001Good evening. Welcome to the Fairfield uh City School District Board of Education meeting for September 4th, 2025. Mr. Phillips, will you call the role? >> Mr. Begley, >> here. >> Mrs. Birding Miller. >> Mr. Clark, present. Mrs. Gundram, >> here. >> Mr. Napier, >> here. >> Thank you. Uh, Mrs. uh, Gundam, will you lead us in the pledge of allegiance? >> Yes. I pledge algiance 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. >> Thank you. We move right into uh presentations and resolutions. >> Yes, Mr. Begley and members of the board, we do have one presentation this evening and that is in regard to our open enrollment program. At this time, I will turn it
002over to Mr. crepe up. >> All right. Good evening and uh thank you. This is one of the um uh discussions that I enjoy each year because it informs the public of all the uh requirements that we do for open enrollment and the processes that we have in place. Um, open enrollment continues to be a positive for the district and I'd like to go over the procedures that we do to uh to determine. First of all, uh there is board uh policy on this. Um some general requirements and considerations for open enrollment. They cannot increase uh staffing due to open enrollment. They cannot use uh any artistic, academic or athletic criteria. Uh we can't limit students. We can't ex exceed class sizes. Cannot accept students who's been suspend suspended for 10 consecutive days or expelled.
003Uh students are accepted on a first come first- serve basis. Current students who move out of the district are a priority in being accepted. All fees must be paid. Um open enrollment can be revoked for uh absences. Uh cannot create a racial imbalance and we have a deadline for the applications uh basically for the month of May. Again the selection process it is first come first serve. We make sure that the community knows that uh the applications are automatically time and date stamped and there are a there is a priority list that we do go through each year. Some of the uh issues that may come up throughout the year from the community would be the timeline for acceptance. And I do want to acknowledge that while I I understand there is a uh timeliness
004to this procedure, but there's a reason behind it. The high school is the first to be accepted and the reason behind that would be primarily for the summer athletic programs. uh for a kid to participate in the summer practices, they would need to be uh one of our students. Um then we go through with the middle school and then finally with the elementary school. Um and the the last on the list is are the kindergarten students and the reason is this. The reason for this is we don't always know the um the enrollment for our kindergarten students. And so sometimes we have to wait till after school has started to determine class sizes to see if there's room for open enrolled students or if they have maxed out. This is one of my favorite slides
005in this presentation because it shows two things. Number one, we are accepting open enrolled students, but so are other districts. Uh our neighboring districts just like us uh take some of our students. And so what that means as far as um the treasur's office is concerned is we lose money for those students that are going to neighboring districts. And so by us accepting open enrolled students, we're able to offset that. And if you look at the columns each year, we're able to generate net money um for this uh this program. And with all the rules associated with the program, the students that we're getting, um, they come to school, they don't get in trouble, they're involved, and the district is generating some net income from it. Each year, I like to review some of some
006of the attendance data. I do go back uh six years on this presentation. And as you go through the uh the attendance data, I try to put it in the yellow on the screen here, but that's the number you're concerned about. Uh you're comparing the open enrolled students attendance versus the uh in interd district Fairfield students attendance. You can see that as you go through the years, the open enrolled students do not miss school. It's virtually the same. And the interesting part to me is while the data shows a number that's very similar 93% um open enroll students represent a much smaller number so what that means mathematically is a smaller number has a bigger chance to create curves versus a large number which is a better chance to flatline and so the 93% is
007a strong number. the student demographics. Another one, um, we, uh, as we go through this, they're very constant as we go through the years. Again, I've got six years worth of data up here. Um, I did highlight two years, 20 and 21, because those are the COVID years. Um, the COVID years, the numbers fluctuate greatly because the economic economically disadvantaged students, everybody got free and reduced lunch for those years. And so, not everybody completed the application. So, those two years were kind of the numbers were gray, but as you can go through, um the one number I do like to focus on is the economically disadvantaged because it does show our district um in the growth that we're having in that area. And you can see as we go up, we're now we're just shy
008of 60%. But again, over the last six years, it's very constant uh between the years. Open enrolled by grade. I like to provide this uh data because as you break it down for our elementary schools we have six elementary buildings and so when you look at for example last year we had 15 kindergarteners that's 15 kindergarten students over six buildings and then within the buildings you could have four kindergarten sessions and within those sessions you've got AM and PM. So we're talking about a very small number of actual open enrolled students that's affecting the student body population. the GPA as you go through you will see the uh GPA for open enrollment is fairly consistently above uh non-open enrolled students in fact I just about every year it's above and again that's important to note
