March BOE Meeting 2026

001had like a little booster block or something. >> All right, we'll call the meeting to order. 601. Mr. >> Mrs. Ab >> here, >> Mr. Santos >> here, >> Mr. Aro >> here, >> Mr. Here, >> Mrs. Lo here. >> Please stand for the pledge of 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. >> Welcome everyone. Second highest turnout of years. grateful for you all being here. Let's get right into it and kick us off. Why are other people here? >> Yeah. So, um I don't know some time here for a second because I'm trying to think of like actually how long that this facility study has been going on, but it's at least

002been a couple years >> like January 23. >> Yeah. And I mean there were a couple things that like led to extending it, but um I mean it's not like we needed the time in order to do it right. I believe and I believe that it was done right. And so, as I said to you, um, when I emailed you and sent you the plan in advance, um, we wanted really to have more of a conversation and more of a high level overview. And if you guys had any detailed questions, you can certainly ask this incredible team who showed up today. Um, and I just want to I mean, Keith's leadership throughout this entire process has been just exemplary. Um it's been uh great just to watch him kind of grow into the role that

003he's in. I'm gonna brag on you for a second. Um and uh so just his leadership skills with his team and his ability to collaborate with them I think and lead them has just been really really cool. Appreciate AVG and everything that they've done um along the way as well. But really started with the assessment of our own facilities. I mean we needed that in order to really kick off the work and that was done and I think that was done extremely well. know our facilities. Um the faculty and staff that have helped throughout the process have been you know just amazing too and then the parents um and community members who've gone uh through this as well have been great. So Pete I'm going to give it over to you um and kind of

004like lead us through sort of a just a walk through of a high level what you guys did and where we are with this. Um, >> hey, can I have you take a mic? Sure. Make sure you >> um, so >> is that good enough? Well, >> it's great. Perfect. >> I guess I'm going to stand because I feel weird not having having my back to everybody. Um, I guess the first thing I have some thank yous that I want to say, but I guess the first thing I'll do is kind of go over the document a little bit and how we got where we are. Uh we like Jim said, we've been working on this for over three years and it it wasn't due to like stringing it along. It was due to the

005amount of work and the amount of time and the amount of tasks we had to do to to land where we are today and all these people and a lot of people in this room and some not in this room help us do that. Um, realistically, you know, when we it's I've talked about this in focus groups and community groups and I've talked at length about everything and um, you know, given some long presentations because that's what it takes to go over everything. And when I, you know, when I was thinking of what this document that sums it all up was going to look like, I didn't want it to be a binder that you slapped on the table because it's not realistic to think that you or a community member or anybody who's interested

006in our facilities would want to sit down and read, you know, hundreds of pages of things on a master plan. So, what we had kind of come up with together and uh is this document and it's it's really meant to be a live document and interactive. Um, obviously we have copies here for people to look over and and see, but we wanted it to be a good summary and a highle summary so someone perusing the website or someone that just really wanted to see what it was could spend a few minutes and get a good um bird's eye view of things. And then if someone really wants to dig deep, there's links to executive summaries, there's links to our full site assessments and and everything, you know, a real comprehensive look at all the different

007work that we did. So, um, realistically, uh, I don't have, you know, I don't want to get into the details. What I'd like to do is answer questions you guys have or if you have a specific thing you'd like us to go through a little bit, I'd love to hand the microphone off to anybody else in the committee to to participate and do that as well. But, um, I guess the one thing I do want to do before we open it up for discussion is just take a moment to recognize the people that that helped make this happen. Again, it was it was a three-year process and the amount of not just time, but the dedication to to grind that out and stay engaged and stay um true to the process was huge and I

008I thank everybody on our committee for doing that. I think we built a shared understanding of our facilities. You know, I'll I'll agree with what Jim said. I learned so much doing this work the last three years. And I feel like I you know, I grew up in this community. I've been here my whole life and I know what the schools look like at face value, but I really learned what they what they look like from, you know, maybe the not so good side or whatever you want to call it. Um, and that was that was valuable and I think a lot of people learned that and I think the work that we did and um the presentations we put together and the document we put together gives a glimpse of those things for people

009that really do look at our schools from the street when they drive by or maybe when they're in the gymnasium or in the auditorium or something like that. So it was uh there's a lot there. Um what made it especially valuable is that everybody everybody here has a unique perspective. We have we have community members. We have um teachers from our community. We have teachers that work in different communities. We have business owners. We've had um you know a variety of of people in different professions that all have a unique perspective. And that like those viewpoints really strengthened the work and made it a a nice global community look. And I think that um I think that the community will appreciate that. Uh and most importantly, the impact of the work, it extends beyond tonight.

010It's beyond, you know, students that are in our classrooms now. It's it it'll affect students that might be in our classrooms 30 years from now or even longer. So, that's a pretty cool thing to be a part of that. Um to each of the committee members that were able to join us tonight, thank you again for for being a part of this process. None of this could have been done without you guys. Uh thank you to the administrative team that supported me through this. um key communicators, PTA council, and the residents of Columbia Park who were participated in our focus groups where we gained a lot of data and a lot of insight um from just the community about what we were doing in the direction we were going. Um and just thank you to

011the community who came out to our our community forums and engaged with us and and helped us build what we ended up building. So, um, with that, I'd really like to just open it up to if anybody has questions or comments and, um, if anybody on the committee has anything they'd like to share or say about the process, that would be great. >> I have start to ask because in case nobody else had any questions to ask. Um, and this would be for you, Keith, and anybody else. >> Sure. um as you did this, what surprised you the most about what it is maybe that you discovered, found um throughout and maybe not you, but maybe somebody who doesn't is not doing the daily grind um within the building. So, put the pressure on somebody.

012Oh, hello. Tell us about yourself. I know who you are, too. >> My name is Mary Kate Evans. I am a resident um lifetime lifer. Um, I married a grad. Um, but most but I'm a parent as well. And I teach in Yria, so it's a district that just built five new buildings. And I wanted to be a part of this community committee because I figured I could help kind of see what I went through and what we could have done great, what we could have done better in the process and how that could um, relate to Homestead Falls. Um, the biggest thing I noticed when I think when going through all this was especially when we were touring the buildings. I had never been in falls on in my life. I didn't I went

013to St. Mary's, so I'd never been into falls on. I never knew what it looked like, what the state of it was. Seeing my own my own children go through it. I It's surprising the state of it and how miracles are made to make that school run currently. um not just like the custodial staff and the maintenance staff, but the teachers and administration as well. Um and then the other thing I really noticed when we were doing all of our community surveys was that so many community members think our schools are completely fine that they are like n out of 10 they look great and then once they got inside and after our presentations they they scaled that back quite a bit. So that was one of the most surprising things I saw. Anybody else

014can answer that question if they want to. >> Thank you for being on the committee. Appreciate it. >> I'll go as a teacher. >> So, I'm Lauren Reinus. I haven't seen many familiar faces, but I teach third grade at Falls Lennox. I think the coolest part of it for me was we got to go see all the different schools and like what could be and how we really could, you know, create these hands-on, you know, collaborative spaces where students can really do their best and work together and all of those things. So it was just cool and eye opening of like we would love to be able to, you know, provide those opportunities for our kids. So >> just to add to that, I would I totally agree with Lauren because sorry, I totally agree

015with Lauren because again, I'm a lifer too and I've been here and this is what I know and you know that you expect this building to be here. You expect each of those buildings to be there doing what you're doing and you know those buildings and I haven't really been in a lot of other schools. So going to Yria and going to Westlake and just seeing a brand new facility or a renovated facility and and again like Mary Kate said seeing what and hearing what the people that provided those tours what they loved and like ah we wish we would have done this differently. You it was a really unique perspective. So a lot of cool stuff out there. >> You don't have to I'll do a new question. Um, >> so I I think

016the the uh the ultimate punchline recommendation here is some is is the solution that three three and a half even four or five years ago people were already kind of starting to think like oh that's probably where this is going to go. I'm just curious to know as you went through the process kind of what were some of the other um options on the table that uh how close did they get to being a recommendation versus like okay that sure that's an idea but that's going to be fivex the cost or notable for some level >> is that me >> that's probably a question >> so yeah I mean when we one of the the exercises that we did as a committee was trying to build a timeline based on all the recommendations that we

017have been given through our site assessments and okay, this is what this is going to cost. Where do you put it on the timeline? And then how do you balance that with an operating levy so that you're not overwhelming the community? And it was interesting to see we had four or five different groups and as we were moving around the room and and checking on every one of them, it was hard to put the puzzle together. And that's I think that was a big valuable lesson that we all learned is that there's no easy way to do this. You know, at the end of the day, things cost money and everyone is sensitive to that, specifically our community members. So you try to make it so it's not a big impact and and it's like

