001what you've been waiting for. >> It's my favorite. >> It's the reason why you serve on the board. >> That's right. There's actually a little truth. As Jim says, they're not many perks, so take the >> take the ones that they come. >> I got no shame using that. >> The parking spots are actually way more. >> I would agree. >> Although I like being farther away. >> Yeah. You didn't see out there. >> What do you What do you see? That's great. >> Oh, thank you. >> I just I just remember. >> Appreciate it. >> Does anybody else need one? You lost your >> I had it on my book bag and it fell off. >> What? >> I probably could use that. >> I had my NASA one too. That one fell off.
002I super glued this one on so it can't go off. >> So total NASA solution. >> That's right. Shannon, >> more bonding. >> Definitely overthought. >> Shannon will not be here. She's moving Josie into or moved into uh University. She's going to be a rocket. >> Cool. All right. We'll call meeting order at 601. >> Mr. Robson. >> Mr. Earro >> here. >> Mr. Funk >> here. >> Mrs. Newman. >> Mr. Perez >> here. >> I aliance 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 everybody. Get right into our administrative reports. Uh, Mrs. Cyanica emailed me. She could not be here, but she sent me a report and once it opens, I will
003share it with you. uh PTA council is uh shaping up to have a great year. Membership dues have increased a little bit as a result of national and Ohio PTA uh dues increasing. Um as to the units, uh early childhood PTA membership uh is at 23. They've got some exciting events coming up. Uh play day at the Village Green Park. Uh oh, an adult event at Red Red Wagon Brewery. That'll be fun. Um, and their annual Theory Queen membership drive is going on right now, I think. So, very cool. Uh, Falls Lennox, uh, 131 members. Very good. Uh, their current theme is become a superhero with the PTA. Uh, they're welcoming back new staff members. U fixing up the hydration station. They're also hosting a breakfast next week for the staff as well. So, that's
004cool. uh office PTA uh led by Mr. Misella current membership is 80. Uh they're doing a stock the lounge after Labor Day and they're still looking for some new ideas and getting their membership numbers up. Uh middle school PTA 65 members uh fall fundraiser kicking off. They'll be selling dog treats. Uh, and they're working with on setting a date with the monsters for a fundraiser for the at the hockey game. So, uh, and then high school PTA 61 members uh, fundraising efforts going on right now with uh, several local businesses and they'll be doing a staff welcome back >> Monday. >> And it's 6:03 p.m. according to Mr. Phone. Um, Tara, let's see, Tara Cause and Seth Fields are new presidents for uh, ECC and uh, the early childhood. So, welcome to them. So, thank
005you to Joy for sending that. Any questions about PTA, please direct them to Mrs. Hank. >> All right, Mrs. Walker. anything interesting happening in Flores other than >> other than an unfortunate plumbing incident. Um well we got to tour uh their new facility which is coming along quite nicely. It's quite impressive and it you know it's all about automated manufacturing. It'll be a robotics area automation engineering section. Um it's on schedule and they claim on budget and I told them I was going to hold that to that comment but um the other looking at doing is adding they have a veterinarian assistant assistance program but they're looking at vet tech now um which is actually requires an associates degree so they're been talking with learning county community college to because I gather it's in high
006demand and a lot of the programs like at that at TRC are generally full adding a program at Polaris will probably start as an adult program but that's um in the works. And the latest big thing is they have begun now that they've hired a new assistant superintendent the herculean task of going through all policies. So, you know, with Miola and um that's about it. >> Cool. Thank you. Questions, comments? >> Thank you, Mrs. Walker. Dr. Zeller. >> Oh, sorry. I also have the financials should anybody have any interest in seeing them. I forgot to mention that. And I also have the percentage numbers of population by each school. Should you be interested? We're the lowest percentage at 32% of our population. Strongs will finally beat us. They're at 35%. >> That does not does
007that that does not include satellites. >> Yeah, this is on >> Okay. on campus junior senior program. >> Yeah, the actual junior senior programs is 49%, Brooklyn is 80%. >> Fair view's 40%, North Homestead's 46%, we're 32% and strong is 35%. Pop and most of their programs are are full as usual. >> Cool. Thank you, Dr. Z. Good summer, busy summer. Um, I don't know if anyone's had a chance to go to the transportation center and see the paving that took place, but um, it's just a way better environment. It's night and day. Um, so that was that was fun to see and glad that project's done. Um, as far as instructional staff, you talked with Dr. Lloyd earlier today. Really excited about our new group. Just seems like a really strong, energetic group. um
008excited to see what they're going to get done throughout the year. We're fully staffed on the instructional side, which is uh nice. On the classified side, we do have some openings that um have honestly just sprung up in the past couple of days. We've had some people who uh have resigned but never told us they were resigning. So, we're going to have some posting going out for like a bunch of recess monitors and food service things about cleaners that uh food service as well. Cool. Questions, comments? Brian. Thank you, Brian. Dr. G is not here. Mr. Robson. So, we just uh July was the first month of the of the new fiscal year. So, although it was positive, um let's not get too excited in in month one. We got 11 more ahead of us.