009that the students that we are accepting number one they want to be here they want to be here with a passion uh they come to school they get good grades and they're involved D um again mathematically the number of students of open enrolled is much less than the Fairfield non-openrolled students. So any student that would be an outlier would have a mathematical correction that would show up on these numbers. Discipline. This is a common misconception that would be out there that some of our open enroll students might be causing uh or creating more discipline problems in the building. As you go through here again uh percentage-wise they are below the percentage of discipline is below the percentage of open enrolled students and again the percentage of open enrolled students or the number of open enrollled
010students is far below the number of non-open enrolled students and so any amount of discipline from those students would drastically affect the the percentage. Sorry. Um this presentation is given each year as anformational session. I do find it valuable because the students, number one, we are losing students in neighboring districts for varying reasons. But number two, the students who come to us in open enrollment come with a passion. They come with a drive. They want to be a Fairfield student. Um we have for the month of May, there are there are a lot of open enrollment applications. We handpick those students based on the criteria in the board policy and then those students are held to a level or a standard throughout the year that they have to meet or we can revoke their open
011enrollment based on board policy. Um by the data um number one we're generating money. Number two the students have a comparable GPA or higher GPA a comparable or higher attendance and a comparable or less often disciplined record. And so the program itself uh has not seen downfalls. And so we like to do this presentation to inform everybody of where we're at and um to make sure it's a good thing for Fairfield. Are there any questions? >> Yeah. Questions? >> Yeah. If if a student comes in as a fifth grader, does he automatically get to come back as a sixth grader or have to reenroll? So, no, they don't automatically come back, but they are placed higher in the priority list. >> Okay. >> Um, each year is based on because just because we have room
012in fourth grade doesn't mean we have room in fifth grade and vice versa. Fifth grade and sixth grade were changing buildings and so we don't know where the numbers are because we it's it's all defined in board policy. >> But those students are placed at the top to come in. >> They have a better chance of getting in than a newcomer. >> Okay. >> Mr. Crepo, this is this is awesome. It's always good to to hear and see these numbers. Uh you mentioned it a couple times. Sometimes the uh the community doesn't always have the same per or they have a wrong perception of reality and these numbers are are pretty amazing. Um give another compliment, but I wanted to do um the the screen before this the discipline um it has 821 and N.
013Can you explain those um th those can you explain this screen to me please? Maybe I misunderstood. >> Yeah. So this screen is showing the number of referrals. So a referral is entered by the teacher or administrator when a student breaks a code of conduct. Um so in 2024 2025 open enrolled students had 221 referrals which made up 2.18% of the total number of referrals and the number of out of school suspensions were nine which equaled 1% of the out of school suspensions issued overall. >> Okay. >> Non-open enrolled students had almost 10,000 referrals. 97.82% 82% of all referrals, 821 suspensions, which are 900, I'm sorry, 98.92% of the suspensions were Fairfield students verse open enrolled students. And on the bottom, I put so that you knew you knew what to compare it to. Open
014enrolled students are 2.9% of our population. So the total number of referrals are 2.18% and our the population is 2.9% and so that's below. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. That that helps my my helps my brain a little bit. And then the uh the expenses um in 2021 we had 110 for 66 662,000 and then uh we had uh 282 and had 838. Big gap in between the the the previous years. Is that um because of inflation and cost of per student or what do you and if you don't know that's okay. Hey, you can get back later. I don't want to put you on the spot. >> I know some. Um, so number one, we were able to get about 40 more students and that's again based on the the students that we have, the
015room that we have. >> Okay. >> And number two, each year we get a different number from the state. Um, the state pays us or reimbures us for the students. And so based on that number times the number of kids and that's how we get those numbers. And >> so the state kind of mandates the the difference of the monies or the >> it fluctuates. >> Fluctuates. Okay. But we had 40 more kids and we got paid more per student. >> Okay. All right. Well, thank you. I think these numbers are great and it again it just uh confirms what we know, but not everybody hears that and they assume that we get the the open enrollments that troubled kids or they're being kicked out of a school or something like that. And that's not
016the case. And and our kids are priority, but we want the good students to come in and and we're seeing that that fruit come in. So, >> yes. Yeah. Awesome. Thank you so much. >> Yeah. from Scundum. Did you have anything? >> Um, I also want to thank you for presenting this. I appreciate every time we talk about it because it is something that I hear regularly when I talk to people the misconception that open enrolled students are dragging us down or something like that. Um, and I have to say, okay, hold on, wait a second. >> You know, with all due respect, that's not how this is working. So, and and it's nice to have these numbers and to know that we've talked about this to back that up. Um, so I I truly