018okay this is palatable but anyway you put it it's just sometimes it's overwhelming and when we thought about when we looked at numbers and we worked with AVG and learned that you can assume essentially a 5% increase due to inflation and just due to costs rising per year and when you apply that to some of those numbers how quickly they grow from you know year 0 to year five it It was it's like, wow, that's a that's a big percentage and it's a big chunk of money. And when we boiled it all down together into one pot, we all looked at it and I think, and I'm not I don't want to speak for everybody, but it seemed like it was palatable and it made sense because you're getting the best bang for your buck

019now and you are um you're addressing your needs and if you address the needs in the manner that we did, we felt that it was an operationally sound idea and we felt that you know, you do that, you don't really need to come back to the community again for some time. You shouldn't need to. Um, you know, maybe the next time it would be some PI funds to help maintain all those assets that you put a huge investment into. So, I guess that's that would be my answer. I don't know if anybody has anything to add to that. >> I'm going to add a little bit anyway. Um you just I don't nobody at home has the recommendation but the recommendation really is a combo of consolidate replace and renovate. So it would be to

020consolidate the ECC and falls lenox under one roof and build a prek3 building. One of the things that you know that went through my mind as we were thinking about what we were going to do is and couple things some crazy things. Here's a little crazy. Um, can we bring all of the schools or you that we would maybe build new into the high school and then build a new elementary school or I'm sorry, build a new high school, you know, and then you think, well, we have a new mostly new intermediate school. We have a pretty well renovated middle school. There are some issues with that, but do we do that? And it's like, well, there's a lot of renovation that would need to happen here. So, that's one of the ones I like.

021The other one would be um do you take third grade and move it to the intermediate school and make a 3, four, five building and then create a prek 2 building is one thing and you could still do that I guess if that's what the board decided if they wanted you know um to do the recommendations from the committee the board gets to determine you know what it wants to do. Those were two things I think that I thought of. The big question will be is what's the footprint of a if the board accepts you know whatever the recommendation would be and moves forward with it. What's the footprint of a prek3 building? Does that go behind the current falls on or does that come over to some of the land that's owned that we

022own as a school district that's and and you kind of put make a prek8 campus. If you do that, you know, you're removing a building, the only building from Homestead, the city of Homestead Falls, and what's the impact of that and how do people feel about and then will be a whole will be a whole thing about that for sure. And so, um, you don't have to determine the site of where it's going to be, at least at this particular point in time. I think you have a lot of like debating and deliberating that needs to happen there, but those are just thoughts are in my head about. Yeah, those are some of the rabbit holes that you know we don't have all the answers today. Like we don't have something that's like here's all

023the this will solve all the problems. you know, there's if you go down one road, there's questions to be answered and um we talked about those things and to be honest with you, like the more we talked, I learned little bits about it and you know what a school has to do to if they were going to transfer property or if they have to sell it or whatever it might be and it's it's just uh it's a whole another ball game, you know, it's a whole another thing that you have to investigate and look and you know, collectively as a as a district decide if it's the best direction for us to Yeah, let me adjust. Sorry. >> So, I don't know. >> I know. >> Never turn on. >> So, taking the um hypotheticals

024about where it might go out of the question. You you surveyed people. Did you did you ask them directly um to get a gauge on their appetite for basically accepting what's going to be like a four and a half mil levy? that the number once we had the numbers you know we we had the numbers when we were doing our our community uh forums and shared those numbers with the community when we did those forums and I don't think that we me personally I don't we didn't really get people bing at that or thinking that it's like oh wow um if anything it was well it was like people coming up and saying thank you for sharing you know that we didn't know any of this about the the the building that this was you

025you know, the the guts of Paul Xanox are 70 years old and you know, these are the kind of things you're dealing with whose repairs on a daily basis. So, um, no, I don't I don't think anybody I I didn't have anybody personally say like, whoa, like what are you thinking? If that's if that answers your question. >> No, I mean that's that's the elephant in the room, right? Is like we to be able to do anything, we have to be able to get the community to support do it. So, I guess I would I'd be happy to hear anybody's opinion, too. Um, just just your general feeling even like do you think the community will support this um at this level? Well, I mean, it's the $100 million question. >> I I think that

026I mean, is you're passing the mic? >> I think that this one >> that is a very, you know, I don't know if the community would >> support um, >> you know, $90 million like all all at one time. I think what we would do, we have several things that need to be done in front of us. One is another community survey now that the number has been identified to delve deeper into that. People said hypothetically knowing that um you know the renovation cost versus building new and what you kind of would get what you would get if you built new. they warmed up to the idea to the point where I would feel confident in trying to ra you know I have to figure out what Patrick's role and my role isn't even in

027a levy these days because we're kind of restricted from where we used to be. So it's really going to need to be community run. Um but you know their willingness to kind of move forward with uh with what that number might be. I don't know if there any you know the numbers are there right? It's like if you own a $400,000 house, it's $50 a month. $300,000, it's $37.50 a month. I mean, and when I think about the cost, you can do it annually, but I think about it monthly because I pay a monthly mortgage. And so, I would want to know kind of like monthly what that would be. And some people may go if I got like a if I'm 68 years old and I and I don't have any kids in in

028school, >> what the attitude that exists right now in our state and things that are happening. I have a lot of concern about that. >> Yeah. >> You know, um it it's a quagmire right now as far as what people are willing to pay for. Generally speaking, they don't like property taxes, but when it comes to their own property taxes for their own schools, they have voted for that. People have I mean, that's kind of what the behavior has been. Uh and that's on the operating side of things. generally speaking bond issues because you get something out of it or a PI people are more a vendable to those uh kinds of things and I don't know if anybody else back there has any opinion on uh on that. All right, good evening everyone. My

029name is Bradola. I'm a parent and a civil engineer and also a council member in the city of Homestead Falls. And so when it comes to all these costs, I'm sure all of you will come to these similar conclusions, but one of the important things to me was when you look at these, you know, hund00 million sort of things is yes, the cost goes up every year for reasons beyond our control. And so those costs spiral pretty quickly. And two, you're throwing the phrase good money after bad. And so the impetus becomes on you and us is how do you advertise that to the voters and say we are going to spend a lot of money. The question is, do you want us to spend a lot of money renovating facilities that weren't designed for

030what they're currently used for, or should we use just maybe an incremental more amount of money to have something that we could be proud of? So, to me, that's part of the the marketing. And to your question about, you know, what does the community feel, you know, certainly wouldn't base your decision on online comments, you know, polling and other things that you've used in the past, I'm sure will come into play here. And a lot of it comes down to meeting with people at those other facilities at you know the various communities and stakeholders and trying to convey you know these sort of messages. I think that's what's important here. I have a question. It's kind of going to put um >> Larry and Ever on the spot a little bit, but I mean, you're

031the two guys that know more about my apologies to AVG, more about our facilities than anybody, I think. Um because you you fix them when they break, and they break a lot, quite honestly. I mean, they've most recently you've been active in the gymnasium, and you've been active over at Falls Unox trying to get heat on and things. Um, what are some of the things that keep you up at night as it relates to the current state of the facilities? And I'll give it to both of you guys. And Evan, you can maybe relate from your current location right now and where you were. And Larry, because you're like the wind, you're everywhere. Maybe, you know, know more. >> It's your new nickname. >> All right. >> Sorry. I I mean, >> I don't do

032a lot of public speaking. >> I understand. You have so much knowledge and I value your opinion so much. >> I appreciate that. So, what keeps me up at night? uh in the winter time it's what is not going to be working the the following day especially when we experienced what we did this past winter >> we had 30 days below 20° and a lot of those days had 10° or -10 windchills and stuff so uh I worry about when I come in is it going to be a single zone unit that's down or is it going to be a multiszone unit that possibly heats 10 to 12 classrooms and where do we move those people when it does happen uh in the summertime we keeps me up is what air conditioning unit is going

033to go down and how long will it take to uh possibly fix that? Uh we're at a tipping point where a lot of our equipment is in dire need of replacement and we're also at a point with a lot of our older equipment where that tipping point has gone so far that the next breakdown is going to be catastrophic. It's not if it's going to happen, it's when it's going to happen. Uh, one of my biggest challenges that I've experienced in the last 3 months doing some repairs on some of our older 1968 equipment, my suppliers are now chuckling when I call up and ask for parts. They laugh on the phone and say, "I can't believe you're ask actually asking me to to source parts from 1968 units." Um, some of them are not

034even available anymore. So, we've been able to cannibalize parts from different buildings and different areas to get these units up and running, but at some point in time, they're going to break down and we can't fix them. >> Yeah. >> So, I don't know how to do a pretty good job of that, Evan. I mean, you're in Falls Lux every day. Yeah. So, >> yeah. So, thanks Larry Falls for six years and um I I follow up on the things that Larry said. You know, I'm stationed at home base's office of office right now and we're on 15 years there and I'm seeing the same kind of stuff that Larry talked about breakdowns. Um, I just had one where we had a circuit board for one of our HBAC units died. It's obsolete. Can't find

