001call this meeting to order if we can start with our pledge you pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with libery and justice for all I'll um accept the motion to approve the um agenda so moved second I'll second Mr Fraser you call the rooll Please Mr Davidson yes Dr Copus yes Mrs Matthews yes Mr sprag yes thank you all a motion to approve um the approval of minutes so moved thank you Mr fr call the rooll please Dr Copus yes Mrs Matthews yes Mr sprig yes Mr Davidson yes thank you um next we have public participation I don't see any one for public participation um next is our superintendent's comment comments and I'll turn it over to
002our superintendent Miss Andrea blevens yes thank you president Matthews welcome I just have a number of uh announcements for the board this evening one it is hard to believe believe but this week started fourth quarter for all of our staff and students uh while we only have 25% of the year left there are so many events uh activities testing and focus that that is going to happen between now and may um we want to thank all of our staff parents and students for their support and dedication to help us in this school year strong and so it's just hard to believe we're here but um this is the longest stretch with so many things ahead with testing in different pieces so I just wanted to remind the board of that with those exciting events there
003is something exciting happening in Hamilton every single day in one of our buildings just to highlight a few this evening students at Hamilton High who were inducted into National Honor Society were recognized and became new members Riverview tomorrow will be participating in the grand opening of FC's mini pitch that is a soccer field that has been donated on nightsbridge for the community and for our schools so 1:00 tomorrow if you're eligible we are available we will be over there and then this weekend I would be remiss if I did not uh share this but ridgeways Matilda the Musical will be performing this weekend Friday at 700 p.m. Saturday at 7 and Sunday at 2 all at Hamilton High School so we are blessed to have a wide array of opportunities for our kids and this
004is a fun time of year you get to see it all come together another piece of recognition I'd like to share this evening um we received word last week that two of our buildings were selected uh as moment momentum Award winners I want to read what how the state defines the momentum award it is for districts and buildings that have demonstrated outstanding Improvement and achievement while also continuing to show growth so this is award where you are doing both achievement and growth the momentum award is for districts and buildings that have improved their performance index by three or more points and received a value added progress rating of four or more stars districts and buildings are not eligible for this award if they received over a a rating of a five-star um there were 194
005buildings in the entire State that's it that's a very small number for the 600 and something districts and Bridgeport Elementary and Crawford Woods Elementary were both named as uh recipients of the momentum award staff celebrated were celebrated and showered with appreciation uh with a kind of appreciation breakfast last week so I just wanted to give them a shout out I also want to just acknowledge um we have had a great deal of opportunity to showcase our schools in the last few weeks one you heard earlier Mr margam mention uh the students at that performed at our 17 strong neighborhood Summit it was a huge success what was amazing to me is the number of people who stopped me in the hallways to talk about how beautiful our facilities are or the experience that they have
006with a teacher or a bus driver or an administrator and so I just want to say thank you to the board actually all four of you were there and I think that just shows the dedication that uh you give to our community to our staff I look out almost all of our building principles were a part of that day in some capacity and then many of our staff and students were there so that's just a great way to get the word out about Hamilton City Schools the other piece this Tuesday uh we were able to Showcase all things education in the city of Hamilton through leadership Hamilton we actually started our day here where Mr Holbrook talked about Hamilton City Schools uh Mr Zary hosted us at Hamilton High where we a student L tour
007and a performance by the in harmonics Acappella choir featuring Mrs wagon Field's daughter we went to some other institutions uh throughout the day such as our partners at bayen Butler Tech and Miami and then we ended our day at Ridgeway where we were able to see what our youngest Learners are doing and I just think it it's just an awesome experience to be able to be an ambassador of our school district and to Showcase what we're doing I I just continue to hear amazing things I heard someone say man I love how much you guys are out in the community right now and that is going to continue as we move forward our community needs us to be strong just as we need to be strong for our community the last bit I have tonight
008is something that I'm going to start baking into my superintendent comments is just an overview of what's on the consent agenda I know that uh Dr Copus during our last meeting kind of addressed you guys have time to review that but I do think it's important for their our the people that are watching at home to hear some of the items that are going to be up and so uh tonight on the consent agenda you will see there's a number of field trips that are up for approval those field trips um allowed we had both a female and male wrestler qualify for the state tournament last weekend as well as senior Mason Kelly who on the boys bowling team qualified for the state all three students performed very well um you know it's funny all
