001Good evening and welcome to the Fairfield City School District Board of Education meeting for December 11th, 2025. Mr. Phillips, call the order. >> Mr. Begley, >> here. >> Mr. Bing Miller, >> present. >> Mr. Clark, >> present. >> Mr. Gundram, >> here. >> Mr. Napier, >> here. >> Mrs. Gundum, will you lead us in the pledge of allegiance? >> Yes. >> I pledge to the flag of the United States of America. and to the for it stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> What do I know? >> Thank you, Mrs. Gundram. We'll move right into presentations and resolutions. Mr. Smith. >> Yes, Mr. Begley and members of the board. That's that's loud. Uh we do have three presentations this evening. I'm going to turn the volume down. Our first one is
002from one of our partners, the Butler County Educational Service Center. Typically, you hear us say Butler County ESC. I'm going to say it out in its entirety this evening. We've had a lot of requests for what do all these acronyms stand for. So, Butler County Educational Service Center. This time, I'm going to turn it over to Chris Brown, outgoing superintendent, Butler County ESC, and incoming Superintendent Jeff Brand. But we'll start with Mr. Brown. >> Thank you, Billy. Uh it's great here to be in Fairfield. Happy holidays to everybody. Uh just want to thank you for the partnership that we've had with Fairfield City Schools for a long, long time. Uh especially the last 10 years as superintendent. As Billy said, I'm uh walking away in 10 days, but nobody's counting. January the 8th will be
003my last day and uh Jeff Brandt will take over. So I want to introduce Mr. Brandt. Thank you guys for your support and our partnership over the years. >> Good evening board and audience. Good evening. Thank you, Chris, for the introduction. It's a pleasure to be here. Uh, as Chris said, I'll be transitioning in uh here in the next couple weeks. I've been here since August. I came from 30 years of public ed K12. Primarily 25 of those 30 years were in the Oak Hills local school district where ran through a number of different uh administrative roles from everything from middle school principal, high school principal, human resources for a little while. Then the last nine did the superintendency. So, I had the pleasure of working with Jay closely in the Oakills district. certainly working
004alongside Billy through our league affiliation and uh you guys got a great leadership team and I just uh really looking forward to the opportunity to come up and uh transition in and working with you guys up here in Butler County. It's a little different for me from Hamilton County. You guys like a lot of great things going on up here and you got a great leadership team and uh as Chris said, we really appreciate the partnership and I look forward to continuing that as we move forward and uh like to thank the board. You guys got a tough job today. Thank you for all that you guys do uh for your for your students and your families and your staffs here in Fairfield do great job. So, thank you for your service. I know we
005got some outgoing as well as uh member Gundram and also President Begley, thank you for your service and we wish you the best of luck and happy holidays to everybody in the audience. Thanks again for the time tonight and we uh we'll let you get on with your meeting. Thank you. >> Great. Thank you, Mr. Brandt and Mr. Brown. Please give them a round of applause. All right, our second presentation is a school spotlight on North Elementary. This time I'll turn it over to the principal at North, Mrs. Denise Hayes. >> Hello everybody. I am so excited to host you all in our in our building this evening. I just want to let you know that I'm here with my amazing office staff. I have Laura Mer who's our school counselor. This is Katie Kowalsski,
006our school psychologist. Miss Candace Sanchez is our assistant principal. And my amazing kiddos down here, we have Ellie Audi, we have Kletchi Eanagu, we have Piper Binham, and Kaden Cummings. Um, each year we select a buildingwide focus here at Fairfield North designed to prepare our students for real life beyond our school walls. Academics are always a top priority for us, but we truly believe in equipping our students with the skills that they need to navigate the real world. We want them to be winners in life. Our goal is for our kids to be leaders, not only here while they're at North Elementary, but also as they move into middle school and high school and ultimately into adulthood. This year's focus in our building and our student presentation tonight is going to be all about leadership
007and how our students are using what they've been taught to impact and influence other people around them. We are working really intentionally here at Fairfield North to help our students understand what leadership looks like, why it matters, and how their choices impact their futures. our efforts really do. We aim to empower our students to recognize their own strengths, to use their voice because what they have to say is important and to make decisions that positively impact themselves and others. So, I'm going to turn it over to Mrs. Moner to talk to you a little bit about how we do that actual instruction with our students. >> There we go. So each month I go into the library and I teach uh social emotional learning lessons. This year I'm really guiding my lessons based off the
008state standards but really teaching our standards through leadership. So each month our librarians are very kind that we've had here at North and let me come in so we're not taking away academic time from our students. And I go in and in October we talked a lot about the qualities that make a good leader and how leaders are not bossy. In November we talked about integrity and we read the story the empty pot and how leaders need to be honest and good role models. And then right now we're talking about leadership and we're talking about having good listening skills, being able to um work together, being able to have some empathy for other people, putting ourselves in other people's shoes, and being able to collaborate to come up with good solutions. So, we've been really
009trying to create good role models within the classroom, talking about leadership, talking about how leaders are not always the most outgoing people in the classroom. They can lead quietly by doing the right thing. Um, we also have started instituting some leadership awards. So each month when I go to the library, the students in each home room, one student is chosen to be the leader of the month and get the leadership award. And their home room teacher writes up like a couple sentences about them and why they were chosen to be the leader of that classroom. And we also talked about um instit like bringing that leadership skills into their homes, into their community, talking about how where you can do that on our sports teams or in choir anywhere we are. So just really trying
010to help bring good leaders. All right, everyone. Um tonight I'm going to take just a second to talk about showing our students what it means to be a leader. And I'm gonna glance at my notes because I cannot read that far away. Um Dominic Back, our Fairfield High School quarterback, um and former Northstar student, just came back and spoke at our five-star assembly about what it takes to be a leader and how his North experience has prepared him for success. Also, I'm going to click the next screen here. Yep. Our Fairfield High School girls basketball team just came to do an activity with our first and second grade students talking about leadership and teamwork. A few players are also former North students and they shared how leadership um has impacted them on and off the
011court and how it helps make a difference not only in their lives but in the lives of others. Um up next we have Miss Kowalsski. All right, I'm going to talk about um how we encourage our students here at North um to be active leaders. Um I have Kelsey um our school facility dog here with us. Um she is was born on September 11th. Um and every year we celebrate um her birthday and we in incorporate leadership into our students um in doing some sort of donation drive. So we've done actually two different drives. We've done um uh donations for the animal shelter. We also did um a drive to um get items for um veterans as well just because her birthday is September 11th. Um we also have some community partnerships um that our
012students are able to show leadership in that way. We have partnered with Culver's um a local coffee shop uh coffee club overflowing. Um they've done activities here at school um that we can give back to the community. Uh we've also in um incorporated buddy classrooms this year. Um so our older kids are part mentoring our younger students. We have pictures up there of um them reading to kids outside. Um we also have pictures of those other activities and those um drives for Kelsey. Uh we also have um instituted a culture club here at school which is a way for our fifth and fourth graders to uh be leaders in the building. And we also did North Service projects this year. So um Mrs. Hayes is going to talk more about culture club. Thank you so
013much. Our culture club really is comprised of our fourth and fifth grade students. We have selected some students who demonstrate strong leadership qualities. We intentionally selected a group of diverse students to support and represent our buildingwide culture and represent all voices. Our kiddos are now conducting student tours to all new students and peers that come into Fairfield North to help those kiddos feel welcomed and informed and connected from day one when they walk in the door. Our culture club kids are also identifying resources and special special messages that they want the teachers to share with their peers and they post information and projects throughout the building. um typically focusing on responsibility, self-respect, kindness, valuing one another, all of those things that will make our student population leaders as they go on. Our culture club also