035it. So, what do we do? We got to get creative and like you said, scavenge parts from that we've saved thankfully. uh from the facilities, you know, false lencc perspective, they're just old and it's HVAC 30-year lifespan. We've done that two and a half times now. And uh it's the brick and mortar, the roof, everything just gets old. And there's only so much that we can do. So that's kind of where we're coming from from the maintenance perspective is there's only so much we can do and having having new stuff that doesn't break down. You don't have to >> I was just saying stuff keeps me up at night, you know, you don't have to worry about it. That makes our job easier. >> Yeah, sure. >> You can focus on preventative kinds of things

036rather than reactive. Well, >> we do a heck of a lot of preventative maintenance in our school district. You have a schedule for all of that stuff. He does. >> The downside to that is I used to do a lot of preventive maintenance in my younger years, but my >> job now is 100% reactive. I have had zero time in the last 5 years, possibly seven years to do any kind of preventive maintenance on the equipment. So, uh, that's a scary thing. Now, we have other guys that will do that, but ne not necessarily the same skill sets that we possess. And so, they don't necessarily see the things that we need to see. And so, It's constantly putting out fires. >> Yep. >> I appreciate both you guys. >> It's a two-way street. >>

037Keep it running the best that you can. I know that with what you got. So, >> question. You alluded to this a little bit. Um, but maybe double quick on it a little bit for us, which is, you know, there's Falls Lennox has three grades, right? We have three other buildings. um is there not a way to fit three grades of kids collectively into those three buildings? And it's, you know, a bit of a leading question, but maybe just explain you or maybe Shannon has thoughts just kind of on the instructional impact that that would have and >> was that part of is has that ever been part of the consideration of like, hey, let's just wedge them into the building. >> Sure. Um, so part of the issue uh currently at the ECC is

038that that building not only is old, but it was also created for an age group that that it currently does not serve. And so while there was some recalibration of things there, there are still some issues there. And so if you go, hey, I think I don't even we have about 10 sections of each grade level. We do not have um 40 classrooms plus that are open um and available. So, we couldn't we couldn't do that. I mean, that would be that would be something we just couldn't do unless I'm missing something. I mean, there's there's the physical space itself that we simply don't have along with, oh my god, Jim, you're going to put like third graders in in office and you're going to take second graders. Where are you going to put those

039kids? is like in the middle school or how's that going to go? So, not only do you not have the physical space, the developmental age and the span of that between those kids without I mean you can create a prek8 building but you engineer the building to make it such that it makes sense developmentally and you guys have done those ABG have done those things but to like retrofit that I just um I can't see it. I I just can't. Maybe somebody else can. Um, but we just don't have 40 to 50 classrooms right now that are they're that are open. If we were to just, you know, say we're we're done with Balls on Ops and done with DBCC, we couldn't move them. We don't have space. >> Yeah, that would be that would

040be like getting an enrollment of a thousand kids new and trying to figure out where they would go. So, >> none of our plumbing fixtures would be compliant for the age of prek and K. >> None of those kids could reach the uh the toilets, the sinks, the water closets, drinking fountains, all that kind of stuff. It's um I don't think we could swing it. >> That's why Larry and Evan are in the room, >> right? Those things. I mean, along with the developmental, you know, just appropriateness of of things. >> Well, somebody if a community member says, "Well, let's move eighth grade into the high school. Let's move Let's move everybody up and stop putting second graders with senior. >> Yeah, but like move everyone up, >> you know. >> Yeah. >> You know,

041I'm not saying this is a good idea. >> No, I'm just saying >> I'm saying someone's gonna someone other Facebook comes up with ideas. Lots of them. >> They're not good ones, but they do. So, yeah. I mean, >> I think those are the kinds of things that we're going to need to shake the tree and see what falls out and go, did you ever think about this? And that's the reason why I think, you know, as we move forward, we're going to need to engage the community even more. Um, it's why we've tried to push out as much communication as we have and get people to come because if they have ideas, we don't have the market cornered on them. If there are things that are out there that somebody can think of, I

042think anybody here would love to hear what those are, right? Absolutely. >> I have a question and perhaps on a less serious note um understanding the infrastructure is is critical um to being you know replaced and repaired and all of those things. What were some of the things that you guys saw um as you were surveying other districts that you thought um were just you know really cool that we have to have this in our district like some of the 21st century stuff I I believe um 21st century uh learning environments. What were some of those things? So just out of curiosity. >> Okay. So there's lots and lots of ideas that we had obviously as we went to see some of these different districts. I think for us is the reality of we when

043you're especially in falls lenox and the ECC is the same. We to go and collaborate to do anything with other classrooms is very much a challenge. We don't really have the space or the capacities to do so. So, we went to one of the buildings and they had a gym that not only was used for the gym, but it also was used as indoor recess options. So, like the kids could move, they had a projector, they had, you know, different spaces and options, activities and things like that that they could use. Um, especially when kids need a break. You know, we know we have a lot of kids that use the sensory room. Well, our sensory room has I think it houses four or five adults and then all the kids that they're working with

044on a daily basis. So that alone is just, you know, we have parents working and volunteering in the hallway. If anyone's ever walked through our hallways, you know, lunch is going on. They're trying to read with kids and, you know, the you could hear it through the hallway and those types of things. So just to be able to create a space where it could be multi-purpose, you know, we can have the community members using it, we can have the students using it, we can have all of those things along with, to be honest, I think that one of our biggest challenges is to create hands-on learning. you need to have the tools and the space and the resources to do it. And we just we do the best we can with what we've got, but

045we don't always have all the things that we need to do that. So, you know, we want our kids to want to, you know, come to school and be excited and work with others and, you know, not only academically, but also social, emotionally, and so I think that that having different spaces would be a great tool to be able to meet all their needs. >> Can I add to that? >> So, I'm going to add to what Lauren said with that space. Um, as someone who is teaching outside the district in Ayria, we opened when we opened our buildings, we have these great extended learning areas. It's almost like a big hallway common area. That space has pushed me to think outside the box as an educator as to how I can get my kids

046out of the chairs in the classroom and up and moving or up and working and doing these hands-on activities. maybe in the hallway with a parah or maybe you know in a scavenger hunt standards based around our ELA which it like extended learning area and it just really pushed me to think outside the box as to instead of sitting in chairs and expecting our youngest students to sit in chair to allow them to move and how much I feel I've become a better educator for it and I've seen the difference in my students. So I constantly live in two worlds of needing to know preschool law lure and school age. And what a lot of people don't realize is all of the requirements that preschool has to have square footage, amount of space. We talk

047about, you know, having fixtures and things that are big enough for them or little enough for them. In this case, we don't. We have step stools. We're usually that's one of the things that we have to, you know, have in place for them. We have to get new ones, different ones. That's one of the things we sometimes get dinged for every once in a while because they can't reach the sinks. The they're not built for their size. Um the they can't be on the same playground with school age children. So we have to keep them completely separate throughout the day yet together and create one unified building. So it's always interesting um for that perspective. And when in particular when we went to Westlake um city schools, we toured their new elementary school and they

048had they called them houses but almost wings. and the preschool and kindergarten wing was together and it was one floor and everything was appropriate for their size and the width of the hallways because those grades typically have more students with disabilities. That's why preschool exists in our school districts and the spaces for sensory and to have every person with their with their place within that community and then the next two hallways were um two stories and younger kids at the bottom and older at the top. it was just so nicely designed and functional for the grade levels in which that it's serving where the ECC wasn't built for the grades it's serving um and doesn't really function and let alone how beautiful their bus space was and how you could get in and out of

049parking lots and not get hate mail for email sometimes because the ECC is a finite space. We have one way in, we have one way out and to know that that could be looked at and planned for for ease of community with the busing department. There's just really some great ideas out there. It was like we were in like Wonka's chocolate factory when we were walking out. >> Yeah. West like on their faces. They're just like it's like, "Okay, let's keep going. We're going to the next spot." But they when you design for today with the knowledge you have today and the way we do things today, it's it's cool to see how they can incorporate things operationally, functionally, educationally. It all kind of works together. And it's uh in a new build those those

050possibilities are endless. In a renovation that kind of stuff isn't always front and center. It's more infrastructure and you're working with the same bones of the building. So you're not like if you renovated the ECC unless you did addition portions. You're not changing the classroom space. You're not changing what the space that the teachers are working in. So am I saying that's I know you guys talked about that that that's a huge part of renovation. you don't think about it. It's like, okay, you're fixing all the things that need to be fixed, but you're kind of walking back into the same space where maybe all those things couldn't happen. >> I have one other thing. I was as we're sitting here, there was one other really big thing and I think that as a community

