yes. >> Mr. Davidson. >> Yes. >> Dr. Copus. >> Yes. >> Miss Matthews? >> Yes. >> Miss Manuso? >> Yes. >> Thank you all for being here to celebrate Caitlyn. Everyone here knows exactly how special she is. Today she'll be presented with a scholarship from the VFW program, Voice of Democracy. Uh for a spoken essay, she presented the prompt being, "How are you showing

013patriotism?" Never have I ever heard such an astonishing speech. I mean, she just took talked from the heart. Some people just follow the the person before them or something like that and they they talk about patriotism, but not like she does. >> I've been patriotic my whole life. I've always done things for veterans. I My grandfather and my father are both veterans. So, I've kind of always been introduced to the topic. So, it felt natural to me. I focused on my strengths and what I've done over the past few years, and it really drove my entire essay. Starting young, you can do it. I know a lot of people are like, "Oh, well, I'm a kid. I don't know what to do. I don't know how to start." Truly, starting is the hardest part. Once

014you start, it's so easy. And a lot of the schools have opportunities that really integrate it into our lives early on and that truly is the most important part to get into the schools now. So, we learn a life of giving. Miss Wagenfield and I, we have a very close connection. I've worked with her for many years and she truly did start me on this path. >> We are so excited uh for all of our students accomplishments, but this student in particular has uh done amazing things. I've learned about a lot of them today. Um, but this VFW essay contest, uh, that she won through Butler County and then the state and now she's headed to nationals. Congratulations. Um, it just kind of shows what our students are about and that's pride in their community.

015It's pride in their country. It's serving others and I think Kayn is a great example of that. And so, her house principal is here today, Miss Watkins, and we are more than thrilled to send her to Valley Forge to bring home the national victory for the blue. Um, but more importantly, it's just about the service to our community and our country that we are so proud of her. >> All right. Well, at this time, I'd like to invite Bob Long up from the Hamilton Community Foundation for a really exciting and generous announcement. Can we put it back here for you? Okay. >> Thank you, Andrea. That all kind of started with a very simple conversation that Andrea had the first time she met with the Hamilton Community Foundation's education committee. Kathy Clank asked her, "What

016would you think of having therapy dogs in the schools and Andrea immediately responded with enthusiasm and that was the start of a great partnership. Andrea and one of our foundation staff members, Tracy Eids, were all part of Leadership Hamilton class number 33. And that group decided, did I hear applause for that group? I think they're biased. >> There are other classes who might differ with that, but I won't. Uh, but they decided that they were going to make the positive connections therapy dog program a reality. And thanks to the generous support of many local businesses, school PTOs, uh the Hamilton High student council, many many other individuals, we have made tremendous progress. Therapy Dog Arrow and also Tango are having a big impact on our schools. Not just the students, but the teachers and the

017staff as well. They offer a lot of emotional support. They help reduce anxiety and also stress. And there are three more therapy dogs that will be coming this spring and summer. Originally, Andrea told me it was going to probably take five years for every school to have a dog. But then Andrea had to tell our community the bad news that the district was having to make $10 million worth of budget cuts. Our foundation CEO, John Gadulli, told me, he said, "We need to do something immediately to show our support for the schools." So this morning, I'm very pleased to tell you the community foundation board of trustees unanimously has agreed to provide a grant that will ensure every Hamilton school building will have its own therapy school therapy dog next school year. And this foundation

018grant will cover the entire three-year funding cycle that's needed for each of those six additional therapy dogs. Our foundation has prioritized education in this area for a long, long time, 75 years. And with more than 300 college scholarships, we can help a lot of high school seniors. We're also proud of our collaboration with Andrea and her staff on a program called Many Grants for Teachers, where we help roughly 140 teachers every year with up to $300 in out-ofpocket expenses that they need for classroom enhancements. We believe very seriously in collaboration, compassion, innovation, and also heart to make this a great community. We want to thank everyone who's helped with the therapy dog program because together arrow we are building community four paws at a time. This is Tango. And Tango is our certified therapy dog

019through the AKC. and he is going to be a therapy dog in Hamilton City Schools this school year and for the future. The students are so excited to have Tango in the building. Um even just seeing him through the glass as they're walking in, they're like, "Tango's here." I think the biggest thing that Tango is going to provide for us is really a lot of comfort um and emotional regulation. Um we know that students learn best when they are emotionally regulated. And so having Tango available to help us feel the calm, that connected state, and just be able to kind of calm our bodies, um it really helps to allow students to feel comfortable and safe, um here at school, which then allows them to be ready for learning. >> It's the connection. Um no

020one has to teach a dog how to connect and how to have empathy. It's part of their genetic makeup. It's part of who they are. um and their connectivity um just the way they feel um their sense of calm, you know, them picking up on how we smell different when we are having different emotions. Their noses are way more attuned. They can pick up on those things. Uh and they can respond and they intuitively know how to respond to um help us be calm. Um you know, uh Arrow, who's already been across the district, will stop and spend more time with people who might have something going on that no one's ever going to know about, but Arrow knows. Um, and now Tango is going to know too. And you don't have to use any

021words. They can take care of us without us having to talk because sometimes there aren't words for situations that are hard. Ultimately, we'd like to have a dog in every building. Um, you know, and that's we're relying on our community for that. Um, and we've already been met with an overwhelming response. Um, we have, you know, one building already successful and I've got three more buildings on tap that we're be going to be expanding our pack very shortly. One of our main missions is uh the community, right, and children and youth. So, it's all kind of the pillars of the American Legion. So, being able to keep it close and local is a great thing. >> His job is people. He is here to work for people, to be comfort, to be friendly, and he's

022just he loves love. He loves to be pet. He wants friends and attention. So, his job is people, and I want him to know as many people as he can and make a difference in as many lives as he can. I mean, it's amazing. You know, I wouldn't be where I'm at if it wasn't for here. So, being able to come back and and get the love that I get and be able to return it is it's it's huge to me. >> I didn't think this would happen cuz I kind of just jotted it down one random day when my teacher wasn't there. And I was like, I don't really think anything's really going to happen. I was like, oh my gosh, nothing like this has ever happened to me. This is so awesome. It

023was amazing to hear the stories and like their their thoughts on, you know, how how they made the design and and what it meant to them. So like hearing all that was it's awesome. >> I did the phoenix on the very front of the shape and like the clock, >> you know. I picked a piece out of each each uh design that I seen and I tried to all implement it together and like try to make one like a really cool cleat so that way not just one person but maybe like 10 or however many I could be able to get. Like I said, some of it related to me and some of it didn't relate to me at all, but it related to people that I love and people that I grew up with.