009three of them are hungry for more and how to do better each time which as a competitive athlete I understand that completely also our inharmonic and winter guard groups will be traveling to compete so you will see recommendations for each of those field trips on our business agenda you will see that we have an agreement oftentimes when there are construction projects throughout the city we will work with the city to use some of our um Open Fields or areas that are not in use by our students to store construction equipment and so the um agreement that you see from Mr Kilby there is to allow that For an upcoming project I have a question on that yes I'm not grab you and ask you can we table that because I have a question about putting
010language in that we're not responsible for any damage that would occur to their vehicles any thefts or vandalism because it is our property and we need some type of language in that agreement that would limit our liabilities yeah I I have no problem pulling that from the agenda the only thing is we did not amend the agenda at the start Mr Frasier are we able to pull that off or or do you want them to just so we we've already done a vote um for the agenda so we would need to do another vote pull it off and then we can table it for next time okay absolutely I just want to make sure we're protected yeah I I have no problem with that I just want to make sure we're following all we can
011do that after superintendent comments before we get to HR we'll we'll pull it off and then table it on our special ed consent agenda we do have an agreement for placement of one of our our special special education students who needs additional supports outside of our school district and then the last piece on the consent agenda is an agreement with our technology provider Ford Edge to upgrade all of our Wi-Fi signals in our buildings what's really nice about this process is through funding that we get from the state through a program called rate we only have to cover um about $30,000 of the total price tag with going through this particular piece I'm going to give a massive Shout out to Mr Mundy and the forward Edge team for always making sure we have the
012best technology available to our staff and students but those are the items that are up this evening on the consent agenda awesome thank you so much Miss L for that update greatly appreciate and also adding the additional um updates on those um different agenda items so that's super helpful know that was a again a concern request so next we you said we'll do what after that Jeremy we so we'll need a motion to uh change the agenda to pull off the uh land use from the consent agenda so we'll just need a motion a second a vote for that um and then we will have a motion to table that item as well and then we can go on to HR okay okay so make a motion to take that off take the land agreement
013off the agenda so move second it Mr Fraser you can call the role Mrs Matthews yes Mr sprag yes Mr Davidson yes Dr Copus yes thank you Mr pres we need a motion to table I would move I would move that we table that U that item oh second so second if you call the roll please Mr sprag yes Mr Davidson yes Dr Copus yes Mrs Matthews yes thank you um next we have um Human Resources a um that we accept the is recommended that we the human resources agenda is approved as it is presented do I have any um motion to accept that so move second um any discussion Mr fr you can call the role Mr Davidson yes Dr Copus yes Mrs Matthews yes Mr sprag yes so president Matthews before we move
014on I do want to acknowledge we just approved our last of our new principles and so I've asked each of our new principles though they're familiar faces to be here tonight to be introduced formally as the principal of their building I will give each an opportunity you do not have to to take the opportunity to come up and to say a few words if you would like but if not it just allows our community to to see um I think it's important from my seat I could not be more thrilled with the leadership sitting in this room um the the energy is palpable and I am already impressed with what I'm seeing from each of you and just know that you have our support to help you lead and to continue to impact children in
015so many ways so without further Ado I'm going to start from um the the the Top If You Will from Hamilton High School I'd like to introduce uh Mr Ty Smallwood as the next principal at Hamilton High main [Applause] campus okay that's fine Mr Smallwood I would be shocked if you didn't have a word they told me to keep it quick okay all right I know we have other principles to introduce um but I could not be more excited I want to thank miss bevens her entire administrative team um Andrea often says we want all arrows pointing in the same direction and I look at this great group of Administrators and I look at the entire Highland Pride Staff that showed up tonight um kind of my former stomping grounds and we really win with
016people you've said that before and I want to thank the board for this opportunity um as a first generation college student in the Hamilton City Schools I promis miss lenberg I wouldn't get emotional but I tend to do that um I owe everything that I've accomplished to this district and I look at this as a passion and a mission uh for me more so than than anything um we've been blessed to have great staff in fact I think Highland has trained up some great administrators as a staff um but the people that we win with are incredible um we have so many students in our buildings and so many families that come in that count on us to provide a world-class education and uh that's what we intend to do so we're going to launch
017our big blue ignite uh Mission at Hamilton High School and continue the great work that we've done at the Freshman Campus and I couldn't be more excited for Mr Funston to take that position and uh continue the work that we've done there but big things are in store for the big blue again this is a mission of mine could not be more proud of my assistant principal this is really a great moment for me um Miss ikenberg is the one that who does all the work behind the scenes I have crazy ideas I have big vision for what we need to accomplish as a district with career Pathways with credit acquisition with work in the community and it's people like Miss ien Berger who have done the work to make that happen so again thank