009So, um the the the report packet that's out there, this is based on uh fiscal year 26 uh projections were based on what was submitted back in May. We're currently in the process of updating everything, you know, with uh the budget bill that was passed that included a provision in there that changed how and when forecasts are to be submitted. So, rather than November and May, it's now October and April. Why? I have no idea. Don't know what that does, but that was a change. Um, and and and now the requirement is a three-year forecast as opposed to a five-year forecast, which I think uh doesn't really do us justice. My recommendation and what I'll do while I'm here is I'm going to continue to do a five-year forecast. I think, you know, years four
010and five is where we really see the trending uh occurring and and what could happen. And you want to be proactive as soon as you can. So, I I want to see that uh how things look. So, we'll continue to do it that way, but we'll just submit what's required to be submitted if that makes sense. If there's no objections to that, I I prefer that. Um, so if we look at uh if we look at July on the revenue side and we collected 121,000 more than we did for that same period last year, that's all real estate. Okay? So, that that first advance that came in was was more than it was uh the prior year. um expenses for the month uh were $186,500 less uh than the prior year and that's that's driven
011uh from from capital purchases that we did uh in July of last year that we forgo is that a term for we foregoed that we didn't do that we didn't have those purchases this year so um our expenses are a little bit less so again if we look at July of this year compared to July of last year uh we're off to a little better start Um, but again, we'll see what the next 11 months bring. When we come back for our September meeting and we look at August data, everything's going to be updated. We're working on that forecast right now. We've got the revenue side down. We just want to shore up the expense side and make sure we're good with what that's uh showing us. central office, central admin office. Yeah, I'm sure
012you've seen u they're playing in the mud right now and and it's a little little sloppy out there, but it's good to see progress being made. Um and I was surprised actually I was surprised that they were out there today, but but they were they continue to work. OSBA conference, we talked a little bit about this at the last meeting. I went ahead and registered all of us uh just for placeh orders because registrations drive how many rooms you can get. Uh so I wanted to make sure you know with uh uh November elections coming up uh that we at least had the potential to house everybody in there. We'll clean that up. That happens I think the middle of September. The extravaganza continues and I think my comment was Barnum and Bailey um are
013leading that circus from Incit 10th this year and that'll be another fun fun process. Current activities um hey this is a busy time of the year. You know we've got uh the eight the August 30th pay is the last pay on the remaining contract balances from fiscal year 25. So, we pay those out. Then we scramble um and get everything loaded uh for the 9:15 pay, which will be the first pay of of the new contract schedule. Uh we're in good shape with that. Um we've worked hard with Meta, uh Tim, Kelly, Holly Shar, um in ways to uh prepare those files and then upload them. Um so we're not sitting there one by one going through every contract that's out there. It's very nice. That's that's one thing that I really like about EFP
014is our ability to work outside the system and pass that data through. We just completed our Medicaid uh audit uh which is actually for fiscal year 24. So once that audit is completed, they turn that into uh the state and then the state will release any remaining reimbursements that they have for us for fiscal year 24. in fiscal fiscal year 23 that resulted in aboutund I think $130,000 in Medicaid reimbursements. So it's a good process to go through and we we typically benefit from that gap the gap process has started. So we're working with Julian and Groove and providing all the documentation to convert our our our cash basis records over to to GAP and then the state this week reached out to us as well. So we're working with the state auditors to uh
015providing that that documentation. The interesting thing with the state is you know there's a lot of preliminary work that goes on. We update you know control narratives and you know they'll they'll start doing their sampling but they really can't start the full audit until Julian Groove is done uh because that's what their audit is. They audit those financial statements for us. That report doesn't get filed until the end of November you know. So, the real work for uh for the state begins, you know, that that that week after Thanksgiving, but they they should be prepped and ready to go leading into that time. Um you'll see on the agenda an athletic transfer. Um we we'll we're going to, you know, based on the amount that's approved, you know, we'll just transfer as needed up to
016that amount. That should get us through the winter. Uh, and then we come back like we we typically do in and uh, you know, January and and do the same thing and get us through the end of the year. Um, what was I going to say? I think that's it. Any questions? >> Right. Thank you, Brett. >> How many more of these you have left? >> County work sessions. you don't cancel, >> right? >> Dr. Lloyd, >> just a couple things. Um, uh, there's a lot going on. Obviously, this year we're planning for uh some pretty big things. One is the completion of the facilities plan to bring that to um the board. I met with uh Heath and Kim and Julian and also spoke to Allerton. Brad, I can't remember if you were there
017or not. we may have been on vacation. Um it it was a just a preliminary meeting anyway, but the plan is uh additional community engagement from now until um December and then getting that wrapped up and getting it to the board in February or March. I recognize that the people around the table may look a little bit different, but that that needs to happen by March. Um for sure. Uh you know, we've done a lot of uh good engagement kinds of things with folks. Um, and uh, we have a couple more I think that we want to do more of like an openhouse. Here's make a a brief presentation and then allow people to provide feedback to uh, what we think is going to be the recommendation to the board. Um, or at least this
018is what the group came up with. The board doesn't necessarily need to adopt the plan or anything like that, but just recognize really the work that that uh, that group did. So that's that. Um would also at some point I again recognize that the table may look a little bit different but getting on the calendar a board retreat in February or March potentially just to um kind of bring the people up to speed of what's going on um and what we have uh you know coming ahead given that there's going to be some turnover there. Um, we opened school with uh Josh Peach as our speaker and um I thought that he he was well received by our staff. He has a really good really good message um of how really how public school kind
019of saved his life and the impact that different people had on him. um from bus drivers to custodians to the principal to teachers and I got a lot of really good feedback from from our staff particularly our transportation staff because he had them stand up in the very beginning and they felt >> value of that. Yeah. And that wasn't I mean that that's all him and we didn't say I Cindy Saranni asked me today whether or not like did you ask him to do that and I'm like no he did that because you know they deserve it and that's that's something that he did. So that was really neat. Um and he any thoughts or any feedback that you've I talked with Bob during returning student graduation and what that checklist look like if anybody
020saw any of those things. But House Bill 8 and all of the different things that were required to uh provide notice on um made those opening screens, those consent screens pretty interesting and kind of long. There's a lot of I give permission for these sorts of things to happen. Um and if you remember um there's also a lot related to uh um some of the digital resources that we use and some of those companies not willing to sign um disclosure agreements. The larger companies, you know, said we're not, you know, we're not going to do that. And so it was just simply providing notice to parents that they're not providing those kinds of things. So we know what their data what they're going to do with the dating. They don't do anything allegedly nefarious um