024So, it's like I might as well uh might as well put everything together if I can. >> I do suffer like how no really no one really cares. No one really sees what I'm doing. And then this just kind of proved to me that what I'm doing is worth something to someone. >> You know, being able to just try to make it all about y'all, all about the kids. So that's something I love to do every year. Hi, I'm Shaqula Matthews aka Pastor Shaq. Born and raised in Hamilton. I am in my seventh year of schoolboard. Oh my gosh, seven years of serving the community in this capacity has been an absolute blessing. um that the people would find the confidence in me for me to service another year to be able to represent not

025only um this city but my community that I was born and raised in. And it's just been an honor to be able to serve the kids cuz I work with youth with hype. So to be able to serve in this capacity of being a part of the decision- making and helping make this district better than what I found it and also once my term is up to leave it better than what I found it is definitely the ultimate goal. Uh for me it was important to be a part of the board and to be able to work with others to help bring about change to help make sure that every student had the opportunity to be great in whatever that is. If it's excelling in academics, if it's excelling in their sports, however, I wanted

026to be a part of that process to make sure that young people had what they need to be able to be great in whatever capacity, whatever that may look like. For me, I think since I've been on school board, I've um been I've worked with some amazing board members. uh Mag, Lauren, Dave, all of them. I've worked with working with some amazing people and I look forward to working with our new incoming board members, uh Carrie Vancuso and um Dr. Ashley Hopkins. So, I'm looking forward to their input and what they will add and bring to the board. But I've seen so many great things. I've seen a lot of great partnerships come along with working with the city and development. In that regards, I've been one thing that that I've been really excited about

027is the program that Chris Canel heads up with students and them finding employment. I think that has been just just phenomenal how he's really taken that by the head just really moved forward with that program and opened up so many opportunities for kids to be able to find employment. So that's been important for me. I also love the CCP course that the students are able to take advantage of. They're able to go of course continue working at towards graduation but as well as earning the associates degree in Miami. So for me those have been two amazing things that stand out to me that I really really really really love about our district. cuz I've talked to many kids that they're graduating from high school as well as college and I just think that's phenomenal and

028I that's really setting that that child up to really be great and I think that being a part of those things in the district have been amazing. We have great leadership. We have great leadership with Andrea. We have a great school we have great schoolboard members that are willing and dedicated to us being great and putting us in the best position as possible. We all know that um districts over all over the nation are facing challenges as it relates to budgets and just everything. And we feel as if district we've done the work. We we are dedicated to coming together and being supportive of our admin team and of our leadership to make sure that we are able to continue to position our students to be great. Continue to support our teachers and staff and

029make sure that we continue to do things the Hamilton way. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. Heat. Hey, heat. Hey, heat. Couple years ago, we had a plan that we wanted to work with a company to start designing a cafeteria that was different than your typical school cafeteria. We wanted it to feel more like a food court and less like your typical long tables, benches, rows. So, we wanted some different types of seating in there. The response has been wonderful, not just from the students, but also from the community. We've had lots of adults in here on open house. We've had other jealous teachers from other buildings that have been telling us how great it looks. Uh so we've had a wonderful response. Honestly, >> it feels more like when we went to Miami, we just

030got to sit in their cafeteria and it felt just more like mature. And so it just is really cool that our cafeteria is a lot like that. >> The kids are doing better this year like from last year. We always would get up, scream across the whole lunchroom cuz you couldn't sit with like all your friends. It's like kind of a small space, but now it's like a bigger space, more tables. You can just sit and eat with your friends, be comfortable. It's a very big change from last year. >> I feel like it's very comfortable. Um the students enjoy eating there while talking to their friends. They really um seem to like the new changes that were made this year. We tried to bring not just Garfield in here, but also the city of

031Hamilton. We brought in Hamilton things from around our community, including some maps of the neighborhoods that our kids come from. >> It makes you feel like you're being part of the community and enjoy the places that are important. >> I'm just so glad that we get to share this with our students. I'm so glad they get to enjoy it. And I just love making Garfield even better. My name is Dr. Ashley Hopkins. Uh I work for Miami University directing our Upwardbound College Preparatory Program at Hamilton High School. Uh I've worked there for about eight years and I have worked in public education for almost 20 years. This year I decided to run for school board first and foremost because as I mentioned I have worked in public education for almost 20 years. Um and I'm

032a product of public education and my whole family is. I come from a workingclass bluecollar background um from Appalachia. I'm a first generation college student myself and if it wasn't for the great public school educators in the small town that I grew up in in Galipese, Ohio. Um if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be where I'm at now. I wouldn't have my doctorate in educational administration and I wouldn't be serving my community here in Hamilton and helping open the door to educational access for other students. I think in the district we do a really exemplary job of providing an individualized educational experience for each of our students. And so we have a district that has many many passionate educators from our um support staff in the cafeterias and in the classroom, our teaching assistants,

033our teachers clear up to our administration. they really all genuinely care about students and their well-being um and their ability to learn and succeed. And so we're really focused on doing what is best for our students and and that looks very individual for each student and we take the time out to get to know our students and to think through each one of those individual needs and problems that they maybe um experience in the classroom or in their educational journey. I'm really excited to stand as an advocate for our students to continue the student focused educational uh traditions that we've developed at Hamilton School District. Um I really am focused on being an advocate especially for our students who are uh maybe overlooked or feel overlooked, making sure that our most vulnerable populations are really

034advocated for in the board meetings and when we're making different difficult decisions throughout the year. So I'm excited about that. I'm excited about the performance in our data and being at the front of that and thinking about how we can continue to respond to the changing educational landscape, maintaining that data while also protecting and supporting our students overall well-being and educational access. I know that we have challenges ahead, but to be very honest, those challenges are uh some of the motivation for me to even jump in right now. I think it's a really important time to serve public education. And so for me, this is a bit of a call to service um as we navigate choppy waters, but we're going to come out on the good side. >> As a new principal at Hamilton

035High School, I was really thinking about this Hamilton Baiten game and how we could make this a community celebration, but really at the core of the Ben mission is service to our community. And that's always been an important part of uh what my passion is in education. So whether it's working with 17 strong and micro grants with our youth or just getting out in the community and doing cleanups, we really wanted to launch something that was bigger than the football game, something where our kids give back to the community. Some of them are actually throwing stuff in the dumpster right now, helping out Miss Ebony, the executive director at BTW. And then we have boys out in the community, walking the streets, picking up trash. So over the summer, uh we had the the opportunity

036to meet uh with Hamilton High's administration and and just talk about this game. Uh this game is such an awesome opportunity for both schools uh to showcase really what we believe what we're all about. And in meeting with Tai and talking, we wanted to do something to make our community better to bring our uh our two football teams that that obviously are competing to win win football games. Uh but more importantly, we wanted to come together to to serve the community in the midst of a rivalry week that we're working together to make things better. I think that, you know, when I look at, you know, our guys and Hamilton's guys, there's so many little faces in those crowds, little kids that look up to them. I mean, they see them as celebrities at times

037and just to inspire in them a desire to to be more than just what they are on the football field. I mean, they're leaders in our community. They're doing great things and I think the opportunity to showcase that really to inspire hopefully some other people to get involved in 17 strong uh here at the Booker T. Washington Center to get involved here which are great organizations uh that need need people like this to come out and serve uh and make the place better. And it's just really to me signifies kind of a new launch of service to our community for both of our schools for Ben and for Hamilton. So it was great to see everybody out in their jerseys. Uh it is Hamilton versus Ben Friday night, but right now everybody's working together to

038make our community a better place. I'm Dr. Joe Copus. I'm a board member here in Hamilton. Uh I've been on the board for two years. Um lifelong resident of Hamilton. I'm a product of the uh public schools here in Hamilton. Uh I'm married to Joanie Lowour Copus for 42 years. We have uh three grown children also here in Hamilton. Um I am a retired dentist. I practiced clinical dentistry for 30 plus years. I'm also a retired colonel from the United States Army. uh having enlisted in 1983 and retired in 2018. Um I love being on the school board. I think uh the health and the welfare of our city is in a large way dependent on the status and condition of our public schools. And even though we currently are facing some challenges, I think