014takes the initiative in addressing issues that are important to their peers and modeling behaviors that we want to see throughout the school. Our culture club kids are true leaders who work to ensure that every single child here in our building feels included, supported, and part of this North community. and that is so important to all of us. I do want to let you know also that we do have a culture club website that you would be able to access. Oh, thank you. We're so sorry. We do have a culture club website if you'd like to go online and look at all of the amazing things that our kids have done and how it's impacting our students here at Fairfield North. Miss Mona All right, let's go forward here. So, we have been working on service
015projects in December. We're trying to bring together our leadership that we've learned in all of our good skills we've learned about leadership, gratitude, and being really thankful for this wonderful community that we're in, and then some kindness. So each grade in home room was allowed to pick whatever sort of service project they wanted to do and they did that with their entire class. So some of our socom classes they made some bird feeders with peanut butter and bird food and one of our other socom classes made some um letters and cards for nursing home. Our kindergarten made some pretty pictures for Gateway Springs, a nursing home around the corner here. First grade also did that. Um, our second grade made some thank you cards for our custodians here in the building, focusing on our custodian,
016Mr. Rob, who's here all day, but also our evening custodians who they don't always get to see. Our third grade made worked partnered with Ketering Hospital and they made coffee sleeves and decorated those for the patients and the employees and also made some cards for some of the people that are in the hospital who aren't able to be home during the holidays. Our fourth grade um made some really nice letters for the military and they're going to send those over um during the holidays and with some nice pictures on them. and our fifth grade made blankets for the Ronald McDonald House to really show those leadership skills they've had. I'm really excited because this fifth grade class we have right now, it was they were in kindergarten when I came here to North. It was
017our very first year that we had a full-time counselor in all of our elementary buildings. So, this is their sixth year with me. So, we've gone through lots of different skills um together. So that was pretty exciting for me to have them do those pretty cool projects. >> Most importantly, we've identified just a few examples of how our teaching has taken its own wings on with these students. We have really great kids with really unique stories that we would like to have them share with you. Ellie, would you like to go first? >> I think try see if it works. >> Testing. Okay. My name is Elliotti and I learned that leadership isn't about being perfect. It's about being brave. I have Alipcia and even though it was sometimes hard, I came to school every
018day with a smile on my face and chose to share my story with my classmates. Whether I was missing hair or wearing my wick, by teaching them about my condition, I learned that leaders help others feel included and and under help others understand and feel included. We learn here North how to love ourselves and be who we are. I want to inspire other students to keep going. Even when they face challenges that feel big or scary. No matter what obstacles you face, you can still lead with courage, kindness, and confidence. My name is Kleti Zanagago and I'm a leader in our school's culture club where we learn to respect and celebrate all cultures. I'm Nigerian and I come from a different culture and speak a different language at home. I am proud of who I
019am. be being comfortable wait being comfortable with my identity has helped me to be a stronger leader and student because I can show because I can show others that um it's okay to be themselves. I want to inspire other students to feel confident in who they are and respect the differences that make our school special. My teachers and principles have helped me to have helped me students like me learn to love themselves and leave and lead with pride and respect no matter who they are or where they come from. My name is My name is Piper Binham and I've been a leader by working hard in my classes, following our school expectations, and choosing to do what's right, even when other others make poor choices just to look cool. At school, I've learned that real
020leadership means doing the right thing, even when no one's watching. I want other students to know leading by example is the real way to be cool. You can lead in positive ways by the choices you make every day. I've learned to be responsible, respectful, safe, and a problem solver. And I will use this even when I'm I'm older to continue being a positive leader. My name is Kayen Cummings and for the past six years, I've run a lemonade stand and and donated all the money to North Elementary because I want to help our school. At North, we say we take care of ourselves, each other, and our school. And that message has inspired me to be a leader. I've learned that leadership doesn't mean being the biggest or the loudest. It means choosing to do
021something that makes life better for someone else. I hope my my service shows other students that they can be leaders, too, by doing something big or small that helps others. We thank you so much for your time today and listening about especially to our students about why leadership is so important and we just really hope that they take these skills with them as they leave and go on to middle school, high school and to life beyond. Thank you all. >> Thank you, Mrs. Hayes. Board member questions or comments? >> Yeah, as an alumni of this school back in the early 70s, Uh, it's great to see our students doing what they're they're supposed to be doing. Uh, it's very impressive to come out here and see this old building look the same as it did
022back then. Miss Hayes, you're doing a great job out here. >> Thank you. >> Oh, sorry. >> Your team's doing a great job. >> Yeah, Miss Hayes and her team. Great job. But it's all about the students. So, I'm sorry about that. Not sorry, but it you guys do a great job. Students, amazing. You your your your confident standing up there and speaking loudly. Kaden, you're a rock star and you're an iconic um uh um like you're the superstar because we've heard about you for a couple years. So, your your uh your reputation precedes you. And thank you for doing what you do for the community and giving back with your lemonade stand. That's awesome. All of you have spoken very very well and you are going to be leaders. That that confidence that you
023have up there at the podium, there's adults that can't do that very well and you did it outstandingly. So, good job for you. >> Um, I'll tell you, I'm one of the adults that can't do that very well. I don't speak very well in public. I It makes me nervous even just being at these meetings sometimes. And you all did a great job and you have learned so much about leadership at your young ages that I am super impressed and super excited to see where life takes all of you. And um and Kaden, I'm I'm so happy to see you here because when I my first couple years on the school board, I did the student spotlight and I mentioned you a couple times after you had your uh your your lemonade stand. Uh so
024I don't know if you know that you were I think in maybe in first and second grade when I when I mentioned you at our meetings. So, uh, it's nice to see you in person and, uh, it's it's nice to be here at North. This is, I think, the first meeting we've had at North while I've been at schoolboard members. It's my last meeting. But also, um, I just I I'm so impressed by this whole this whole presentation and and everything that these wonderful, amazing kids have learned about leadership at such young ages. And thank you so much for sharing it with us. >> That's awesome. Um, I'm going to try not to cry. Um, >> Miss Hayes, you and your team do outstanding work. Um, I had two nieces that went through this school
025system and they adore you and your team. They have learned and grown so much as kids in this system um, at this school from your teachers, from your counselors. I know them, one of them was meeting with the counselor almost weekly and in the office all the time. You guys do such great work. I have such mad respect for you to take everything you do in a whole school year and give us just a small glimpse of that. We just we get to see a piece as as somebody who I I report on student achievement and I'm like trying to just pick one thing to talk about like you're able to depict this great program and highlight it but there's so much more that you guys are doing on a day-to-day basis and you are
026infect you are uh affecting so many students in such a positive way and so thank you for your entire staff for all that you guys do for our students. Now, that being said, kids, you guys are amazing. Ellie, you are an allstar. Way to get up and stand up every day and come to school, even when it's hard. That is so inspiring. As an adult, I commend you. I'm inspired to keep going each day because of you doing something so brave. Sorry. And then Kaden, as we've said a few times, you are a superstar. The fact that you've been giving back since you were like five is incredible. You've done more for our community already as a fifth grader than some adults have done in their entire lives. So, thank you for everything you've done.
