001up. >> I call to order the Westlake City Schools regular board meeting for Monday, August 25th, 2025. Roll call. >> Craft >> Here >> Liam present. M Linski is unable to attend tonight. >> Would you join me and stand to say the pledge of allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> As we gather today, we remember our mission, empowering all students to achieve their educational goals, to direct their lives, and to contribute to society, as well as our vision. The Westlake City School District will provide a dynamic student centered learning environment. Our district will be characterized by high achievement, actively engaged learners, mutual respect, shared knowledge, pursuit of new
002skills and capabilities, collaborative learning, willingness to take action, a team commitment to datadriven continuous improvement through a strategic planning process, and tangible results. It's good to see everyone. Thank you for joining us. Uh I move to approve the agenda. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Discussion. >> Roll call. >> Craft. >> Yes. >> Pirat. >> Yes. >> Venukan. >> Yes. >> Lamb. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> We're going to move to recognitions and informative reports. Dr. Gaga, the superintendent. >> Thank you. I just have two items for tonight. The first is to thank everyone who participated in our uh convocation ceremony last Friday. We had some board members there. We had the mayor there. Our band kicked us off. >> That was a lot of fun. >> The Pride of Westlake. Uh what
003was fun was um that same night I was able to go and talk to the band before they went out. And actually Mr. Lamb was with me too. And and it was so fun. Be so we got to talk to the band before they went out um onto the field for the first time this season. And it's so cool because and I say the same thing everything every year because you have bookendouts. You have the seniors where they're walking out on the field and it's going to be their last opening day and then you have your freshman who it's their first time. So even on the same field you have very different experiences happening. So a lot of fun for that. And when we do send out our behind the W, we are going to
004have a feature on behind the W is a publication. We send out a lot of times we send it out in uh uh winter getting into spring. Uh we're switching it to send it out during fall. We're finishing up that document. But a really cool section we're doing is on the demonets and devonires. A lot of times people ask that question, you know, what's the difference between a demonet and devonire? What's the history behind that? We like to keep inside uh the behind the W1 historical um section. We've done uh the history of the demon. We've done the history of the rose arch. This time we're going to do uh demonets and deonires. So that's going to be a lot of fun. Um the second thing I'd like to mention is our first day of
005school tomorrow. Um there are certain things that we work towards every year. Obviously, commencement is a huge uh ceremony and and and a a big part of our school district, but right behind it is the first day of school, and we're going to have all of our actually all of our kids except our preschool and kindergarten are going to be start tomorrow. Um, I want to start by saying thank you to all of the people who work so hard in the summer to get our facilities, our curriculum, our staffing, and everything ready and in place for the students to arrive tomorrow. Um, secondly, to those out in the community, our buses are going to be back on the roads. Please pay attention. Um, you know, we when when the red stop sign is out, please
006stop. Um, that is something that sounds very basic, but um, it's been a while since people have been out on the road with buses. Please be aware they are going to be out to our families. Please be patient with our buses. Also, um, this these first four days of school, they're probably going to be behind. uh they're probably, you know, going to be showing up places not quite on time. Could be partially our fault. It could be a lot of pictures happening as kids are about to step onto the bus. Um but either way, uh please be patient these first uh four days and we will get everything straightened out. Um aside from that, I I could just tell you that uh we as a team are very very excited to kick off this year.