017appreciate that. Um, and I think if I remember correctly, we've talked in the past about some of the students that we lose to open enrollment are basically because like their parents are teachers in another district and they're just following their parent to that district and things like that. So, um, >> and that's some of the students that we have in open enrollment. >> Yeah. So, um, yeah, that's that's also reassuring, too, you know. But uh yeah, so thank you again for sharing this with us, Ken. >> Yeah, to Mrs. Gundam's point that that it is a reoccurring theme out there. There's there's a stigma around open enrollment and uh it's a um quite frankly a lazy narrative and an easy way to be critical of the district, right? And and the talking points that we
018should have that everyone should be able to say is look, it's it's less than 300 kids in a 10,000 student district, right? there's an application process that uh that privilege can be revoked, right? And and that those open enrollment students do better across the board, albeit slightly, but still do better across the board in all the metrics we're looking at. So, that's just not the case. >> Thank you. >> Great job. >> Do we come close to covering the students that we lose with this? >> Yes. Yes, we we do. It generates >> Yeah. >> 800,000 additional premium >> this year was 282 to 185. The column what two and column four are the numbers that would >> of what we lose for students leaving and what we get in. >> Yeah. >> Good. >>
019Plus 97 it looks like right Matt? >> Yeah. That's the number of students gained, right? >> Yeah. Yeah. Plus 97. >> Thank you Mr. agreeable. All >> right. Thanks, guys. >> All right. At this time, Mr. Hustle will be covering the items listed under personnel professional and personnel support. >> Thank you, Mr. Smith. Mr. Begley, members of the board, I have two items for your consideration this evening under personnel professional. Number one, extracurricular resignation letter A. Number two, employment letters A through F. That concludes all the items I have for your consideration under personnel professional. Thank you, Mr. Hustle. Uh, a motion to accept these recommendations. >> I'll make a motion. >> Second. >> Mr. Napier and Mrs. Gundram. Any further discussion? Mr. Phillips, call the role. >> Mr. Napier, >> yes. >> Mrs. Gundram,
020>> yes. >> Mr. Clark, >> yes. >> Miss Bing Miller, >> Mr. Begley, >> yes. >> Mr. Begley, members of the board, I have four items for your consideration this evening under personnel support. Number one, resignations, letter A. Number two, unpaid leave of abs leaves of absence letters A through F. Number three, employment letters A through G. And number four, support substitutes 2025 2026. That concludes all the items I have for your consideration under personnel support. >> Thank you, Mr. Hustle. Again, I'll entertain a motion to accept these recommendations. >> So moved. >> Second, >> Mrs. Gundum, Mr. Clark, any discussion? I see bus drivers. It looks like we actually added more than we lost, right? And that's always a good thing. >> Yes, it is. >> Looking at you. Uh yeah, I you know,
021I'm sure that struggle still goes on. How are we doing with bus drivers? >> Uh right now we had two new bus drivers start on Monday or actually Tuesday, excuse me. Uh we have three in the pipeline and at this point in time we have enough in the pipeline to be fully staffed. Uh but we are continuing to call potential candidates and continuing to make sure that we are not giving up on making those phone calls uh for prospective hires. Um one change that you may notice will be we are actually going to take the banner off of the bus that's been parked around the district. >> So we're close enough to where that we're going to uh stop that process for for a while um because we we feel as though we're in a
022pretty good spot. But yes, it's good. Thank you. >> Nicely done. >> Yeah. And I know it's quite a process to get a bus driver >> hired and trained. >> Correct. >> Yeah. Great. Thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Mr. Phillips, please call the rule. >> Mrs. Gundam, >> yes. >> Mr. Clark, >> yes. >> Mr. Napier, >> yes. >> Mrs. Bing Miller. >> Mr. Begley. >> Yes. >> Mr. Begley, members of the board, we do have two items for board discussion this evening. Our first item is our five-year forecast. At this time, I'll turn it over to Mr. Phillips. All right. Thank you, Mr. Smith, Mr. Begley, members of the board. Uh I'm excited to kind you I guess excited might be a strong word. Uh cautiously optimistic uh as we look at
023the 5-year forecast this evening. Um I want to start off and I know you all are familiar with the 5-year forecast process and how it works. And uh so I I really I just wanted to highlight some of the main uh parts of the forecast, which typically is 24 pages long, something to that effect. So, I want to go through the the main parts and we'll be glad to answer any questions you have as we as I get through this. But on the first slide here, this is our current fiscal year and and as you all probably know, fiscal year runs from July 1st to June 30th. Um, and so what we're forecasting our beginning cash balance of 44,528,000. uh that is our actual beginning cash balance. But as we get towards the end of
024the fiscal year into June 30th, uh we're we're looking at a about 36,431,218. So it's a decline of about $8 million. Um and you know, I I think it's no surprise that we are in deficit spend right now. Um, so our expenses are outpacing our revenues and I that's that's a typical cycle for a school district. You know, as a as before I came to Fairfield, I obviously did my homework on all of you and I I was really impressed and and really, you know, excited to come join because I think of how fiscally responsible you all have been. It's been a long time since you all went for an operating levy. Most school districts in the state of Ohio, it's about every 3 to 5 years. Um and so but we are at that
025point where we're deficit spending and we got to figure out once you start deficit spending it compounds and it compounds quick. You know if you defa spend 8 million this year you're going to def spend it you're going to your expenses are going to outpace your revenue by a little bit more the following year. So if it's 8 million one year might be 10 million but that compounds on top of the previous eight. So now you're at 18 million right? And so so it goes quick and and those are some of the things I want to talk about this evening. On this next slide, uh this is our projected revenue analysis and you'll see about 50% of our revenue is made up from local taxes, the other half from state funding, other revenue. When we