021with it, but you know, it may be that somebody would say, "Well, I don't want my student to use, you know, whatever Quizlet or something like that." And um there are some things that we're able to provide alternative um kind of assignments and and resources for, and there are others that simply we can't because they're core parts of the curriculum. We had a couple parents contact us for further information about it, and we're working through those. So, I just wanted you uh to be aware of that. Um there's a contract for the board's consideration uh with K12 um who's the search team that is going to work with us to find uh a new uh person that uh would work at the central office that you guys uh hire. Um it's awkward. you know, um
022Phil and I and I wasn't sure if you were going to talk about this later on, but uh had a meeting with um with them the other day just to kind of begin to walk through the process. We're sending information to them. I did an email introduction of the two individuals who are working with K12 and Brett because Brett's going to need to get them some financial information, um contractual kinds of things. I sent him a copy of the admin handbook to really begin to prep with that. Um, we were very fortunate to get uh Mr. Robson whenever we got him. Given the status of where we were financially, we are a 180 from where that was and I think we're in good financial state to be able to attract a high quality person that's
023going to continue the good work in that office. So, I just wanted to mention that that's you'll get additional information and you know, Phil is in every email. I'm going to do whatever it is that you guys tell me to do through um through Phil, but I think they're they need somebody on the daily to uh to contact with to do those things. So, um >> we have a timeline. >> They're going to create all of those all of those things. >> We need like a little bit advanced notice to >> lock in those days. >> Oh, yeah. Sure. >> Yeah. And if I could just put a quick comment on that, I I think very highly of K12 and I was very happy to see Todd was was on that team. Todd Pster just
024retired from Orange >> from Orange. Yeah, he's respective. He's got a a wide network. >> Well, we're not getting Doris or Dolores back or whatever. >> We're not getting Dolores back. No, we are not. >> And she was fine. >> Is Is D still active? >> I don't know. >> I have not seen her in a while. >> She was fine. I um I I did some internet creeping on time. >> She looked a little she I mean my gosh, look >> right. >> Results picked those things up. She did you >> I said never again. >> Yeah. >> But to Brett's point, I mean Todd was I think president of OASBO and a few other different things. So he's got a good network. So Chris Moore from K12 gave us a good dude, gave
025us a good team. Randy Boroff is the other guy who's a former um superintendent as well. So they're kind of tag teaming that Randy rides shotgun because he's a superintendent and Todd's the one that's going to really be like the dude for us. So we are putting all that information together and whenever I get something, you know, I will send that out to all of you guys. We are ahead of the game. They said we were in good position at this particular point in time and we will continue to be in a good position because we absolutely need to be. Um so that's that. Um I toured all the buildings today. uh first day of school. Um buses ran mostly on time. People looked extremely happy and well-dressed and engaged and other there's always some
026interesting things that happened at Falls Knox and how that goes. And if um somebody made a joke like yeah whose bus was late? Well, Miss Sheila's bus was a little bit late because you know Miss Sheila Michila is like probably gets out and hugs every parent who's like at the bus stop because that's who Michela is. Um but by and large um uh entry was fine. I didn't hear anything about dismissal. I didn't get any phone calls from from parents or anybody else. So I think that we're we're solid there. So um you know it's a process uh particularly whenever um it's the first day of school and kindergarten start. I didn't go to the ECC. Preschool was there. Preschool certainly matters but kindergarten goes there on Tuesday. So um that's whenever we'll be fulfilled.
027um tech director replacement. You guys know that Joe is um is retiring and so Brian and I uh once the dust settles, we've informally talked about how we're going to go about doing that. And there are, as I said to you, um in writing, there are a few different ways that you can do that. And so we're still trying to talk that through of whether or not we're going to hire somebody who's more on the educational side of things and consult and um do purchase service contracts with the overseeing of the more technical side of um you know of our uh servers and such things. So we're working that through. Just wanted you guys to uh to know that that's there. You have a people bench contract that's on there um as well. This is
028year three for that. We're going to delve a little bit deeper into um working people bench and Brian and I are going to be working on um more metrics to take a look at sick days and and other kinds of things just to see if we can do anything like who takes days off when and maybe begin to explore why that happens. Um and then uh we'll continue to do the resilience survey and then we'll add a cultural piece uh to that as well for all the different departments in the buildings too. So, we're excited to continue to work for them. So, um with them, I should say. Uh that's all I have for right now. I know there are other things that we're probably going to talk about later on um at the uh
029towards the end of the meeting for the board's discussion, but I can answer your questions if they have any. >> Um I just have a quick question. So, at the Polaris meeting, a couple of the other board members brought up the new cell phone rules. >> Okay. and they were talking about some new interpretation about bell-to-bell and some were taking a very harsh view that that was all day. Um, which I didn't think that was uh the thought behind that. But I was just curious what our it is. It's interesting because it's gotten to be a a pretty political kind of thing. Um, I can tell you this that you know you you guys approved a policy before. We're going to have to um update that policy and until I guess I get a very
030firm directive from um I don't know the governor or or the superintendent or whoever the executive director is for the ODU. Um, students students do not use cell phones when in the classroom. I mean, you can go in every classroom and Jeeoff will tell you too that there's a there's there's like a little caddy when you come in and watches and phones are supposed to go in there. It's one of the things that we started to talk about was watches because we don't want people sending text messages or other things like that during the course of instruction and they can't take their phone or anything with them whenever they leave to go to the restroom. Um, I think that it's a pretty hard line to say you're not to have a I don't think that
031that's the job of school. And personally, I don't think that's the job of government. >> Well, it sounds like some schools are talking about not allowing it at lunch, >> all those things. They're talking about that like like the four minutes in between class. >> I guess if five board members directed me to to put that policy in place, we could do that. But I think that would be a mistake. >> I mean, I sat in there going, I think you're going a little harsh. We have to do that. be very effective within the context of the classroom and the teachers will tell you that that it's made a big difference and there's less distractions. Um, kids should be able to be trusted and and monitored to be able to use that device during lunch
032um during study hall in here and then during the times whenever they transition, but other than that they shouldn't be in kindergarten through fifth grade. Um, they do not use cell phones. And one of the things that we're working with, I spoke to Mr. ect today was about um digital watches and things because it's one of the things they didn't really take too big of a look at that they're now going to talk about. So I know Don talked about that with students today and um you know we're working through that. I don't want students to have digital watches where they're sending text messages in fourth and fifth grade or using them for those kinds of things during the classroom. So we're working through that. I'm Yeah. I just don't I you know >> Yeah.