027I'm so excited to see how you continue with this and continue to give back to our community and have you involved. And I don't want that to belittle the other two. You guys are great. I am so happy for the diversity that we have here in Fairfield. Uh my husband came from a very rural area where everybody looked the same and had the same opinions. And when he came to Fairfield, he was blown away with the diversity and the acceptance we have here because we are a community and we take care and raise each other up. So, thank you for what you guys do and I'm excited to see what you guys continue to do as you move on to middle school. >> Thank you. Thank Yeah. Well, that's a small glimpse of the passion
028that this board has for this district. So, thank you for your comments. And I would add that I think it's great that uh you focused on leadership because there are so many character traits that go into leadership. And it's a total win-win when we have our older students mentoring our younger students and inviting in high school students as well. Right. So, it's just full circle and it's a beautiful thing. Thank you for your efforts because this is all beyond what you do as teachers in this district and as a team. So, thank you for for sharing this with us tonight. Please give him one last big hand. >> Okay, Mr. Smith. All right, our next presentation, a video presentation is from Mr. Bob Link. You all right, kid? >> Okay, you guys blindsided me. The
029last meeting um was epic and you really surprised me. Um but um when I first started here at North Elementary and uh Harry Han was the principal and uh just the rooms were just typical rooms, nothing like special. And uh Mrs. Hayes, I mean when I walked through it was amazing. Christmas lights, decorations in the rooms. It was so nice. Um but anyway, Charlie Weedman um asked me to cover every groundbreaking any major event and um so I did and um so I have edited some of the raw footage from years ago and there were so many clips that I could choose but the MC crash, Marilyn Quail uh at the high school, everything the groundbreings and uh so I put a video clip together for you guys to it's only like three three and
030a half minutes long and are you ready Mark? >> Okay. Yeah. So here's the clip. county department in just a couple of days or a couple of weeks or months. It took almost two years before it became a reality is the start of our construction of the high school. It's also a combination of a process that we utilize and the process not only passing the bond issue but utilizing the community to select the site having a new high school in fair I think that's what we're here for to celebrate that happy to a great effort This is the building edition. This is the multi-purpose screen designed by the customer. The people that use it using what we call mini schoolhouse process. The same process that we utilize and are utilizing to design high school and
031the elementary school. And I think that's that's key. And I want to thank our board of education for allowing folks to have the input in that process for here tonight. >> I'm looking forward to returning to this site of 96 with the dedication of central hope that it's all for you. Thank you. that welcome to South Your teacher. I'd also like to introduce another gentleman who's here with us today. Really pleased that he's with us today. Elementary school. >> Wow. The board of education that building is truly ready and completed now and useful for the purpose of which of the high and principal of our middle school will be doing the key exchange this morning so that Mrs. can take over our building instruction. So, thank you board members. I appreciate every one of you.
032um past board members, current members, you've put your life on hold and I appreciate what you've done and um uh the only thing is um when Billy gave me the key to the district, school board members uh with community people uh they get their retirement parties and everything and um business owners just um closed. But the uh the key to the city, I mean, it was it was so great and uh I appreciate what you guys have done. Thank you. >> Thank you. You So just to give some background here, Mr. Link has been behind that camera for how long? >> 38 years recording these meetings. So, thank you for your service. Longer than any of us, that's for sure. All right, Mr. Clemens maybe longer than right. All right. Well, thank you, Bob. And
033and again, as we said at the last meeting, there's just, you know, there's not enough thank yous. And that video is amazing, just, you know, going back in time. So, thank you for taking us back in time and and thank you for your years of service. Brian's probably wondering what I'm doing over here. >> Not on the agenda. >> Yeah. Do we need to make a motion to revise the agenda? >> Second, >> John. Do we need to do that? >> I'm sorry. >> Do we need to make a motion to revise the agenda? I We left a little special presentation off. Do you >> No, >> I didn't think so. Well, we thought we'd check. That's why you're here. >> I I do have a few things uh to present to Brian. It's It's
034very rare uh for a board member to make it uh to 10 years 10 years of service on a board of education. Uh that's a rare feat. And so I think it's appropriate that we recognize him for his service this evening. Uh first of all, I'd like to uh I'm going to read from the Ohio School Boards Association. They actually sent Brian a certificate recognizing him as a 10-year veteran board member for continued dedication and commitment to public education as a school board member. So that is from the OSBA. >> So I will save that. Put that aside for a moment. And then as a school district, Brian, we we'd like to present you with a key to the district. And I have a proclamation uh that I would like to read as well. Whereas
035the Fairfield City School District proudly recognizes Brian Begley for his years of dedicated service as both board member and board president. Whereas Brian is a 1983 Fairfield graduate who chose to return, raise his family here, and give back to the community he loves. This is Kim's fault. Been razing me about this all day. You know, I'm going to stop for I'm going to pause the reading for just a moment because, you know, as Angie, Angie's out here and she did a great job organizing this reception tonight and um she asked me about this proclamation and you know, should we list, you know, this long list of events that has occurred um here in the district during uh Brian's tenure and instead just chose to talk just about him as a leader and what he has
036brought to uh the board of education in our community. So, I'm going to go back to the resolute to the proclamation and try to get through it. So, Brian, as I said, a 1983 Fairfield graduate who chose to return, raise his family here, and give back to the community he loves. As the father of two Fairfield graduates, Caitlyn and Lindsay has lived the Fairfield story not just as a leader, but as a parent and a proud community member. Whereas since joining the board in 2015, he has led with a calm, steady presence, always respectful, always thoughtful, and always focused on what is best for students. And whereas he has consistently trusted the people of Fairfield City Schools, believing in the professionalism, the dedication, and the heart of those who serve our students each day. And
037whereas he has been a true advocate for public education and for Fairfield specifically, never hesitating to stand up for what is right. And whereas above all, Brian's service has been rooted in his genuine love for this district and community. A love visible in every decision he has made and every conversation he has had. Now therefore, the Fairfield City School District proudly presents Brian Begley with the key to the district with heartfelt gratitude for his leadership, his integrity, and the lasting impact he has made on Fairfield. Signed this day, the 11th of December, 2025. So come on up. Don't drive. I give this to you. I'll give this to you and and uh I I am I am done with my presentation. However, we have yet one more surprise and I'm going to turn it over
038to Mayor Mitch Rous who would like to say a few words as well. Well, we have a proclamation from the city and a key from the city. Now, that's a key to the district. This is a key to the city. Probably Ray back there is the only one that's got a key that gets everywhere. So, uh, but, uh, Brian has been a friend of mine for many, many, many years. And, uh, we both raised here, went through Fairfield, uh, the whole bit. and we're in Rotary together. We're in multiple, you know, just event uh associations and uh this was really uh special. So, um I apologize I didn't wear a suit today. My last meeting as a count uh mayor is uh was Monday and I gave all my suits Tuesday away to a nonprofit.