051member and as a parent and um all of those things, safety has become such a big thing. So, I wanted to point out like we went into some of these buildings, you know, you walk into falseox, you immediately are right in the building and you're, you know, exposed like there's no safety precautions or measures. And with the way that our world is, you know, we it would be really nice to be able to say, okay, what do we think works? What are some different changes? What are some ways that we can help to keep the littlest littlest kids, you know, safe and have those measures in place? Like we can all sit and collaborate like what are some ways what are some tools? What are what is the best option? So safety, I think, was

052another really big thing for us is just how can we help keep these kids safe and make sure um we're doing everything we can. So that was a really big thing when we saw all the new buildings and things like that. Um, Jen mentioned the T-word, which is transportation. We haven't really talked a whole lot about that. And so, um, it's not a a new bill for transportation, but really a renovation of that. And that's probably like >> the Jurassic place more so compared to anywhere else, right? I mean, >> yeah. The essentially the, and correct me if I'm wrong here, really the only thing we would be saving of the current transportation department is base 5, six, and seven. the tallest portion of the building that was built in 1979 where um everything the

053other iterations from 1940 to 1948 and you know the the random things that have been done um you know we're just the space doesn't function for the the level of work that we do to maintain the buses there. It doesn't function for storage. The bays 1 2 and three were built in 1940 and 1948. Buses have grown wider and taller since then. So, we're pretty soon we won't be able to put buses in there cuz they just don't fit anymore. Um, but that that investment in that property would go a really long way for, you know, not only maintaining but prolonging the life of some of our biggest assets in the district. A school bus generally lasts, you know, most districts try to make them last 10 to 12 years. And when I first started

054in transportation in 2011, the first bus I bought was right around $100,000. Now that same bus probably costs about $150,000. Um, so you know, the the infrastructure, the our fueling station under underground tanks, that's there's things that are going to start happening to happen there and investments that we're going to have to make. And that's another thing, you know, when we talk about failures, when when our guys can't fix things and we're bringing in companies to do it, it's not cheap to bring them in. And it's like, man, this it's it's disheartening to have to throw certain money at at certain equipment that, you know, you wish you could just replace all together, but um I could talk about it for >> Yeah. Well, I mean, I know no one's going to get super stoked

055about a transportation place, but I mean, as it relates to the study, I will I will too. I met no one. I meant people generally speaking who are going to vote for for things. Um, you know, you're going to need to think about how things will be packaged after you start to test the waters on what people's tolerance are for certain things. But the transportation um facility itself from the committee was that needs to start over, right? You know, and so as he said, it's going to you're going to keep some of it, but you know, that's the price tag on that is $7.8 $8 million and that's kind of really almost like a new facility. You're going to keep the bone some of the bones there, but you're going to really try to make

056bring that up to standard for sure. >> Yeah. And it's, you know, that kind of construction I would say is cheaper construction. You know, we're not heating and cooling all these areas. We're building, you know, maybe a a short block wall with a steel structure with lighting and um you know, air moving around, all the things that you need to to make it safe. But just keeping buses dry and out of the the elements all the time. Um being able to have an efficient way to wash the fleet to keep salt and corrosion off your chassis. That that's what kills buses really. Um yeah, I mean all those things. Yeah, I think on a community point, you know, we we uh we are entrusted with getting these kids safely to school and home and we

057know how much of a challenge it is to find, >> you know, the next generation of people who are willing to do that, who we trust to do that. And God bless the people that currently have to show up at that place. >> Yeah. >> Uh to get their bus or to meet with somebody because it's, you know, it's >> about as bad as a board. >> It catches me. >> Yeah. And we know the >> camera. >> Yeah, we're our little falls guy. It's 15 minutes of >> a little GoFundMe on the bottom. Every time you click this, >> Ninja gets a twins and you give us money. >> Yeah. Or something >> something. Yeah, that would have been like >> 1.3 million. >> That would have helped. >> How about other questions from

058the board or anybody else? Any other comments or closing remarks? Julian. Yep. >> Oh, yes. Thank you for recognizing me, Mr. Road. My name is Julian Allen, family engagement and family and community engagement uh for the school district. Uh first of all, I want to say thank you to the community members that were on our committee that are here tonight. I also want to let the board know that um you have a very engaged community, a very intelligent community, a very talented community. Um and you can feel very good about the recommendation that they're giving you because it's it's difficult to get people to volunteer for anything these days or to show up to a meeting. And I guess I forgot we started in 23 and it's almost April of 2026 and they're still here

059and they still care and they're still responding to emails and they're still weighing in on things. So this is a very engaged and dedicated group of community members and there are more people like that out there. People really do care about these sorts of things and I just think it's up to the board what you decide. Um, but I I think we do a good job as a school district of um communicating and letting people know that we care what they think. This was never about what Heath wanted or what you Mary Kate wanted or what Jen wanted or what Jim Dr. Lloyd wanted. It was about what will what will the community support and what what do they think they want? This is where they live and they've moved here for a reason. So,

060I just think you can feel good about um the dedicated community that you have and yes, there are naysayers. know that um but you know and there'll be much more to come on this but I I think you can feel good about that and the document that you have and the work that went into it and the thought that went into it and I'm very impressed with the dedication of the volunteers so I want to thank them too >> one more quick question if I can I see the next steps outline what does that look like from a timing perspective I'm sure that has been identified but um it's not captured here when are we talking I How many years? >> Well, I mean, I think the first thing and I think I can let

061Jim and Patrick talk about this more. The first thing that's probably going to come up for us or something we have to balance all this with is operating funds of where the district is at right now. And that that's the like I guess the last thing that I would add is that the foundation this is a foundation of work and there's a lot of people here that like I said gain a lot of knowledge. There's a ton more work to do to do anything. But I think that there's a lot of people now that'll have an opportunity if they were on this committee, if they're involved in it whatsoever, they have an idea and hopefully this document is there to give people who don't know anything a good idea to continue building upon that. So

062I I'm >> Yeah, I'll um timing is everything, right? And so what you're going to need what the board would need to do with us would be to just kind of create a a timeline and a chronology. The the committee did some of that as well. We're not a school district that is sitting on, you know, a $27 million reserve like some school districts are. I mean, there was one to the south of us that tried to put something on and they people said no and they said like a really loud no and then there was one to the north that had some resources that put it on for a bond issue and people said yes. So, um, we're going to have to think of most likely an operating levy first and then and what

063that amount might be and then think about um this as far as a a bond issue and whether that is a bond issue or a PI issue or those sorts of things. But that's for all of you to deliberate and ask questions with Patrick and I about the timing of those things. Um, you know, as well I will say that we do have we through payroll deduction and other things. There's right now there's like 50 $50,000 um for the levy committee to use in order to raise awareness of things and and there's a lot of awareness that's going to need to be done. An enrollment study you would want to do that um as close to building I think is is possible. So that's going to have to come you know probably you know a

064year from now or so. I mean they're not crazy expensive but I mean there is a cost associated with those. Um I don't know if there's anything that you would want to add Patrick at all. I don't I'm trying to look at this. I'm like the updated financial modeling. I mean do you go is it a bond and then is it a PI? Is it a bond and PI? Is it you know you do a bond and cover everything? I mean so there are options I think that we'll you guys will all have to consider. We'll probably have to bring council in for a little bit just to talk about what those might be. The one thing I'll add too is like the the prek through three building proposal that's in there that's you know

065and I could let you guys chat about that a little bit but we they took the specs that the committee provided they talked about you know room for growth if we have uh student growth they talked about space for the community because that was a big topic for us if you know whether it's gym space or open space or something like that and that it was I would say it's a cautionary level of a of an estimate just as that, you know, $100 million is a is a cautionary estimate, too, because the total we have is like 87 $88 million. We know this isn't happening today. So, we're just trying to think be forward thinking as much as we could um for for considerations. But before, you know, these numbers the numbers as far as

066the the renovations go with some of our buildings. I feel confident that those are probably going to stay. you know, they are what they are with inflationary, you know, measures added on over the years, but a new building that was a, you know, it's a it's a high level estimate and anything we would design depending on how far you go or how how safe you keep it or whatever you want to call it, you know, that number can change quite a bit. So, >> well, yeah, it's like what is what is $50 million by me as it relates to a prek3 building and then you start to see kind of a, you know, rendition of that visually what it would be. We have friends who can help us with those um sorts of things. Um

067the the the cost goes up by 5%. >> Annually AVGish >> that's what that's what we have right now. >> Yeah. >> That is inflation plus some material >> escalation. That's what >> So you basically answered the question I was going to ask which is your $87 million estimate. And I know it's it's an estimate. It's basically if you start today like that's your year zero is today. >> Yeah. So if you think like operating levy and then when you're going to put it on, >> right? >> And do you come do you go you partial it or do you go for the whole thing and we can >> first two, right? >> Yeah. I mean, you can look back at the history of um bond issues for Homestead Falls who, you know, the previous