039we're doing the best that we can and we're still producing and delivering a very good product to our city. Ever since day one of me being elected to the board was I I am very much an advocate for the staff. Um I've said on multiple occasions that the three most influential people in my life were teachers that I had in the Hamilton City Schools and they truly have affected me and influenced the decisions that I've made in life. So I I can't focus enough on the welfare of our staff and our goal as a district should be to attract and retain as many great educators as we can. Uh I think that's so critically important not only to the success of the schools today but the success of our city as we move forward and

040fortunately our schools I think have a very good working relationship with the city and I think both of those two entities understand that each we're dependent on each other and the success of each is dependent on each other. One of the things I wanted to accomplish when I was elected is that I wanted to see the culture in our district change a little bit and I think because of our new superintendent Mrs. Blevens and her staff. I think it has. Um, and I also wanted to see I wanted to try to take better care of our staff. And fortunately, each one of our unions in the Hamilton district has been able to renegotiate their contract, and they've been given what I think are some pretty substantial pay increases, which makes us very competitive in what

041we're trying to do as far as finding good people and keeping them here in Hamilton. It's an honor to be on the board, and uh, when I ran for the board in 23, there were two seats available. There were four candidates and I think it's very appropriate that the uh community at that time had a choice. It really is a critically important job and the decisions that you make uh not only influence the schools but it influences the health and the welfare of our city as a whole. Arrow is the Hamilton City School District's first therapy dog. Um she is certified through the AKC as a certified therapy dog. Um she is here for our students and our staff and uh is just a part of our the Hamilton community >> and I'm just so

042impressed with her poise. Um she is so well trained and just does a great job already uh to lighten all of our moods. I I couldn't be thankful enough to leadership Hamilton Hamilton Community Foundation and the Pauls and Stripes College for preparing such an amazing partner. We couldn't have asked for a better dog. I know Andrea just saw the benefit and all the research that was behind how therapy dogs make a solid impact with students, you know, through attendance and grades and behavior and she did a lot of research herself and brought it to the team and wanted to take the project on. And this is one proactive strategy that local communities are using to help build resilience, kindness, positivity. There's a lot of research out there about how a therapy dog will lower anxiety

043and stress, which so many of our young people and our staff are facing on a day-to-day basis. Our goal is to get a dog for each of our buildings. Um, as you know, there's a lot of needs that go around and Arrow is just one. We're a very large district. And so, our goal is to onboard four to five dogs a year that would allow us to eventually get there in the next few years to a dog per school. that will allow that dog to become really a part of that school culture. Through community donations, through different agencies, we've been able to raise the money completely so that not one district dollar is being used for this. >> She's calm, mild manner, just very sweet, very gentle, listens very well, a lot of love, a

044lot of love, a lot of happiness. Um, a lot of energy behind it, which is great. My name is Dave Davidson. I'm a Hamilton City School District board member. Uh I'm starting my will be my 11th year. Uh I was just reelected um in November. I am a product of the Hamilton City Schools and actually I'm a third generation uh Hamilton City School graduate. My father graduated in 1951 from Hamilton High. My grandfather uh from Hamilton High in 1928. Uh I have three boys that graduated from Hamilton High and I currently have two gr grandchildren who are students in the Hamilton City School District. I'm married to Kim, who's a teacher in the Hamilton City School District. I have 10 grandchildren. Two of them live in Germany. Uh I'm a practicing attorney here in Hamilton.

045I've been practicing for about 35 years in Hamilton. I love Hamilton. I came back to Hamilton when I graduated from law school. I'm committed to Hamilton. It's a great place to raise a family and I was fortunate to do that. Uh, I've been very active in community activities. Uh, I was involved with Westside Little League when my boys were younger. I'm on currently the planning commission for the city of Hamilton. I was on city council for 5 years back in the '9s. The reason I went on to uh the city council back then is Hamilton was going through a difficult time. Everybody was complaining. We were losing manufacturing jobs. People were moving out of Hamilton. We had empty storefronts, no businesses, and we were all complaining. And one day, a friend of mine said, "Quit

046complaining. Do something about it." So, I ran for city council. Very much enjoyed that. Did my time on that. But I have a passion for kids and children. And so I ran for the Hamilton City Schools um board of education back in the um 2008 uh and did a term at plus one year at that time. Absolutely loved it. for personal reasons uh with health issue with my my previous wife. I stepped off um and decided later on I wanted to come back and do it again because I loved it so much. Um loved being around the children, love around being around uh teachers and administrators. Our district's great and I loved it. One of the reasons I I came back this last time is it really seemed that there was a disconnect with our

047teachers and our staff and morale was very very low and the school district did for a period of time go through a rocky period of time. I think we're on the upswing. We have a great superintendent we just hired. She's very ener energetic, very positive about the district and she is very uh teacher oriented and wanted to make sure our teachers are happy because that's important. Hamilton needs to start retaining our teachers that we have and recruiting. Uh unfortunately, people don't want to be teachers anymore. So, there's a teacher shortage. So, we got to keep who we have and we got to attract new. And this has to be a district people want to be part of. And I think it is there now. And I'm I'm happy where we're at. Our our test scores

048are up there. Uh Hamilton has turned things around. We're on the upswing. We have some challenges coming ahead. Um state hasn't been too friendly with uh public education, but we'll meet those challenges. We've met them in the past. We'll meet this challenge. I just want everybody to hang with us. So this is Hamilton's pre-apprenticeship program enables the kids to learn core fundamentals of all these different industries. State of Ohio recognizes it for construction, manufacturing, agriculture, architecture, and engineering. So these are core fundamentals for all of those different industries. We don't like to call it even a core curriculum anymore. We call it a confidence class. So it's to give you confidence in using hand tools, using power tools, understanding what you're learning in class and how it applies to the real world and careers that

049are available for you. So there's two different aspects to it. So in order to complete the class, the kids complete a series of quizzes based off the curriculum and they also have to attend class so much. So they're actually getting hands-on instruction from Durana employees on site. The kids are actually working with them. They're exploring on that side. We do it to the curriculum. They do it to the quizzes. However, if the kid chooses to go to the next level, they're able to take what's called the credential course. So, they're now able to go and get a full credential from it. So, even if they don't do it now, the beauty of it is they can take it later on in life. And it's the first half of 39 different apprenticeships that are out there

050in the industry. They're ready to go. Um they're ready to go right into the workforce right now and today. So, we want employers in the Hamilton area to say, "Hey, if Durana taught these guys, they're ready to go. Guys and girls, we have a lot of girls that are coming in the program now. They're ready to go directly into the workforce and come work for my company. They are going to be able to do their OSHA. They're going to be able to understand a power tool. They're going to understand how to work inside of a working environment. What people don't realize is we have so much talent sitting inside that school, sitting inside this community, and it's ready to go. They just need somebody to sit down with them, tell them that we believe in

051them, show them the confidence, and then to back it up with opportunity. Now, I need employers to step up and say, "Hey, we'll take them because they went through this program. My name is Carrie Manuso. I'm a lifelong Hamiltonian. I'm a graduate of the Hamilton City Schools. I went to Miami University and I worked in Cincinnati for a bit um after I graduated from college, but I felt a calling to come back to Hamilton uh years ago in the early 2000s. And I wanted to not only come back to Hamilton, but I was doing work that I enjoyed, but that I I I felt was missing something. And I wanted to come back and have an impact on my community and work in nonprofit. So, I did come back to Hamilton and I've spent my