007We believe it is going to be a wonderful year and just feel like everything's in place to to have this benefit our students and community. So that's what I have for this event. >> Uh thank you. Thank you and your staff. Uh you're absolutely right. Um grounds uh buildings look outstanding. So thanks for all the great hard work. Um it's great to uh it was great to be at convocation last week. Um had a block party in the neighborhood yesterday. lots of uh new uh families and young kids all ready for school. Very excited to begin school again. Um something interesting I wanted to share with you if I may >> and I know u uh Solen City with regard to ebikes. >> Okay. >> Um and uh apparently and and I I see it
008um uh very very often. young kids riding an ebike, no helmet, screaming down the road uh in the wrong direction without a helmet at least in Soul and they actually ban ebikes from the school. >> Wow. >> And I just I just wanted to share that something I've heard. I haven't verified with the school system itself. >> Um but um just something I heard and wanted to share with you. Any other thoughts for Dr. C? I posted a very short snippet of the convocation of the marching band and oh nice um a lot of very positive comments from other even family members just >> loving to see the the marching band there to welcome back the staff. So, one thing I'll say which is really a testament to our music program and I know that
009I think it was Amber when she came and and spoke at me one of the last board meetings is even though our enrollment's down, our music numbers are up >> and you saw it like if you went to Friday night's football game and you saw how big our band was and how big Midw's band was, it was like ours was like three of theirs and it it just looking at the band I think it's been the largest it's been in a >> Hillary said last four years. Yeah, >> that's why they had to order more uh uniforms. The music boosters you that's on the agenda later on uh because they have so many students that came through now. Unfortunately, the uniforms didn't arrive. So, making talking Amber is the president of music association. Her and
010I were talking. She was like that they have not arrived. We have everybody in uniform. >> It's a little wonky for a few of them, but it's they they they fit. And um but it was scrambling to get everybody into a uniform for >> but you see it. I mean when you actually watch the band and Brad was actually recording it I think for his daughter and um you see it you can see it you could hear it can just uh it sounded amazing and how do I put this diplomatically? Um although the score on the scoreboard wasn't that great uh I really think that we kicked their butt at halftime. Um, in fact, I believe that uh each of the two bands uh played the same song. However, you couldn't tell because ours sounded
011so much better. But then again, I'm extremely biased. So, >> but that was nice. Uh that little uh thing before going out. Yeah, that was great to see with the both the parents and the members of the band. And I mean, it just seemed like a great family atmosphere uh there in the PAC before they went out. Anything else for Dr. Guy? Going to move on to treasures report. Mr. Hopkins. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um, a couple things. One, uh, I do want to reiterate from, uh, our last meeting. I appreciate the board moving across the hall as we had some issues in this room, and I, uh, am thankful that we're back in this room here. I do want to thank, uh, our maintenance staff, uh, and specifically Brian Doherty, as well as
012his team there, uh, who replaced the AC unit on on top of, uh, here. Now, this a large a larger unit and uh to their credit, this is the first time that I'm aware of that we've been able to do a unit this large uh with our own staff instead of hiring it out. So, there's a significant savings to us. And when we looked at the costbenefit analysis of uh repair over replacement on a 20-y year plus year old unit, uh it just didn't make sense to try to uh patch it again and so it was replaced. So, that went very well and I'm appreciative of the work that uh they were able to do. Um, we do have our audit starting. Uh, so I want to give uh fair warning uh uh not just
013uh uh to the board but uh to our uh staff in general that we do have um uh and we have a new audit team uh this year this year. So I'm sure you each of the board members have seen a uh frack questionnaire uh fraud reporting uh uh assessment questionnaire uh that went out. Uh so we're working with a new uh lead uh or audit manager. So, uh, we'll see how it proceeds this year, but they're looking to start, uh, here very, very quickly and, uh, uh, hopefully we'll get it done, uh, well before the required end of year time period. So, >> so we won't be doing the meeting right at the end of the year. >> You never know, but okay, we'll see. You know, hopefully not. Hopefully not. Um, we are
014in the process of creating our budgets. Uh, as you're aware, uh, we're operating under temporary appropriations, temporary budgets. Um, I will be looking to meet with uh some members of uh my treasures uh uh committee here for uh finance regarding our proposed budget and looking for board approval at the September regular board meeting. So, we'll have that coming up uh here very soon. And uh I do want to make the board aware that uh SHC, our consortium that we are in for health insurance, uh we did vote on uh increases uh for uh health insurance increases and we're doing the math on the actual increases with uh our staff and our staff be notified soon, but it's coming out to be about a 12 12 and a quarter% uh increase that we're going to see.