068two, three superintendents ago, um they tried to do everything at one time. People said no and then eventually everything came to be to where it is today and now we start over. So, >> well, on behalf of all of us, thank you all so much. Thank you for I mean it's a long time coming which is not to say that in a negative way but this is a long a lot of work went into this >> um we really appreciate seeing this come to fruition and this was a big next step and I think in the short term keep the conversation going community and with us and start put some put some dates on some hypothetical calendars here >> we owe >> you all But I really wanted >> and I would say you do

069not have to stay for the remainder of this meeting. >> Our real thank you is in you. >> No, thank you guys again so much. We really appreciate it. >> Even you, Jules. extra career after. >> Well, that was very very cool. And I was thank you for organizing that and having done that today. >> Move on to our uh administrative reports. Uh PTA is not here. Uh they're doing great. They're always doing great. >> Well, the big concern obviously with PTA is like this whole dodgeball thing because of the uh waterfall gym that we have and so it's going to need to be reloc. I think that they may have settled on the auxiliary. Is that where we're going? I have no idea how that is going to even work um to raise money

070with people watching and taking part in it. We are in a not so good situation um with that. I mean there are bleachers in the auxiliary. >> What is it again? >> March 20th. >> What if the weather's nice? Listen, you talking about going out to the field and thing. I I think it was the PTA's determination of where they wanted to be. And I believe that that was not one of the options that they wanted. It was proposed. It's like, do you go outside? Do you do it like, you know, on the turf? Do you do something different? Do you whatever. I think they want to continue to run the play that they've run. I just don't know how many people they're going to be able to fit in the gym and how they're

071going to do it. So, it's going to be a lean six sigma efficiency project for sure. you know. >> Yeah, it's gonna have to be >> put the kids to work. >> Yeah, >> I think Phil Road and Jim Lloyd will be playing for the um >> team >> the falls on ECC team. >> Yep. >> Hopefully. >> Can you live stream it? Like >> what do you say? >> I'm not I'm not sure have to talk with Can he probably? Yeah. Can I win the huddle or something? >> No. >> Thanks, Keith. >> Thank you, guys. >> Can I say one quick thing? >> Yeah. >> We were just saying on the way out there, they're like, five to seven years. This stuff has to run for five to seven more years before >>

072I know that. Don't even think about that. I don't know. >> It's the truth. Like, the longer we push, it's just like, >> yeah. >> So, there I'm like, it's fine. There's more conversations we had. We're working on you guys. Thank you. Thank you. >> All right. Uh Polaris update. We met last week. Uh couple interesting things. Um they're doing they're kind of looking to potentially overhaul the criminal justice program. There's a it's interesting if you um if you go to Polaris and you if you want to be a cop and you go to Polaris um and you go through that program, you graduate from high school and you're 18 years old, but you can't go to the police academy until you're 21 years old because you can't carry a firearm until you're 21. So,

073um, we're losing a lot of kids to the 3 years where they change their mind to go do something else and we don't have a good, uh, it's not fueling the pipeline to law enforcement that we hope it would. So, um, they're looking at some partnerships maybe with Baldin Wallace to do some sort of like an associates degree or something in two years that could bridge that gap between Polaris and the police academy because these kids are graduating and they can't they literally can't do it I think for three years because they can't carry a gun. Um, uh, Polaris has requested and seem they seem fairly confident, uh, a grant from the state, uh, for about $5.5 million to build a new building for, uh, day construction and a new electrical program and supporting the

074HVAC program as well. >> Just I know >> for them, good for them and our kids. >> Yeah. Yeah. We're not It's >> real jobs that I know you would. >> Yeah. >> Uh, yeah. That's all good stuff. >> All good stuff. >> Any questions about players? Anybody? >> Uh, Dr. Doss. >> Good evening. I have a couple of updates that represent um supporting Dr. Zer's department and his absence. Um, so Dr. L, you may chime in with some of the things that I'm going to share and then um I'll give you some updates on what's happening in my neck of the woods. So starting with this is uh the time where we start to search for our next best teachers. Um so currently we are close to being finished with um looking to fill

075seven positions for certified staff. Um and that's usually three to five stops that happen for teachers when they apply. Um Dr. Lake, you had created um a way in which for us to really look at those principles and teachers who are interested will will the questionnaire online. Um, so that's stop number one. Stop number two, after we've looked at their answers on the survey, um, we then conduct what we call B22s, and that's really a structured uh, phone screener that then we determine from there, um, how those potential candidates would move on to two rounds potentially at the building level, maybe it's three, and then they come to the final, um, interview at, uh, central. Um so of the seven positions, most of those we should be wrapped up um within the next couple of

076weeks. Some of which will be uh recommended to be board approved tonight. So the buildings have been working um diligently, our staff at central office um who work in Brian's department, we've all pulled together. Um so things are going well and we're ahead of schedule um as it relates to um where we thought we would be. So, I'm I'm proud of that and I'm and I'm happy for that. And it's always nice to be a part of it on the front end, which um I am this year a bit more, but it's enjoyable and it's fun because then what happens is once those candidates are hired, um I get to spend a lot of time with them in the new teacher cohort their first year. So, it just expands that timeline. But, I'm happy to

077report that things are going well as it relates to that. Um, we do have some retirements, we have some transfers, we have a variety of different things happening with staff, which I'm not going to report on, but we'll tell you that, um, I'm really pleased with how, um, things are going thus far. Anything you to add? >> I'll be I was going to give a little bit of a I can go further depth in depth >> once you go. Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Um, also supporting buildings as it relates to um, a variety of needs that come up. We always expect the best day possible, but there are times where there's peer-to-peer interaction where parents get involved and we're supporting them whether it's a bullying complaint, a title n investigation, and those are things

078that we take seriously. So supporting multiple buildings with that right now where typically Dr. Zel would be involved. Um but we are working through that and um moving along with with those different items. Um as it relates to my department, two two updates I wanted to share. Um, so as is is that board retreat official in April? >> It is. >> Okay. So, you know, you'll have an opportunity to spend more time getting involved in conversations and collaboration as we think about really what I would say is our instructional philosophy. When we think about the Schlei network, um, this is a thought partner of ours. Districts in the area and across the country are part of this network. But conceptually when we immerse oursel in all of that, it's then applying it day-to-day in buildings

079and classrooms and so forth. Um, so with our new teacher cohort, we're very intentional in taking them through that journey as as you'll get it in a day and a half during the board retreat in April. Um, yesterday was really a culminating activity for our new teachers. We gave them a tour of all five buildings. So typically teachers are their home base is one building. The other four they may go there if they have kids there or there's an evening event. Um but we start them at the ECC and by the end of the day they have walked through each of the five buildings. Our principles have planned a an a day so I'm sorry the full day but each building gives us an hour where our teachers are broken into groups. They have look

080fors related to the schlefty look fors and they get to walk into classrooms where teachers are teaching and experience what they would never be able to if we didn't give them that opportunity. And at the end of the day, we do a debrief and and Dr. Lloyd was a part part of that. Thank you for being here. >> That was awesome. >> And really what it gave the teachers was this 360 vision of the district. So while you have PBIS programming and rules, you know, in in the middle school, well, they're also present at the ECC and they're also present in every other building. So they get to see the connection between the five buildings. And so that was yesterday. This is the third year we've done this and it's their favorite day and we

081all go home very tired. Um, so really happy about how that turned out in the collaboration from the principles and the teachers and opening up their doors and allowing us to do that. And then finally, um, you've heard me update you throughout the year and for newer board members, even at our last two board meetings, since February of 25, I have assembled a math committee um, representative of middle and high school teachers. We have spent the last 13 months interacting with eight different companies to deter and one of which is a company we're currently working with now and have since 2011 for our math uh curriculum resource. We are at a place where we're looking at guidance in terms of best practices for math instruction. Also what ODU says we might have to do as

082a district. And in that effort, we had our last of seven meetings last Thursday where based on the work we've done in researching um we're at a place where we're ready to trial um into math from HMH and there was consensus across the room. It was the first of the eight programs where I mean you would have two or three teachers who were like okay I think I see some potential. Um, and what's nice about this particular company is they are also um our parent company for our NWA maths assessments or our three times a year benchmark assessments where you can integrate that information and it'll help drive instruction. So, we are at a point now between now and the end of the year, we're going to get into the sandbox and experiment more deeply

083with this particular program before we come to you and make the recommendation that we potentially adopt this resource because parallel to that, the Department of Education um is held up, which means we're now held up because in the House of Representatives, there is a bill um that they're exploring and even editing, if you will and deliberating over that includes some math directives for districts which I highlighted at our last board meeting. So I want to make sure we don't get too far ahead in the process. So we're still rather than coming to you today and saying we'd like to put these resources out into the community to get input which would be the next step and then look for you to um you know approve our recommendation. we're going to still work actively between now