033I didn't think that's the way we were going. The >> hard You're right. Some are >> There are definitely schools that are discussing that. >> Yeah. >> And some some would say that that's the way that the rule is supposed to be. I I would disagree with that. I don't think it's anything that we're going to go to prison over or I I think that we reserve the right the board does to put a policy in place and administration administrates that policy to make certain that we're you know >> well it's a policy admin you wouldn't be able to administer it trying to you could not >> in between classroom changes >> yeah and and when you know we're just tell parents not to buy their kids cell phones then you know they force us
034to like be bad people I think we're good where we are it's >> I mean they were trying like a couple of the schools they were talking about some new interpretation. Well, I haven't heard about that interpretation. >> That's what some were saying. I disagreed with that interpretation with some of my colleagues on my who probably were the same board members that you heard from in Strongville and other places. Yeah. Okay. That's a good question. >> We have a new SRO at the Opus Middle School. >> We do. And um >> I think that I forgot his name. >> Alex. Yeah. So, um we'll put out a presser on that. He sent out an email like on his own and said, "Hey, hi, I'm Alex." And then like his whole bio and everything. So, which
035is great. You know, he um >> was a retirement. >> He's a former Marine. Yeah. Deman retired. >> Yeah. And and we'll miss Gary. He was such a good dude. Did such a great job for us. And so, um this guy seems uh like really good, too. So, we're really excited. He's a younger >> um person, too. And I think he's also an Falls resident. Okay. >> Believe. So, >> yeah. >> Cool. Anything else for Jim? >> Thank you, Jim. >> Alex Malloy. >> Malloy. Alex. Thank you. Uh, hearing of the public. Anyone like to address the board this evening? Hearing. Thank you for attending. Moving on to the consent agenda. Uh I will take a motion to approve the items in consent agenda four, five, and six. >> Any questions, discussion regarding any of
036these items? Okay, hearing none. Take a vote. >> Mr. Funk, >> yes. >> Mrs. Walker, >> yes. >> Mr. Perez, >> yes. >> Mrs. Newman, >> yes. >> Mr. Recker, >> yes. Motion carries. >> Uh, moving moving on to agenda item 8A. Uh, this is to approve the leave of absence of a false par profofessional who's recovering from shoulder surgery as a result of an on the job injury sustained at Paulox Primary School. >> So moved. Yeah, >> This says through October 6th, but she's going to go back after Labor Day. So, this is a this is a very conservative leave. She'll be back. >> We play conservative because she just never >> telling you insider information. >> What's that? I do have insider information on particular topics. Yes, >> she's doing pretty pretty well.
037>> Yeah, I know. So, we're thinking >> we call it. >> Okay. >> Mr. Funk, >> yes. >> Mrs. Newman, >> yes. >> Mr. Perez, >> yes. >> Mrs. Walker, >> yes. M >> abstain. Thank you all. Uh, item 8B, a very generous donation. uh by the Newman Crest Family Fund towards the cyber security curriculum. And I would like to hear more about this because I learned about this when it showed up on the agenda. >> Sure. >> Given that you are a Newman >> FKA me. >> Um by the way, I had mouth surgery. So if I look like a clown or like I had a stroke, I >> although I could say that campaign was getting out of hand. the other guy. >> David, right? >> Um, so, uh, as I'm winding down
038my tenure as a board member, um, I always knew that, you know, I wanted to make a donation to the school. Um, because doing this gig has just been one of the honors of my lifetime. So, um, I knew that, uh, in talking with David, my husband, and I said, "Look, I want it to be about curriculum, not, you know, I don't want it to be the electric bill or they nothing like that. I I wanted, you know, a donation that would directly impact students." And so, I reached out to Jim and we started chatting and he's like, "Well, the cyber security thing is is going to happen." and it's a thing and it was curriculum based and I'm like we're all in. So, um this is the first of the donation before my last
039board meeting in December. There'll be the second part of the donation which is the same size. So, um we'll put a significant investment into what Jeff is doing with those kiddos. And um it's not uh I don't care how they spend the money as long as it's for that. We don't care. >> Uh we just >> we'll let you know how we do that. Just saying so you know >> if I buy that it's going to pay the electric bill. Yeah. >> I I'll I'll take it back. >> You'll have to pay me back. Um but no, like um we're just super excited um to do something and um we're in a position to do that. And I I said to David, if if I if I did it right, what was the better way
040to do it? Should I have given like five grand as a donation every year that I was a board member, right? And that sort of would have added up to this or this and right. So I never gave five grand a year. Um, so I'm really excited. Um, this is one of the coolest things I've like like I know a lot of people who donate um money and we've um it's been a journey for David and I to figure out like how do you do this? And so we have uh this donor advised fund to the Cleveland Foundation and we that's how we um administer siphold donations like this is through that. And um so a lot of people donate to things that they're passionate about and that they're directly involved with. And I'm like,
041it dawned on me like at the beginning of the show, I'm like, "Yeah, I'm going to give it to the Homestead Fall City Schools because we're going to get out every day trying to figure out how to do stuff and the state's not helping us." And I'm like, "Well, I'll help out in my little way." And so this is my >> Well, this is uh not a little way. This is a lot of way. It's it's it's it's the right way for us. And um I don't ever want to discourage anybody for donating. You know, just because I could donate this amount doesn't mean that a lesser donation is not important. >> Every donation is important. Um David and I just have happen to be able to do what we're doing. And so um I
042look forward to seeing the successes of the cyber security. I'm super excited that Jeff is doing this. Like every I was telling Jim before um because he was showing us the room. I said I've known Jeff for a long time and like I'm not surprised that you're doing this like it's not I know that you were you retired and you're a rehire, but you did this because you're always wanting to learn and new stuff and a new challenge and who wouldn't want to support that? So I'm super excited. I hope like you spent some of the money to trick out the room so it looks really cool. >> Yeah, we'll be cool. >> That's like that's fine. That's hopefully. But again, it I thought do whatever you want. Here's the money. Just put it to
043that and you figure it out. So, >> um Jeff and I talked today. I told him that you know that this was on there. So, I don't know if you want to just say I know you have nothing prepared and it's okay, but >> you don't have to say anything. >> Can you say anything? >> Well, I I mean it's so generous. I'm I'm super excited about it. I'm super excited to put it towards kids. I'm really trying to work with people to figure out how I can I mean, it's more than I could ask for, but I want to make sure I spend it right and spend it for kids. And, you know, it's it's not going to, you know, give me the top-of-the-line computer. I want to put it towards kids and, you