015Uh I think I budgeted about 14 I'm sorry, 13% in the 5-year forecast. So, we're kind of right where we thought it would be, but uh still we wish it would be lower. Um we're working hard to try to find lower uh uh uh ways to lower it. One of those things is we also did a vote on changing our prescription provider and uh Mr. Maver just sent out notification to our staff here about an hour ago. Uh SHC as a whole opted to switch from Express Scripts uh to Smith RX. Um and so we're we're hoping to see a decrease in our costs uh both for uh well the overall cost which is shared by both the employee and uh the district. So uh healthcare is is a challenge right now. Uh prescriptions are
016a challenge right now and uh uh so we're trying to find ways to uh reduce those costs and uh or at least uh slow down the increases that we're seeing. So something we're actively working on. You'll see in front of you tonight u uh a resolution about some changes to SHC. It's more so in uh voting and the meeting schedules. Uh but uh we are working actively uh as a consortium to try to reduce our costs that will benefit all. So that's all I really have for a report and I can talk about the recommendations when we get to super good. Um >> I'm certain all board members have received that questionnaire and submitted them. You don't receive indication of submitted documents from the board, do you? >> I uh now I've had some board
017members who will send it to me uh as a courtesy, but um no. Um what will happen is um it goes back to the auditor. Uh if he doesn't get a response from somebody uh usually then he'll let me know and >> you'll get a call from me. >> And you're putting together dates to get together as a finance committee. >> We will. Super. >> Anything else? >> Not for me. Thank you. Anything else for TA? >> I did see that we're uh extending the consortium, the healthcare consortium to libraries. >> Well, we're uh it would be a possibility for them to join. >> Okay. >> Um what we're doing is we're trying to find ways to uh increase our purchasing power um by having other pieces. Now, it would be more limited to specifically
018limited to the school district libraries. Uh, and that's like a Porter Public Library or Rocky River uh, public library, but uh, that's the ones that were specifically targeted. >> That's kind of what I was thinking was more from the standpoint of if this does pass, I'm sure you'll have a conversation with Andrew. >> We would again, nothing's to say that, you know, they would necessarily join or want to join, but >> it's more sharing of the information. >> Yep. >> Anything further for treasure? At this time, we have a hearing of the public. The public may address the board during the periods of the meeting designated for public participation. We, the board of education, do not engage in a public debate and especially do not have a public discussion about an individual student situation in
019this settlement. Each person addressing the board shall give their name and address. If people wish to speak, each person is allotted three minutes until the total time allotted is used. During that period, no person may speak twice until all who desire to speak have had the opportunity to do so. The period of public participation may be extended by a vote of the majority board president in voting. If anyone wishes to address the board, they can do that. At this time, we have had an opportunity to review minutes from our meetings on July the 7th, July the 14th, and July the 28th. And um all of those that approve these minutes say I. I. Those opposed say nay. Those uh minutes have been approved. We're going to move on to treasures recommendations. Mr. >> Thank you,
020Mr. President. >> Uh tonight I have before the board I think five uh resolutions or recommendations. Um briefly going through them. I have some then and again this time of year as we have timing issues of when we do POS and service and and uh when invoices are sent out. So if you have questions, please let me know on that one. On B, we have um a uh public purpose statements uh and budgets that are listed there. We have C is uh approving application for payment in le of transportation. So this for last school year for the students who uh applied for uh uh or who were deemed transportation deem was impractical. We sent them paperwork to apply for the payment. Uh they return the paperwork. So this is the list of uh those students
021who we will be cutting a check to or the families that we're cutting a check to for those students. Uh D is that um amending and restating the consortium agreement for Suburban Health Consortium um that I spoke to a minute ago. And then E is approving student fees uh for the upcoming uh upcoming school year. I appreciate the work that uh Amanda Muselman and Paul Wilson uh put this together for us. uh they work with our principles in each of the buildings to uh review the fees. Uh we do not charge a blanket fee. Some school districts charge a blanket fee for school supplies. Um or you know where there's ones we've seen that include copy paper and and things like that. Uh we don't do that. We try to be very thoughtful and uh
022targeted on what we're charging the fees for. and uh they're intended for uh consumables uh only that are uh that those students use throughout the school year or the class if it's specific to a class. So uh if you have questions on any of those five uh please let me know. But uh if not, if it so pleases the board, I'm happy to combine all five into one vote. >> Is there a motion to approve treasures recommendations 5 A, B, C, D, and E? So move. >> Second. discussion. >> Quick question. Uh Mr. Treasurer, when it comes to the payments for the students that were taking care or were cutting checks for the busing, so how is that amount determined? >> Uh that is determined by the state of Ohio. So, uh what it is
023is your transportation deemed impractical. um at the end of each year uh they find what the average cost across the entire state of Ohio it is to transport a student uh by bus. >> Uh so each school district what they're spending per pupil and then uh they take uh the minimum payment is I believe 50% of that amount. So this year it's just or for last school year was right around just under $600. So, it's the same amount whether you're going to Westside Academy or to Parma. >> Yes, it's the same amount whether you're transporting your child, you know, uh just over that one mile limit that we have. >> Um or you're transporting them, you know, uh 10 miles. Um transportation deemed impractical. Um if a school district is out, it has to be
024within a 30 minute radius from your home school. So the example would be is if your son is at uh uh Lee Bernerson um at normal school times a bus has to be able to tra uh uh travel from Lee Bernerson to your school of choice within 30 minutes. If it's more than 30 minutes uh you're not eligible for transportation or the payment in lie of transportation. >> Interesting. If it's within that 30 minutes, uh you can apply for payment. Uh if we deem it impractical, you can apply for payment in lie of and everybody gets the same amount who qualifies. >> Okay. Thank you very much. I I did not uh fully know how that was determined. So, thank you. You're welcome. >> Anything else for Mr. Hopkins? >> Looking over the uh fees?