084and and the end of the year and become, you know, just further explore on top of what we've been doing. So, we don't become stale as a committee. So, I will update you as that um moves forward, but I'm really proud of the work. Teachers who've been in the district for over 30 years are representative of that committee. We have newer teachers that have only been here a few years. Um, and it was a very diverse group, but also committed group. So, I'll keep you posted on how things are going there. And remember what I say and what Dr. White says is we don't want any teacher following a script. That's not what that doesn't capture the art and science of teaching. But we want them to have a springboard and have symmetry um and

085a scope and sequence. And when you look at materials that you provide to our teachers, that's what those materials allow us to do. And so it's time to to be taking a look if we update what we have or if we go new. Any questions about that work? >> Did you say you're triing now till the end of the year? What grades that's happening? >> It will be sixth, seventh, and eth. >> Okay. >> Algebra 1, algebra 2, and geometry. So going into the high school as well. Once you get into stats, cal pre-cal, you're looking more at textbooks that are um a resource for the classroom. And it was important to both the middle and high school that we first look at a program that could be carried through both buildings because one option

086was we have one program for middle and then one program for high but we that was really not what we were interested in doing. And does that include the students like a sample of students or is it more okay? >> So the math committee um which is representative of 11 of our teachers they are going to um trial those materials in the classroom >> with their classes. And then the rest of the math teachers if they'd like to part be a part of that they can >> but the committee is all in. So, we're putting it out to everyone and that'll allow them to um take an even deeper dive than what what they have been doing. >> You spend a lot of time on those things and Chan and her committee certainly should be

087commended for the amount of time that they've spent on that. It's a big decision. It's expensive. I mean, it's $350,000ish somewhere around there. you know, when you do a full adoption, I don't know if you've gotten the full the quote yet, but usually when you do one of like an ELA or math, it's it's a lot of money. Um, and so you want to be really deliberate and smart, um, about it. And the committee is a great committee of really high quality teachers. Um, and Shannon has led them. So, I really appreciate all the work that she's done with that. It's been pretty exemplary. And to get everybody to be have consensus like that doesn't happen often. So, um it's it's not the current program that we have right now that some people would say,

088you know, whatever was controversial back in the day. It was because it was a shift in the way in which math was taught in how people thought about math. It wasn't the algorithmic based memorize this formula kind of thing. It was very much group processoriented problem solving critical thinking kind of stuff. So everything has that in it now. So >> sure and I will tell you and and I'll share this you know at later meetings too but big decision points for us were looking at the research behind the program but also um ed reports helps us kind of rate these programs which is really what we should be doing. Um the department of education has a rubric for math resources so we're looking at that. So, we're not just going in and going, "Oh, we

089like how the color is on the front of the book and how how fun the presenter was and they brought donuts when they presented." It's none of that. We have to look past all of that. And so, we've had different um decision- making points along the way. And of course, I mean, ultimately, you want to make sure it's um going to engage the students and it's aligned to the standards, you know, with all the basics. And so, this particular program we're going to explore further, checked all those boxes. And that's all I have to report. Did I take time? That would have also been given to Brian. I think that it was great. Thank you. Any questions? >> Thank you, Shannon. Appreciate it. Especially pulling double duty tonight. >> Sure, >> Mr. Golo. >> All

090right, two and a half months in. We had some cold days, calamity days, and no meteor days, but we got to experience that. >> Meteor days were a sign. >> All right, so we'll start with the financial report. Our total revenue through February is $30 million. It's always crazy to talk about millions just because on a daily basis, you know, personally, I'm not talking about millions of dollars. Bar far from it. Uh but we experienced roughly two $2 million less this this year than last year and that was due to when we collected our real estate settlements. Um talked about that last month as well. But we did receive our final settlement from the county last Friday which was really good. I know me and Holly were very happy to see that hit our bank

091account just because we were looking at possibly having to pull money out of investments which we we hardly want to do but if we need to we will. Our expenditures were kind of trending above where we wanted to be, but we are constantly looking at our expenditures and looking at what we can do to minimize cost, but there are those unforeseen circumstances uh like weather. You don't know what's going to happen. So, this past weekend, we had a lot of weather damage, as I'm sure everyone knows, with roots and trees, um water fountains in our buildings. You know, we don't want them in our buildings. feel like outside of the buildings, but so it's nice that we're able to jump on those projects when we need to, but usually those come up cost. So, we

092have the insurance adjuster out this uh this week and I'm sure they're very busy with a lot of other uh communities and businesses. So, we'll be putting that in through insurance, which are deductible is a small percentage of what the actual cost would be. So, it's always nice to have have that. Um last week me and the team financial team went to our EFP user group meeting which is our power school databases. We use that for our financial our cysts and other platforms. Uh I was able to present on two topics batch budget batch counts payables and change accounts payables and budget preparation. So, it's always nice to represent Almstead Falls um in those sittings. Really nice and found out that they for how big Power School is or global company um they have a

093they're starting to get attracted more in Ohio, but our Ohio user group meeting is bigger than their national meetings. So, I think we had roughly almost 100 people and their Snug conference only had about 60 and that's through all 50 states. So, it is kind of nice. They're pretty happy about it. And so they're taking a bigger stance on that as well which is really really nice to see. Also looking at operational efficiencies and risk mitigation looking at repay and givebacks which is stat strategic uh initiatives and fraud preventions just to make sure we're doing what we can to be compliant and also reduce the risk of fraud because there a lot of data that we have that we don't want anybody else to get. So, more information will be coming on repay and give

094backs. Um, looking at join getting the finance committee back together. I met with them before I started, but it's been quite a crazy two and a half months. So, we'll be getting back and getting those scheduled. I believe they met every quarter. So, we'll be getting that back up and running. So, looking forward to that as well. And lastly, um, our financial pack Friday tomorrow is a it's going to be a good one. Uh it's a good way to see the um a nice picture of how the state is constantly reducing the amount of their state share. So you can see that one great big picture which is really nice and I think it's really easy to regurgitate like oh wow that the state really is not giving their fair share of what they need

095to to educate students. So look forward to that tomorrow. And that's all I have. Any questions? Thank you very much, Dr. Lloyd. >> I have a like a little bit of this and that. First, um the work that the HR department um support people have done. Molly and Nancy and Kelly have, you know, everybody has kind of banded together to really support Brian and to rally behind him. Um they've done a great job as Shannon said. Um she and I along with uh Stephanie and the principles honestly as well are really kind of doing everything we can to pick up this stuff um that normally Brian would have taken care of. And I knew Brian was was good at his job and I knew basically you know what he did because I obviously I need

096to know those things. But to now like have to do those two has been an interesting kind of thing which we'll talk about in the executive uh part of the you know close session of the meeting. But um one one thing that is some good news that Brian came in today and so um and uh he has responded well to the things that they've needed to do. Um he's able to be at home. Um he's able to come back to work sooner than what he thought he was able to do. Um, it was so great to see him. I mean, for everybody, it was great for us to see him, but I think it was just so cool for everybody else or for him to see everybody else. He really was uh excited and he

097said that um when he was came home last night, his kids were out and then they came home from like school and stuff and then he walked out and was like, "Dad was home." And so, it was just such a really really cool thing um for him. He he's vulnerable so he's got to wear a mask and all those other different kinds of things. I worry about him and I'm going to talk to him about this. Um, he works in that back corner of the basement. Um, and I don't know how great the air is down there to be honest with you. So, I was I mean I was thinking about it today. I'm like I don't think I'm going to put him in my office and I'm going to go like down in you

098know to the cavern and be down there or something different. But um I don't know exactly when he's going to return, but he's going to return sooner than he thought and he's in good spirits and he's able to do some things that we didn't think um that he might be able to do. So that was like really good news for us. But it um I just wanted you to know that and then um how much people have really kind of banded together to to do what what needs to be done. And um Shannon and Stephanie are really doing a lot of these B22s that they send. Shannon did 11 today. 11? >> Yes. >> Yeah. 11 of those. Those are usually about 30 to 45 minutes long. So that's a lot. And Stephanie's doing them

099as well. But >> she did six today. >> She did six. Yeah. So um hiring people is one of the most important things that we do. And we have a very kind of detailed process of doing it and it's uh you know it's one of the reasons why we're one of the top places to work right because I think we get good people in >> as the as the rookie what's a B22 >> so that is like the second step in the uh interview process and that is the 30 minute structured interview. It's on the phone. So there's a script that we follow. >> It's 22 questions. >> 24 questions. You think there used to be 24 sub questions that come out of that and you take them through. They have 30 minutes and you

100type their responses >> and then there's a score that they get. They don't know what the score is. That's the score. >> Yeah. And so we use that in order to determine whether they're going to go to the building level for the interview. So they when they come through the screener um there's this screening measure that I created. Now there's like a thousand people who have filled it out. So we have some norms and that's like the first yes and then this interview thing and then if they don't do well then it's like they're out of the mix and then they do well and they move on to the building and then we get the final three at central office that we interview and then we talk to the principal and select the final three.