018you so much I could be up here all day um but together positively acting learning in life is what we're all about and uh it's what we continue to embody as a district thank [Applause] you next I'd like to introduce the new principal at Hamilton High freshman campus Mr Jesse [Applause] funon thank you uh first and foremost miss blevens Mr Wright I I appreciate the confidence you've shown in me to take over the lead at the Freshman building board you you as well and you know voting me to take the position um Mr Smallwood mentioned it coming up but you know I'm feeling big shoes over at the Freshman Campus his team along with Miss ien Berger miss Mr isgro um have done a lot of work over the past you know handful of years
019just really I think building momentum on that campus um I've spent the last five years at Main Campus really working to you know create Pathways and stop trying to fit kids into a mold and try to structure our system so that we're meeting kids where they're at and leading them into to Pathways that you know ignite them into what they want to do in lives um plan is to continue that you know really try to bridge the two campuses um so you know working over the next few years with with Mr Smallwood to really set kids off um you know on Pathways to to success and here in about two weeks you'll see some of the successes that we've had in main campus that you know I really hope to see what what ti does
020with here over the next few years to have that continue so once again thank you guys I'm I'm blessed and excited for this [Applause] opportunity next I'd like to introduce Mrs Megan ikenberg the new principal at Wilson Middle [Applause] School sorry I'm a little shorter uh so I just cannot express to you guys how grateful I am I really have been mentored in this district and it's been amazing to me you know I was a teacher at the high school and actually Jesse WIS brro helped Mentor me to take a leap to go into an admin program and I thought I don't know if I'll ever do that and then I did and I loved it and now it's just shown me that you guys have the confidence in me and I've been mentored by
021Mr Smallwood and now I feel confident that I can do this and I'm so excited to go to Wilson that staff I got to go there this morning and meet with them again and they're just they're ready they love their building there everyone just talks so highly about their colleagues and how much and I I can't wait to go to that building honestly they're just a great PE group of people and I am excited to work with them I Middle School is a fun age it's a you know before you get to the credits I I'm excited the energy there is so much higher by the time they're teenagers they're a little bit sleepy I got there this morning I was like they're so awake it's like they're so excited honestly so I'm just I'm
022very grateful for this opportunity and I'm very excited to work with that team so I appreciate all of your vote of confidence to me and uh I look forward to it [Applause] thanks Megan as a middle school educator I will tell you it takes a certain type of person to see the beauty in a middle schooler not crazy Mr Wright no I go with Mr Wright it's you got to be a little bit crazy to the next principal that I'd like to introduce is already a principal in our district but is making a switch to go back home if you will I'd like to introduce Mr Ryan Brittain the new principal at Ridgeway Elementary well good evening thank you Mrs blevens Mr Wright Mr Frasier and to the board um the last four years have
023been transformative in my career our Highland team Mrs Lawson um who I am so excited to continue to lead at Highland um thank you for that opportunity four years ago where I was able to spread my wings as a leader and learn what being a principal is all about um this is a very unique opportunity Kathy wagenfeld has been at Ridgeway Elementary School the last 16 years she actually was my camp counselor director um and when I was a summer camp counselor um I was uh kind of mentored through hey come to Hamilton you know I was a Cleveland kid I was going to go back to Cleveland and I was lucky enough to student teach at Ridgeway Elementary School with the wonderful Connie mm um and I was so taken back by how wonderful
024this district is that I told my parents it it was an uncomfortable conversation but I'm moving to Hamilton and I believe in what's going on and now they are the biggest cheerleaders uh down here in Hamilton so I got to teach uh for seven years as a kindergarten teacher I was an AP there for four years so to be able to have the opportunity to go back home I cannot thank you enough um I I have mixed emotions because I am so sad to leave my Highland team they are an absolutely incredible staff but I know under Mrs Lawson's leadership they'll continue to grow and Excel and I am so ready to dig in at Ridgeway and continue to grow so thank you so much for that opportunity I I can't wait it's going to
025be wonderful thank you our last but certainly not least principal I think this is the first time I'm going to say this publicly um I do think it's important to note that the Highland staff showed up in full force tonight the entire room was filled earlier um for this candidate and so it is my absolute pleasure to introduce Miss Ellie Lawson as the new principal at Highland [Applause] [Music] Elementary hello everyone I am so excited I am so thankful for this opportunity um I am very grateful for your all's trust in me um I have learned so much from Ryan working with him the past three years and so much from the Highland staff um they've helped me grow um and I really feel like I'm ready for this for this next big step um