039So, so um but this is from the office of the mayor, Mr. I'm sorry, Mr. Begley. Whereas the city of Fairfield is pleased to recognize Brian Begley on the occasion of his retirement. And whereas Brian has served on the city of Fairfield's district board of education since 2015, serving two years as vice president and then serving president since 2022. And whereas Brian, a lifelong resident of the city of Fairfield and graduate of Fairfield High School, class of 83. Following high school, he earned his bachelor's degree in economics and business administration from Illinois State University. His strong leadership skills and business experience as a vice president and general manager of Shift Insurance Agency has made him a great asset to the board of education. And whereas Brian is deeply committed to community service, he has held
040numerous leadership roles, including current board member of the Butler Tech Board of Education, past president and current member of the Fairfield Rotary Club. Oh, several up here, members of board member and former president of Partners in Prime. three separate terms on the board of deacons of your church, including two terms as chairman and chairman of the fearful community foundation board of trustees. That's a lot of volunteering and giving back to the community. Um whereas it is only fitting the city of Fairfield recognize Brian Begley in the following manner. Now, now therefore, I met Mitrous Mayor of the city of Fairfield do hereby proclaim Friday, December the 12th, 2025 Brian Begley Day in the city of Fairfield, Ohio. On behalf of the citizens of this community, I extend our sincere gratitude to Brian for his years
041of dedicated service, unwavering commitment to com to the community. His contributions have left a lasting positive impact on our community and his legacy of integrity and empowerment will continue forever. There you go. City. Cool. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. There you go, sir. Oh, there it went. There you go. Flicking a sack over there. >> Yeah, I I just want to interrupt just I didn't know he I'm going to let him say something, but a uh an update. I know uh all of you know that I have the mayor's youth commission which is for those who don't know it's a bunch of juniors and seniors at Fairfield High School and they go uh they meet out and we give they're like interns and we assign them to different departments in the city
042and um every department there's 14 of them and there's 40 38 members. They're exceptional students from uh uh the government classes at Fairfield. Well, since it was the mayor's youth commission, a lot of them have been concerned about what happens when I'm gone. And um so Mayor Miller informed me or asked me two days ago to u you know, he says once a mayor, always a mayor. So will you please continue this program on his behalf? So I'm going to be gratefully uh pleased to continue that program. Uh we took six students to uh Salt Lake City about a month ago and to a three-day leadership conference where they entered a contest and won first place and it was just a phenomenal showing. So you're in good hands. Uh I was just going to say
043you got may I have a mayor sitting up here in this line. I this young man you guys spoke about he might be in the mayor seat someday. So uh but so thank you guys for that supporting the program and thank you brother. Thank you, Mayor Mitch. And uh thank you, Billy. Uh I just uh so tomorrow's Brian Begley day. I think maybe we take off school. >> Hey, >> calamity. >> Inches of snow and it may really happen, right? >> Is that Are you saying what you're saying? I mean, I just need to know. Let's be clear. >> Calamity. >> It's tremendous honor that I didn't know was coming and I very much appreciate it. and uh to have that happen in front of my family, my my uh my wife, my daughter, my
044extended family. Thank you for being here. Very nice of you, SA. >> Um I think I'd like to say my comments now. >> Sure. >> Uh as opposed to holding them till the end of the meeting. Um so 10 years in this position, that's uh over 200 board meetings. And so some of them have been easy and some of them have been hard. Uh but all of them have been my privilege. It's an honor to work with these people up here, uh these board members, board members before them, this administration team. They do an amazing job. and and I've had the privilege, you know, shaking the hands of so many graduating seniors, even the sweaty ones. uh uh honoring so many overachievers with golden apples, participating in the back to school bash, how that's grown,
045the need that's there and how we've met it and the community partners who have joined us, right? or just the privilege to to go into a first grade classroom and read to them and just see learning happen, right? So, I'm sorry I'm so emotional about it, but it's an honor and a privilege. It really has. And so, uh, thank you for allowing me to do this. I' I've heard a lot of thanks tonight, but I I really need to thank uh thank everyone for giving me this opportunity and the community as well. And uh it's it really been one of the honors of my life. So, thank you. Oh god. Okay, moving right along. Next up is uh communication. We have no one to speak tonight, so we will move into superintendent recommendations and reports.
046Mr. Smith. >> Yes. And I'd like to ask Mr. Hustle to cover the items listed under personnel professional and personnel support. Jason, good luck following that. Thank you, Mr. Smith. I was just going to say uh now we have to move into official business. So, uh it's a a tough act to follow, but uh Mr. Begley, members of the board, I have four items for your consideration this evening under personnel professional. Number one, resignations, letters A through C. Number two, extracurricular resignation, letter A. Number three, unpaid leave of absence, letter A. Number four, employment letters A through C. That concludes all the items I have for your consideration under personnel professional. >> Thank you, Mr. House. I'll entertain a motion to accept these recommendations. >> I make a motion. >> Second, >> Mr. Navier. Mrs.