044know, the kids. I want the kids to walk in that room and be excited about it. and um and I think I hope when they leave they'll you know change a few of their lives and they're going to go in cyber security or >> so he's been he's been putting together a list he and Richard have talked a lot about that is that Richard is on the advisory >> board um for that and uh there's a particular furniture vendor as well that we're looking to uh to work with we can also bring in Paradigm to help us because we could with with resources like this geared to a particular program, you could make something that um you they they're going to have an outstanding teacher. There's no doubt about that. And Jeff's ability to deliver
045on the curriculum is, you know, he could do it with bubble gum and rubber bands. But to be able to um provide um a really cool pre-p profofessional kind of workplace um will be attracting kids into the program and because of your donation, we'll have resources to uh to do that and we will figure out some way. I know you don't want it, but we're going to pay homage to the Newman and Crest family for for that. It will work that >> but uh you know after this is all done. I did a crappy job trying to take him in there and explain the vision for things. I you know, just based on today, but >> added more stuff. You'll you'll let us know. >> We've been communicating over the summer. He's super excited. He's
046got a list and so we're like, we're ready to to rock, >> you know, and and for the also for the board. Jim invited me um to the day that Paradigm came is Paradigm, right? That and uh and the advisory committee and we chatted about how the curriculum would go and I was able to have like a million questions, which I did, you guys know me. And it was great. And um I think that Paradigm appreciated the I was I mean I went because I knew I was going to invest money to the program, but Paradigm just knew I was a schoolboard member showing up. And I think uh they indicated that they were like super excited I was there and that I asked thoughtful questions like, "Hey, like this feels like this changes quickly.
047is your curriculum going to be good in six months from now. We're going to have to spend more money, right? And so it was good. It was great. It was it was one of the best days as a board member attending that that event. So yeah. >> Cool. >> Wow. Well, um >> don't know what to say other than thank you. >> You don't have to say anything more, so it's all good. And thank you to David and thank you to to the girls and your whole family for for making this investment back into a place you've already invested so much of your time and resources. So, >> thank you. >> No pressure, Justin, but you want to start ponying up for stuff around >> and say, "Oh, apparently it's $5,000 a year." Yeah, that's
048not >> it's not that's not established like a >> it felt sorry to think of it that way. I was like, "Oh, well, if I would have just eaten the elephant a little bit at a time and then they was like, yeah, but it wouldn't you would that would just lost the is impact money. Any gift is we would accept with >> 100% gratitude. But this will be make a difference impact money because you get it blasted one time and it will >> it will make an impact. I can guarantee >> money came in 2020. I'm not sure they couldn't have paid guaranteed it wasn't paying the electrical >> that's a really good point too. Yeah, we may have or partial salary. I mean >> we had our issues payroll. I was like, "Yeah, no."
049>> Right. But let's pass the hat, right? >> Awesome. Thank you, Holly. >> Yeah. >> Uh work session September 4th. I'll flag that uh the guys from K12 are going to be here to kick off this project with us just to start getting some uh getting some feedback from us about kind of what we expect for the search, what we want for the candidates. Um and then give us an overview of their process and the timeline and all the the project the scope of work coming. So, they will be here on the 4th. Um, it'll probably be a fairly late day otherwise, but it'll be a good excuse to see them. So, and I definitely want you to be here for that, too. I mean, you probably would have by default, but I want you
050to be a part of that process while you're while you're still here. So, uh, and then regular meeting has been, uh, doodled officially to the 30th. So, everybody double check your calendars. This was one of the more challenging doodles. >> Yeah, I apologize that that was the one day it was everybody was >> that was literally that was the only one >> and those notices have already gone out we're all set for that >> awesome >> okay I will uh open up to general discussion which normally is not the place for anything heady in any way but craft should be this evening so you want to kick off >> yeah I mean I there's a lot of different ways that we can that we can go and and do this. And so, um, you know,
051just, uh, and with transparency, you know, we have, um, we allow students to paint parking spaces. You guys know that. Um, most schools do that. Some schools have a pre-approval process. We do not have a pre-approval process. We will have a pre-approval process um, next year. And so, um, you have a, you know, somewhat of a of a message on there that could potentially cause, um, issues for for some and could potentially be, um, a disruption. And so, I've kind of reviewed with you what it is that we've done thus far and certainly we it's Leo and Pam, they have the relationships with um, students. And to to date, um, that message has not been um, removed. And I would guess that it it might not be um at this particular point in time. I
052mean, we'll you know, there's only so many times you can say, "Will you please do this?" And they go, "Yeah, we'll do that. Yeah, we'll do that." And then it doesn't it's not removed. Um so, you know, that kind of I had a number of different questions that come to me and I thought that this could be a a forum to discuss that and some of it is, you know, what and Mrs. Newman asked a lot of you some of these questions of uh what groups affiliated with religion do we have and what's the district what can the district do and what can it do so we can kind of explore that a little bit um as well and any of the other things that go along with that which could potentially be controversial issues
053and how you deal with those in the curriculum and the good thing is I I've tried to put some things together and put them in a folder and share it with you guys and there's the good thing is the board does have policy related to those things. What it doesn't have or should it have a policy in my opinion related to how to what what you paint on a high school parking space that really ought to be more in um you know probably in a student handbook and those things. I would say this after after further review with our attorney. Um, a student wearing a t-shirt that says free Palestine or free the hostages is different than a student paying a district-owned parking space that's rented by them for $40 annually. Free Palestine or free