026talk about other revenue sources, talking about tuition revenue, some of the open enrollment, we talked about investment income, insurance settlements, sale of assets, things like that. Um but it's about a 50-50 split there between local taxes, uh and then state funding and other resources. When we look at the expenditures, okay, you'll see about 77% of our expenditures are spent on personnel costs. Now, I'd argue to say it's closer to 90% because when you look at purchase services, you're talking about ESC employees, uh, Butler County ESC employees, you're talking about coaches from Hamilton County. I mean, these are resources that really are their personnel. Uh, so when you look at what we spend our money on, it really is the day-to-day of what's happening inside of our classrooms. Um, if I go to the next slide
027and here here's some of the meat of what I what I wanted to present tonight and then you can see it visually uh as far as the projected revenue versus expenditures. I talked about our deficit spend and you can kind of see why um on the blue and orange bars on that top left chart. You know, our our blue bars and I talked about this at the previous board meeting. Our revenue stays pretty flat. you know, we we can't bring in more than what we levied against our community. There's some there are some minor things I talked about PUP uh the public utilities and tangible personal property as well as inside millillage that goes up a little bit, but it's not enough to really move the needle. You can see the blue bars pretty much
028stay flat. While the orange bars, they continue to rise, right? That's that's your costs. And we all know what has happened to expenses across the country and across the world over the past 5 years. And and we're no different. uh our expenses have continued to rise and they will just naturally. Um on the on the right side is our projected cash balance and as you can see I talked about the compounding nature of a deficit spend we're we're eating into that cash balance pretty quickly. um you know by 2028 we'll end the year in the black but but unless something changes and you know the only two ways to change your forecast is to either reduce expenses or increase revenue um and or a combination of both right and so something has to happen between
029now and then uh you know we'll pretty quickly be in financial or fiscal watch then fiscal emergency um but this is really a continuation of what you all saw Amy present in May the forecast hasn't hasn't changed a whole lot. You know, and one of the notes I made here, as you look at this, right now is our strategy window. And you know, Billy and I have a a conversation with with some of our consultants coming up in I think a week or a week and a half, but right now it's a strategy window because if we're sitting here next year at this time, you're no longer really in the strategy window. You're in the we have to do X, Y, and Z instead of Fairfield Community here, here are some options. what would what
030would you like to see done? Right? And so th this is a critical time for us. On the next slide, we talk about uh the the annual change in key revenue and expenditure assumptions. It's not crazy. You know, you look at our annual change in revenue. Obviously, that is not a good thing for us. We've talked about the state reducing um our funding. Uh we historically had an annual change an increase of about 4.63%, 63%. But now we're losing funding. Okay. Uh we're projected to lose a quarter of a percent this year, which you know is is a big number for us, and that's only going to go up. Um but the annual change in expenses is something I want to talk about. Historically, we've increased about 3 and 3/4%. We're looking about a three
031and a quarter 3 and one quarter% now. and and you know and I think that goes uh along with the fact that you know the team here and the Fairfield staff in general has really tightened down and and you know it's hard to decrease expenses but but we have and the the group here has done that. Um, you know, and when you look at the consumer price index, they're they're saying over the next 5 years, anywhere from two to 2 and a.5% increase in costs. Um, in general, school costs go up more than what you would see CPI go up. You know, right now we're looking at benefit costs averaging about 9 to 12%. Um, and that's actually pretty good for us for our plan with um the Butler Health Plan. Uh, salaries are also
032going to go up. Uh we just signed an agreement with our teacher associations last last spring. Um and so you know th those expenditures are are going to continue to increase although we have decreased the rate at which they are increasing. Um any questions on this slide in particular? Okay. This is another key metric when you're talking about school finance and and you really look at days of cash on hand. We don't, you know, one of the things I looked at when I came to Fairfield was our board policy and we don't have a policy at least that I could find regarding days of cash on hand and when you look to go back to the community, but typically it's, you know, a good rule of thumb is 60 to 90 days of cash on
033hand is what you want to have. You know, if you're if you're really hitting it out of the park, you're at 120 to 180 days or anything above 180 days, you're pretty sound. Uh, you can see um and this is calendar year, by the way, not fiscal year. Uh but in 2025 we got down to 135 days cash on hand. This year in 2026 a 25 26 school year we'll be down to 110 days. Um so we're we're okay right now from a stable perspective this year but as you can see going into next year you're down to 64 and the following year 13 goes pretty quick. Demographics. This is an interesting slide and this isn't one that is abnormal for most school districts across uh the state, really across the country. Um there are