047Birding Miller. Any further discussion? Mr. Phillips, call the role. >> Mr. Navier, >> yes. >> Mrs. Bing Miller, >> yes. >> Mr. Clark, >> yes. >> Mrs. Gundram, >> yes. >> Mr. Begley, >> yes. >> Mr. Begley, members of the board, I have three items for your consideration this evening under personnel support. Number one, resignations, letters A and B. Number two, employment, letters A through H. Number three, support substitutes, 2025 2026. Concludes all the items I have for your consideration under personnel support. Thank you, Mr. Hustle. I'll entertain a motion to accept these recommendations. >> So moved. >> Second. Mrs. Gundram. Mr. Clark. >> Mr. Phillips, call the role. >> Mrs. Gundum, >> yes. >> Mr. Clark, >> yes. >> Mr. Napier, >> yes. >> Mr. Mr. Begley. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Bing Miller. >>
048Yes. >> Mr. Begley, members of the board, we have five items for board discussion this evening. The first three items will be covered by Mr. Begley. So, at this time, I will turn it over to him. >> Thank you, Mr. Smith. The first item for discussion is uh district representation on the Butler Tech Board of Education for 2026. As I step off the board as a representative, we need to pick a new uh board member to represent uh Fairfield on that board of education. I've been in some conversation with uh Mrs. Birding Miller and uh you seem uh interested. Is that correct? >> Yes, I would absolutely be honored to represent us. >> Thank you. Does uh anyone else have any concerns, questions, comments? And I think we move forward with Mrs. Birdie Miller and
049that will be voted on officially in the January meeting, right? >> Yes. January 8th. >> Great. Thank you. Uh we also need a representation on the planning commission and that uh member has to be a Fairfield resident. So that's for the planning commission and the city of Fairfield. So as a township resident, you would be disqualified from that. And so that limits the number of people that can do that on the board. Do we have anyone interested on the board in filling that role? >> It is currently filled by Doug Robertson as a representative for the district. >> It is. And and and Mike is in the city and I know that that Kevin is here this evening and he is in the I'm not I'm not trying to put the hat on you Kevin,
050you know, but I didn't want you to be overlooked if you had an interest >> in serving in that on your very first year. So Doug Robertson is willing to come back and do it, but if you have a burning desire to serve on that commission in your one, we certainly can entertain that. So >> are you waiting for? >> Well, I'm inviting you to participate in the discussion. >> Yeah. Well, you're here. It's a public meeting. We'll sign your name on the list. >> So I don't again not trying to pressure you but and we can table this too. Table it until January. Okay. >> Great. Thank you. Thank you for consideration, Mr. McDonald. Mr. McDonald, Mr. Klein are here tonight and they'll be the new members on the board. Thank you for your
051uh anticipated service. Next up is a addendum to Superintendent Smith's contract. So, um the state teacher retirement system uh has a full retirement age that uh they can change and in fact have changed and that wasn't anticipated when this board put Mr. Smith's current contract into force. And so, uh, he was not prior to this eligible for retirement during this contract. And now with these changes, he will be eligible during this contract to retire if he so chooses. So, in his contract, we have a longevity clause, and the the purpose of that clause is to uh to encourage Mr. Smith to stay here at this district. Sometimes superintendents leave for other jobs and uh we wouldn't want that. And so this longevity clause both incentivizes him to stay here and then if he doesn't uh
052there's a situation where he may have to pay back some of those funds. And so we want to change the contract that currently says the only exceptions would be death, disability, or termination. And we want to simply add the word retirement as another option. Okay, great. Yep. So, we'll have that on the uh agenda later tonight to allow uh to allow for that wording and and we'll vote on that. Any questions, concerns? >> Good. Good. And moving along, the next one would be uh CTA course waiting and and Mrs. OG is going to speak to that. Director of curriculum. >> Thank you, Mr. Begley. Members of the board, uh my item for discussion tonight concerns language added uh to House Bill 96. This legislation requires that certain career technical education courses identified as CEG courses
053receive the same GPA waiting as AP or advanced placement uh college credit plus and honors courses. For clarity, a CG it is a career technical assurance guide and it guarantees that specific high school CTE courses can earn college credit at Ohio public colleges if they meet state approved criteria. Not all CTE courses are CEG eligible. This requirement uh to add the waiting uh took effect on September 30th of 2025. So this will apply to first semester courses. Updates to student GPA and transcripts will be applied at the end of first semester uh to any of those courses for which students were enrolled this past semester. As a result, some students may see adjustments to their GPA or class rank at that time. And I wanted to make the board aware of this change in advance
054in case you receive any questions from families. Um, but we do plan to communicate uh via parent square prior to the end of the semester so that everyone knows that this is happening because students who signed up for some of these classes didn't know going into it that they would be waited because the law just kind of changed over the summer. >> Great. Thank you. Any questions? >> All right. Our last item for board discussion, exciting update in regard to the incentive review group. At this time, I'll turn it over to Mr. Phillips. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Smith. Uh Mr. Begley, members of the board, I have some great news to share this evening uh regarding our work with the incentive re review group. As you probably recall, uh we engaged in the
055incentive work with we engaged in work with the incentive review group uh to conduct a comprehensive review of the incentive agreements and potentially identify any funds that are owed to Fairfield City Schools. The cost to secure those services was $35,000. So, it was a major commitment on behalf of the district. Uh last week the incentive review group uh notified me that we should be receiving our first payment due back to the district from the Fairfield Roadway bond trustee in the amount of 183,363448 in the coming weeks. So that's a significant return on our investment and a strong early indication that the partnership with IRC is already paying dividends for the Fairfield City School District. I'll continue to keep you updated um as additional findings or payments are identified, but that's a great start. >> So,
056I just want to make you all aware of that. >> Absolutely. Thank you very much. >> Yeah, Mr. Phillips, thank you for that update. And I remember when we first was talking about brought up, it was a high cost upfront, but the ROI uh return on investment is is shown to pay off. And that's just one step. So, um more to come, I hope. >> More to come. and and and I I received this notification as I was finishing tracking down and scanning all the compensation agreements that we've made over the past 30 years, tracking them down and filing cabinets and everything else. It took a long time to find them all, scan them all, send them all. And as I was sending the last batch, I got notification and this wasn't even in the
057group that I sent. So hopefully more to come. >> That's awesome. Thank you so much, Mr. Begley. Members of the board, I do have several items for your consideration this evening. Under letter D, other items for board action. Number one, recommend approval of the following board policies, letters A through M. Number two, recommend approval of the organizational meeting to be held on Thursday, January 8th, 2026 at Fairfield Senior High School in the Katherine D. Milligan community room and to approve Scott Clark to serve as president prom for the beginning of the meeting. Three, recommend approval to award the roof repairs at North Elementary, exterior paint and block repair to the Fairfield Academy building, and masonry repair at South Elementary to Garland- DBS Incorporated, 3800 East 91 Street, Cleveland, Ohio45105 in the amount not to exceed
058624,553. Number four, recommend approval to award replacing HVAC controls at Crossroads Middle School and South Elementary with Wayable Energy Systems, 815 Falls Creek Drive, Vanelia, Ohio 45377 in the amount not to exceed $795,997. Number five, recommend approval to award the tennis court renovation at Fairfield Senior High School to Prodigy Building Solutions LLC 9652 Inner Ocean Drive, Westchester, Ohio 45246 and the amount not to exceed $444,18. Number six, recommend approval of the following resolution. a resolution declaring that a case of urgent necessity exists and authorizing entering enter entering into a contract without advertising or competitive bidding for the renovation of the radio system at the transportation department. And if it's okay with the board, I'd ask to wave the remainder sections that are listed. >> Yes, >> under that resolution. And then that concludes the items