054the hostages. That's a different kind of set of circumstances. I think from what um Eric, you know, Johnson from Wesson Herd said to me that the district could it does have legal standing if it wanted to to paint over that message and simply say that like that's district owned property and based on the handbook of what's in the handbook um not what the draft that I sent to him that we would be um mostly in the right but there's also you know room for Um, I mean, anybody can sue anybody for anything and particularly for something like this. It's a lightning rod. Uh, and so, >> but the message itself is a lightning rod. >> The message itself is a lightning rod. It is. I agree. I I the message Hold on a second. The
055message itself can be a lightning rod. And so, the way >> and it's it it hasn't been right. So, it has not been thus far. And so, are we like, okay, well, it's been a week. Nothing's happened. I there are no bottles. >> I will say this that based on um my discussion what I've read and and based on my discussion with uh Eric from Western Herd was um we anticipating a disruption to education is not grounds for removing a message and and um I don't want to say erasing free speech or taking a message away nor is one instance of a particular message either. Um, so let's just say that one person may come forward and say, "Hey, you know, I find that to be offensive." That in and of itself probably wouldn't be
056and this is like you guys. I mean, this is this is constitutional law kind of stuff. And so there's a lot of gray in that regard. Um, I think it, you know, you could I could paint a picture of what a disruption to a learning environment would absolutely look like when you would say take that t-shirt off or turn it inside out or we're painting over that because it's now a disruption and taking resources for us to have to go and make it right again or do whatever. But the mere presence of it at this point without having any structures in place which this is a lesson learned um we you know it's really great at this particular point in time. If I could do anything that I wanted to do, um, I would remove
057it because I I don't want those kinds of messages when you come in. And it could be free Palestine, free the hostages, put whatever it is you want there that's out on social media right now because we live in a in a pretty polarized political climate. The purpose of the painting in the parking spots and you guys know this is to be a source of pride um for kids to you know sort of describe themselves to be witty and funny and things and you know putting you the crescent moon and the the star of David and the you know Christian cross all those things are okay that's you know freedom of religion to express you know who you are those things are all okay other things that's when it starts to go down a road
058that wasn't intended to do that in the first But to say that it is disruptive or it might be disruptive um you know it's great. So >> so so that's what so so I'll stop now and I'll let you guys can >> I I I want to hear from I just want to maybe frame this a little bit. Uh I want to hear from everybody because I know we are all going to have an opinion on this on two things. Number one, what to do about next year and the future, right? And I think that's going to be the easier. >> Yeah. We'll make it water type. >> What are we going to do? What are we going to do about next year? And then what are we going to do about this? Okay. So,
059this break. So, let's go in order of seniority. >> Mrs. >> I guess what I'm hearing is is essentially we we don't want a loss. So, we're just going to leave it up because they're not going to paint over it. That's clear, right? Which is what we were hoping they would do and they're not. And so we just don't want a lawsuit. So that's where we are. >> That kind of what >> I mean I certainly am going to go with the will of the board with I don't know if I would quite frame it that way. I mean I could go down >> that's what it sounds like. >> I could make a T-chart of reasons why I would I would want to remove it and reasons why I'm not going to remove it.
060>> Right. >> And I'm not going to remove it. You know, I don't know if it's necessarily a lawsuit. I'm not fishing for for things. We certainly have been sued before. That's not a problem. I think that it's uh when you start to go down that road, um you you would then call different uh groups who are outside of this community into this community who do not who are going to make a spectacle of Homestead Falls Schools. And I don't want us to be made a spectacle of because I value the viewpoints of the people that are here. I don't like that it says that. It bothers me. You know what I mean? I don't know if I'm Yeah. you know, I don't I don't like it, but there's a lot of things that I
061don't like. Um, but it's not disruptive at this point, and I do not want those groups that, you know, who the groups are, the ACLU and the Jew and uh Anti-Defamation League coming in and fighting over a parking spot here, that to me is >> So, if it does become disruptive, and I don't know if it will, then would we do something? >> I would. I mean, I have the statutory authority granted by policy and by the Ohio Revised Code to be able to act whenever something becomes a disruption to the environment of school. And at that point, I would and yeah, at that point, cameras may come and there may be a lawsuit, but I I'm not going to go, well, it's gone because I'm anticipating a disruption. Maybe we're going to be a
062place where it's not going to be a disruption. Maybe we're gonna be a place where it's there and people are just going to shake their head at it. I don't I don't know yet until until it plays out. But no, >> it's not for us. And I'm sorry to interrupt. >> That's okay. >> And >> obviously I'm I'm trying to look at this like so uh >> how they understand >> objectively. >> It's not for us to determine if it's an offensive statement or not. So by right so so like uh for me personally it's an offensive statement and it's an embarrassment to that it's there that our school district is >> that it's there on our school district right be embarrassed for any school district but it's mine you know but but We But
063it's not for us to decide that if it's offensive or not. Am I Am I Do you understand why? >> Yeah. You know, I I'll defer to a lawyer in the room on like what does offensive mean? And it's different in you know, a private um place versus a prek12 educational environment. Offensive is uh you can't have that. But there's like what does offensive mean? And we can clearly like you can't stand up in the middle of class and drop fb bombs because we have a code of conduct that says you're not allowed to do those kinds of things. But you could stand up in class and you could say something like free the hostages or whatever because it's technically probably more of a political statement than it is an offensive statement. Although it could
064be you could get a double word score and have it be politically offensive. You know what I mean? Um that's it's a it's a really kind of like gray area as a result of it being offensive because may not offend everyone and if it offends one person maybe if it disrupts one person or two people three people more than that then it's >> disruptive and then I would see that is it needs to be removed. >> Um that's how I that's how I would play it out. >> Mr. Walker. >> Um, well, first of all, I want to say my my concerns are more about getting policy set and how do we do that and, you know, make sure that legal is all involved. I am a little concerned that we have contacted these students