034some school districts out in that have a lot more land that are developing pretty rapidly. Uh but you can see from uh from the chart here, the district educated enrollment, the enrollment is expected to decrease. Now um there there's I think a couple of reasons for this for this. one, the birth rates have been declining uh across the world. Uh and again, we're no different. Um that is a that's a big factor, but another one is the vouchers. Okay, the the school choice vouchers. You know, folks are able to to and anyone you can make $6 million a year and you're going to get some money to send your kids other places. And so I think that's part of the we've talked about this before too, the constant attack on public education. There there's, you
035know, I think anybody on this up here is in favor of parents having a choice to where they send where they send their kids, but the problem is using public tax dollars to do it is not something that I think any of us would agree with here. Um, and I don't mean I don't mean to speak for anybody on the board, but I would I would assume that's how everyone feels. But that has that takes a that you know that takes a a chunk out of what we're doing. That's a pretty big hit to all public school districts across across the state of Ohio. um our PU per pupil expenditures in uh 2025. So this past year we're at $13,981. And this is minus any advances out. You guys know we we do some advances
036in and out, but this doesn't count the advances. But what I really want to hint, you know, talk about is that from a per pupil expenditure standpoint, Fairfield City Schools, we're we're the fourth lowest of 10 districts in Butler County and we're the fifth lowest of 32 districts in Butler and Hamilton combined. So you guys are, you know, as a district, we've been very very fiscally responsible, I think, in in how we're spending the taxpayer dollars. Uh the state average right now is $16,577 uh per kid. And I should say right now, that's last year. Those are the numbers we have right now. Uh Fairfield's at 13,499. Uh and that's with the advances. This is what you see on this chart is less advances. Um but it's pretty similar. Going to the next slide, uh
037the daily cost per pupil is about $78 going into fiscal year 26. Um, and then the pupil expenditure support, the residents property owners portion is about 29% of that and state federal business taxes and others portion is about 71%. My last slide, this is our current forecast compared to the prior. I told you it was pretty close. You'll see total revenue is under by about 3.3 million. Um, when you look at that number, you think that's a lot, but when you look at the the budget as a whole, it's only 3%. Um and then current expenditures are under by one one a.5 million rel uh relatively and it's about negative 1.2%. Um so we do have some decisions to make. Uh like I said now is the the time for strategy and really thinking about
038what those options are. Um as I mentioned Mr. Smith and I have a meeting with one of our financial consultants coming up over the next week and a half and we're going to have many more conversations with you all as well to to talk about what's next. Any questions about what I presented this evening? >> U maybe more of a a statement question. you you pointed out the um fiscal year and the 77% of the personal or personnel cost and >> um an adjustment to that per you was the up closer to 90 because some of that is hiring outside the the county and and I don't know if we have heard that before probably knew that but thank you for bringing that up that kind of shows that most of that cost is in
039that that personnel piece and you made another comment about how fiscally responsible we've in and it's really Mr. Smith and the admin team up here that's that's really been cognizant of that and and uh since I've been on since 2020 2019 something like that it's it's been a constant conversation of how can we save money how can we reduce cost and spending and the one I usually bring up is Mr. compared with the buses. We've we've been cutting back on buying buses, maintaining them properly, so it'll last longer. >> And so to your point about the 3 to 5 year lasting of a a a tax levy, we we've stretched to 12 13 years. And that's that's unheard of. >> That's because of the the great job that these folks have done up here. So,
040thank you for that. And but this information needs to be brought out and you're simplifying it as best as it can be simplified. Yeah. >> Um, so thank you so much for for that uh explanation on some of this stuff. It's uh it's it's needed and the more you hear it, the more repetitive and also I was going to say at the end, but since you're doing that bi-weekly uh Friday financial dollars and cents, I think that's going to really help and get that out to the community to kind of put another set of >> not another set of eyes, but a different perspective on on how they may see and hear that communication, which is one of the reasons we >> wanted to hire you. >> Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Clark. >> I really
041appreciate that, Mr. Phillips. Thank you. Thank you. >> I have a couple of technical questions. First, thank you for putting this all together because I'm sure I mean I don't have like a finance background or anything. So, it's like you know trying to take a sip of water from a fire hose trying to sort through all this stuff and you made it in a very readable format. Um so um but tech for my technical questions uh when it talks about the current fiscal year projected financial analysis is is this fiscal year 25 or 26? >> This is fiscal year 26. Okay. Yeah. It is it always kind of runs uh the second half of that year is the year that you're using. So this is fiscal year 26 and then once we hit July 1st
042next year we go into fiscal year 27. >> Okay. Because um I got used to the way Mrs. Lane did it. Not there's anything wrong with the way she did it or the way you did it. And then I adjusted to Mrs. Lee and I like to go back and look at past forecasts and see how did we actually end up um when I go over these things. So I just thought I'd ask. So I I know I'm comparing apples and apples, you know, as far as the year goes. Um and then my second question is how is the per pupil expenditure actually calculated? Well, there there's a couple different uh methods and actually there's two ways that are reported to the state, but but generally speaking, it's all your expenditures out of your general