025>> Yes. for the student feed list. Um really do want to thank Paul and Amanda and the building principles for their time going through it. And this is something that I tend to get phone calls from, particularly at the end of the school year where people come home with like workbooks that aren't utilized. I don't see any of those on here. Um I would say if there's ways if we if teachers aren't using those workbooks, then let's take a look at why we're getting them. Um but well, we're not charging them for >> again. And I I sincerely appreciate the work of Mr. Wilson and Mrs. Muscleman. Uh they've done great work working with uh our building principles and staff. Um again, we we try very hard not to uh buy things that, you know,
026that we don't need. >> Correct. And that's one thing that I think is good that we do always kind of look at that and see, but it and inevitably as all the lockers get emptied out and I know you know things come home, parents are like why aren't we paying all this? say that's that that's the only thing that tends to come up with on these work >> particularly well and this is where you pay the fees in the beginning of the year and then it's you know you see it at the end but those are not on the cards >> anything else for Mr. Hopkins >> rollukin >> yes >> not >> yes >> craft >> yes >> lame >> yes >> motion carries thank you >> you then move on to superintendence >>
027so I don't have five um but it's that time of year uh 6A I like to read on uh its own and that's resolution to accept gifts and donations starting off with an anonymous donor donating $13,500 to purchase a book every month for all students enrolled in the second and third grade at Westlake Elementary. This donation was inspired by Rachel Myros, a teacher at Westlake Elementary who started a book of the month drive. So, we have a person in our community who every year sends us a check right now for $13,500 just to kind of re-emphasize that so that every second grader and third grader in the elementary school gets a book every month. Um, just a really, really, really cool donation. And, and then the other part is the person wants to remain anonymous.
028So, it's just doing it um to do it. >> I feel like it's expanded. It used to just be for third grade and now >> I thought it did because I you know what I when I spoke spoke to the person one year they were saying how much would it cost to do this and then when we found the money they're like let's do that. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Um, Matthew and Kristen Daly donated $150 to the Frank Sarna Memorial Scholarship Fund at the high school. Westlake School's music boosters from a conversation earlier. Um, donated 30 band uniforms, five auxiliary codes totaling $14,772. new instruments including a rotary tuba, Eastman baracs, and bass clarinet totaling $6,587. Music truck repairs and wrapping totaling 11,294. We thank everyone for their donations. Um, getting into my recommendations. Um,
029when you start to go through these, you're going to see uh contracts and purchase services. um a service agreement for the substitute company that we use to to help manage our subs um uh communication form facilitator Mark Brigar and then uh stipen for Mr. Woods uh to operate our website. Um, then you're going to get into the mentors, stipens for supplementals, home instructors, uh, more supplemental contracts, um, transportation routes for the 2526 school year. Um, where I'll stop. So, a lot of these are we do these every year, but the new one is going to be letter L, and this is uh, we're creating two new positions in the district. one is a router position um that has actually evolved into a position where it didn't start as one. And then the second one is
030a health clinic aid. Um when we had three RNs during COVID and then our Esser's monies ran out, we decided to um we didn't feel like we needed a full RN position in our third clinic to have that um uh third position filled, but we did want to see some medical training. In the past, a lot of times it would be uh a secretary or someone inside our district who would just move into those roles. um we felt that it would be important to have some medical training. Um so that is why we're creating that particular position. And then um in the next letter M uh you do see Maria Rodriguez, health clinic aid. She is an LPN um and she started her first day uh with us today. So that's that's really the only
031thing that is very different. And as I go through the other ones, we have seasonal employments, um, activity club supplemental for classified staff members, um, uh, food employment of some classified sub subs. resolution to approve athletic supplemental contracts, um athletic workers, uh a fall athletic camp, um some employment of some link personnel, and then uh a termination of an employee that was on probationary status. So, that's there's a lot on there, but many of them are items that we will have annually this time of year before we start a school year. Um, and as far as voting, uh, 6A always on its own would be nice, but I do not see any reason that we can't go B through X for the rest of them. >> I move to approve superintendent recommendation 6A. Is there