052career at the Lane Libraries and I love being in a nonprofit organization that serves the community, serves the citizens of Hamilton. So during the time of of my career, uh throughout my career, I've done lots of other things to work within the community that I love so much. And so I've volunteered in many capacities. Uh I'm on the Parks Conservancy board. I've been on several other boards and several other community committees. And I felt the time had come for me to have a a different kind of impact within my community through being on the school board. The Hamilton City Schools are near and dear to my heart. As I said, I'm a graduate of Hamilton City Schools, but I've always been a great advocate of our city schools as well. From the time I graduated

053from high school, I became an advocate immediately when I moved to Oxford and I lived there and understood that the reputation of our little town wasn't necessarily the best. and I became a cheerleader for Hamilton at that moment in time and I have been ever since. And a big part of that is our school district. And I'm really excited now that I get to be involved directly with our school district to help create and continue the positive impacts that it makes on our community. I'm really excited to uh have a front row seat to the children of our community doing great things and helping to drive the decisions that will be of great value to them. As a member of this community, as a graduate of Hamilton City Schools, as a mother who has a

054child in the Hamilton City Schools currently, I'm really excited to become part of the Hamilton way and see what comes for the future with Hamilton City Schools. We knew teachers were routinely spending their personal dollars to get their classrooms ready. >> A lot of people don't realize how much money teachers spend out of their own pocket to support their classrooms. >> We have lots of new teachers who don't have anything to prepare their classroom. So, they've got to go out and buy all this stuff. We have teachers who are switching from one grade level to another. And then we have teachers who often times will become certified in another area and so they switch too. So all these people are saying if I'm going to have the best most interesting classroom it's got to be

055right. And so what do I do? I go shopping. They're spending on average between $500 and $900 a person. Sometimes annually just to get their classrooms ready. Every year I spend hundreds of dollars on my classroom and uh I've never received any outside assistance there and so this was really nice. It put some money back in my pocket. >> There's so many teachers who do have needs and have really legitimate things that they're proposing and I'd like to see us be able to support more. They literally cheered when I emptied a new box of dry erase markers into our bin because we use those supplies every single day and they really appreciate, you know, a new fresh product that's working. >> I believe teachers have been spending their own money forever, but I don't know

056of many other communities where there is an organization like our foundation that has stepped forward. I think that's really um special. When I first saw the application and was asked how I would spend up to $300 in my classroom, I was stumped. Teachers dream of having extra money, and this isn't a question we are asked very often. School supplies are expensive, as are supplemental learning materials and social emotional tools that are all key to a student's success. Teachers often spend their own money to make sure our classrooms are equipped to meet the needs of every student. This is just an outstanding way to say we understand a community foundation is a perfect place to have a fund like this um where we can show support for teachers year in and year out. Thank you all

057for being here to celebrate Caitlyn. Everyone here knows exactly how special she is. Today she'll be presented with a scholarship from the VFW program, Voice of Democracy. Uh for a spoken essay, she presented the prompt being, "How are you showing patriotism?" >> Never have I ever heard such an astonishing speech. I mean, she just took talked from the heart. Some people just follow the the person before them or something like that and they they talk about patriotism, but not like she does. >> I've been patriotic my whole life. I've always done things for veterans. I've my grandfather and my father are both veterans. So, I've kind of always been introduced to the topic, so it felt natural to me. I focused on my strengths and what I've done over the past few years, and it

058really drove my entire essay. Starting young, you can do it. I know a lot of people are like, "Oh, well, I'm a kid. I don't know what to do. I don't know how to start." Truly, starting is the hardest part. Once you start, it's so easy. And a lot of the schools have opportunities that really integrate it into our lives early on and that truly is the most important part to get into the schools now so we learn a life of giving. Miss Wagenfield and I, we have a very close connection. I've worked with her for many years and she truly did start me on this path. >> We are so excited uh for all of our students accomplishments, but this student in particular has uh done amazing things. I've learned about a lot of

059them today. Um, but this VFW essay contest uh that she won through Butler County and then the state and now she's headed to nationals. Congratulations. Um, it just kind of shows what our students are about and that's pride in their community. It's pride in their country. It's serving others and I think Kayn is a great example of that. And so, uh, her house principal is here today, Miss Watkins, and we are more than thrilled to send her to Valley Forge to bring home the national victory for the blue. Um, but more importantly, it's just about the service to our community and our country that we are so proud of her. All right. Well, at this time, I'd like to invite Bob Long up from the Hamilton Community Foundation for a really exciting and generous announcement.

060Can we put it back here for you? Okay. >> Thank you, Andrea. It all kind of started with a very simple conversation that Andrea had the first time she met with the Hamilton Community Foundation's education committee. Kathy Clank asked her, "What would you think of having therapy dogs in the schools and Andrea immediately responded with enthusiasm and that was the start of a great partnership." Andrea and one of our foundation staff members, Tracy Eids, were all part of Leadership Hamilton class number 33. And that group decided, did I hear applause for that group? I think they're biased. There are other classes who might differ with that, but I won't. Uh, but they decided that they were going to make the positive connections therapy dog program a reality. And thanks to the generous support of many

061local businesses, school PTOs, uh the Hamilton High Student Council, many many other individuals, we have made tremendous progress. Therapy Dog Arrow and also Tango are having a big impact on our schools. Not just the students, but the teachers and the staff as well. They offer a lot of emotional support. They help reduce anxiety and also stress. And there are three more therapy dogs that will be coming this spring and summer. Originally, Andrea told me it was going to probably take five years for every school to have a dog. But then Andrea had to tell our community the bad news that the district was having to make $10 million worth of budget cuts. Our foundation CEO, John Gadulli, told me, he said, "We need to do something immediately to show our support for the schools." So

062this morning, I'm very pleased to tell you the community foundation board of trustees unanimously has agreed to provide a grant that will ensure every Hamilton school building will have its own therapy school therapy dog next school year. And this foundation grant will cover the entire three-year funding cycle that's needed for each of those six additional therapy dogs. Our foundation has prioritized education in this area for a long, long time, 75 years. And with more than 300 college scholarships, we can help a lot of high school seniors. We're also proud of our collaboration with Andrea and her staff on a program called Many Grants for Teachers, where we help roughly 140 teachers every year with up to $300 in out-ofpocket expenses that they need for classroom enhancements. We believe very seriously in collaboration, compassion, innovation, and

063also heart to make this a great community. We want to thank everyone who's helped with the therapy dog program because together arrow we are building community four paws at a time. This is Tango. And Tango is our certified therapy dog through the AKC. and he is going to be a therapy dog in Hamilton City Schools this school year and for the future. The students are so excited to have Tango in the building. Um even just seeing him through the glass as they're walking in, they're like, "Tango's here." I think the biggest thing that Tango is going to provide for us is really a lot of comfort um and emotional regulation. Um we know that students learn best when they are emotionally regulated. And so having Tango available to help us feel the calm, that connected

064state, and just be able to kind of calm our bodies, um it really helps to allow students to feel comfortable and safe, um here at school, which then allows them to be ready for learning. >> It's the connection. Um no one has to teach a dog how to connect and how to have empathy. It's part of their genetic makeup. It's part of who they are. um and their connectivity um just the way they feel um their sense of calm, you know, them picking up on how we smell different when we are having different emotions. Their noses are way more attuned. They can pick up on those things. Uh and they can respond and they intuitively know how to respond to um help us be calm. Um you know, uh Arrow, who's already been across the