101During a work session we'll give you like this is how this kind of sausage is made and show you all the details involved. But um it's pretty we have I think probably the most intense process compared to other school districts from what we've learned. Um it's efficient now. Um my green belt project was wait time for our hiring process that I did like way back whenever I got mine. So yeah. >> Yeah. From start to we had some wait time and we lost some candidates and that was not good and it needed to be better. So So we're we we're really good there. Anyway, that's Brian. That's that. Um there are two people and thank you sorry for adding um people onto the agenda tonight. Um I I hope you you know give them the

102vote of confidence and things but uh we have two math teachers that are going to be here at the high school who will be essentially off the table. Um hopefully um things that are still in the hopper right now. We have a kindergarten position um that is there. Um we have we have a kindergarten intervention specialist position. Um that is a new position. The mod intense position that we have uh it falls on us as a vacancy uh position. Um the fifth grade vacancy that we had is going to be done by an internal transfer and the FTE that's going to be left behind from that transfer we are not going to uh fill. So we'll have savings there. Um there's a retirement it falls on a also. Um, and the grade levels I don't

103want to say are irrelevant, but they are kind of irrelevant because the certification can cover all those different grade levels. Um, we it we will have a savings there as well. When it's all said and done, we will have 10 sections of each grade level and kindergarten, first, second, and third grade. There was a time when we needed to reduce that we had 12 sections um there. And so um there's you know there'll be some savings there. if if additional K we we will maintain um a good class size a small class size so it's not going to be anything that's going to be um awful it's just given our financial state um while we would all love to have class sizes of like 15 to 18 in those grades we just we don't have

104the resources to be able to do that some districts do we don't but I still would think that we you know do really well with what it is that we have um Dave Wilson retired there's a um a vacancy in eighth grade mathematics as well so We're we're filling that. Um there is a six there is a middle school PE position that's being brought out because there's going to be an internal transfer that's going to happen um from uh from PE into our health program because Diane Norris retired. Um so that is going to happen. We're going to fill that. There's a social studies vacancy at the high school that is going to be filled. There's a social studies vacancy at the high school that is not going to be filled at this particular time.

105So I mean those are three FTEEs that you know including the ones at fallox that we would be down but we added again added the special edit one over at um the ECC. Um there is one of the MAP positions is a new position and it's a new position a new FTE that was created because um Jeff Anartum is having the cyber security program and that program is growing. Um and so um that's the reason why that position uh is a new position. Um what's not in the hopper yet, but you will get is I'm going to recommend an increase in um a person's contract at the high school who's in band. It's Robbiey's contract and Robbie currently is a 0.80. Um, you can increase without posting anything and so it's going to add it's

106going to make him full-time. It's going to make him.20 for or 1.0 1.0 FTE. You know how many kids we have in the band. It's it's a supervision issue and it's, you know, I don't want to lose Robbie and and we have the numbers to justify that. And I'm not really sure quite honestly why it's a point8. It's on me because I think I'm the one that recommended it, but I I can't really remember why it was that. I think it was really just the numbers that um that we had uh at the time. I'm trying to think. See what else is there from that? I think that is good right now. Shannon, is there anything you think that I I forgot? Okay, that's good. >> Ask for the middle school for the future of

107the trans >> that is posted. Oh, through transfer. >> Um Lisa Rehouse. there. Yep. She's moving. And um if it wasn't official, it's official now because I just kind of said it, I guess, on there, I think. You know, and you know, >> Yeah. I guess maybe. Yeah. I I believe that it's uh >> Well, now it's on there. I can tell my kids. >> You can. Yeah. Uh you know, just tell them not to tell anyone else, right? Okay. There's that. >> You know, >> your kids are live. >> Not tonight. They're at the dodgeball. >> Middle school dodgeball tonight. I heard from Keith today, no Sean the other day because we were dealing with things and beers and stuff that we have a mechanic that has applied. We've had this mechanic position posted

108for a very long time and we cannot compete from a salary perspective with other organizations that want to hire diesel mechanics. And we're trying to kind of create things because there's an an association once there's a union involved. Say what you want about that. we can't direct deal with people, which is a problem. Whenever you have an anomaly position that you need to fill and you really want to direct deal with people, you have to go through the association to do that. So, there's a candidate that has applied and um if he does not have his diesel license and he has mechanic experience, we're going to work with our association to get him certified to be a mechanic. And I mean, honestly, we'll pay for his school. That's what I would recommend to you because

109right now, Jeremy Pulcar, if you don't know who Jeremy is, he's our mechanic. If you see him, tell him how much you appreciate him. He's really working overtime a lot. Um, literally and also he's he's kind of burned out and I'm a little bit worried about about him, but he's done a a tremendous job and we need another um need another mechanic for sure. The central admin building, my hope is that when you go through like he's reporting stuff, you're able to click on some of those and see that. Um, we need to maybe before a board meeting or after one that's shorter, get over there and just do a walk through. It's coming along nicely. It's going to be an end of the month, April move. The flooring is going in, the cabinetry is

110going in. Um the lights are in and and you know, they're working on the technology and stuff overhead still. So, we have to keep some of those things um down. The carpet is we're getting carpet squares that way you can replace them whenever they get and it's high quality carpet squares. It's not some, you know, whatever. Um that's already there. It's painted. Um it looks nice and so um we can't wait to uh to get out of the building that we've been in for 25 years. Um I don't know if you have any questions about that at all. Pictures I can get Keith to send some additional ones. Um thanks to uh to Julianne who's here as well. She and Kim and I have been working on um the next school report which is a

111special edition of benefits based accountability that's really going to focus in on why we do what we do as it relates to our accountability system and really kind of a historical kind of walkthrough of where we were, why we did what we did. Um and then to show what a benefits based accountability system looks like at each building. Um and so we're looking for like an Aprilish sort of release with that. and Julian has worked um um very closely with me and Kim has been part of that as well. The uh the district brochure I will this is like in the um final stages of this is what we use whenever we go to conferences or to different um job fairs and things like that. I'll pass that around and send you a electronic copy.

112Kim um his updated that based on some of the things that that we needed to to do and then um spent considerable time with Heath and others on the facilities master plan. So we were all involved with that but um Julian's main project was was obviously the benefits based accountability special edition. Bless you. And then the facilities master plan um Kim has spent an awful lot of time on that as well. So I appreciate appreciate that. Um, and then the gym floor, I'm really concerned about it. I mean, quite honestly, I don't know what that amount is going to be right now. Um, it waterfalled for three hours. It got under the under the boards. The gym I, you know, is not usable right now. I don't know how far that is going to creep,

113whether it's going to go to midcourt. I think it's it my and we can check it out, you know, as we exit if you want. I can take you over to the gym. Um, and there's the potential, like what I would like for it to be is all of it to be ruined and for it to be torn up and replaced. Um, if it's not and they're going to repair it, which we have an obligation to try to repair it because the insurance company because we don't we just can't drop $500,000 on a floor. Um, you worry about like matching paint and matching sheen and all those other different kinds of things. So, I'm worried about that looking janky because we spent and this has been part of what I've done here and I'm very

114proud of making that gym look really nice from where it was before and it didn't stink before, but it looks really nice now. I think we have the best um gym in the conference for sure. Um so, we'll see. I can show that to you, but I'm I'm worried about how that's going to go down. >> What's that? >> Bri's nicer. I don't think Brias is nicer because um I have talked to players about that too. There's too much natural light that comes in that blinds you when you're trying to play. >> And I think uh it may look nice in a picture, but I think ours is better as far as an atmosphere. But that's okay, you know. And I'm not even an alumni. Look at you. It's fine. >> Titans are people, too.