032a second? >> Second. >> Discussion I'll add is uh, we always say thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you to our community for being so generous to Westlake City Schools. I always love when we get to see the breakdown, especially when boosters, music, athletics, even the PTA, what they did for our schools every year. So, it's wonderful seeing that >> the new instrument sounded amazing on Friday night. >> Further com >> Pukin, >> yes. >> Lamb, >> yes. >> Pirat, >> yes. >> Motion carries. Is there a motion to approve superintendent's recommendations B through X? >> So moved. >> Second. Discussion >> for the And I know this is for the substitute pay. This is more for the contract with the organization, but are we still on par compared to our neighboring communities? >>
033We're on par. Yeah, we're on par with uh uh we're certainly not the highest. We're not the lowest. So we're kind of in the middle of the range. Uh this isn't changing the uh pay to the substitute itself. >> Correct. >> Uh uh but we are middle of the road, middle of the back. >> Just making sure we keep an eye on that so we don't end up all the way at the bottom of the pile again. >> Thank you. >> Dr. Gagan, would you add anything else to uh 6M in particular? Uh Ms. Rodriguez, but you said she started today and where where did she start? And >> so she All right. So, she's going to be based at the high school and she's going to be at the clinic at the high school
034and um LPN does have experience uh with children and um last position was with a dental office, but previous ones were in pediatrics. >> Um she was looking forward to getting into the high school and and working with high school level students. And we we actually not me but uh Mr. Mayaver and others interviewed a number of candidates and um it's not just finding someone with some medical background but also the demeanor that you think is going to fit inside and they really felt that uh she was the one. Um I will say I think uh these this this time of year is very different. it is drink through a fire hose where you have a lot of stuff happening and you have a lot of people >> showing up uh tomorrow and there's a
035lot to get done. So, um I think it's an adjustment for her, but she'll do just fine. >> And I think about that too, just chatting with families over the last couple of weeks and parents and grandparents and like, "Yep, I I was chatting to a good friend who uh was at home with his grandson." He's like, "Yep, they're all back at school. My grandson's homesick and I'm staying with him. I just get so I guess may have a lot of that going on. >> I think Adam has two sick kids at home actually and a sick wife. So, >> what else do we have for Dr. >> G? Roan. >> Yes. >> Liam. Yes. Venukan, >> yes. >> Craft, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> At this time, we have a second hearing of
036the public. The public may address the board during periods of the meeting designated for public participation. Be the board of education. Do not engage in public debate. Especially do not have a public discussion about an individual student situation in the setting. Each person addressing the board shall give their name and address. If several people wish to speak, each person is allowed three minutes. The total time allotted is used. During that period, no person may speak twice until all who desire to speak have had the opportunity to do so. Period of public participation may be extended by a vote of the majority board present and voted. If anyone would like to address the board, they can do that at this time. Are there any board comments? Had an opportunity over the weekend. I know that connecting
037for kids will many times partner with the schools. Um they had a fundraising event over the weekend of 5K in Independence. Uh a lot of their partner organizations were a part of that as well. So it was fun to participate in that and see a lot of familiar faces and groups that they work with. any of her board shots. >> Other than attending convocation and football game and the spirit rally was a fun uh Friday. Although >> I I just I know we've talked about convocation, but I again I think about the band playing and just how psyched uh staff was, you know, as they were coming into the PAC. That was a lot of fun to see. It was good. I think it's fun even for the elementary teachers where where they are looking
038at >> these students and they're recognizing these little kids that are in these right >> high school frames now. >> Sure. Right. Absolutely. >> Crazy thing up there handing out the certificates for the >> the yearly folks, >> right? >> Oh my gosh. I can't even imagine our students up on that stage doing a play or a musical or whatever because like I looked down at one point I'm like, "Oh my gosh." It's pretty intimidating for me at least. >> Miss P9, it looks like you have another thing. >> No, I'm good. I'm good. It was nice seeing uh particular there's a lot of Basset staff that were honored at 10 and 15 years and it's kind of fun seeing >> any other board comments or board items. Is there a motion to adjurnn? >>
039So moved. >> Second >> discussion roll call to adjourn at 6:32 p.m. Pan >> yes. >> Craft yes. Lamb. >> Yes. Motion carries.