065district, will stop and spend more time with people who might have something going on that no one's ever going to know about, but Arrow knows. Um, and now Tango is going to know too. And you don't have to use any words. They can take care of us without us having to talk because sometimes there aren't words for situations that are hard. Ultimately, we'd like to have a dog in every building. Um, you know, and that's we're relying on our community for that. Um, and we've already been met with an overwhelming response. Um, we have, you know, one building already successful and I've got three more buildings on tap that we're be going to be expanding our pack very shortly. One of our main missions is uh the community, right, and children and youth. So, it's

066all kind of the pillars of the American Legion. So, being able to keep it close and local is a great thing. >> His job is people. He is here to work for people, to be comfort, to be friendly, and he's just he loves love. He loves to be pet. He wants friends and attention. So, his job is people, and I want him to know as many people as he can and make a difference in as many lives as he can. I mean, it's amazing. You know, I wouldn't be where I'm at if it wasn't for here. So, being able to come back and and get the love that I get and be able to return it is it's it's huge to me. >> I didn't think this would happen cuz I kind of just jotted

067it down one random day when my teacher wasn't there. And I was like, I don't really think anything's really going to happen. I was like, oh my gosh, nothing like this has ever happened to me. This is so awesome. It was amazing to hear the stories and like their their thoughts on, you know, how how they made the design and and what it meant to them. So, like hearing all that was it's awesome. >> I did the Phoenix on the very front of the ship and like the clock. >> You know, I picked a piece out of each each uh design that I seen and I tried to all implement it together and like try to make one like a really cool cleat so that way not just one person, but maybe like 10 or

068however many I could be able to get. Like I said, some of it related to me and some of it didn't relate to me at all, but it related to people that I love and people that I grew up with. So, it's like I might as well uh might as well put everything together if I can. >> I do suffer from like, oh, no really no one really cares. No one really sees what I'm doing. And then this just kind of proved to me that what I'm doing is worth something to someone. >> You know, being able to just try to make it all about y'all, all about the kids. So that's something I love to do every year. >> Hi, I'm Shaqula Matthews aka Pastor Shaq. Born and raised in Hamilton. I am in

069my seventh year of schoolboard. Oh my gosh, seven years of serving the community in this capacity has been an absolute blessing. um that the people would find the confidence in me for me to serve another year to be able to represent not only um this city but my community that I was born and raised in. And it's just been an honor to be able to serve the kids cuz I work with youth with hype. So to be able to serve in this capacity of being a part of the decision- making and helping make this district better than what I found it and also once my term is up to leave it better than what I found it is definitely the ultimate goal. Uh for me it was important to be a part of the board

070and to be able to work with others to help bring about change to help make sure that every student had the opportunity to be great and whatever that is. If it's excelling in academics, if it's excelling in their sports, however, I wanted to be a part of that process to make sure that young people had what they need to be able to be great in whatever capacity, whatever that may look like. For me, I think since I've been on school board, I've um been I've worked with some amazing board members. uh M Mag, Lauren, Dave, all of them. I've wor with working with some amazing people and I look forward to working with our new incoming board members, uh Carrie Vancuso, and um Dr. Ashley Hopkins. So, I'm looking forward to their input and what

071they will add and bring to the board. But, I've seen so many great things. I've seen a lot of great partnerships come along with working with the city and development in that regards. I've been one thing that that I've been really excited about is the program that Chris Canel heads up with students and them finding employment. I think that has been just just phenomenal how he's really taken that by the head just to really move forward with that program and open up so many opportunities for kids to be able to find employment. So that's been important for me. I also love the CCP course that the students are able to take advantage of. They're able to of course continue working at towards graduation but as well as earning the associates degree in Miami. So for

072me those have been two amazing things that stand out to me that I really really really really love about our district. So, cuz I've talked to many kids that they're graduating from high school as well as college, and I just think that's phenomenal. And I that's really setting that that child up to really be great. And I think that being a part of those things in the district has been amazing. We have great leadership. We have great leadership with Andrea. We have a great school. We have great schoolboard members that are willing and dedicated to us being great and putting us in the best position as possible. We all know that um districts over all over the nation are facing challenges as it relates to budgets and just everything. And we feel as if a

073district we're we've done the work. We we are dedicated to coming together and being supportive of our admin team and of our leadership to make sure that we are able to continue to position our students to be great, continue to support our teachers and staff, and make sure that we continue to do things the Hamilton way. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. Heat. Couple years ago, we had a plan that we wanted to work with a company to start designing a cafeteria that was different than your typical school cafeteria. We wanted it to feel more like a food court and less like your typical long tables, benches, rows. So, we wanted some different types of seating in there. The response has been wonderful, not just from the students, but also from the community. We've had lots

074of adults in here on open house. We've had other jealous teachers from other buildings that have been telling us how great it looks. Uh, so we've had a wonderful response. Honestly, >> it feels more like when we went to Miami, we just got to sit in their cafeteria and it felt just more like mature. And so, it just is really cool that our cafeteria is a lot like that. The kids are doing better this year. Like from last year, we always would get up, scream across the whole lunchroom cuz you couldn't sit with like all your friends. It's like kind of a small space, but now it's like a bigger space, more tables. You can just sit and eat with your friends, be comfortable. It's a very big change from last year. >> I feel

075like it's very comfortable. Um the students enjoy eating there while talking to their friends. They really um seem to like the new changes that were made this year. >> We tried to bring not just Garfield in here, but also the city of Hamilton. We brought in Hamilton things from around our community, including some maps of the neighborhoods that our kids come from. >> It makes you feel like you're being part of the community and enjoy the places that are important. >> I'm just so glad that we get to share this with our students. I'm so glad they get to enjoy it. And I just love making Garfield even better. My name is Dr. Ashley Hopkins. Uh I work for Miami University directing our Upwardbound College Preparatory Program at Hamilton High School. Uh, I've worked there

076for about eight years and I have worked in public education for almost 20 years this year. I decided to run for school board first and foremost because as I mentioned I have worked in public education for almost 20 years. Um, and I'm a product of public education and my whole family is. I come from a workingclass bluecollar background um, from Appalachia. I'm a first generation college student myself and if it wasn't for the great public school educators in the small town that I grew up in in Galiples, Ohio. Um, if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be where I'm at now. I wouldn't have my doctorate in educational administration and I wouldn't be serving my community here in Hamilton and helping open the door to educational access for other students. I think in the district,

077we do a really exemplary job of providing an individualized educational experience for each of our students. And so we have a district that has many many passionate educators from our um support staff in the cafeterias and in the classroom, our teaching assistants, our teachers clear up to our administration. They really all genuinely care about students and their well-being um and their ability to learn and succeed. And so we're really focused on doing what is best for our students and and that looks very individual for each student. we take the time out to get to know our students and to think through each one of those individual needs and problems that they maybe um experience in the classroom or in their educational journey. I'm really excited to stand as an advocate for our students to continue