059that I have for your consideration this evening under letter D. Other items for board action. Thank you, Mr. Smith. I'll entertain a motion to accept these recommendations. >> I'll make a motion. >> Second, >> Mr. Navier and Mrs. Bing Miller. Any further discussion? >> Mr. Phillips, call the role. >> Mr. Napier, >> yes. >> Mrs. Burning Miller, >> yes. >> Mr. Clark, >> yes. >> Mrs. Gundram, >> yes. >> Mr. Begley, >> yes. >> Treasures, recommendations, and reports. Mr. Phillips, >> yes. Thank you. >> Uh, Mr. Begley, members of the board, I have several recommendations this evening. My first recommendation is to approve the minutes for the following meeting, the November 20th, 2025 regular board meeting. Uh, letter B, I recommend approval of the financial reports for the month of November 2025 as submitted. Letter
060C, I recommend approval of the following donations. A donation in the amount of $250 from Lorie and William Bailey for lunch balances at Creekide Middle School and a donation of a used elliptical machine with an estimated value of $300 from Michelle Shell for use at Fairfield High School. Uh, letter D, I recommend approval of a supplemental contract for Lexi Trentman in the amount of $150 to be fully funded by the Fairfield Prevention Coalition. This supplemental is for serving as a chaperone for a youth conference with all payments processed through Fairfield City School. There is no cost to the district's general fund for this supplemental. And that is it for my recommendations. >> Thank you, Mr. Phillips. I'll entertain a motion to accept this recommendation. So moved. >> Second, >> Mr. Clark and Mrs. Gundram. Mr.
061Phillips, call the role. Mr. Clark, >> yes. Mrs. Gundram, >> yes. >> Mr. Napier, yes. >> Mrs. Berning Miller, yes. >> Mr. Begley, >> yes. >> Assistant Superintendent, recommendations. Mrs. Howard, >> thank you, Mr. Begley. I have just one item for your consideration this evening. Letter A recommend approval of an amendment to the superintendent's contract to eliminate the repayment of longevity payments previously received by the superintendent if he retires prior to the completion of his current contract with service eligibility pursuant to Ohio State teachers retirement system requirements. >> Thank you, Mrs. Hower. I'll accept a motion for this recommendation. >> I'll make a motion. Second, >> Mr. Nabier, Mr. Clark, further discussion. Mr. Phillips, call the role. >> Mr. Napier, >> yes. M. Uh, Mr. Clark, >> yes. >> Mrs. Gundram, >> yes. >> Mrs.
062Burning Miller, >> yes. >> Mr. Begley, >> yes. >> We'll move on to committee reports, legislative update. Mrs. Gundum. >> Okay. There is a new bill with bipartisan rep uh support. Uh, it doesn't have a number yet, but it's been going to be introduced in the House that would require every county to offer payment plans for property taxes. Um, it would also guarantee at least 30 days between when a tax bill is mailed and when it's due and uh require mail notices when a property's value changes. And it would also permit levy campaigns to use plain like if this then that sort of language. Um, uh, they say that it's, you know, small changes but could could mean a lot for understanding and for help with paying property taxes. So that that exists and um
063it's not really a legislative thing, but there has there's been a policy where they have proposed taking unclaimed funds to help pay for Cleveland's new stadium. Um it's going through the courts right now. Right now, a federal judge has said that they can go ahead with transferring the funds. And uh while the whole thing plays out, um they claim that anybody who has unclaimed funds can still submit uh paperwork to get their money returned to them. So may want to check that out. Ohio unclaimed funds. Uh make sure your names aren't on it and not on it. Uh if it is, submit a claim fund just in case. >> Yeah. Yep. Thank you, Mrs. Gund. Butler Tech report. I will give that. Uh so in early 2026 uh the advanced manufacturing hub will open and
064that is at what used to be the the Vora uh park business park and now uh in a partnership with Butler Tech and Miami University. It will open as an advanced manufacturing hub for uh teaching students uh really at at both the high school level and the college level advanced manufacturing uh skills to enter the job force and and so uh as I said uh sort of finally after a lot of talk it's going to open in early January and then in early February we have a grand opening of the aviation center in Middletown. So, at the Middletown Airport, and we've talked about that before, uh, Butler Tech has built an aviation center to teach different skills from airplane repair to, uh, what would that be? I guess that would be uh, control tower services
065and all the things in between. So, uh, the program is already full as we talk about filling it with students from across the 10 districts that Butler Tech represents. And so, uh, again, two great success stories with more to follow at the bioscience center, uh, in the springtime as as they, uh, introduce their expanded facilities. Student achievement, Mrs. uh, Bernie Miller. >> Okay. So, I always say this, it's so hard to try to pick one. So, I'm not going to pick one. What I'm going to do is I'm going to give you a highlight reel of a few and basically give a huge shout out to Gina, who's truly the student achievement person for our district. She post all the time about all the great things that are happening around our district and highlights all
066the amazing things that our students are doing. So, you truly are the committee and I am just the voice for you. So, go check it out. Go read about these amazing things that I'm about to tell you and see even more out there. So, the highlight reel is we had three seniors who were voted uh uh who won outstanding attorney at a mock trial in Claremont. go see who they are in line. Uh we had five student musicians who were announced to be part of the Southwest Ohio Regional Orchestra. We are Lego robotics team advanced to the next level um during their recent com competition which is like like first time they've done that. So great job for them. And lastly, we have the youth coalition. Um, and they attended the you uh youth leadership
067training um and had a great time up in Sanduski, Ohio. So, go check out all those great articles on our social media and read about all the great things our students are doing. >> Great. Thank you, Mrs. Burning Miller. >> That's awesome. Mr. Clark, arts and recreation. >> Yeah. Um, we have our board meeting next Tuesday and it is actually going to be held at this wonderful spot I'm going to mention which is the Elijah Morgan Mansion on Ross Road. If you have never been there, I highly encourage you to go out. Now, the word mansion is a little misconstrued because it's a house, but back in the day it was a mansion, right? Um, but the city decorates it very very beautifully uh for Christmas and they give tours. So, uh, please go out
068and visit that and, uh, enjoy that. And then CAC is always decorated very nice with, uh, Christmas and the lights and the whole thing. So, kind of short today, but, uh, that's what we have. Great. >> Thank you, Mr. Clark. >> You're welcome, >> Mr. Smith. Uh, anything from planning commission? >> Yes. From Mr. Robertson, uh, earlier in the week. The planning commission uh, met last night. I I don't have an update from him. Uh he let me know that they were supposed to be presented with an application for a planned unit development for the 9.12 acre parcel property located at the corner of Patterson Patterson Boulevard and River Road adjacent to the existing River Road Marathon gas station. Uh there's three acres there plus on River Road proposed to be a drive-thru facility and
069the remaining six acres six plus acres along Patterson are proposed to be 22 residential homes comprised of 11 duplexes. So uh again that was proposed uh supposed to uh be proposed to the planning commission at a meeting last night and I have not received an update from Mr. Robertson. So, I anticipate uh sharing the next update uh in January with the board. >> Great. Thank you, Mr. Smith. >> You're welcome. >> And thank you, Mr. Robertson, for his service. >> Yes, absolutely. >> Announcements. December 18th, this special board meeting for the purpose of board professional development. Uh an OSBA board development program will be uh will be the focus. That will be at 5:30 at the Fairfield Administration Building, Conference, Room A. December 22nd is conference exchange day. No school. December 23rd, winter break begins.