065and families multiple times and they've ignored it. So, I guess I mean I get that we don't really feel like we can go in and paint it over now. So what I'm asking is in that policy going forward, I would certainly want something that says that if you end up painting something that has not been preapproved, we will paint. >> Absolutely. Yeah. We I mean that whatever members are around the table when that happens, it will be it will be that. Yeah. I mean it will be watertight. >> I mean because to some degree I'm a little offended by the fact that they're basically ignoring our request and not having a conversation. >> Yeah. They said that they would and then they they don't and you know there's a there's terminology for like when somebody
066says those >> I would just say because again this is what it is obviously we got caught without a polic without a set a solid policy. So I'm just saying going forward I would like it clearly stated that we will approve these and we will paint over anything that has not been >> it was you know um good intentions right >> and it's nothing with the message I mean it's you know >> yeah there's all kind there's there's other things I think process for me at this point There are times I think when Leo has been out there when somebody thinks that they're going to paint a Confederate flag and that's a no-go and that's they don't do that and you know it's >> why is the Confederate because they were in the act of
067doing it. I know that times ago >> I think that no it's not let me finish. >> That does not make sense to me. So if an administrator is out there in the when it's being done and they're not out there when it's being done because those of you who've seen it, >> they come sunrise to sunset, right? Or in the middle of the night whenever that I think happened or was in the process of happening, it was like you're not doing that, not allowing me to put that out there. um you know the administration who is in this high school doesn't agree with that message thereafter because it calls attention to to certain things that um it doesn't mean that we can't talk about them but it doesn't mean that we're going to advertise
068them on our parking spaces that people rent from us. So so it's it is >> don't think that like one is okay and the other one's not because that is not the case. >> You have anything else? >> No. Again, my at this point I'm just more concerned about >> we will have a watertight policy that the board will have two readings on >> the policy and all that. >> Yeah, we'll have that >> as far as whether >> I mean if it becomes an issue if it becomes disruptive that's conversation we have at a later date. >> Yeah, I would let you know I'm not sure unless it's an outside >> I'm not sure too many students are going to make an issue of it. I think I don't think it becomes an issue
069until somebody maybe possibly outside of the school district sees it. >> We don't have any issues in the school district. So, uh either kids know about it because or they know of it because they're on social media. >> Yeah. I don't think it's really entered in that environment, but watch >> and even during the day they're kind of hard to see the spots because cars are sitting on them, right? >> It is. You can't really see them. Yeah. I mean, >> I'm not sure, you know, if it becomes disruptive and if it gets to the >> Friday night football potentially could be people tailgating out there, walking around, you know, maybe >> I don't know exactly where the spots are located in the parking lot to be honest. I do know that spots get really
070filled up just from the players in the van getting here so early. So, I again I don't know, but again, if it becomes if somebody notices it, then you just deal with it at the time at this point just because we're kind of on the back end of it. this with this one, >> Mr. Funk. >> Um, so first off, you know, you guys make your policy totally fine with that. I, you know, the reason that they're not changing it is they're kind of daring you to do it yourself. I mean, the whole virtue of a protest is, you know, you can look at all the protests throughout history. It would have been a lot easier for the people that were against what they were protesting for if they would just go quietly. like >>
071right >> you you know Rosa Parks being dragged off a bus and not saying the same thing makes a scene and gets people behind their cause like they're kind of daring you to do something and we look really bad doing it you know you talk about you don't agree with the message like that's the basis of free speech you know >> it is >> and and I stand by their right to say it even if they I don't like what they're saying like we we have the right to say what we want and I feel really good about fostering an environment where they can say what they want we kind of got called with our egg on our we fix it this year. If it becomes disruption, we can step in. But I'm I'm in
072favor of leaving it so it becomes a problem. >> As far as policy going forward, I I would like some type of either verbiage or the spirit of the policy to reflect no political or social activism in our parking spots because then that leaves no wiggle room for area when it comes to these type of issues. Um, political sentiment changes every day depending on the issue, whether it be the Confederate flag or whether it be free Palestine or for the hostages. Um, as far as is now, I'm offended by the message, but as Justin said, it's the essence of free speech. Part of the reason I served uh uphold the constitution and um but in a school setting I not I know that there is not absolute free speech and the question is I have
073is parents have agreed that this should be painted over. We have parents that agree on a whole multiple of issues in our district with subjects, classes, courses, whatever the case may be. And with parental approval, why can't we paint over the parking spots? >> You are you asking me? >> I'm I'm asking you for >> Yeah. I I mean I I my opinion would be um that with the conversations that they've had plus the uh what you have in the code of conduct that you would um be right in the right to be able to paint over that >> would of course >> I I think I mean it doesn't mean that you're not going to have like the circus that would come into town. Um, but I I believe um that you would have
074the ability to be able to do that. Um, and >> you asked my consent to >> check off all of these programs. >> It was verbal. It was verbal consent. It wasn't via email, but it was a verbal consent. That's what um, you know, both Leo and Pamatic spoke to uh, to the mom and stuff. So, yeah. What my promise was it wasn't going to do anything. They would do it. We weren't going to take any action until we got here and we're able to have a discussion with you guys. Um about it. >> Yeah. My my two cents, you know, going forward, I think we should have the the the strongest most uh completely, you know, deferring to LEO policy we can. We, you know, we were facitiously were talking about some other examples
075of things that we also wouldn't want on those parking spaces. So, imagine, imagine there's a kid who lived in Menor their whole life and they just moved into our district and before the game tomorrow night, they go out there and they paint their spot. Go Menor. Right. We wouldn't want that on parking lot. I'm certainly not comparing the two. >> Yeah. >> Issues, right? But in a strong policy going forward, we say you're not painting better on the parking space. You're not painting make America great again. You're not painting tax the rich. You're not painting free Palestine or free the hostages. We don't want that kind the mess that comes with all of those things. >> And I don't have an opinion on I do have this course, you know, and that's not judging the