078the student focused educational uh traditions that we've developed at Hamilton School District. Um, I really am focused on being an advocate, especially for our students who are uh maybe overlooked or feel overlooked, making sure that our most vulnerable populations are really advocated for in the board meetings and when we're making different difficult decisions throughout the year. So, I'm excited about that. I'm excited about the performance in our data and being at the front of that and thinking about how we can continue to respond to the changing educational landscape, maintaining that data while also protecting and supporting our students overall well-being and educational access. I know that we have challenges ahead, but to be very honest, those challenges are uh some of the motivation for me to even jump in right now. I think it's a

079really important time to serve public education. And so for me, this is a bit of a call to service um as we navigate choppy waters, but we're going to come out on the good side. >> As a new principal at Hamilton High School, I was really thinking about this Hamilton Baiten game and how we could make this a community celebration, but really at the core of the Ben mission is service to our community. And that's always been an important part of uh what my passion is in education. So whether it's working with 17 strong and micro grants with our youth or just getting out in the community and doing cleanups, we really wanted to launch something that was bigger than the football game, something where our kids give back to the community. Some of them

080are actually throwing stuff in the dumpster right now, helping out Miss Evony, the executive director at BTW. And then we have boys out in the community, walking the streets, picking up trash. Over the summer, uh we had the the opportunity to meet uh with Hamilton High's administration and and just talk about this game. Uh this game is such an awesome opportunity for both schools uh to showcase really what we believe what we're all about. And in meeting with Tai and talking, we wanted to do something to make our community better to bring our uh our two football teams that that obviously are competing to win win football games. Uh but more importantly, we wanted to come together to to serve the community in the midst of a rivalry week that we're working together to make

081things better. I think that, you know, when I look at, you know, our guys and Hampton's guys, there's so many little faces in those crowds, little kids that look up to them. I mean, they see them as celebrities at times and just to inspire in them a desire to to be more than just what they are on the football field. I mean, they're leaders in our community. They're doing great things and I think the opportunity to showcase that really to inspire hopefully some other people to get involved in 17 strong uh here at the Booker T. Washington Center to get involved here, which are great organizations uh that need need people like this to come out and serve uh and make the place better. and it's just really to me signifies kind of a new

082launch of service to our community for both of our schools for Ben and for Hamilton. So, it was great to see everybody out in their jerseys. Uh it is Hamilton versus Ben Friday night, but right now everybody's working together to make our community a better place. I'm Dr. Joe Copus. I'm a board member here in Hamilton. Uh I've been on the board for two years. Um lifelong resident of Hamilton. I'm a product of the uh public schools here in Hamilton. Uh I'm married to Joanie Lowour Copus for 42 years. We have uh three grown children also here in Hamilton. Um I am a retired dentist. I practiced clinical dentistry for 30 plus years. I'm also a retired colonel from the United States Army having enlisted in 1983 and retired in 2018. Um I love being

083on the school board. I think uh the health and the welfare of our city is in a large way dependent on the status and condition of our public schools. And even though we currently are facing some challenges, I think we're doing the best that we can and we're still producing and delivering a very good product to our city. Ever since day one of me being elected to the board was I I am very much an advocate for the staff. Um I've said on multiple occasions that the three most influential people in my life were teachers that I had in the Hamilton City Schools and they truly have affected me and influenced the decisions that I've made in life. So I I can't focus enough on the welfare of our staff and our goal as a

084district should be to attract and retain as many great educators as we can. I think that's so critically important not only to the success of the schools today but the success of our city as we move forward and fortunately our schools I think have a very good working relationship with the city and I think both of those two entities understand that each we're dependent on each other and the success of each is dependent on each other. One of the things I wanted to accomplish when I was elected is that I wanted to see the culture in our district change a little bit and I think because of our new superintendent Mrs. Blevens and her staff. I think it has. Um, and I also wanted to see I wanted to try to take better care of

085our staff. And fortunately, each one of our unions in the Hamilton district has been able to renegotiate their contract, and they've been given what I think are some pretty substantial pay increases, which makes us very competitive in what we're trying to do as far as finding good people and keeping them here in Hamilton. It's an honor to be on the board. And uh, when I ran for the board in 23, there were two seats available. there were four candidates and I think it's very appropriate that the uh community at that time had a choice. It really is a critically important job and the decisions that you make uh not only influence the schools but it influences the health and the welfare of our city as a whole. Arrow is the Hamilton City School District's first

086therapy dog. Um she is certified through the AKC as a certified therapy dog. Um she is here for our students and our staff and uh is just a part of our the Hamilton community >> and I'm just so impressed with her poise. Um she is so well trained and just does a great job already uh to lighten all of our moods. I I couldn't be thankful enough to leadership Hamilton Hamilton Community Foundation and the Pauls and Stripes College for preparing such an amazing partner. We couldn't have asked for a better dog. >> I know. Andrea just saw the benefit and all the research that was behind how therapy dogs make a solid impact with students, you know, through attendance and grades and behavior and she did a lot of research herself and brought it to

087the team and wanted to take the project on. And this is one proactive strategy that local communities are using to help build resilience, kindness, positivity. There's a lot of research out there about how a therapy dog will lower anxiety and stress, which so many of our young people and our staff are facing on a day-to-day basis. Our goal is to get a dog for each of our buildings. Um, as you know, there's a lot of needs that go around and Arrow is just one. We're a very large district. And so, our goal is to onboard four to five dogs a year that would allow us to eventually get there in the next few years to a dog per school. that will allow that dog to become really a part of that school culture. Through community

088donations, through different agencies, we've been able to raise the money completely so that not one district dollar is being used for this. >> She's calm, mild manner, just very sweet, very gentle, listens very well, a lot of love, a lot of love, a lot of happiness, um a lot of energy behind it, which is great. Good afternoon. We'll call this meeting back to order. We all stand for pledgece to the flag of the United States of America to the stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Also, I'll take a motion for approval of the board agenda. >> So move. >> Thank you. Second. >> I'll second. >> Thank you. Mr. Frederick, if you call the role, please. >> Mr. Davidson? >> Yes. >> Dr. Copus? >> Yes. >> Miss

089Matthews? >> Yes. >> Dr. Hopkins? >> Yes. Yes, Miss Manuso. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Like to accept a motion for the approval of minutes. >> Have someone >> I'll motion to approve the minutes. >> Thank you. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, sir. Mr. Freys, if you call the role, please. >> Dr. Copus? >> Yes. >> Miss Matthews? >> Yes. >> Dr. Hopkins? >> Yes. >> Miss Manuso? >> Yes. >> Mr. Davidson? >> Yes. >> Thank you. Um, do we have anyone for I don't see anyone for Oh, um, Miss Mcabby for uh for public participation. Floor is yours. Hello. Um, I'm Katie Makabe, president of HCTA, and I'm sharing with you our video for the culmination of our Caring Closet fund drive. We partnered with Caring Closet and TV

090Hamilton and this is our video. Today, HCTA, we've culminated our bare necessities drive. We've been doing this drive for the past 5 years and we brought in all of our donations that teachers have been donating for the whole month of February. Everything we donate goes directly back to our students. It helps our students not worry about what they have to wear, if it's clean, if they have deodorant or any of the products that they need to be able to go to school each day. They can focus on learning and not have to focus on their appearance or hygiene. This is so impactful for the Garing Closet. Um the timing of the year, so we often start running out of these items at this point in the year. We've already done 650 referrals and so when