070No school. School resumes on January 5th. On January 7th, we will end the first semester, grades 9 through 12, and the end of the second quarter for grades 8 through I'm sorry, K through 8. January 8th will be an inservice day, no students. On January 8th will be the next board of education meeting 6:30 at the Fairfield Senior High School Katherine D. Milligan Community Room. Board member comments. Mr. Navier. Yeah, I want to thank Miss Hayes and her team and students who gave the presentation tonight. It's nice being back in my old elementary school. Looks, like I said, looks the same. I want to thank Gerilyn for the time she served on the board. uh and Brian also both a great leadership. They've taught me a lot. Uh I thank everyone else up here for
071all that you do for our school system. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Birdie Miller. >> Okay, I'm told my computer has 13 minutes left, so I'll try to complete within the 13 minutes and hopefully Scott doesn't die on him. Um, funnily enough, I also attended North Elementary School, but I only attended it for a year because then East Elementary School was built and I was sent over to East. So, did not have the pleasure of growing up in this as much as I would have liked, but East is also an amazing school district or school in our district. Thank you, Miss Hayes, and your whole team for everything you guys do, and thanks for bringing in the students and and giving us, like I said, a little glimpse of the day-to-day that you have with
072these students and the great um inspiration that they are. Uh the fact that you guys took the dog's birthday, which is sometimes viewed as a very um solemn and sad day, and that you guys take that spin um and you guys turn it into donations is just proof and and shows how great this district is and how much giving to the community it does. Um with students like Kaden, um our community, it truly is in good hands. Uh, you know, we always talk about how the students are the future of our community, and they truly are. And it just shows meeting with these kids and hearing about all the things they do. Um, having students like, um, Ellie and Sophia in our districts as true inspirations. These kids are going through things harder than some
073of us will ever face in our entire lives, and they still get up and put a smile on and come to school. And that's just so amazing that these small children can do something so great every day just by walking out their house. Uh Jerry, I have known you for most of my life. Um going all the way back to select baseball. You guys have been such a huge part of our community. Uh you stepped in when a need was filled in the board that brought you on and then continue to serve another term. So, thank you for everything you've done for our community. I know you guys are going to still be here and still involved, just maybe not on the board of education, but thank you for everything you've done for us and
074the community. Brian, you said privileged a whole lot. It has been an honor and privilege to know you. I've known you since once again before I've been on the board. I've known you for a few years prior to that and I've heard nothing but amazing things about how um how honest and how much of a strong and just earnest person you are. Um, and hearing all of those things from somebody I look up to, uh, really is what kind of sealed the deal for me to come on to the board of education cuz I wanted to get to know you and serve with you even more. So, thank you for everything you've done. I'm so sad to see you go. Um, but you've done so many amazing things on this board and in the community
075and you've been such an inspiration as a leader for us as a board and I hope that we can continue your legacy even after you've left us. Um, so as we close off this year and finish up your term, um, I'm one to look forward to the future and what's going to be coming on and what's progressing. Um, and I'm hoping that bringing on the boys, Kevin and John, uh, that's that's my fun reference is they're the boys. Uh, bringing them on that they are going to bring in some great new perspectives to the board and that we will continue to be a strong support for our community and continue to help educate our students and to make sure that they are taken care of. Um Jay is just a uh role model uh a
076poster child for what bringing a new perspective in a role can do. >> Uh just showing us with this initiative review group, you know, uh nothing to knock on Nancy because God, we love her and she did so many amazing things. But bringing you on, you've already done so much for our district with just bringing on things like that group. And I'm excited to see what the new board's going to be be able to bring even with after you guys have stepped away. >> My computer didn't die. I'm going to end it there before I cry. Everybody have a happy holiday. Uh because we won't have as many people watching at our next meeting because it's a, >> you know, development. So everybody be safe for the holidays. Eat all of the food. be safe
077in the weather that we're supposed to be getting over the next couple days and make sure you guys come back for the next new year. >> Thank you very much. Thank you very much. >> Ditto. >> Why don't you go next? >> Oh, no. Want her to go? Okay. Will you go, Mrs. Gunn? >> Uh, yeah, sure. Um, first I want to thank Mrs. Hayes, her team, and the the amazing kids that were here tonight and um gave the presentation. Um, like I always said, I I'm always blown away by by the leadership that these kids show at such young ages. And um, >> it tonight was no different. Um, they learned so much about leadership, you know, at the up to the age of 10. It took me probably 20 years to figure out.