115I know that. >> Nice gym. >> It is a nice gym. It's nice. It's nice. >> So, I think that's all I have. If you guys have any questions, >> I have some stuff for the executive session obviously. So, >> all right. Awesome. Thank you. Moving on to hearing of the public. Do we have anyone in attendance who would like to address the board? Says no. Uh moving on to our consent agenda. Uh items five, six, seven. Five, six, and seven. Uh I'll accept the motion to approve the items in the consent agenda. Five, six, and seven. >> Any discussion, questions, comments about anything in any of the consent agenda items? What you think? I will especially call out uh thank you to Laura Seagler for donating a uh tabletop pack tabletop Pac-Man and Space

116Invaders of course PBIS reward uh system in the office lounge. Very cool. And thank you to Uncle John's plant farm for donating uh some seeds and soil to fall onx for right three week. Thank you very much for that. >> Any comments or questions about anything in the consent agenda? >> Two math teachers that were hired at the high school. One of them is Danielle Stevens who is an alumni. You may have remembered her. Um both are current teachers that we are taking from other school districts. One um is from Norton schools and they have a lot of financial issues that are going on. Um Danielle worked at Buckeye and uh for a couple years and she's coming over um to us. So it's always nice to for somebody to work through the process who

117happens to be an alumni. >> Very cool. >> We're losing a lot of institutional knowledge with some of these. >> Yeah, I don't I don't like the fact that we're losing these awesome people, you know, but yeah. Any other questions, comments, anything with that? Mr. Gana, if you call a vote to approve consent agenda items in five, six, and seven. >> Mr. Punk, >> yes. >> Mr. Antos, >> yes. >> Mrs. Aboot, >> yes. >> Mr. Aurro, >> yes. >> Mr. Lauderdale, >> yes. >> Motion carries. Thank you. Uh, moving on to 9 A. Mr. Golan, do you want to say briefly what this is? Tax rate resolution. >> Yeah. So, every year we meet with the county to go over our tax rates typically for the bonds to make sure we're bringing enough millage,

118set the millage to make sure we're bringing enough revenue in to cover those bonds. Um, it was very different than what we do in Summit County. So, it was a nice learning experience for me. Um, so we just kind of meet and it's really up to the treasurer or CFO to dictate like, hey, this is how much um a percentage of them will bring in. Then we dictate like how much we're going to bring in. So, uh, I used lean on some of my colleagues that are in Ty County to really help me with this just to make sure I'm doing the right thing because the last thing I want to do is like, hey, we under we didn't pull enough so we're going have to true it up uh next season. So, I feel

119very confident in the number and so does the county to set the rates for this coming tax year. >> Thank you. Any questions? I'll accept a motion to approve the resolution in 9A. move second. >> Any any questions, comments, discussion, anything hearing? None. You can call the vote, please. >> Mr. Funk, >> yes. >> Mr. Lauderdale, >> yes. >> Mr. Boot, >> yes. >> Mr. Antos, >> yes. >> Mr. Ero, >> yes. Motion carries. Thank you. Moving on to 9B. Uh this is uh an annual thing we do approving the ability to transfer up to not necessarily this much but up to uh $500,000 from the general fund to the athletic fund which is an annual process we go through. Do either of you have anything more to say about that? I I'd first add

120that um that process and why the board uh has needed to do this for the last um eight 17 years is several several boards ago um when we were in some having some financial issues. One of the things that that board wanted to do was to pull out the cost of athletics from the general fund and create a special cost center, I think it's probably called or something to that effect to show really how much athletics costs the school district. So that has been there since then. And so every probably two times a year um the treasurer has come to the board to ask for that. So if at any point in time the board would want to say how much does that a in the AAA costs the treasurer would be able to show

121that um it it's a large amount. I mean it's close to a million dollars that it cost to run athletics and that's in in totality and everything else. Um it we don't run in uh in the black. I mean the whole thing is in the red and so um if you ever wanted that that's why it's there. So just to give you the history on that. >> That was helpful. Thank you. >> With that, I'll accept a motion to approve uh the transfer from the general fund to the athletic fund. >> Second. >> Any questions, discussion? We may vote. >> Mr. Fun. >> Yes. >> Mr. Aboot. >> Yes. >> Mr. Antos. >> Yes. >> Mr. Aro. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lo. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. Thank you. Uh item 9 C is approval

122of a separation agreement with an employee. Um >> that's something that I needed to uh negotiate um with uh transportation department and a bus driver and so I can give you more details on that in executive um session. I mean that document I think is probably discoverable with a public records um request but you know mistakes were made and uh the person um is not going to drive anymore but is um a good employee and they're going to be here for the remainder of the year and they're going to be assisting in the transportation office um with a lot of things that are going on there because they're underst staffed right now. >> Great. With that, I'll accept a motion to approve uh the item in 9C. >> Second. >> Any questions, comments? >> Hearing

123none. Call the vote, please. >> Mr. H. >> Yes. >> Mr. Antos. >> Yes. >> Mr. Boot. >> Yes. >> Mr. Aro. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lwood. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. Thank you. Um, work session and regular meeting are going to have to be switched or modified. We do have the board retreat on April >> 17th 16th 17th. >> So it would be 17th then and 18th, right? So >> what if I have to leave early? >> That's fine. That's fine. Um so I think we just picked one more one new April date to serve as our meeting. We're going to be together at the board retreat, I think, which can function as a work session. So the doodle went out. >> Okay, good. So, I'll check that um and I and we'll circulate

124with that. Maybe >> you didn't get the doodle. >> You sure? >> I got the doodle, bro. >> Yeah. Did you get the doodle? >> I got the doodle. >> When are we going stage or send a um email to Kayla, >> and ask her because she is the um >> doodle extraordinaire, >> facilitator of the doodle. Sorry, just for our hiring season, can you clarify which meetings are being reconsidered? Just so I can make note. >> We will not be meeting on either April 2nd or April 16th. >> Okay. >> Can tell you that much. We will meet sometime in April. >> Okay. >> Uh I know April obviously spring break is in there too. So >> the second half of April, right? >> Yeah. There was like a there were five days that

125I gave Kayla. I will say this that um and I would ask the board to consider this that if we get up against it as it relates to potentially losing a candidate for a particular position, I'll talk to uh Mr. Ekenro and ask for at least a quorum for a morning or some kind of meeting to get you guys together to approve something so we don't lose somebody and I'll just maintain contact with him. >> 100%. >> Gotcha. Thank you for that. >> All right. Uh general discussion. Anybody have anything to say? >> No. U nine I'll just preview each one of these. We will vote on them separately. Uh 9 GH and I are resolutions to approve the filing of legal documents to um participate in the challenge process of property valuations within the

126district. um for the benefit of our newer members. The district has a um outside real estate council, Tom Kzer, who handles handles these things for us. Um he uh he communicates with us regularly about u properties that may be subject to this sort of thing that the property owner themselves can initiate the process. Um Columbus has made it more difficult for us to really play much role in this process. But this is the role we can play which is coming forward and saying um properties usually commercial properties that have uh valuations much lower than whatever their last recent armslike transaction was that's what these are for. So uh we do need to separately approve each one of them to allow our council to participate in that process. Can I ask for hands? Usually Tom concert

127>> um just for my own curiosity like he usually has like hey it's in the books as this value. This is what it's sold for. I only saw the sold value that did miss it. >> No they're not on the resolution but I could I'm sure he could provide that. >> That's fine. >> Um for the new members the threshold I think was it like a million dollars? with the difference between book value and what they sold for value. Like we had a threshold that we basically said, "Yeah, go do this." Do you remember what that value was? >> Yeah. I don't know if it was a dollar or a percentage, but there is. Yeah. We we, you know, plus or minus. If it's, you know, it's $10,000 off, we're not going to spend $20,000

128to fight over. >> It's a significant amount because if you were within, you know, >> I don't know, it was like five. I thought it was a number, but whatever. If you if you're if you're close, it's not worth fighting. You could lose. >> Yeah. I know there's like we're not going after like, oh, it's $100,000. It's substantial money that we would be losing out on that we want to at least try to fight for. So, >> and by and large, the history of this district during my time here, it's been mostly um commercial and industrial kinds of things. It's not been residential unless somebody's home is valued at a million dollars and they're saying it's valued at 250,000 or something of that ilk. It's kind of how that's been my experience. Yeah, these are

129these are all three of these are >> commercial commercial. >> Okay. Um, so we'll go one at a time. I'll take a motion to approve agenda item 9G. >> Any comments, questions? >> Mr. B. >> Yes. >> Mr. B. >> Yes. >> Mr. Antos. >> Yes. Rose. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lauderdale. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. Thank you. Uh, accept a motion to approve 9H. >> Second, third. >> Uh, any comments, discussion on 9H? Again, this is another property valuation challenge. Hearing none, call the vote, please. >> Mr. Funk, >> yes. >> Mr. Yes. >> Mr. Antos, >> yes. Mr. Becker, >> yes. >> Mr. Lauderdale, >> yes. >> Motion carries. And finally, 9. Uh, third resolution regarding property value. challenges. >> Somebody else. >> Any comments, discussion, questions? Hearing none, please call. >> Mr.

130>> Yes. >> Mr. Antos, >> yes. >> Mr. Ero, >> yes. >> Mr. Funk, >> yes. >> Mr. L. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. Thank you. >> All right. Uh, we do have a few items to address in executive session uh this evening. Thank you all for coming. I accept the motion to go into executive session at 7:37. >> Second. >> I wanted that one. >> Mr. F. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lauderdale. >> Yes. >> Mr. Zoot. >> Yes. >> Mr. Antos. >> Yes. Mr. >> Yes. Just for purposes of the record. Uh this will be to uh discuss uh item number one or exception number one for the executive session which is the appointment employment dismissal discipline promotion. demotion or compensation of the public employee or the investigation or charges of complaints against the

131public employee or regulated individual unless such person request a public hearing. So that is the reason for the executive session. Thank you. >> Don't believe it's going to be very long. Chad, you can stay. You don't have to stay because they're more on. >> Thanks guys. Good night.