091they gather things through the month of February and then bring them in March, it's perfect timing. It allows us to finish out the rest of the school year and have new packs of underwear and toiletries for all the students that need them. Items that are brought to the carrying closet are donated by the community, including the teachers union. This is uh their donation day. And uh we deliver these items straight back into the community to the students that are enrolled here in the Hamilton City School District. We always need these items that they brought today. We always need the toiletry items. Twoin- one shampoo and conditioner, deodorant, bar soap, uh toothpaste. All of those items would be new items unopened, full size. And the way they would do that is um we have a donation

092box that's secure on our front porch. We are uh at the corner of Main Street and D Street. Um, our door is on the D street side of the building and you can put your donations in there and they will be safe until we open up the box and take them out. I want to say such a heartfelt thank you to the teachers union. They have supported the caring closet for 5 years and they also support our fundraiser which is night out and we are so thankful for them. We can't do what we do without the support of people like them. That is just one way that we give back to our community. So, I just wanted to make sure I shared that with you guys because it is a very special organization to not

093only me but most of the teachers and staff here in Hamilton. So, that's all I wanted to share tonight. >> Thank you for your time. >> Thank you so much for that uh having that donation drive and that those um items go right back to our students to help them be able to have integrity and be able to feel good about themselves with going to school and not because you know it's it's tough. It's it is school can be a tough crowd. Absolutely. >> And you know, it's not it's not the fault of the students for not having those things and I'm sure that helps the families and everything. So, thank you so much to the staff and to all those that organize that drive for our students. So, greatly appreciated into the caring closet

094for all that they do to even have that that resource available for our kids. So, much appreciated. >> Thank you. We appreciate everybody's support. >> All right. Thank you. Next on our agenda is our superintendent's comments. Mrs. Blevens, floor is yours. Thank you, President Matthews, and uh members of the board. Uh tonight, I just have a few uh comments for you. Uh one, it is crazy to think that we have already started fourth quarter. We are actually in our second week of fourth quarter. Uh just as a reminder to all of our families, at the end of this week, we will take a hiatus for a week for spring break. Not that anyone is counting down the hours or days, students or staff. Um but it it's, you know, it's definitely the sign of we

095are coming to the the home stretch here. And when we come back from spring break, it gets into a stressful time for us. That's our our state testing for our students in grades three through 12. Uh both at our elementary schools, our middle schools, and then at our high schools for our high school students to take their EOCC exams, which they have to pass in order to be eligible for graduation. And then once we get through that, it's really a time of celebration. There there are so many amazing events ahead here this spring. But I'm just I'm so proud of our district and the way we continue to uh lead through things. Um as always, I'd like to just give an overview of some of the items that are on tonight's agenda. There's a number

096of items that are up for approval tonight. Um the first one that you'll see on there is anou with Butler County ES or with Butler County ESC for their Head Start program. So Head Start is a program that Butler County ESC runs. uh they have come to us with uh an ask of possibly renting out some space at Fairwood now that we'll have some open classrooms and um this partnership will allow them to provide Head Start programming here in our community, but it will also allow our district to generate some revenue uh to the tune of about $144,000 a year. So, we are constantly looking at ways while change is hard, there's always silver linings. And, you know, we're able to provide a centralized location for preschool for all of our Hamilton families. And now,

097this is a place, a beautiful building uh to provide head start and to make a little a little money for the district. So, you'll see that up tonight for approval. You'll also see as we do part of a by-anual review, uh you'll see it's time for our spring policy updates. I'm sure that was a lot of uh robust reading for you. Uh many of these policy changes you'll see were minor tweaks uh due to changes in state or federal uh laws and so you'll see a lot of it is word smithing and pieces like that. Nola is our agency that that helps facilitate that and so you'll see those up tonight. Uh this will be a read and vote tonight. Sometimes when it's a massive batch we do two meetings but tonight since this was

098a manageable chunk we're going to go ahead and vote tonight to approve those changes. You will also see there is a resolution to um approve admission of a student to Hamilton City Schools. Uh we have different mechanisms to allow students from other communities to join our district. One of which is open enrollment. However, at this time in the school year, open enrollment is closed. And so there is a a process in the OC that allows a family to pay tuition for a child to attend here should there be room. And the district is able to accommodate. And so tonight you will see there is a resolution up for approval to admit a student uh for the remainder of this school year. That student will still need to apply for open enrollment. This is a short-term

099arrangement um so that that student if they choose to want to continue in Hamilton next year uh would have to apply. Okay. On the human resource agenda, you'll see there are four items uh but there'll be one block vote. One is our personnel agenda. on this personnel agenda I want to draw your eye to. You'll see there's a number of retirements and and resignations on there. This list also includes all of the local 151. So our EAS and clerical staff who were part of the reduction in force. If you remember uh in February we did that for the HCTA the class the certified staff. Now those names are on there. Um during my last board the last board meeting I gave an update to the board of the number that we've already started recalling. So

100I always like to draw eye in there. Um you will also see there is a resolution for termination for um a student family support specialist who has exhausted their leave and has not indicated whether they will return or resign. And so our district is taking action there. Uh as part of our uh starting to look ahead to 2627 this comes the time when handbooks will be a part of agendas. The first handbook that's up tonight is the administrative handbook. So that is up here for approval this evening. And then you will see our administrative salary schedule and that is just the continuation of the salary schedule that you you approve each year. But it's important to us that we approve that prior to uh putting all of our administrators on. So they are all on

101this same agenda tonight up for approval. Then in our consent agenda, uh just a few items here. One under the business operations, you'll see it's time for a water heater upgrade at Highland. I always like to uh draw the eye to uh the the cost of that is $45,000, but it is not coming out of general fund dollars. Uh this is being paid for out of the classroom facilities maintenance fund um to be able to ensure we have the best quality uh you know functioning buildings. We also have in here using food service funds the purchase of a food service transit van that will deliver meals uh both to our students that take classes on Miami's campus um as well as uh some other different pieces of transporting throughout the district. You'll see on here

102uh as you know we are the fiscal agent for our uh parochial schools in the area and their auxiliary funds. So Emanuel Lutheran has an agreement with Butler County ESC to provide a teacher here. Again, um that this is all paid for flow flow through money. It is there are no general dollars used in these. These are auxiliary dollars that uh Emanuel Lutheran is legend uh using. Then you will see here there is a um an award that Hamilton Community Foundation who we honored earlier uh Wilson Middle School was awarded $88. I'd love to know exactly what 808 um but they uh to help purchase science materials with that grant. So, we love to see uh our our partner, the Hamilton Community Foundation, continuing to fund those. Under special education, you'll see there is a

103uh service quote here to uh in the amount of $27,000 to service one special education student for the remainder of the year. So, I think that's always something that I like to draw an eye to. Those are general fund dollars that are used to ensure that that child has the services that they need. Under our technology agenda, it is time for camera upgrades as part of our facility uh upgrade at Wilson. If you remember last year, we did this at our elementaryaries, we've done this at Garfield and the high school. Uh those are all permanent improvement dollars. So again, no general fund dollars are used on there. Um under curriculum and instruction, uh the first thing here is just a partner uh agreement with Marble Health that will be providing therapy in our schools just

104like we do with many of our other thirdparty providers. uh just as uh access to ensure students can get the therapy that they need but not miss instruction and transportation and barriers. Um we also have a very unique uh donation. Thomas and Galbreth is partnering with Hamilton City Schools to help support literacy throughout the district. And so they heard actually through a TV Hamilton uh spotlight about our vending machines that many of our elementaryaries have. And they said, "We'd like to partner. We love that idea so much that we'd like to put a vending machine in each of your schools. Well, through their own donations, many of our schools already have them. So, only one building is still in need of that uh machine. And so, Ridgeway Elementary will be awarded a vending machine. But