043fund divided by your average average daily membership, your ADM, how many students you have. And so that is a simplified way to say it, but it's general fund dollars divided by your ADM. >> Okay. Thank you. >> I think you've done a great job with all the charts and the explaining it. Uh hopefully people will see this. That's what we need when we have to run a levy for people to understand that the state is not giving us the money that we need. Uh I think you're doing a great job. >> Thank you, Mr. Napier. >> Yeah, I think two statements. One, the first would be to agree with Mr. Navier, right? So I know it's still still that phase where you're where you're drinking from the fire hose, but excellent job. Really articulated this
044well. Thank you. uh it makes us feel confident that you're on top of this and I it's worth mentioning that uh this whole process has been pushed forward from what would have been a November presentation >> to an October to to really with the loss of the later September board meeting September 4th >> and you're ready and and have it under control. So I appreciate that. >> Yeah, thank you for saying that. It's worth mentioning too it'll be even earlier next year. Uh the state is requiring us to submit our our five-year forecast for the fall by August 31st next year. Um so this year it's by October 15th and with the cancellation of the second board meeting September, we don't meet again until that after that October 15th date. Uh so I had to
045present it and and have it approved this evening. Uh but yeah, they're they're moving it up earlier and earlier and I think that's intentional. Um but >> yeah, agree. Yeah. >> Yeah. I think uh I think we've got to stress all the time that per pupil average. Right. >> Right. So regardless of the methodology for determining that number, where do we stack up against all the other schools in Butler County or Butler County and Hamilton County? >> And it's it's darn impressive, right? >> It's very impressive. >> It really is. And so that's something that we've got to hang our hat on as best we can. Again, it's a tired, easy argument just to say that, you know, cut spending. Why are we spending all this money? >> Uh and yet health care costs continue
046to go up. That's completely out of our control. >> Everyone deserves a raise at some point. We have labor negotiations. We generate the it happens, right? That's where we're at. gas, electric, that's out of our control. >> Gas, electric, cost of buses, cost of roof repairs, the cost of asphalt on the parking lot, right? And so, uh, here we are. Expenditures continue to go up and the state's cutting their funding pattern back to 2021 numbers, their basis for >> consideration. Um, and I thought it was an interesting slide that that uh the the line share more 50% is on the local community to fund the district, right? Yep. And that's that's all all communities have that burden, right? And so the states not even meeting half of the requirement when constitutionally they should be meeting
047all. Correct. So, here we are. We're doing the best we can, right? And and we're strategizing, right? >> That's right. Great. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> And if I could just make a few points, I think some of the things you mentioned are worth remissioning. I'm sure that we will continue to point those out as we continue to have these conversations over the next several months. But, you know, going back to the last uh discussion discussion that Mr. Phillips led he talked about the administrative costs and and I don't remember the exact number but that was one of the lower ones in the Butler County and Hamilton County combined and really low what I if if my memory serves correctly it wasn't middle of the road it was significantly lower. Um, tonight you
048hear that spending per pupil is what? Fifth lowest out of 32. And we we often talk about balance. And you know, think about that. If you're a parent of a student in the district, while we we want to be physically responsible, we also want to provide a sound educational program for the students and families we serve. And so the argument on the other side might be why are we so low when everyone else is spending more money per pupil. So you know again talking about balance. Um and then the lastly which we have said several times and we'll continue to to talk about the 3 to 5 year expectancy of a levy and we're going on 12 13 years here. um combine that with those other two thing and again I just think those are
049things worth repeating and I'm sure that we will uh share that information uh repeatedly in the in in the near future. So thank you Mr. Phillips. All right, up next uh we have uhou regarding reemployment of retired teachers. I'll turn it over to Mrs. Howard. >> Thank you Mr. Smith. Mr. Begley, members of the board, I'd like to discuss with you tonight a possibleou with the FCTA regarding the reemployment of retired teachers. Historically, we have only allowed a retire rehire situation for really hard to fill positions like a bus driver position, for example. And um we have never done this for a teaching position before. But after doing some research, we found that there are potential benefits to allowing a retired teacher to be re-employed by the district because if done right, it offers us
050some cost savings for the district while still giving our students then access to very highly experienced educators who are already trained in all things Fairfield and we can bring them back and pay them at a lower rate than what we would be paying them if they were to not retire. Um, so I emailed you a draft of thatou um, regarding this and it explains what it would look like if we at Fairfield were to move forward with doing so. Um, and I'm sure you noticed as you looked through it that it clearly states that the reemployment is not guaranteed simply because an employee requests it. Any decision to rehire would remain at the sole discretion of the district and could be based on a variety of different considerations including district needs, program direction, and then