076opinion of either any of those messages, right? So going forward, I don't we could craft we will craft the policy in a way where this is never an issue. I mean, this is not this is Leo saying, "No, that's way too that's even close to it. We're not doing um so the the options are we we now as a board have deliberated all acknowledged that we didn't have a policy. And by the way, I don't think we should beat ourselves up for not having one. I think this is a victim of your own success kind of issue, right? you know, this is a this is a great place and kids like going to school here and the parents like sending their kids here and the teachers like working here, right? And we talked about that
077ad nauseium. You know, every once in a while you you'd realize that, you know, you might have some gap in your policy because this kind of thing's never come up before and they've always caught the Confederate flag before they started paying it. By the way, hope that's not >> I don't think it's happening like No, it's not like it's a thing like every year. I think just using that as an example. >> So, you know, we didn't have one, now we're going to have one, right? Um, personally, you know, again, I don't I don't love the message either, but uh to make this be the one time we retroactively apply a policy that never existed. You know, this might this might become a disruption and it might become a problem, but we go the other
078way, it will might. I I guess my promise would be I will continue to be in touch with the school administration here and then if it becomes um a disruption then we're going to act. I mean is what we're going to do. >> Oh, I'm sorry. And I want to note the point you made was really interesting because I hadn't thought of that which is I mean if all three is it all three parents or all three sets of parents or whatever we're on board with it. >> Um I I don't know specifically so I don't want to >> No. Yeah. Let us if it got to that point then I think we're kind of to your point in a little different situation >> because >> you know parents make agreements with us all the
079time about what happens to their kids and their education and certainly painting their freaking parking space is a privilege not a right and if all the families come together and say yeah paint it then paint it. I think that's I'm not saying that's >> it doesn't sound like that. >> Not giving you direct that's the situation >> it and maybe it will never be but I think that's worth noting that that would be a very different situation because >> we yeah we don't um I would I'll I'll say that those there's other questions that you ask about the associations that we have. We do have a Muslim student association and there are three students in this parking group that did that. Two of them um don't really come to school a whole lot. one kind
080of does sometimes and think was loosely affiliated loosely affiliated with the Muslim association. I think that uh um I think uh had it been >> I'm sorry. Can you say that so two of the students don't come to school a lot? >> There there's the three students my understanding is that are part of this aren't exactly um they have attendance issues with my understanding. >> So the parking spots won't be >> oh they won't be >> they won't be covered up because they don't come. So again, I I I appreciate everybody's um comments and I agree with everything that um everyone has said. Um, I think that if we did do something, we would uh we would absolutely draw attention to ourselves and uh it would cost us money to to figure it out because
081uh this kind of stuff is intentional and this was uh done for intentional purposes with exactly what is happening. They're they're not coming to school. They're not going to park there. They're not going to fill their spot. And that will be out there for everyone to see. And if that's what we want, then that then that's how it's going to be. I Right. It's very gray. And how do you figure that out? Right. And um it's an it's just unfortunate. >> I don't like it personally. I don't like it. Personally, I think it's offensive. However, I can't get rid of it for those reasons. It needs to be a disruption. And if it's not a disruption, then it's gonna you're going to let it ride. I mean, that's kind of where we're at with it.
082>> And in the future, we'll be able to deal with it by >> pointing to the very clear policy. >> Okay. Well, keep us posted. >> Oh, you know, I will. Is there anything else? You know, like I send things out to you guys. I asked a bunch of qu, you know, I just it over the years, you know, we've had religious things come up and um I always I never as a board member what is our policy, right? And um it is gray and so like you bombard you put a whole I I mean I didn't read the 53. >> You don't have to do that. The three you want to read, >> but I did read some of it. >> You want to read 2270. right and 100 are the two that you
083really want to read. Those are your policies, >> right? And I get it and and um I get that these are gray areas, but I think that we should not be naive to think um that these situations will become more frequent because they will. um particular I think on this particular issue. It's not going away. We've had world leaders that have tried to solve it as long as I've been alive and it's only going to get worse. And um I think that we should get a policy in place for next year and think about other policies I guess because I it's just my opinion that you know things aren't going to go away. So, but I appreciate you answering my questions and you know I mean last year we you know had a club and
084right and dedicated a prayer room and things like that. So >> was that only during Ramadan? >> It's interesting. So that was actually two years ago that we had that that it started >> and the student that ran it um is was phenomenal. Uh and >> I'm assuming that student's graduated. he graduated and >> he graduated last year. >> Had we had that group with that level of leadership in place, >> things like this would have been discussed there and I think we would have been able to work through it and we don't have that now. >> That group didn't meet last year. I I kind of found some intel about that as well. And >> last year in 2425 they did not meet together um at all. >> Muslim >> they did not the
085MSA. Yeah. Um but we still continue to make and and we will continue to do this make provisions during Ramadan for them and and other things. We will always um do that. Um you know but yeah they didn't they didn't they're not an active group like they were before. They were very active with strong leadership before. >> Yep. >> Okay. Anything else for general discussion? I'm no longer I made fun of Ben. At least didn't have a parking spot. They didn't paint back then. He and his three friends got together and painted Fortnite all over as a joke. And so now I we thought that was ridiculous, but now I'm kind. >> Anything else in the house? All right. We do not have any executive session tonight. So I will take a motion to adjourn
086at 708. >> Justin came out last time. >> We'll take a voice vote on this one. All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Hearing none. Motion carries. Meeting adjourn 708.