105Thomas and Galbreth went one step further. They have agreed to provide um dollars to fund all of our elementary vending machines for three years. So they are going to provide funds uh to the district to provide the books. Our curriculum and instruction team will pick those titles. Uh so it's not like they're sending boxes of books, but they will make a donation to us. Um I have asked as we get further into this process when the machine um is delivered that I'd like to have them come in so that we can recognize them here at a board meeting. Um you'll also see on here uh an agreement here to change the gifted assessment tool that we use. So we currently are required in the state of Ohio to screen kids for a diff a gifted

106identification at least twice in elementary school. Right now we use the Kogat assessment. Um and then families can do a secondary assess assessment which is the nagiary. Uh and really looking at the effectiveness of the tool uh our curriculum and instruction team felt the nagu nagulari I always say it wrong is the a better measure uh of helping to identify giftedness for our students. It also was a nice sell because it's cheaper. And so as we're looking at every cost, every dollar and cent that we're spending, uh you'll see that this is a replacement for Kogat. We would use Nag Nagliary across the district for all of that required screening. And those are my items this evening. >> Wow. So we got um we have um the help with dogs from the foundation. We got

107books, too. Sheesh. We are very blessed. I know Miss Manuso said that earlier. Um, but we are blessed this community uh and people they they see the value of what our school district is doing and they come out with open arms and I couldn't be more blessed as the superintendent to see what our teachers have done to help support our kids. What Hamilton Community Foundation does to support us. What this third party company that actually the Thomas and Galbreth company is not based out of Hamilton that is donating this, but they just thought it was such a unique concept. So, thank you to Steve for showcasing that program uh and getting us that publicity because it's just it's amazing to see all the people that are willing to roll up their sleeves and help our

108school district succeed. >> It is. Yep. Thank you for sharing that. >> The Pearson quote. >> Yes. >> Just a comment on that. >> Yeah. >> That's a general fund expenditure. >> It is. >> It's mandated by the state that we have to do that. >> You are correct. >> Do private appropriial schools are they mandated to do that? >> They are. Great question. They are not required to do any assessments uh from the state level other than meeting graduation requirements with which giftedness is not a graduation requirement. >> Awesome. Thank you so much, Miss Bleven. I appreciate it. Thank you for your comment, Mr. Davidson. >> Um I'll take um accept the motion. Next on our agenda is our head start as was explained by Miss Blevens. Um if we could if I like

109to set a motion to um approve as presented. >> Well, do we have any discussion or >> Yes. As far Yeah. Sorry about that. Yeah. >> I move to uh adopt theou as presented. >> Second. >> I'll second. Yeah. Just make sure where we're at on the agenda. >> Yes, sir. Yep. Number six. Yes, sir. Yep. Um, any discussion? No discussion. Mr. Fraser, if you'd like to do roll call, please. >> Miss Matthews? >> Yes. >> Dr. Hopkins? >> Yes. >> Miss Manuso? >> Yes. >> Mr. Davidson? >> Yes. >> Dr. Copus? >> Yes. >> Thank you. Next on our agenda is our spring nola policy. Like to accept a motion to approve as presented. >> So move. >> Thank you. Second. >> I'll second. Any discussion on that? >> Don't see any. Mr. Fres,

110if you call the role, please. >> Dr. Hopkins. >> Yes. >> Miss Benuso. >> Yes. >> Mr. Davidson. >> Yes. >> Dr. Copus. >> Yes. >> Miss Matthews. >> Yes. >> Okay. Next on our agenda, um admission of non-resident student for remainder of 2025 26 school year. Like to um accept a motion for that to be presented or for the resolution and contract to be approved. >> I move for the resolution and contract to be approved as presented. >> I second. >> Any discussion on that? Mr. Fer, you call the role. >> Dr. Hopkins, >> yes. >> Dr. Copus, >> yes. >> Miss Matthews, >> yes. >> Miss Manuso, >> yes. >> Mr. Davidson, >> okay. Next on our agenda, we have our human resources. Um, on our agenda, do we have like accept the

111motion for that? >> Thank you. Do have a second. >> A second. Any discussion, if you call the role, please. >> Mr. Davidson, >> yes. >> Dr. Copus, >> yes. >> Miss Matthews, >> yes. >> Dr. Hopkins, >> yes. >> Miss Manuso, >> yes. >> Thank you. Next, we have our consent agenda. Do I have a motion? >> I motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. >> I'll second. >> I think I got Dave. I think I think he beat you. Do >> Dave can have it. All right. Any um thoughts or any discussion on our consent agenda? Not seeing anyone. Mr. Proer, call the role. >> Dr. Copus. >> Yes. >> Miss Matthews? >> Yes. >> Dr. Hopkins? >> Yes. >> Miss Manuso? >> Yes. >> Mr. Davidson? >> Thank you. Next on

112our agenda is our finance and I'll turn that over to Mr. Fraser for that update. >> Thank you, President Matthews. Uh we do have a a light finance agenda this evening. Um we have the normal treasurer reports. We also have a resolution accepting the amounts and rates as determined by the budget commission. Uh which is just part of that budgetary process that we go through. Um you'll remember the tax budget um that we did in January. That's the first piece. And then we we take that tax budget, we give it to the budget commission. The budget commission then assigns tax rates and amounts to collect. They approve that. Then they give it back to us for us to approve. And then that's all goes into um you know the rates that that drive the amounts

113uh that are build and collected by the the Butler County auditor and treasurer. So it's all part of that budgetary process and it's a resolution that we pass uh every March meeting. And then as I have been doing um I like to highlight the donations. We already talked about books and and those types of things. Um, but I mean, we we had a $16,000 donation um this period uh from Cody Halcom and the Halcom family to the fine arts um for concessions. We had a $1,400 donation um for a a field trip buses uh $50 to the or from the uh booster program and 300 from the fitness center. So again, uh, as we've talked about all meeting, um, we are very blessed and we are, uh, always very appreciative of the the things that

114our community bestows on us. For sure. >> Is that the second major donation we've received from family? Is that >> Yeah. Yeah, you're correct. Absolutely. >> The blue the blue room. >> Yeah. Yep. Blue room. And then uh, this is this is another major one. Those are my items this evening. >> Okay, perfect. Thank you, sir. Um, next, um, well, we are going to adjourn. >> We >> Oh, yeah, that's right. >> So, like to accept a motion to approve our finance agenda. >> I motion to approve the finance agenda as presented. >> Have a second. I'll second. Thank you, Mr. F. If you call the role, please. >> Miss Matthews? >> Yes. >> Dr. Hopkins? >> Yes. Yes, >> Miss Manuso. >> Yes, >> Mr. Davidson. >> Yes. >> Dr. Copus. >> Yes. >>

115Thank you. Next on our agenda is uh accepted a motion to adjourn. Our next meeting will be on April 14th here at 533 Dayton Street. Do I have a motion? Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> Mr. Fraser. >> Dr. Hopkins. >> Yes. >> Miss Manuso. >> Yes. >> Mr. Davidson. >> Yes. >> Dr. Copus. >> Yes. >> Miss Matthews. Yes.