078Um, so I I I am so impressed by them and I am so excited to see I'm sure we will see their names, you know, doing great things in the future and the paper and and on TV and whatnot. Um, you know, they they just impressed me so much. So, we are very proud of them and um I I'm so glad that uh we got to be part of this. Um, now as for this being my last meeting, I'm going to try to get I wrote I wrote notes so that way I could try to get through it without messing up or uh hopefully crying. We'll see how that goes. Um, so first, thank you all for the lovely reception. See, I'm starting already. Um, I'd also like to thank Mr. Begley and all of
079the former board members who believed in me enough to appoint me to this seat six years ago. Um, it really has been a privilege and I'd like to thank for everybody who voted for me when I ran in 2021, even though I was unopposed. But still, you you punch the you punch the ticket, you know. Um, I admit there are some things I'm not going to miss. I I won't miss having to choose between being at a meeting and attending my daughter's things. Um, she was three when I started here and now she's 10 and growing fast. I'm so sorry. And um, you know, I I don't think it's fair to her or to the school district to have to choose between being in a meeting and going to parent teacher night at her school
080or um, STEM night at school or things like that. Um, so that's that's why the main reason why I didn't run again. Um, but um I I also won't miss leaving meetings and wondering if I said something really stupid. You know, there's a lot of times where I'd leave meetings and I go, "Wow, that came out wrong or that sounded really lame. I should have, you know, and and of course I always wanted to be like Brian because he speaks so eloquently and I'd be stammering my way through a comment and he'd go the whole child is the reason why we're here. I'm like, why why can't I be like Brian? But uh so um but I will miss feeling like I make at least some small difference >> in this district. And um and
081make no mistake, you all make a difference. Um and I will miss this amazing group of people. You've all been amazing. You've all been wonderful. Um, even our, you know, our tech guys, you guys, when I get overly excited and I whack the microphone and blow your eardrums out, you know, you guys have been so patient and so kind and um I I believe every single one up here, everyone out there that's at every meeting, you're here for the right reasons. You're here for the kids. You're here for the community. and I know you'll never forget that. So, thank you all so much for for allowing me to be here and spending this time with me. >> Thank you, Mrs. Thank you. >> You made a difference. I promise. >> Thank you so much. >>
082Thank you, >> Mr. Clark. Yes, >> I'll start off with uh thanking uh Mr. Brandt, Mr. Brown from the Butler County Educational Service Center for their partnership and our liaison, counselors that they uh allow us to work with and help our students in such a a great great way. Um the admin team, whenever you bring uh items for us to vote on, to discuss, uh just remind the community those are always prematurely sent to us to review. Thank you for your consistency with that and and really always sending those out. It it's it's always been there in my six years of being here. It's always out there for us. So, thank you for that, Mr. Smith. Uh Mr. Phillips, Miss Hower for the uh community presentations uh that were this past couple weeks on on
083the Monday and a Tuesday. Uh Jay, outstanding job presenting the facts and and the truth about what we are where we are, where we're going, and what we need. Right. there are maybe three options. Um, but you do a great job delivering that and it was a a great presentation, a great event for the community. I I I hope I wish more people would have showed up, but we had uh a good positive um engagement environment and I think the more we talk about this, the more people that were there talk about that, uh, it will just spread u because it's it's inevitable that that conversation will will need to happen. So, thank you for doing that. And of course, everybody that took part in setting that up. Um, Miss Hayes and your team, great
084job. And it it is all about the students, but they couldn't do what they do without uh leaders. Speaking of the students being leaders, Miss Hayes does an outstanding job here. Um, you know, she five-star rating, right? and uh that that's that's why because of the leadership that she has with her team and it goes down to even the first graders, you know, in those projects that they were doing for the community. I mean, these these kids are doing things for their community and they're getting involved and that that that trickles into other things as they grow up in school and is a really a bench for even being up here if they wanted to in someday. And that that is our future, those those children. So, thank you, Mrs. Hayes and Mr. Link. thank
085you for your 38 years of service. And the video was amazing. And I was talking to him earlier about he could write a book and have many pictures cuz he's got a lot of pictures that he could snap from videos and and just uh not only just in Fairfield, but just around the country, but he could put that together for Fairfield and it would be just amazing. So, I think that's your retirement project is a is a book. Um and Miss Miss Gundram, um it's been a pleasure serving with you. I think we come on pretty close at the same time and maybe almost in the same way, but um I appreciate your your intelligence and you say you don't speak well. I think we all think that. Of course, nobody speaks as well as
086Brian, but you do such a great job. You're encouraging and and your information, especially on the legal side, is is uh um is priceless. So, I appreciate your time serving with you and and being on this board with you. So, thank you so much. >> Thank you. Um, and then Mr. Bley. Um, people ask me sometimes, you know, I am involved in the community and I love it. I haven't always been that way. And people will say, "How do you do all you do?" And there there's a couple reasons. My wife's a blessing. God's a blessing. Let me do this. And you encourage me. Um even getting on the the the foundation it's like as I asked about a dinner like what's everybody talking about this foundation dinner like well you can't go unless you're
087on the on the board and so we started talking about that and I joined that and I met you in Rotary and and um just your your leadership in general but to me you have inspired me and you have really uh helped me lead in areas that I lead in myself. So, I thank you for service to the board, to the community, um along with Mrs. Gundram, but um just your impact on me outside of here and some of the organizations. I thank you so much and I appreciate you. >> Thanks. >> Thank you. >> And to Miss Burning Millers, uh merry Christmas. Eat a lot of food, enjoy yourself, and uh keep safe. And uh yeah, thank you. That's all I got. >> Okay, so here we are. My last chance to uh to
088speak at a at a board meeting. And uh I I you've heard a lot of passion up here, right? And that's probably the best quality a board member can have. It uh it's not going to cloud their decision- making. It's going to drive their decision making and it's going to help them to do the right thing for the kids of this district, which is why we're up here. >> That's right. >> It's not about politics. >> It's about serving this community and and the families in it. And uh that's what we have done and that's what you will continue to do. Mr. McDonald, Mr. Klein will be wonderful board members. Uh we can't be replaced, right? and uh and and it will go on because of this strength of this leadership team that sits up
089here and uh and their vision um and their culture and and Mr. Smith has driven that for a number of years and it is now ingrained and will continue forward under his guidance and leadership. Uh it's just been an absolute pleasure to serve with all of you. um what you saw tonight, what we saw at the last board meeting, right? Those those little glimpses that that we're so privileged to be a part of is is uh is the reward for what we do up here. Uh because it can be a thankless job, but it's an important job and it has to be done. Uh thank you for your comments, everyone. Mrs. Gundram, you've done an amazing job and and you're right. I think I was the only one on the board at the time that
090brought you aboard and I'm proud of that. >> Yeah. uh you your intelligence, your your your insightful questions. ah we you know they've brought value to the board for six years and uh I very much appreciate it and um you know I think as I have you've gained so much from your involvement right and so we we should go off proud of of uh of what we've done but also what we've learned and uh and again this board will be fine it is amazing to have my family sitting out here Okay, I'm very privileged that you're here. Even Mayor Mitch stuck around for the whole meeting. So, as I pick up this gavl and and uh and hit it and and ask for a motion to adjourn, it closes a chapter in my life that
091uh has truly been an honor and privilege to serve and uh I'll uh I'll remember it always. So, again, thank you to everyone. Do I have a motion to adjourn this meeting? >> Never. So moved. >> Second. >> Mr. Clark and Mrs. Birding Miller. Mr. Phillips, please call the role. >> Mr. Clark, >> yes. >> Mr. Gundram, >> yes. >> Mr. Napier, >> no. >> Mrs. Burning Miller, >> I guess. >> Mr. Begley, >> yes. Thank you. Goodbye.