051leadership priorities. It would also be for anyone that we did this for, it would be a one-year contract that automatically expires at the end of each school year, which allows for the district to then re-evaluate our needs and annually and determine if we want to continue to offer this again to that person the following year. Um, the part that's really important to note on there is that theou also specifies that any reemployed retiree would return at step zero on the salary schedule. And this is where you would see those significant cost savings that I mentioned when I very first started speaking. You'll also notice that there's additional provisions included to ensure that there is a reduced cost to the district um such as inability for certain contractual benefits like access to tuition reimbursement or severance
052or the sick bank, things like that. Um um I wanted to make sure I shared with you that I have had conversation with Mr. er the FCTA president and he I was not surprised was very much on board with thisou and is very grateful that we're considering it because I wanted to make sure it was something he was you know that the union would be interested in if we're going to um pursue it. Um and he is very grateful and um believes that this will be a good win and I agree will be a good win-win situation for for both sides districts who are already doing this Deer Park for example where Mr. Phillips comes from and talking to people who are doing it say that this is a no-brainer and that if we do
053this we can and will be able to save money as long as we do it right. And that's why we're looking at theou and making sure we have the correct language in place to make sure that it would ensure cost savings while keeping high quality experienced teachers working with our kids. Um, so pending any questions that you have, I would be recommending at our next board meeting in October for you to approve thisou so that we could possibly start engaging in that cost savings with some of this upcoming year's retirees for the following year. >> Any comments or questions in regards to this? >> Well, I think what people need to understand because I've heard it from people, well, they're double dipping. Yeah. >> Well, we're not paying their retirement. >> They put they paid
054into their retirement, so they're coming back at a lower cost to the school. I mean, I think it's a great thing, but people don't understand why they're double dipping, >> right? It's a very strong misconception, which is why I wanted to, you heard me say it several times, this is a cost-saving measure. Yeah, >> we are not paying someone double or paying them where we're actually paying them almost half as much as >> we just need to put that out to the public so they understand. >> I think it's great teachers that retire and want to come back and because you know they're used to our school, they're used to the students. I think it's a great thing. >> Yep. We have a lot of great teachers that still have what I say they still
055got a lot of gas in the tank and they want to keep going but they're at that point of you know being first eligible to retire and this is an opportunity for us to to keep them around and keep them working with our kids. >> Is that also for the non-certified? >> This is specific to just the FCTA members. >> So it wouldn't be EAS and security and things like that. >> It's not currently in there. >> So I can't come back next year. So then with the state retirement system, and I'm forgetting the acronym we use for that, >> STRS. >> Okay. They've changed. That's kind of been a moving target to a little bit of a degree, right? And they've changed. And so we had some retirees last year that made that decision.
056Uh so so those are the kind of people that we're looking at that may be interested in coming back and and having the opportunity. they couldn't pass up the opportunity to retire, right? You you put your years in and that >> is in the best interest of the employee at that point. But then >> uh I I think you've hit on it. Mr. Navier mentioned it too, right? They're they're bought into the Fairfield culture, right? So there's no retraining, >> right? >> It's uh we hit the ground running day one. Their vast institutional knowledge is a is an asset to the district. >> And training for new teachers costs money, too. So this saves us money from that perspective as well, >> right? >> Some of them that went out might say, "Hey, you know,
057I got nothing to do for a whole year. I want to go back." >> You may see a lot of that. >> You use the word no-brainer, and that's exactly what was in my head. This is is uh simplistic and makes sense to get back. Everything's already been said. The teachers want to come back. They're tenured. They know it. They love the culture. And that says a lot again about Mr. Smith and and all of you of the culture that that you have built that entice people to want to come back. And again, this is a being good stewards in in a roundabout way of saving money, doing right by the taxpayers's dollars and and being cognizant of of how we spend those, which is saving money and and so thank you for that. >>
058Thank you. >> All right, Mr. Mr. Begley, members of the board, I do have one item for your consideration this evening under letter D, item for board action. Number one, recommend approval of the 5-year forecast. That concludes the one item that I have for your consideration this evening. >> Great. Thank you. We just heard Mr. Phillips 5-year forecast. I'll entertain a motion to accept that. >> I'll make a motion. Second, >> Mr. Napier and Mr. Clark, any further discussion? Mr. Phillips, call the role. >> Mr. Napier, >> yes. Mr. Clark, >> yes. >> Mrs. Gundram, >> yes. >> Mrs. Burning Miller, >> Mr. Begley, >> yes. >> Committee reports, legislative update. Mrs. Gundram. >> Okay. So, um, there is pending, I think, in House Committee, House Bill 563. It's called the Future Educator Support Act.