026and I can't wait to share with you guys all the exciting things at Highland next year so thank you well I apologize for the detour but if you look it's hard not to celebrate the talent and the passion that's in this room so I thank you for letting me hijack a little bit on the board to uh recognize these well Mrs blevens first of all I want to say I think it's absolutely wonderful that you have these young administrator here and talking briefly about their new positions um and a year and a half ago before I was elected to the board I really only knew one of these five young people here but in the last year and a half I think I've I've met all of them and I I I would say we
027have a good relationship so I don't want to speak for my fellow board members even though I probably am speaking for my fellow board members I want you to know without question I support you completely um I view a very large part of my job being to equip you with what you need to be successful for our students and for your staff also uh so I I know there's a chain of command that you have to follow but I hope that our relationship is such that you you can talk with me at any time about anything and anything that I can do to help you I will because I view that as like I said a very large part of my job so I wish you nothing but success in in what you do and
028uh good luck again congratulations to everybody it's so exciting to see you guys moving um and going back home and moving up in those um respective positions so and you know you guys are already familiar with the distri district so just continuing on to do just great things you already you know are already moving in greatness so just to even see so I'm saying is I'm looking forward to all the presentations next year in your new roles it's going to be super cool so again congratulations and thank you so much for saying yes just following up on what Dr Copa said I got to meet all of you on my building visits absolutely enjoyed it um really didn't know Ellie until the B and I and I came out that night I grabbed Andrea and
029I said she's impressive I mean she really blew me away with how impressive each of you did and that came up in our meetings when we talked about you as a candidate and how you know we're lucky to have you in the district and have such fine candidat everyone applied was great candidates but the ones that we have now I'm just so excited I think we're headed in the right direction and things are going to be great so thank you well I want to Echo I guess we're all having to speak so I just want to Echo what they were saying but I I think it is a testament having I've been around a while and I seen people moving up in our district having the the training the support that they need to move
030into these positions to make sure you're successful and our schools successful that's and I don't want to speak badly about the past but that is a Hallmark for our district right now having that ability because when we talk we say do we really have to go outside no we've got leadership right here why why go outside when we have people that are trained that know what they're doing that are going to excel at their jobs and it's not like oh we have to do homegrown because they're home you know they're townies or whatever you guys will hold up against anybody we brought in for interviews and I want to thank you for that because I know it's a journey but I I just want to thank our leadership and Mr Holbrook too for that leadership
031to provide you the leadership skills that you need to be successful so I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next thanks guys yes thank you resources B yes Human Resources B thank you all for coming appreciate it so we'll um I'll make a take accept the motion for to for personnel Item B so move second Mr you can call the rooll Please Mr Davidson yes Dr Copus yes Mrs Matthews yes Mr sprag yes and next I'll accept a motion for our consent agenda don't move second uh any discussion I I do have a point of discussion and Mr Frasier and I spoke briefly about this earlier and this is what I referenced um next door just quickly Mrs blevens alluded to this but I just I think this let's talk about this because this is
032such a great deal for our district Mr Frasier do you mind elaborating just a little bit on on the U the technology there and the agreement and I'm going to to pull the forward Edge technology quote and how that's funded absolutely so uh and Miss blevens touched on this briefly um we participate in a program called eate and depending on the nature of the items that we are buying uh we get a rebate back from e- rate uh to the tune of 85% for certain items and I believe it's 90 or 95% for other items items um and so Mr Mundy and his group and the group that we have from forward Edge they work hard to make sure that we're maximizing those dollars for those rebates um and just like on the board agenda
033tonight um we we're buying something that would normally cost the district uh well north of $200,000 and it's going to cost us about 30 after rebate so it's a it's a very fantastic program and I know Mr Mundy works extremely hard to make sure that we're utilizing those dollars yeah my compliments to Mr Mundy his it's amazing what he's able to do Mr Wright Mrs blev I need you or Mr spra or anyone I need you to teach me something as I read through this it says after this work is completed there will still be two of our facilities that uh that will still need the new iCloud our iCloud wireless controller the Board of Education and then one of our facilities referred to is soff go ahead so sof it's our service operations facility
034so it's our bus garage maintenance uh where many of our um staff are housed down there okay I did not know what that meant I learned something too Joe I I saw that I'm it's all the acronym and education yeah yeah okay all right thank you Mr Frasier I'm um a motion oh y call a own Mr Davidson yes Dr Copus yes Mrs Matthews yes Mr spray yes all righty well next we have our adjournment I will accept the motion to adjourn and our next meeting will be on March 27th here at 533 D Street I move that we adjourn have second second Mr frer Dr Copus yes Mrs Matthews yes Mr sprag yes Mr Davidson yes I don't know I was having so much fun