059Um, so far it appears it has bipartisan support. It would permit school districts to pay a student teacher an hourly wage and offer healthcare benefits, but it doesn't require them to. Um, it would also allow the Department of Education and workforce to provide a cost of living stipen and test fee waiverss. Um, and it would authorize state universities to wave tuition for student teachers during that period as well. So, it's interesting. I could kind of see both sides of it like um you know it's got to be tough if you're a student teacher and you're trying to pay tuition and living expenses and whatnot and then not get paid not being paid at the same time that would be difficult. Uh but at the same time as we are talking about our five-year forecast um
060you know if if the student teachers are migrating to the schools that will pay them during their student teaching period it might be harder for us to to um attract new teachers um but at the same time it's an added cost if we do. So you know there's a lot of different angles to look at it but um it's very interesting. >> Yeah. Well, the big picture item is is the state's trying to encourage people to become teachers. >> Yes. Yes. >> Trying to make that just a little bit easier. So, that's that's encouraging. >> And then in a separate item, I read an article. It's not actually pending legislation, but I read an article, I think it was from cleveland.com um about um transportation of charter and non-public students and that there's at least
061one lawmaker who's floating the idea of um introducing legislation that would either change the impracticality rules or force districts to pay more to students that they don't transport or just flat out force them to transport students even when it's impractical. So that's something to kind of keep an eye out for uh whether or not that ends up going forward or not. >> Couldn't be all good news. >> No. >> Well, thank you. >> Butler Tech, I don't have a report tonight. Student achievement. Uh Mrs. Birdie Miller is not here. We have something else. We'll move to parks and wreck. Mr. Clark. >> Um pretty short tonight. There's a concert going on as we speak. It's a Beatles tribute band. So, >> Rooftop. Yeah. So, that's probably your your era. >> Right. Exactly. Go down there,
062grab you some some call the food truck and enjoy that. Uh probably the biggest thing I talked about Marsh Lake last time that the first phase is still uh getting started. You'll probably see a lot of construction uh around the 26th 27th or as the kids say 67, right? The 26th and 27th of this month. Um they're going to start that first phase. So that'll be exciting. It's going to be a exciting couple three years down there. >> And they're still doing the Friday uh acoustic guitar and music down there. And uh yeah, so >> good. That's about all I got. >> Great. Thank you. >> Planning Commission, Mr. Smith. >> Yes. Uh from Mr. Robertson. At the August 27th meeting, the planning commission voted not to recommend approval of the application for the concept
063plan for the PUD, a mixeduse development of commercial and residential uses at the northwest corner of Pleasant Avenue and John Grey Road. A conditional use request to operate an indoor soccer facility in the M2 zoning district at 3200 Profit Drive was approved. That's all I have from Mr. Robertson and the planning commission. So great. >> I know the development at the corner of Pleasant and John Gray's a hot topic. So we'll see what happens next. >> Right. Great. Thank you. We'll move on to announcements. October 10th uh through the 13th is fall break, so no school. October 15th is the end of first quarter. Here we are talking about the end of first quarter already. >> It's fast. It's October 16th will be our next board meeting. Uh regular scheduled session 6:30 at Creekide Middle
064School. So not here but at Creek Side. Board member comments. Mr. Napier. >> Yeah, I want to thank Mr. Crapo for the update on the uh open enrollment. Sounds like it's helping our school out financially. Mr. Phillips of the five years forecast. That's that's a great job you did there. We I think I kind of understand what you were saying and Kim Hower for the uh reemployment update. That's going to be a great thing for our school and our students. That's it. >> Thank you, Mr. Navier. Mrs. Kendra, >> uh Mr. Crapo, thank you again for um the open enrollment presentation. It is always nice to be able to to have a conversation with people who have misconceptions about it and um you know have the facts to back it up and say no no
065no really you know their grades are just as good or better than other students their attendance is just as good or better and it's it's generating income you know albeit not a ton but it's generating income for the for the district so thank you for that and uh Mr. Phillips, also thank you so much. You just you started and you just dove right in right into the 5-year forecast right off the bat. So, um I I think the dialogue is going to be super important going forward. Um as we go from strategizing to needing to take action like you said. Um so, it's it's very much appreciated the the open conversation we can have about it. >> Thank you, Mr. Cler. Um Mr. Crapo. Yes, great job on the open enrollment and you know the
066the consistency that we've seen year in and year out is is just incredible even through the co piece. It was it's consistent. It's growing. So that's it's uh >> is that right? Consistent and grow. Can you say that? >> Absolutely. You can >> consistent and growing. >> But thanks for that information. Um, as we've all said, it's kind of a um misunderstood publicly out out in the community that the kids that come are are are not as uh as good standings as as you show in these numbers. So, thank you for that. Great job. Um, Mr. Perry, good job on the bus driver pool. That's awesome. Get take down that banner. That's exciting. I see that old bus around town and so that's that's good that we have have that filled. Mr. Phillips, uh, I
067know it's already been said, but great job. you start, you go right to the fire, right to the wolves, whatever you want to call it. But even though you had had to do it uh two weeks early, you jumped right in. You had the great information and um excited to see your future communication to the community and and how how that's going around. So, thank you for everything you you've done already. Appreciate it. >> Yeah. >> So, there was an article in the uh Hamilton Journal this Tuesday about Mr. Phillips and the uh crux of the article was what a rarity we have a superintendent who is now uh become a treasurer in the school district and the benefits that that's generated for the district. So we're already seeing that superintendent work ethic, right? and
068uh the communication skills that come with your prior experience and uh and and you've you've jumped into this and and as I said earlier making us feel comfortable already with your uh your knowledge of the finances and and what has to be done in the future. So, thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> I think we made a good hire there. >> Yeah. >> Congratulations. >> That's all I have tonight. So, I will entertain a motion for adjournment. I'll make a motion. Second, >> Mr. Clark and and uh Mr. Ner, Mr. Phillips, call the role. >> Mr. Clark, >> yes. >> Mr. Napier, >> yes. >> Mrs. Gundram, >> yes. >> Mrs. Bing Miller. Mr. Begley, >> yes. We will journ at 7:23. Thank you. question.